“Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.” (Daniel 8:12, NKJV)

In chapter 8, Daniel was given a vision of two animals—a ram and a goat. The ram represented the Medes and Persians, and the goat represented the Grecians. When he wrote this, Greece was only a group of small and insignificant states. It would be 200 years before Alexander the Great rose to power. Then he attacked and conquered the Medes and Persians with great speed and rage.

After Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was divided between his four generals. General Seleucus took Syria and Babylonia. From his dynasty came Antiochus Epiphanes who reigned from 175 to 164 BC. He was the little horn mentioned in verse 9 who grew exceedingly toward the south, the east, and the glorious land of Israel. He became so powerful that he threw down some of the priests and took away the daily burnt offerings prescribed in the Mosaic Law. All of this happened because of the transgression of the people.

This gives us insight into why God allows evil to thrive for a season. Whenever Israel sinned, God gave her over to bad leadership. When they despised serving the LORD and keeping His commandments, He let them experience serving an ungodly ruler who would cast truth to the ground. Have we not seen the same thing happen in our own country? But when the people humbled themselves and cried out to God, then He would raise up a deliverer. In the case of Antiochus Epiphanes, the LORD raised up the Maccabean priests to do great exploits, to overthrow this wicked ruler, and to restore holy worship in the temple.

I believe that we are at a critical time in our nation. For a long time truth has been cast to the ground. But now God has given us an opportunity to do great exploits for His kingdom. This requires courage, commitment, and above all, much concerted prayer.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV)

May we do our part so that God will do His part. “Come, Lord Jesus, come! Please save us and heal our land!”