Daniel 11.27-The Prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and Ptolemy VI Philometer Deceiving Each Other at the Negotiation Table
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday June 4, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 11:27-The Prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and Ptolemy VI Philometer Deceiving Each Other at the Negotiation Table
Lesson # 344
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 11:21.
Daniel 11:21 “Next, in his place, a despicable person will ascend to power even though for his benefit sovereign authority over the kingdom will have never been conferred. Nevertheless, he will appear on the scene during a time of false security when he seizes the kingdom by flatteries. 22 Then, immense armies will be swept away from the presence of his armies so that they will be destroyed along with even the leader over the covenant people. 23 Indeed, when he enters into an alliance to gain an advantage over him, he will practice deception because he will attack in order to gain power with a small force. 24 During a time of peace, he will in fact wage an attack against the province’s most productive areas. Consequently, he will achieve what his fathers and his forefathers never achieved. He will distribute plunder, yes war booty, as well as logistical provision for the benefit of others. Furthermore, he will devise his schemes against fortified cities but only for a short period of time. 25 Indeed, because of his courage, with a great army, he will mobilize his military power against the king ruling the south because with a great army, yes an extremely powerful one, the king ruling the south will initiate hostile military action for war. However, he will by no means stand because schemes will be devised against him. 26 Namely, those who eat his choice food will cause him to be defeated, specifically his army will be overwhelmed so that a great number will be killed in combat. 27 Then, these two kings, their hearts possessed by evil intentions, will consequently trade lies at the same table. However, this will never succeed because there is still an end at the appointed time.” (My translation)
Daniel 11:27 “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)
Beginning in Daniel 11:21 we have an extensive prophecy concerning Antiochus IV Epiphanes, which ends in Daniel 11:35.
He is given more attention than the previous kings prophesied about in Daniel 11:2-20.
The reason for this is that Antiochus IV Epiphanes will be a great persecutor of the Jewish people and adversary of the God of Israel.
He is the Antichrist of the Old Testament and foreshadows the Antichrist of the New Testament.
Verse 21 was fulfilled in history since history reveals that this despicable person was none other than Antiochus IV Epiphanes who assumed power over the Seleucid kingdom even though the throne rightly belonged to the son of Seleucus IV Philopator who was Demetrius Soter.
Verse 22 has been fulfilled in history since history records that the immense armies of the Egyptians and the army of Heliodorus were routed by the armies led by Antiochus IV Epiphanes who was assisted by the armies of his Pergamum allies.
The death of the leader over the covenant people is a reference to the murder of the Jewish High Priest Onias III whose murder Antiochus IV Epiphanes ordered in 172 B.C.
Daniel 11:23 was also fulfilled in history since history records Antiochus IV Epiphanes entering into an alliance with the Ptolemy VI Philometer of Egypt and his brother Ptolemy Physcon who is also known as Ptolemy VIII Euergetes.
Verse 24 has been fulfilled in history by Antiochus Epiphanes IV since history records this despicable person entering into an alliance with the Ptolemy VI Philometer of Egypt and his brother Ptolemy Physcon who is also known as Ptolemy VIII Euergetes.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes launched an attack against Egypt conquering all but Alexandria and capturing Ptolemy VI Philometer.
History records that Antiochus IV Epiphanes won a significant military victory at Pelusium and captured Memphis along with all of lower and central Egypt with a comparatively small army of men.
This wicked king pillaged the most productive areas of Egypt but used this wealth to bribe and influence other leaders in the Middle East to aid him in his quest for more power.
Consequently, by distributing this wealth he acquired from Egypt, he enlarged his power base and his sphere of influence in the Middle East.
He also crowned himself king of Upper Egypt at Memphis.
All of this was never accomplished by his predecessors.
Daniel 11:25 has also been fulfilled in history which records Ptolemy VI Philometer initiating hostile military action for war against Antiochus Epiphanes IV and doing so with an extremely powerful army.
The angel’s statement in Daniel 11:25 that schemes devised against the king of the south will cause his defeat is a reference to these two individuals who gave the Egyptian king bad advice.
Verse 26 has also been fulfilled in history which records that the guardians and state ministers of Ptolemy VI Philometer, Eulaeus and Lenaeus betrayed the young king by convincing him to declare war against Antiochus Epiphanes IV when he should not have done so.
Verse 27 presents the next event that took place after the events recorded in verses 25-26, which record the angel predicting the king of the north defeating the king of the south as a result of a conspiracy against him within his own government.
Daniel 11:27 “Then, these two kings, their hearts possessed by evil intentions, will consequently trade lies at the same table. However, this will never succeed because there is still an end at the appointed time.” (My translation)
Daniel 11:27 continues the prophecy of the conflict between Antiochus Epiphanes IV (the despicable king ruling the north) and Ptolemy VI Philometer (king ruling the south).
The former defeated the latter according to Daniel 11:25-26.
Here in Daniel 11:27, the angel predicts that after the king ruling the south is defeated by the king ruling the north, the hearts of both these kings will be possessed by evil intentions which will result in both of them trading lies with each other at the negotiating table.
This was also fulfilled in history because after Antiochus Epiphanes IV defeated Ptolemy VI Philometer, they both came to the peace table to negotiate a treaty.
However, both traded lies with each other since neither trusted each other. Antiochus Epiphanes IV was pretending to be a protector of the interests and crown of his nephew Ptolemy Philometer VI.
He pretended to be protecting him from his brother Ptolemy VIII Physcon.
In reality he wanted Egypt to himself. Ptolemy Philometer VI pretended to believe and to be allied with his uncle against Ptolemy Physcon, his brother.
In reality, he planned to join forces with his brother against their uncle.
Antiochus Epiphanes IV was double dealing in an attempt to divide the brothers against themselves and thus weaken Egypt by strengthening the rivalry between the two brothers.
While Antiochus left the country, the two brothers Ptolemy VI Philometer and Ptolemy VIII Physcon reconciled with each other.
The reference to the “end” here in Daniel 11:27 does not refer to the completion of the seventy weeks or the end of human history.
Rather it refers to the end of the conflict between the king of the north and the king of the south which is indicated by the prediction in verse 28 that the king of the north will return to his land with much plunder after trading lies with the king of the south.
The appointed time refers to the time appointed by God when the conflict between the despicable king of the north and the king of the south will come to an end and thus refers to the sovereign determination of God.
It indicates that there is still an end to the conflict between these two kings at the time sovereignly determined by God.
The term “sovereignty” connotes a situation in which a person, from his innate dignity, exercises supreme power, with no areas of his province outside his jurisdiction.
As applied to God, the term “sovereignty” indicates His complete power over all of creation, so that He exercises His will absolutely, without any necessary conditioning by a finite will or wills.
Daniel 2:19 Next in a vision during the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel. Then Daniel showered the God of the heavens with adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving. 20 Daniel responded and said: “God has had His name showered with adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving from eternity past and in addition this will continue throughout eternity future because He inherently is wisdom as well as power. 21 Namely, He determines the appointed times as well as the durations of time. He deposes kings as well as elevates kings. He gives wisdom to wise men as well as knowledge to those who possess the capacity to receive understanding. 22 God reveals unfathomable events, yes events which are hidden. He alone knows what is in the darkness. Specifically, the light resides in Him. 23 For the benefit of You, O God of my fathers, I myself give thanks, yes and praise too because You gave to me wisdom, yes and power too. Indeed, now You have made known to me what we requested from You because You made known to us the king’s secret.” (My translation)
Isaiah 40:15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. (NASB95)
Isaiah 40:17 All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. (NASB95)
Antiochus was disturbed by this loss of control over his nephew Ptolemy IV Philometer and attacked Egypt once again.
This proved costly to Antiochus since Egypt turned to Rome for help and they intimidated Antiochus to withdraw from Egypt.