Resurrection Hope (Daniel 11-12)

Introduction

This morning we come to the conclusion of our series through the book of Daniel as we come to Daniel 11-12. Let me invite you then to take out your Bibles and turn with me to Daniel 11 as we prepare to work our way through these final 2 chapters. If you do not have a Bible, you will be helped by grabbing the Red Bible that is there in your seat and turning in it to page #889. 

Sunday after Sunday as we gather here, we take this ancient book called the Bible and open it up, work our way through normally a passage of Scripture, occasionally through a topic, and seek to hear the voice of God speak to us. 

We do this because we believe that the Bible is God’s authoritative and revealed word to us. A word that chiefly reveals to us about who this God is, informing us, shaping us to rightly understand him so that we may know him. 

This is an important point for us to grasp, especially this morning as we come to Daniel 11 and 12. For the temptation by many skeptics of the Bible is to argue against these chapters, especially with Daniel 11 in trying to discredit it. To discredit it by saying that this chapter was not written in the days of Daniel between 605 BC and 536 BC. 

The reason they seek to discredit this is because to say that Daniel 11 was written in this time period would acknowledge that there was a knowing of events to come, a knowledge with great detail. For Daniel 11 paints from the time of Cyrus up until at the very least the fall of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 164 BC. We will get to the at least part later on in the sermon. 

Skeptics of the Bible do not want to acknowledge that the God of the Bible is that sovereign to know and orchestrate history according to his purposes. Has that not though been what the entire book of Daniel has been revealing to us about this God? That he really does reign over all of human history. That he is the God who sets up kings and removes them. That he is the God who reveals what is to come ahead of time for the sake of his glory? That he is the God who brings about the deliverance of his people, because he is ruling even over their adversaries. 

It should not then surprise us that this God with the greatest of details can tell us how the future will shape out through prophecy. And as we work our way through this passage, these things should cause us to marvel and be encouraged by the fact of who our God is. 

We need to remember that Daniel 10-12 is one vision. The three chapters are meant to be read and understood together as one unit. Chapter 10 is the pulling back of the curtain, letting Daniel and then us know what is at work behind the scenes of this cosmic warfare. Specifically, a foretelling of how after this present battle fought with the prince of Persia will end and another battle will begin with the prince of Greece. A battle that is now then laid out in Daniel 11 in this great detail. With the guarantee of victory coming in Daniel 12. Because of the complexity and length of these chapters, we will not read through this up front, but will highlight these things as we go. 

Let me then give us what I think the main idea is of these two chapters, and hopefully the main idea then of this sermon: 

Main Idea: Though the nations continue to rage, victory is guaranteed for the Lord and his people. Therefore, as his people, let us trust God and live faithfully until the very end. 

A History of God's Sovereignty (11:1-45) 

A Resurrection Hope is Promised (12:1-3)

A Call to Enduring Faithfulness (12:4-13)

1. A History of God’s Sovereignty (Daniel 11)

This first point is a history lesson. A history lesson in seeing God’s prophecy with its great detail in what was to come and then how it was fulfilled. Yet it is more than a history lesson, it is a masterpiece of God’s detailed rule over all things throughout history. 

We start this history lesson where we left off last week there in Daniel 11:1. The very angel who had been speaking to Daniel throughout chapter 10, the angel who had been fighting against the Mede-Persians. This angel is the one who confirmed and strengthened Darius the Mede who is likely also Cyrus, or at the very least under Cyrus, in orchestrating the return of the Jews from exile back to Jerusalem. And the masterpiece of God’s plans are now further revealed to give Daniel, and more importantly those after Daniel, confidence that the LORD will continue to bring about his purposes about a true word concerning this great conflict. 

For Daniel 11:2 returns to this  which was mentioned back in Daniel 10:1. First it is told that three more kings will arise in Persia after Darius (Cyrus).

History itself verifies this. Following Darius’s reign from 530-522 BC comes Smerdis reigning in 522 BC, then Darius I Hystaspes from 522-486 BC, and then comes the fourth who was far richer than the rest, Xerxes. Xerxes reigned from 486-464 BC. 

These kings conclude the reign of the Median-Persian Empire. An empire that ends as foretold in Daniel 11:3, a mighty king arose and ruled with great dominion and did as he willed. This was that of Alexander the Great who brought in the Greek rule just as we saw foretold back in Daniel 8:21. 

Alexander the Great would rule from 336-323 BC. And while he would do as he wills, his kingdom would not last after his death. It would be broken and divided up, as promised there in Daniel 11:4. A division that nothing of two parts in the East and the West are mentioned, but an ongoing conflict between the kingdoms of the North and the South are followed closely here in this prophecy. These being the kingdoms of Egypt and Syria. 

We see that of  Daniel 11:5-6 unfold between Ptolemy I Soter, the King of the South and Seleucid, the King of the North.  Seleucid is the weaker king in the north, and as one of his generals overpowers him around 250 BC, which forced him to flee south under Ptolemy I, indicating his strength.

After a time the Seleucid empire returns north and tensions continue to be high between the north and the south. But now an elaborate plot for unity arises. The daughter of the king of the south at the time, Ptolemy II, is going to go north and marry the king of the north, Antiochus II. 

But there is a problem. Antiochus II is married. And so he plans to divorce his wife and disinherit her two sons. But she discovers this plot and has Antiochus II and the daughter of the king of the south poisoned.  Resulting in her having no strength left in her just as foretold. 

Then there is one to rise from this daughter of the king of the south, Bernice, promised in Daniel 11:7. It is her brother who becomes Ptolemy III Euergetes who reigns from 246-221 BC. And he will go north and took the Syrian gods and even returned some of the idols stolen from Egypt back in 524 BC. And then Ptolemy III will refrain from attacking the king of the north for some time, this noted to be between 246-226 BC. 

Verse 10 foretells that after Seleucus II, the king of the south, dies in 226 BC, his sons will continue to pick fights with Ptolemies to the north. One, Selects III reigned only a short time before he was murdered, but his brother, Antiochus III the Great, who reigned from 223-187 BC, helped the nation to become strong and extended his rule. 

Then we see verses 11-12 play out. Ptolemy IV Philophator is the king of the south who responds with rage and brings about a quick defeat of Antiochus III. However, Ptolemy IV had a brief time to enjoy his victory. As foretold, the king of the north again raised a multitude. And Antiochus III strikes back against Ptolemy V, a young unstable king. And Antiochus III by 201 BC claims as far as the fortress of Gaza for himself. 

Then in verses 14-19 we are foretold about the king of the north coming and overthrowing the kingdom of the south, doing as he wills. Another agreement is presented to bring a stop to this advance from the north. Again, the agreement of marriage. Antiochus III gives his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V. The ESV Study Bible note here emphasizes this is not he famous Cleopatra that would come later.

The aim of this plan by Antiochus III was to extend his rule further and have control of Egypt. However, it was foretold this plan would not stand or be to Antiochus III’s advantage. For instead of Cleopatra being loyal to her father, she was loyal to her husband. Antiochus III had early success as promised in verse 18, but as verse 19 also promised, it did not last and he stumbled and fell which came in 188 BC when he was forced to sign a treaty after being defeated by Roman and Greek troops. 

After Antiochus III the Great’s end, his son Seleucus IV Philopater rises from 187-175 BC. And he is foretold will be one who is “sent as an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom” there in verse 20. But that he would not last, as he would die not by anger or battle. He was killed by poison by one of his own collectors. 

Then Antiochus IV Epiphanes arises and covers from verses 21-35. Antiochus IV we have discussed previously as the horn from Daniel 8 who would arise. He would reign from 175-164 BC. 

One commentator is quick to point out that we do not know which alliance and deceit specifically is being mentioned in verse 23 because their were many of these made by Antiochus IV. 

Verses 25-27 are a foretelling of an elaborative defeat and plot of deceit that is carried out when Antiochus IV battles against Egypt and takes Ptolemy VI captive. Then the two plot together to overthrow Ptolemy VI’s brother, Ptolemy VIII. However the plot is mere words and the two do not actually work together, but seemly seek to use one another. 

Antiochus’s IV returns home having plundered Egypt, but not having gained complete rule as told in verse 28. And as he does, he begins to deal horribly with the Jews. 

Then another attempt will be made, but it won’t have success as promised in verse 29. The reason for this, there will be further opposition against Antiochus IV. Opposition that forces him to turn back to his own land. And here he is further enraged and takes it out on the Jews and their city. 

This is where the abomination of desolation begins. For it is here where the temple and fortress are profaned by the unholy sacrifice of pigs and the building of a Greek god in the temple takes place. All offerings are put to a halt for the people. And this plot involves those who have turned in apostasy from that which they have known about God’s law. 

Yet while many turned away from the LORD, some stood firm in their faith and took action. It is said ahead of time that this action will be to make many understand. Though for some days they will stumble by sword and flame, captivity and plunder. And yet through this, they are being refined, purified, and made white. That is they are being sanctified through their suffering for persecution sake. 

And yet it is told that their will be the time of the end, the end of this desolation against the temple. As we mentioned earlier in Daniel 8, this would come through the Maccabean Revolt that would result in the recapture of Jerusalem by the Jews and the temple’s restoration and rededication that is still celebrated by the Jews in that of Hanukkah. This took place on December 14, 164 BC. 

It should be said, that all these who joined in on this were in and of themselves not faithful. Some it says joined in for various other reasons, those who it says would give them help for various reasons. 

All of this to this point in Daniel 11 has been given by God ahead of time as to what would transpire and take place long before it ever happened. And even through history, we have been able to trace it out and see God’s sovereign rule over the events of history for his purposes, even his continued reign even as the nations attempted to rage against him. All of this has a solid consensus on these matters. Meaning that apart from those who try to discredit the timing of this writing by discrediting it as prophecy, all seem to agree on what these events foretold. 

But then comes Daniel 11:36-45. And it is here that there is some disagreement. Some take these final verses in Daniel 11 to move past Antiochus IV and be descriptions of the end-times Anti-Christ. 

Scholars who I respect lean this way. But, I don’t think this is moving into a later end-times view just yet. In fact, like much prophecy and especially apocalyptic literature, you have a repletion of these visions of these sayings. In fact, Daniel 10-12 is just that, paralleled with Daniel 8 and a retelling of what is to happen under Antiochus IV in the desolation of abomination with the desecration of the temple. 

This makes me to understand Daniel 11:36-45 is a replaying of Antiochus IV’s terror against God’s people. And we see this in how verses 36-45 parallel 21-24. 

Both begin with one who flatters, both others and himself. Both sections show this one to be of great military might and to honor a god of fortresses and might. Both sections focus on this one as one who will break the prince of the covenant and oppose the God of gods. In both sections it emphasizes that this one is one who schemes and plots with others to advance his purposes, this coming in verse 23 and 39. 

So either Antiochus IV is a very strong foreshadowing of the later anti-christ, which is again possible. Or more than likely it is a repetition of his wicked assault not only in raging against the LORD, but his people. 

All hope is not lost though. For though Antiochus IV will be a terror to God’s people, his time is limited by God. His time will be brought to an end. An end where none will help him as noted in verse 45. An event that occurred in 164 BC when Antiochus IV dies by disease. 

But why this grand history lesson of the prophecy of Daniel 11 here? Because we need to see how God is reigning over these raging nations and history even in the midst of their raging. How nothing is outside of his control. Nothing catches him by surprise. That he is working out every event, every happening for his glory and the good of his people. 

For even here in the midst of persecution under this terror, Antiochus IV, God is using it for the good of his people, to sanctify them. He is cleansing them and making them pure and white. 

This history lesson teaches us this truth, so that even now as these things continue. Even as things feel uncertain, even as troubled times continue in our own day, we can know that God already knows the end and is working it all out accordingly for his glory and his triumph. 

Friends, let us simply marvel at the God who reigns over it all! Behold our God. The God who is seated on his throne, the God that no nothing can compare to. Behold the God whose glory fills the earth as he reigns over all things forever and ever. A victory visible in the resurrection. 

2. A Resurrection Hope is Promised (Daniel 12:1-3)

Daniel 12:1-3…

This right here is the clearest teaching in the Old Testament about the coming resurrection. And though the New Testament will make it clearer with Jesus’ teaching on it, as well as his rising, it is clear for us to see here that there is the promise that every person who has died, who has returned to the dust using the language of the curse from Genesis 3, will rise from the dead in resurrection.

The question is not then if we will rise, but to what ends will we arise. Will we arise in deliverance to everlasting life or shame and everlasting contempt? 

For the people of God, that is us who are Christians, we have the hope of awakening to everlasting life and glory as mentioned there in verse 3. This is what we have to look forward to at the end of the matter. For despite the trials of this life for God’s people, even the threat, attempt, and delivery of death, we have something better to await. We will arise and we will live forever! 

But friend, if you are not a Christian. If you have not turned from your sin and trusted in Jesus, know you too will rise from the dead. But what presently awaits is an arising to shame and everlasting contempt, which means an eternal despair or scorn that lays against you. 

I want to urge you friend to not pause before you leave here and consider what is at stake here. Consider which resurrection you are going to awake to before it is too late. Understand that even now, there is hope if you will hear this calling to righteousness. A righteousness that is found not in and of ourselves, but a righteousness that comes as we believe in God’s Forever King, King Jesus. Come and believe in him today and have everlasting life through him, the first to have been raised from the dead, the one who lives seated next to the Father in glory even now. Come and believe today. 

3. A Call to Enduring Faithfulness  (Daniel 12:4-13)

In the final verses of Daniel, it is twice told to Daniel to seal up this vision, for it is meant for the end of times. The end of the desolation of abomination in the desecration and then destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, as well as for the end of the days between Jesus’ ascension and second coming. 

In his first letter, Peter emphasizes this very point to those he is writing to exiles in his own day. He tells us that Daniel was writing these things to serve not himself, but us in our present exile. It was a means to encourage us to our living hope in Christ. 

It is no wonder then that when the question is brought up of how long and what is to come of these things here in Daniel 12, that Daniel is instructed to seal these visions up. 

Even as Daniel is told in Daniel 12:7 that it would be for a time, times, and a half a time the shattering of the power of the holy people would exist before coming to an end and all finished. Then it is added in verse 11 that the desolate is set up and it shall be 1,290 days. And then in verse 12, that those who arrive at the 1,3335 days would be those who are blessed. Through this, Daniel still does not understand the fullness of it. 

Throughout Church History, various ones have labored to figure out what these times and numbers are meant to be. But there is no consensus. But that is part of this prophecy, of Apocalyptic literature. We aren’t meant to understand all the details, all the timings. 

We are meant to be given a glimpse of how things are to play out to strengthen us in the midst of hardship to help us endure. We are to take heart in knowing that the times of the end, the times of the resurrection, the times of eternal glory are set already by the LORD himself. We need not try and worry how or when it all will come about. 

As God’s people, as Christians, we are called to focus on one matter in it all. We are being called to pursue enduring faithfulness. For it is those who endure in faithfulness at the 1,335 days that are blessed (v.12). It is those who understand that even in the present persecutions and hardships of God’s people, that it is for a purpose. A purpose to purify us and refine us, to sanctify us as it makes us more into the likeness of our Redeemer, of our Triune God. 

Christian, be not as much concerned about the when of the matters as you are on pressing onward in enduring faithfulness. A faithfulness that does not grow weary, but that continues hoping as we know the God in whom our hope lies. The Most High God who sets up kings and removes them. The God who humbles the proud and tells what is to come. And the God who has faithfully delivered his people and will continue to do so. A hope that we have anchored in our King, knowing that because he has risen from the dead, we too have that hope, that resurrection hope of eternal life. 

Let’s pray…