Are we living in a time when everything sacred feels under siege—when what should be holy is mocked, and what should be firm begins to shake? It’s not just a feeling. The scriptures give language to what many of us are discerning. In Daniel 11:30–34, we are shown a moment of prophetic crisis that reads like a mirror to our generation. It begins with a ruler—frustrated, halted in his military ambitions—who turns his fury toward God’s covenant people. But he doesn’t act alone. He begins to conspire with those who have already abandoned the holy covenant. That’s the first wound: betrayal not just from the world, but from within. People who once stood for truth now lend their influence to destroy it.
Then the defilement begins. The passage says that forces will arise with this ruler, and they will pollute the sanctuary of strength, desecrating the very place meant to offer refuge and worship. They will take away the daily sacrifice, cutting off the regular rhythm of devotion, and instead set up what is described as “the abomination that maketh desolate.” In its original context, this likely pointed to the defiling of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes. But in our time, it may look like something else—perhaps not a statue in a holy place, but a compromise in the heart. A slow replacement of what is sacred with what is convenient. The sacrifice of truth for image. The silencing of conviction for the sake of comfort. And what is most tragic is how ordinary this defilement begins to feel—how quickly what is holy becomes optional, and what is profane becomes popular.
Then comes a dividing line. The passage says that those who do wickedly against the covenant will be corrupted by flatteries. It’s not blunt persecution. It’s something far more seductive: charm, empty promises, smooth words that appeal to ambition or fear. Flattery becomes a weapon—one that doesn’t force you to deny truth, but tempts you to lay it aside quietly.
And it works—on many.
But not on all.
In the middle of all this compromise and pressure, another kind of people emerge. The text says, “but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” These are not the ones with the loudest voices or the most impressive platforms. They are those with an unshakable anchor—those who know their God, not second-hand, not theoretically, but deeply, personally, and daily. Their strength isn’t found in the absence of difficulty—it’s seen in the presence of conviction. They stand firm when others fall. They speak truth when it’s costly. They shine without needing to be seen.
Some among them, Daniel tells us, will have understanding—and they will instruct many. In a time of confusion, they become guides. But even these faithful ones are not exempt from suffering. The prophecy is painfully honest: they shall fall by sword, by flame, by captivity, and by spoil for many days. Yes, they will be opposed, imprisoned, misunderstood. But their fall will not be final. A “little help” will come—maybe not dramatic deliverance, but enough grace to endure. Enough light to keep going. Enough presence to keep burning.
But then comes a final warning—quiet, but sharp. When the faithful rise, many will begin to join them. But not all will be sincere. “Many shall cleave to them with flatteries.” Not every follower is a friend. Not every ally is clean. Some are drawn by the heat of the moment, the visibility, the opportunity—not by conviction. This, too, is part of the enemy’s strategy: to infiltrate, to imitate, to distract. And so discernment becomes as necessary as courage.
Still, the message remains deeply hopeful. Even in the darkest seasons, God is not without a people. He always preserves a remnant—those who know Him, who do not trade the sacred for survival, who still burn when others go cold. Through them, God continues to move, speak, and draw others back to the truth.
“Lord, have respect unto the covenant.”Not because we deserve it, but because You are faithful, and the days are evil. May we be found among those who know you—who are strong, who endure, who discern, and who keep the fire burning when others let it die.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk