PART 1
Daniel 11 is important because it shows us the geographical “roots” of the coming antichrist. This chapter narrows the origin of the antichrist down to a specific area in the middle east.
If you remember from our earlier studies on Daniel, the Grecian Empire (symbolized by the Goat with 4 horns) was broken up into 4 divisions. These 4 divisions were led by Alexander the Great’s four generals:
1. Cassander
2. Lysimachus
3. Ptolemy
4. Seleucus
To read the whole study from May, click here: http://www.assyrianhorn.com/2009/05/daniel-2-part-3-of-3.html
Daniel 11 narrows down the geographical area of the 4 Grecian divisions above, to 2 regions. Descriptions are given here of the Kings of the North and the Kings of the South beginning in verse 5. The power of the 4 divisions (above) were eventually consolidated to the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Empire. See this map below:
Daniel 11 is important because it shows us the geographical “roots” of the coming antichrist. This chapter narrows the origin of the antichrist down to a specific area in the middle east.
If you remember from our earlier studies on Daniel, the Grecian Empire (symbolized by the Goat with 4 horns) was broken up into 4 divisions. These 4 divisions were led by Alexander the Great’s four generals:
1. Cassander
2. Lysimachus
3. Ptolemy
4. Seleucus
To read the whole study from May, click here: http://www.assyrianhorn.com/2009/05/daniel-2-part-3-of-3.html
Daniel 11 narrows down the geographical area of the 4 Grecian divisions above, to 2 regions. Descriptions are given here of the Kings of the North and the Kings of the South beginning in verse 5. The power of the 4 divisions (above) were eventually consolidated to the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Empire. See this map below:
The Kings of the North in Daniel 11 come from the Seleucid Empire, and the Kings of the South come from the Ptolemaic Empire.
Today we will focus on Daniel 11: 1-9
1 And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.
The Kings of the South and the North
2 "Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
This is a prophetic description of the following rulers of Persia:
1. Cambyses II
2. Pseudo-Smerdis
3. Darius I Hystaspes
4. Xerxes I – This is the king who tried to conquer Greece (He was portrayed in the movie “300”, about the battle of Thermopylae)
3 Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.
This passage refers to the rise of Alexander the Great, who defeats Persia.
4 After he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
This describes the 4 divisions of the Grecian Empire that we spoke about above.
5 "The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.
This describes Ptolemy I and Seleucus I Nicator (See map above). For the sake of simplicity, you can think of the Ptolemaic Empire as Egypt, and the Seleucid Empire as Syria. The two kings worked together to eliminate Antigonus, and then Seleucus “became even stronger” by dominating much of Asia Minor.
Today we will focus on Daniel 11: 1-9
1 And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.
The Kings of the South and the North
2 "Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
This is a prophetic description of the following rulers of Persia:
1. Cambyses II
2. Pseudo-Smerdis
3. Darius I Hystaspes
4. Xerxes I – This is the king who tried to conquer Greece (He was portrayed in the movie “300”, about the battle of Thermopylae)
3 Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.
This passage refers to the rise of Alexander the Great, who defeats Persia.
4 After he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
This describes the 4 divisions of the Grecian Empire that we spoke about above.
5 "The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.
This describes Ptolemy I and Seleucus I Nicator (See map above). For the sake of simplicity, you can think of the Ptolemaic Empire as Egypt, and the Seleucid Empire as Syria. The two kings worked together to eliminate Antigonus, and then Seleucus “became even stronger” by dominating much of Asia Minor.
6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed over, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.
As a condition of peace, Antiochus II Theos (North king) was forced to divorce his wife Laodice, and marry the daughter (Berenice) of Ptolemy II (South). This was part of their alliance. However, when Ptolemy II died, Antiochus II took his first wife, Laodice, back as his wife. Laodice then took revenge on all of them and killed Antiochus II, Berenice, and their son. She then placed her own son on the throne.
7 "One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8 He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.
Berenice’s brother (Ptolemy III) assumes the throne and seeks revenge for the death of his sister. He attacked and captured a large part of Seleucia and carried off large amounts of silver and their idols.
It is amazing how much detail we are given in these prophecies, and how many of them have already been fulfilled, just as they were prophesied!
End of Part 1
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