Lies At The Table
“Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:”
Isaiah 28:15
“And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.” Isaiah 28:18
“And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.”
Daniel 11:27
As yet, but little reference has been made to the people of God, or the Jews, except the breaking of the prince of the covenant. The angel is now about to give their connection with the Romans, the power which was to continue, to the end, to oppress them. The first league ever made between the Jews and Romans, was that related by Josephus, (Ant. b. xii. chap. x.) to which the reader is referred. The Grecians were at war with the Jews, and greatly oppressed and afflicted them. Bacchiades, a Grecian general, left off to trouble the Jews, at the command of the Romans, after this league. And, after this, the Grecians never more returned to vex and trouble the Jews. The time when Bacchiades thus left off to trouble them, was B. C. 158. From that time the Romans began to work deceitfully, and gradually to gain an ascendency over the Jews, until at length they became tributary to Rome, and were governed by high priests and: kings appointed by the Roman government. "For he shall come up, and become strong with a small people." Rome was, in its beginning, a small republican people, but about the time of this league, they had become the most formidable of any nation then in existence, and all kingdoms stood in fear of them.
Ver. 24. "He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the provinces; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches; yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time." Rome is said to have done more towards the conquest of the world by her policy and craftiness than she did by her arms. Scattering the prey and spoil was one of her favorite modes of conciliating the feelings of her most inveterate foes. But when they could not be won over to Roman interests in this way, the sword decided the case.
That which his fathers have not done. The Jews never before had set down peaceably under rulers appointed by a heathen government. But this they did under the Roman government, to which they were tributary.
Ver. 25. "And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall forecast devices against him." Mark Antony was the principal instrument in restoring Egypt to Ptolemy Auleutes. He returned to Rome, and after the death of Julius Cæsar he was one of the triumvirs who engaged to avenge his death. Cleopatra espoused their interest, and used all her arts to captivate Antony, as she had done Julius Cæsar, and in this she succeeded but too well. She captivated him by her charms, and afterward contrived to hold him in her silken chains. Antony, previous to leaving Rome, had married Octavia, the sister of Octavius Cæsar. He for a season had a great share in the government of Rome jointly with Cæsar. After he became so completely enamored by Cleopatra; that he found himself unable to escape her toils, he sent his divorce of Octavia to Rome, and threw himself on Cleopatra for protection and support. He had now identified his interests with Cleopatra's, and might be said to be king of the south. Cæsar, exasperated at Antony's treatment of his sister, swore revenge, and stirred up his power and courage with a great army to avenge his sister's wrongs. In this war Cæsar had two hundred and fifty ships and eighty thousand foot, with as many horse. He stirred up his courage with a great army. But Antony and Cleopatra's army was a very great army. It consisted of five hundred ships, two hundred thousand foot, and twelve thousand horse. The kings of Lybia, Cilicia, Cappadocia, Paphlagonia, Conragenia, and Thrace, were there in person; and those of Pontus, Judea, Lycaonia, Galatia, and Media had sent their troops. A more splendid and pompous sight, (says Rollin,) could not be seen, than this fleet, when it put to sea and had unfurled its sails.
But nothing equalled the magnificence of Cleopatra's galley, all flaming with gold; its sails of purple, its flags and streamers floating to the wind, whilst trumpets and other instruments of war made the heavens resound with airs of joy and triumph. {1838 JoL,
Antony followed her close, in a galley equally splendid. These armies were prevented by bad weather from coming to action; and both put into winter quarters until the next year, when both armies took the field, both by sea and land. The battle was fought by sea, at the mouth of the Gulf of Ambracia, in sight of both land armies, drawn up in battle array, expecting the event. For some time the contest was doubtful, and seemed as much in favor of Antony as Cæsar, till the retreat of Cleopatra. She became frightened at the terrible noise of the battle, and fled. She drew off with her the whole Egyptian fleet, and sailed for the coast of Peloponnesus. Antony saw her flying, and forgetting even himself, followed her, leaving the field, which until now he had bravely and well contested, to Cæsar. "But he shall not stand, for they shall forecast devices against him." Thus Antony, by the device, or flight, of Cleopatra, was ruined, but especially by her treachery, after their return to Egypt.
Ver. 24. "Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain." After the battle at sea, the land army remained entire, two hundred thousand foot, and twenty-two thousand horse. These might have made head against the Romans; but seeing themselves abandoned by their generals, they surrendered to Cæsar, who received them with open arms. Antony went from Tanarias to Lybia, where he had left a considerable army. But on his landing, he found that Scarpas, whom he had left in command, had declared for Cæsar. Thus they that fed of his meat destroyed him, and his army overflowed. Also in the battle at sea many on both sides fell down slain.
Verse 27. "And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed."
The kings here spoken of, were Cæsar and Antony. They for a season were united in the government of Rome. They both, however, were false and treacherous. They both spoke lies for a season, at one table. They both contemplated the universal extension of the Roman kingdom or empire of Rome. And that when this was once accomplished, Rome would endure forever. "But it shall not stand; for at the time appointed the end will come." Rome will fall and be given to the burning flame.
Verse 28. "Then shall he return into his own land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land." {1838
After the defeat of Antony he went to Egypt after Cleopatra. Thither he was followed by Cæsar. After some desperate engagements, Antony was betrayed by Cleopatra, also his own troops deserted him; and in the madness of his grief, he went to the palace to be avenged on Cleopatra for her perfidy. She, forseeing what would happen, had shut herself up, and caused Antony to be told, that preferring an honorable death to a shameful captivity, she had shut herself up among the tombs of her fathers and had killed herself. Antony believing the report, determined on putting an end to his own life. He went and shut himself up with his servant, and causing his armor to be taken off, commanded the servant to plunge his dagger into his breast. But being full of affection for his master, he stabbed himself with it and fell dead. Antony looking upon this as an example for him, thrust his sword into his body and fell upon the floor in a torrent of blood. Cleopatra after all her treachery toward Antony, when she found what was done, ordered every effort to be made to restore him; she even with her own hands drew him up at a window; and he died is her arms. Cæsar afterward found means of taking Cleopatra alive, and intended carrying her to Rome to adorn his triumph. But Cleopatra could never stoop to that, and obtained an aspic, by the bite of which she ended her days. Cæsar now held Egypt, the last of the four horns of the he goat, in his own power; and returned to Rome, with all the wealth of Egypt at his command. "Then shall he return to his own land with great riches." This was B. C. 30. The next exploit of importance which Rome should do, would be against the holy covenant. "His heart shall be against the holy covenant." Christ was condemned by the Roman government to be crucified, and Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews dispersed into all lands. "And return into his own land." After Jerusalem was destroyed, the Romans again returned to their own land.”
1838 JoL, PSC 73-76
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This was thirty years before the birth of Christ.”
1842 WiM, MWV2 92-94
“Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.”
Micah 6:10-12
“Drawing aside the veil which conceals the glory of God, it shows Him in His place, high and holy, and lifted up, not in a state of solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy, happy beings, every one waiting to bear the message, to do His bidding--all heaven is in active communication with every part of the universe through a variety of channels, and that holy One is actually stooping, bending from His throne, listening to every sound uttered, observing the movements of every earthly power. It is the highest Being condescending to the lowliest, approving or condemning every action which is developed.”
UL 23
“Again and again I have been shown that the past experiences of God's people are not to be counted as dead facts. We are not to treat the record of these experiences as we would treat a last year's almanac. The record is to be kept in mind, for history will repeat itself. The darkness of the mysteries of the night is to be illuminated with the light of heaven. . .
In the future, Satan's superstitions will assume new
forms. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God's people. Thus Satan will try to deceive if possible the very elect. Our watchword is to be, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).-- Lt 238, 1903.
PM 175.