DANIEL SERIES: EARTHLY KINGDOM CONFLICT – CHAPTER 11

To help you understand the events happening in this blog, which covers approximately 375 years from the time of Daniel to the reign of the Antichrist. It is necessary to include the names of the historical characters who were the rulers and their successors in the kingdom of the North and the kingdom of the South
Chapter eleven continues with the angel of chapter ten revealing to Daniel the wars of the Kings of the South, the Ptolemies of Egypt, and the Kings of the North, the Seleucids of Syria. The angel tells Daniel that after King Cyrus, there would be four Persian kings who would reign after him. Scholars believe they were Cambyses (Ahasuerus), Pseudo–Smerdid (Artaxerxes), Darius Hystaspis (Darius), and Xerxes, the son of Darius whose riches supported his military efforts.
Next came Alexander the Great, who defeated Persia and became the mighty ruler of the Graeco-Macedonian Empire. After his untimely death at the age of thirty-two, the kingdom was divided into four parts among his four Generals: Ptolemy I in the southern took Egypt, Seleucus in the east took Syria, Lysimachus in the North took Thrace and Cassander in the west took Macedonia. Ptolemy, I became stronger and greater than the other three generals, and one of his generals, Seleucus Nicator, became the king of the North.
An alliance for peace was made between Egypt and Syria when Antiochus II married Ptolemy II Philadelphus’ daughter, Bernice. To do this, he separated from his wife Laodice and declared her children as illegitimate. After the death of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Antiochus II reunited with his ex-wife Laodice, and shortly thereafter, she had him poisoned and assassinated Bernice and her son.
Angry over the treatment of his sister Bernice’s brother, Ptolemy III marched into Syria, killed Laodice, and captured Seleucia, the king’s fortress. Needed back in Egypt, Ptolemy III returned home with the plunder of Syria’s idols, captured princes, and a hefty bounty of silver and gold.
Needless to say, the king of the North attempted to retaliate but was unsuccessful. To assist him, two of his sons, Seleucus III and Antiochus III, joined the conflict with Antiochus III, the younger brother becoming more successful. Warfare between the kings of the South and North continued, and the king of the North, with his large army, fought valiantly but still lost to his opponent. Relishing his victory, Ptolemy IV, the king of the South, allowed Antiochus to retreat without doing him any physical harm.
In verse thirteen, the angel shared that after several years, Antiochus III, the king of the North, proceeded to Egypt with an arsenal of weapons and a larger army. Fighting along the way and with the help of some apostate Jews who joined forces with him, the king of the North was able to capture the holy land.
In trying to control Egypt politically, Antiochus III, the king of the South, gave his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V of Egypt; however, his plan failed. Disappointed over the marriage of his daughter, the king of the South turned his attention to other military campaigns, which were not successful, and after returning home, he was killed by some of his citizens.
To help increase his revenue, the next king of the North, Seleucus IV, imposed taxes on the citizens, which worked until he was assassinated by his minister, Heliodorus, who wanted to become the king.
Seleucus brother Antiochus Epiphanes labelled a vile person, became the next king of the North by seizing the throne from Demetrius Soter. In his first military campaign against Egypt, he appeared to be peaceful, and full of flattery and promises. When an attempted covenant arrangement with the king of the South failed, an unsuccessful battle occurred. Eventually Antiochus Epiphanes ended up having his kingdom placed under the dominion of Rome. Humiliated and bitter from his defeat to the Romans, Antiochus Epiphanes attacked the Jews, placed an image of Zeus in the temple, and sacrificed a pig on it.
From verses thirty-six to the end of the chapter, commentators believe the angel shares information on the final world dictator, the Antichrist, the king of the North whose behavior and character was foreshadowed by Antiochus. The Antichrist will be permitted to exalt and magnify himself above every god and to speak against the God of gods. He will show no allegiance to his religious upbringing, nor will he be distracted by women. He will gain power using his wealth and building allegiances with other nations. Great conflicts will prevail but ultimately, he will fail and thus concludes this chapter.
Here is some additional historical information and nuggets I gathered from this chapter:
Daniel recorded such an accurate account of the future in this chapter that biblical critics believed this was not written by him but at a later time.
When God, who is omniscient, shares information or gives insight, it is always correct. God never lies.
This chapter shares the fulfilled prophecies of Persia, Greece, Egypt, Syria and Antiochus. It also shares the unfilled prophecies of the tribulation and the Antichrist.
God reveals to His prophets things to come.
Unfortunately, the land of Israel was located between the king of the North (Syria) and the king of the South (Egypt); therefore, Israel, being in the middle, was often caught in the conflict between these two nations.
Sometimes, because of your proximity to two warring parties, you are drawn into their battle.
Life is filled with twists and turns.
Some people are willing to kill you so they can take your place.
There are parents who will use their children for their personal gain.
Just because you are victorious today does not mean you will obtain victory tomorrow.
When Antiochus Epiphanes attacked Jerusalem, it was believed he killed approximately 80, 000 Jews, sold 40.000 as slaves, and took captive 40,000.
A brutal individual does not value the sanctity of human life,
God always has the last say.