There is a litany of incredibly detailed prophecies regarding the future of the Jewish nation under the rule of the Ptolemies and Seleucids. The focus of most history is not on this part of the world during this time period, but God's focus is most lovingly on His people and thus the bulk of this passage has to do with political intrigue and the outright persecution awaiting His beloved bride. The message of hope throughout all of these machinations of the seemingly powerful is that our God reigns and nothing and no one can thwart His plan or usurp His authority. The petty tyrants rule under His sovereignty and according to His timeline and as things seemingly wax worse and worse for us as His followers we can be encouraged by this as Daniel and the Jews were. Kings come and go, but the King of Kings rules and reigns forever and ever, amen!

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