The angel told Daniel that he had helped Darius the Mede in some way but he never explains how. Have you ever wondered if God helps non-Christians? He did here. God loves and helps even those who are non-Christians. He may be helping your neighbor, the policeman who stopped you, or the fellow employee next to you. God loves even those who reject Him. Just think how much more He helps those who are His own!      Medo-Persia Prophecy. The angel came to Daniel to provide him with greater insights into the prophecies that he had in Daniel 7, 8, and 9. Daniel wanted to know more about the Antichrist. So the angel begins his explanation by referring to the Empire of Medo-Persia.     And now I will tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings are going to arise in Persia. Then a fourth will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as he becomes strong through his riches, he will arouse the whole empire against the realm of Greece. (NASB) Dan. 11:2   He tells Daniel that three more men will become kings in the kingdom. Since the angel is speaking during the reign of King Cyrus (Dan. 10:1), all that we have to do is count one, two, three years after Cyrus and we discover that the fourth king is Xerxes (486-465 B.C.).      History tells us that Cambyres conquered Egypt in 525 B.C. and then murdered his brother. He reigned eight years and was followed by Smerdis who reigned only one year. We know very little about him.      Darius I then became king. He was a cousin of Cyrus. He organized the kingdom and imposed taxation on the people of the empire. This allowed him to attempt to expand the empire into Greece. But Darius I was defeated. However, the king had been successful and helped to prepare the empire for Xerxes.      Xerxes became king and was soon very wealthy as a result of the taxation program established by Darius I. With a wealth of funds, Xerxes sought to defeat the territory around Greece. He gathered a huge army of one million including 120 ships and an elite group of soldiers. Historians say this elite group was exotically and gorgeously dressed. They were armed with bows, daggers, spears, and shields. He then attempted a military defeat of Greece but was defeated. This attempt by Xerxes was a warning to Greece of the dangers from the Medo-Persian empire.         < Back   Next >
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