Daniel Lesson #13

Related Articles

Daniel

September 21, 2015

Daniel Lesson #1

January 5, 2010

Daniel Lesson #2

January 5, 2010

RETURN TO SYLLABUS
DANIEL 11:1-35
LESSON #13
A HISTORICAL PREFIGURE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST

• MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 91 (ALL OR PART OF IT)
• ORIENTATION:
• IN CHAPTER 9, DANIEL HAD THE VISION OF THE 70 WEEKS.
• IN CHAPTER 10, HE WANTED TO KNOW THE MEANING OF THE VISION. AFTER 21 DAYS OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE HEAVENLIES, THE ANGEL, GABRIEL, BROKE THROUGH TO BRING HIM THE ANSWER TO HIS PRAYER.
• DANIEL 11 GIVES EXTREMELY ACCURATE DETAIL IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE DAYS OF DANIEL AND THE REIGN OF ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES (175 BC). THE DETAIL IS SO ACCURATE THAT MANY STATE THIS COULD NOT BE PROPHECY BUT AN HISTORIC RECORD WRITTEN AFTER THE FACT.
• HOWEVER, GOD PROPHESIED APPROXIMATELY 196 DETAILS CONCERNING THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST. WHY COULDN’T HE GIVE PROPHETIC DETAIL TO DANIEL BEFORE THE FACT?
• VERSE BY VERSE INTERPRETATION:
• READ DAN 11:1-4
• IN THE FIRST YEAR OF DARIUS, THE MEDE = THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE HAS ENDED AND THE MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE HAS BEGUN.
• “DARIUS” IS A TITLE, NOT A MAN’S NAME. THE TITLE MEANS = “THE RESTRAINER”.

• MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE – FOUR KINGS YET TO REIGN
• SPEAKING FROM DANIEL’S PERSPECTIVE IN TIME UNDER DARIUS, THE MEDE, THERE WERE 12 PERSIAN KINGS REMAINING THAT WOULD RULE UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE GRECIAN EMPIRE. TO WHICH 4 OF THE 12 DANIEL IS REFERING TO IS NOT CLEAR.
• THE PROBLEM WITH PERSIAN KINGS:
• PERSIAN KINGS ARE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY BECAUSE OF THEIR NAMES. WE USUALLY KNOW THEM BY WHAT WE THINK ARE THEIR NAMES WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE TITLES. THEN TO FURTHER CONFUSE MATTERS, SOME OF THE KINGS ASSUMED MORE THAN ONE OF THESE SAME TITLES. TITLES SUCH AS:
• DARIUS IS A TITLE MEANING = RESTRAINER.
• XERXES IS A TITLE MEANING = KING.
• AHASUERUS IS A TITLE MEANING = MIGHTY KING.
• ARTAXERXES IS A TITLE MEANING = KING OF KINGS, OR THE GREAT KING.
• THREE KINGS IN PERSIA (2) = THERE ARE VARYING INTERPRETATIONS:
• INTERPRETATION #1
• a.CAMBYSES529-521 BC
• b.PSEUDO-SMERDIS521 BC
• c.DARIUS I HYSTASPES521-486 BC
• THE 4TH KINGXERXES I486-465 BC
• INTERPRETATION #2
• a.CYRUS II536-529 BC
• b.CAMBYSES529-521 BC
• c. DARIUS I HYSTASPES 521-486 BC
• THE 4TH KINGARTAXERXES I465-424 BC

• GRECIAN EMPIRE – ALEXANDER THE GREAT TO KINGDOM DIVISION

• MIGHTY KING (3) = ALEXANDER THE GREAT
• DIVIDED TOWARD THE FOUR WINDS (4) = WHEN ALEXANDER THE GREAT DIED, THERE WAS NO ONE TO SUCCEED HIM. THEREFORE, HIS 4 GENERALS DIVIDED ALEXANDER’S KINGDOM INTO 4 GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.
• GENERAL PTOLEMY TOOK THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE KINGDOM CONTAINING EGYPT.
• GENERAL SELEUCID TOOK THE EASTERN PART OF THE KINGDOM CONTAINING SYRIA.
• GENERAL CASSANDER TOOK MACEDONIA.
• GENERAL LYSIMACHUS TOOK THRACE AND ASIA MINOR.
• NOT TO HIS POSTERITY (4) = NONE OF THE 4 GENERALS WERE BLOOD RELATED TO ALEXANDER.
• READ DAN 11:5-20
• DANIEL’S PROPHECY BECOMES MORE DETAILED CONCERNING 2 OF ALEXANDER’S GENERALS AND THE TERRITORY THEY CONTROLLED.
• ALEXANDER’S 2 STRONGEST LEADERS WERE PTOLEMY AND SELEUCID. THEY EACH SPAWNED KINGDOMS THAT RULED AFTER THEM. THE PTOLEMAIC KINGDDOM RULED EGYPT (523 – 30 BC), AND THE SELEUCID KINGDOM (523 – 65 BC) WERE CONSTANTLY AT EACH OTHER THROATS WITH THE LAND OF ISRAEL CAUGHT BETWEEN THE TWO.

• CONTENTION BETWEEN THE SELEUCIDS AND THE PTOLEMIES

.

• THE PROPHECY BECOMES VERY COMPLICATED FROM HERE:
• THE PROPHECY PRESENTS DIFFICULTIES IN INTERPRETATION BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENT USE OF PRONOUNS WITHOUT PROPER ANTECEDENTS. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY PERSONS BY NAME.
• THE PROPHECY IS DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET BECAUSE OF THE LAW OF DOUBLE REFERENCE THAT THROWS SOME OF THE FULFILLMENT INTO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• THEREFORE, I WILL FIRST DEAL WITH THE IMMEDIATE FIRST FULFILLMENT IN THE HISTORICAL RECORD. THEN I’LL GO BACK AND DEAL WITH THE TRIBULATION FULFILLMENT AT THE END OF THE AGE.
• KING OF THE SOUTH (11) = PTOLEMY I SOTER (SAVIOR) 323-285 BC
• ONE OF HIS PRINCES = SELEUCUS I NICATOR (CONQUEROR) 312-281 BC
• SELEUCUS TOOK SYRIA AND PTOLEMY TOOK EGYPT. PALESTINE LAY BETWEEN THESE TWO AND BECAME A BATTLEFIELD FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL THE PTOLEMIES OF EGYPT FINALLY GAINED CONTROL. THE STRUGGLE FALLS INTO SEVEN PHASES:
• PHASE #[1]

(VS.5) WHO IS RULING?

• BETWEEN 320 – 301 BC THE AREA ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA FROM SYRIA TO EGYPT CHANGED HANDS 5 TIMES AS RULERS FOUGHT FOR STRATEGIC HARBORS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
• PHASE

#[2] (VS.6) THE AGREEMENT : 281-261 BC.

• THIS WAS AN UNSUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE LEAGUE. ANTIOCHUS II THEOS 261-246 BC, ONE OF THE SELEUCIDS, DIVORCED HIS WIFE LAODICE, SENT HER AND HER SONS AWAY SO HE COULD MARRY BERENICE, THE DAUGHTER OF PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS. HE THOUGHT HE COULD GAIN TERRITORY THROUGH MARRIAGE THAT HE FAILED TO GAIN THROUGH WAR. BERENICE WAS INCOMPATIBLE SO HE DIVORCED HER AND RECALLED HIS FIRST WIFE, LAODICE. LAODICE WAS A VENGEFUL WOMAN FOR SHE POISONED HER HUSBAND, ANTIOCHUS II, AND HAD BERENICE AND HER SON KILLED. SHE THEN PLACED ONE OF HER OWN SONS, SELEUCUS CALLINICUS, ON THE THRONE.
• PHASE #[3] (VSS. 7-9)

THE REVENGE :

• OUT OF A BRANCH OF HER ROOTS = A RELATIVE OF BERENICE’S, PTOLEMY III EUERGETES (BENEFACTOR) 246-222 BC, BROUGHT A LARGE ARMY INTO SYRIA TO WAR AGAINST LAODICE’S SON, SELEUCUS CALLINICUS, HERE CALLED THE KING OF THE NORTH. LAODICE WAS KILLED AND CALLINICUS FLED. THE COUNTRY WAS PLUNDERED OF STATUE GODS, SILVER, AND GOLDWHICH WAS TAKEN TO EGYPT.
• PHASE #[4] (VSS. 10-12)

THE VICTOR WITHOUT ADVANTAGE :

• HIS SONS = THE SONS OF CALLINICUS, SELEUCUS III CERAUNUS (THUNDERER) 226-223 BC AND ANTIOCHUS III THE GREAT 223-187 BC. THESE SONS MADE WAR AGAINST PTOLEMY PHILOPATOR, THE KING OF THE SOUTH. PTOLEMY PHILOPATOR WON THE BATTLE AND COULD HAVE TAKEN SYRIA. HOWEVER, HE WAS SO OVERJOYED AT HIS SUCCESS IN BATTLE, HE GAVE HIMSELF TO UNRESERVED SENSUAL PLEASURES, GRATIFYING HIS APPETITES AND PASSIONS. HE ENDED BY KILLING HIS OWN FATHER, BROTHER AND WIFE AND GIVING HIMSELF TO A HARLOT AND OTHER DEPRAVED PERSONS.
• PHASE #[5] (VSS. 13-17)

HOSTILITIES AND UNSUCCESSFUL DIPLOMACY :

• KING OF THE NORTH (VERSE 13) = ANTIOCHUS III THE GREAT 223-187 BC
• AFTER CERTAIN YEARS = 11 YEARS AFTER VERSE 12.
• KING OF THE SOUTH (VERSE 14) = PTOLEMY V EPIPHANES 203-181 BC
• KING OF THE NORTH (VERSE 15) = ANTIOCHUS III THE GREAT OR SELEUCUS IV PHILOPATOR 187-175 BC.
• KING OF THE NORTH (VERSE 16)= ANTIOCHUS III THE GREAT 223-187 BC. AFTER YEARS OF PEACE WITH EGYPT, ANTIOCHUS WHO WANTED EGYPT TO SIDE WITH HIM AGAINST THE RISING POWER OF ROME, OFFERED HIS DAUGHTER, CLEOPATRA TO PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS. HIS SCHEME FAILED WHEN CLEOPATRA TOOK SIDES WITH HER HUSBAND RATHER THAN HER FATHER. (THIS IS NOT THE SAME CLEOPATRA OF EGYPT IN ROMAN HISTORY. THE NAME CLEOPATRA WAS NOT UNUSUAL.)
• PHASE #[6] (VSS. 18-19)

HUMILIATION AND DOOM OF A PROUD SOVEREIGN :

• IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE CERTAIN ISLES OF ROMAN POWER, ANTIOCHUS III THE GREAT WAS DEFEATED BY ROME. TRYING TO RAISE MONEY TO PAY TRIBUTE, HE WAS SLAIN (STUMBLED, FELL, AND NOT FOUND).
• PHASE #[7] (VS. 20)

AN INGLORIOUS KING AND HIS END :

• THE SON OF ANTIOCHUS II THE GREAT WAS ANTIOCHUS PHILOPATOR. HE SENT HIS TREASURER, HELIODORUS, TO PLUNDER THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. THE TREASURER THEN TURNED AND KILLED ANTIOCHUS PHILOPATOR.
• READ DAN 11:21-22

• ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES

171-164 BC

• A VILE PERSON = ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES (ILLUSTRIOUS) 171-164 BC.
• THIS EVIL KING WOULD STEAL OUT OF THE PALACE, AND RAMBLE ABOUT THE STREETS IN DISGUISE. HE WOULD MIX WITH THE LOWEST COMPANY, DRINK AND REVEL TO GREAT EXCESS. HE WOULD SOMETIMES SCATTER MONEY IN THE STREETS AMONG HIS FOLLOWERS AND THEN PELT THEM WITH STONES. HE WOULD WASH IN PUBLIC BATHS AND EXPOSE HIMSELF BY ALL MANNER OF RIDICULOUS AND INDECENT GESTURES. THESE ACTS CAUSED HIS PEOPLE TO CALL HIM EPIMANES, MAD MAN, INSTEAD OF EPIPHANES.
• COME IN PEACEABLY & OBTAIN THE KINGDOM BY FLATTERIES = HIS NEPHEW DEMETRIUS, WAS THE LEGAL HEIR TO THE THRONE, BUT ANTIOCHUS FLATTERED THE ROMANS, SYRIANS, AND PERGAMITES, THUS SEIZING THE THRONE.
• WITH THE ARMS OF A FLOOD SHALL THEY BE OVERTHROWN =
• HIS OPPOSITION WAS OVERTHROWN, BUT IN THE END ANTIOCHUS WOULD BE ‘BROKEN’.
• READ DAN 11:23-35

• PHASES OF ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES’ CAMPAIGN:
• PHASE #[1] (VSS. 23-24)

LEAGUE MADE WITH HIM; WORK DECEITFULLY = COMING INTO EGYPT, HE PROFESSED TO BE A FRIEND OF PTOLEMY PHILOMETOR, GIVING GIFTS FREELY TO THE PEOPLE.

• SMALL PEOPLE = JEWS IN PALESTINE
• PLOT AGAINST THE STRONGHOLDS = HE INDULGED IN POLITICAL INTRIGUE AND BRIBES.

• PHASE #[2] (VSS. 25-28)

• STIR UP HIS POWER AGAINST THE KING OF THE SOUTH = ANTIOCHUS MADE WAR WITH EGYPT’S PTOLEMY PHILOMETOR. ANTIOCHUS IV FAILED PARTIALLY BECAUSE SOME OF HIS OWN MEN WHO ATE WITH HIM BETRAYED HIM. HE RETURN ED HOME THROUGH PALESTINE, VENTING HIS ANGER ON THE JEWS (I MACCABEES 1:20-28). HE STRIPPED THE TEMPLE OF ALL ITS GOLD AND TREASURES AND MASSACRED MANY PEOPLE.
• PHASE #[3] (VSS. 29-30a)

• RETURN TOWARD THE SOUTH = A 2ND ADVANCE ON EGYPT.
• SHIPS OF KITTIM (ROMAN POWER ON CYPRUS) = BROUGHT PROPILIUS AS AMBASSADOR. PROPILIUS HAD BEFRIENDED ANTIOCHUS AS A HOSTAGE IN ROME WHEN A BOY. WHEN ANTIOCHUS OFFERED TO SHAKE HANDS WITH PROPILIUS, PROPILIUS HELD HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK SAYING, “BEFORE WE SHAKE HANDS I MUST KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE A FRIEND OR AN ENEMY.” PROPILIUS DEMANDED ANTIOCHUS WITHDRAW HIS ARMY FROM EGYPT AT ONCE. ANTIOCHUS ASKED FOR THREE DAYS TO RESPOND. PROPILIUS DREW A CIRCLE AROUND ANTIOCHUS ON THE SAND, AND SAID, “YOU WILL GIVE ME YOUR ANSWER BEFORE YOU STEP OUTSIDE OF THAT CIRCLE.” ANTIOCHUS WAS GRIEVED TO SEE HE WAS DEFEATED AND RETURN ED HOME DISHEARTENED.

• PHASE #[4] (VSS. 30b–32a)
• ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES RETURN S HOME VIA PALESTINE AND RENEWS HIS INDIGNITIES AGAINST THE JEWS. HE SLEW 80,000 JEWS AND TOOK 40,000 PRISONERS AS SLAVES. HE POLLUTED THE TEMPLE SANCTUARY BY OFFERING A HOG ON THE ALTAR. HE CAUSED THE DAILY SACRIFICE TO BE STOPPED AND PUT A STATUE OF HIMSELF IN THE HOLY PLACE. HE SUCCEEDED IN TURNING MANY JEWS FROM THEIR RELIGION BY FLATTERIES AND CAUSED THEM TO WORSHIP HIS IMAGE.
• PHASE #[5] (VSS. 32b-35)
• THEY THAT KNOW THEIR GOD SHALL DO EXPLOITS = THE MACCABEE FAMILY. (SEE NOTES ON DAN 8:9-14 LESSON #10)
• THEM OF UNDERSTANDING = TEACHERS OF THE LAW FELLBY THE SWORD.
• TIME OF THE END = THIS IS A PROPHETIC PHRASE THAT THROWS THE PROPHECY INTO DOUBLE REFERENCE REFERRING TO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• APPLICATION:
• IF WE LEARN ALL WE CAN ABOUT THIS PART OF HISTORY AND HOW GOD FULFILLED DANIEL’S PROPHECIES IN THE PAST, WE WILL GAIN A WEALTH OF INSIGHTS INTO WHAT GOD WILL DO IN THE FUTURE. (THIS WILL BE EXPLAINED IN OUR NEXT LESSON.)

HOMEWORK
DANIEL 11:36-45

THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF DAN 11:1-35
• WRITE A PARAGRAPH CONCERNING HOW A CHRISTIAN SHOULD REACT TO POLITICAL EVENTS IN THE WORLD TODAY.
• PREPARATION FOR DANIEL 11:36-45
• READ DAN 11:36-45
• THIS SECTION REFERS TO THE ANTI-CHRIST. LIST ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS YOU CAN FIND ABOUT HIM AND HIS KINGDOM.
• MEMORY VERSE: REV 13:5