Daniel 11 Part B

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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We managed to get to Daniel 11:21 in this outing so we will pick things up in a few weeks starting with verse 22.

11 And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy.

Gabriel is speaking to Daniel here and he begins explaining to him what is going to occur in the relative near future. We need to remember that what Gabriel revealed here had not yet occurred. So-called “higher critics” like to jump on this and deny the supernatural element to the Bible. They argue that the prophet Daniel did not write this, but another person who claimed to be Daniel wrote all of this down after it happened. In essence, these people who want to strip the Bible of its supernatural origin do so because they are atheists in their heart. They believe that science can provide explanations and to believe in supernatural is antiquated and based on legends, not truth.

Verse 11 reveals what will occur in Daniel’s near future and it almost seems like a soap opera as we read it.

Historically, in this verse, the King of the South (Egypt) was Ptolemy IV Philopator (222-203 B.C.) who attacked Antiochus III (King of the North, Syria), on the southern borders of Israel, specifically at Raphia in 217 B.C. Initially Ptolemy was successful, but as Jerome tells us, Antiochus nearly lost his entire army and was almost captured as he fled.

12 When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.

From the text we learn that Ptolemy IV’s heart was “lifted up” in pride. He killed tens of thousands of Syrians in the battle and managed to capture all of Palestine. In the end, he did not prevail.

13 For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.

Antiochus III then turned in other directions for conquests, specifically to his east and to his north. About 203 B.C., he returned with a much larger army and repulsed the Egyptians. Egypt at that point was under the rule of the child king, Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203-181 B.C.). Antiochus retook Palestine as far south as Gaza.

14 Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall.

Then another king rises against the King of the South, Philip V of Macedonia. The Macedonians, along with the Jews living in Israel, joined Antiochus III in opposing the Egyptians. Politically zealous Jews believed that they could gain more freedom if Antiochus III succeeded, but they were wrong as they found out.

15 So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist.

Antiochus III conquered Sidon in about 200 B.C. with a “siege mound.” He forced the Egyptian General Scopas, whom he had recently defeated at Paneas (biblical Dan), near Jordan River, to surrender. Three other Egyptian commanders tried to free Scopas from Sidon, but they failed. The king of the North in this instance was Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175 B.C.).

16 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power.

Antiochus III continued to increase Syrian control over Palestine. There was no successful opposition from the Egyptians.

“When Scopas finally surrendered to Antiochus III at Sidon, the Holy Land was permanently acquired by the Antioch [Syrian] government, to the exclusion of Egypt.” [Note: Archer, “Daniel,” p. 132.]

Antiochus III entered Jerusalem, the populace there welcomed him as a deliverer and benefactor. He basically did what he wanted to do and no one could stop him.

Antiochus III entered Jerusalem, the populace there welcomed him as a deliverer and benefactor. This is similar to what Antichrist will accomplish when he confirms the covenant with many for one “week” (Daniel 9:24-27). In other words, like Antiochus III, Antichrist will deceive the Jewish people.

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 to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him.

Antiochus III was forced by Rome to initiated peace with Egypt. He offered his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V in marriage to cement their alliance to prove to Rome he also wanted peace with Egypt. He secretly hoped that his daughter Cleopatra would remain pro-Syrian to give give him control over Egypt. This failed as Cleopatra consistently sided with her husband against her father, even though Ptolemy V was then only a boy.

18 After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him.

Antiochus III then turned his attention to the Aegean coast seeking to conquer Asia Minor and Greece. He previously said Romans had no business being in Greece. A Roman commander – Claudius Scipio – resisted Antiochus III. Scipio is the commander referred to in the prophecy in this verse.

19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

Antiochus III returned to Antioch and died a year later in 187 B.C. He had tried to reunite Alexander the Great’s empire under his own authority but failed because he underestimated the power of the rising Roman Empire. However, Antiochus III, “the Great,” was a brilliant and successful military leader.

20 “There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.

Antiochus’ elder son, Seleucus IV, succeeded him. He taxed his people, including the Jews, heavily to pay Rome  so that his Jewish tax collector Heliodorus (2 Maccabees 3:7), poisoned him for this. This assassination set the stage for the terrible persecutions of the Jews that followed. Seleucus IV did not die because of mob violence, as his father had, or in battle, but from poison, as verse 20 predicted.

21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.

The Seleucid king who succeeded Seleucus IV was Antiochus IV Epiphanes (“Illustrious One,” 175-164 B.C.). Antiochus IV honored himself by taking on the name “Epiphanes.” This means “Theos” or “God manifest” and this title was placed on coins that he minted. However, he proved so untrustworthy that many people made a play on his name and called him “Epimanes” (“Madman”).

Antiochus IV had seized the throne for himself illegally, proclaiming himself king. He somehow persuaded the leaders of Syria to allow him to rule since Demetrius, the eldest son of Seleucus IV, was being held hostage in Rome. In this way, through scheming to gain power, he secured the throne for himself as Antichrist will do in the future.

In this section starting with verse 22, God gives more information about Antiochus IV than all previous ones. This is due to his absolute devastating influence on the Jewish people. During his reign, Syria declined in power and Rome increased in power. Antiochus IV corresponds to the little horn of chapter 8 (Daniel 8:9-12; Daniel 8:23-25) and he foreshadows the little horn of chapter 7 (Daniel 7:8), Antichrist.

The push of chapter 11 is toward two significant personages who dramatically affect the fate of the Jews. [Campbell, p. 127]

22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.

There’s an awful lot going on as we see. It’s truly a “game of thrones” as kings of old vie for top position and the goal always seems to be to increase their empires. This is not so different from what is happening right now with globalists who are doing the same to the entire world. Interestingly enough, once globalists gain enough traction, 10 kings of Revelation 17 will step up to rule the world. After that, Antichrist will infiltrate and overcome them to make himself sole ruler of the world.

We will pick this up with Daniel 11:23 in a few weeks. I hope you’ll join me then.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective