1 October 331 B.C. Alexander the Great’s Battle of Gaugemala Defeats Persians in Northern Iraq
1 October 331 B.C. Alexander the Great’s Battle of Gaugemala Defeats Persians in Northern
Iraq. Oh no! God’s sovereignty? Omniscience?
Oh no, we need a little and nice God, not a sovereign One. We need a god we can control!
Backstory.
In 539 B.C., Cyrus II, a
Medo-Persian, conquered Babylon. God
called him His anointed. Isaiah 45.1-6 prophesied the moment (with infinite
ease, given God’s attributes). We get a
prospective prophecy from Isaiah, centuries before its fulfillment:
Isaiah 45:1-6
1599
Geneva Bible (GNV)
(Introductory notes: 45 1 The
deliverance of the people by Cyrus. 9 God is just in all his works. 20 The
calling of the Gentiles.)
1 Thus saith the Lord unto [a]Cyrus
his [b]anointed,
whose right hand I have holden to [c]subdue
nations before him: therefore will I weaken the loins of kings, and open the
doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut.
2 I will go before thee,
and make the [d]crooked
straight: I will break the brazen doors, and burst the iron bars.
3 And I will give thee the
treasures of darkness, and the things hid in secret places, that thou mayest [e]know
that I am the Lord which call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob my servant’s [f]sake,
and Israel mine elect, I will even call thee by thy name, and
name thee, though thou hast not known me.
5 I am the Lord, and there
is none other; there is no God besides me: I [g]girded
thee, though thou hast not known me.
6 That they may know from
the rising of the sun, and from the West, that there is none besides me. I am
the Lord, and there is none other.
Footnotes:
a.
Isaiah
45:1 To
assure the Jews of their deliverance against the great tentations that they
should abide, he nameth the person and the means.
b.
Isaiah
45:1
Because Cyrus should execute the office of a deliverer, God called him his
anointed for a time, but after another sort than he called David.
e.
Isaiah
45:3 Not
that Cyrus did know God to worship him aright, but he had a certain particular
knowledge as profane men may have of his power, and so was compelled to deliver
God’s people.
This is exactly what happened.
Cyrus II’s ascendency led to a rebellion against the Median overlord. The Median army defected to Cyrus II. Hence,
since then, it has been referred to as the “Medo-Persia Empire” ever since. Over the next 2 centuries, the Medo-Persians
dominated as a world power.
The 4 beasts are describe in
Daniel 7. The three ribs in the mouth of
one beast may refer to 3 battles of Medo-Persian conquest: (1) victory of Lydia
(546 B.C.), (2) victory over Babylon (539 B.C.) and (3) victory of Egypt (525
B.C.). We read the account here:
Daniel 7
1599
Geneva Bible (GNV)
(Introductory notes: 7 3 A
vision of four beasts is showed unto Daniel. 8 The ten horns of the fourth
beast. 27 Of the everlasting kingdom of Christ.)
1 In the first year of
Belshazzar King of Babel, Daniel saw a dream, and there were visions in
his head, upon his bed: [a]then he
wrote the dream, and declared the sum of the matter.
2 Daniel spake and said, I
saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon
[b]the
great sea:
3 And four great beasts
came up from the sea one divers from another.
4 The first was as a
[c]lion,
and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked off, and it
was lifted up from the earth, and set upon his feet as a man, and a
man’s heart was given him.
5 And behold, another beast
which was the second, was like a [d]bear,
and stood upon the [e]one
side: and he had three ribs in his [f]mouth
between his teeth, [g]and they
said thus unto him, Arise, and devour much flesh.
6 After this, I beheld, and
lo, there was another like a [h]leopard,
which had upon his back [i]four
wings of a fowl: the beast had also four heads, and [j]dominion
was given him.
7 After this, I saw in the
visions by night, and behold, the [k]fourth
beast was fearful and terrible and very strong. It had great [l]iron
teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped [m]the
residue under his feet: and it was unlike to the beasts that were before it:
for it had [n]ten
horns.
8 As I considered the
horns, behold, there came up among them another little [o]horn,
before whom there were [p]three of
the first horns plucked away: and behold, in this horn were [q]eyes
like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking presumptuous things.
9 I beheld till the [r]thrones
were set up, and the [s]Ancient
of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like
the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels, as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued,
and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten
thousand [t]thousands
stood before him: the judgment was set, and the [u]books
opened.
11 Then I beheld, [v]because
of the voice of the presumptuous words which the horn spake: I beheld, even
till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning
fire.
12 As [w]concerning
the other beasts, they had taken away their dominion: yet their lives were
prolonged for a certain time and season.
13 ¶ As I beheld in visions
by night, behold, [x]one like
the son of man came in the clouds of heaven, and [y]approached
unto the Ancient of days, and they brought him before him.
14 And he gave him [z]dominion,
and honor, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve
him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall never be taken
away: and his dominion shall never be destroyed.
15 ¶ I Daniel was [aa]troubled
in my spirit, in the midst of my body, and the visions of mine head made me
afraid.
16 Therefore I came unto [ab]one of
them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this: so he told me, and
showed me the interpretation of these things.
17 These great beasts which
are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth,
18 And they shall take the [ac]kingdom
of the Saints of the [ad]most
High, and shall possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
19 ¶ After this, I would know
the truth of the fourth beast, which was [ae]so
unlike to all the others, very fearful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails
of brass: which devoured brake in pieces, and stamped the [af]residue
under his feet.
20 Also to know of
the ten horns that were in his head, and of the others which came up, before
whom three fell, and of the horn that had eyes, and of the mouth that spake
presumptuous things, whose [ag]look was
more stout than his fellows.
22 Until [ai]the
Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the Saints of the most High:
and the time approached, that the Saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Then he said, The fourth
beast shall be the fourth kingdom in the earth, which shall be unlike to all
the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down and
break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of
this kingdom are ten Kings that shall rise: and another shall rise after
them, and he shall be unlike to the first, and he shall subdue [aj]three
Kings,
25 And shall speak words
against [ak]the most
High, and shall consume the Saints of the most High, and think that he may [al]change
times and laws, and they shall be given into his hand until a [am]time,
and times, and the dividing of time.
26 But the [an]judgment
shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy it unto
the end.
27 And the [ao]kingdom,
and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be
given to the holy people of the most High, whose kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and all [ap]powers
shall serve and obey him.
28 Even this is the end of
the matter, I Daniel had many [aq]cogitations
which troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the
matter in mine heart.
Footnotes:
a.
Daniel
7:1
Whereas the people of Israel looked for a continual quietness, after their
seventy years, as Jeremiah had declared, he showeth that this rest shall not be
a deliverance from all troubles, but a beginning, and therefore encourageth
them to look for a continual affliction, till the Messiah be uttered and
revealed, by whom they should have a spiritual deliverance, and all the
promises be fulfilled: whereof they should have a certain token in the
destruction of the Babylonian kingdom.
b.
Daniel
7:2
Which signified that there should be horrible troubles and afflictions in the
world in all corners of the world, and at sundry times.
c.
Daniel
7:4
Meaning, the Assyrian and Chaldean empire, which was most strong and fierce in
power, and most soon come to their authority, as though they had wings to fly:
yet their wings were pulled by the Persians, and they went on their feet, and
were made like other men, which is here meant by man’s heart.
g.
Daniel
7:5 To
wit, the Angels by God’s commandment, who by this means punished the
ingratitude of the world.
i.
Daniel
7:6 That
is, his four chief captains, which had the empire among them after his death.
Seleucus had Asia the great, Antigonus the less, Cassander and after him
Antipater was king of Macedonia, and Ptolemy had Egypt.
j.
Daniel
7:6 It
was not of himself nor of his own power that he got all these countries: for
his army contained but thirty thousand men, and he overcame in one battle
Darius, which had ten hundred thousand, when he was so heavy with sleep, that
his eyes were scarce open, as the stories report: therefore this power was
given him of God.
k.
Daniel
7:7 That
is, the Roman Empire which was a monster, and could not be compared to any
beasts, because the nature of none was able to express it.
m.
Daniel
7:7 That
which the Romans could not quietly enjoy in other countries, they would give it
to other Kings and rulers, that at all times when they would, they might take
it again: which liberality is here called the stamping of the rest under the
feet.
n.
Daniel
7:7 That
is, sundry and divers provinces which were governed by the deputies and
proconsuls, whereof everyone might be compared to a King.
o.
Daniel
7:8
Which is meant of Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and
Nero, etc., who were as kings in effect, but because they could not rule, but
by the consent of the Senate, their power is compared to a little horn. For
Muhammad came not of the Roman Empire, and the Pope hath no vocation of
government: therefore this cannot be applied unto them, and also in this
prophecy the Prophet’s purpose is chiefly to comfort the Jews unto the
revelation of Christ. Some take it for the whole body of Antichrist.
p.
Daniel
7:8
Meaning, a certain portion of the ten horns: that is, a part from the whole
estate was taken away. For Augustus took from the Senate the liberty of
choosing the deputies to send into the provinces, and took the government of
certain countries to himself.
q.
Daniel
7:8
These Roman Emperors at the first used a certain humanity and gentleness, and
were content that others, as the Consuls, and Senate, should bear the names of
dignity, so that they might have the profit, and therefore in election and
counsels would behave themselves according as did other Senators: yet against
their enemies and those that would resist them, they were fierce and cruel,
which is here meant by the proud mouth.
r.
Daniel
7:9
Meaning, the places where God and his Angels should come to judge these
Monarchies, which judgment should begin at the first coming of Christ.
s.
Daniel
7:9 That
is, God which was before all times, and is here described as man’s nature is
able to comprehend some portion of his glory.
u.
Daniel
7:10
This is meant of the first coming of Christ, when as the will of God was
plainly revealed by his Gospel.
v.
Daniel
7:11
Meaning, that he was astonied when he saw these Emperors in such dignity and
pride, and so suddenly destroyed at the coming of Christ, when this fourth
Monarchy was subject to men of other nations.
w.
Daniel
7:12 As
the three former Monarchies had an end at the time that God appointed, although
they flourished for a time, so shall this fourth have, and they that patiently
abide God’s appointment, shall enjoy the promises.
x.
Daniel
7:13
Which is meant of Christ, who had not yet taken upon him man’s nature, neither
was the son of David according to the flesh, as he was afterward: but appeared
then in a figure, and that in the clouds: that is, being separate from the
common sort of men by manifest signs of his divinity.
y.
Daniel
7:13 To
wit, when he ascend into the heavens, and his divine majesty appeared, and all
power was given unto him, in respect of that that he was our Mediator.
z.
Daniel
7:14
This is meant of the beginning of Christ’s kingdom, when God the Father gave
unto him all dominion, as to the Mediator, to the intent that he should govern
here his Church in earth continually, till the time that he brought them to eternal
life.
cc.
Daniel
7:18
Because Abraham was appointed heir of all the world, Rom.
4:13,
and in him all the faithful, therefore the kingdom thereof is theirs by right,
which these four beasts or tyrants should invade, and usurp until the world
were restored by Christ: and this was to confirm them that were in troubles,
that their afflictions should have an end at length.
dd.
Daniel
7:18
That is, of the most high things, because God hath chosen them out of this
world, that they should look up to the heavens, whereon all their hope
dependeth.
ee.
Daniel
7:19 For
the other three Monarchies were governed by a King, and the Roman Empire by
Consuls: the Romans changed their governors yearly, and the other Monarchies
retained them for term of life: also the Romans were the strongest of all the
others, and were never quiet among themselves.
hh.
Daniel
7:21
Meaning the Roman Emperors, who were most cruel against the Church of God both
of the Jews and of the Gentiles.
ii.
Daniel
7:22
Till God showed his power in the person of Christ, and by the preaching of the
Gospel gave unto his some rest, and so obtained a famous Name in the world, and
were called the Church of God, or the kingdom of God.
kk.
Daniel
7:25
That is, shall make wicked decrees and proclamations against God’s word, and
send throughout all their dominion, to destroy all that did profess it.
ll.
Daniel
7:25
These Emperors shall not consider that they have their power of God, but think
it is in their own power to change God’s laws and man’s, and as it were the
order of nature, as appeareth by Octavius, Tiberius, Caligula, Nero, Domitian,
etc.
mm. Daniel
7:25 God
shall suffer them thus to rage against his Saints for a long time, which is
meant by the time and times, but at length he will assuage these troubles, and
shorten the time for his elect’s sake, Matt.
24:22,
which is here meant by the dividing of time.
nn.
Daniel
7:26 God
by his power shall restore things that were out of order, and so destroy this
little horn, that it shall never rise up again.
oo.
Daniel
7:27 He
showeth wherefore the beast should be destroyed, to wit, that his Church might
have rest and quietness, which though they do not fully enjoy here, yet they
have it in hope, and by the preaching of the Gospel enjoy the beginning
thereof, which is meant by these words: Under the heaven: and therefore he here
speaketh of the beginning of Christ’s kingdom in this world, which kingdom the
faithful have by the participation that they have with Christ their head.
qq.
Daniel
7:28
Though he had many motions in his heart which moved him to and fro to seek out
this matter curiously, yet he was content with that which God revealed, and
kept it in memory, and wrote it for the use of the Church.
The end of the
Medo-Persian Empire was prophesied in Daniel 8, to wit, a ram with two
horns. Alexander the Great became the
King of Greece, or, the head of a confederation of Greek states, by the age of
20. He led his first battle against the
Medo-Persians at Issus in Turkey. At that battle, Alexander defeated Darius
III. Alexander proceeded to Egypt.
Alexander progressed through Palestine and Jerusalem. The High Priest
allegedly showed Alexander the Danielic prophecy and, reportedly, Alexander was
favorable to the Jews thereafter.
On 1 October 331 B.C., the battle at Issus was decisively in
Alexander’s favor. He was 25. The ram
was helpless against the rampaging and furious goat of the West. The goat
knocked the ram out.
Daniel 8 covers the
story.
Daniel 8
1599
Geneva Bible (GNV)
(Introductory notes: 8 A
vision of a battle between a ram and a goat: 20 The understanding of the
vision.)
1 In the third year of the
reign of king Belshazzar, a vision appeared unto me, even unto me
Daniel, [a]after
that which appeared unto me at the first.
2 And I saw in a vision,
and when I saw it, I was in the palace of Shushan, which is in the province [b]of Elam,
and in a vision me thought I was by the river of Ulai.
3 Then I looked up and saw,
and behold, there stood before the river a [c]ram
which had two horns, and these two horns were high: but one was [d]higher
than another, and the highest came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing
against the West, and against the North, and against the South: so that no [e]beasts
might stand before him, nor could deliver out of his hand, but he did what he
listed, and became great.
5 And as I considered,
behold, [f]a goat
came from the West over the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and this
goat had an [g]horn
that appeared between his eyes.
6 And he came unto the ram
that had the two horns, whom I had seen standing by the river, and ran unto him
in his fierce rage.
7 And I saw him come unto
the ram, and being moved against him, he [h]smote
the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand
against him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him, and
there was none that could deliver the ram out of his power.
8 Therefore the goat waxed
exceeding great, and when he was at the strongest, his great [i]horn was
broken: and for it came up four that [j]appeared
toward the four winds of the heaven.
9 And out of one of them
came forth a [k]little
horn, which waxed very great toward the [l]South,
and toward the [m]East,
and toward the [n]pleasant
land.
10 Yea, it grew up unto the [o]host of
heaven, and it cast down some of the host, and of the stars to the
ground, and trode upon them,
11 And extolled himself
against the [p]prince
of the host, from whom the [q]daily sacrifice
was taken away, and the place of his Sanctuary was cast down.
12 And [r]a time
shall be given him over the daily sacrifice for the iniquity: and
it shall [s]cast
down the truth to the ground, and thus shall it do, and prosper.
13 Then I heard one of the [t]Saints
speaking, and one of the Saints spake unto a certain one, saying, How long shall
endure the vision of the daily sacrifice, and the iniquity of the [u]desolation
to tread both the Sanctuary and the [v]army
underfoot?
14 And [w]he
answered me, Unto the [x]evening and
the morning, two thousand and three hundred: then shall the Sanctuary be
cleansed.
15 ¶ Now when I Daniel had
seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, behold, there stood before me [y]like the
similitude of a man.
16 And I heard a man’s voice
between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, [z]make
this man to understand the vision.
17 So he came where I stood:
and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me,
Understand, O son of man: for [aa]in the
last time shall be the vision.
18 Now as he was speaking
unto me, I being asleep fell on my face to the ground: but he touched
me, and set me up in my place.
19 And he said, Behold, I will
show thee what shall be in the last [ab]wrath:
for in the end of the time appointed it shall come.
20 The ram which thou sawest
having two horns, are the Kings of the Medes and Persians.
21 And the goat is
the King of Greece, and the great horn that is between his eyes, is the first
king.
22 And that that is broken,
and four stood up for it, are four kingdoms, which shall stand up [ac]of that
nation, but not [ad]in his
strength.
23 And in the end of their
kingdom, when the rebellious shall be consumed, a King of [ae]fierce
countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
24 And his power shall be
mighty, but not [af]in his
strength: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice,
and shall destroy the [ag]mighty,
and the holy people.
25 And through his [ah]policy
also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall extol himself in
his heart, and by [ai]peace
shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the [aj]prince
of princes, but he shall be broken down [ak]without
hand.
26 And the vision of the [al]evening
and the morning, which is declared, is true: therefore seal thou up the vision,
for it shall be after many days.
27 And I Daniel was stricken
and sick [am]certain days:
but when I rose up, I did the king’s business, and I was astonished at the
vision, but none understood it.
Footnotes:
a.
Daniel
8:1
After the general vision, he cometh to certain particular visions as touching
the destruction of the Monarchy of the Persians, and Macedonians: for the ruin
of the Babylonians was at hand, and also he had sufficiently spoken thereof.
d.
Daniel
8:3
Meaning, Cyrus, which after grew greater in power than Darius his uncle and
father-in-law.
g.
Daniel
8:5
Though he came in the name of all Greece, yet he bore the title and dignity of
the general captain, so that the strength was attributed to him, which is meant
by this horn.
h.
Daniel
8:7 Alexander
overcame Darius in two sundry battles, and so had the two kingdoms of the Medes
and Persians.
i.
Daniel
8:8
Alexander’s great power was broken: for when he had overcome all the East, he
thought to return toward Greece to subdue them that had rebelled, and so died
by the way.
j.
Daniel
8:8 That
is, which were famous: for almost in the space of fifteen years there were
fifteen divers successors before this monarchy was divided to these four,
whereof Cassander had Macedonia, Seleucus Syria, Antigonus Asia the less, and Ptolemy
Egypt.
k.
Daniel
8:9
Which was Antiochus Epiphanes, who was of a servile and flattering nature, and
also there were others between him and the kingdom, and therefore is here
called the little horn, because neither princely conditions, nor any other
thing was in him, why he should obtain this kingdom.
o.
Daniel
8:10
Antiochus raged against the elect of God, and trode his precious stars under
feet, which are so called, because they are separated from the world.
q.
Daniel
8:11 He
labored to abolish all religion, and therefore cast God’s service out of his
Temple, which God had chosen as a little corner from all the rest of the world
to have his Name there truly called upon.
r.
Daniel
8:12 He
showeth that their sins are the cause of these horrible afflictions: and yet
comforteth them, in that he appointeth this tyrant a time, whom he would not
suffer utterly to abolish his religion.
t.
Daniel
8:13
Meaning, that he heard one of the Angels asking this question of Christ, whom
he called a certain one, or a secret one, or a marvelous one.
x.
Daniel
8:14
That is, until so many natural days be past, which make 6 years, 3 months and
an half: for so long under Antiochus was the Temple profaned.
y.
Daniel
8:15
Which was Christ who in this manner declared himself to the old fathers, how he
would be God manifest in flesh.
ee.
Daniel
8:23
Noting that this Antiochus was impudent and cruel, and also crafty that he
could not be deceived.
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