Do you have any kings? Um, yeah.
Daniel – Chapter 11
Review
- What did we discuss in the Intro lesson? What’s important to keep in mind as we work through Daniel?
- This is what Habakkuk was about.
- Daniel young (15?) when taken into Neb’s training program (after Jerusalem captured)
- What did we discuss in Chapter 1?
- God will maintain His remnant; cultural assimilation will not succeed.
- God provides all – protection, knowledge, war spoils (to Neb), deliverance.
- What about Chapter 2?
- Daniel’s God has real power.
- God has a plan and it involves His kingdom setup for eternity.
- What about Chapter 3?
- Our boys know to obey God and He’s who to worry about. Neb is nothing.
- Neb is preserved for future use by God.
- Chapter 4?
- Neb is a slow learner
- God has patience to humble even Neb (and us).
- Chapter 5?
- Contrast between Neb and B.
- God judges the prideful.
- Chapter 6?
- God delivers again.
- Daniel is an amazing example of consistency and strength in his faith.
- Chapter 7
- Beginning of prophesy chapters
- God has a plan. Daniel gets AMAZING insights and privileges from God.
- Chapter 8
- Focus on the RAM and GOAT (Medo-Persian and Greek Empires) and their relationship (foreshadowing) to end-times.
- This little horn is NOT the little horn from the Roman Empire (10-horned monster), but it points to him.
- Chapter 9
- Two main points: Prayer and Prophecy
- Lessons in how to pray.
- Prophecy of end times – events important. Exact timeline not as much (and impossible for us to know 100%)
- Chapter 10
- There’s a battle raging. And we’re in it.
- Angels battling. Ranking of angels. …the story will continue.
Introduction
- How did you all do this week reading Daniel?
- What’s your opinion of Daniel (thus far)? Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc?
- What is your opinion of this chapter? Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
- Crazy-overwhelming. Very confusing with all the kings, North, South, marriages, wars, etc. Outside of it being cool prophesy, it’s peanuts compared to the message that God is in control.
Lesson
- vv. 1 [READ – Dan 11:1] Continued…(from Chapter 10)
- Who is “I” – The angel that was talking with Daniel in Ch. 10. This is the mid-ranking angel that was detained by a demon that needed help by Michael the Archangel.
- This angel was involved, confirming and strengthening Darius, even during the lion’s den thing. Remember, Darius grieved about what he had to do to Daniel. He told Daniel “Thy God who you serve continually will deliver you.” (See Daniel 6:6)
i. This implies what we considered a potential when we looked at Chapter 6 – that Darius and Daniel had more than just servant-king relationship and that Darius may have had some inclination to believe in Daniel’s God.
- vv. 2-20 [READ – Dan 11:2-20] Kings, kings everywhere…
- (v. 2) “3 kings in Persia” – from when? Cyrus is king now.
i. These kings are: Cambyses (529 BC), Pseudo-Smerdis (522 BC), Darius I / Hystaspis (521 BC)
- (v. 2) “fourth far richer…” – This is Xerxes (480 BC)
i. a.k.a. – Ahasuerus
ii. See also Ezra 4:6-7:24
- (v. 3) “mighty king” – Alexander the Great (336 BC – 323 BC)
- (v. 4) “kingdom broken”
i. divided to his generals,
1. Cassander – Macedonia
2. Lysimachus – Asia Minor (Turkey)
3. Seleucus Nicator – Syria and Middle East
4. Ptolemy – Egypt
ii. not “posterity” (his family line).
- (v. 5) “of south” –south of what? Palestine.
- (v. 5) “king of the south” (Egypt) – Ptolemy
- (v. 6-8) The soap opera scene…
i. “king of the south” – Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt (250 BC)
ii. “daughter” - Berenice
iii. “king of the north” – Seleucus’ line – Antiochus Theos.
iv. (v. 6) The story – A.T. was already married (to Laodice) but he divorced her to get Berenice. Two years later, when P.P. died, A.T. got rid of Berenice and her son and took Laodice back. Well, Laodice killed A.T. by poisoning him and had Berenice and her son killed. Then, her son, Seleucus Callinicus was installed as King of Syria.
v. (v. 7) but then, Berenice’s brother, Ptolemy Euergetes went to Syria and captured them. He made off with A LOT of spoils (v. 8)
- V 9-21 – There are lots of wars and plenty of mistakes by Israel. Lots of Jews die. ‘nuff said.
- vv. 21-35 [READ – Dan 11:21-35] The first “Little Horn”…a “vile person”
- Pay attention, this description will be dovetailed with the Antichrist in v 36 through the end.
- This is the historical account of Antiochus Epiphanes (of the line of Selucidae) over Egypt. (v 25-28) after treaties were struck and A.E. reneged on them.
- V 29 – 30 – A.E. tried to go back against Egypt for more riches, but Rom (the ships of Chittim) stopped him.
- v 31 - A.E. later broke his agreements with Jerusalem and killed over 100K Jews. He outlawed the daily sacrifices (worship) and desecrated the temple with pig blood and broth. He setup an image of a pagan God (probably Jupiter) on/in the temple.
- V 32 – A.E. leveraged the treason of other Jews, possibly enticing them by flattering them, etc. J. Vernon McGee says that these Jews “played the role of a Judas”. It’s during this time (around 166 BC) is when the Maccabees raised up.
- V 33-34 - There was much suffering. This intertestamental time is documented in books like 1 and 2 Maccabees and the works of Josephus.
- V 35 - Transition 1 – “even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed”.
- vv. 36-45 [READ – Dan 11:36-45] The “other” little horn.
- How is this guy different from the first “little horn”?
i. It’s referenced as being as a part of the time at the end.
ii. This person is referenced as a king. The previous person was specifically described as NOT being of royalty or a king.
- How is v 36 different from Jesus Christ?
i. Christ prayed “Not My will but Thine.” This guy will “do according to his will”.
ii. Christ was a servant. He pointed to God. This guy “shall exalt himself”
- Does v 37 mean that this person (the Antichrist) will be a Jew? What about broader; like a Catholic, Protestant, or something else?
i. We don’t know and it doesn’t matter, because “he shall magnify himself above all”.
- V 38-39 – The Antichrist will setup his own forces, gods, and rule.
- V 40 – However, his time is short. Egypt will rise up. The north (Russia?) will also rise up. This is the beginning of Armageddon.
- V 41 – The Antichrist (and the North (Russia?)) will then enter the “glorious land” (Palestine). Edom, Moab and Ammon are territories that are largely Jordan of today. They’ll escape from destruction against the Antichrist.
- V 42-43 – Egypt doesn’t fare as well. They fall to the Antichrist. He takes their stuff. He makes them slaves.
- V 44 – the Antichrist is paranoid. Rumors and news of action in the east (China) cause him to send armies against them as another piece of Armageddon.
- The beginning of the end – The Antichrist sets up camp between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea. “Yet, he shall come to his end.”
- How “shall [he] come to his end”? – Jesus Christ will show up on the scene. Things will be really bad at that point. Jesus will be the only hope.
Summary
- Key Verse: v 44
- It’s amazing to see the history (from our perspective) given to Daniel as prophecy and that we can KNOW that it was fulfilled.
- Because of that fulfillment, we can have faith that God will cause the second half to happen just as He told Daniel.
- They Jews didn’t get it in the OT, didn’t get it with A.E. and won’t get it with the Antichrist. We need to be careful to learn from their mistakes, but understand that God will restore them. They are still God’s chosen people – not us (Americans).
- God has a plan and in control. Pure and simple. Yes, it’ll get rough, but we know that this is temporary because the Antichrist “shall come to his end”.