A Promise Kept—Daniel 11:2-12:3
Notes
Transcript
We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today, so I am going to just jump into the passage.
Daniel chapters 10-12 are the same vision. Daniel 10 is an introduction to the vision. We studied that last week. Daniel 11 ish is the meat of the vision. Daniel 12 is the conclusion. We’ll be hitting that after Easter.
If you thought that Daniel’s dreams were detailed before, wait until you read Daniel 11. It is basically a condensed history book of events in Israel’s timeline. Through it, Daniel sees and all those who read Daniel see that God keeps his promises.
We’re going to see that through the two sections of this passage: History explained, future shown, and then we will look at a choice that is demanded.
Will you pray with me?
1. History Explained
1. History Explained
The first half of this chapter is future for Daniel, but past for us. The events are truncated. Gabriel is not trying to give Daniel an exhaustive list of what is going on, but hitting the highlights.
“Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
We’ve talked about this portion before The mighty king of Greece is Alexander. After he rises to power, his kingdom will be broken into 4 parts, given to his 4 leading generals.
Since Gabriel is relating events concerning Israel, focus shifts to two of those generals and their lines. Those with the power base in Syria (kings of the north), later known as the Seleucids, and those with power bases in Egypt (kings of the south), later known as the Ptolemies.
“The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.
The king of the south is Ptolemy I. King of the north is Seleucus I. They do become allies. Later, a marriage is planned between the two houses. Ptolemy II gives his daughter Berenice in marriage to Antiochus the II. He divorced his first wife to marry Berenice. He got tired though, remarried his first wife, who subsquently poisened Antiochus, Berenice, and their son.
That created a break between the families, as you can imagine. I can’t keep stopping and explaining these texts. If you want a detailed history showing the kings that are being referred to, please let me know.
“One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.
“Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped. victory.
“In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success.
That short sentence acknowledges that these events are causing turmoil in Jerusalem.
Daniel Struggles between the Kings of the North and the Kings of the South (11:5–20)
The Oniads controlled the high priesthood and supported Egyptian rule, but the Tobiads, a politically powerful family related by marriage to the Oniads, leaned in the opposite direction.
I really wish that I had the time to discuss all of these events.
Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it. He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him. Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him. After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.
“His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.
“He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty.
This is talking about Antiochus Epiphanies, who we discussed a couple weeks ago. He worshipped Zeus in the temple of the one true God and killed pigs there, sprinkling the blood all around the altar and sacred thing.s
He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.
“With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
“At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
“His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
“Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
The detail of this prophecy is amazing. And generally, everyone agrees who each of these kings refers too.
God said what was going to happen. He kept his promise.
2. The Future Shown
2. The Future Shown
Now, the prophecy keeps going, but no one agrees on what this next part is referring to. Some people believe it has already been fulfilled. Others believe that it is still in the future. Because of the detail of the first passage and universal agreement on who is being referred to. I believe that this second half is still in the future. If it has already happened, we would have universal agreement on it.
I also believe, that since the first half was fulfilled literally, that the second half will be fulfilled literally as well.
You will notice as we start reading, that there doesn’t seem to be a break. This is what trips people up a lot. However, prophecy is like a collapsible telescope. You look at the short piece and then you extend it and realize that it is really three parts.
Same way with prophecy. God gives it, and then when fulfillment is happening, you realize that it is happening over a much longer period of time. What seemed seamless, isn’t really seamless.
“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.
“At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
This portion is referring to the end of the end. It dives into that last week of Daniel 9.
He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
It also dives into that time period from Daniel 7, with the horn coming from the middle of the ferocious beast with 10 horns.
Once we get into Revelation, we will see even more detail about this time period.
The first paragraph of this section in Daniel refers to the pride of this king. As seen in Isaiah 14 12-14
How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
The Antichrist, the accuser, the one who tried to be God and has been seeking to ruin God’s plan.
The second paragrph speaks of a violent end of history. Many people describe this as Armageddon, the last battle. People have tried to specifically explain what is happening on that day.
However, again, this is future prophesy. It will be literally fulfilled. But until it is, we really don’t know how that will happen. It seems, though, that this last king, the AntiChrist lures two great kingdoms with two mighty armies to come to Jerusalem to take him out. Hoping that at the last moment, those nations will join with him to fight against the return of Jesus.
And it doesn’t work. He will come to his end, and no one willl help him.
After that last battle, we have that third paragraph, the start of chapter 12. It speaks of the resurrection at the end of time. Those whose name is found written in the book will be resurrected to life. Those whose name is not found in the book will be resurrected to shame and everlasting contempt.
We know this is going to happen, because God keeps his promises. He fulfilled the first half of this prophecy. He will fulfill the second half of this prophecy.
History has been explained. The future has been shown.
What about us?
3. Choice Demanded
3. Choice Demanded
Like I have said before, God did not give us prophecy so that we can have a timeline. That is a nice, albeit uncertain, outcome. The main point of prophecy is to change our lives right now.
There is a powerful verse nestled in the middle of this chapter:
With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
This verse is in the middle of the portion about Antiochus Epiphanies.
But, as we have said before, Antiochus presents a pattern in prophecy, of kings that come and go, setting themselves up against God and his ways, culminating in the Antichrist who will come at the end of time.
"The bearing of these things on our lives is that we are to live for the Lord Jesus Christ and honor him regardless of the circumstances." "There will always be wars and rumors of wars, famine, trouble, persecutions, and distress. Daniel had them in his day. We have. them in ours, and they will be present even at the end of this age. Nevertheless, those who know God are to stand firm, live righteous lives, resist evil, and do exploits, as God prospers them."
The question is, knowing that God keeps his promises, that the end will come as God said it would, with the resurrection of the godly and ungodly, are we living for it?
Those who know God are to stand firm, live righteous lives, resist evil, and do exploits, but first we have to know God. Do you know him personally, instead of just knowing about him? If you don’t know him personally, the resurrection to life is not for you. You will have the resurrection of shame and eternal destruction.
If you do know him personally, we are called to life for Jesus and honor him no matter what, to stand firm, live righteous lives, resist evil, and do exploits.
Is that your focus?
Here is a very practical application:
Easter is coming up. In the face of the truth that God will keep his promises: who will you invite to the services? I encourage you to pick 3 names. Start praying about them now. And then, invite them. But, not just once, multiple times. Not so that we are offensive, but so that they have no excuse. We’ve got cards on the back table to help with this.
