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Daniel 11:1-35

Sunday Morning Bible Study

June 30, 2013

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved?

We will not be having church on Thursday, July 4. The following Thursday evening, July 11, we will be hosting a premier of the new Greg Laurie movie, Hope for Hurting Hearts. Play the trailer.

Last week we started the last section of Daniel. It began with Daniel fasting, praying, and being visited by an angelic visitor. Now we will see the message that this heavenly messenger has come to deliver.

11:1-9 North vs. South

:1 “Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.)

The angel that had been speaking to Daniel in chapter 10 continues is the one speaking. He had been helping Darius.

The angel goes on to give Daniel one of the most fascinating looks into the future that have ever been recorded.

This chapter is so detailed and lays out so many future events, that it was one of the main reasons why the critics didn’t like the book of Daniel. Many said that the book wasn’t written by Daniel but by some person living much later. They said that instead of being written in 536 BC, it wasn’t written until 165 BC, after all these events took place.

But time has been proving the critics wrong. This book was indeed written hundreds of years before the events too place. This is an amazing book.

:2 And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.

:2 three more kings

Three kings followed King Cyrus.

Cambyses, ruled from 529 to 522 BC

Bardiya, ruled for a year (522-521)

A fellow named Bardiya ruled for a year, pretending to be the son of Cambyses (522-521 BC)

then Darius I, also known as Darius the Great. (521-486 BC). His son was …

Bardiya was overthrown by the next king, Darius I, also known as Darius the Great. He ruled from 521 to 486 BC. He’s mentioned in the book of Ezra (Ezra 5,6). His son is the next person mentioned…

:2 the fourth shall be far richer

Xerxes I ruled from 486 to 465 BC (Ezra 4:6)

Xerxes used his great riches to build a huge army. In 480 BC he attacked Greece. Herodotus recorded that Xerxes’ army was made up of a million men, including 10,000 elite troops known as the Persian Immortals.

When Xerxes’ troops reached Thermopylae, he was temporarily stopped by a small band of 300 Spartans, led by King Leonidas.

Play 300 clip

Xerxes eventually won the battle and moved south to conquer other parts of Greece. He got as far south as Corinth until a series of military blunders eventually resulted in his withdrawal from Greece, and the Greeks taking back their territory.

It is after this that we encounter him in the Bible, known as Ahasuerus. He was the king that married Esther.

:3 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

:4 And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.

:3 a mighty king shall arise

We now skip over a hundred years in history to look at the coming Greek rulers.

He mentioned the coming Greek rulers in the last chapter:

(Da 10:20 NKJV) Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.

You’re going to see that at different places in this prophecy, there will be skips through time.

This mighty king is Alexander the Great.

We’ve already heard about Alexander as he was hinted at in Daniel 2, 7, and 8.

In conquering the world, Alexander had to conquer Persia. Historians tell us that he did it to repay Xerxes for attacking Greece, but it would happen over a hundred years after Xerxes as Alexander fought against Darius III.

Play Alexander the Great clip

:4 divided toward the four winds

When Alexander died at the age of 32 in 323 BC, his empire was divided among his four generals.

His two sons, Hercules and Young Alexander, were both murdered.

We’ve already looked at this back in Daniel 7 (four leopard heads) and Daniel 8 (four goat horns)

Two of these generals form will be the basis for the next set of prophecies.

Cassander ruled Macedonia and Greece

Lysimacus ruled Thrace, Bithynia, and Asia Minor

Seleucus took Syria and lands east. His descendants will be called the “Seleucids” and have names like “Seleucus” or “Antiochus”. This will form the kingdom known as the “north”.

This is because their kingdom is “north” of Israel.

Ptolemy ruled Egypt, Palestine, Arabia. This will form the kingdom known as the “south”.

This is because their kingdom is “south” of Israel.

Daniel is speaking of these things 200 years before they happen.

:5 “Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion.

:5 the king of the South

This is Ptolemy I Soter (323-285 BC) who ruled Egypt.

When Alexander died, he was appointed as a “governor” or “satrap” of Egypt, but in 304 BC he declared himself to be a king.

The Ptolemy kings will be the kings of the “south”

:5 one of his princes

This was Seleucus, one of Alexander’s four generals.

Seleucus had originally been given the kingdom of Babylon to rule over, got booted out, and then reconquered his territory with the help of Ptolemy (“one of his princes”). His became the largest division of Alexander’s former empire.

Seleucus proclaimed himself to be a “king” the same year as Ptolemy, 304 BC.

The Seleucid kings will be the kings of the “north”.

:6 And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her authority, and neither he nor his authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times.

:6 they shall join forces

The new king of the South, Ptolemy II, Philadelphus (285-246 BC) had a daughter named Berenice. To make an alliance between Egypt and Syria, Berenice was to marry the new king of the north, Antiochus II Theos (261-246 BC), but only after he divorced his other wife (Laodice).

:6 she shall not retain the power

Bernice didn’t last too long. In a few years, the king of the south (Ptolemy) died and the king of the north (Antiochus II) took back his first wife, Laodice.

Laodice wasn't too happy about what had happened so she had Berenice killed, as well as her children. Then she turned around and poisoned her husband, the king of the north (Antiochus II), and had her son (Seleucus II Callinicus) made king (246-227 BC).

:7 But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail.

:7 a branch of her roots

The brother of Berenice, Ptolemy III, would take over Egypt (246 BC), raise up an army, and march against the king of the north, Seleucus II.

:8 And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.

:8 their precious articles of silver and gold

Ptolemy III brought a lot of wealth back to Egypt from his victory.

Because of this, he was nicknamed “Euergetes” (Benefactor).

:9 “Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.

:9 shall come to the … South

Several years later, Seleucus II mounted a return attack on Egypt in 240 BC, but was defeated and forced to return to his own land.

Why is all this important?

Each time the northern and southern kings attack each other, guess where they travel through?

Israel.

Lesson

God cares about you

All these prophecies are given because in the middle of all the global turmoil are a people special to God.

The Jewish people are known as the “apple” (or, “pupil”) of God’s eye.

(Zec 2:8 NKJV) For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

If you do something to “poke” the Jews, it’s like poking God in the eye.

God cares very much about what happens to them.

We could look at these prophecies and be amazed at how they predict history, but the point is to let God’s people know that there will still be many rough times ahead. And God knows all about it.

God feels the same way about you.

Rick Warren’s first sentence in his famous book, “The Purpose Driven Life” is, “It’s not about you”.

I understand what Rick intended with that phrase. It’s a healthy thing for us to become “other-centered” instead of “self-centered”. Yet there is a sense in God’s eyes that everything is about you.

You can tell how much people value things by the price they are willing to pay for the item.

A 2010 Bowman Platinum Mike Trout card will cost you about $50.

In 2007, the 1909 Honus Wagner tobacco card sold for $2.35 million.

Want to guess how much God paid for you?

(1 Pe 1:18–19 NKJV) —18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

God paid with the most expensive commodity in the universe. He paid for you with the blood of His own son.

Do you think that God cares about you?

What do you think God thinks about people who are out to hurt you?

11:10-19 Antiochus III The Great

:10 However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.

:10 his sons shall stir up strife

Seleucus II wasn’t so successful, but his sons did better.

The first son of Seleucus II, Seleucus III (226-223 BC) died early in a battle in Asia Minor.

The next son, Antiochus III the Great (223-187) mounted several campaigns against Egypt and was able to restore to Syria land as far south as Gaza.

:11 “And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy.

:11 the South shall be moved with rage

The king of the South is now Ptolemy IV Philopator (221-204 BC). He was outraged at how close the Syrian armies got to Egypt. He raised a huge army and they fought at the Palestinian border at Raphia in 217 BC. Ptolemy's army had 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 elephants. Antiochus had 62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 102 elephants. But Antiochus would lose this battle, big time., along with 10,000 infantry, 300 cavalry, 5 elephants, and 4,000 men taken prisoner.

We have actual footage from the battle with the elephants … Play Lord of the Rings scene

:12 When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.

:12 his heart will be lifted up

Ptolemy IV was pretty puffed up over his victory, but he didn’t capture Antiochus, so his victory wasn’t complete.

:13 For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.

:13 the king of the North will return

Antiochus III had escaped, and went on to conquer eastward as far as India. In the process, he gained much wealth, built another huge army, and prepared to attack Egypt again.

:14 “Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall.

:14 many shall rise up against …the South

About this time, Philip V of Macedonia made a treaty with Antiochus to try to carve up Egyptian land.

Philip seized several Aegean islands and places in Caria and Thrace. In Egypt, Agathocles tried to start a rebellion against Ptolemy.

There was also a group of Jews who allied themselves with Antiochus against Egypt, perhaps hoping to win independence, but their plans didn’t work.

:15 So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist.

:15 take a fortified city

This was the time period when Rome was beginning to conquer the world, and this spurred the Egyptians to try and take on Syria again. The Egyptian armies made it as far as Banias.

(Banias, near the headwaters of the Jordan).

The Egyptians were led by Scopas

They were finally defeated at Sidon, the fortified city.

The fortified city refers to Sidon (199-198 BC) where the Egyptians finally surrendered. Three Egyptian leaders, Eropas, Menacles, and Damoyenus tried to rescue Scopas at Sidon, but were unable to.

:16 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power.

:16 He shall stand in the Glorious Land

As Antiochus was defeating the Egyptians, he again took control over that area of land that was between Syria and Egypt. He took over the “Glorious Land” of Israel, bringing much destruction in the process.

World powers were at war here, and little Israel was caught in the middle.

:17 “He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him.

:17 give him the daughter of women

Though Antiochus wanted to wipe out Egypt, he was pressured by Rome to make a diplomatic treaty with Egypt by giving his young daughter, Cleopatra, to the young seven year old king Ptolemy V Epiphanes in marriage in 192 BC.

No,it was not THAT Cleopatra (from the movie), she doesn’t show up for 130 more years…

Antiochus was hoping that his daughter would help him finally defeat the Egyptians, but the plan backfired because she continually sided with her husband.

:18 After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him.

:18 turn his face to the coastlands

(Play Antiochus expands map clip) After his battles with Egypt, Antiochus turns to conquer Asia Minor in 197 BC and Greece in 192 BC. In the process Antiochus ended up offending the Romans, and they sent a general to take on Antiochus.

Antiochus was defeated first at Thermopylae (the place of the Spartan battle) north of Athens in 191 BC and then at Magnesia (a place famous for their milk J) on the Maeander River southeast of Ephesus in 189 BC by General Lucius Scipio Asiaticus (also known as Cornelius Scipio).

:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

:19 he shall stumble and fall

After Antiochus left Greece, he was killed while plundering a temple in Elam, in modern southern Iran.

Can you imagine what that small group of Jews living in Israel was thinking as they studied the writings of Daniel and tracked the developments of these great powers that battled around them?

Lesson

Trust the Bible

God says,

(Is 46:9–10 NKJV) —9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

If the Scriptures were correct about things like the prophecies in Daniel, things that are now in our past, how accurate do you think they will be about the things that have not yet been fulfilled?

Jesus said that He would come back one day.

(Jn 14:1–3 NKJV) —1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

He has promised to come again. Do you think He will?

And when we begin to realize that the Bible is actually a reliable document, shouldn’t you be willing to trust everything it says?

The Bible says that we are all sinners.

(Ro 3:23 NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

The Bible says that God has done something to take care of our sins – He sent His Son to die on a cross and pay the penalty for our sins.

He paid a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay.

The Bible says that if we believe in Jesus, God will forgive us and we will have a new chance, we will be born again.

(Jn 3:16 NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus said,

(Mt 16:24 NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Are you ready to take God seriously?

11:20-35 Antiochus Epiphanes

:20 “There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.

:20 in his place

Antiochus III had a son, named Seleucus IV Philopater (187-175 BC). He was forced to pay tribute to the Romans of 100,000 talents annually. He tried to steal from the Temple in Jerusalem and it is thought that he was poisoned by his own tax collector.

To do this, he raised taxes in his kingdom. He sent a man named Heliodorus to collect from the Jews. Heliodorus plundered the temple, and soon after he was sent to do so, Seleucus IV was suddenly and mysteriously removed, possibly by poison from Heliodorus.

:21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.

:21 a vile person

When Seleucus IV died, the transition to the next king didn’t go so well. Initially the infant son of Seleucus, named Antiochus, was named king. The boy’s uncle Antiochus IV, came from Athens to supposedly act as guardian over the baby. Yet the baby ended up dead, and Antiochus IV ended up on the throne.

Antiochus IV gave himself a nickname, “Ephiphanes”, which means “glorious”. The Jews called him “Epimanes”, meaning “mad man”.

Historically, he was a rather insignificant Syrian ruler. But he will play an important role in Scripture due to the way that he treated the Jews. He will also become a rather compelling picture of another future ruler, the antichrist.

It’s even possible that some of these verses may contain a double-prophecy, one in which there is a partial fulfillment with Antiochus Epiphanes, and another fulfillment with the antichrist.

:22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.

:22 also the prince of the covenant

Antiochus mounted several successful military campaigns. In 172 BC, Antiochus ordered the murder of the Jewish high priest, Onias III (called the “prince of the covenant”), and sets up his own high priest. a fellow named Menelaus as high priest.

:22 flood – This concept of a flood is picked up somewhere else in Scripture. When the nation of Israel will flee from the antichrist into the wilderness …

(Rev 12:15 NKJV) So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.

Perhaps this flood is also an army?

:23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people.

:23 he shall act deceitfully

About this time there was a power struggle over who would rule Egypt.

Antiochus Epiphanes’ father, Antiochus the Great, had sent his daughter Cleopatra to marry the king of Egypt (vs. 17). The struggle in Egypt is now between two of Cleopatra’s sons, who are also Antiochus Epiphanes’ nephews.

Antiochus Epiphanes sides with one of his nephews, Ptolemy VI Philometor, but then turns on the nephew and fights against him.

:24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.

:24 disperse among them the plunder

Antiochus was able to accomplish what he did because he bribed people. He didn’t keep his wealth to himself, instead he used it to influence people.

:25 “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 devise plans against him.

:26 Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain.

:25 against the king of the South

In 170 BC Antiochus came against Egypt to exert authority over his nephew. He brought a great army, and was met with a great army.

At Pelusium, just north of the Nile delta, Ptolemy finally stopped Antiochus from advancing, but ended up surrendering to Antiochus.

:27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time.

The king of the south sat down at a banquet to discuss terms of peace, but both were lying to each other.

In the end, the two Egyptian nephews of Antiochus started plotting to work against Antiochus.

Meanwhile, back in Egypt, the people of Alexandria made the other southern brother, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, king. Antiochus began making plans with the defeated brother to take back Egypt.

When Antiochus came back again, he captured Memphis and set up Ptolemy Philometor as king there, but was never able to capture Alexandria. Meanwhile, Philometor and his brother started making plans together against Antiochus.

:28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.

As Antiochus was commuting back and forth between Syria and Egypt, he kept causing grief to the Jews. He didn’t like the Jews.

:29 “At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter.

:29 go toward the south

In 168 BC, Antiochus once again invaded Egypt but was met by the Roman consul, Gaius Popillius Laenas. Gaius demanded that he leave or be attacked by Rome. The story was that Gaius drew a circle around Antiochus and told him he had to decide what to do before stepping out of the circle. Antiochus left.

:30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. “So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.

:30 ships from Cyprus

The Roman fleet of Laenas sailed to Egypt to help influence Antiochus. Antiochus was so mad that he had come all the way to Egypt for nothing that he took out his anger on the Jews. Tens of thousands of Jews were slaughtered. In the process, Antiochus gets close to those people in Israel who don’t like God (“who forsake the holy covenant”).

:31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

:31 the abomination of desolation

It was then, on his march back through Israel that Antiochus defiled the Temple.

He stops the regular sacrifices, set up a statue of Zeus, and sacrificed a pig to Zeus.

This is the “abomination of desolation”, much like what the antichrist will do one day. We have already talked much about this in Daniel 9.

Jesus said,

(Mt 24:15–16 NKJV) —15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

But keep in mind, Jesus wasn’t talking about Antiochus, because Antiochus Epiphanes already had done his thing 165 years earlier. Jesus was looking forward to yet another desolation. It will be similar to that of Antiochus.

Jesus was referring to the abomination we mentioned in Dan. 9:27.

Paul described the same event:

(2 Th 2:4 NKJV) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Antiochus is a picture of what the antichrist will be like.

:32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

:33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.

:32 the people who know their God

There were Jews who refused to give in to Antiochus. Mattathias Maccabeus, father of five sons, refused to do what Antiochus said and ended up killing Antiochus’ representative. Then he and his sons fled into the mountains and began the famous Maccabean revolt. Many died. The revolt lasted some time.

The celebration of Hanukkah has to do with the eventual victory of the Jews, and the cleansing of the Temple.

:34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue.

:34 join with them by intrigue

Some of the people who joined the Maccabeans weren’t sincere and betrayed them.

:35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

:35 some …shall fall, to refine them

Lesson

Growing up

I don’t tend to enjoy pain very much. In fact, I tend to do everything I can to avoid pain.

Yet some of the most painful things I’ve gone through in life just happen to coincide with the times of my greatest spiritual growth.

It’s not a coincidence.

James writes,

(Jas 1:2–4 NKJV) —2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The people living in the time of the Maccabees faced a choice – follow God and experience difficulty, or compromise and have an easy life.

Illustration

The Teacup (if time…)

An American couple went to Europe, to England and they were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Both the man and the wife were connoisseurs and fanciers of pottery, antiques and China. When they came to Sussex they went into a Little China shop. Their eyes singled out a beautiful little tea cup on the top shelf. The man said, “Can I see that, that’s the most beautiful tea cup I’ve ever seen.” And as he was holding the tea cup the tea cup begins to speak.

It said, “You don’t understand, I haven’t always been a tea cup. There was a time when I was red and that I was clay. My master took me and he rolled me and he patted me over and over and over. I yelled out “Let me alone” but he only smiled and said, “Not yet”. And then I was placed on a spinning wheel, suddenly I was spun around and around and around. “Stop it I’m getting dizzy,” I said. The master only nodded and said “Not yet” Then he put me in an oven, I’d never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me and I yelled and I knocked on the door and I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips. As he nodded his head he said “not yet.” Finally the door did open “whew”, and he put me on a shelf and I began to cool. “That’s better” I said. And then suddenly he grabbed me and he brushed me and he began to paint me all over. I thought I would suffocate, I thought I would gag, the fumes were horrible. And he just smiled and said, “Not yet”. And then suddenly he put me back into an oven, not the first one but one twice as hot, and I knew that I was going to suffocate. And I begged and I screamed and I yelled, and all the time I could see him through the opening, smiling and nodding his head, “not yet, not yet. And then I knew that there was no hope, I knew that I wouldn’t make it. I was just ready to give up when the door opened and he took me out and he put me on a shelf .Then an hour later he came back and he handed me a mirror and he said “Look at yourself”. And I did. And I said, “That can’t be me, I’m beautiful!” “I want you to remember,” he then said, “I know that it hurt to be rolled and to be patted but if I would have left you, you would have dried out. And I know that it made you dizzy to spin you around and around on a spinning wheel but if I had stopped you would have crumbled. And I know that it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven but if I hadn’t put you there you would have cracked. And I know that the fumes were oh so bad when I brushed you and when I painted you all over, but you see, if I hadn’t done that you wouldn’t have hardened and there would have been no color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you in that second oven you wouldn’t have survived for very long. The hardness would not have held. But now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.”