Understanding The Bible 1. The Purpose of the Bible 2. The Land of the Bible 3. The Story of the Bible The Inter-testamental Period

You, O king [Nebudchadnezzar] … are the head of gold. You, O king [Nebudchadnezzar] … are the head of gold. (Daniel 2:37a, 38b ESV) Babylonian Empire BC

Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, (Daniel 2:39a ESV) Medo-Persion Empire BC

and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. (Daniel 2:39b ESV) Macedonian (Greek) Empire of Alexander the Great and his successors BC

And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. (Daniel 2:40-41 ESV) Roman Empire 63 BC and beyond through the New Testament times

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, … The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure." (Daniel 2:44, 45b ESV) The Kingdom of the Messiah

As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. (Daniel 8:20 ESV)

As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. (Daniel 8:5 ESV) And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. (Daniel 8:21 ESV)

On October 1, 331 BC the army of Alexander the Great defeated the forces of Darius III at Guagamela (east of Mosul in northern Iraq) and ended the Medo-Persian Empire. On October 1, 331 BC the army of Alexander the Great defeated the forces of Darius III at Guagamela (east of Mosul in northern Iraq) and ended the Medo-Persian Empire.

The Charge of the Persian Scythe Chariots

After having rapidly conquered much of the known world, Alexander the Great died of fever on June 13, 323 BC in Babylon at the age of 33. After about twenty years his empire had resolved into four centers of power, Thrace under Lysimachus, Greece and Macedonia under Cassander, Syria under Seleucus, and Egypt under Ptolemy After having rapidly conquered much of the known world, Alexander the Great died of fever on June 13, 323 BC in Babylon at the age of 33. After about twenty years his empire had resolved into four centers of power, Thrace under Lysimachus, Greece and Macedonia under Cassander, Syria under Seleucus, and Egypt under Ptolemy

In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (Daniel 11:21 ESV) Antiochus IV gained power instead of his nephew, Demetrius, the rightful heir, by persuading the Romans and the rulers of what is now Turkey to side with him and by claiming to the Syrians that he was only safeguarding the kingdom for Demetrius

Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. ( Daniel 11:31 ESV ) Now the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the 145th year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and built idol altars throughout the cities of Judah on every side; Now the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the 145th year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and built idol altars throughout the cities of Judah on every side; ( I Maccabees 1:54 KJV ) And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. ( Daniel 11:33 ESV ) And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death. ( I Maccabees 1:54 KJV ) Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-- of whom the world was not worthy ( Hebrews 11:35b-38a ESV )

On the next day, as had now become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kindred in the sepulchres of their ancestors. Then under the tunic of each one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was the reason these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened as the result of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin. On the next day, as had now become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kindred in the sepulchres of their ancestors. Then under the tunic of each one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was the reason these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened as the result of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin. ( II Maccabees 12:39-45 NRSV )

Early in the morning on the 25th day of the ninth month, which is the month of Kislev, in the 148th year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshipped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them. So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and joyfully offered burnt-offerings; they offered a sacrifice of well-being and a thanksgiving-offering Early in the morning on the 25th day of the ninth month, which is the month of Kislev, in the 148th year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshipped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them. So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and joyfully offered burnt-offerings; they offered a sacrifice of well-being and a thanksgiving-offering ( I Maccabees 4:54 NRSV ) At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, ( John 10:22 ESV )

Understanding The Bible 1. The Purpose of the Bible 2. The Land of the Bible 3. The Story of the Bible The Inter-testamental Period