Bible Study: Daniel 11

Introduction

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Text: Daniel 11:1-4

Daniel 11:1–4 ESV

1 “And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. 2 “And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. 4 And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.

The phrase “first year of Darius the Mede” in verse 1 indicates that this vision happened in 539 BC.

The angelic messenger, probably Gabriel, from the previous chapter continues to speak of assisting the Archangel Michael.

Remember It was the Archangel Michael that had helped this angel in the battle with the demons.

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Starting from verse 2 until verse 45 we see an amazing prophecy similar to the one we saw in Chapter 8.

This prophecy sweeps all the way from the history of spiritual conflict in Israel to the tribulation when Michael aids in fully delivering Israel.

The detail of this history is so minute and accurate, so confirmed by history, that unbelieving critics have, without evidence, insisted that it was actually written 400 years later than Daniel, after it had happened which would make the prophet a deceiver.

The prophecy actually looks ahead from Daniel and goes all the way to the final Antichrist.

The section from verses 2 to 35 records the fulfillment of the Persian kingdom and the reign of Greece through Antiochus Epiphanes.

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In verse 2 the “three more kings” are the three rulers in the Persian after Cyrus.

They were Cambyses who reigned from 530–522 BC, ...

Psuedo-Smerdis who reigned in 522 BC, ...

And Darius I Hystaspes who reigned from 522–486 BC.

The fourth king, also from verse 2 is Xerxes I and who is also called Ahasuerus in Esther.

He ruled from 486–465 BC.

The kings that reigned after Xerxes are not included...

This seems to be done because of Xerxes’ failed military campaign against the Greeks that occured during 481–479 BC.

This sounded the beginning of the end for Persia, which officially fell in 331 BC to none other than Alexander the Great.

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In verse 3 the “mighty king” that would rise up is Alexander the Great and we saw this previously mentioned in Daniel 8:5.

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In verse 4 we see the prophecy of Alexander’s death in 323 BC and how his empire was divided among four individuals that would not be his heir for he did not have one.

These new rulers each took over one of four sectors that made up the empire.

Text: Daniel 11:5-6

Daniel 11:5–6 ESV

5 “Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. 6 After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times.

The King of the South ruled Egypt and is mentioned in verse 5.

The Ptolomies are the the leaders of Egypt.

The King of the North mentioned in verse 6 ruled Syria.

The Seleucids are the leaders of Syria.

The reason they are called the kingdoms of the North and South has to do with relation to where they are located compared to Isreal.

Between verses 5–20 we see almost 200 years of wars between these bordering powers covered.

In verse 6 the phrase “make an alliance” is regarding the marriage of Berenice, daughter of Egypt’s Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who ruled between 285–246 BC, to Syria’s King Antiochus II Theos who ruled between 261–246 BC.

The latter part of the verse refers to the political advantage they hoped the alliance would produce.

Antiochus divorced his wife to marry Berenice.

Later that divorced wife murdered Berenice, her baby son, and even Antiochus by poisoning him.

Thus she brought her own son, Seleucus II Callinicus, to the throne.

Text: Daniel 11:7-9

Daniel 11:7–9 ESV

7 “And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. 8 He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north. 9 Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.

In verse 7 the “branch from her roots” refers to how the brother of the murdered Berenice stood in his father’s place.

His name was Ptolemy III Euergetes of Egypt and ruled from 246–222 BC.

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He ended up conquering Syria and sacking their great treasures which is mentioned in verse 8.

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Verse 9 when it say “the latter shall come” is talking about how Syria’s Callinicus attacked Egypt in 240 BC but had to retreat as he was soundly beaten.

Text: Daniel 11:10-13

Daniel 11:10–13 ESV

10 “His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress. 11 Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. 12 And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 13 For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first. And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies.

The phrase “his sons” in verse 10 is about Seleucus’ sons who were his successors.

They kept up the war against Egypt.

This war is being described in verses 11–35.

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The King of the South mentioned in verse 11 was Ptolemy IV Philopator who ruled from 222–203 BC.

He devastated the Syrian army under Antiochus III the Great who ruled from 223–187 BC.

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Egypt’s advantage in the war would be brief and is mentioned in verse 12.

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Verses 13–16, when talking about the king of the North are talking about Antiochus.

Verse 13 mentions the thirteen years later when Antiochus returned with a great army.

In a series of strikes against Egypt he brought Isreal, which you will see is usually referred to as“the beautiful or glorious land,” into his control which went as far south as Gaza.

Text: Daniel 11:14-19

Daniel 11:14–19 ESV

14 “In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. 15 Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. 16 But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand. 17 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage. 18 Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

In verse 14, when it mentions the “violent among your own people;” that is referencing the violent Jews that wanted Judean independence from Egypt.

They started a revolt but failed.

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Verse 16 records how Antiochus III the Great took lasting dominion over Israel.

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Verse 17 is about Antiochus feeling pressure from Rome to make peace with Egypt.

He responds to this pressure by offered his daughter Cleopatra to marry Ptolemy V Epiphanes in 192 BC.

The Syrian hoped his daughter would act as a spy to help him ruin or weaken Egypt and bring it under his power.

However, Cleopatra, instead of helping her father, favored her Egyptian spouse.

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Verse 18 is about how Antiochus had set his sights to conquer Greece, along the Mediterranean coastlands.

But this brought him into conflict with Rome.

So, a Roman commander named Lucius Scipio Asiaticus, repaid the Syrian aggression against Roman with a resounding defeat.

This occured in 191–190 BC.

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The “fall” mentioned in verse 19 is in regards to how Antiochus returned from defeat to his own land compelled by Rome to relinquish all his territory west of the Taurus and to repay the costs of war.

He was likely killed by defenders of a Persian temple he tried to plunder at night in Elymais.

He was doing this in order to get money to pay reparations required by Rome.

Text: Daniel 11:20-28

Daniel 11:20–28 ESV

20 “Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. 21 In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. 23 And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. 24 Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. 26 Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. 27 And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed. 28 And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.

In verse 20 the phrase “an exactor” is about how Rome required Seleucus IV Philopator to render tribute.

Rome was increasingly powerful and could do this.

The Syrian set out to tax his subjects heavily to raise the tribute.

However, soon he died after being poisoned.

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The “contemptible person” in verse 21 is the most cruel king of the North which was Seleucid, the Syrian persecutor of Israel named Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

He was mentioned in Daniel Chapter 8 and will continue to be referenced to in verses 21–35.

He came to the throne when his brother Seleucus was murdered and a son of the dead king who might succeed him, Demetrius I Soter, was being held hostage in Rome.

In this vacuum, Antiochus seized power in Syria.

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The phrase “shall be utterly swept away” in verse 22 is about how Egypt’s armies were swept away by Antiochus’ invading forces as by a flood for it was a military onslaught.

Israel’s “prince of the covenant,” mentioned in this verse too is Onias III.

He was murdered by his own defecting brother Menelaus at the request of Antiochus in 171 BC.

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The “alliance” mentioned in verse 23 was about how in an Egyptian struggle for the throne, Antiochus developed an alliance with Ptolemy VI Philometer over his rival Ptolemy VII Euergetes II.

By this alliance, Antiochus deceitfully plotted to gain greater power in Egypt.

With a “small people” or a small force, he conquered Memphis and the rest of Egypt all the way to Alexandria.

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Verse 24 is about how Antiochus, under the guise of friendship, plundered the richest Egyptian places he could strike.

To gain support, he gave lavish gifts, possibly battle spoils but secretly he was forming a scheme to take over Egypt.

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Verse 25 is about how Antiochus attacked Philometer, who had become an enemy.

Philometer fell due to treachery by trusted supporters and became Antiochus’ captive.

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The phrase “those who eat” in verse 26 is referencing the betraying counselors whom Philometer fed.

They led him to attack Syria to secure his defeat and death for him and his men.

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Verse 27 is about how Antiochus help to reinstate Ptolemy Philometer to Egypt’s throne, occupied then by Ptolemy Euergetes.

Both kings lied at the conference, and Antiochus set Philometer up as king at Memphis, whereas Euergetes reigned at Alexandria.

However the two Egyptians soon agreed on a joint rule, and this frustrated the Syrian.

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Verse 28 is about how Antiochus met a revolt from the Jews.

He ended up striking Jerusalem’s temple, profaned the sacrificial system, massacred 80,000 men, took 40,000 prisoners, sold 40,000 as slaves, and squelched a Jewish bid to depose his own designated priest, Menelaus.

Text: Daniel 11:29-35

Daniel 11:29–35 ESV

29 “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. 30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. 32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

Verse 29 is about how Antiochus, for the third time, invaded Egypt against the joint rulership in 168 BC.

However, this time it was with much less success.

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Verse 30 is about how a Roman fleet from Cyprus sided with Egypt, thwarting Antiochus’ attack.

Backing down from engaging Rome in war, Antiochus left Egypt, taking out his rage on Israelites in his path.

He opposed God’s Mosaic Covenant that some Jews kept, despite Syrian policies and some Jewish compromise.

Antiochus showed favors to Jewish apostates or those “who forsake the holy covenant” as some non-biblical writings attest to.

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Verse 31 is about how Antiochus’ soldiers, no doubt working with apostate Jews, guarded the temple, halting all worship, while others attacked the city on the Sabbath slaughtering men, women, and children.

Soldiers desecrated Israel’s temple, banned circumcision and daily sacrifices, and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

The Syrians on Chislev (which is was celebrated on Dec. 15, 167 BC), even imposed an idol statue in honor of the Olympian god Zeus into the temple.

Jews called it “the abomination of desolation,” i.e., emptying or ruining for Jewish worship.

Antiochus’ soldiers profaned God’s temple by spreading sow’s broth on the altar and banning daily sacrifices.

Both Daniel and Jesus said this atrocity was only a preview of the abomination that would happen later under the final Antichrist.

Daniel says that in Daniel 9:27:

Daniel 9:27 ESV

27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

And Jesus says that in Matthew 24:15-31:

Matthew 24:15–31 ESV

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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Verses 32–34 talks about The compromisers among the Jews who were enticed by flattery to side with Antiochus and be corrupted..

However “the people who know their God” mentioned in verse 32 were Jews who were loyal to God.

They stood on firm convictions, suffering death rather than compromising.

Judas Maccabeus, helped by Rome, led them in a successful revolt.

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The phrase “shall make many understand” in verse 33 is about those who believe and know the truth and will instruct others in the Scriptures, while also suffering continued persecution.

Verse 34 is about how many would fall away, and Jews committed to the covenant would have little help, humanly speaking.

Some, fearing the faithful remnant’s dealing with apostates, pretended loyalty.

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Verse 35 is about how faced by persecution, some who remained true to God’s “insight” were to fall as martyrs.

The gracious design of such suffering was to sanctify them.

The persecution pattern continues until the final “end time” that God appointed, at Christ’s second coming.

Reference to this “end time” prepares for a transition in verse 36 to final tribulation times when the Antichrist, whom Antiochus prefigures, will be in power.

The two eschatological terms, “the end time” and “appointed time” point to a forward leap across thousands of years of history from Antiochus to a future similar trial when the willful king, mentioned in verses 36–45, rules.

The willful king is the “little horn,” and the final Antichrist.

Text: Daniel 11:36-39

Daniel 11:36–39 ESV

36 “And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. 37 He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.

Verses 36–45 is the section that is the far fulfillment of God’s prophetic plan.

It summarizes details of Daniel’s 70th week which are found nowhere else in Scripture.

Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of Antichrist, is the perfect transition point to the actual Antichrist.

These verses also discuss the career of the final Antichrist in the last 7 years before Christ’s millennial kingdom.

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In verse 36 the Phrase “the king shall do as he wills” is sometimes rendered as the willful king and is the final Antichrist.

He is mentioned in Daniel 7, Daniel 9, and Revelation 13.

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The phrase “gods of his fathers” in verse 37 is about how pagan Gentiles have had traditional gods passed down from their fathers, but this king has no regard for any of them.

His only god is power.

The phrase “beloved by women” could mean that Antichrist will be a homosexual.

However, he will have no normal desire for or interest in women.

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Verse 38 is about how for the Antichrist, “power” is to be his god, and he spends all his treasures to become powerful and to finance wars.

With this power, he will attack every stronghold that is mentioned in verse 39.

Text: Daniel 11:40-45

Daniel 11:40–45 ESV

40 “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. 44 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. 45 And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.

In verse 40 we see the final conflict between the North and South.

Here is the last great battle with the final army from the North retaliating against the attack of the final southern power.

The Antichrist will not allow this without striking back and winning, defeating both as recorded in verse 41.

The willful king, Antichrist, withstands onslaughts from both, and prevails.

Then verse 41 show that he enters Israel and, perhaps, committing at that time the abomination of desolation like Antiochus previously did.

With this victory, he will be established in power for a time.

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Verse 44 is about how military bulletins alert the willful king, in his victories, of other sectors of the world deploying troops to the Isreal theater as mentioned in Revelation 16:12-16:

Revelation 16:12–16 ESV

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The phrase “his end” in verse 45 is about how facing the latest threats, the willful king sets up his command post between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea and the holy mountain of Jerusalem, his troops filling the land.

No one is able to help him against God, who, by the return of Christ, brings him to his end as we see mentioned in Revelation 19:20:

Revelation 19:20 ESV

20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Closing Prayer

Please join me one more time in prayer.