"THE BOOK OF DANIEL"
The Vision Of The Time Of The End - II (11:2-35)
INTRODUCTION
- In the tenth chapter, we saw the beginning of the final vision
recorded by Daniel...
- A vision that pertains to what will affect Daniel's people (i.e.,
Israel) - Dan 10:14
- Describing what will occur "in the latter days, for the vision
refers to many days yet to come" - Dan 10:14
- Its words were to be closed and sealed "till the time of the end"
- Dan 12:9
-- For such reasons this vision has been called "The Vision Of The
Time Of The End"
- In the introductory remarks of the vision, we were given a glimpse
of the spiritual warfare that was going on "behind the scenes"...
- With angelic forces withstanding each other - Dan 10:13a,20
- With angelic forces helping each other - Dan 10:13b,21; 11:1
[Beginning with Dan 11:2, "The Vision Of The Time Of The End" begins in
earnest. The "glorious man" proceeds to tell Daniel what will happen
"in the latter days" (Dan 10:14), beginning with...]
- THE PERSIAN-GREEK CONFLICT
- FOUR PERSIAN KINGS WILL ARISE...
- Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth - Dan
11:2
- The fourth shall be far richer than them all
- By his strength and riches, the fourth shall stir up all
against Greece
- As confirmed by history, these kings who followed Cyrus (Dan
10:1) were:
- Cambyses
- Smerdis
- Darius Hystaspis (Darius the Great)
- Xerxes (called Ahasuerus in the book of Esther - Es 1:1)
- A MIGHTY GREEK KING SHALL RISE AND FALL...
- A mighty king shall arise - Dan 11:3
- He shall rule with great dominion
- He shall do according to his will
-- This was Alexander the Great
- His kingdom shall be broken and divided into four pieces - Dan
11:4
- This was also prophesied in Dan 8:21-22
- The kingdom will not be given to his posterity, nor will
the dominion be as great
- As confirmed by history, Alexander's empire was eventually
divided between his four generals after he died in 323 B.C.
- Seleucus I - who began the Seleucid (Syrian) empire,
from Turkey to India
- Cassander - who took over Macedonia (Greece)
- Lysimachus - who took Thracia (between Greece and
Turkey)
- Ptolemy I - who ruled over Egypt
[At this point, the "glorious man" begins to describe an extended
conflict between "the kings of the North" and "the kings of the South"
which will have a big impact upon the people of Daniel (Israel)...]
- THE EGYPTIAN-SYRIAN CONFLICT
- THE CONFLICT WILL BEGIN...
- The "king of the South" will gain in strength - Dan 11:5a
- This king is Ptolemy I
- Who ruled Egypt (306-284 B.C.)
- As well as "one of his princes", who will gain power over the
other - Dan 11:5b
- This is thought to refer to one of Alexander's princes
(generals)
- In which case it is Seleucus I, who ruled Syria (312-280 B.C.)
-- Caught in the middle between Syria and Egypt, Israel will bear
the brunt of much of the conflict between these two empires
- THERE WILL BE A FAILED ALLIANCE...
- The "daughter of the South" will go to the "king of the North"
- Dan 11:6a
- The event occurred in the reigns of Ptolemy Philadelphus
(284-246 B.C.) and Antiochus Theus (261-246 B.C.)
- Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus was given to
Antiochus, upon the condition that Antiochus divorce his
wife Laodice
- Hoping to make peace between Egypt and Syria
- But the "daughter of the South" will not retain her authority
- Dan 11:6b
- Two years after the marriage, Berenice's father (Ptolemy
Philadelphus) died
- Antiochus put her away and restored his first wife Laodice
- Laodice killed Antiochus, and Berenice fled, but was later
put to death along with her children and attendants
- THE SOUTH WILL RISE IN ANGER...
- A "branch of her roots" will come with an army - Dan 11:7
- This was Berenice's brother, Ptolemy Euregetes (246-221 B.C.)
- Who failing to save his sister, attacked Syria to avenge
her death
- The avenger (Ptolemy Euregetes) will succeed - Dan 11:8
- Euregetes took their gods, princes, and precious articles
to Egypt
- Euregetes ruled longer than the next Seleucid king,
Seleucid Callinicus (246-226 B.C.)
- THE CONFLICT WILL ACCELERATE...
- The "king of the North" (Seleucid Callinicus) will try to
invade the kingdom of the South - Dan 11:9-10
- He does not succeed, though his sons (Seleucid Ceraunus and
Antiochus the Great) shall stir up strife
- One son in particular, Antiochus the Great (225-187 B.C.),
does succeed in overwhelming Egypt (actually, regain Syrian
land taken by Egypt)
- The "king of the South" will respond in rage - Dan 11:11-13
- This king of Egypt is Ptolemy Philopator (221-204 B.C.)
- Angry that Antiochus the Great regained control of Syrian
territory, he gathered a great army and defeated Antiochus
at Raphia
- His victory was short-lived, for Antiochus returned with a
better-equipped army in 203 B.C.
- Others will contribute to the war against the South - Dan
11:14
- This included Philip, king of Macedon, who aligned with
Antiochus
- Also some violent Jews, prompted by what they perceived as
the fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall
- The "king of the North" shall prevail against the South, but
then fall - Dan 11:15-19
- Again, this is Antiochus the Great
- The forces of the South were not able to resist him
- He stood in the "Glorious Land" (Israel) with
destruction in his power
- He tried to strengthen his kingdom by giving his daughter
in marriage
- His daughter Cleopatra, given to Ptolemy Epiphanes (204-
180 B.C.)
- But she came to favor the purposes of her husband rather
than her father
- Antiochus then turned his attention to the coastlands
(Mediterranean)
- Making war with the Romans
- But was defeated by Scipio Asiaticus, a Roman military
leader
- Defeated by the Romans, Antiochus the Great returned home
and died soon after
[At this point our attention is focused on one leader of the Seleucid
(Syrian) empire, who would have a powerful impact upon the people of
Daniel, Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.)...]
- THE RISE OF ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES
- PRECEDED BY A TAX COLLECTOR...
- One who will impose taxes on the "glorious kingdom" (Israel?)
- Dan 11:20
- This is Seleucus Philopator (187-175 B.C.)
- Oldest son of Antiochus, and his immediate successor
- Whose reign will be short-lived
- Compared to his father, who reigned thirty-seven years
- Who died, not in battle, but was poisoned
- THEN WILL COME A VILE MAN WITH NO HONOR...
- Held in contempt, the people will not give him honor - Dan
11:21
- His official name was Antiochus "Epiphanes" (the
Illustrious)
- His people refereed to him as Antiochus "Epimanes" (the
Insane)
- He shall take the kingdom peaceably, but with intrigue - Dan
11:21-24
- This may refer to his dealings with the Egyptians (or
perhaps Israel)
- After making a league with them, he will act deceitfully
and become strong with a small number of people
- Through peaceful means he will plunder the riches places of
the province
- He will provoke the "king of the South" - Dan 11:25-28
- Two times Antiochus invaded Egypt
- The Egyptian king, Ptolemy Physcon, sought to oppose him,
but was betrayed by his own people
- Both kings were deceitful liars, but their plotting was
subject to the times and manner appointed by God
- On his return home, Antiochus passed through Israel, and
was moved against the holy covenant (the institutions of
the Law of Moses)
- HE WILL BRING BLASPHEMIES AGAINST ISRAEL...
- Once again Antiochus Epiphanes will head toward the South
- Dan 11:29-30a
- This was his third invasion
- But he was not as successful as before
- For Roman ships from Cyprus (Kittim) threatened reprisal
- Frustrated, he will take out his rage against "the holy
covenant" - Dan 11:30b-32a
- By showing regard for those who forsake the holy covenant
- By defiling the sanctuary fortress (i.e., the temple)
- By taking away the daily sacrifices
- By placing there "the abomination of desolation"
- By flattering those who do wickedly against the covenant
- In the years 169-167 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes:
- Took the city of Jerusalem and plundered the temple
- Commanded the Jews to worship the Greek idol which he set
up in the temple
- Put an end to daily sacrifices and polluted the altar by
offering swine flesh on it
- Forbid circumcision, the observance of the Sabbath, and
possession of a copy of the law
- THOSE WHO KNOW GOD WILL RESIST VALIANTLY...
- They shall be strong - Dan 11:32b-33a
- Carrying out great exploits
- Instructing many
- When they fall, they shall receive aid - Dan 11:33b-34
- For many days they shall fall by sword, flame, captivity
and plunder
- They will receive a little help, even from many through
intrigue
- When those of understanding fall, it will be to refine them
- Dan 11:35
- To purge them, and make them white
- Until "the time of the end; because it is still for the
appointed time."
-- The events described here were fulfilled during the Maccabean
period, which began in 168 B.C. with the revolt of Mattathias
(an elderly priest) and his five sons
CONCLUSION
- Up to this point, there is little controversy over the content of
the vision...
- It describes the conflict between the Persians and the Greeks,
followed by the conflict between the Syrians and the Egyptians
- The latter described in detail, because Israel was caught in the
middle
- Israel in particular would suffer the blasphemies of one Syrian
king, Antiochus Epiphanes
- From Dan 11:36 on, there is quite a diversity of opinions...
- Some believe Antiochus Epiphanes is still the subject
- Others suggest that a Roman emperor is being described
- Still others believe it refers to someone yet to come
We shall examine the remaining portion of this chapter and the final
chapter in our next study...
Note: The historical information in this lesson was taken from Albert
Barnes' commentary on Daniel.