What God decrees shall be Done

 Read Daniel 11.

God is never late.  All His plans, including meeting our needs, are always right on time.

Ken Taylor paraphrased Habakkuk 2:3 like this: "But these things I plan won't happen right away.  Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass.  Just be patient!  They will not be overdue a single day."

Daniel chapter 11 falls in the middle of a three chapter explanation from an angel to Daniel of God's plans for the nation of Israel.  There are three aspects of insights here.
1. The Historical Perspective.
Most of the events recorded here were future to Daniel, yet history to us.  The descriptions are incredibly accurate.  The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls confirms once and for all that this chapter was written in advance of these developments.  The vision provided further detail of all the previous dreams and visions in this book.  The fourth Persian king (v.2) turned out to be Xerxes, the husband of Queen Esther.  The kingdom of Greece was divided among four generals (v.4).  They were Seleucus in Syria and Mesopotamia, Ptolemy in the Egypt, Lysimacus ruled Thrace and portions of Asia Minor, Cassander took Macedonia and Greece.  The Selecuids and the Ptolemies fought back and forth (vv.5-20).  The wicked Greek ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes, desecrated the Temple (v.31).  However, in 164 B.C., a godly priest whose surname was Maccabeus and his family repelled the Greeks and reestablished the true worship of God in Jerusalem (v.32). 

2. The Prophetical Perspective.
Antiochus, however, did not fulfill the prophecies concerning the Antichrist.  According to Daniel, the Antichrist will rise from the Roman Empire.  Jesus taught that the fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel was still to come.  "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place..." (Matthew 24:15)  Jesus went on to say, "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no and never will be." (Matthew 24:21)  According to Daniel 11:36-45, the Antichrist will outdo Antiochus in his evil deeds.

3. The Practical Perspective.
-The word of God is accurate in every single detail and may be fully trusted completely. (v.37b)
-God will fulfill all His future plans for the world and for us right on time.  Note how often the phrase "the appointed time" occurs.
-While we wait for the unfolding of the next movements in the LORD's plans, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to be careful on how we live.
"...to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time..." (1 Timothy 6:14-15a)