September 14: DEVIOUS CAREER OF SEDUCTION

He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus he shall do. Daniel 11:17a

Rome indeed came to stand in the Glorious Land (v.16), and determined—or set his face—to insert himself into the workings and activities of God’s people. The purpose of the enemy of souls has ever been to drive a wedge between people and the truth of His Word. This stand taken by Rome in the Glorious Land henceforth identified him as the king of the North. His influence (under the power of Satan) becomes more effective when the upright ones [are] with him, meaning the people of God and referencing the Jews who had in 161BC (the same year as the Maccabean Revolt) sought the protection of Rome. That was the year that they formed an alliance, or league of friendship, with Rome. Within a few decades, however, they felt the oppressive yoke of Roman power.

And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him. (v. 17b)

This daughter of women is a reference to the rule of Cleopatra, who engineered brilliant and seductive strategies in her fight for political power. Her 21-year rule over Egypt (51-30BC) was built around romance and intrigue that still fascinates history lovers today. Three years into her rule, Julius Caesar invaded Egypt. But Cleopatra made a goal of seducing him and actually became his mistress until his assassination in 44BC. She quickly turned her attention to another prominent Roman political figure: Mark Antony. Her alliance with Julius Caesar had been calculated to secure Roman support in the Ptolemy family feud with her brothers. But also, there was the desire to maintain Egypt’s independence—with assistance from Rome only when needed. The relationship with Mark Antony grew into a dream of great power over an empire that expanded eastward. This plan unraveled when he was defeated by Octavian (Julius Caesar’s successor, later known as Augustus Caesar) in 31BC at the Battle of Actium. After this humiliation, Mark Antony committed suicide the next year. Some historians believe the suicide was engineered or encouraged by Cleopatra, who then attempted to gain the affections of Octavian. The attempt failed, and she ended her life, allegedly by exposing herself to the bite of an asp, an apt illustration of opting for the ways of that serpent of old (Revelation 12:9). Cleopatra’s death in 30BC also marked the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Cleopatra’s devious career of illegitimate romance and intrigue foreshadows the rise of another “woman”. In Biblical prophecy, a woman is a symbol for a church. This woman is a harlot called BABYLON THE GREAT (Revelation 17:5) and she also seeks to seduce the kings of the earth (v.2). She represents a corrupt church who abandoned the purity of the everlasting gospel and forms alliances with worldly powers to enforce false doctrines. But, like Cleopatra, her pursuit of power, influence, and wealth will come to a disastrous end. The Lord is patiently calling His people out of the world’s false system of worship and into His faithful remnant.

Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Revelation 18:4