What Is Going On? -pt 3
The church is headed for a potentially devastating time. In the plan of God, we are going to be tested in such a subtle and unique way that it will test our commitments to Christ. The questions is, "How do we remain faithful?"
Introduction
The Book of Daniel teaches throughout its pages the absolute sovereignty of the Almighty, and God could easily have ensured the delivery of the message to Daniel in a moment. Archer rightly comments: “While God can, of course, override the united resistance of all the forces of hell if he chooses to do so, he accords to demons certain limited powers of obstruction and rebellion somewhat like those he allows humans. In both cases the exercise of free will in opposition to the Lord of heaven is permitted by him when he sees fit. But as Job 1:12 and 2:6 indicate, the malignity of Satan is never allowed to go beyond the due limit set by God.” Believers should take comfort in these words, “The one who is in you [God] is greater than the one who is in the world [the devil]” (1 John 4:4).
In the previous section the vision was introduced; now its contents are revealed—a history of key events leading up to the end. Gabriel begins with the Persian period, the time in which Daniel was then living, making reference to four of its kings (v. 2). Next he describes the Greek Empire under Alexander and its subsequent division into four sections after the great conqueror’s death (vv. 3–4). Two of these divisions, the Ptolemaic and the Seleucid, receive special attention because of their important relationship to Israel (vv. 5–20). Palestine was located between them and was controlled first by the Ptolemies and then the Seleucids.
The historical material in 11:2–20, however, is in reality an introduction to the exceptionally wicked persecutor of the Jews, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (vv. 21–35). Following Antiochus, Gabriel provides a description of the most villainous tyrant that Israel (and the world) will ever encounter, the eschatological Antichrist (vv. 36–45). The vision concludes with a characterization of Antichrist’s reign of terror as the worst period in human history and a promise of deliverance and blessing for the saints (12:1–3). Emphasis is therefore placed on the activities of two individuals, Antiochus and Antichrist.
The historical details set forth in this prophecy are astounding. Wood asserts: “The detail of this history as presented provides one of the most remarkable predictive portions of all Scripture.” Of course, the Bible records many other exact predictions made far in advance of their fulfillment.45
Cyrus (1st of 4 kings)
It is a matter of historical record that the three kings who ruled between Cyrus and Xerxes I were Cambyses (530–522), Smerdis (pseudo-Smerdis or Gaumata; 522), and Darius I Hystaspes (522–486).
Xerxes I (486–465 B.C.) is clearly identified as the fourth king by the description of his great wealth and expedition against Greece.
Alexander The Great
11:3 Scholars agree that the “mighty king” of v. 3 was Alexander the Great (336–323 B.C.), the ruler who brought about the downfall of the Persian Empire
11:4 Upon Alexander’s death, his empire came to be divided into four sections (cf. 8:8) by his military commanders. The rulers were commonly known as the “Diadochi,” which means “successors” (cf. 7:6 and 8:8).
Alexander’s sons (Alexander IV and Herakles) were both murdered, so no part of his empire went to “his descendants.” None of the divisions of the Greek Empire ever rivaled the combined strength of Alexander’s dominion.
Antiochus Epiphanies vv. 21-35
When Seleucus IV Philopator died in 175 B.C., his younger brother, another son of Antiochus III, seized the throne. He is labeled a “contemptible person” (nibzeh, cf. Ps 15:4; Jer 22:28) by the Scripture writer because from the Jewish vantage point he was a monster. Antiochus IV severely persecuted the Jews, massacring thousands, and represented one of the greatest threats to Yahweh worship in all of Israel’s history. This arrogant monarch referred to himself as Epiphanes, the “Manifest One,” or “Illustrious One”; but others called him Epimanes, the “Madman.”
11:20 The son and “successor” of Antiochus III was Seleucus IV Philopator (187–175 B.C.), who sent a “tax collector” (Heliodorus) to collect money to pay the thousand talents indemnity demanded annually by the Romans as part of the treaty at Apamea. According to 2 Macc 3:7–40, Seleucus even sent Heliodorus to plunder the temple in Jerusalem in order to provide funds for the Syrian treasury, but a frightful vision of mighty angels prevented this sacrilege.
Seleucus IV reigned only “a few years” and was not killed by an angry mob (“in anger”) like his father or “in battle.” Heliodorus, his tax collector and prime minister, evidently seeking to gain the throne for himself, poisoned the king (possibly abetted by Antiochus IV).
The historical preview in vv. 2–20 was furnished in order to set the stage for the prediction of an eighth Seleucid-Greek ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–163 B.C.), the “little horn” of chap. 8 (cf. 8:9–12, 23–25). Much attention is given to this individual because his actions profoundly affected Israel.