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Scripture Reading: Dan. 11:2-45
In this message we will begin to consider the contents of the vision concerning the destiny of Israel.
The contents of this vision concern the destiny of Israel from the last part of the kingdom of Persia to the last three and a half years of the present age, even including the kingdom age and eternity, as the truth that was inscribed in the writing of truth (10:21) told to Daniel by the angelic messenger (11:2—12:13).
The vision in chapter eleven covers the details of the Persian Empire, the Grecian Empire, and the Roman Empire to its very end under Antichrist. As we will see, shortly after defeating the kingdom of Persia, Alexander the Great died, and his kingdom was divided into four kingdoms under his four generals. Two of these kingdoms, Egypt and Syria, fought wars back and forth through the land of Israel. Eventually, this chapter stresses the kingdoms and evils of two kings: Antiochus Epiphanes, one of the kings of the north (vv. 21-35), and Antichrist, the king of the restored Roman Empire (vv. 36-45).
I would emphasize once again that the great human image in Daniel 2 is the controlling factor of the entire prophecy of this book. This means that the principle of Daniel's prophecy is to cover the entire human image from the head (Babylon) to the toes (Antichrist with the ten kings). We may say that the first five chapters of Daniel give us a full definition and description of the Babylonian Empire. Chapter six begins to speak concerning the Persian Empire. In chapter seven we have a sketch of the four beasts, which from another angle portray the empires signified by the various parts of the great image. The ram in chapter eight refers to the Persian Empire, and the goat, to the Grecian Empire. In chapter nine Daniel received the vision of the seventy weeks, and in chapter ten, the vision concerning the excellent Christ, the One who is the centrality and universality of God's move. Chapter eleven provides further details regarding the Persian Empire, the Grecian Empire, and the restored Roman Empire under Antichrist during the last three and a half years of this age. From this we see that the book of Daniel covers the entire human government from the Babylonian Empire to the Roman Empire. In keeping with this principle, chapter eleven does not stop with the Grecian Empire but includes a word about Antichrist, the king of the restored Roman Empire.
Daniel 11 speaks first of the type, Antiochus Epiphanes, and then of the fulfillment of that type, Antichrist. This is according to the principle found in 9:26-27. Verse 26a speaks of Christ's crucifixion. Then the rest of the verse refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Titus and his army in A.D. 70. However, the next verse refers not to Titus but to Antichrist, the one who makes "a firm covenant with the many for one week." In 9:26-27 first the type is revealed, then the fulfillment. The principle is the same concerning Antiochus Epiphanes and Antichrist in chapter eleven.
The vision in Daniel 11 is related to the king of the south (Egypt) and the king of the north (Syria). Chapter eleven is a record of the fighting of these kings with each other.
Verses 2b and 3 speak of the fighting of the last king of the kingdom of Persia against the kingdom of Greece and the defeat of Persia by the mighty king of Greece, Alexander the Great, about 356-323 B.C. (8:5-8a, 20-21; 7:5-6a). The death of Belshazzar in 538 B.C. marked the end of the Babylonian Empire and the beginning of the Medo-Persian Empire, which lasted until 336 B.C. The last king of this empire was defeated by Alexander the Great.
Daniel 11:4, referring to Alexander the Great, says, "But once he arises, his kingdom will be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom will be plucked up and given to others besides his descendants." This indicates that, after the death of Alexander the Great, his kingdom was divided into four parts (8:8b, 22; 7:6b) under the rule of his four generals: the kingdoms of Ptolemy (Egypt), of Cassander (Macedonia), of Lysimachus (Asia Minor), and of Seleucus (Syria).
Daniel 11:5-20 speaks of the wars back and forth between the king of the south — Egypt — and the king of the north — Syria. As these kings fought each other, they passed through Israel. Thus, Israel was in distress. The great distress mentioned in 10:1 refers mainly to the wars in chapter eleven.
As 11:6 and 17b indicate, both the king of the south and the king of the north followed the strategy of using their daughters to destroy the other side. However, in this matter they both were failures.
The king of the north once stood in the beautiful land of Israel and made destruction (v. 16b).
Daniel 11:21-45 and 8:23-25 describe the kingdom and the evils of Antiochus Epiphanes as one of the kings of the north. Chapter eleven places a great deal of emphasis on Antiochus Epiphanes because he, a full type of Antichrist, did so much damage to the temple, defiling and destroying it.
Antiochus was a despicable person. He came in a time of security and seized the kingdom by smooth and cunning words and actions (11:21).
According to verse 25, Antiochus Epiphanes defeated the king of the south.
Verse 30 reveals that Antiochus Epiphanes was enraged at the holy covenant and took action.
The armies of Antiochus Epiphanes profaned the sanctuary, removed the daily sacrifice, and set up the abomination that desolates (v. 31). Sacrifices, circumcision, and keeping the Sabbath were absolutely forbidden. Antiochus Epiphanes even went so far as to erect an altar to Zeus on the altar of burnt offering in the temple. This was the "abomination that desolates" mentioned in verse 31. Moreover, he set up his own image in the temple, sacrificed a sow on the altar, and sprinkled its blood in the temple. He forced the holy people to worship the idol and eat pork, and he seduced young men to commit fornication in the temple.
In verses 33 through 35 we see that Antiochus Epiphanes persecuted and slew the devoted Jews.
Verse 32b says, "The people who know their God will show strength and take action." This refers to Judas Maccabeus and his people, who were encouraged and strengthened by this word in the book of Daniel to take action against Antiochus Epiphanes and his armies. Verses 33 through 35 go on to speak more concerning the Maccabees. Verses 33 tells us that "those with insight among the people will cause the many to understand," that is, to teach others to understand God's will. According to verse 34, the Maccabees would receive a little help, and many joined themselves to them in word only. Finally, verse 35 says, "Some of those with insight will fall, in order to refine the people and to purify and cleanse them, until the time of the end, for the end is still at the appointed time."
In all the abovementioned evils, Antiochus Epiphanes was a type of Antichrist, who will come in the last week of the seventy weeks (9:27; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:3b-4; Rev. 13:4-7).
Whereas verses 21 through 35 of Daniel 11 refer to Antiochus Epiphanes, verses 36 through 45 refer to Antichrist. Antichrist will have no regard for anyone or anything; he will do as he pleases. He will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and against the God of gods he will speak extraordinary things (v. 36). He will not regard the gods of his fathers or the desire of women, nor will he regard any other god, for he will magnify himself above all (v. 37). He will honor instead a god of fortresses, and he will take action against the most fortified of fortresses with the help of a foreign god (vv. 38-39). At the time of the end, the king of the south will push against him, and the king of the north will storm back at him. He will enter the countries and overflow and pass through (v. 40). After entering the beautiful land, he will stretch out his hand against the countries (vv. 41-42). But news from the east and from the north will trouble him, and he will go forth with great wrath destroying and exterminating many (v. 44). He will pitch the tents of his palace between the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful mountain of Zion; but he will come to his end, and there will be none to help him (v. 45).
Antichrist will come to his end when Christ as the stone cut out without hands comes with His bride to smash the great human image from the toes to the head. During the church age, the age of mystery, Christ is building up the church to be His bride. In Revelation 19 Christ will marry His bride and then come with her as His army to deal with Antichrist and his armies, which will be gathered around the city of Jerusalem. Since Antichrist will not believe in God or Christ but only in himself, the appearing of Christ with His bride will be a great surprise to Antichrist and his followers. For his enjoyment Antichrist will pitch the tents of his palace between the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful holy mountain. At that juncture Christ will come with His bride to bring Antichrist to his end.
According to the Bible, Antichrist will destroy the temple in Jerusalem. The first temple was built by Solomon, and that temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Then after seventy years, Cyrus the king of Persia released the captives of Israel to return to their fathers' land to rebuild the temple. Eventually, Antiochus Epiphanes, a descendant of the king of the north, utterly desecrated the temple, profaning it with idolatry, fornication, and unclean offerings. The Maccabees defeated this king and cleansed the temple. That cleansing was a justification, declaring that the temple was the holy place for God's people to worship Him. After Christ's death, Titus came with the Roman army and destroyed the temple again in A.D. 70. According to the Bible, there will be a fourth destruction of the temple by Antichrist in the middle of the last seven years of this age.
All these cases show us that the center, the aim, and the goal of Satan's struggle against God is related to the temple. God desires to have a place on earth for His people to worship Him, as a testimony that He still has an interest on this earth. But Satan is always struggling to destroy this place. If we see this, it will help us to understand the Bible.
