Daniel 10-11 review
Jews are allowed to go back to Judah/Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity in Babylon.
But before the Jews are released to go back to Jerusalem, another nation takes over Babylon.
Who? Medes/Persians
Who was the king that gave the Jews their freedom to go back to Judah/Jerusalem? Cyrus
Just before their release, Daniel saw two visions. One was a marah vision and the other a chazon vision
The mareh vision we the "appearance of a man" Jesus
Chazon vision was the period of time when the temple was desecrated and the daily sacrifice was taken away and it also included the time that the temple would be cleansed. 2300 evenings/mornings
Neither of these were understood by Daniel but Gabriel attempts to explain the mareh vision.
Gabriel's attempt to explain it involves the use of even more symbols which make it hard to understand
Over time Daniel seems to understand the mareh vision of Jesus but not the Chazon. So Gabriel visits Daniel a second time to try and explain it.
In the midst of this visitation, Daniel may see another vision of Jesus, hearing the "voice of His words". And Daniel loses his strength repeatedly falls face down on the ground as he sees either Jesus, Gabriel or another angel. Each time, a supernatural being touches him and strengthens him
Then an angel (maybe Gabriel?) begins to speak in Dan 10 describing a spiritual battle that he fights along with another angel (Michael) in heavenlies against the prince of Persia.
Who is Michael? Prince of Israel?
What is the prince of Persia that Michael fights against? Principality of Persia
While these two angels fight against the prince of Persia, who/what comes along? Prince of Greece
This brings us to Daniel 11 and Greece.
What do we know about Greece? They defeat the Medes/Persians
Who was their leader? Alexander the Great
What happened to him? He dies young and his kingdom is divided unto his to four generals
Daniel 11 discusses only 2 of the 4 generals. Who? Seleucus and Ptolemy
***Show the "4 generals.jpg" - discuss their lands
Who is caught in the middle? The Jews in Palestine/Israel
Recap:
Why do we see so much data about the King of the North and the King of the South in Dan 11?
We know God's people we're caught between these two warring nations that occurs in the natural.
Daniel must be devastated because although his people get to go back to their land of Israel, what they face in the longer future seems to be great harassment at the hands of the King of the North and King of the South.
Suzerainty (/ˈsuːzərənti, -rɛnti/) is a relationship in which one state or other polity controls the foreign policy and relations of a tributary state, while allowing the tributary state to have internal autonomy. At least until Antiochus Epiphanies...
Antiochus IV, known as Antiochus Epiphanes
***Prophecy from Daniel's perspective, history from ours BUT ALSO PROPHECY FROM OUR SPIRITUAL PRESPECTIVE***
Dan 11:21-24
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.
The angel told Daniel that after the brief reign of the former king of the North, the next king would be a vile person. He would not be recognized as royalty, but shall take power by intrigue.
This was fulfilled in Antiochus IV. He did not come to the throne legitimately. After his brother Seleucus IV was assassinated, Antiochus seized the throne for himself proclaiming himself co-regent with another son of Seleucus IV, an infant named also Antiochus (whom he then murdered in 170 BC).
After his accession Antiochus took care to maintain good relations with Rome, who was a political giant in the region. He secured a renewed treaty of friendship and alliance with Rome, greatly helped by the fact Antiochus had come to power with the help of Rome's principal ally in the region. He used flattery, smooth promises and intrigue.
Dan 11:25
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.
***Show 'Antiochus Epiphanies.png"
In 170BC, The King of the South (Ptolomy) declared war on the king of the north (Antiochus) on the assumption that the kingdom was divided after Antiochus' murdered his infant nephew. However Antiochus had prepared more thoroughly and launched a preemptive strike against the king of the south, defeating him and seizing the city of Pelusium in Egypt. He then advanced into Egypt proper, conquering all but Alexandria and capturing the King of the south, Ptolemy.
To avoid alarming Rome (the sleeping giant), Antiochus (king of the north) allowed Ptolemy VI ( king of the south) to continue ruling as a puppet king from Memphis. Upon Antiochus' withdrawal, the city of Alexandria chose a new king, one of Ptolemy's brothers, also named Ptolemy (VIII Euergetes). The Ptolemy brothers agreed to rule Egypt jointly instead of fighting a civil war.
Dan 11:26-28
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.
Antiochus sold the office of High Priest and persecuted the Jewish people to conform to Greek culture, forsaking the faith and traditions of their fathers.
Dan 11:29-30
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.
In 168 BC, Antiochus (king of the north) led a second attack on (king of the south) in Egypt and also sent a fleet to capture Cyprus. Before he reached Alexandria in Egypt , his path was blocked by a single elderly Roman ambassador named Popillius who delivered a message from the Roman Senate directing Antiochus (the king of the north) to withdraw his armies from Egypt and Cyprus (land owned by the king of the south) or consider himself in a state of war with the Roman Republic. Antiochus said he would discuss it with his council, whereupon the Roman envoy drew a line in the sand around Antiochus and said: "Before you leave this circle, give me a reply that I can take back to the Roman Senate." This implied Rome would declare war if the King of the North stepped out of the circle without committing to leave Egypt (king of the south) immediately. Weighing his options, Antiochus decided to withdraw. Only then did Popillius agree to shake hands with him.
From that point on there was no doubt: Antiochus Epiphanes took his orders from Rome and was under Roman dominion.
He turns around and heads back to Syria but takes out anger on rebellious Jerusalem.
Dan 11:31
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.
While returning to his land with great riches: Failing in his invasion of Egypt, Antiochus Epiphanes returned home with only great plunder to soothe his wounded pride.
According to the authors of the Books of the Maccabees, while Antiochus was busy in Egypt, a rumor spread that he had been killed. In Judea, the deposed High Priest Jason gathered a force of 1,000 soldiers and made a surprise attack on the city of Jerusalem. Menelaus, the High Priest appointed by Antiochus, was forced to flee Jerusalem during a riot. Antiochus returned from Egypt in 168 BC, enraged by his defeat; he attacked Jerusalem and restored Menelaus, then executed many Jews.
When these happenings were reported to the king, he thought that Judea was in revolt. Raging like a wild animal, he set out from Egypt and took Jerusalem by storm. He ordered his soldiers to cut down without mercy those whom they met and to slay those who took refuge in their houses. There was a massacre of young and old, a killing of women and children, a slaughter of virgins and infants. In the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost, forty thousand meeting a violent death, and the same number being sold into slavery.
— 2 Maccabees 5:11–14
When Antiochus Epiphanes turned on Jerusalem, the Jewish people were divided. Some forsook their covenant with God and embraced Greek culture.
Antiochus:
plundered the city
banned circumcision
built the Akra, a fort in the middle of Jerusalem to keep the city under heel (hence, "he will worship a god of fortresses" in Dan 11:38)
started gathering and burning copies of the Torah
killed eighty thousand persons, men, women, and children
took forty thousand prisoners, and sold as many into slavery
As if this were not enough, under the guidance of the high priest Menelaus, he went into the sanctuary, uttering blasphemous language
took away all the gold and silver vessels he could find there,
Took the golden table, altar, and candlestick, and all the great vessels, and that he might leave nothing behind,
searched the subterranean vaults
collected eighteen hundred talents of gold.
He then sacrificed swine on the altar,
boiled a piece of the flesh, and sprinkled the whole temple with the broth
But the main event came when he deliberately profaned the Second Temple, placing an idol of Zeus on the altar of burnt offerings and ordering the sacrifice of a pig* – an unclean animal – to rededicate the Temple to Zeus.
***General thought is that in/after this verse, a change occurs. Now it may be pointing to a Antichrist figure in the future.
****So we have this desecration of old testament sanctuary and holy place. The angel (and Jesus) have gone to great lengths to show this process to Daniel via the mareh vision and chazon vision. Now we will seem to see a hint of the desecration of the New Testament sanctuary and holy place.
Dan 11:32-35
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. 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.
***General thought is that in/after this verse (v35), a change occurs. Now it may be pointing to a Antichrist figure in the future.
Pattern:
Old Testament/Natural: Jews- Temple/Holy Place Desecration - Jesus first coming (Mareh)
New Testment/Spiritual: Christians - Spiritual Temple/Holy Place Desecration - Jesus second coming (Mareh)
Is this entire process called the Chazon? Remember the 2300 days/evening till the temple is cleansed. I think this occurs during/after Jesus' second coming. Remember, Jesus comes as a fullers soap in Malachi.
The Antichrist: the end times Antiochus Epiphanes
Dan 11:36
36 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 he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.
Here we shift to the Antichrist, the final world dictator:
Mat 24:15-16
15 When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand), 16 then let them that are in Judæa flee unto the mountains:
2Th 2:3-4
3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, 4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.
Dan 11:37-39
37 Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 39 And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whosoever acknowledgeth him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.
Thoughts?
Vs 37
Disregards God of his father's
Nor the desire of women? - Gay?
Does not regard any deity
Magnifies himself - occuring today?
V38
Honors the god of fortresses/strongholds
Honors a different God than his father's
Honors with silver, gold and precious stones
V39
With help of foreign god he does/rules AND increases
Subjects many to the foreign god
Divides the land for a price
Not applicable to Antiochus
Seems if you read commentaries, they will all assign their modern day enemy OR their modern day apostate religious group as the probable AntiChrist….like Rome, or Roman Catholicism, etc.
Dan 11:40-45
40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with 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 through. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 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. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
All different opinions about what this may mean.
It would seem that the thing of value in this entire story seems to occur when the mara arrives or Jesus. Otherwise always seem to be able to take out of the story is the apostatizing of God's people over the course of time until they completely disavowal themselves from any kind of work that God is doing
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