Wednesday, December 30, 2020

400 Years of History Written before It Takes Place: Daniel Chapter 11

 

Can you imagine the power of writing history 400 years before the events take place? Not only writing the details on a scroll, but the events actually happening exactly as you describe. "Impossible you say!" Not if a divine power directs the stylus.

Daniel chapter 11 is written well before the historical events take place. There's no way on his own that Daniel could have so accurately written history without a divine power directing him. That's what this chapter of Daniel's book is all about.

Want our notes for the entire book of Daniel online? Yours free click here. Get your free copy today.

Vv 1 – 10 Conflicts to Come

V 1 In the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a

            protection for him.

A. The first year of Darius the Mede, either Cyrus or a governor under Cyrus,

            was 539 B.C.

  1. Obviously, Daniel isn’t going back to Jerusalem to help rebuild the temple.

  2. He is somewhere around 80 years of age.

  3. He goes to strengthen and encourage the king and offer protection for him.

    a. What kind of protection?

    b. Spiritual.

V 2 And now I will tell you the truth Behold, three more kings are going to arise in

            Persia Then a fourth will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as he

            becomes strong through his riches, he will arouse the whole empire against the

            realm of Greece.

B. The three kings are:

            Cambyses (530-522 B.C.)

            Pseudo-Smerdis (522-521 B. C.)

            Darius I Hystaspes (also called Darius the Great) (522-486 B.C.)

            Xerxes (486-464 B. C.) known as Ahasuerus in some translations of Esther.

  1. The fourth will gain much riches.

  2. His riches will make him proud.

  3. His riches will arouse the Greece Empire against him.

V 3 And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and do as he

            pleases.

C. The mighty king is Alexander the Great (334-331 B. C.)

V 4 But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward

            the four points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according

            to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given

            to others besides them.

D. His four generals began to rule his kingdom.

  1. Cassander took Macedonia,

  2. Lysimachus took Thrace and much of Asia Minor

  3. Seleucus took Syria

  4. Ptolemy claimed Egypt

  5. Notice that these men are not his descendants.

 5 – 20 The struggles between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids

V 5 Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with one of his princes who will

            gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion; his domain will be a great

            dominion indeed.

A. Who is the king of the South?

  1. Ptolemy of Egypt (323 – 285 B.C.).

  2. “One of his princes”

    a. Not a reference to Ptolemy but to Alexander the Great

    b. The prince mentioned here is Seleucus I Nicator.

    c. His kingdom stretched from Palestine to India.

V 6 After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South

            will come to the king of the North to carry out a peaceful arrangement. But she

            will not retain her position of power, nor will he remain with his power, but she

            will be given up, along with those who brought her in and the one who sired her

            as well as he who supported her in those times.

B. Like the Hatfields and McCoys, the Ptolemies and Seleucids try to mend their

            differences by marriage.

  1. The king of the South, Ptolemy II gave his daughter in marriage to Antiochus I, A

            Seleucid.

  2. It didn’t work because he deserted her, “will be given up.”

  3. Later he was murdered.

V 7 But one of the descendants of her line will arise in his place, and he will come

            against their army and enter the fortress of the king of the North, and he will deal

            with them and display great strength.

C. However, one of her descendants will come against their army.

  1. One of her descendants. . .

    a. Where is she from?

    b. South, Egypt, of the Ptolemy’s.

  2. Her descendant who came against the North was Ptolemy III (246 – 221 B.C.).

  3. He invaded Syria in 246, his first year in office.

V 8 Also their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold

            he will take into captivity to Egypt, and he on his part will refrain from attacking

            the king of the North for some years.

D. Ptolemy III makes a great showing with his army, he carries off their gods and some

            valuable vessels and metal images and returns to Egypt.

  1. Apparently Ptolemy III is satisfied with this showing.

  2. He doesn’t attack the North for several years.

Vv 9 – 13        A Description of the Seesaw Battles Between the Two Houses

            (223-220 B.C).

V 9 Then the latter will enter the realm of the king of the South, but will return to his own

            land.

A. However, the king of the North can’t leave well enough alone.

  1. He attacks the king of the South.

  2. But he loses badly and goes home.

V 10 His sons will mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one of them

            will keep on coming and overflow and pass through, that he may again wage war

            up to his very fortress.

B. The king of the North’s sons mobilize a huge army that gets nearly to the king of the

            South’s home.

V 11 The king of the South will be enraged and go forth and fight with the king of the

            North. Then the latter will raise a great multitude, but that multitude will be given

            into the hand of the former.

C. The king of the South gets mad and puts together a great army to go teach the king of

            the North a lesson.

V 12 When the multitude is carried away, his heart will be lifted up, and he will cause

            tens of thousands to fall; yet he will not prevail.

D. The king of the South will carry away a huge number of people from the North’s

            army, and he will kill tens of thousands of them.

  1. Although he wins a victory, he loses the war.

  2. Eventually, the king of the North will prevail.

V 13 For the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former, and

            after an interval of some years he will press on with a great army and much

            equipment.

E. The king of the North raises an even larger army along with much equipment.

V 14 Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the South; the violent ones

            among your people will also lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but

            they will fall down.

F. During these times, many will come against the king of the South including some of

            his own people, but they will fail.

V 15 Then the king of the North will come, cast up a siege ramp and capture a well-

            fortified city; and the forces of the South will not stand their ground, not even

            their choicest troops, for there will be no strength to make a stand.

G. Finally, the king of the North lays siege to a well fortified city of the South.

  1. This king is Antiochus III (the Great).

  2. His army is successful to the point that the king of the South’s army run from him.

V 16 But he who comes against him will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to

            withstand him; he will also stay for a time in the Beautiful Land, with destruction

            in his hand.

H. In Egypt Antiochus does as he pleases.

  1. He eventually comes to terms with the king of the South.

  2. Then he turns his attention to Israel bent on destruction.

V 17 He will set his face to come with the power of his whole kingdom, bringing with him

            a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the

            daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand for him or be on his

            side.

I. He purposes peace to the king of the South, and he gives his daughter in marriage to

            the South’s king.

  1. However, the goal here was for the daughter to help him ruin Egypt.

  2. She, on the other hand, would not help (“she did not take a stand for him,” the king of

            the North, her father).

V 18 Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many But a commander

            will put a stop to his scorn against him; moreover, he will repay him for his scorn.

J. Antiochus III did annex the coastlands of Asia Minor, but he was defeated by the

            Romans when he tried to take Greece.

  1. He lost to the Romans at Magnesia in 190 B.C.

  2. He was forced to pay tribute to them.

V 19 So he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble

            and fall and be found no more.

K. He returns home and is found no more.

  1. He is succeeded by his son, Seleucus IV (Philopator)

  2. His son tries to tax Israel heavily.

  3. He sends Heliodorus to Israel to get money from the temple.

  4. However, his plan fails and Heliodorus returns home empty handed.

V 20 Then in his place one will arise who will send an oppressor through the Jewel of his

            kingdom; yet within a few days he will be shattered, though not in anger nor in

            battle.

L. Seleucus IV dies with in a few days.

  1. He isn’t killed in anger.

  2. He doesn’t die in battle.

  3. He is assassinated.

  4. Then Heliodrous becomes king.

Vv 21 – 35      The Career of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes 175 – 164 B.C.)

V 21 In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not

            been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by

            intrigue.

A. Antiochus the IV manages to oust Heliodorus even though an infant son whose name

            is Antiochus had to be murdered in order to oust Heliodorus. 

  1. Antiochus the IV (Epiphanes) was a terrible person.

  2. He would stop at nothing to get what he wants.

  3. Although Epiphanes is the younger brother of Seleucus IV, he is not an heir to the

            throne because Heliodorus’ infant son is.

  4. So he murders his way to the top.

  5. He hated Israel.

V 22 The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the

            prince of the covenant.

B. Those in opposition to him will be beaten.

  1. He invades the South.

  2. He comes away with much plunder (. 24, 28).

V 23 After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and

            gain power with a small force of people.

C. Egypt will try to make an alliance with him.

  1. He will deceive them.

  2. He will gain power with a small army. 

V 24 In a time of tranquility he will enter the richest parts of the realm, and he will

            accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute

            plunder, booty and possessions among them, and he will devise his schemes

            against strongholds, but only for a time.

D. During a supposed peace treaty, Epiphanes will enter the choice parts of Egypt and do

            what his forefathers never did, i.e. return with booty to distribute to his own

            people.

V 25 He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large

            army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army

            for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him.

E. He mobilizes a large force, but schemes are devised against him and he isn’t

            successful.

V 26 Those who eat his choice food will destroy him, and his army will overflow, but

            many will fall down slain.

F. The schemes include part of his own army, probably some of his officers, go against

            him.

V 27 As for both kings, their hearts will be intent on evil, and they will speak lies to each

            other at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the end is still to come at the

            appointed time.

G. Both kings meet to discuss a treaty, but both of them lie to each other.

V 28 Then he will return to his land with much plunder; but his heart will be set against

            the holy covenant, and he will take action and then return to his own land.

H. He returns to his own country, the North.

  1. However, he does bring much plunder with him.

  2. He sets his heart against the covenant made with Israel.

  3. He begins to destroy the people and take their land.

V 29 At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but this last time it

            will not turn out the way it did before.

I. Again he wants to whip up on Egypt, but his attempt fails.

V 30 For ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened and

            will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action; so he will

            come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.

J. “Ships of Kittim” indicate that Egypt hires the Romans to help defeat Epiphanes.

V 31 Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the

            regular sacrifice And they will set up the abomination of desolation.

K. So perhaps because of his lack of success against Egypt, Epiphanes turns his attention

            to Israel.

  1. He sends forces against the Holy City.

  2. He attacks the Temple, “sanctuary fortress.”

  3. And Epiphanes does away with the regular sacrifice.

  4. He desecrates the Temple by offering pig’s flesh on the altar.

  5. He erects a statute of Zeus in the Temple.

V 32 By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the

            covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take

            action.

L. How do you recognize godlessness?

  1. You weigh what is said against the Word.

  2. You listen not to what someone says, but you watch their fruit.

  3. Jesus says, “By their fruit you will know them.”

V 33 Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet

            they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.

M. Although the leaders of the Jews find Epiphanes out and give instructions to their

            people, many Jews are killed by sword, fire, taken captivity and plundered for a

            long time.

V 34 Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them

            in hypocrisy.

N. Some will help in the fight,

  1. Those who try to resist will be killed.

  2. Many of the Jews will listen to the smooth words and join Epiphanes.

V 35 Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them

            pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.

O. Sometimes God uses death to purge and refine a nation.

Vv 36 – 45      Description of the Anti-Christ.

V 36 Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above

            every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will

            prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.

A. Although some have said that the following verses are Epiphanes, the things that take

            place are too broad to fit his timeframe of Israel’s last days.

  1. Although Epiphanes tries to exalt himself above God, he in no way succeeds like the

            anti-christ.

  2. Epiphanes does not prosper or accomplish world domination.

  3. Epiphanes does not successfully set himself up in the Temple to rule the world from

            there.

  4. And Epiphanes does not set up a statue of himself for all to worship.

  5. So there are too many differences and broader things discussed in this and the

            following verses for this to be Epiphanes.

V 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor

            will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all.

B. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

  1. Anti-Christ will have no regards for God.

  2. Nor will women mean anything to him.

  3. He will be the only god that will even be thought of in his mind.

V 38 But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know;

            he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures.

C. A statute of the anti-christ will be set up as a point of worship, and everyone must

            worship him and take his mark.

V 39 He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god;

            he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to

            rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.

D. The foreign god here is satan.

  1. Those who worship him will have nothing to fear in this lifetime.

  2. There will still be buying and selling of land, perhaps the land of those who don’t

            honor and worship him and are killed.

Vv 40 – 45   The Kings of the South and North Come Against Anti-Christ.

V 40 At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North

            will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he

            will enter countries, overflow them and pass through.

A. During the tribulation period, the kings of the South and North will try to overthrow

            the anti-christ.

V 41 He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be

            rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. V 42 Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. V 43 But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels.

B. First he defeats Egypt, Sudan, (Ethiopia) and Libya, but the countries mentioned

            above will be rescued, i.e. Moab, Edom and Ammon.

  1. Why?

  2. Who is Moab?

  3. Who is Edom?

  4. Who is Ammon?

V 44 But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth

            with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many.

C. The armies could relate to Revelation 9:13-21.

  1. Whatever the rumors, anti-Christ will leave Egypt.

  2. He will return to Palestine and set up his headquarters there.

  3. He will kill a lot of people during this time.

V 45 He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy

            Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

D. However, Christ returns to help His people escape from all the murdering, and the anti-Christ meets his end (Revelation 19:11-21).


Study Questions
 
Daniel 11

 

  1. When did Darius the Mede first reign?

 

  2. Who is the great king of v 3?

 

  3. Why was his land divided?

 

  4. What kind of alliance does the king of the south try to make with the king of the north?

 

  5. Does it work?

 

  6. Which king becomes the strongest?

 

  7. Where is the beautiful land?

 

  8. Verse 14 what people are being talked about here when he says, “The violent ones

            among your people?”

 

  9. With whom does the king of the north make a “holy covenant?”

 

10. Who are the “many” of verse 33?

 

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