Book of DANIEL
Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024
Chapter 11
Daniel’s Fourth Vision - Part 2
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NOTE: The last three chapters (10,11,12) should never have been separated. They were separated for clarity; however, the vision and conversations contained in the three chapters are all a part of the same event that Daniel is experiencing.
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Gabriel’s explanation to Daniel
This is a continued conversation from the event in chapter 10
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 1 |
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Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
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Gabriel now tells Daniel, that it had been he (Gabriel) that had stood with Darius the Mede to help him. Gabriel had overcome the prince of Babylon in order to allow the prince of Persia to take over.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 2 |
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And now will I shew 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 Grecia.
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There would be three more kings in Persia after the king that was currently alive when Daniel was having this vision.
The fourth one would be richer than the others and would attempt to use his wealth to “…stir up all against the realm of Grecia”. Grecia being the kingdom that Alexander the Great would come from.
This is not indicating that these are THE LAST of the kings of Persia. We know from history that “Grecia” takes over Persia over a period of decades. They did not do so immediately. These two nations struggled with each other for quite some time.
It was significant in the history of mankind because the destruction of Babylon put an end to the old culture and Greece began the new age of thought and culture in the world.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verses 3-4 |
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And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 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.
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This is referring to Alexander the Great. Alexander would have dominated the world but he dies in his 30’s and his kingdom is split between his four powerful generals. Within a few short years not a relative of Alexander is left alive.
A Prophetic History of the Middle East
The next section of the chapter is a lengthy and PROPHETIC History of the region. It involves two of the provinces of the old Grecian Empire: the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. The chapter contains events that would TAKE PLACE over a period of several hundred years into the future after Daniel writes about them. These events would involve nations that will geographically have an impact on the land of Israel.
The period will cover history of the world from Egypt to Syria from Ptolemy and Cleopatra to the Maccabees in Jerusalem. One hundred percent accuracy by Daniel who gives every political change and how it would occur. Assassinations, marriages, battles and murders. This passage reads as though someone looking back in time wrote a history lesson.
The book of Daniel has been under attack for centuries due to this passage. How could a man write this centuries before it occurs? It is the most accurate description of events that unfolded in the geographical region.
Man has attempted to say it had to be written afterwards. Those arguments have no foundation and have been proven repeatedly to be false. It has been said by others: Prophecy is History before it happens. The historical events it describes can be studied in depth elsewhere; this review will only allude to a few details for cohesion.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 5 |
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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.
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King of the South = Ptolemy Lagidae King of North = Seleucus I.
Both were generals under Alexander the Great as we discussed earlier regarding the dividing up of the Empire. Seleucus had been at one time under the command of Ptolemy and would end up stronger.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 6a |
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And in the end of years they shall join themselves together;
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Historically, this was about 65 years.
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Daniel now predicts events involving political and military changes in the region that span a period of over 200 years.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 6b-20 |
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…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 begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
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: 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.
So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. 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.
And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, 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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. 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.
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A man named Antiochus Epiphanes
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This next passage (Chapter 11:12-31) begins at a point in world history where a man named Antiochus Epiphanes has come on the scene.
THIS IS A WORLD HISTORICAL FACT.
His exploits include several attempts at taking over Egypt and he also desecrated the Jewish temple (with the help of Jews). He is resisted by Rome at one point and eventually the Maccabees.
This passage can be declared as being descriptive of the history of this man. However, it is the record of these events that have led many to the wrong conclusion that this man fulfilled all of the prophecies of the “last days Anti-christ” of Daniel’s visions. This document will not take the time to expound on that argument other than to conclude it with one statement.
This man has been dead now 2000 years and none of the other prophecies in scripture have been completed.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 21-31 |
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And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 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. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 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 strong holds, even for a time.
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. Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. 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.
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. At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
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. 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.
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The time period of the Maccabee Family in Jerusalem
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Daniel Chapter 11 verses 32-35a |
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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. 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. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white,
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After the Maccabean revolt, Jerusalem is destroyed and Jews scattered. This revelation of prophecy relates to the Jews.
It is this last part of verse 35 that reaffirms that everything in the chapter up to this point IS NOT THE END TIMES.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 35b |
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…even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
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This is not the time of the END. There is an APPOINTED time yet to come.
This verse alone tells us that nothing that has transpired earlier in this chapter is at the END of Time. That includes verse 21!
BETWEEN verses 35-36 is a huge break in time. Nothing after verse 35 HAS HAPPENED YET!
THE END TIMES
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And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
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.
But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
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.
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The king of the north / little horn / Anti-christ. Out of the northern of the four divisions of the Grecian empire.
He will do according to his own will, exalting himself as a god. Speaking with a hatred of God. He will honor the god of forces (his military strength) and He will be generous with his wealth to the other kingdoms (the ten horns) that he subdued.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verses 40a |
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And at the time of the end…
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Daniel now establishes “when in time” he is talking about. Making it clear this is future and happening in the end days.
INCURSION into the MIDDLE EAST
Military Campaign by the Anti-christ during the Tribulation
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 40b |
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…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.
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“The king of the south” - a future “leader / country” coming from:
(area of the southern of the four divisions of the Grecian empire – as established earlier in this chapter and from Daniel Chapter 8)
Will “push at him” (him = king of the north = “Anti-christ”).
The king of the north will respond “like a whirlwind”.
“The countries” = referring to those of the southern division of the Grecian empire.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 41 |
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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.
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“glorious land” always refers to Israel.
The Anti-christ will now break his covenant with the Jews, that he made back in chapter 9:27. He will also overthrow other countries as well. Escaping the Anti-christ will be the areas of Edom, Moab and Ammon (modern Jordan and Arabia).
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Daniel Chapter 11 verses 42-43 |
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He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 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.
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Egypt will not escape the Antichrist attack. He will obtain control of all of its wealth. And the “Libyans and the Ethiopians” would be next on the list.
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Daniel Chapter 11 verses 44 |
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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.
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There will be those not “pleased” with the authority and ambition of the antichrist. The antichrist will get wind of this. This indicates a few things:
Antichrist does not ever control ALL countries of “power”. The kingdom of the north is indeed out of the Grecian empire as earlier explained by the angel to Daniel.
Theorists have long tried to place Russia in the passages earlier in Daniel. This verse is the FIRST ONE in Daniel thus far that can allow for Russia. They would be north, but so are Great Britain and the United States!
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Daniel Chapter 11 verse 45 |
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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.
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The antichrist will set up a palace in Jerusalem. But his time WILL come to an end.
Military Campaign for the Middle East
(Daniel 11:40-45 summary)
The Anti-christ will be instigated into conflict by a leader or ruler to the south of Israel. The Anti-christ will respond with a swift and powerful response coming in from the north. In the process of this campaign, he will overrun all countries in his path.
He will enter Israel desecrating the temple when he sets himself up as a god in it and making it a new palace for himself.
He will continue to Egypt, taking control over all of its wealth.
Escaping this campaign will be the areas of Edom, Moab and Ammon.
These nations will be used by the people of Israel when they flee the wrath of the Anti-christ. Revelation 12; Matthew 24:16-20
He will be on the “doorsteps” of taking Ethiopia and Libya. Something happens in the Northern area of the kingdom of Anti-christ; which diverts his attention on the current campaign and he halts it. Does a Northern king take advantage of this distraction?