01.18. CHAPTER 18 - The Kings of the North and the Kings of the South
CHAPTER 18
The Kings of the North and the Kings of the South LESSON TEXT - - Daniel 11:1-20
We Must Always Realize That Daniel Was the Great Prophet to the Gentiles -- Current Events Lend Interest to Our Study of This Book of Bible Prophecy -- The Vision When Given to Daniel Was for Many Days -- The First Part of the Chapter is Still Prophetic of the End Time of This Age -- Fulfilled Prophecy Reveals GOD’s Foreknowledge -- Secular History Confirms the Divine Record of This Chapter -- The "Kings of the North" and the "Kings of the South" Refer to Kings of Alexander’s Divided Empire Who Ruled in Syria and Egypt Which Were Located to the North and South of Palestine Which is Considered to Be Geographically and Spiritually the Center of the Earth -- The Long Struggle Between These Kings is Related in This Chapter -- Fulfilled Prophecy a Valuable Lesson
In our study of this book we should always remember that Daniel was the great prophet to the Gentiles and that his prophecies were written during the Babylonian captivity. To Daniel, as to no other prophet, was given to see the march of empire during the times of the Gentiles, which began with the Babylonian captivity and which still continues. The way things are shaping up these days in Europe and throughout the world makes our study of this book all the more interesting and necessary, for it contains light and truth for Jews, Gentiles and Christians alike if they will only search the Scriptures to find the meaning of these things recorded in this book of prophecy.
We have progressed in our present study to Daniel the eleventh chapter.
THE VISION WAS FOR MANY DAYS
Our last lesson was based upon Daniel 1:1-21, which revealed the visions which Daniel had, and how he was prepared in mind and heart to receive the truth and the information, which is recorded in the last two chapters of the book.
The important verse of the tenth chapter was Daniel 10:14, in which the angel said, "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days."
This statement, therefore, is really the theme of Daniel 11:1-45, which we are now ready to study.
So far as the vision and the Scripture text is concerned there should be no break between what is stated in the closing verses of Daniel 10:1-21 and Daniel 11:1-45, because the speaker in both chapters was the same, namely, the angel who had come to make these things known unto Daniel.
In Daniel 10:20-21, the revealing angel said, "Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee and now will I return to fight with the Prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the Prince of Grecia shall come. But I will shew thee, that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael, your prince."
FULFILLED PROPHECY CONFIRMS THE LESSON TEXT
We are now ready to advance in our study by considering what was spoken by the revealing angel as recorded in Daniel 11:1-45.
By way of introduction to this chapter, let me say that the prophecies here recorded cover a period of about two hundred years. The Bible as a book is interested in secular history only as secular history affects and influences the Jewish people. In this regard, let us remember the statement of Daniel 10:14 where the revealing angel said, "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days."
The prophecies given in Daniel 11:1-45 were given to Daniel and subsequently to all of us to show how the Jews would be affected and how their land would be made desolate through the wars that would come to pass during the two hundred years or so, following the giving of this prophecy. THE LATTER PORTION OF THE CHAPTER STILL PROPHETIC
There is a division of time, however, in the chapter and from Daniel 11:36-45 the vision leaps over a great period of time to the very end time of the age and gives to us a detailed account of the coming wilful king or Antichrist and of those things which he will do against the Jewish people and their land when that time comes.
THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD REVEALED
And may I say that our lesson in the early part of this chapter, which deals with the two-hundred-year period following the giving of this revelation of divine truth, will seem rather tedious and perhaps uninteresting to those who are not spiritually minded, because it is a detailed account of historical events in which most people are not interested.
The significance of this portion of the chapter, however, is that GOD was able to foresee and foreknow and foretell these things. Prophecy is often defined as "history prewritten" and that is exactly what we have in this chapter. Therefore, if GOD is able to foretell coming events and bring them to pass, it is positive proof of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. Prophecy, therefore, should serve to encourage the saints regarding GOD’s faithfulness in fulfilling and performing His Word; and it should serve as a warning to all those who reject the Bible and walk in unbelief.
VERSE BY VERSE
With these thoughts in mind, let us proceed to a study of our lesson text, which we will have to read and discuss verse by verse because of the nature of the material given.
In Daniel 11:1 the revealing angel said, "Also I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him."
In these words the revealing angel showed to Daniel that he had been active in the past and that he had had an influence upon past history. He was therefore in a position, having been sent from GOD, to reveal to Daniel the things of the present and of the future.
THE THREE KINGS OF PERSIA
Therefore, in Daniel 11:2 he said, "And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia."
And examination of history will reveal that the three kings of Persia referred to here was Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes and Darius. The fourth king of Persia was Xerxes, who, as we know from history, was immensely rich.
GREECE -- ALEXANDER THE GREAT
The invasion of Greece as suggested by our lesson text, took place in 480 B.C.
In Daniel 11:3 of our lesson text it says, "And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will."
The interpretation of this verse is not difficult for we know that the mighty king referred to in this verse was none other than Alexander the Great, who was King of the Grecian Empire, as represented by the notable horn seen by Daniel, on the he-goat in the eighth chapter.
THE KINGDOM WAS TO BE DIVIDED
In Daniel 11:4 it says, "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."
We have already learned from our previous study that when Alexander had made his kingdom great he died at an early age because he was leading a life of debauchery and licentiousness, and, that following his death, his kingdom was divided into four parts and was given to his four leading generals. This confirms our lesson text which says, that the kingdom would be divided but would not be given to his posterity. THE KINGS OF THE SOUTH AND THE KINGS OF THE NORTH
In Daniel 11:5 it says, "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."
After Alexander’s death and the kingdom had been divided into four divisions, only two of these divisions of the kingdom became prominent in history, namely Egypt and Syria. Ptolemy Lagus became ruler of Egypt, and Seleucas, became the ruler of Syria.
According to our lesson text, the king of Egypt became known as the "King of the South" and the King of the Syrian division of Alexander’s Empire became known as "the King of the North."
Apparently this title was retained by each successive king as the conflict between these two divisions of Alexander’s divided kingdom continued. The expressions "King of the South" and "King of the North" were so given to the rulers of these kingdoms because of their location from Palestine. We must always remember that Palestine, which in Old Testament Scriptures was known as the Promised Land, is the center of the earth geographically. It is also the center of the earth spiritually, for Jerusalem was the city, chosen of GOD, as the place WHERE He would reveal His power and His glory. The City of Jerusalem and the Land of Palestine, therefore, are central in GOD’s plans and purposes both for the present and future. The expressions, therefore, "King of the South" and "King of the North" were given to the rulers of Egypt in the South, and Syria in the North, to show their relative position to the Land of Palestine.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL AGREEMENT
With this information in mind let us proceed to a study of Daniel 11:6 of our lesson text where it says, "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."
This verse carries us forward in secular history to about 250 B.C. It shows how an effort was made between the ruler of Egypt and the ruler of Syria, namely, the King of the South and the King of the North, to make peace with each other. The alliance between them was effected by the marriage of the daughter of the King of the South namely the Egyptian princess to the King of the North. In order to bring this about the King of the North agreed to divorce his wife and marry the Egyptian princess. He also agreed that any child of the Egyptian princess whom he married would become his heir in the kingdom. This of course was a wicked scheme and naturally it ended in failure, because when the King of the South died, the King of the North called back his former wife, and the Egyptian princess whom he had married, and her young son were poisoned. Contrary to his promise, the son of his first wife was placed upon the throne. Thus was fulfilled the prophetic statement of the sixth verse of our lesson text.
THE EVIL REVENGED
Therefore in Daniel 11:7-8 of our lesson text it says, "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: 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."
These verses reveal the retaliation which was brought to pass by the King of the South, namely the King of Egypt upon the King of the North, namely, upon the King of Syria, for the deceit and wickedness which he had performed. Professing to be on friendly terms, he had married the Egyptian princess and then she and her son were murdered, after which he took his former wife back and made her son his heir to the throne of Syria. We do not wonder that the King of the South, namely the King of Egypt was angry and sought for revenge. The brother of the Egyptian Princess who was slain, when he came into power in Egypt, avenged her death in the manner described in our lesson text. He conquered Syria and carried away captives into Egypt, who took their idol-gods with them. He also returned to Egypt with silver and gold and much spoil. THE STRUGGLE CONTINUED
In Daniel 11:9 of our lesson text it says, "So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land."
Also in Daniel 11:10 it says, "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."
This verse suggests the continued strife between the successive rulers of Syria and Egypt, all of which is a matter of history.
In Daniel 11:11 of our lesson text it says, "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 hands."
These words reveal that the victory, in this instance, was won by the King of Egypt, namely the King of the South.
In Daniel 11:12 it says, "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."
Here again these words reveal that the victory which was won by the King of the South, namely, the King of Egypt was of little worth to him because he did not make good use of it. This was true because he gave himself up to a licentious life.
In Daniel 11:13 it says, "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."
In other words, having been defeated once by the King of the South, the King of the North was not discouraged but fourteen years later he assembled a great army which was a greater one than the one that had been defeated and came against Egypt a second time.
THE WICKED JEWS SOUGHT TO HELP
In Daniel 11:14 it says, "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."
This verse reveals that when the King of Syria, namely the King of the North, came the second time against Egypt, he was helped by some of the wicked Jews of Palestine who thought that by helping him they would improve their own condition in the land. But in doing so, they only brought trouble upon themselves.
THE WAR CARRIED TO PALESTINE
In Daniel 11:15 it says, "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."
The reference here was to the invasion of the Land of Palestine by the King of the North, who was aided by the wicked Jews who had turned against their own land and their own people.
In Daniel 11:16 it says, "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."
These words show how the whole land of Palestine was subjected to the King of the North. THE STRUGGLE PROLONGED -- ANOTHER WICKED PLOT
The drama of events next returns to the struggle between Syria and Egypt, in other words, between the King of the North and the King of the South.
In Daniel 11:17 it says, "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."
Thus we see that the struggle continued and the King of the North was determined to gain complete control of Egypt and in order to do this, he espoused his daughter Cleopatra, when she was only eleven years old to marry Ptolemy of Egypt. He had a very subtle purpose in doing this for he instructed his daughter Cleopatra to be a spy for him in the Egyptian court. In spite of this, in our lesson text it says "She shall not stand on his side, neither be for him." In other words, when she was married to Ptolemy in Egypt, she sided with him against the purposes of her own father. Cleopatra is called in this passage the daughter of women to denote her great beauty. According to history she was one of the most beautiful of women in appearance, but not in character or conduct.
A NEW EFFORT ENDED IN FAILURE
In Daniel 11:18 of our lesson text it says, "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."
These words refer to Antiochus, the King of the North, namely King of Syria who gathered a great army and made an attack upon Asia-Minor and upon Greece, but he was defeated by a Roman general; thus the reproach was lifted from off Rome and placed on Antiochus, King of the North.
In Daniel 11:19 it says, "Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found."
According to history, in his effort to raise the indemnity required of him by the Romans, Antiochus, the King of the North, plundered a popular heathen temple to secure its riches, and the worshippers were so enraged that they killed him. Thus he stumbled and fell on the way to his own land according to the Scriptures.
PROPHECY AGAIN FULFILLED
In Daniel 11:20 it says, "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."
According to history this was Seluceus Philopater who reigned from 187 to 176 B.C. Concerning him, one writer says, "He was known as a raiser of taxes. He had an evil reputation with the Jews because he was such an exactor among them. His tax-collector Heliodorus poisoned him and so he was slain ’neither in anger, nor in battle.’"
Thus, my friends, we see how accurately these prophecies were fulfilled.
THE ANTICHRIST OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Beginning with Daniel 11:21 we have a prophetic portrait of Antiochus Epiphanes, who is sometimes spoken of as the "Antichrist of the Old Testament," because of his great wickedness and his hatred of the Jews. We will have to defer our study of this portion of the chapter, however, into the next lesson.
THE VALUE OF THIS LESSON
If, in our lesson you have been able to see not only (how GOD made these things known to Daniel) through the words of the angel, but how they have come to pass and were literally fulfilled as confirmed by sacred and secular history, our study of these things shall not have been in vain. Please remember that fulfilled prophecy is the strongest possible argument to prove that the Scriptures were divinely inspired and that holy men of GOD spake as they were moved by the HOLY GHOST.
We may rest assured, therefore, that if these things were prophesied and came to pass and are now a matter of history, the other things which are prophesied in this book and in the other books of the Bible concerning the present and the future will also come to pass and will be just as literally fulfilled. All the reasonings of unbelief and all the objections of men cannot keep GOD from fulfilling His Word. Therefore, all who believe the Word of GOD, should be encouraged by these things and all who live in spiritual darkness, and who walk in sin, should be warned by them.
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