October 4: WAIT AND SEE (part 1)
He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. Daniel 11:41
He, the king of the North, entering into the Glorious Land has several interpretations. Some believe that the Glorious Land currently refers to the United States or North America, as it was the land of refuge for believers who fled the persecution of the Dark Ages church. They see today’s verse as the papacy stepping onto the political landscape of America, increasing papal influence over the mainline Protestant churches as part of the plan to counteract the reformation and prepare the world for Sunday legislation. Revelation 13:15 is cited in support of this view.
Another interpretation still sees the Glorious Land as Palestine. This theory suggests a decisive war in the future between the nations that support the papacy, including the United States, Canada, and European allies (king of the North) against the Muslim countries of the Middle East with the military backing of atheistic countries like China, Russia, and North Korea. If this is correct, the prophecy includes a complete victory of the nations fighting for the papacy and the final submission of Muslim and atheistic countries (king of the South) to papal authority.
A third possibility is the view that the Glorious Land of our day symbolizes the remnant church around the world, and the entry of Catholic doctrines and practices that have subtly crept back into some Sabbath-keeping churches. This theory cites Jesus’s parable of Matthew 24:45-51, which begins: Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? (v.45) The household represents the true church. Food in due season is the same as Peter’s term present truth (see 2 Peter 1:12). The ruler represents preachers and teachers and witnesses for the master (Jesus). Each of those who upholds the Word in preparation for the coming of the master (v.46) is a faithful and wise servant. But v.48 indicates that within the commandment-keeping church there will be evil servant[s] whose faith weakens to the point of accusing Jesus of delaying his coming (foreshadowed in Exodus 32). Such a servant bitterly criticizes his brothers and will eat and drink with the drunkards, meaning those who are deceived by false teachings of the mainline churches (see Revelation 17:2). This phrase has been likened as a historical repeat of show[ing] regard for those who forsake the holy covenant (Daniel 11:30).
One of the main ways that Satan can receive worship for himself is in overthrowing the law of God in the minds of professed believers. The above phrase, and many countries shall be overthrown, could apply in all three of these theories. God’s people are to remain faithful while being watchful. It is wise to tread gingerly rather than to become dogmatic over any theory. That being said, it is also wise to make clear and plain that which is clear and plain. Incredibly, Satan has succeeded in confusing much of the world over the simplest and plainest of Biblical truths.
Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. Habakkuk 2:2
Blessed is the man who listens to me [wisdom], watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. Proverbs 8:34