The Future of Israel Daniel 11:1-13 Part 1

Review Daniel had been mourning and praying about the future of his people, Israel –God sent a messenger to provide an answer to Daniel –The messenger had been delayed due to other events surrounding Persia The messenger affirms that he is to reveal the truth of what will happen to the children of Israel Affirms that the events will happen no matter what kings try to do –Because Michael, the archangel, stands with the messenger –Dan 11:1 – as the messenger had also had occasion to stand with Michael

Persia’s future Dan 11:2 –3 more kings of Persia (about whom nothing is said), since Cyrus is still king until 530 BC... Cambyses, Cyrus’ son, BC Smerdis, 522 BC, either Cambyses’ brother or an usurper pretending to be Darius the Great, 522 – 486 BC, a son-in-law to Cyrus, greatly expanded the empire –Though he was unable to defeat the Scythians to his north and lost the Battle of Marathon to the Greeks to his west –Then a 4 th richer king who would stir all Persia against Greece Xerxes

Persia’s future Then a 4 th richer king who would stir all against Greece –Xerxes, BC Wanted to punish Greece for the defeat of his father at Marathon –Brought soldiers from Assyria, Babylon, Phoenicia, Egypt and Israel –Built two pontoon bridges across the Hellespont »A sudden storm destroyed them –Rebuilt the bridges, conquered Thessaly Then sent an army of 1 million across the Aegean –Stalled by 300 Spartan soldiers under King Leonidas at Thermopylae »Gave Greeks time to withdraw from cities and prepare defenses

Persia’s future Xerxes, BC –Tried to destroy the Greek fleet and lost most of his navy at Salamis Decided to pull back to Thessaly and reinvade Greece in the spring –Received word Babylon was threatening to rebel, so Xerxes returned home The Greeks managed to burn the remaining Persian ships Without supply ships, the Persian army retreated back to Persia

Greece’s future Dan 11:3 –The prophecy jumps forward to the “mighty king”, the goat of Chapter 8, Alexander the Great As the angel had said in Dan 10:20, nothing Persia could do would prevent the prince of Greece from coming –Alexander would do as he pleased Discussed at length in Chp 8 Conquers from Greece to India to Egypt

Greece’s future Dan 11:4 –Alexander’s kingdom would be broken on his death into 4 parts –But none would be ruled by Alexander’s descendants or designated heirs

The 4 generals Alexander’s death was followed by civil war from 332 BC to 312 BC –Alexander left a pregnant wife, Roxana, who gave birth to a son The general Cassander killed both Roxana and her baby –He briefly controlled Greece, but was later conquered by Antigonus –Eventually 4 generals divide the empire Ptolemy Lagi – Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine Seleucus – Babylon, Persia, and Syria Lysimachus – Thrace, Bithynia, and Lydia Antigonus – Greece, Macedonia, and Rhodes

The king of the South Dan 11:5 –The first and great king of the South was Ptolemy Lagi, who changed his name to Ptolemy Soter (“savior”) in 305 BC when he accepted the title Pharaoh Ruled from ca. 323 BC to 285 BC –Succeeded by Ptolemy II, Philadelphus Ruled 285 – 246 BC Prince who became even stronger than his father Allowed the tributary Israelites limited self-rule under a governor and a high priest –Allowed Jews a peaceful existence in Egypt –Allowed the translation of OT into Greek (Septuagint)

Conflict Dan 11:6 –War broke out late in reign of Ptolemy II with Seleucus Empire to the North As terms of peace, Antiochus II (Seleucid king) agreed to divorce his wife (Laodice), disinherit her son, and marry Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy II) – joining the empires But it didn’t work out as hoped –Shortly after the wedding, Ptolemy II died –Antiochus II divorced Berenice and remarried Laodice –Laodice poisons Antiochus II, and has Berenice, her son, and her attendants all executed »Laodice’s son is then made king, Seleucus II

The Laodicean War Dan 11:7-8 –Berenice’s brother, Ptolemy III (the branch from her roots), BC –Invaded the Seleucid empire to avenge her death Conquered all of Syria and a large portion of the empire Caught and executed Laodice –Ptolemy III had to return to Egypt due to unrest there Brought 40,000 talents of silver and 2,400 idols (stolen from Egypt by Cambyses almost 300 years earlier) –Seleucus II died in 226 BC, 5 years before Ptolemy III

More conflict Dan 11:9-10 –The king of the North (Seleucus II) will come to the kingdom of the South He retook some of the land taken by Ptolemy III But didn’t cross into Ptolemy’s land –Seleucus’ sons (Seleucus III and Antiochus III) prepared a large army to invade Egypt Seleucus III, king, fell off a horse and died (some claim he was assasinated) after 2 years ruling Antiochus III retook the rest of the land lost by his father –Took northern parts of Egypt’s territory down to what would later be Caesarea, then accepted a 4 month truce –Then returned 4 months later and conquered all the way to Gaza

More conflict Dan 11:11 –The king of the South, Ptolemy IV, BC An evil man, believed to have become king by killing his father, mother, and siblings –Sarcastically nicknamed “Philopater”, father-lover Finally retaliated –Antiochus III sent 75,000 against Egypt 10,000 were slain, 4,000 captured Antiochus III forced to retreat Lost control of the lands of Judea, Lebanon and Phoenicia to Egypt

Wasted opportunity Dan 11:12 –Rather than take advantage of his victory and Antiochus III’s retreat Ptolemy IV, made peace –Took the financial gains from the peace and threw it all away on wild, extravagant parties and immoral living »Was not strengthened (prevail in NKJV) either in land gains or in using the money for improving the army –Forced his way into the Holy of Holies, put many burdens on the Jews –When he finally died, the Jews celebrated in the streets

Opportunity used Dan 11:13 –Unlike Ptolemy IV, Antiochus III used his opportunity He built a larger army –Trained them in battles against India and other neighbors Waited 14 years, until Ptolemy IV died and his son, still a child, was named king, Ptolemy V –Then he attacked Retook the lands of Phoenicia, Lebanon, Arabia, and Judea in 198 BC –After securing his new border, he moved his army to expand his empire further westward

Conclusion Not nearly done with the vision –But we can see God was indeed giving Daniel a detailed answer to his question about what would happen to the people of Israel –We can also continue to stand in awe of God’s detailed foreknowledge and control of the kingdoms of men