10: ROBBERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south; also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. Daniel 11:14 (KJV)

This is the first verse in Daniel 11 that speaks of Rome. The phrase in those times is speaking of the final gasps of Greece. Remember that the king of Greece, Alexander the Great, had died very young; his twelve generals fell into strife over the vast territories. From there, four of them emerged as the heads of four divisions (see 7:6; 8:8,21-22; 11:4). As Greece was fading from the scene, it came down to two divisions: north (Seleucids) and south (Ptolomies). Both sides were heavily influenced by Greek philosophy and mythology, yet the north was “religious” about it and the south was atheistic, just as Egypt before it (Exodus 5:2). This is how atheism came to be symbolized by Egypt (Revelation 11:8). Later in this chapter others will step into the symbolic roles of north and south (religious vs. atheistic). Both sides are up to no good (see 11:27).

Included among the many [who stood] up against the king of the south (referring to atheism) were also the robbers of [Daniel’s] people. The word translated robbers means violent ones, murderers, or those who break in the original Hebrew. In the Greek Septuagint, it means to break. This is a key word referring to the kingdom that followed Greece, for Greece was swallowed up by Rome (see 2:33, 40; 7:7). Thus, a clear connection is established between the power that begins to rise up in Daniel 11:14 and the terrible, exceedingly strong fourth beast that breaks into pieces of Daniel’s vision in 7:7.

Even though Rome is not identified by name in the book of Daniel as the first three kingdoms are (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece), the visions of chapters 2 and 7 depict the succession of empires outlined by history. Remember that Jesus is at the center of all history. He is the only One who can save us and transform our lives; He is the genuine One whom we must know as Savior and Lord in order to recognize and resist the counterfeit that Rome produces.

In the prophetic scenario given in 11:22 – in the context of pagan Rome – many are broken under Tiberius; also [broken is] the prince of the covenant. This is Jesus! When He was brought to trial, Pilate sought to release Him (John 19:12). But the Jews insisted that letting Him go would mean Pilate was no friend of Caesar. They cried out, “Away with Him! . . . Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” (v.15) Understand what is happening here: the leadership of God’s people disown Christ by aligning themselves with the vile Tiberius. They rejected the King of Heaven and declared acceptance of the earthly, Roman king. At the end of time the world is going to repeat this scenario: they will reject the true Jesus Christ and accept a Roman power in Christ’s place, worshiping this counterfeit power instead of worshiping Jesus. Satan, who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9) is the power behind this earthly Roman power (13:2b).

So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4