Daniel 11:2-12:4 contains the prophecy associated with Daniel’s vision. In Dan. 12:4 the prophet is told to shut and seal the book until the time of the end. He asks for more information (what shall be the end of these things, v8) but is denied, other than to be given a general description of the last days and some unexplained blessing. (I have no doubt that Daniel’s sealed book is the same one of Rev. 5-6 which only Jesus, the Lamb of God, is worthy to open. We will discuss this in a later post.)
There is a specific division in the prophecy
of 11:2-12:4, found in 11:35, which speaks of the time of the end. Up until that point the prophecy is very
detailed and concerns events that occurred from Daniel’s time until the rule of
Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 BC). We
referred to Antiochus earlier, in Dan. 8, as significant because he is a “type”
(preview) of the antichrist of the last days.
Because of the nature of our posts, we are
going to make some summary statements about what is prophesied. But if you are interested in the detailed
fulfillment, we assure you these can be found in numerous places. I first read of these “precise predictions”
in the writings of Herbert Leupold, a Lutheran scholar. Albert Barnes speaks of them, and gives strong
answers to the critics. These and other
commentaries are listed in our bibliography.
Finally, speaking of critics, let us say again
as we have already: the problem of the critics comes down to a belief that the
details are unnecessary to the point, and thus conclude it is the writing of
someone after 164BC. They think
it unusual that God would give such detail, that it is unlike other
prophecies. In fact, there are many
Biblical predictions that contain “details”.
This is not that unusual, only that this prophecy is longer than most
prophecies. The bottom line is this: the
record says this is prediction, not historical record; and, as John Walvoord
put it, If (God) is (omniscient), revelation may be just as detailed as God
elects to make it; and detailed prophecy becomes no more difficult or
incredible than broad predictions (p253).
Now, let us begin
our journey through Daniel 11-12.
·
11:1-2: prophecies concerning Persia. Predicts 3 more kings, including a wealthy
king (Xerxes) who unsuccessfully invaded Greece.
·
11:3-4: prophecies concerning Greece. Predicts rise of Alexander the Great, then
the division to 4 successors.
·
11:5-20: prophecies concerning Kings of the
North (Syria) and South (Egypt).
o
11:5: Rise in Syria of Seleucus Nicator, a
prince of Ptolemy Lagus (Egypt).
o
11:6: The alliance between Egypt and Syria, and
death of a daughter (Bernice) of the Egyptian king.
o
11:7-8: Revenge by Bernice’s brother (Ptolemy
Euergetes), conquering Syria and bringing great riches back to Egypt.
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