His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the wealth of his kingdom. In a short time, however, the king will die, though not in the heat of battle.”
The man in white linen continued: “In his place will rise a despised usurper of the throne, who had no claim to royal status. He will attack the kingdom when the people least suspect it, and he will seize the kingdom through deceit. He will totally sweep away every opposing army that stands before him and crush them. He will even kill the high priest of the covenant. And after he forms an alliance with him, he will act deceitfully and, despite his initial small following, he will grow ever stronger. Then unexpectedly, he will, by stealth, invade rich, fertile provinces and achieve what none of his ancestors did. And he will distribute the spoils and lavish them upon his followers. He will plot to defeat opposing forces protected in fortified positions and will succeed, but only for a short time.
“He will stir up his might and courage, muster a large army, and wage war against the king of Egypt. However, the king of Egypt will fight back with an even greater army—a massive and powerful army—but he will be defeated because of secret plans devised against him. His closest advisers, who eat at the king’s table, will attempt to kill him. His army will be swept away, and many will fall in the slaughter.
“These two kings will sit at the same table and exchange lies with their hearts filled with evil motives. But their plans will come to nothing, for the time set by God has still not yet come. Then the treacherous king of Syria will start back home with his great spoils. He will set his heart against the holy covenant, take action against it, and then return to his own land. In the time God has appointed, he will go back to attack Egypt again, but this time the outcome will not be as before. Roman ships will oppose him, and he will lose heart. He will retreat and take out his indignation against the holy covenant and show favor to those who forsake that holy covenant.
“He will then dispatch his armed forces to enter and profane the sacred temple-stronghold. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and, in its place, set the blasphemous abomination that brings desolation. The Syrian king will entice with flattery those who betray the holy covenant, but those who know their God will stand firm and valiantly resist.
“These who are filled with wisdom will help many understand what is happening. However, for a season, they will face severe testing. Some will go into captivity, some will be robbed, and some will be killed by the sword and by the flames. During this persecution, God’s people will receive little help, though many will join with them insincerely. Even some of the wise leaders will stumble, yet this will lead to them being purged, purified, and made clean—until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.”
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