Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18.

Our chapter, Daniel 11, continues in the revealing of the vision that Daniel had concerning what would happen to his people in the future and in the end times. The rise and fall of empires, the wars and armies of the Medo-Persians, the Greeks under Alexander the Great, to the Ptolemies and the Seleucids and to Antiochus IV Epiphanes who desecrated the temple, to the end times of the antichrist. The “same-old-same-old” in all of its power grab this world succumbs to through every age of mankind. Just one description: With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country. v. 25-28. And this about Antiochus IV Epiphanes…Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. They they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know God will firmly resist him. Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time, v. 30-35. Then it switches to the one at the end, the antichrist. This king will honor war. The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place…He will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts…He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. v. 36, 38, 45.

The notes below help me understand the major players that are revealed but we know that so much more takes place between Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the antichrist. A lot of darkness. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. I can’t be the light that this world needs. That truth has been brought home to me by those I love. But I can love Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. When we stay with God, His light shines on the path of His righteousness and by the light of His love we can see as He reveals His truth; not our truth…His faithful truth. Jesus is the light of the world and the truth of His love and the love of the Father is our first gleam of dawn shining ever brighter until the full light of day. The light of His love is our hope as we live in this world darkened as it looks to others to save them. The end of the darkness will come and it will be God who will be there loving us and saving us. We can follow Him now. I love the light of His love and I trust Him to be the light we all of us need.