Daniel Chapter 11

Daniel Chapter 11

Pastor Damon Kester / General

Book of Daniel

Chapter 11

This chapter has such exact prophecy, predicted 375 years in advance it has the late daters insisting it was written after. Again this became a problem when the Dead Sea scrolls were found.

This chapter expands on chapter eight with the 3 kings of Persia and the Grecian Empire and break up.

Vs 1-2:

Again Darius was coregent with Cyrus and they declared the edict for the restoration of the Jews.

Daniel stood to strengthen the king in part for their kindness to the Jews.

The three kings to follow where Cambyses, Pseudo-Smerdis, and Darius Hystaspes. (Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, and Darius III)

Darius III was the pinnacle of the Persian Empire but was defeated by Alexander at Salamis (an eastern seaport of Cyprus), this is where Paul and Barnabas landed at the beginning of their first missionary journey.

Why so much interest in the Persian and Grecian Empires?

Both tried to wipe out Israel Xerxes under Persia and Antiochus IV under the Greek

Vs 3-4:

The mighty king is Alexander

The phrase “do according to his will” talks of his power as an unstoppable force.

At 32 Alexander would fall ill and die. Because his two sons were assonated four generals divided his kingdom.

All the subsequent rulers wouldn’t have the dominance and power of Alexander.

Vs 5-28

Here we see a shift from Asia and Greece to Egypt and Syria or Macedonian Dynasty (king of the South) and Seleucid Dynasty (king of the North).

The wars between these two would cause great pain for Israel as they lie between the two.

Vs 5: Ptolemy I took control of Egypt. Seleucus I governed Babylon but was forced out by Antigonus but later gained control of it. His kingdom included Syria and Media.

Vs 6: Seleucus’ grandson Antiochus II married Bernice, Ptolemy’s granddaughter.

Antiochus was already married. Antiochus and Bernice had a child but he reconciled with his wife Laodice, she poisoned him, Killed Bernice, their child, and her entourage!

Vs 7-8: Bernice’s Brother Ptolemy III attacked and defeated the Seleucids, bringing back gold, idols and anything of value.

Vs 9-10: The son of Laodice, Seleucus II, reclaimed what Ptolemy III took.

Seleucus III and Antiochus III. The latter became a mighty force from 223–187.

Vs 11-14: Ptolemy IV countered Antiochus III and defeated him at Raphia in 217.

From 212–205, Antiochus III conducted many successful campaigns. He eventually gained full control of Judaea in 200 at the Battle of Paneas (the city called Caesarea Philippi in the New Testament).

Philip V of Macedon joined forces with Antiochus III to crush Egypt and the Ptolemaic dynasty

Violent ones may refer to Jewish supporters of the Seleucids

Vs 15: Antiochus III pursued general Scopas following the battle of Paneas. He overtook him at Sidon and captured the city.

Vs 16: Antiochus III was well received in Jerusalem.

The Seleucids remained in control. From this line came Antiochus IV, who caused widespread destruction.

Vs 17: Antiochus III betrothed Cleopatra I, his daughter, to Ptolemy V as a peace settlement.

Antiochus III had hoped that he could manipulate Cleopatra I and use her to bring down the Ptolemaic house. She was, however, loyal to her husband and influential in the Egyptian court.

Vs 18: Refers to Greece. Rome warned Antiochus III to leave Greece alone, but he did not listen.

The Roman Lucius Cornelius Scipio. Antiochus III lost two decisive battles to Scipio at Thermopylae (191) and Magnesia (190).

Vs 19: Rome imposed heavy tribute upon Antiochus III as a result of his Greek adventures. In an effort to pay, Antiochus III attempted to sack the temple of Bel at Elymais and was killed in 187 bc.

Vs 20: Refers to Seleucus IV, the son of Antiochus III.

Refers to Heliodorus, who was sent to the Jerusalem temple to confiscate its treasury (see 2 Maccabees 3).

Seleucus IV was killed in 175 as a result of a plot hatched by Heliodorus.

The Evil Antiochus Epiphanies.

Vs 21: Antiochus IV (see Dan 7:8 ).

“they have not conferred the majesty of the kingdom” See 7:24.

Vs 22: Likely refers to the high priest Onias III, who was murdered in the time of Antiochus IV (see 9:26).

Vs 23: See 9:27.

“with few people” Probably a reference to Greek sympathizers among the Jews. Those who desired to remain faithful to their Jewish roots far outweighed those who desired to embrace Greek culture.

Vs 24: Antiochus’ standard operating procedure was, after infiltrating the wealthiest ranks of society and garnering their support, to be generous to them—almost to a fault.

Vs 25: The king of the south Ptolemy VI. Antiochus attacked Egypt in 170.

Vs 26: “those who eat of his royal rations” Ptolemy VI, who was a boy when Antiochus attacked, was poorly influenced by his two advisors, Eulaeus and Lenaeus.

Vs 27: Ptolemy VI’s mother was Cleopatra Syra, Antiochus’ sister. Ptolemy agreed to meet with his uncle in Memphis. Antiochus IV feigned friendship and allegedly took control of his nephew’s kingdom.

This is not the end. In prophecy, events have a predetermined course that cannot be altered (see Dan 9:24).

Vs 28: On his way back from Egypt, Antiochus was short on funds and plundered the gold of the Jerusalem temple.

Antiochus influenced his nephew, Ptolemy VI, to control Egypt.

Vs 29-30:

Antiochus will try and attack Egypt again this denotes the third time. The ships from Cyprus are the Romans counsel Papillius Laenas drew a circle around Antiochus and said leave Egypt or deal with Rome. He needed an answer before leaving the circle.

He knew he couldn’t defeat Rome so he left humiliated and angry. On his return, Israel became the object for his wrath.

Israel was split as far as their loyalty. Some left the faith to embrace the Greek gods and others remained faithful.

Vs 31:

Antiochus Sets up a statue of Zeus and offered a pig in the temple defiling it. This is again a picture of the end times when the antichrist will proclaim he is god and erects a statue of himself and commands all to worship him.

Vs 32:

The desecration enraged those who were faithful, Judas Maccabaeus, who gathered men and fought a guerrilla style war eventually retaking the temple, cleansing it and dedicated which started the Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah.

Vs 33: Judas and his brothers were eventually slain by the sword. Those that resisted Antiochus suffered severe punishment and persecution.

Vs 34-35:

This time of the revolt some apostates knew and feared the faithful and so they joined them but the revolts success was short lived and they continued to experience persecution purifying them. Much like we are refined with our trials.

Vs 36-39:

From here we see a shift to the end to the antichrist, or the son of perdition, the man of sin, or the beast. These are the same characteristics seen in Daniel chapters 7, and 9 Revelation chapters 13, and 17.

He will have no regard for any god, as far as the regard for women this could be a reference to every Jewish girl dreamed of being the mother of the messiah, or that his world dominating agenda left him with no desire to seek a relationship.

The god he honors is military might and satan, and he will honor him. He will promote himself as god but his power and allegiance is to satan.

Vs 40-45:

As he sweeps across the holy land towards Egypt we see Jordan escapes his grasp. Israel will escape to Jordan and most believe they will seek refuge in Petra.

We see a confederation of kings coming against the antichrist. It’s possible the king of the south is the king of Egypt or the Arab nations, the king of the North some suggest it’s his domain as the “new Antiochus Epiphanies”

He will hear of news from the east, this could be China and Russia coming and culminating in the battle of Armageddon in the valley of Megiddo. Revelation tells us the river Euphrates will be dried up and this great army will cross Rev 16:12.