Kings of the North and South (Part 2)

Part 2
(you can read part 1 here: http://www.assyrianhorn.com/2009/08/daniel-11-kings-of-north-and-south-part.html

As we discussed during part 1, the 11th chapter of Daniel is important because it shows us the "roots" of the antichrist to come. These "roots" started as the 4 divisions of the Grecian Empire, and this chapter has narrowed it down to 2 regions (North and South). These 2 regions were know as the Seleucid (North) and Ptolemaic (South) empires.

Our last study ended with verse 9, so this study will focus on Daniel 11:10-20.

Daniel 11
10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.
Antiochus III "The Great" (North) declared war on Egypt in 220 BC and conquered lands all the way to Gaza, which bordered Egypt.

11 "Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.
Ptolemy IV Philopater (South) raised up an army to defend himself from the threat of Antiochus III. The South won a decisive victory against the North, which sent Antiochus III to seek other lands to conquer.

12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.
14 "In those times many will rise against the king of the South. The violent men among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.
Antiochus III has spent the last couple years recovering from the defeat at Egypt. He has now returned with an alliance of Philip V of Macedon and some Judeans. Through these battles, Antiochus III gained control of Palestine (Israel) from the Ptolemaic Empire.
17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.
Antiochus III made a treaty with Ptolemy V when Palestine was handed over to the North. Antiochus III gave his daughter, Cleopatra, to Ptolemy V as part of this agreement.
18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back upon him. 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.
After gaining Palestine, Antiochus III sets his sights on Greece and the Mediterranean coast, which are under Roman authority. The Romans crushed Antiochus III, and took his son Antichus IV to Rome as a captive. The Seleucids were also forced to pay large tributes to the Romans because of this defeat. Antiochus III later died while trying to rob a temple.
20 "His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.
Seleucus IV Philopator succeeded Antiochus III, since he was his son and his brother Antiochus IV was still a captive in Rome. Seleucus IV sent Heliodorus out to collect taxes due to the heavy tribute they were forced to pay to the Romans. He even sent Heliodorus to rob the Temple in Israel of the riches they had stored for the widows and orphans. God, however, intervened and turned Heliodorus away from the Temple in such a way that Heliodorus would not consider it again.