Daniel 11:15-35

This month, we are looking at The Book of Daniel verse-by-verse. In the previous post, we covered the beginning of the angel's last installment of Daniel's continual vision. Here is a summary of what we covered:

The first fourteen verses of Daniel 11 covered the time of Alexander the Great up until Antiochus Epiphanes.

God could NOW give more details about this time period because the first two steps of the continual vision had occurred: Nebuchadnezzar and Darius/Cyrus. God knew more of the CAUSES and could explain the EFFECTS.

For more explanation on how prophecy works, please look at the following links:
Prophecy Introduction
Simple Prophecy
Complex Prophecy

Daniel was getting a more detailed explanation of the events between #3. Alexander the Great and #4. Antiochus Epiphanes.

Today, we will cover #4. Antiochus Epiphanes.


DANIEL 11:15-35
"15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand."
16 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, and in his hand shall be destruction.
17 And he shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions; and he shall perform them: and he shall give him the daughter of women, to corrupt her; but she shall not stand, neither be for him."

The king of the south was Ptolemy V Epiphanes. The king of the north was Antiochus III. Antiochus III gave his daughter Cleopatra I to Ptolemy V, in hopes of permanent influence in Egypt. Antiochus III took control of Palestine c. 200 B.C.

"18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yea, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn upon him."

Antioch III came against the Roman Empire. The Roman general (Lucius Cornelius) humbled him (191 B.C.) at Thermopylae and again at Magnesia (190 B.C.).

"19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found."

Subsequently, Antiochus III was forced to focus within his own lands to stop his underlings from declaring themselves independent rulers. Antiochus III was known as Antiochus the Great.

"20 Then shall stand up in his place one that shall cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle."

Selecus Philopator IV (Antiochus' eldest son) succeeded his father Antiocus III (the Great). Seleucus IV died by being poisoned by Heliodorus...not by battle nor an internal mob.

The rest of today's passage (Daniel 11:21-35) covered the rise and rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was the Seleucid king who reigned from 175-164 B.C. Basically, Daniel covered the rise of Antiochus Epiphanes to power, his conflicts with Egypt (i.e., the king of the South), and his hostilities towards Israel (glorious land).

"21 And in his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
22 And the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people.
24 In time of security shall he come 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 prey, and spoil, and substance: yea, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time."

Antiochus was the third son of Antiochus III the Great. Antiochus ousted his brother's (Seleucus IV) murderer (Heliodorus) and took over the kingdom (not given the honor of the kingdom) even though Demetrius (the son of Seleucus IV) was the rightful successor.

Antiochus Epiphanes was a horrible person. He was called by many "Antiochus Epimanes" (i.e., the madman) instead of his preferred name "Epiphanes" (i.e., God Manifest). He won over the kings of Pergamus through flattery, while the Syrians gave in without a fight.

"25 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 war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him.
26 Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.
27 And as for both these kings, their 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.
28 Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do his pleasure, and return to his own land."

This section documented Antiochus Epiphanes' many Egyptian conflicts.

"29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former.
30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his pleasure: he shall even return, and have regard unto them that forsake the holy covenant."

This documented Antiochus Ephiphanes beginning to come against Israel during his conflicts with Egypt.

"31 And forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt-offering, and they shall set up the abomination that maketh desolate."

Antiochus Epiphanes took control of Jerusalem and the temple. As stated in previous posts (and The Sequel), he turned the temple into a gymnasium. Israel had now completely rejected God...

"32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
33 And they that are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves unto them with flatteries."

This section described the Maccabean Revolt...which was later documented in the Apocrypha (I Maccabees 1).

"35 And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed."

These events would eventually result in the refinement and purification of God's people (through Jesus)...even to the time of the end.


SUMMARY
Daniel 11:15-35 documented the details of: 4. Antiochus Epiphanes.

Tomorrow, we will see the next verse jumped to the time of the end... 5. The Anti-Christ.

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