Daniel 11:1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I,
stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
Here the angel or messenger continues to explain to Daniel that things to come
describing his role in the take over by Darius and the overthrow of Babylon.
As we read these passages and my explanations, we must remember not to confuse
Israel and the church. If we get the two confused, bible prophecy is
impossible to understand.
Dan 11:2 And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet
three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by
his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of
Greece.
Kings of Persia:
Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius 1 and Xerxes who stirred up the kingdom of Greece
because of the accumulation of riches.
A lust for wealth and power led Alexander the Great to conquer the Medes and the
Persians. We can always learn some things from history especially the story of
king Hezekiah. Don't show off your riches
if your lucky enough to have them. Of course I don't consider a wealthy
person lucky. You do not have to fear losing something if you don't have
it in the first place.
Dan 11:3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great
dominion, and do according to his will.
This is Alexander the Great in 336 BC. He was young and energetic with a desire
to conquer. He really did do what he wanted and according to his will. He died
at the age of 33 and so his kingdom was divided up into four divisions.
Greece, Turkey, Syria and Egypt. This chapter describes the wars between
Syria and Egypt with Judea right in the middle of it all.
Dan 11:4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall
be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor
according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up,
even for others beside those.
Nothing lasts. Not in his posterity means that his seed after him did not
inherit the kingdom. His family were all killed and the four generals that use
to be under him ruled different sections of this empire. One general tried
to rule all the empire from Syria but was killed.
Ptolemy 1 was the king of the south. He was over the Egyptian division of the
Empire.
Dan 11:5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes;
and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a
great dominion.
Seleucus 11 was one of the princes of the king of the south. He conquered the
whole eastern part of Alexander's kingdom, Babylon and later Syria and Asia
Minor and became the king of the north..
Dan 11:6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the
king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an
agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he
stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he
that begot her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
After years of fighting between the king of the north and south they shall make
an agreement. The marriage of Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy 11 to
Antiochus 11 the king of Syria if Antiochus would divorce his wife, Laodice and
her children. He agreed because of the great fortune he would acquire.
He later went back to his own wife Laodice but Laodice poisoned him and had
Berenice and her infant son killed. Laodice put her own son on the throne.
Dan 11:7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate,
which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of
the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
Berenice's brother, Ptolemy lll, goes forth to the king of the north, fights and
prevails avenging his sister who was killed by Laodice. He takes captives
back to Egypt. The king of the north is Seleucia 11 son of Laodice. Notice in
all history murder, wars and fighting produces more murders, wars and fighting.
Happy is the one who lives out in the country hidden and away from it all.
Dan 11:8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their
princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall
continue more years than the king of the north.
Dan 11:9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return
into his own land.
Because of trouble in his own land, he had to return.
Dan 11:10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of
great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then
shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.
The sons here are the sons of Seleucus 11. They were the grandchildren of
Laodice. These sons were Seleucus 111, Thunderbolt and Antiochus 111 the great.
Only one of those sons survive, two are poisoned. Antiochus survives to fight
the king of the south. Here they come to take vengeance against the king of the
south for taking vengeance upon them.
Dan 11:11 And the king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come
forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set
forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
Ptolemy 111 defeats Antochus the Great but his heart is lifted up in pride. He
permitted favorites to rule and did not excel.
Dan 11:12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be
lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be
strengthened by it.
Dan 11:13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a
multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years
with a great army and with much riches.
Antiochus the Great returns with riches and power and defeats Ptolemy V, the
king of the south or Egypt. All this time the Jews were bounced back and forth
from the rule of the king of the south to the north, whoever won these wars.
Dan 11:14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of
the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish
the vision; but they shall fall.
Jews who forsook their own religion joined with Ptolemy previously but took the
side of the Syrians hoping to liberate Judea but it fell through.
Dan 11:15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take
the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither
his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.
With the help of the Jews the king of the north prevails again.
Dan 11:16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will,
and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which
by his hand shall be consumed.
Dan 11:17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole
kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the
daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither
be for him.
Antiochus the Great makes an agreement with Ptolemy V and gives his daughter
Cleopatra to Ptolemy V. Cleopatra betrays her own father and takes the side of
her husband.
Dan 11:18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take
many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to
cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
Dan 11:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he
shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
The Roman consul defeats Antiochus. After turning back to his own fort in
Antioch, he died in the war. We can just read history and learn how the effort
to conquer, accumulate riches, plan, war, scheme is all for nothing in the long
run. If only we could get everyone to stop, look around and look to God who is
the ultimate answer to every desire we all have. Nothing can compare to the
peace and holiness of God and living a life pleasing to Him. All these
substitutes we war and fight for are all in vain and amount to nothing in the
end.
Dan 11:20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of
the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in
battle.
This was the son of Antiochus the Great, called Seleucus lV. His kingdoms were
Syria, Cilicia, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Media and Persia.
This man was poisoned and the famous Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded him.
Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall
not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain
the kingdom by flatteries.
Here is the first forerunner of the anti-christ who is a sneaky, deceiver,
supposed peacemaker who used flatteries to gain power. He pretended to be for
peace, courted the other kings for their help and in reality obtained the
kingdom by flatteries somewhat like the latter day anti-christ will do.
Dan 11:22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before
him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
Dan 11:23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he
shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
Dan 11:24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province;
and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers;
he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall
forecast his devices against the strongholds, even for a time.
Here is where we need to watch those that give away money and riches for show.
It is a pretence to gain favor and power. He would go out in the streets and
literally throw money to the poor. This would be okay if he really cared for the
poor. Some people actually help the poor only to gain favor, votes, and power,
not because they really care. This is something we have to always be aware of.
Those that promise the "good life" are not always to be trusted.
Dan 11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of
the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to
battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall
forecast devices against him.
Dan 11:26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and
his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
He defeats Egypt and overpowers him. Many are slain. The true colors start to
show.
Dan 11:27 And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they
shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall
be at the time appointed.
Both kings would meet and pretend to care for one another but plot and scheme to
defeat each other.
Dan 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart
shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his
own land.
As the anti-christ shall do in the latter days, this forerunner returns to break
the covenant with the Jews after hearing that they rejoiced thinking he was
dead.
Dan 11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south;
but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
He tries to go against Egypt again but fails because Rome desires to have Egypt
under its domain. The great Roman Empire is almost ready to take over here.
Dan 11:30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall
be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall
he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the
holy covenant.
Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary
of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the
abomination that maketh desolate.
He then turns against the Jews and with the help of apostate Jews he pollutes
the temple and stops the Jewish sacrifices. This is what happens during the
latter day 7 year tribulation period when anti-christ does the same thing.
Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by
flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do
exploits.
A man, named Maccabees resists this evil king and they are greatly oppressed.
There is a Jewish festival of lights that is celebrated today by the Jews to
remember a time when God used this man to help the Jewish people at this
difficult time in their history. It is called Hanukkah.
Dan 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet
they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many
days.
Dan 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but
many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
Now we jump ahead many years to the end time which is the whole purpose of this
vision that is to show Daniel what is to befall his people in the latter days.
Dan 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to
purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet
for a time appointed.
Here we see the dividing verse from verse 34. It jumps to the time of the end
and the future king of the north and who we call the beast or the anti-christ
who is similar to Antiochus Epiphanes.
The oppression during the 7 years tribulation will make the Jewish people alive
then, return to God. They will be tried, made white and purged from sin.
Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt
himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things
against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished:
for that that is determined shall be done.
Here we see this king desire the worship of all and tries to take the place of
God. All kings before him that honor and glorify themselves, make images of
themselves and use force to cause all to worship them is forerunners of this
latter day anti-christ who is to be the worst of all before him.
Here Paul writes of this time coming in the future:
2Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that
is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself
that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie:
Dan 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of
women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
Dan 11:38 But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his
fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones,
and pleasant things.
Dan 11:39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he
shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over
many, and shall divide the land for gain.
Craft will increase and prosperity will reign under this person. People will
love him and he will deceive many. The book of Revelation speaks in more detail
about this latter day ruler who is to come.
Dan 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him:
and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with
chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the
countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
The anti-christ will always being doing war with others as he claims to be a man
of peace. Of course he will deceive his armies into thinking he wars are
justified. I don't know why most people think he is going to control the whole
earth because we shall see here that there are countries even in the Middle East
that escape him.
Dan 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries
shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and
Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
He takes over Israel we see but Edom, Moab and Ammon escape his rule. That is
the place believe it or not where the remnant of the Jews will flee from the
anti-christ as pictured in Matthew chapter 24.
Right now Jordan which were the countries that once were Edom, Moab and Ammon is
not in peace with Israel. It is ironic that it becomes their refuge.
Dan 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the
land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and
over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall
be at his steps.
Dan 11:44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him:
therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away
many.
He is always at war showing that he doesn't conquer the whole world as we all
thought unless it is at the very end of the seven years. He will break the
covenant just like the first one did in this chapter and turn against the Jews
just like the first Antiochus Epiphanes did.
Here is the words of Jesus warning the Jewish people of the latter days:
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of
by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him
understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
So we see this is not a warning given to the church as many believe but
a warning given to the Jews.
Dan 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas
in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help
him.
The faithful angel of the Lord reminds Daniel here that this wicked one shall
soon come to an end and none shall help him. Jesus Christ the Son of the living
God shall come and save Israel in the latter days just when it seems all is lost
and they area about to perish. I do not believe even the United States will be
there to help Israel in the latter days.
Some believe all this chapter is historical and has already happened. In chapter
12 though we see the description of the resurrection in the latter days so we
know that some of these verses refer to the latter day overthrow of the anti-christ's
kingdom and the setting up of a kingdom of God.
Daniel Chapter 12