Daniel 11

Kings of the North/South

The angel, maybe Gabriel, continues to share with Danil the truth about what is to come.

This is expounding on Daniel 8, where we learned about the goat and the ram.

If you remember, the ram was the Medo-Persian army; and

The goat was the army of Greece, which would be led by Alexander the Great.

Daniel 11:2–4 ESV

“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. Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. 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.

We learned in chapter 8 that Alexander died at 32, and his kingdom was divided to 4 different kings.

These 4 kings could not agree, and so his kingdom divided.

From verse 5 on, we read about the king of the North/South. This refers to that kingdom split.

The line in the North would come from Seleucus.

The line in the South would come from Ptolemy.

vv. 5—19 talk about the wars that go on between these two nations.

The nation of Israel is caught in the middle of these battles.

At times they would be ruled by the northern kings, and at other times they would be ruled by southern kings.

At one point, the Jews revolted against the Egyptians…

Daniel 11:14 ESV

“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.

These Jews thought it was the time for them to act and bring about God’s plans… but they were wrong.

There were a lot of controversial issues that came up during Covid. There were people who thought it was the time to stand up against government tyranny. Even today, there are many people talking about the fulfilment of prophecy that is taking place. There are some who are crazy, but others that are genuinely trying to warn others of what is coming.

HOW DO WE DISCERN WHAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS?

HOW DO WE GUARD AGAINST BEING DECEIVED?

WHAT IS OUR MISSION AS GOD’S CHILDREN?

Seleucid King: Antiochus

The next king that would come from the North would be the most cruel Seleucid king; Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

vv. 20—27 talk about the ongoing battles, as this king battles to take control of the South.

Then beginning in verse 28, we read that he will attack God’s people.

Daniel 11:28–35 ESV

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. “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. 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. 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. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 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. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 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.

After defeating the king of the South, Antiochus was on his way back to Syria with his army when they were met by a revolt.

He struck 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.

He was able to do this with the help of Jews who compromised their faith, and were enticed to side with Anthiochus.

But in the midst of all this chaos, we see a faithful remnant of people committed to God.

What characteristics do we learn from these faithful few?

They Knew Their God

Daniel 11:32 “He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”

Because they know God, they stand firm and take action.

When you understand who God is, you can’t turn away from His ways.

Even if you lose your life, it’s worth it!

They Helped Others to Understand

Daniel 11:33 “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.”

They know God, and therefore know truth, and they can’t keep it to themselves.

Their desire is to help others to know the truth as well.

This comes from their love for one another.

They call them to faithful obedience to God, even though that means tribulation and suffering.

They had to be careful to know who was genuine.

Daniel 11:34 “When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery,”

There were some who were going to join them because they were scared of how they dealt with apostates.

This would take discernment for them to know who was genuine or not.

They had to protect against those who were coming in with false motives.

Their Suffering was what purified them.

Daniel 11:35 “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.”

Remaining true to God’s Word during this time was very likely to mean your death.

God uses suffering to sanctify us.

Jesus told His disciples they would suffer as well…

John 15:18-25 ““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’”

HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER EXPERIENCED ANY FORM OF PERSECUTION?

DO WE LIVE OUR LIVES EXPECTING TO FACE PERSECUTION? WHY NOT?

DO YOU THINK A TRUE BELIEVER SHOULD EXPERIENCE PERSECUTION? WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE?

Antiochus OR Antichrist

Let’s read…

Daniel 11:36–45 ESV

“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. 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. 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. 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. “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. 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. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 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. 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. 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.

There is some disagreement about who this passage is speaking of.either of Antiochus’ continued reign, or the

It is either Antiochus’ continued reign; OR

The reign of the final Antichrist.

In any case, we see that his reign will not last, and God will bring him down because of his arrogance and blasphemy.

The Resurrection

Daniel 12:1–3 ESV

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

All people will rise to everlasting life.

Some to everlasting life

Some to shame and everlasting contempt

Those who are wise, and turn others to righteousness, are they who will shine!

Hosea 14:9 “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.”

UNDERSTAND GOD AND HIS WORD

KNOW GOD AND HIS WORD

OBEY GOD AND HIS WORD

THIS WEEK I WAS REALLY CONVICTED BY A BOOK ABOUT PASTORS. IT MADE ME THINK OF THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING SAVED.

HAVE YOU EVER QUESTIONED YOUR SALVATION? WHAT CAUSES US TO DOUBT?

Scripture affirms for us that we can know!

Daniel: “What Now?”

Daniel 12:4–13 ESV

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

This was going to take place many years beyond the life of Daniel.

He should go continue in faithfulness knowing that any suffering has its appointed end from God, which results in blessing.

There is no indication that Daniel ever returned with the exiles.

In these last words however, Daniel is promised that he will receive his inheritance for his faithfulness.

Matthew 13:24–30 ESV

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Matthew 13:36–43 ESV

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.