Last week we covered the attached. We looked at the majority of Daniel 11. We talked about God's History, God's Heart, and God's Holding with the primary emphasis on why He trains us through chastening. We looked at how history is completely under His control. This week will will be studying the end of Daniel 11. Please read at least verses 24 on if not the entire chapter again. It is important to start with the Angel telling Daniel he will be there and seeing the specfiics of the kings/kingdoms God would allow. To see Israel embroiled in conflict between nations at war. To know we have a choice in that war as to if we take sides or simply stay with God, glorifying Him and stand fast to our calling if we are saved.
Primary questions for this week (as I am sending this out so late):
1) Where is your treasure? - be real and honest with yourselves here. I have had people many times say thingslike "my children" - don't shy away from that - if it is that answer, what do you do - you spend time with them, you take care of them, you learn about them. - do you treasure God? If so, what do you do that shows it?. If it is not God why isn't it?
2) How do you show that God is in control of everything that happens each day?
3) Do your kids, spouse, friends, co-workers say that "He/She is reliant upon God"?
4) What one thing has God taught you through chapter 11?
This week (from John MacArthur):
The Future of IsraelThe Reign of Rebellion--Part 2byJohn MacArthurAll Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE) Daniel 11:36-45 Tape GC 27-29
Outline
IntroductionReviewI. Ahasuerus (v. 2) II. Alexander (vv. 3-8) III. Antiochus the Great (vv. 9-20) IV. Antiochus Epiphanes (vv. 21-35) LessonV. The Antichrist (vv. 36-45) A. The Timing of His Coming1. "The time of the end"2. The scope of the prophecy3. The historical record4. The timing of God's final judgment5. The similarity of description6. The prophetic contextB. The Circumstances at His Coming1. His character (vv. 36-39) a) His power (v. 36a) b) His pride (v. 36b) c) His blasphemy (v. 36c) d) His perversion (v. 37a) (1) Of tradition(2) Of love(3) Of religione) His idol (vv. 37b-39) (1) The god he will honor (vv. 37b-38a) (2) The offering he will make (vv. 38b-39) 2. His conflict (vv. 40-45) a) The cause (v. 40a-b) (1) Invasion from the South (v. 40a) (2) Invasion from the North (v. 40b) (a) Israel will be regathered(b) Israel will be at peace(c) Israel will be in its latter days(d) Israel's enemy will be far northb) The chariots (v. 40c) c) The conquest (vv. 40d-43) (1) Of north and south (v. 40d) (2) Of the Arab states (v. 41) (3) Of the Africans (vv. 42-43) d) The cataclysm (v. 44) e) The climax (v. 45a) f) The condemnation (v. 45b) Conclusion
Introduction
Daniel 11 describes God's chastening of His people Israel. Because of their sinfulness Israel was taken captive into Babylon for seventy years. God sent an angel to show Daniel that that chastening will continue through the reign of the Antichrist to the return of the Messiah. Daniel 11:1-35 details the oppression of the land and people of Israel during the Persian and Greek eras. God desires the spiritual purification of His people (Dan. 11:35). He uses suffering to accomplish that. The apostle Peter told his readers that the Lord would perfect them after they had "suffered awhile" (1 Pet. 5:10). James said that the testing of our faith produces patience, which perfects us (James 1:3-4).
Review
I. AHASUERUS (v. 2) II. ALEXANDER (vv. 3-8) III. ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT (vv. 9-20) IV. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES (vv. 21-35)
Lesson
V. THE ANTICHRIST (vv. 36-45) Between verses 35 and 36 of Daniel we leap across centuries of persecutors to the final persecutor of Israel: the Antichrist. He will reign over the final form of the Roman Empire and preside during the final chapter of God's chastisement of Israel. The Antichrist will be all the evil power of Ahasuerus, Alexander, Antiochus the Great, and Antiochus Epiphanes combined into one person. He will be a counterfeit Christ who will make a treaty with Israel. But in the middle of the seven-year tribulation period he will break the treaty, desecrate the Temple, forbid the practice of Judaism, blaspheme God, and precipitate the holocaust of Armageddon that will end with the return of Jesus Christ. A. The Timing of His ComingThe sharp break in the flow of history that occurs at verse 36 is introduced in verse 35: "Even to the time of the end. " Up to this point Daniel 11 deals with what to us is past history. Verse 36 on reveal events that are yet future. Some Bible commentators disagree. They believe verses 36-45 refer to Antiochus Epiphanes, not the Antichrist. Because they refuse to accept that the Bible predicts future events, they are forced to explain those verses as past history. There are several reasons to suggest that a king yet future is spoken of in Daniel 11:36-45. 1. "The time of the end""The time of the end" (v. 35, cf. v. 40) is an eschatological term that points to the last days of the present age. 2. The scope of the prophecyThe scope of the prophecy goes beyond the Persian and Greek eras. In Daniel 10:14 the messenger angel tells Daniel, "I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days. "3. The historical recordWe can substantiate the historical accuracy of the prophecy in Daniel 11 up to verse 35. After that we have no historical data to explain Daniel verses 36-45. Also, there is no indication that the events recorded in those verses were fulfilled during the life of Antiochus Epiphanes. 4. The timing of God's final judgmentDaniel 11:36 says the king "shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished. " When the term "indignation" is used in the Bible in a prophetic context, it is used almost synonymously with the tribulation period--the final outpouring of God's wrath in the last days. 5. The similarity of descriptionThe ruler described in this passage is similar to other scriptural accounts of the Antichrist. Daniel 12:1 says he will reign during "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. " It will be worse than any other time in the history of man. Verse 2 tells us it will be followed by the resurrection, which is at the end of the last days. 6. The prophetic contextThe previous three prophecies in the book of Daniel all speak of the Antichrist. It makes sense that the final prophecy in Daniel would follow the same pattern. B. The Circumstances at His Coming1. His character (vv. 36-39) "The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. "This king has been called "the willful king" since he will operate "according to his [own] will. " He is identified by several descriptive titles in the Bible: the "little horn" (Dan. 7:8) , the "king of fierce countenance" (Dan. 8:23) , "the prince that shall come" (Dan. 9:26) , the "man of sin . . . the son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3; a Hebraism meaning he is doomed to destruction) , and "a beast" (Rev. 13:1). a) His power (v. 36a) "The king shall do according to his will. "The Antichrist will make his decisions as an absolute sovereign and with self-centered motives. Because he will be empowered by Satan he will give the world the baptism of hell. Because he will have demonic cooperation he will be able to establish an absolute world monarchy. His will have credibility because he will be able to do miraculous signs and wonders that deceive people. Under his rule the western world will become the protector of Israel against those who desire to control it--the Soviet Union, the East, the Arab nations, and a coalition of African nations. During the Antichrist's reign there will be other rulers, but he will be supreme over all. Revelation 17 mentions ten other kings who will be puppet kings under the Antichrist. Revelation 13 indicates he will be aided by a "false prophet" who will do his bidding. The kings of the south, north, and east will attempt to revolt against the Antichrist only after his sovereignty is established. But his power to make decisions will be absolute. His influence in the world will be so complete that he will cause all mankind to bear his mark to function in society (Rev. 13:16-17). b) His pride (v. 36b) "He shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god. "Antiochus Epiphanes was proud but he never magnified himself above every god. He religiously worshiped the gods of the Greeks and tried to force the Jews to do the same. But the Antichrist will be atheistic--setting himself above every god. The apostle Paul said he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. 2:4). While there have been many egoists in history, the one who will sit in the Temple claiming to be God will be the greatest of all. He will be the epitome of pride. Paul appropriately identified him as an opposer or adversary (2 Thess. 2:4) --a common description of Satan that directly links the Antichrist to the evil power behind him. The verb used in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is translated "exalted above measure" in 2 Corinthians 12:7. The Antichrist will exalt himself above all that is worshiped--whether deities, shrines, images, or altars. He will initially tolerate religion, but at a given time he will destroy the false church (identified as "the great harlot" in Revelation 17:1). He will let the Jewish people worship in their Temple until the middle of the tribulation but then he will desecrate it--committing the abomination of desolation after the pattern of Antiochus Epiphanes and slaughtering so many Jewish people that two-thirds of them will die (Zech. 13:8). c) His blasphemy (v. 36c) "[He] shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods. "The Antichrist will be a blasphemer without equal. Revelation 13:5-6 says, "There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. . . . And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. " His will be the mouth of hell, and he will try to change God's moral laws (Dan. 7:25). The Hebrew text of Daniel 11:36 indicates that the "marvelous" or astonishing things the Antichrist will speak will be unbelievable. In effect, that means the intensity of his blasphemy will be unparalleled in human history. Why Will God Allow the Antichrist to Reign?God will tolerate the Antichrist's atrocities because they are part of the process God is using to purify Israel. And they will last only a short period of time! Revelation 13:5 states that the Antichrist will be given power for only forty-two months (three- and-a-half years). He will exalt himself as God for the last half of the Tribulation, until God's wrath is completely poured out. His blasphemy and oppression will finally lead the nation of Israel to recognize Jesus Christ as its Messiah and turn to Him. Nothing short of the Antichrist's reign and persecution will do that. d) His perversion (v. 37a) The angel told Daniel that the Antichrist will be perverted in three ways. (1) Of tradition"Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers. "The King James Version translates that as "the God of his fathers," but it is better translated with the plural "gods" because the singular form of the Hebrew word is used twice in the immediate context. That means the Antichrist will not respect traditional religion of his fathers. Paul said that in the last days men will be "without natural affection" (2 Tim. 3:3). Families will fall apart because people will no longer care about their family members. There will be no respect for parents, heritage, or family tradition. While people normally respect the beliefs of their ancestors, the Antichrist will not. (2) Of love"Nor the desire of women. "That's a very difficult phrase to interpret. It could mean that the Antichrist will be a homosexual because he will lack the normal capacity to love a woman. Some think it means he will lack the gentleness and graciousness characteristic of women. Others conclude it means he won't care for the Messiah, "the desire of women" being interpreted as the hope of Jewish women to give birth to the Messiah. But in context that last interpretation seems forced since many people don't have that desire and thus it would not sufficiently distinguish the Antichrist. I believe the phrase indicates that he will not have a normal affection for a wife, mother, or sister. (3) Of religion"Nor regard any god. "Most people believe in some kind of god. When getting into trouble they usually turn to a higher source of power than themselves for help. Men invent religions because they naturally believe in the supernatural. But the Antichrist will be completely irreligious. Our world seems ready for that kind of leader. Many today aren't bothered by a man in leadership who doesn't have normal family relationships, though fifty years ago no one would have considered him. Few now seem to be bothered if a man has a perverted sexual life--homosexuality is often presented merely an alternative lifestyle. Nor is belief in God thought to be important in our society. Probably most would accept an atheist in power, especially if he pretended to be religious. e) His idol (vv. 37b-39) (1) The god he will honor (vv. 37b-38a) "He shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate [lit. "in its place"] shall he honor the god of fortresses. "The Antichrist will worship "the god of fortresses" in place of the normal human affections for family, women, and God. The Hebrew word translated "fortresses" is used six other times in Daniel 11 (vv. 1, 7, 10, 19, 31, 39). In each instance it refers to a strong place or fort, and always deals with military power. Daniel 7:23 says the fourth and final form of the Roman Empire under the rule of the Antichrist "shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. " Such incredible military power means he will be able to magnify himself above all else. He will have the intimidation of nuclear weapons or whatever other weapons of mass destruction are fashionable at his time. (2) The offering he will make (vv. 38b-39) "A god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. "The text assumes that the Antichrist's forefathers would offer anything valuable to their deities--whether gold, silver, precious stones, or other desirable items. But the Antichrist will offer his precious metals and stones to acquire a war machine, "a god whom his fathers knew not. " Because war is so expensive he may seek to capture the world's wealth to buy armaments. The Antichrist will attack the strongest fortresses with his "foreign god" (war machine). Once he obtains control of the earth he will honor everyone who honors him with land, a leadership position, and limited independence. To insure political control he will obligate those he conquers to obey him. That kind of control has been seen in our time in atheistic communism--a militant philosophy of world domination. 2. His conflict (vv. 40-45) During the first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation the Antichrist will obtain world dominion. During that time he will let the false church coexist with his atheistic government. He will also allow Israel certain freedoms while he honors his treaty of protection with them. But that will change. a) The cause (v. 40a-b) (1) Invasion from the South (v. 40a) "At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him. "A revolution against the Antichrist will erupt. Holding a global empire together is an impossible task and even hell won't be able to do it. The empire the Antichrist obtained peacefully by solving some problems in the Middle East will begin to fall apart. "The king of the south" will bring an army out of Africa in an attempt to control the strategic Middle East. The Hebrew word describing that attack as a "push" comes from a word meaning "to push like a goat. "(2) Invasion from the North (v. 40b) "The king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind. "At the same time an army more powerful than the southern army will attack from the north. The Antichrist will be in control of the Middle East so those two attacks will be against him. "The king of the north" refers to the area now occupied by the Soviet Union or Russia, which desires control of the Middle East. Ezekiel 38-39 contains important evidence indicating a Russian army that will invade from the north:(a) Israel will be regatheredEzekiel 38:8 says, "After many days, thou shalt be visited; in the latter years thou shalt come into the land. " When the king of the north attacks, Israel will be regathered in its land (cf. v. 12). (b) Israel will be at peaceThe king of the north "shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates" (v. 11). Israel will be at peace. That's precisely the nature of the first three-and-a-half years of the tribulation. The Antichrist will become the protector of Israel by making a pact with them for seven years (Dan. 9:27). The resulting peace will cause Israel to lower its defenses in misplaced reliance on the power of the Antichrist. (c) Israel will be in its latter days"In the latter days" (Ezek. 38:16) is an eschatological expression that indicates the events described in Ezekiel 38 will take place during Israel's seventieth week (the Tribulation). (d) Israel's enemy will be far northEzekiel 38:2 says, "Son of man, set thy face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. " Meshech and Tubal are the names of ancient peoples who lived in northern Mesopotamia and the Caucasus region of modern Russia. The people of the northern king are described as "Gomer, and all its hordes; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters . . . from the north parts" (Ezek. 38:6; 39:2). The Hebrew word translated "north" in those verses refers to the far north. The only country far north of Israel is Russia. According to Ezekiel 38:5 when Russia attacks it will be joined by Persia (Iran) , Cush (Ethiopia) , and Put (Libya) --representatives of an Arab alliance that will chafe under the power of the Antichrist and the western alliance. They will unite with Russia and attack his interests in the Middle East. b) The chariots (v. 40c) "[The king of the north will attack] with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships. "The king of the north will attack with the modern counterparts of chariots, horsemen, and ships--everything they've got. But according to Ezekiel 39 God will give victory to the Antichrist. Apparently five-sixths of the Russian army will be destroyed by supernatural intervention (vv. 2-5). Thus the Antichrist will win not by his own power but because God will exercise His power. c) The conquest (vv. 40d-43) (1) Of north and south (v. 40d) "[The Antichrist] shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. "The Antichrist will decimate the forces of Russia and those confederated with it. Only one-sixth of the northern army will survive to retreat back to its land. This is history--though it hasn't happened yet, it will. (2) Of the Arab states (v. 41) "He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. "After defeating the kings of the south and the north (the African army, the Russian army, and the Arab allies of Russia) , the Antichrist will enter into Israel ("the glorious land"). He may wonder how he won since Ezekiel 38-39 indicates it's divine intervention that will destroy the northern and southern armies. After entering Israel the Antichrist's forces will devastate the southern territory (v. 42). But verse 41 indicates that Edom, Moab, and Ammon (to the southeast of Israel) will escape his depredations. That's because He will be busy to the southwest with the African army. He won't be concerned about the southeast because it is of minimal strategic value, being mostly desert. The angel's revelation to Daniel concerning the future was remarkably specific. (3) Of the Africans (vv. 42-43) "He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. "The Antichrist will destroy both the Russian army and its Arab allies from the north, as well as the African army from the south. By those conquests he will become the master of the world. He will thus pass the first great test of his ability to subdue revolution. It's at this time that he will truly begin to sense his power. He will destroy the false church and begin to persecute Israel. He'll call for the whole world to worship him and abolish all other religions. He'll set himself up as God, tolerating no other authority and ruling in absolute supremacy. All the allies of Russia will be "at his steps" (v. 43; lit. , "in his train") , meaning they will follow him subserviently. d) The cataclysm (v. 44) "But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore, he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to sweep away many. "At this point in the tribulation the events described in Revelation 6-18 begin to unfold. God will pour out His wrath: the seven seals will be opened, the seven trumpets blown, and the seven bowls poured out. His wrath will engulf the earth while the Antichrist reigns as God. The one-sixth of the Russian army that God spared from destruction will regroup for a second attack on the Antichrist. The "tidings out of the east" (Dan. 11:44) are explained in Revelation 9:13-16: at the blowing of the sixth trumpet the apostle John "heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Loose the four angels who are bound in the great River, Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand. "That passage describes an army that will come from the east of Israel. It may be a demonic host or it may be a human army, perhaps from communist China. Back in the May 22, 1965 edition of Time magazine (p. 35) it was reported that the Chinese standing militia numbers over 200 million--an army that has been ready for a long time and ironically knows little of the book of Revelation. The eastern army will move toward Israel desiring to gain control over the Middle East and throw off the rule of the Antichrist. According to Daniel 11:44 the Antichrist will triumph again in a second great battle. That's not surprising because he will have Satan and hell on his side helping him. e) The climax (v. 45a) "He [the Antichrist] shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain. "Mount Zion lies between the Mediterranean and Dead seas. In the Temple of Jerusalem the Antichrist will set up his base of operations and declare himself God. That will occur near the end of the tribulation. Israel will lie devastated as a result of war and persecution. Two thirds of the people of Israel will be killed (Zech. 13:8). But that is not the way history ends. f) The condemnation (v. 45b) "He shall come to his end, and none shall help him. "Just when he seems invincible the Antichrist will come to his end. When he thinks he has won the Battle of Armageddon the Lord Jesus Christ will descend with a sword from the sky and slay him (Rev. 19:11-21; 2 Thess. 2:8). The Antichrist will be no match for God's true King. Just prior to Christ's return Israel will reach its deepest point of sorrow, suffering, and humiliation. As He comes to their rescue they will look upon Him "whom they have pierced" (Zech. 12:10) , and they will be redeemed. They will already have been evangelized by the 144 thousand Jewish witnesses during the second three-and-a-half years of the tribulation (Rev. 7:4-10). At their lowest point they will finally accept the gospel they have heard.
Conclusion
There are three major lessons in the eleventh chapter of Daniel:A. God Is in ControlEvery detail of history is under God's control. Every ruler--Ahasuerus, Alexander, Antiochus the Great, Antiochus Epiphanes, the Antichrist, and anyone in between--has carried out His will. It's a comfort to know that history is His story. All is in His hand and there's no need to worry about the future. B. God Is Purging His PeopleGod continues to purge Israel. That purging will end in an incredible day of testing for Israel. In Luke 21:28 the Lord warned, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near. "C. God Will Triumph over EvilThe world's godless system will end in a holocaust and Christ will triumph over it. For those who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ that will inaugurate a blissful future that will last forever! I hope you know Him.
Thanks to all of you that have prayed and sent cards for my back. I had an MRI this morning and awaiting results.
From Last week (from John MacArthur):
The Future of IsraelThe Reign of Rebellion--Part 1byJohn MacArthurAll Rights Reserved(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE) Daniel 11:1-35 Tape GC 27-28
Outline
Introduction
A. The Chastening of Israel
B. The Protection of Israel
Lesson
I. Ahasuerus (v. 2)
II. Alexander the Great (vv. 3-8)
A. The Extent of His Dominion
B. The Division of His Empire
C. The Resulting Conflict
III. Antiochus the Great (vv. 9-20)
A. Revenge from the North (vv. 9-10)
B. Retaliation from the South (vv. 11-12)
C. The Return of the North (vv. 13-20)
1. The Attack (vv. 13-15)
2. The Aftermath (vv. 16-20)
IV. Antiochus Epiphanes (vv. 21-35)
A. His Accession (vv. 21-24)
B. His Aggression (vv. 25-35)
1. The first attack (vv. 25-28)
2. The second attack (vv. 29-35)
a) Against Egypt (vv. 29-30)
b) Against Israel (vv. 31-35)
(1) Israel's desolation
(2) Israel's defense
Conclusion
Introduction
We live in a rebellious age. Daniel 11 chronicles an age of defiance towards God--a defiance that will last through our own time to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. The Chastening of Israel
Within the larger context of the world's rebellion against God we read of Israel's rebellion against Him. The Old Testament affirms that Israel is God's chosen nation. Yet it also chronicles its disobedience to Him through idolatry and immorality. It defied God, spurning His grace and lovingkindness. As a result God has chastened Israel.
The chastening of Israel sets the context for Daniel 11. The prophet Jeremiah declared Israel would be punished by spending seventy years in captivity. While in captivity the prophet Daniel realized the seventy years were nearly over and expected the Jewish people to return to their land, Jerusalem to be restored, and the Temple rebuilt. But when permitted to return, only a small fragment of the people made the trip to the Promised Land. Jerusalem remained in disrepair and the Temple in ruins. Instead of responding to God's chastening, they remained entrenched in the pagan lifestyle of Babylon. The seventy-year exile in Babylon was obviously only the beginning of Israel's chastening.
Daniel was discouraged by what he saw and turned to God in prayer. He wanted to know why things hadn't turned out the way he expected. After mourning with fasting and prayer for three weeks, Daniel received the prophecy contained in Daniel 11-12. He was told that the chastening of Israel would continue until when the nation was completely restored. At that time the Messiah will establish His kingdom on earth.
B. The Protection of Israel
Daniel 11:1 says, "I [the messenger angel], in the first year of Darius, the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen [the archangel Michael]. " Michael had helped out that angel about three years previously (Dan. 10:1) when the decree allowing the Jewish people to return to their land was issued. Apparently the demon named "the prince of Persia" (Dan. 10:13) was trying to prevent that return, and that's why Michael needed assistance. That gives us insight into how the holy angels enforce God's will in the midst of demonic activity.
The messenger angel brought a revelation of God's future plans for His people. Though Daniel was told that his people would continue to suffer through the tribulation until the establishment of the millennial kingdom (Dan. 12:2) , it was a comfort for him to know that his people would be under the protection of God's holy angels throughout that period.
Daniel in the Critic's Den
Though the prophecy in Daniel 11 deals with the rise and fall of Gentile world powers, it's primarily concerned with the suffering and fate of Israel. The minute details of the prophecy have already been fulfilled in history with an accuracy that has attracted the attacks of literary critics. It so precisely predicted future events involving the Persian and Greek Empires that critics assume Daniel must have been written written after the events took place. That's based on the premise that God didn't write the Bible and they must thus conclude that the author of the book of Daniel was a liar, since he claimed to receive knowledge of future events from God prior to their actually happening. They are left with a God who doesn't know the future and a prophet of impeccable character (Ezek. 14:14, 20) who in fact behaved dishonorably. But there are many linguistic and historical reasons to authenticate the book of Daniel as prophecy. (For further information see Josh McDowell's Daniel in the Critic's Den, available from Josh McDowell Ministries, P. O. Box 1000, Dallas, Texas 75221; 1-800-222-JOSH). Daniel wasn't a liar and our God is able to tell us about the future as easily as if it were the past.
Lesson
I. AHASUERUS (v. 2)
"There shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all, and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. "
The angel told Daniel that three Persian kings would precede a fourth, who would be stronger and richer than the others. He would attack Greece. Historically that's exactly what happened: though there were more than four Persian kings in the history of Persia, from the time of Daniel there were four, the last of whom mounted a massive assault on Greece.
The first was named Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, who was king at the time Daniel's prophecy was given (ca. 537 B. C. ; cf. Dan. 10:1). The second was a man named pseudo-Smerdis who looked so much like Cambyses that he was able to usurp the throne by deception. The third king was Darius Hystaspes, who launched a minor unsuccessful attack on Greece. The fourth was King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes I. He is the Persian king spoken of in the book of Esther. He had fabulous wealth and commanded one of the largest military forces ever assembled in the ancient world. With his huge army and navy he attacked Greece, but was soundly defeated by the Greeks on both land and sea. The Greeks never forgot that attack, and 150 years later took revenge on the Persians through Alexander the Great.
II. ALEXANDER THE GREAT (vv. 3-8)
"A mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the power of the arm, neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begot her, and he that strengthened her in these times. But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, who shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail; and shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. "
A. The Extent of His Dominion
The "mighty king" of verse 3 was Alexander the Great of Greece. That is affirmed by the vast majority of Bible commentators. He retaliated for the previous Persian incursions into Greece by seizing the entire Persian Empire. He conquered the western world from Greece to India, and then wept that there were no other kingdoms for him to conquer. He was a man of "great dominion" (v. 3) , and may have had a more significant impact on history than any other ruler. He was an absolute monarch with a powerful personality, great leadership ability, and a powerful army. With those assets he was able to "do according to his will" (v. 3). Israel was part of the Persian Empire at the time of Alexander's conquest, so in occupying the empire Alexander took possession of Israel.
B. The Division of His Empire
Alexander died at the age of thirty-three. No sooner did he "stand up" (v. 4) in the power of his empire than he was struck down. His empire shattered and "divided toward the four winds of heaven" (v. 4) --amongst his four generals. As Daniel 11 predicted, the empire did not go to "his posterity" (v. 4) nor remain "according to his dominion which he ruled" (v. 4).
Alexander's heirs were a mentally retarded half-brother, an illegitimate child, and a baby born after Alexander's death. They were all murdered. After a struggle for power General Cassander took Macedonia and Greece, General Lysimachus took Thrace and Asia Minor, General Seleucus took Syria (to the north of Israel) , and General Ptolomy took Egypt (to the south of Israel). The dominion of each was less than that of Alexander--just as Daniel prophesied.
C. The Resulting Conflict
Seleucus and Ptolomy produced the dynasties that Daniel 11:5-20 focuses on. The two dynasties were often at war, and since Israel was located between them, their wars were often fought in Israel or on its boarders. In those verses are recorded two centuries of conflict in which Israel was a pawn between the Ptolemaic kings in the South and the Seleucid kings to the North.
Initially, the Ptolemaic dynasty was more powerful than the Seleucid, but as time went on the northern dynasty increased in power. The two kingdoms determined to resolve increasing tension between them by an alliance. Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (the king of the south) , married Antiochus II Theos (the grandson of Seleucus, the king of the north). That was a common method of cementing together alliances in the ancient world. Unfortunately Antiochus was already married, but he divorced his wife and went ahead with marriage to Berenice in about 250 B. C. That's exactly what the angel told Daniel would happen (Dan. 11:5-6).
The marriage did not produce any lasting peace: after the death of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Antiochus II Theos divorced Berenice and took back his former wife, Laodice. Laodice took revenge by murdering Berenice, her son, and her attendants. She also murdered Antiochus (thus completely fulfilling verse 6). Those murders brought Laodice's son, Seleucus II Callinicus, to the throne in 246 B. C.
Berenice did not remain unavenged. The angel told Daniel, "Out . . . of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, who shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them and prevail" (v. 7). Bernice's brother Ptolemy III Euergetes, the king of Egypt at the time of Berenice's murder, brought an army against Callinicus and defeated him. As a result the angel's statement that he would "carry captive into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and gold" (v. 8) came true. History records that Ptolemy returned to Egypt with hundreds of idol statues and thousands of talents in silver.
Callinicus died from a riding accident about 226 B. C. Ptolemy III reigned in Egypt for six years after that, for the angel told Daniel that he would "continue more years than the king of the north" (v. 8). The precise way in which these prophecies were fulfilled points to the accuracy of Scripture. It also points to the continued suffering of Israel as it sat in the middle of those two warring dynasties.
III. ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT (vv. 9-20)
Liberal and conservative scholars agree that the next great king was Antiochus III the Great.
A. Revenge from the North (vv. 9-10)
"The king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through; then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. "
Ptolemy had defeated Callinicus, the northern king, so he now controlled Israel. But Callinicus had two sons (v. 10). They raised "a multitude of great forces" (v. 10) to avenge their father's defeat--but one (Seleucus III Soter) died. The remaining son (Antiochus III the Great) became king of the north and continued the campaign against the south. He swept through Israel with a force of about 75,000 soldiers and penetrated all the way to a southern fortress.
B. Retaliation from the South (vv. 11-12)
"The king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, but the multitude shall be given into his hand. And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands, but he shall not be strengthened by it. "
At the time of Antiochus's invasion Ptolemy IV Philopator the king of the south was. In response to the invasion Ptolemy raised an army of 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 elephants (which were used as beasts of burden and battering rams). Ptolemy was successful and the multitude from the north was "given into his hand" (v. 11). History records that Antiochus lost 10,000 infantry, 300 cavalry, and five elephants. But Ptolemy was not strengthened by his victory--in the long run he only made Antiochus angry.
C. The Return of the North (vv. 13-20)
1. The Attack (vv. 13-15)
"The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come, after certain years, with a great army and with much riches. And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south; also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, but they shall fall. So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a siege mound, and take the fortified cities; and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. "
Thirteen years after his defeat by Ptolemy, Antiochus returned to fight Egypt with "a multitude greater than the former" (v. 13). His army was assisted by "the robbers of [Daniel's] people" (v. 14). The Hebrew word translated "robbers" literally means "sons of breaking. " It refers to violent men among the Jewish people who broke the covenant law of God--apostates. They were revolutionaries who joined the cause of Antiochus as mercenaries. They apparently thought that by aiding Antiochus he would give the Jewish people their freedom. But the angel told Daniel respecting their goal, "They shall fall" (v. 14).
In 199 B. C. Antiochus's forces routed the southern army in Palestine (v. 15).
2. The Aftermath (vv. 16-20)
"He that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. 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, corrupting her, but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. After this shall he turn his face unto the coasts, and shall take many, but a prince on his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach, he shall cause it to turn upon him. Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom, but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. "
Antiochus the Great's entry into "the glorious land"--the land of Israel--did not result in freedom for Israel. Antiochus treated the Jewish mercenaries who joined him with favor and paid them well. But he took longlasting control over Palestine, contrary to their wishes.
Antiochus decided to consolidate and strengthen his power by an alliance with Egypt. He offered "the daughter of women" (a phrase probably used to express high feminine charm) to the Egyptian king in marriage as a gesture of good faith. That woman was his daughter, the lovely Cleopatra (not the one associate with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony). Antiochus intended that she act as a spy ("corrupting her"--v. 17) at the Egyptian court, but the angel told Daniel, "she shall not stand on [Antiochus's] side, neither be for him" (v. 17). Cleopatra loved her husband more than her father.
History Is His Story
The prophecy in Daniel 11 is replete with seemingly inconsequential details. Perhaps you wonder why they're in the Bible. One reason is to show us God's control of history. He determines the boundaries of nations. He knows history from the beginning to the end because history is, quite literally, "His story. "
Once Antiochus achieved control of Palestine, his desire for conquest shifted toward "the coasts" (v. 18) --the Mediterranean islands and Greece. But that was an area in which Rome had an interest, and Antiochus was defeated in battle by a Roman army in 191 B. C. As a result Antiochus was forced to return to "the fortress of his own land" (v. 19). There he was murdered when he tried to plunder a temple dedicated to Jupiter.
Antiochus the Great was succeeded by his son Seleucus IV Philopater, who became a "raiser of taxes" (v. 20). That's because he was forced to pay Rome one thousand talents annually in reparation for injuries caused by his father's battles. His short reign was ended when he was "destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle" (v. 20) : he was assassinated by his prime minister in 176 B. C. The details of Daniel's prophecy were fulfilled precisely!
IV. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES (vv. 21-35)
A. His Accession (vv. 21-24)
"In his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom; but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province, 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 plot against the strongholds, even for a time. "
Antiochus Epiphanes, the next northern king, was "a vile person" (v. 21). He obtained the throne by deceit and flattery in 175 B. C. He was the younger son of Antiochus the Great and had no claim to the throne. His nephew ought to have been installed as king, but was held hostage in Rome.
Antiochus devastated the Egyptians and their boy king Ptolemy VI Philometor. (The battle is described more fully in verses 25-27). He accomplished that by initially adopting a policy of friendship with Egypt while at the same time deceitfully plotting against it (v. 23). In his own territories he entered "upon the fattest places" (v. 24) , despoiling the rich and then distributing gifts to the poor--he was a self-styled Robin Hood. That gained him popular support. He also did everything possible to undermine strong communities in his kingdom so there would be no challenge to his power. He quickly put down any move against him.
B. His Aggression (vv. 25-35)
1. The first attack (vv. 25-28)
"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 plot against him. Yea, they that feed of the portion of his food shall destroy him, and his army shall overthrow, and many shall fall down slain. 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. Then shall he return into his land with great riches, and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. "
In 170 B. C. Antiochus's army was victorious over Ptolemy's larger Egyptian army at the battle of Pelusium. Antiochus was victorious in part because Ptolemy's counselors plotted against him (vv. 25-26). The angel told Daniel that because of the betrayal, "His army shall overflow, and many shall fall down slain" (v. 26).
Following Egypt's defeat the two kings sat down together and spoke "lies at one table" (v. 27). Their promises to each other were not intended to be fulfilled--like so many of the world's worthless treaties. The goals of the two kings remained unfulfilled because they didn't coincide with the "end" God had in mind. That end would come in God's "appointed time" in the future.
Antiochus failed to obtain complete control of Egypt because Rome intervened. Instead he turned his army north and marched through Israel. Daniel was told that Antiochus's heart "shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits" (v. 28). He pillaged the land and sacked Jerusalem, killing many Jewish people and causing terrible suffering. He then continued north "to his own land" (v. 28).
2. The second attack (vv. 29-35)
a) Against Egypt (vv. 29-30)
"At the time appointed, he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. For the ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore, he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant; so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with those who forsake the holy covenant. "
Many of us are familiar with movies in which, during a fight between the cowboys and Indians, a distant trumpet is heard and then the cavalry comes charging over the hill. Verse 30 gives us a similar scenario: Antiochus returned with another army to attack Egypt, but the Ptolemies had enlisted the aid of Rome. "The ships of Kittim" refers to the arrival of a Roman fleet that effectively deterred Antiochus in his attack on Egypt.
Angry and disappointed, Antiochus turned his army north. En route he vented his anger against those of "the holy covenant" (v. 30) --the faithful Jewish people. There he was supported by those Jews who had forsaken the holy covenant.
b) Against Israel (vv. 31-35)
"Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall cling to them with flatteries. And some of them understanding shall fall, to test them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed. "
(1) Israel's desolation
In Jerusalem Antiochus placed guards around the Temple to prevent worship. On a particular Sabbath he ordered that women and children be slaughtered. He required idolatrous worship and held Greek athletic contests (in which the athletes competed while naked) in full view of the Temple. Greek culture was imposed, a statue of the Greek god Zeus erected in the Temple, a swine (a ceremonially unclean animal) sacrificed on the Temple altar, and the priests were forced to eat pork from the sacrifice. All those abominations were intended to desecrate the Jewish Temple.
Although Antiochus's actions were supported by apostate Jews, Daniel was told that "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (v. 32). Those who resisted Antiochus were subjected to his persecutions--typical of the persecutions by the Antichrist described in the New Testament. Their suffering was "by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil" (v. 33).
(2) Israel's defense
In response to those persecutions arose a group of Jewish people called the Hasidians. They were upholders of the law according to the apocryphal book of 1 Maccabees (2:42). Their leader was Judas Maccabeus, who lead a revolt from 168-165 B. C. His revolt "helped with a little help" (v. 34) --but was only a temporary respite from Syrian persecution. He did take bloody revenge against those Jews who had helped Antiochus, but like many revolutions, many who identified with the Maccabean revolt joined only for personal gain.
God allowed his people to be persecuted "to test them, and to purge, and to make them white" (v. 35). He wanted His people purified from sin like metal is refined from impurities. Nothing drives people to God like suffering. A person's thoughts tend to go straight up when faced with imminent destruction.
Daniel received an astonishingly complete revelation from God concerning the future suffering of the Jewish people "even to the time of the end. " They would suffer through the Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires. And they would continue to suffer up through the time of the revived Roman Empire and its ruler, the Antichrist.
God's Persistent Love for Israel
God has ordained all of history from first to last. He has determined history's notable events and its minutest happenings. He is not finished with refining Israel, and that explains why the Jewish people continue to suffer.
God is faithful to Israel in spite of her refusal to turn to Him. Our Lord said of Israel, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them who are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered they children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt. 23:37). Paul echoed God's words through Isaiah, "All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and contrary people" (Rom. 10:21).
Israel's suffering is according to God's grace. Though He has every right to forget them--to write them off for their constant spiritual harlotries, disobedience, abuse of privileges, and covenant breaking--He doesn't. God will continue the purging process until "the time of the end . . . a time appointed" (Dan. 11:35).
There will come a time when "all Israel shall be saved" (Rom. 11:26). That's a great promise! All during the time of Israel's chastening the archangel Michael has watched over them, and the time will come when he will fight for them (Dan. 12:1). The Spirit of God will descend upon Israel, they'll be redeemed, and will receive their kingdom (Zech. 12:10).
Conclusion
I hope you have a heart for the Jewish people. Among them are an elect remnant who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and God calls every believer to reach out to them. An old missionary hymn puts it this way:
Shall we whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high;
Shall we to souls benighted the lamp of life deny?
Andrew
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