Daniel 10

A Picture Of The End Days (10:1 – 11:35)

Once more Daniel is given a vision of a great war (10:1). Apparently as a result of seeing the vision the prophet mourned and fasted for three weeks (10:2-3). We can conclude again that it was probably the sight of God’s people involved in this great final conflict and even their partial defeat that caused much of Daniel’s sorrow.

Sometime later, as Daniel stood on the Tigris River, he looked up and saw a man dressed in linen, with a belt of finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite and his face flashed like lightning. His eyes were like flames of fire and his feet were like burnished bronze. When he spoke, his voice was like the sound of a multitude (10:5-6). Daniel’s vision reminds us very much of John’s vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:13-15. Some Bible scholars feel that Daniel experienced the appearance of Christ prior to his incarnation. The angelic greeting of 10:11, which refers to Daniel as a man “highly esteemed,” seems to indicate that he had just received special favor. On the other hand, the fact that this mighty being was detained by demonic powers (v.13) and needed help from another angel seems proof enough that he is not the Christ. We certainly can say that this angel was one of a very high rank in the heavenly realm.

Perhaps a note is in order here about the many angelic visions that people are supposedly experiencing today. Most of these reports are of a very casual nature like: “By the way, an angel appeared to me this morning and we spent some time having tea together. It was really nice…” We must remember that in both the Old and New Testaments when people saw angels it was very infrequent and the visions of heavenly beings greatly alarmed them and almost incapacitated many of them. Also we see in the Bible that the angels were generally very urgent and business-like in their relationships with humans. There was never any light or silly stuff involved in biblical angelic appearances. We learn here that upon seeing the vision the mighty man Daniel became helpless and was overcome by a deep sleep. We see that the angel came and raised Daniel out of the stupor resulting from his vision.

The angel then related to the prophet how he himself had been sent by God from the moment Daniel began to pray (10:12). Unfortunately, the angel had been delayed twenty-one days while contending with the prince of Persia (10:13).

This passage sheds great light on the spiritual struggles surrounding our world. Here, we are not dealing with natural princes and kings. We are dealing with mighty spiritual powers who rule over nations. The demonic prince of Persia had the people of God in his grip. He was reluctant to release them or to allow angelic intervention into their affairs.

All this activity reminds us of Ephesians 6:12, which says: “ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “

The angel would have to return and fight not only the prince of Persia but also the prince of Greece (10:20). Greece would be the next nation in line who would try to impose its rule on Israel, and the demon ruling that nation was already interested in the angelic missions sent to Daniel.

This passage of scripture confirms a satanic hierarchy in the heavenlies. It is a hierarchy greatly opposed to Israel. Israel’s mighty defender Michael is called upon to break through this demonic power (10:21). It is of note that Daniel is the first book in the Bible to name angels. Coffman points out that only two angels are named in the whole Bible and both names [Michael & Gabriel] appear here. [18]

All this heavenly struggle is certainly understandable when we consider that Satan is called the “ ruler of the kingdom of the air “ (Eph. 2:2). He still exercises his authority in heavenly places and will do so until he is cast down to earth shortly before the Great Tribulation (Rev. 12:7-8).

With these things in mind we need to remember that we “ should always pray and not give up “ (Luke 18:1). When we ask according to God’s will the answer is on the way. Sadly, we might wonder how many times our own angelic messengers have been recalled in the midst of their flights because we have given up hope of receiving our answer. Neither should we lose heart if “spiritual static” from the prince of the power of the air hinders our prayers. The day is coming soon when the heavens will rejoice because Satan will be cast out and hurled down to earth (Rev. 12:12).

In Daniel’s vision the stage is now set for the final conflict of the ages. Once again the historical developments that would lead up to the model of the Antichrist are sketched. As we remember from chapter eight, this model was to be the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), who would severely persecute Israel. As the ancient commentator Jerome states: “It is not the purpose of Holy Scripture to cover external history apart from the Jews, but only that which is linked up with the nation of Israel.” [19]

Daniel once again sees the nations represented in his first vision of chapter two, and his vision of beasts in chapter eight. He sees that there would be three more kings in Persia. After Cyrus there would be Cambyses, Darius and Xerxes (Ahasuerus). The fourth king, Xerxes, would be richer than them all (cf. Esther 1:4-8). This king would also go to war with the Grecian Empire (11:2). Xerxes did just that and attacked the Greeks with a mighty army and navy. Clark citing the ancient historian Herodotus states that the army was over 800,000 men along with over 1,200 ships. [20] Xerxes was still soundly defeated by the Greeks in one of the most important naval battles of history, the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C.

The next figure to arise would be Alexander the Great. We remember his astounding victories, his early death and how the kingdom was divided up by his four generals. These generals are referred to in history as the “Diadochi” (11:3-4).

Throughout much of chapter eleven, the warfare between two of these generals, the Seleucid kingdom in Syria and the Ptolemaic kingdom in Egypt, is detailed for us. It is surely the most incredible example of prophesied history that the world has ever seen. Walvoord relates how it has been estimated that one hundred thirty-five prophecies are contained in these thirty-five verses and that all these prophecies are now fulfilled. [21] Therefore we will deal with this section very carefully. In order to keep these rulers straight in our minds, here is a brief listing of their reigns down to the time of the biblically significant Antiochus IV Epiphanes:

Seleucid rulers: Ptolemaic rulers:

Seleucus I Nicator 311-281 B.C. Ptolemy I Soter 305-282 B.C.

Antiochus I Soter 281-261 Ptolemy II Philadelphus 284-246

Antiochus II Theos 261-246 Ptolemy III Euergetes 246-222

Seleucus II Callinicus 246-225 Ptolemy IV Philopater 222-204

Seleucus III Soter 225-223 Ptolemy V Epiphanes 204-180

Antiochus III the Great 223-187 Ptolemy VI Philometer 180-164

Seleucus IV Philopater 187-175

Antiochus IV Epiphanes 175-164

In Daniel 11:5, we have mention of Ptolemy I, the strong king of the south and one of his commanders who would later become Seleucus I and would rule Syria. Soon the two empires would try to consolidate their rule. To accomplish this Ptolemy II would give his daughter, Berenice (11:6) as a wife to Antiochus II. Berenice would later be divorced and then murdered along with her child. Daniel 11:7 mentions the brother of Berenice, whom we know as Ptolemy III. He took vengeance for the death of his sister by invading the Seleucid Empire. We know from history that his campaign was successful and that he brought much booty back to Egypt, including many Egyptian gods previously captured by the Persians (11:8).

The warfare was to continue with Seleucis II invading Egypt in 242 B.C. but having to retreat (11:9). His sons, Seleucus III and Antiochus III (the Great), would then began a massive invasion of Egypt (11:10) but after initially winning the Holy Land they would suffer a disastrous defeat by Ptolemy IV, at what we now know as the Battle of Raphia (11:11). We then see the king of the south (Ptolemy IV) filled with pride (11:12), but later being humbled.

Some years later, the king of the north (Antiochus III) would gather another great army (11:13) and with the help of the Macedonians would once again attack the south. This time the army sent by the king of the south (Ptolemy V) would be defeated at Paneas and later surrounded and forced to surrender (198 B.C.). We now know from history that the place of this surrender was the heavily fortified city of Sidon as is alluded to in 11:15. After his great victory Antiochus would do as he pleased and would ravage the “Beautiful Land” or the Land of Israel (11:16).

Then we see the king of the north making a treaty with the king of the south by giving his daughter, Cleopatra I (not the famous Cleopatra of later Roman times) to Ptolemy V in 195 B.C. (11:17). By this he had intended to overthrow the kingdom but Cleopatra remained loyal to her husband. Later Antiochus III would war against the Aegean coastlands but his plans would be brought to an end by the Romans at Magnesia in 190 B.C. (11:18). Finally he was slain while attempting to plunder a pagan temple and his successor, Seleucus IV, ruled in his stead ( 11:20). Seleucus also did some plundering as he attempted to loot the Temple at Jerusalem. His attempt was unsuccessful due to divine intervention, and he was later murdered by the very servant he sent to plunder the Temple. Thus he was “destroyed not in anger or in battle” (v. 20).

This whole amazing historical section has been called by some a “prewritten inter-testamental history.” It is so accurate that it has led many unbelieving scholars to claim that it could have only been written after the events took place. This understanding even today is fostered by many liberal scholars.

However, Daniel’s book was obviously not written at a late date as many of these scholars suppose, since portions of the book were found with the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Book of Daniel was well enough accepted to be included in the Septuagint (the Bible of the earliest Christians), which was written in Greek around 250 B.C. The historian Josephus also mentions how the Jewish High Priest, Jaddua (342-322) met Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. He showed Alexander how the latter was mentioned in Daniel’s prophesy. This act apparently appeased Alexander’s wrath against the Jews regarding their fidelity to his enemy Dairus. [22] Obviously the Book of Daniel had to be in existence at this early time.

It is apparent that the object of Daniel’s involved history lesson is to bring us to Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) who is finally introduced to us in 11:21. This evil ruler is of utmost importance to us in understanding the events of the end-days. He is a picture of what the Beast or Antichrist will be like. We see that he was a contemptible person who was not given the honor of royalty. He was not of the royal line but obtained the throne by guile and intrigues (11:21). He would waste no time in oppressing the people of Israel and we understand that the last-day Antichrist will do the same thing (11:22). Later in his zeal to impose Hellenism upon Judah he would sweep away the government of Israel and install his own appointee as the High Priest.

He would attack the king of the south (Ptolemy VI) and through intrigues and actual warfare would overcome him at Pelusium in 170 B.C. The two would set down at the same peace table and lie to each other with their hearts bent on evil (11:27). That sounds like many of the so-called Middle East “peace conferences” of our own day.

On his return home Antiochus would not resist plundering and sacking Jerusalem (11:28). Later as the king of the south would double-cross Antiochus, he would decide to attack Egypt once again (168 B.C.), but this time the ships of Rome would intervene (11:30). He would be forced to retreat by the Roman legates, but in a great rage he would vent his fury against Israel once more, looting, oppressing and murdering the populace.

At this point in history we have the setting for the period of the Maccabeean Revolt (168-165 B.C.) which we have discussed earlier. The Temple would be desecrated, the daily sacrifice would be suspended, and the abomination of desolation would be set up (11:31). This abomination would be the statue of Zeus, the pagan deity, placed in the

Temple of God.

We must understand that all these events will happen again at the end of the age in a very similar fashion. They will happen at that time with greater severity and on a world-wide scale. We are told that in the days of Antiochus many people fell away from the faith, lured by his enticements. We are also told that in the future tribulation many will be overcome. It is said: “ With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him “ (11:32).

In the dark and troublesome time of the first Hanukkah, Mattathias and his sons, as well as many other brave sons of Israel, were strong and they did exploits. They also happily offered their lives as martyrs for God (11:33). They received a “little help” (11:34), but the massive armies of the Greco/Roman world would continue to harass tiny Israel until at last the Temple would be destroyed and the people dispersed in AD 70 and 135. We see that in this struggle God’s elect were refined, purified and made spotless by the awful ordeal they suffered (11:35).

Footnotes

18. James Burton Coffman, James Burton Coffman Commentaries, (reproduced by Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, TX, distributed by StudyLight.org.), comment on Daniel 10:21.

19. Archer, comment on Daniel 11:2 & 5.

20. Clark, comment on Daniel 11:2.

21. Walvoord,The Nations, Israel and the Church in Prophecy, (Grand Rapids, MI, Academie Books, 1962, 1964, 1967), p 81.

22. Flavius, Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book IX, Ch. VIII.