How does Daniel 11:20 connect with Jesus' teachings on earthly wealth? The Prophetic Snapshot: Daniel 11:20 “Then in his place a raiser of taxes will arise for the glory of the kingdom; yet within a few days he will be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.” Earthly power secures a revenue stream, but God alone controls its duration. Most scholars identify the “raiser of taxes” as Seleucus IV Philopator, who squeezed his subjects to refill an imperial treasury—only to be assassinated a few years later. The verse underscores how swiftly riches and the men who chase them pass from the scene. Jesus on the Temporary Nature of Wealth Jesus repeatedly spotlights the same truth Daniel records: • Matthew 6:19-21—“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” • Luke 12:15—“One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” • Mark 8:36—“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Daniel shows wealth cannot prevent a ruler’s downfall; Jesus shows wealth cannot secure a soul’s destiny. Serving God, Not Gold • Luke 16:13—“You cannot serve both God and money.” • The tax-raising king served money to “glorify the kingdom”; believers serve the King of kings to glorify God. • Mark 12:17—“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Pay what is due, yet keep ultimate allegiance fixed on heaven. Wise Stewardship, Not Self-Indulgence • Luke 16:9—Use earthly assets to advance eternal priorities; Seleucus IV used them to prop up a fading empire. • Luke 12:16-21—The rich fool’s barns mimic the tax raiser’s coffers: both overflow, both empty overnight. • Scripture never condemns money itself; it condemns trusting in it (1 Timothy 6:17). Living It Out Today • Hold resources loosely; they last “a few days” by heaven’s clock. • Let every financial decision ask, “How does this honor Christ and serve others?” • Give generously, invest eternally, and remember that kingdoms, budgets, and even empires crumble—while God’s kingdom endures forever (Daniel 2:44). |
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