This chapter gives a most detailed account of history – it covers events occurring from approximately 529 to 164 B.C. and also describes many things which will yet transpire during the future tribulation. The amazing thing is that Daniel wrote it all down in 540B.C.
A summary of verses 1-20:
The rule of four Persian kings in verse 2:
a) Cambyses (529-522)
b) Smerdis (522-521)
c) Darius Hystaspes (521-486)
d) Xerxes (486-465) – waged war against Greece
The rise and fall of Alexander: (336-323)
(verses 3,4) with fourfold division of his empire
The focus on two dynasties out of the four: Verses 5-30
a) Southern dynasty in Egypt under general Ptolemy (ruled from323-283)
b) Northern dynasty in Syria under general Seleucus (ruled from 304-281)
The various battles and alliance between the two kingdoms:- (283-164):-
a) The alliance – Ptolemy II, son of Ptolemy I, gave his daughter Bernice in marriage to Antiochus II, the grandson of Seleucus.
b) Two years after Ptolemy II died, Antiochus II divorced Bernice and remarried his former wife, Laodice.
c) Laodice, still bearing a grudge, poisoned Antiochus and had Bernice murdered. She then appointed her son, Seleucus II to become king of Syria.
d) Ptolemy III succeeded his father and invaded Syria and revenged his sister’s death by executing Laodice. Seleucus II hid in Asia Minor and later in 240B.C. attempted unsuccessfully to counterattack Ptolemy III in Egypt.
e) Seleucus II died and was succeeded by his son Antiochus III who ruled from 223 to 187B.C. Ptolemy III died and was succeeded by his son Ptolemy IV.
f) Antiochus III and Ptolemy IV met headlong in a crucial battle in Raphia in 217 B.C. Battle was won by Ptolemy IV who apparently killed 40,000 soldiers of Antiochus III; elephants were involved in this battle.
g) In 203, Ptolemy IV died and was succeeded by Ptolemy V. In 198, Antiochus III wrestled control of Palestine from Ptolemy V at a battle outside Sidon.
h) In 193, Antiochus III gave his daughter Cleopatra (not the same one in 69 B.C. associated with Mark Anthony) to marry Ptolemy V. Antiochus hoped Cleopatra would foster Syrian interests in Egypt – he still hoped to conquer Egypt but Cleopatra turned out to be a loyal wife.
i) Antiochus III (also known as Antiochus the great) was joined by renown self-exiled Hannibal from Carthage to invade Greece in188, but both were completely driven out of that of part of the world by Rome. Antiochus died in 187.
j) Antiochus III’s older son, Seleucus IV then ruled but was later murdered by his own prime minister.
Antiochus Epiphanes, also known as Antiochus IV (verses 21-35):
He was the youngest son of Antiochus III (Antiochus the great). He was a vile person and he wrestled the crown through plot, deceit and intrigue, although he was not the rightful heir.
He was a cruel, Jew-hating Syrian king who occupied Jerusalem for a while, ruling from 175 to 164B.C.
In 171, he began his blasphemous actions against the temple in Jerusalem. The greatest insult against the temple took place on December 15, 168, when he sacrificed a huge sow on the temple altar. In those days, he murdered some 40,000 Jews.
On December 25, 165 (2300 days after September 6, 171), some Jewish heroes called the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem and the Syrian occupation ended (see Daniel 8: 9-14) – the temple was cleansed and rededicated.
From 11:36-45, most commentators believe that the passage refers to the Antichrist.
Vs 36 – He will do everything according to his own selfish will (see also Rev. 13:7; 17:13).
He shall magnify himself and malign God (see also Rev. 13:6; 2 Thess. 2:4).
He will be allowed by God to prosper during the tribulation ( see also Rev. 11:7; 13:4,7,10). He will utter blasphemies against God and will make war against the saints and to conquer them. Authority will be given to him over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship him, i.e. those who do not belong to God. He will be in authority for forty-two months – here is a call for endurance among God’s people.
He will take his seat in the temple of God and proclaim himself as God; the ‘abomination of desolation’ would be seen again for the final time.
He will be destroyed by Christ (on ?Mt. Zion, in the final battle at Armageddon).
His end -thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur (Rev.19:19-21).
Notice that Antiochus IV is a prototype(or type) of the eschatological Antichrist, demonstrating the telescopic features or ‘peaks’ of prophecy. Take note of some ‘similarities’ in the characteristics of Antiochus IV and Antichrist: – both are masters of intrigue and are great manipulators (Antichrist himself initially would win the confidence of those around); both manipulate even those among God’s spiriutal leaders (which may include the ‘priesthood’); both are persecutors of God’s people and they cause great damage and pain to the people of God; both are responsible for the ‘abomination of desolation’ where the temple of God is defiled and both seek to be ‘worshipped’; both are defeated by God and judged finally after an intense period of suffering that affects the believers.
Daniel shared the views of other OT prophets that the day of judgement will punish the proud; God’s waiting for repentance will end and God’s wrath at sins against Him and human beings will be unleashed; the righteous will survive and be rewarded. The God who created the earth and human beings will judge wickedness, reward righteousness and provide a permanent eternal dwelling place for the faithful.
The call for endurance and faithfulness for God’s people continues through the march of history; God’s faithful must continue to choose Him, even in the midst of great trials and persecution, even in the face of physical death and sufferings.
The just shall live by faith and faith in God shall prevail over evil and wickedness. Victory is promised and eternally secure.
The words from Hebrews 10: 35-39 shall conclude this study:
“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
For “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls”.