Overview of Daniel Chapter Eleven
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday March 25, 2014
Daniel: Overview of Daniel Chapter Eleven
Lesson # 317
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 11:1.
Daniel chapter eleven is divided into two main sections: (1) Description of the major rulers and events of the Persian and Greek Empires (1-35) (2) Description of the actions of the final Gentile world-ruler during the seventieth week who will be from the final stage of the Roman Empire and is the Antichrist (36-45).
The first major section can be broken out into four sections: (1) Prophecy of Persian Rulers (verse 2) (2) Prophecy of Alexander the Great (verses 3-4) (3) Prophecies of Seleucid and Ptolemaic rulers (verses 5-20) (4) Prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV (verses 21-35).
Daniel chapter 12 continues this prophecy which begins in chapter 11 by presenting the prophecy of the last 1,335 days, which includes the last three and a half years of Daniel’s seventieth week, the Second Advent of Christ and His subsequent millennial reign on the earth.
Alexander the Great’s four generals divided his empire after he died.
To Ptolemy was given Egypt and parts of Asia Minor whereas Casander was given the territory of Macedonia and Greece.
Lysimachus was given Thrace and parts of Asia Minor (western Bithynia, Phrygia, Mycia and Lydia).
Seleucus was given the remainder of Alexander’s empire which included Syria, Israel and Mesopotamia.
Daniel 11:3-35 is a prophecy not only of the rise and fall of Alexander the Great but also is a prophecy about the descendants of these four generals.
Specifically, this chapter prophesies about the descendants of two of these generals, namely, the descendants of Ptolemy and Seleucid.
The descendants of the former ruled over Egypt whereas the descendants of the latter ruled over Syria, Israel and Mesopotamia.
Throughout this prophecy in chapter eleven these descendants of Ptolemy who ruled Egypt are identified by the phrase “the king of the South” since Egypt geographically was located south of Israel.
On the other hand, the descendants of Seleucid who ruled over Syria are identified by the phrase “the king of the North” since geographically Syria is located north of Israel.
The chapter division at this point in the book of Daniel is unfortunate since the statement in Daniel 11:1 records the angel speaking about Michael and is connected to Daniel chapter 10 since it is connected to the statement about Michael in Daniel 10:21.
Daniel 11:1 “In the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:2 is a prophecy of four important Persian kings who will appear on the pages of history, namely, Cambyses (529-522 B.C.), Pseudo-Smerdis (522-521 B.C.), Darius I Hystaspes (521-486 B.C.) and Xerxes I, also known as Ahasuerus (485-465 B.C.)
Daniel 11:2 “And now I will tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings are going to arise in Persia. Then a fourth will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as he becomes strong through his riches, he will arouse the whole empire against the realm of Greece.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:3-4 prophesies of the rise and fall of Alexander the Great.
Daniel 11:3 “And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. 4 But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others besides them.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:5 prophesies about Ptolemy I Soter and Seleucus I Nicator, both of whom, served as generals under Alexander the Great.
“The king of the South” in this prophecy is Ptolemy I Soter whereas Seleucus I Nicator is “one of his princes.”
Daniel 11:5 “Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with one of his princes who will gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion; his domain will be a great dominion indeed.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:6 prophecies of the alliance between Ptolemy II and Antiochus II which was sealed by the marriage of Ptolemy II’s daughter Bernice to Antiochus II.
Bernice however was killed by Laodice whom Antiochus divorced to marry Bernice.
Daniel 11:6 “After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to carry out a peaceful arrangement. But she will not retain her position of power, nor will he remain with his power, but she will be given up, along with those who brought her in and the one who sired her as well as he who supported her in those times.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:7-8 predicts Bernice’s brother Ptolemy III Euergetes being victorious over the king of the North who is Seleucus Calliniucus and avenging his sister’s death.
Daniel 11:7 “But one of the descendants of her line will arise in his place, and he will come against their army and enter the fortress of the king of the North, and he will deal with them and display great strength. 8 Also their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold he will take into captivity to Egypt, and he on his part will refrain from attacking the king of the North for some years.” (NASB95)
Then, in Daniel 11:9-10, the angel prophecies of Seleucus III and Antiochus III seeking to restore Syria’s lost prestige with the latter invading Egypt and driving the Egyptians back to the southern borders of Israel in 219-217 B.C.
Daniel 11:9 “Then the latter will enter the realm of the king of the South, but will return to his own land. 10 His sons will mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one of them will keep on coming and overflow and pass through, that he may again wage war up to his very fortress.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:11-13 predicts “the king of the South” who is Ptolemy IV Philopator (221-204 B.C.) attacking Antiochus III at the southern borders of Israel but the latter returned with another much larger army and turned him back.
Daniel 11:11 “The king of the South will be enraged and go forth and fight with the king of the North. Then the latter will raise a great multitude, but that multitude will be given into the hand of the former. 12 When the multitude is carried away, his heart will be lifted up, and he will cause tens of thousands to fall; yet he will not prevail. 13 For the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former, and after an interval of some years he will press on with a great army and much equipment.” (NASB95)
Next, in Daniel 11:14-17, the angel predicts Antiochus III capturing Sidon, the “well-fortified city” in 203 B.C and establishing himself in Israel, “the Beautiful Land.”
It also predicts Antiochus seeking peace with Egypt by offering his daughter to marry Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt but this would not succeed.
Daniel 11:14 “Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the South; the violent ones among your people will also lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they will fall down. 15 Then the king of the North will come, cast up a siege ramp and capture a well-fortified city; and the forces of the South will not stand their ground, not even their choicest troops, for there will be no strength to make a stand. 16 But he who comes against him will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to withstand him; he will also stay for a time in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. 17 He will set his face to come with the power of his whole kingdom, bringing with him a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand for him or be on his side.” (NASB95)
In Daniel 11:18-19, we have the prophecy of Antiochus III turning his attention to Asia Minor in 197 B.C. and Greece in 192 B.C. but being turned back by the Roman commander Cornelius Scipio and dying a year later in 188 B.C.
Daniel 11:18 “Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many. But a commander will put a stop to his scorn against him; moreover, he will repay him for his scorn. 19 So he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be found no more.” (NASB95)
Verse 20 is a prophecy of the murder of Antiochus III’s son Seleucus IV Philopator (187-176 B.C.) by his treasurer Heliodorus.
Seleucus IV heavily taxed his people to pay Rome.
Daniel 11:20 “Then in his place one will arise who will send an oppressor through the Jewel of his kingdom; yet within a few days he will be shattered, though not in anger nor in battle.” (NASB95)
The angel in Daniel 11:21-22 predicts Antiochus IV, “the despicable person” seizing the throne which rightly belonged to his brother Demetrius Soter, who was a son of Seleucus IV Philopator.
Antiochus IV was only accepted as king because he was able to turn aside an invading army.
Daniel 11:21 “In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:23-24 records the angel predicting the rise of the power and prestige of Antiochus Epiphanes IV with the help of a relatively small number of people.
Daniel 11:23 “After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small force of people. 24 In a time of tranquility he will enter the richest parts of the realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them, and he will devise his schemes against strongholds, but only for a time.” (NASB95)
Verses 25-27 is a prophecy of Antiochus moving against the king of the South in 170 B.C. who was Ptolemy VI and who possessed a larger army than Antiochus but was defeated by him.
These verses also prophesy of these two attempting to deceive each other by pretending they were friends.
Daniel 11:25 “He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him. 26 Those who eat his choice food will destroy him, and his army will overflow, but many will fall down slain. 27 As for both kings, their hearts will be intent on evil, and they will speak lies to each other at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the end is still to come at the appointed time.” (NASB95)
In Daniel 11:28, we have the prophecy of Antiochus carrying great wealth back to his homeland from his conquest and while on the way passing through the land of Israel and taking out his frustrations out on Israel after his disappointment in Egypt where he failed to capture this nation.
Daniel 11:28 “Then he will return to his land with much plunder; but his heart will be set against the holy covenant, and he will take action and then return to his own land.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:29-30 predicts Antiochus moving once again against Egypt, “the king of the South” but while doing so he was opposed by the Romans “ships of Kittim” who submitted to Rome’s demands.
Verse 30 is a prophesy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV taking out his frustrations against the Jews and Jerusalem and its temple.
Daniel 11:29 At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but this last time it will not turn out the way it did before. 30 For ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.” (NASB95)
Daniel 11:31 predicts that Antiochus would also desecrate the temple in Jerusalem and abolish the regular daily sacrifice and erecting an altar to Zeus on the altar of burnt offering and offering a pig on the altar.
Daniel 11:31 “Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.” (NASB95)
Verse 32 also prophesies that many Israelites will be deceived by Antiochus’ flattery and worship the false god but a small remnant in Israel will remain faithful.
Daniel 11:32 “By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” (NASB95)
Then, in Daniel 11:33-35, the angel predicts that the faithful remnant in Israel will be persecuted and martyred for their faith.
Daniel 11:33 “Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. 34 Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. 35 Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.” (NASB95)
All the prophecies recorded in Daniel 11:2-35 have been fulfilled in history.
Of course, with regards to Daniel when he received these prophecies, their fulfillment was yet future.
The prophecies appearing in Daniel 11:2-35 will take place during the 69 weeks or 69 units of 7 years or in other words, they will be fulfilled during the first 483 prophetic years.
However, nothing recorded in Daniel 11:36-45 has been fulfilled in history but is awaiting fulfillment in the future.
These verses will be fulfilled during the seventieth week.
Therefore, Daniel 11:2-35 gives us details regarding the first 69 weeks.
Daniel 11:36-45 is a prophecy of the rise and fall of the Antichrist who will be a world-wide ruler from the final stage of the Roman Empire.
Daniel 11:36 “Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all. 38 But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures. 39 He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.” (NASB95)
In Daniel 11:40-45, we have the prophecy of the Antichrist being attacked by the king of the South and the king of the north.
The king of the South is more than likely Egypt since this nation’s ruler has been referred to by this designation throughout the prophecy whereas the king of the North will be more than likely be Syria since this nation’s ruler has been referred to by this designation throughout the prophecy.
The king of the North is not the same ruler mentioned in the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 since the ruler in this prophecy comes from the extreme north of Israel, which would be Russia.
In Ezekiel 38-39, Syria is not listed among the nations which will accompany Russia in this attack of Israel.
Daniel 11:40 “At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through. 41 He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. 42 Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. 43 But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. 44 But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” (NASB95)