A Prophetic People (Part 1): What does God reveal? Daniel 10, 11 and 12

Introduction to Daniel 10, 11, and 12.

When we last left off with Daniel, we talked about the 70 weeks prophecy and when it started.

We know that the year for the decree to build and restore Jerusalem happened in 457BC by king Artaxerxes of Persia on his seventh year of reign, you can find this decree in Ezra 7:11-26.

The seventy week prophecy detailed the anointing of the Messiah in 27AD, after that we have the crucifixion of Jesus which ended the sacrifice and offering in 31AD, thereafter we have the stoning of Stephen in 34AD thus signifying the gospel is open to all people and ending the seventy weeks prophecy. But, we’re still not done as we still have the 2300 day prophecy to deal with.

Daniel 9 doesn’t end describing how Daniel felt, at the end of Daniel 8:27 we are told that he was sick for some days and was astonished by the vision and you have to remember that there was 12 years gap between Daniel 8 and 9, so what happens in Daniel 10? When did this start?

When did Daniel 10 start?

Daniel 10:1 NKJV

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.

According to many scholars, they believe the third year of Cyrus the King of Persia would have been in 536/535BC, the good thing is some way, this would be 2 to 3 years after Daniel 9.

However, what was Daniel doing at the start of Daniel 10?

Daniel 10:2–4 NKJV

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,

Why was Daniel mourning three full weeks? Remember the prophecy of Jeremiah? 70 years the children of Israel would be in exile, this prophecy began in 605BC when king Nebuchaddnezzer conquered Jerusalem, this prophecy should end in 535BC which should be the third year of Cyrus the king of Persia and the start of Daniel 10, Daniel would be around 88 years old.

Yet, shouldn’t Daniel be happy and full of joy knowing his people can return home according to the prophecy?

But we are told that Daniel is mourning three full weeks, that’s 21 days of fasting, here’s a question I have for you, how many of you think that Daniel was vegetarian?

In verse 3 we are told that he ate no pleasant food, no meat, or wine came into his mouth, neither did he anoint himself, that is to say, clean and apply lotion on himself until 21 days have passed.

So, why the fasting and gloom when the 70 year prophecy is fulfilled?

Ezra 4:4–5 NKJV

4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

So, it could be that Daniel was hearing reports as to the outcome of his people and that he was wanting God to intervene and help His people from their adversaries.

But it is something of a reminder for all of us and how Daniel reacts is something we need to learn as well. How often do many of us fast? Is fasting important as a Christian?

Daniel did a semi-fast because it didn’t say he totally refrained from eating but that he ate no pleasant food, meat or drank wine, neither did he clean himself for 21 days. What lessons can we learn from Daniel when you pray for your people?

Now I can go on and on with Daniel 10 and learn about Jesus’ contention with the prince of Persia. But sadly, we don’t have enough time.

Understanding Daniel 11

Even when it comes to Daniel 11, we still don’t have time to look at this in detail, but Daniel 11 is a continuation of Daniel 10 and thus there is no time difference here.

For many Seventh-day Adventist scholars, not all of us are on the same page when it comes to understanding Daniel 11:40-45.

But, we will go through what many Seventh-day Adventists believe in from verses 1-39 and share at the end the different stances for verses 40-45.

Daniel 11:1-4 - The Persians and the Greeks

In verses 1-4, is a repeat of the Ram and the Goat in Daniel 8, but it is enlarged with the fact that Persia will have four more kings and the fourth king will provoke the king of Greece and the Greek king will rise up and conquer the known world and later divided towards the four winds of heaven, that is to say, north, south, east and west. The same division of the four heads of the leopard in Daniel 7 and four horns on the goat in Daniel 8.

Do you remember the names of the four generals that divided Greece? Cassander, Antigonus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus.

Daniel 11:5-15 - The Ptolemies (South) and Seleucids (North)

In Daniel 11:5-15 we have the king of the south and the north battling it out, the south represents Ptolemy kingdom who occupied Egypt and parts of Lydia, the north represents the Seleucid kingdom who occupied the largest part of the Greek empire. Their kingdom occupied Persia, Babylon and Syria.

But it will be the Selecuids that would give the Jews trouble and would start a Jewish rebellion establishing a new Jewish dynasty called the Hasmonean dynasty.

Both the south and the north forced their pagan religion onto the Jews, they brought in unclean animals and idols into the temple and forced them to adopt their pagan gods.

The Word of God was collected and burned but the Jewish people fought and God established a kingdom that would continue until Romans arrived and remove them from power in 37BC.

Daniel 11:16-28 - Pagan Rome

In Daniel 11:16-28 we find Pagan Rome, how do we know?

Well verse 20 we find them imposing taxes on the glorious kingdom. I mean, how may tax collectors cross paths with Jesus?

We also find in verse 22 we find the prince of the covenant be broken, meaning Jesus’ death on the cross.

Daniel 11:29-39 - Papal Rome

In Daniel 11:29-39 the northern king transitions into Papal Rome, here we are given some characteristics describing this kingdom.

In verse 31, we are shown they have taken away the daily sacrifice and placed there the abomination of desolation and verse 32 says that they would do wickedly against the covenant and corrupt with flattery.

We believe this to be the Roman papacy’s interpretation of the Mass and the priesthood, which is a counterfiet and a defilement of Christ’s ministry.

Verse 36-39 reveals to us the blasphemous, self-exalting nature of the papacy as revealed and described as the little horn in Daniel 7.

Daniel 11:40-45 - What’s next?

Now this is where many Seventh-day Adventists are challenged because it could refer to something from the past or something that is yet to come in the future. That is to say, that this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled.

Some Adventists believe that the king of the north in this passage represents the Ottoman Empire and the southern king represented Egypt.

Others view this chapter symbolicly like in Revelation 13’s Babylon as spiritual Babylon, and thus the king of the North represents the papacy and the south they consider it representing atheism.

But there is another view that has appeared and one that I personally lean towards and it is the papacy, representing the USA being the king of the north and Islam representing the king of the south, but I will not explain my position here due to time and I would like to encourage you to study for yourself.

However, if you want to study with me, then let me know and we can have a sit down and discussion on who the king of the north and south are in Daniel 11:40-45.

Daniel 12 - To seal up and to finish!

We come now to the final chapter and the end of our Daniel series, here is the climax and a continuation of Daniel 10 and 11.

Here we find Michael we believe is Jesus standing up, and when He does stand up there will be a time of trouble here on this earth ‘such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.’

Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:22

Matthew 24:22 NKJV

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Because we are told in Daniel 12:1 that His people will be delievered thus revealing the second coming of Jesus.

But as Daniel is recording everything that he sees, God tells him to stop.

Daniel 12:4 NKJV

4 “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.”

In fact, Daniel is told twice to seal up the words till the time of the end, that is to say that these visions would be sealed and opened at the time of the end.

But friends, are we living in the time of the end? Where are we at in the prophecy of Daniel 2? Where are we at in the prophecy of Daniel 7?

Is there any explanation as to when these words are unraveled? Or are they still sealed up?

Next week we will look at the book of Revelation, especially Revelation 10 and 12 and see something very interesting that links itself with Daniel’s visions.

But, through all this, God not only reveals that He knows what is to come, but He reveals to all of us that He will defeat sin and save His people from their sin.

God reveals to us that He is coming again, and though He gave His life for our sins, He does not abandon us but promises us that He will never leave us.

Even though there is calamity all throughout time, God has foreseen this for He is the Creator of time and is beyond time, and though He is outside of time, He is still personal and intimate with us in time.

Friends, through the few chapters that we have gone through in Daniel, does this now make you realise who you are to Him?

Can you not see the relationship that God has towards Daniel? Can you not see that that is the same type of relationship God want’s with you if you believe and trust in Him?

I encourage you to try as Daniel did and fast and pray for God to show Himself to you. Why not surrender to Him? Be like Daniel and trust in His saving grace.