Daniel

Daniel Chapter 11

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.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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.

Seleucid 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.

Daniel 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 Bernice, 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 Bernice and her infant son killed. Laodice put her own son on the throne.

Reading about these things and all the fighting and murder to obtain power makes us stop and think. Is it worth it in the long run? We face our creator one day and all will be for nothing. All the riches we can't take with us. Its gone. All the hate, murder, fighting...all for nothing.

Daniel 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:

Bernice'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.

Daniel 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.
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.

Daniel 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 Seleucid 11. They were the grandchildren of Laodice. These sons were Seleucid 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.

Daniel 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 Antiochus the Great but his heart is lifted up in pride. He permitted favorites to rule and did not excel.

Daniel 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.
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.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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.
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.

Daniel 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.
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.

Daniel 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 Seleucid lV. His kingdoms were Syria, Cilicia, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Media and Persia. This man was poisoned and the famous Antiochus Epiphanies succeeded him.

Daniel 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 antichrist 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 antichrist will do.

Daniel 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.
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.
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 and without people working for it. It is a pretense 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.

I'm not talking about growing the economy honestly, providing jobs and building up businesses. That can sometimes be a blessing from God, but to promise freebies without responsibility, promise free education, government health care and other things without working and making an honest living is deceptive and does not work. Socialism never has worked in all history. It brings oppression, control and no freedom at all.

Daniel 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.
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.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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 antichrist 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.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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.
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 antichrist does the same thing.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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.
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.

Daniel 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 antichrist who is similar to Antiochus Epiphanies. The oppression during the 7 years tribulation will make the Jewish people who previously rejected Jesus Christ and some even rejected God, return to God. They will be tried, made white and purged from sin. This has nothing to do with the latter day believers we call the church.

Daniel 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 are forerunners of this latter day antichrist 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;
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.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
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.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

When anyone rejects the truth that comes from God especially the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ, they open themselves up to being deceived by one who will come in his own name that is a representative of Satan himself to steal, kill and destroy. To avoid deception, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive His word into your innermost being. To reject Jesus is to reject the only way to have salvation and life eternal with God in the future.

Daniel 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.
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.
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.

Daniel 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 antichrist 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.

Daniel 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 antichrist as pictured in Matthew chapter 24. Right now Jordan which were the countries that once were Edom, Moab and Ammon is not always in peace with Israel. It is ironic that it becomes their refuge.

Daniel 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
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.
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 man of sin did, Antiochus Epiphanies.

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.
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:)
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 that live in Judea.

Daniel 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 antichrist's kingdom and the setting up of a kingdom of God. DC

Daniel Chapter 12

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