Hello Friends!
Welcome back to our Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book of Daniel painted as a panoramic landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago… “The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 11: Verses 5-20)
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. 6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the 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 these times. 7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: 8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. 9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. 10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. 11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. 12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it. 13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches. 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. 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, which by his hand shall be consumed. 17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. 18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. 20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle – Daniel 11:5-20
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: As “diligently” discussed in our previous “study” session, many people TODAY are not at all familiar with this period of human HISTORY heralded. Therefore, there is very little “understanding” of the compiled CONTEXT found nestled in chapter 11 within these Divine dictates PROPHESIED uniquely unto “Daniel” directly – Promises PROVEN!
Seleucid & Ptolemy Wars!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The “kings of the north” representing the Seleucid rulers of Syria and boisterously battle the “kings of the south” representing the Ptolemy rulers of Egypt. These “kings” and their “kingdoms” are actually TWO of the FOUR dire divisions of Alexander the Great and his once worldwide empire. And caught directly BETWEEN these TWO pagan powers lies the nigh “nation” of insolent “Israel” itself. Therefore, these caustic conflicts are very IMPORTANT to the context of “God’s” Divine “dominion” dictates – HISTORICAL Hind-sight!
“And” as this HISTORIC narrative continues to unfold, the “king of the south” and “one of his princes” within his “great dominion” was sternly “strong” in stature:
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 – Daniel 11:5
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The previous verse PROPHESIED that the Greek Empire luminously led by Alexander the Great was Divinely “divided” unto the “four winds of heaven” as on the FOUR points of a compass…
And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those – Daniel 11:4
“And” seeing that only TWO of these “kingdoms” touch the borders of “Israel” in kind, only THEY are mentioned. Therefore, the “people” and kinsmen of the devoted “Daniel” were geographically positioned directly BETWEEN the sordid Seleucid Empire to the “north” and the powerful Ptolemaic Empire to the “south” succinctly as this HISTORICALLY perfect – PROPHECY Proceeds!
HISTORICAL HINTS: The “king of the south” is named Ptolemais I Lagus (Soter) set over Egypt located “south” of Judea and Syria as such. He was “strong” and also controlled the countries of Libya, Phoenicia, Ethiopia, Cyprus, Palestine to include various Greek cities. The “king of the north” is named Seleucus Nicator of whom was set OVER the largest and strongest entity, often to fully CONTROL the desperate “dominions” stretching from Syria over to India and from Mesopotamia over to Thrace & Macedonia in kind. Seleucus I fled to Egypt and assisted Ptolemy as “one of his princes” to fight against Antigonus before ruling Syria & Asia in full. Ptolemais Lagus invaded Judea and took full CONTROL of which includes him in this PROPHECY pertaining to “Daniel’s” own persecuted “people” in kind. Thus, these “four kingdoms” along with their reigning “rulers” claiming to be as “kings” were solidified in approximately – 300 B.C.
NORTH and SOUTH!
“And” after many years of FIGHTING along with other HISTORICAL engaging events, an attempt to mindfully “make an agreement” of a proposed peace plan BETWEEN these TWO enemy Empires touted “together” would indeed FAIL in full:
And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the 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 these times – Daniel 11:6
Sadly, many maniacal HISTORICAL events and the associated fighting between the grudging GENERALS within the “army” of militant head Alexander the Great are passed over as TRIVIAL in nature. However, these daunting details are practically PROVEN to be purposed – Perfectly PROPHETIC!
HISTORICAL HINTS: Ptolemy II Philadelphus sent his daughter Berenice to aid Antiochius II Theos in an effort to UNITE the coy “kingdoms” of the north and south in kind. In doing so, Antiochus eventually divorced his wedded wife named Laodice to unlawfully wed Berenice until Philadelphus physically died. He then remarried his former wife Laodice in retrospect. However, this deeply disgruntled ex-wife was now a woman SPURNED and as a wretched result, she mindfully MURDERED her estranged husband Antiochus by the poisoned cup! She then coarsely convinced her own son Seleucus Callinicus to mindfully MURDER both Berenice along with her son. Thus the Ptolemy sitting “king of the south” and the Seleucid sitting “king of the north” along with the daughter and her son are now DEAD as a result – FATAL Family Drama!
The SOUTH Side!
“But” the next “king of the south” in line named Ptolemy III Euergetes definitely did NOT take too kindly to the mandated MURDER of his own sister and thus ruthlessly RAVAGED the sordid Seleucid encampment with his AVENGING arsenal:
But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail – Daniel 11:7
The avenging Euergetes shall “stand up” with his “army” abroad toward the “north” unto Syria and was NOT at all resisted by the sitting Seleucus Callinicus the son of Antiochus and Laodice of the “south” side. In fact, he would “deal against them” in a soundly SUCCESSFUL capricious campaign to powerfully “prevail” as such. Therefore, Euergetes was aptly able to eagerly “enter” into the “fortress” within the capital city of Seleucia and leave behind there an encamped – Guarded Garrison!
“And” as a result, Euergetes chiefly “carry” away “captives” and false “gods” back to “Egypt” in the “south” along with the “princes” and many “precious vessels” made of “silver and gold” from this capture of REVENGE and would “continue” to outlive the callous Callinicus by a full four more years:
And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north – Daniel 11:8
HISTORICAL HINTS: Incidentally, the contemptuous Cambyses as proconsul of Persia had taken MANY of these iconic idols from the Egyptians many years earlier as well. Approximately 4,000 talents of “gold” and 40,000 talents of “silver” and some 2,500 images of pagan “gods” all of which HISTORICALLY confirm this amazing PROPHECY point. Therefore, due to this relevant return of their various “vessels” and gaudy “gods” back to their idolatrous temples, the PEOPLE throughout “Egypt” had rankly referred to Cambyses now as “Euergetes” of which means – BENEFACTOR!
“So” the conquering “king of the south” known as Ptolemy III Euergetes would rightly “return” quite peacefully and victoriously without any HINDERANCE to his “kingdom” down in his “own land” of “Egypt” itself:
So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land – Daniel 11:9
Thus, Euergetes entered into the “kingdom” of the Seleucids in reviled REVENGE for the treacherous MURDER of the beguiled Berenice in full. Incidentally, if he had NOT been called back home to the “south” he would have completely – CONQUERED the North!
“But” next the “sons” born of Callinicus Seleucus and Antiochus III would be sordidly “stirred up” to aptly “assemble a multitude of great forces” to once AGAIN wage another “overflow” of ruthless war against the terrible Ptolemy IV Philopater down in the “south” sector:
But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress – Daniel 11:10
Please notice the Sovereign supernatural “Scriptures” incredible ACCURACY in noting that only this “one” particular Antiochus III was able to prosecute these waning – WAR efforts!
HISTORICAL HINTS: This woefully WICKED man presiding over the “kingdom of the south” was rightly ridiculed as being named Philopater meaning “father-lover” for maniacally MURDERING the father, mother and brother of the family. These two “sons” sired by the sadistic Seleucus Callinicus are keenly known within the HISTORICAL record as Seleucus Araunus and Antiochus III the Great succinctly. The eldest brother Seleucus had decidedly DIED while military preparations were being “assemble” by a “multitude of great forces” being secretly “stirred up” adamantly AGAINST the powerful Ptolemaic region of “Egypt” in the “south” corridor. He had recovered absolutely ALL of the territory that had been LOST unto Ptolemy III Euergetes and aptly approached even to Caesarea itself. Then soon AFTER a formulated four-month TREATY was proposed, Antiochus III of the “north” approached the Ptolemy border “fortress” of Raphia near the – Gaza Grand!
“And” soon Ptolemy IV Philopater as the sordid “king of the south” would become INCENSED with the “king of the north” by Antiochus III’s rank recovery of select Syria and was “moved with choler” to surely “set forth” yet another “great multitude” in an ardent ATTEMPT to decidedly DEFEAT him in another battle:
And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand – Daniel 11:11
Although an indolent “king” himself, Philopater would eventually “come forth” with much ANGER and an enormous ARMY to fervently – FIGHT the Fight!
HISTORICAL HINTS: This “fight” at the Battle of Raphia was fiercely fought on the 22nd of June 217 B.C. Thus Antiochus III set forth a “great multitude” of some 62,000 footmen and 6,000 horsemen along with 102 elephants. However, the Ptolemy deeply DEFEATED the “great multitude” mandated, KILLING some 10,000 footmen and taking 4,000 prisoners. As a result, Antiochus III the Great was forced to rankly RETREAT all the way back to the land of Antioch where he pridefully pursued a prowess – PEACE with Ptolemy!
“And” then Ptolemy IV was loosely “lifted up” in poignant PRIDE within his own “heart” due to his vacillating VICTORY as he had KILLED a marinade of “many ten thousands” from the Syrian army. However, he was “not strengthened” and did NOT take over the “kingdom” as such:
And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it – Daniel 11:12
This menace ENTERED the chided “city” of jaundice “Jerusalem” and had torridly “taken away the multitude” of unsuspecting Jews unto his – COVERT County!
HISTORICAL HINTS: Though Ptolemy IV has sound success against the ARMY of the sordid Syrians he does “not” take avid ADVANTAGE of his great position and foolishly squanders it completely. Incidentally, he commits SACRILEGE on the temple altar against the DECREES of the law and entered upon a life of criminal and sensual luxury and accepted terms of – PROFANE Peace!
“For” then Antiochus III the Great as the cunning “king of the north” would stealthy “set forth” to rampantly “return” as he gathered an even “greater army” against “Egypt” and Ptolemy V Epiphanes in kind:
For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches – Daniel 11:13
HISTORICAL HINTS: Some fourteen years AFTER his looming loss, Antiochus III the Great arrives with a “great army” that may have been upwards of 300,000 soldiers strong. And incidentally, the young Ptolemy V Epiphanes is now only but a mere five years of age at his father’s dire death. Therefore, “Egypt” is now – Armed by Antiochus!
“And” then “many” rank “robbers” sent as menacing mercenaries of whom would “exalt themselves” availed AGAINST their own “Jewish” people to assist this antagonistic attack of Antiochus III in his military campaign set “against” the “king of the south” down in “Egypt” itself:
And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall – Daniel 11:14
The greedy “Jewish” bandits of “Daniel’s” own “people” would attempt to ardently – ASSIST Antiochus!
HISTORICAL HINTS: Adamant Antiochus III the Great of the “north” had overtly offered Philip of Macedon up to HALF of national “Egypt” set to the “south” for aptly ASSISTING him in this WAR waged. The assembled assailants of Greeks, Arabians and Edomites along with internal strife & ambition (including a five year old king) had only injured “Egypt” in part. However, “God” had already PROPHETICALLY proclaimed that their EVIL efforts encamped with Antiochus III the Great against Ptolemy V Epiphanes would NOT succeed. Rather, they “shall fall” in full. WHY? Because as HISTORY would eventually show that a merging General Scopas would prevail – Scopas SHOOK Judea!
The NORTH Side!
“So” now this “king of the north” surely “shall come” to totally TAKE the myriad of “most fenced cities” and apt “arms of the south” to deeply DEFEAT the engaged General Scopas set over “Egypt” and the “great army” sent to ASSIST him:
So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand – Daniel 11:15
HISTORICAL HINTS: And Antiochus III the Great would REGAIN the total territory he had LOST to the man Ptolemy IV Philopater in the previously fought WARS waged. He had “come” to crassly “cast up a mount” intended AGAINST the fortified “fenced cities” of pretentious Palestine and would “take” them victoriously in full. And although “Egypt” had sent its best “chosen people” to rescue General Scopas himself, it was along with some 10,000 men that he sorely – SURRENDERED at Sidon!
“But” it turned out that “Egypt” to the “south“ was actually UNABLE to mindfully “mount” any real resistance to this very LARGE adamant “army” from the “north” and therefore Antiochus III the Great dauntingly did “according to his own will” and terribly TOOK his sadistic “stand” within the “glorious land” of insolent “Israel” to utterly “consume” the “Jews” as such:
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, which by his hand shall be consumed – Daniel 11:16
HISTORICAL HINTS: It was here where Antiochus III the Great was ENTIRELY successful in his decisive DEFEAT of the pompous Ptolemy V Epiphanes and the grand General Scopas succinctly. And since much of this wicked WAR was frightfully fought within Judea itself, his large “army” had completely CONSUMED much of insistent – Israel’s Worldly WEALTH!
“He” will now “set his face” to enter the battle AGAINST enormous “Egypt” to the “south“ with the “strength of his whole kingdom” along with other “upright ones with him” to gladly “give” away the “daughter of women” to absolutely NO avail:
He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him – Daniel 11:17
HISTORICAL HINTS: Here Antiochus III the Great intends to take all of “Egypt” proper. He attempts subterfuge by the “giving” away of HIS own dear “daughter” named Cleopatra in the flesh! In so doing, Antiochus intended to PROSECUTE his sordid successes toward all of the “south” and utilized “many” jaundice Jews within his antagonistic “army” corps. Incidentally, in an attempt to strategically save his grand “great army” for the fighting of Rome itself, he sends Cleopatra of sanctioned Syria to proconsul Ptolemy V Epiphanes with a DOWRY deposit. However, Cleopatra chose rather to actually LOVE her estranged husband Epiphanes instead. Thus, the plan of “corrupting her” had boldly BACKFIRED against Antiochus III as she did NOT soundly “stand on his side” nor would be “for him” in supporting her fiendish father – AGAINST Antiochus!
“After” these antics “he” would then “turn his face unto the isles” with the INTENT to tellingly “take many” into captivity abroad:
After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him – Daniel 11:18
HISTORICAL HINTS: Again Antiochus III the Great starts yet ANOTHER war adamantly AGAINST the Roman Empire itself. However, “he” is dreadfully DEFEATED directly by Scipio Asiaticus Antiochus as he RAISED rigorous “reproaches” wrought towards Rome in an avid attempt to secure ALLIES in defiantly defeating them. He also TOOK many islands of the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea’s with 100 large ships and 200 smaller vessels. However, the Roman consul Lucuis Scipio Asiaticus performed valiantly for his “own” glory in VICTORY vindicated. Therefore, Antiochus’s incursions against the Romans were “turned upon him” in utter DEVISTATION and total reparations and was FORCED to pay for the Roman war costs at the rate of approximately 1000 talents annually for twelve years – Paid in FULL!
”Then” soon thereafter Antiochus III the Great would “turn his face” back to the “fort of his own land” in the SAFETY of national Syria sound, “but” he instead would “stumble and fall” and thus “not be found” due to his dire DEATH determined:
Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found – Daniel 11:19
HISTORICAL HINTS: It was here where Antiochus III the Great was finally “fallen” by the KILLING hands of his very OWN countrymen for the public BURDEN he had personally CAUSED upon his particular people and nation at large. He left the Romans in utter shame of whom had decidedly DEFEATED him with a surprisingly SMALL ardent “army” and finally forced him to fully PAY for it. At the END of his lethargic life, Antiochus III the Great was aptly ASSASSINATED for attempting to proudly – PLUNDER Pagan Privilege!
”Then” the eldest son of Antiochus III the Great named Seleucus IV Philopater would eventually “stand up in his estate” in the powerful place of his “fallen” father:
Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle – Daniel 11:20
HISTORICAL HINTS: This Seleucus IV Philopater too was very greedy and covetous and was a keen “raiser of taxes” upon his citizenry to the grand “glory of the kingdom” to pragmatically pay 1000 talents per year for each of the poor “people” poised throughout the land of his “estate” to crassly COVER the costs of his deceased father’s DEFEATED doom. And as a result, “within few days” he too was desperately “destroyed” in his sordid short reign by avid ASSASSINATION in trite treachery by the looming legate Heliodorus sent by Seleucus to raptly RAID the tremendous “temple” treasures of “Jerusalem” in the year 178 B.C. to rashly – REPAY the Romans!
PROPHETIC PROMISE: As “we” will diligently DISCOVER in our next “study” session, the HISTORICAL record recons that on his return from “Jerusalem” proper, Heliodorus had personally KILLED the ruling Seleucus IV Philopater and sordidly SEIZED the torrid throne for HIMSELF alone. However, it was NOT too long before the brother of the late “king” of whom is NOTORIOUSLY known as Antiochus IV Epiphanes with the arrant ASSISTANCE of the monarch Eumenes II of the Pergamon parcel to rankly – RECOVER Rule!
More to follow… STAY tuned!
For Further Personal Study:
Please refer to the links below to satisfy and stimulate your serious “study” of the “Word of God” faithfully fulfilling this wonderful PROPHECY picture promised within the HISTORY of humanity. The meditative material found within these PURPOSED pages points to merely an outline sketch. Every detailed clause of these perfect PROMISES can be vehemently VERIFIED from a poised plethora of sincere sources with as much illumined EVIDENCE as a fair person could ever want – At the CLICK of a Mouse!
There is NO other heralded HISTORY with as much detail and accuracy as this powerful PROPHECY given by “Gabriel” unto the devoted “Daniel” a full 10 - 520 years BEFORE these specified events had occurred – HISTORY Held!
Our great “God” has CHALLENGED all of whom solemnly seek to confidently “consider” His TRUTH terrifically told…
Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you – Isaiah 41:21-24
The short & reliable HISTORY of the FOUR specific Greek Kingdoms concerning the Ptolemies & Seleucids warfare through the years 332 B.C. - 168 B.C. to include Alexander the Great and Antiochus Epiphanes is outlined here ~ http://www.zianet.com/maxey/Inter2.htm
The Ptolemy Family Tree within the HISTORICAL Record ~ http://www.american-pictures.com/genealogy/persons/per01314.htm#0
The Seleucid Family Tree within the HISTORICAL Record ~ http://www.american-pictures.com/genealogy/persons/per00859.htm
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Shane K. Morin <><
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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