An Estate Sale

Daniel 11:13-22

For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.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.

Now then, the king of the north will return and send forth a greater multitude "than the former." Then he will also come "with a great army and much riches." Now we are looking at those times again. Many will stand against the king of the south. Then there will be robbers of the people that wish to "establish the vision." But what God has determined will come to pass and no effort on the part of man will make it so. There is integration between the north and the south seen here along with some other people who do not like what has happened. The final multitude will be greater than the former and will have riches and position. Throughout history there have been those who would take the kingdom of God by force to bring such things to pass by their own might. I can name them, but God alone knows who some of them are. These robbers will fall by their own devices into their own pits they dug as promised in Proverbs 28:10. This will be so for the Lord has purposed it.

So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

Here we see the fall of both the north and the south. It starts with the king of the north who stands in the glorious land to cause it to be consumed. He will "take the most fenced cities." Nothing fortified can stand against him. Neither his own people nor the "arms of the south" will be able to make much complaint. They will both be counted alike as those having no strength within them. There will be none like him neither before nor after. If any tries to come against him, it will be of their own will. It is important to see from the text that none can stand before him. How many of you know that when God is on your side it is hard for any to stand against you. Of this king, even if he did not do right, the Lord will soon straighten him out.

He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.

Here we see the daughter of women corrupted but not on his side nor for him. She may be by his side but not on it. She might be near him but not for him. That which has been good is now corrupted. You might say it is an unnatural use of woman. Most women are loving and supportive of their mates. Not so seen here. He will enter the whole strength of his kingdom. There is peace and it looks like the land is prospering. There are even upright ones with him. You have heard it said in Matthew 5:5 that the meek "will inherit the earth." Well, here the upright ones come into his kingdom. "Thus, shall he do" indicating he is practicing justice, mercy, and walking humbly before God as an upright one himself. Even if he is not, God will soon have the matter in hand. He turns towards the isles to "take many." However, one of his own princes will cause his reproach to cease; if he did not then it would turn upon him again. We see reproach here is offered. How many of you know the Gospel of Christ is an offense to those who believe not in 1 Peter 2:7-8. Regardless, if God is on your side, it matters not who is against you. For none would be able to stand before him on that day.

Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

It is interesting to note that at this point the kings of the north and south are no longer becoming such an issue. There is a move towards one kingdom to be seen as the differences disappear and that which is to come takes its place. This leader turns his face toward where he thinks is peace and safety only to find a sword. He stumbles, falls, and cannot be found by the hand of the Lord. The raiser of taxes comes next; his time is very short indeed. There is still glory to be found within this kingdom at this time. His destruction will come from neither anger nor battle. Just as the Roman Empire crumbled from within, this raiser of taxes will only last a few days. It is not hard to imagine how his destruction came. At the hands of the people oppressed and by the command of above, it found him. Then his estate comes next. After, we will find amid the pickings of this kingdom there is much to be found. This phrase, "in his estate" is a legal and technical term meaning someone who passes and leaves their wealth to another.

And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

Look now how it comes. There is another estate recorded of the raiser of taxes. There is neither honor nor anything to be given in this kingdom. There is only an estate and a flatterer. There is a vision spoken of and it is yet to come. This is what the robbers have been seeking all along. The vile person will sneak in like a thief in the night and by force obtain it. By flattery the Lord says he comes with peace in his hand. Remember, Revelation 6:2 tells of the rider on the white horse given a bow and sent forth to conquer. I am not saying that is the same person. But look, they find themselves in similar times do they not. There is no honor of the kingdom given to this one. The arms of a flood will break his flattery and his peace alike. Revelation 12:15-16 tells of a woman about to give birth to a man child. But the devil sent forth a flood after her while her child was caught up to God and to his throne. Then the prince of the covenant will also be overthrown from before him. Remember now, when there is a covenant, the truth will be cast to the ground. It will practice and prosper. You might be frightened, but there is a promise of shelter to be found here from the storm that is to come.