Daniel 11 – Fight or be Defeated - The Battle Rages on and Continues until the Return of Christ
In verse 36 through the end of chapter 11 and into chapter 12 we see the 70th week in the Daniel 9 prophecy showing the Tribulation and the rule of Antichrist over the revived Roman Empire and ultimately the deliverance of Israel and the beginning of the Millennial kingdom. This prophecy was given to Daniel by God to encourage the Jews then and now to give them hope in the midst of being "trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:24) which ends only with the second coming of Christ. (Rev. 19)
The warfare in chapter 11 and into chapter 12 is a reflection of the greater warfare going on in the heavenlies as seen in chapter 10. I reiterate: one of the main points that we are to learn from our study of Daniel and Scripture in general is that we are in a battle with demons and fallen man under Satan's power (1 John 5:19) and with the world system and our flesh, ("the law of sin which is in my members" - Rom 7:23) and are called by God to fight with the weapons of warfare He has given us to fight with for His glory and purposes and the good of His people. (See Eph. 6:10-18) We can't avoid the battle by not signing up to fight. We either fight and gain some victories for our Lord or we lose simply by default. "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs (worldliness), but rather tries to please his commanding officer (the Lord Jesus)." (2 Tim. 2:3-4; Also see 2 Tim. 4:6-8) There is no being in the universe, man or demon, which can prevent God from transforming me into increasing Christ-likeness or usurp God's loving plan for my life But Me. Self-pity and/or quick and prideful judgment of others (continually pointing the finger at others) keeps me from pointing the finger at myself. Nathan said to David, thou art the man! And David saw his sin and repented deeply. Each of us, as believers, will stand alone at the judgment seat of Christ. Today our thoughts, words and deeds are preparing us for that day. This is certainly true and hopefully a sobering and purifying truth. (Psalm 90:12 and 1 John 3:2-3)
Verse one is very encouraging as it shows how God uses godly angelic influence over national leaders for his purposes as Darius lets the Jews return to Jerusalem to re-build their temple and city.
Verses 2-3 mention more of the kings of Persia who come after Cyrus and Darius up to the point at which Alexander the Great and the Greeks defeated Persia. "And a mighty king will arise (Alexander), and he will rule with great authority and do as he pleases." In Verse 4 we know from history that Alexander died with no heirs and his kingdom was ultimately divided up among four generals. But the focus of Daniel 11 is on the king of the North and the king of the South. Actually these are several kings, some of which are listed as both the kings of the South and the kings of the North. The kings of the North were the Seleucids in Syria and the kings of the South were the Ptolemies in Egypt. Their geographical directions are based on being north of Israel or south of Israel because this is still about the Jews. The Ptolemies dominated Israel from 323 to 198 BC. The Seleucids dominated it from 198 to 161 BC.
Verses 5-20 reveal a soap opera of infighting in the Grecian Empire among the kings of the North and kings of the South with all kinds of intrigue, political marriages, assassinations, etc.
In verse 21-35 we see the rise and reign of Antiochus Epiphanies, the most evil king in the Grecian Empire, and the one who foreshadows Antichrist as he murders thousands of Jews, puts an end to their temple worship and ceremonies and desecrates the temple with the abomination of desolation. Jesus, in Matthew 24:15-16,refers to this from Daniel's time and yet refers to another abomination of desolation that will happen in the future. "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet (in the past), standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then (in the future) those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains." "This is confirmed by the fact that some of what Daniel prophesied in Daniel 9:27 did not occur in 167 B.C. with Antiochus Epiphanies. Antiochus did not confirm a covenant with Israel for seven years. It is the Antichrist who, in the end times, will establish a covenant with Israel for seven years and then break it by doing something similar to the abomination of desolation in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Whatever the future abomination of desolation is, it will leave no doubt in anyone's mind that the one perpetrating it is the person known as the Antichrist. Revelation 13:14 describes him making some kind of image which all are forced to worship. Turning the temple of the living God into a place of worship for the Antichrist is truly an "abomination." http://www.gotquestions.org/abomination-desolation.html ixzz2PKkxB9Kf
"Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done." (v.36) "Evidences for this being Antichrist: 1) scope of this prophecy includes the latter days (10:14); 2) while the prophecies through verse 35 find fulfillment in history, there is no historical correspondence with these verses; (3) this king is actually distinguished from the king of the north (v. 40); 4) these verses correspond well with other passages concerning the Antichrist (7:24-27; 8:23-25; 9:26-27; 2 Thess. 2:4ff.; Rev. 13, 17). (5) the time of great tribulation will occur in connection with this person's rule (12:1); 6) compare the indignation in verse 36 with the same term used in Isaiah 26:20 for the tribulation." http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel
"He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all." (v. 37) "He will reject all deities. The "desire of women" may refer to the desire of Hebrew women in pre-messianic times to be the mother of the Messiah, or it may be the desire (women have) for peace." http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel
"But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures." (v. 38) "He will place confidence in military might, and the only "god" he will honor is that of power. He will trust in the god of power." http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel
"He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price." (v. 39) "He will reward those who serve him with allotments of land." http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel
"At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through." (v. 40) "He will have made a covenant to guarantee Israel's borders, but an alliance of Egypt and her allies with a northern confederacy will challenge this protective treaty, evidently in the middle of the 70th week (cf. Ezek. 38-39). The imagery of weapons could be understood in terms of their modern counterparts, though it is possible that societal upheavals in that day will have caused a reversion to simpler weapons." http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel
"He will also enter the Beautiful Land (Israel), and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. " (v. 41-43) "He will be initially victorious in battle and plunder the treasures of Egypt. He will also attack and defeat Libya and Ethiopia. He will plunder the nations." http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel
"But rumors from the East (Rev. 9:16) and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many." (v.44) "Near the end of the tribulation he will face renewed conflict, this time from the East as well as the North. (Rev. 16:12) http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel "He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him." (v. 45) "Having broken his covenant with the Jews, he will become their persecutor and make Jerusalem his headquarters. But he will meet his end with the armies of earth who gather at Armageddon. (Zech. 14:1-4; Rev. 19:19-21) http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel
APPLICATIONS:
"The accuracy with which these approximately 135 specific prophecies have been fulfilled underscores God's sovereignty and tells us to expect that the remaining prophecies will be fulfilled with the same precise and literal fulfillment in the future.
The ironies of history; in spite of all Antiochus' efforts to be a man of power and influence, his every action was playing out God's prophetic plan. He who tries to save his life will lose it. God's plans will be fulfilled, but we would be wise to cooperate with them now; in this way God is glorified and we are satisfied. We will serve a god; "if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve" (Josh. 24:15).
We do not look for Antichrist, but for Jesus Christ. He is the point of all prophecy, and our relationship to Him will determine our destiny.
The purpose of tribulation in our lives. A refining and purging process. Romans 5:3-5" http://www.kenboa.org/search/?q=daniel
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION
1. Why do liberal theologians say that Daniel did not write this book because there was no way he could have predicted future history the way he did? What does Isa. 46:9-10 have to say about their reasoning?,
2. "Rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. Let us break their chains, they cry, and free ourselves from slavery to God." (Psalm 2:2-3) Antiochus Epiphanies, Hitler, world leaders over the centuries, and ultimately the Antichrist, all say this and God overrules every one of them. How does this apply to our nation today and how does it apply to our individual lives?
3. If we look for and thus live for Jesus Christ, we do not have to worry about Antichrist, or anyone or anything else. Why is this true and are you doing it?
4. "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Rom. 5:3-5) Do you rejoice in your sufferings for the reason Paul (by the Spirit) gives us here? Do you ever doubt God's love for you when you experience deep trials? Read and discuss Romans 8:32.
5. There is no being in the universe, man or demon, which can prevent God from transforming me into increasing Christ-likeness or usurp God's loving plan for my life But Me. Self-pity and/or quick and prideful judgment of others (continually pointing the finger at others) keeps me from pointing the finger at myself. Nathan said to David, thou art the man! And David saw his sin and repented deeply. Each of us, as believers, will stand alone at the judgment seat of Christ. Today our thoughts, words and deeds are preparing us for that day. This is certainly true and hopefully a sobering and purifying truth. Please read Psalm 90:12 and 1 John 3:2-3 and share how this truth speaks to you. Be as personal and transparent as you can, by God's grace.