Thursday, June 24, 2021

Daniel 10 & Daniel 11-Part 1

 Dan 10:16-17

16 And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision (marah) my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me. 


Summary

  1. Either Jesus or an angel touches Daniel's lips. Daniel speaks


  1. The vision (marah) has caused Daniel to have sorrow and no strength.


Why?


  1. How can you even talk with me??


After what you just showed me? After what happens to "my people" in their latter days? 


What happens?


  1. Daniel is left with no strength or breath.


Dan 10:18-19

18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance (Mareh) of a man, and he strengthened me. 19 And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 


Who is this that touches Daniel and strengthens him? One like the appearance (mareh) of man.


Dan 10:20-21

20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come. 21 But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince.


  1. Angel/heavenly being asks Daniel:

  1. Do you know why I have come to you?


  1. I need to go back to fighting against the prince of Persia


  1. When I leave the prince of Greece will come


Why? Will his fighting w Persia allow the prince of Greece to gain a foothold?


2. Angel tells Daniel that what he just told him is in the Writing of Truth


What is the Writing of Truth? The bible??


3. Michael is the prince of the Jewish people (Israel). Is he an angel, or archangel or could it be a metaphor for Jesus???



Dan 11:1

1 And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. 


*** This is a continuation of the previous chapter and should have been included in chapter 10. Spoken by the angel (Gabriel).


Next we begin the meat of chapter 11 that will discuss in greater detail the vision of Daniel 8 with the ram and He-goat. 

  1. The ram = Medes/Persians

  2. He-goat = Greece


Dan 11:2-3

2 And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he is waxed strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 


Summary

  1. Daniel tells us "the truth"

(He has made mention of this truth in Dan 8:12,26; 9:13; 10:1,21)


What truth?

Dan 8:12 - truth cast down to ground by rebellion


Dan 8:26 - vision (mareh) of evenings and mornings which is true. 


Dan 9:13 - truth in law of Moses which Jews in Babylon didn't understand because of their sin


Dan 10:1 - Daniel seems to understands the (mareh) vision and it was true


Dan 10:21 - "scripture of Truth" 

Unsure of what this is, unless it is the bible?



  1. Medes/Persians are called Persia here


  1. Three Persian kings rise up


  1. A fourth Persian arises who is strong and with great riches. 


Xerxes or Aheusaurus. The king that married Esther.


  1. He (or his riches) stirs up the realm of Greece.


Spiritual realm of Greece or natural realm?


  1. A mighty king stands up (from the realm of Greece) and does what he wants


***Who would this be?****

Probably Alexander the Great


Dan 11:4-5

4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion wherewith he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these. 5 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. 

Summary

  1. Alexander The Greats' kingdom (Greece) shall be broken and divided 


What did chapter 8 say would happen to Greece or the He-goat?


Dan 8:8c "...great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven."


Dan 8:22 

And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.


  1. His kingdom is uprooted and given to others


****Show '4 generals.jpg'***


Who was it given to?

His four generals:


  1. Lysimachus - who took Thrace and much of Asia Minor.

  2. Cassander - controlled Macedonia and Greece.

  3. Ptolemy I - ruled Egypt, Palestine, Cilicia, Petra and Cyprus. He founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty which lasted until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BCE.  

  4. Seleucus I Nicator - ruled the remainder of Asia and founded the Seleucid Empire which was comprised of Mesopotamia, the Levant, Persia, and part of India.


3. King of the south is strong (and one of his princes)


Ptolemy ruled Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, Cilicia and Petra


This also includes Ptolemy's successors too known as "king of the south"


4. And he shall be strong above him and have dominion 


Who is above him?

-King of the North

Seleucus - ruled parts of Asia, Mesopotamia, the Levant, Persia, and part of India.


History has Seleucus as previously serving under Ptolemy. But now are rivals.


Both are mentioned here probably because:

  1. Included in Dan 8 vision

  2. How this relates to Gods people who are just entering back into their land now.


As we move forward in this chapter, we will discuss the future periods of the history of these two kingdoms. 


The event here referred to did not occur during the lives of these two kings, Seleucus and Ptolemy, but in the reign of their successors. 


**Ptolemy is king of the South


**Seleucus (Antiochus) is king of the North


***King of South (Ptolemy) 

vs 

King of the North (Seleucus)

With 

Israel caught in between


Old covenant is natural Israel 

and 

the New covenant is spiritual Israel


****Show Timeline Dan 11**

Dan 11:6-7

6 And at the end of years they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the strength of her 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 those times. 


Verse 6

In the South, Ptolemy I eventually died in 285 B.C., leaving his throne to his son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.).


In the North, Seleucus I was the victim of an assassin in 281 B.C., and his son, Antiochus I Soter (281-262 B.C.), began ruling in his place. Antiochus I died in 262 B.C. and left his son, Antiochus II, in power.


Ptolemy II of Egypt and Antiochus II of Syria were contemporaries. They were also bitter enemies. However, they finally made an alliance about 250 B.C., which they sealed with the marriage of Ptolemy II’s daughter, Berenice, to Antiochus II. When Ptolemy II died in 246 B.C., Antiochus II took back his first wife, Laodice, whom Antiochus had divorced to marry Berenice. Laodice is the woman for whom the town of Laodicea in Asia Minor was named (Revelation 3:14; et al.). Similarly, the towns of Antioch, in Syria and in Asia Minor, received their names from Antiochus. Antioch of Syria was the capital of Syria during the Selucid dynasty. To gain revenge, Laodice had Berenice and her infant son by Antiochus murdered. Laodice also poisoned Antiochus and ruled in his place briefly. Her son, Seleucus II, then succeeded his father, Antiochus II, and ruled Syria beginning in 246 B.C. Berenice is the woman the angel referred to in this verse.


**Ptolemy is king of the South


**Seleucus (Antiochus) is king of the North



Dan 11:7-9

7 But out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his place, who shall come unto the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail. 8 And also their gods, with their molten images, and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry captive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north. 9 And he shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land. 


The angel told Daniel that a branch of her roots would come from the South and prevail over the kings of the North.


This was fulfilled in the person of Ptolemy III, who was the brother of Berenice (the branch of her roots). Avenging the murder of his sister, Ptolemy III invaded Syria and humbled Selecus II.


He shall continue more years than the king of the North: Ptolemy III lived four years past Selecus II.


**Ptolemy is king of the South


**Seleucus (Antiochus) is king of the North



Dan 11:10-12

10 And his sons shall war, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall come on, and overflow, and pass through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress. 11 And the king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand. 12 And the multitude shall be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 


Verse 10

The sons of the kings of the North would continue the battle. One of the sons would conquer the Holy Land (overwhelm and pass through) which stood as a buffer between the kings of the South and the kings of the North.


This was fulfilled in Seleucus III and Antiochus III, the two sons of Seleucus II. Both were successful generals, but Seleucus III ruled only a short time and was succeeded by his brother.


-In a furious battle, Antiochus III took back the Holy Land from the dominion of the Ptolemies.


**Ptolemy is king of the South


**Seleucus (Antiochus) is king of the North


Verse 11-12

The angel told Daniel that the king of the South would attack and meet a great multitude of soldiers from the king of the North. The king of the North would lose in battle and his multitude would be defeated.


This was fulfilled when Antiochus III was defeated at the battle of Raphia. Because of that loss he was forced to give back dominion over the Holy Land to Ptolemy IV.



Dan 11:13-16

13 And the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former; and he shall come on at the end of the times, even of years, with a great army and with much substance. 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among thy people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 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. 


The angel told Daniel that the northern dynasty would answer back and defeat the king of the South in an extended siege. This victory would give the king of the North dominion over the Glorious Land.


“The land of ornaments – that is, Judea, which, lying betwixt these two potent princes, was perpetually afflicted, as corn is ground asunder lying betwixt two heavy millstones.” (Trapp)


No one shall stand against him: This was fulfilled when Antiochus III invaded Egypt again, gaining final control over the armies of Ptolemy V and over the Holy Land.


i. Many shall rise up against the king of the South: Jews living in the Holy Land helped Antiochus III defeat the king of the South. This was because the Jewish people resented the rule of the Egyptian Ptolemies (violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision).


ii. He who comes against him shall do according to his own will… with destruction in his power: The Jewish people of the Glorious Land initially welcomed Antiochus III as a liberator from Egyptian rule. Their decision to support Antiochus III proved unwise when he turned destruction upon the Glorious Land and its people.


Dan 11:17

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 North who ruled over the Holy Land would also attempt to dominate and destroy the king of the South. He would make one attempt by giving the king of the South the daughter of women to destroy, but this plot would not succeed.


She shall not stand with him: This was fulfilled when Antiochus III gave his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V of Egypt. He did this hoping to gain permanent influence and eventually control in Egypt. To the great disappointment of Antiochus III, the plan did not succeed because Cleopatra wasn’t faithful to her Egyptian husband at all.


This was not the most famous Cleopatra from ancient history, but this was the ancestor of the more famous Cleopatra. The more famous Egyptian woman lived some 100 years after the time of this Cleopatra.


Dan 11:18-19

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. 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. 


After the disappointing effort through the daughter Cleopatra, the king of the North would turn his efforts towards the coastlands – until he was stopped by one formerly under reproach, until he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.


This was fulfilled when Antiochus III turned his attention towards the areas of Asia Minor and Greece. He was helped by Hannibal, the famous general from Carthage. But a Roman General, Lucius Cornelius Scipio, defeated Antiochus in Greece. Antiochus planned to humiliate Greece but was humiliated instead. He returned to his former regions, having lost all that he gained and died shortly after.


After this defeat Antiochus III had an inglorious end. Needing money badly for his treasury, he resorted to pillaging a Babylonian temple and was killed by enraged local citizens.


Dan 11:20

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 batte. 


After the inglorious end of the king of the North, his successor would raise taxes and meet a soon end.


One who imposes taxes: This was fulfilled in the brief reign of Seleucus III, the eldest son of Antiochus III. He sought to tax his dominion (including the glorious kingdom, the Holy Land) to increase revenues. His plan to pillage the Jerusalem temple was set aside when his ambassador had an angelic vision of warning.


Within a few days he shall be destroyed: Seleucus III was assassinated, probably by his brother Antiochus IV.


Thursday, June 17, 2021

Daniel 10 - Part 1

 Dan 10:1

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision (Mareh)


  1. 3rd yr of Cyrus - 536-5 B.C.


  1. 70th year of captivity


  1. A thing/word was revealed/uncovered to Daniel


  1. What warfare?

Dan 8:10-13 

10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them. 11 Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision (chazon) concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?


  1. "and the thing was true"  Dan 10:1


Dan 8:26 

And the vision (Mareh) of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision (chazon); for it belongeth to many days to come.


  1. "and (I, Daniel) had understanding of the vision (Mareh)"


So Daniel now has understanding of the (mareh) vision.


Dan 10:2

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 


Why is Daniel mourning?

  1. Not stated in text

  2. May be related to the (mareh) vision

  3. Could be the "warfare"?

  4. May be related to this fact:


Dan 8:14 

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.


Maybe because of the desolation of the sanctuary and the length of time that it remains unclean?


2300 sunsets and mornings (days/years?)


***Where do Gods people dwell today?***

Babylon


Dan 10:3-4

3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 


Summary

  1. Daniel fasts for 3 weeks (no pleasant bread, flesh/meat, wine)


  1. Daniel doesn't anoint himself (with oil?) for 3 weeks (some think that he didn't bathe)


  1. Fast seems to last until the 24th day of the first month, which may corresponds to March.


  1. He is beside the Tigris (Hiddekel-rapid) River

***This is the 3rd different river he sees visions near. (Euphrates, Ulai, Tigris)


  1. Why is he now near the Tigris River?

  1. 50+ miles from Babylon

  2. Maybe on a business trip?

  3. Maybe he doesn't live in Babylon anymore?


Dan 10:5-6

5 I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: 6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance (Mareh) of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 



Dan 10:5-6

Rev 1:13-16

Man

Son of man

clothed in linen

clothed with a garment down to the foot (v13)

loins (hips) were girded with pure gold of Uphaz

girt about breasts with a golden girdle (v13)

body also was like the beryl (prescious jewel)


face as the appearance (Mareh) of lightning

countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength (v16)

eyes as flaming torches

eyes were as a flame of fire (v14)

arms and his feet like unto burnished brass

(golden color)

feet like unto burnished brass (as if it had been refined in a furnace) (v15)(golden color)

voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 

voice as the voice of many waters (v15)


head/hair were white as white wool, white as snow (v14)


Jesus?

A mighty angel?


Dan 10:7-9

7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision (marah); for the men that were with me saw not the vision (marah); but a great quaking fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone, and saw this great vision (marah), and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground. 


Summary

  1. Daniel sees the 'marah' (H4759) alone. Marah is the feminine version of mareh (H4758)


  1. The other men ran away to hide after a quaking came upon them


****Think of the terror that the coming of Jesus will pose to the world****


  1. Vs8 Daniel sees the marah (feminine) and he has no strength


  1. Daniel's radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and he retained no strength


  1. When Daniel hears the "voice of his words".


Is this Jesus or an angel? How is the Hebrew word "voice" used elsewhere in Daniel?


H6963 "Voice" used 6x's in Daniel


  1. Dan 8:16 

And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.


  1. Dan 9:10

Neither have we obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.


  1. Dan 9:11 

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even turning aside, that they should not obey thy voice: therefore hath the curse been poured out upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him.


  1. Dan 9:14 

Therefore hath Jehovah watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for Jehovah our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we have not obeyed his voice.


  1. Dan 10:6 

his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.


  1. Dan 10:9 

Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.


  1. He falls into deep sleep on his face w face toward the ground. Like Dan 8:18 when Gabriel spoke


  1. What words were said to Daniel by Jesus or the angel? It doesn't say.


Is there any significance to the verse following John's vision of Jesus?

Rev 1:17a

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead…(And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last)


Dan 10:10

10 And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 


Is this Jesus or a mighty angel? 


Is this the same being? 


And does this occur at the same time?


  1. A hand touches Daniel while he is face down on the ground. The angel Gabriel touches Daniel in Dan 9:21


  1. Rev 1:17b

(And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead)and he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last. (Jesus)


It could be Jesus or it might be a heavenly being like an angel.


Dan 10:11-12

11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake. 


Summary

  1. Heavenly Being/Jesus words are now recorded. Whether the same being or different


  1. Tells Daniel he is greatly beloved. Same word as Daniel 9:23 where Gabriel tells Daniel he is greatly beloved.


  1. Understand. Same word as Gabriel said the Daniel in Dan 9:22-23.


  1. Tells Daniel to 'stand upright'

Stand - remain, endure, take one's stand, set

Upright - standing place, fixed spot


**These words occur together, twice in Daniel.(stand & upright)**


Dan 8:18 

Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.

Gabriel sets Daniel upright


Dan 10:11 

And he said unto me, O Daniel, ...stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.


This heavenly being tells Daniel to stand upright (himself)


Notice the progression!


  1. "Unto thee I am now sent" (h7971)

-suggests  he has a boss?


Sent (h7972) in Daniel


  1. Dan 3:2 

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.


  1. Dan 3:28

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.


  1. Dan 5:24 

Then was the part of the hand sent (by God) from before him, and this writing was inscribed.


  1. Dan 6:22 

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.


***This strongly suggests that this heavenly being is an angel***


6. Daniel stands trembling


7. The heavenly being tells Daniel that from the first day that he "set his heart to understand" and "humble thyself before thy God" his words were heard. But this heavenly being came "because of his words"


What did he try to understand? (V12)


Got understanding (v1)


How did he humble himself? ('afflict thyself' in LXXE)  v2-3


What words did Daniel speak that caused the heavenly being?


Dan 10:13-14

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days. 


Summary

  1. The price of the kingdom of Persia withstood the heavenly being 21 days


Who is this prince of Persia? Prob the spiritual ruler who have been given authority over Persia (where Daniel currently resides) (Principality)


  1. So this heavenly being is most likely some form of angel


  1. Michael, one of the princes came to help. Michael remains with the prince of Persia and frees the angel up to continue onward to Daniel.


Who is Michael?


  1. Angel arrives to inform Daniel of what shall happen to his people in the latter days. The vision (Chazon) is for many days.


Remember the Chazon?


Show the Chazon vision.jpg…


Dan 10:15

15 And when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb. 


What was spoken by the angel? Had to be related to what happens to Daniel's in the latter days?


Daniel's reaction was gone silent, tongue tied or dumb. Probably shocked at what he heard?


What might Daniel have heard?