I was wandering if and how Zachariah 8,23 is rated to Daniel 11,33 :"the Godly shall be strong and do exploits."" When will these be fulfilled? Or have they already been?
The prophecy in Zechariah 8:20-23 speaks of the future time, in the Millenium period, when Israel, who once rejected God & His Messiah, will truly come to know Him & adore Him. Such will be their joy & testimony, that even the nations around will be aware of this change & the blessings upon them - the heathen will "come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem & to pray before the LORD" (v22). They will even cling to Israel in the future (v23), when once Israel was a hated & despised people.
In Daniel 11:32 however, we see an earlier part of Jewish history; verses 21-35 speaks of a Grecian King, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (career from 175-164 BC), who made several expeditions into Egypt (vv24-27), & then turned his hatred onto Israel (v28). In venting his anger upon the Jews, Antiochus declared the Mosaic ceremonies illegal & erected in the Holy Place a statue of Zeus (v31). Some Jews resisted him & were martyred (vv32,33). As evil as this king was to the Jews, we also get a picture of this king's antitype, in the Anti-Christ who will once again come upon the Jews (vv36-45). Here again, the Jews will suffer badly for their rejection of the True God & His Christ, but will one day in the future, will worship Him through the Name above all names, & as we read in the Zechariah portion, they will be mighty witnesses for Christ Jesus.
So these two passages show how hard the hearts of Israel are & the change coming. Despite so many prophetical warnings, as well as the Son of God presenting Himself to them to alert them, making God real before their eyes, even giving His Life for them, they still remained blinded & deaf to the patient Call of God. But one day they will know & see the One Whom they pierced ( Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7) & full blessing will be restored to them, as even to those who call on Jesus now.
In Daniel 11:32 however, we see an earlier part of Jewish history; verses 21-35 speaks of a Grecian King, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (career from 175-164 BC), who made several expeditions into Egypt (vv24-27), & then turned his hatred onto Israel (v28). In venting his anger upon the Jews, Antiochus declared the Mosaic ceremonies illegal & erected in the Holy Place a statue of Zeus (v31). Some Jews resisted him & were martyred (vv32,33). As evil as this king was to the Jews, we also get a picture of this king's antitype, in the Anti-Christ who will once again come upon the Jews (vv36-45). Here again, the Jews will suffer badly for their rejection of the True God & His Christ, but will one day in the future, will worship Him through the Name above all names, & as we read in the Zechariah portion, they will be mighty witnesses for Christ Jesus.
So these two passages show how hard the hearts of Israel are & the change coming. Despite so many prophetical warnings, as well as the Son of God presenting Himself to them to alert them, making God real before their eyes, even giving His Life for them, they still remained blinded & deaf to the patient Call of God. But one day they will know & see the One Whom they pierced ( Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7) & full blessing will be restored to them, as even to those who call on Jesus now.
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