DANIEL
The Man of Vision
It is interesting to note that the Jews placed Daniel is in the book of Writings, rather than the Prophets.
Daniel in Babylon – Daniel 1:1-21
- Selected: How Daniel came to Babylon – Daniel 1:1-7 (Daniel’s Resolution)
- Conquered: Nebuchadnezzar over Jehoiakim – Daniel 1:1-2
- Captured: youths without defect – Daniel 1:3-5
- Candidates – Daniel 1:6-7
- Hebrew names: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah
- Pagan names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshech, Abed-nego
- Steadfast: Daniel turns vegetarian – Daniel 1:8-16 (Daniel’s Recommendation)
- Statesman: God’s gifting and Their rise in favor – Daniel 1:17-21 Daniel’s Reward)
- Knowledge, intelligence, dreams, visions – Daniel 1:17
- Presentation to the king – Daniel 1:18
- Daniel and the boys are 10 times better – Daniel 1:20
- Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus – Daniel 1:21
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Statue – Daniel 2:1-49, 7:1-28
- The Frustration of Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2:1-13
- The dream received by Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2:1-6
- The dream revealed by Daniel – Daniel 2:7-13
- The Revelation of God – Daniel 2:14-30
- The dream replied, the prayer of Daniel – Daniel 2:14-23
- The dream recounted – Daniel 2:24-30, 7:1
- The Interpretation of Daniel – Daniel 2:31-45
- Chronology: The dream recited – Daniel 2:31-35, 7:2-14, 21-22
- Theology: The dream revealed – Daniel 2:36-45, 7:15-20, 23-27
- Neo-Babylonian empire (Nebuchadnezzar): 612-539 BC
- The head of gold – Daniel 2:32 * and lion – Daniel 7:4
- Lion: king of beasts
- Eagle: king of birds
- Gold: most precious metal
- Nebuchadnezzar’s empire, the head of gold – Daniel 2:38, 7:17
- The head of gold – Daniel 2:32 * and lion – Daniel 7:4
- Medo-Persian empire (Cyrus the Great): 539-331 BC
- Breast/arms of silver – Daniel 2:32 * and bear – Daniel 7:5
- Bear is inferior to the lion – Daniel 2:39, 7:17
- Raised up on one side
- Ready for attack
- One horn being most powerful
- Three ribs in its mouth – Daniel 7:5, 8:4
- West: Babylon conquered by Cyrus
- North: Lydia conquered by Cyrus
- South: Egypt conquered by Cambyses
- Breast/arms of silver – Daniel 2:32 * and bear – Daniel 7:5
- Grecian empire: 331-323 BC
- Belly/thighs of bronze – Daniel 2:32 * and leopard – Daniel 7:6
- Four wings: swiftness in conquering
- Four heads: the generals after Alexander
- Ptolemy I – took Egypt (South)
- Philip, Cassander, Antigonus – took Macedonia and Greece
- Seleucus I – took Syria (North)
- Lysimacus – took Thrace & Asia Minor
- Inferior but will rule over all the earth – Daniel 2:39. 7:17
- Belly/thighs of bronze – Daniel 2:32 * and leopard – Daniel 7:6
- The Selucid Empire: 312-65 BC
- Leg/iron, feet/clay – Daniel 2:40 * diverse – Daniel 7:7, 19
- Strong as iron, later divided – Daniel 2:41
- Different than all the others – Daniel 7:23
- The ten toes and ten horns – Daniel 2:42, 7:7
- Kings are successive and not simultaneous
- Alexander conquered the world at age 33
- He died in 323 and signaled power struggles
- Horns and toes understood in relation to ancient Palestine
- This history is explained in Daniel 11:5-35
- The identification of the tens
- Seleucus I uproots three horns – Daniel 7:8
- Antigonus: Macedonia/Greece
- Ptolemy I: (323-285 BC): Egypt
- Lysimacus: Thrace & Asia Minor
- The seven remaining horns
- Seleucus I Nicator 312-280 BC
- Antiochus I Soter 280-262 BC
- Antiochus II Theos 262-246 BC
- Seleucus II Callinicus 246-226
- Seleucus III Soter 226-223 BC
- Antiochus III Great 223-187 BC
- Seleucus IV Philopator 187-175
- The little horn is the antichrist: Antiochus IV Epiphanes 175-163 BC
- Seleucus I uproots three horns – Daniel 7:8
- The stone – Daniel 2:35, 7:27 * is Christ
- God’s kingdom – Daniel 2:44 * and Ancient of Days – Daniel 7:9
- Neo-Babylonian empire (Nebuchadnezzar): 612-539 BC
- The Prostration of Nebuchadnezzar: the dream and its effect – Daniel 2:46-49, 7:28
- Daniel’s God is worshipped by Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2:47
- Daniel is promoted – Daniel 2:48 * and alarmed – Daniel 7:28
- Daniel remembers his homies – Daniel 2:49
The Fiery Furnace, Test of Faith – Daniel 3:1-30
- Conspirators: the King’s Command – Daniel 3:1-7
- The project – Daniel 3:1
- The politicians – Daniel 3:2-3
- The proclamation – Daniel 3:4-5
- The penalty – Daniel 3:6-7
- Informers: the Chaldeans’ charge – Daniel 3:8-12
- The report: the accusers tell the king – Daniel 3:8-12
- The reasoning: the kings gives a second chance – Daniel 3:13-15
- Transformers: the Children’s Confidence (the Hebrews Stand) – Daniel 3:16-30
- The demonstration of faith – Daniel 3:16-18
- The assurance of faith – Daniel 3:19-23
- The king enraged – Daniel 3:19
- The boys directed, into the extra hot furnace – Daniel 3:20-23
- Rescuer: The vindication of faith (the Lord’s Man) – Daniel 3:24-30
- The discovery – Daniel 3:24-25
- The deliverance – Daniel 3:26-28
- The decree – Daniel 3:29-30
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree – Daniel 4:1-37
- The Dream Described – Daniel 4:1-18
- The prologue, the king’s announcement and praise – Daniel 4:1-3
- The large and strong tree – Daniel 4:4-12
- The angelic lumberjack – Daniel 4:13-17
- The plea of the king – Daniel 4:18
- The Dream Interpreted – Daniel 4:19-27
- Explanation: pride will lead to judgment – Daniel 19-26
- Exhortation: repent and avoid judgment – Daniel 4:27
- The Dream Fulfilled – Daniel 4:28-37
- Pride: refusing to repent – Daniel 4:28-30
- Punishment: twelve months later comes insanity – Daniel 4:31-33
- Praise: his reasoning returned, honors God – Daniel 4:34-37
Belshazzar’s Feast – Daniel 5:1-31
- Belshazzar’s Contribution to the Feast: Unrestrained sensuality – Daniel 5:1-4
- The ball: thousands of people invited – Daniel 5:1
- The gall: using the sacred temple items – Daniel 5:2-4
- God’s Contribution to the Feast: The wall – the handwriting – Daniel 5:5-6
- The hand – Daniel 5:5
- The horror – Daniel 5:6
- Daniel’s Contribution to the Feast: The call – Announcement of doom – Daniel 5:7-29
- The call for the magicians – Daniel 5:7-9
- The queen calls for Daniel – Daniel 5:10-12
- Daniel’s explanation – Daniel 5:13-29
- Reputation of Daniel – Daniel 5:13-16
- Explanation by Daniel – Daniel 5:17-24
- Interpretation through Daniel – Daniel 5:25-29
- Darius’ Contribution to the Feast: The fall – Destruction of Babylon – Daniel 5:30-31
Daniel with the Lions – Daniel 6:1-28
- The Work Crisis: total integrity (an Evil Plan) – Daniel 6:1-3
- The Prayer Crisis – Daniel 6:4-17
- The plot – Daniel 6:4-9
- The search – Daniel 6:4
- The solution – Daniel 6:5
- The subtlety – Daniel 6:6-9
- The prayer (a Kneeling Man) – Daniel 6:10-11
- The prosecution – Daniel 6:12-17
- The plot – Daniel 6:4-9
- The Faith Crisis (a Heavenly Ban) – Daniel 6:18-28
- The protection – Daniel 6:18-23
- The king’s concern – Daniel 6:18
- The king’s cry – Daniel 6:19-22
- The king’s command – Daniel 6:23
- The proclamation – Daniel 6:24-28
- The accusers fate – Daniel 6:24
- The announcement that God is over the nations – Daniel 6:25-27
- The achievement of Daniel – Daniel 6:28
- The protection – Daniel 6:18-23
The Vision of Four Beasts – Daniel 7:1-28, 2:1-49
This is the First Year of Belshazzar’s Reign
- A Vision of World History – Daniel 7:1-8
- A lion-like beast – Daniel 7:1-4
- A bear-like beast – Daniel 7:5
- A leopard-like beast – Daniel 7:6
- A ten-horned beast – Daniel 7:7-8
- A Vision of Heaven – Daniel 7:9-14
- The Ancient One – Daniel 7:9-12
- Who it is: God himself – Daniel 7:9
- What happens – Daniel 7:10-12
- The river of fire – Daniel 7:10a
- The thousands of angels – Daniel 7:10b
- The millions of people – Daniel 7:10c
- The beast sent to hell – Daniel 7:11-12
- The Messiah – Daniel 7:13-14
- Who it is (first reference to Messiah as Son of Man) – Daniel 7:13
- What happens (given eternal, glorious kingdom) – Daniel 7:14
- The Ancient One – Daniel 7:9-12
- A Vision of Saints on Earth – Daniel 7:15-28
- The four beasts in general – Daniel 7:15-18
- Their rise (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) – Daniel 7:15-17
- Their replacement (giving way to God’s kingdom) – Daniel 7:18
- The fourth beast in particular – Daniel 7:19-28
- The confusion: Daniel wants more info – Daniel 7:19-22
- The clarification: the facts about the beast – Daniel 7:23-27
- It will devour the earth – Daniel 7:23-24
- It will defy the Most High God – Daniel 7:25
- It will be destroyed by the Most High – Daniel 7:26-27
- The consternation: Daniel is alarmed – Daniel 7:28
- The four beasts in general – Daniel 7:15-18
The Ram and the Goat: (in Aramaic) – Daniel 8:1-27
This is the Third Year of Belshazzar’s Reign
- The Vision – Daniel 8:1-12
- The tw0-horned ram: able to defeat enemies – Daniel 8:1-4
- The one-horned male goat – Daniel 8:5-8
- Destruction: attacks the ram – Daniel 8:5-7
- Death: goat dies and replaced by four – Daniel 8:8
- Another creature coming from the goat – Daniel 8:9-12
- Conquests: he invades and occupies much of the Holy Land – Daniel 8:9-10
- Contempt: he even challenges God – Daniel 8:11-12
- The Interpretation – Daniel 8:13-25
- A regular angel – Daniel 8:13-14
- Question: How Long? – Daniel 8:13
- Answer: 2300 days – Daniel 8:14
- A ruling angel: (Gabriel himself – Daniel 8:15-19) – Daniel 8:15-27
- The ram: Medo-Persian empire – Daniel 8:20
- The goat: Grecian empire – Daniel 8:21-22
- The great horn: Alexander – Daniel 8:5, 21
- The great horn broken: Alexander died – Daniel 8:8, 21
- Four horns: Egypt Syria Macedonia Asia – Daniel 8:8, 22
- The little horn: Little horn: Antiochus IV Epiphanes – Daniel 8:8, 23-25
- Attempted to Hellenize the Jews
- Erected statue of Zeus in temple
- Sacrificed a pig on the altar
- Forbade circumcision
- Destroyed all OT books he could find
- Judas Maccabeus defeated the Syrian army
- Led revolt against Seleucid Empire (167–160 BC)
- The Jewish feast of Hanukkah commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC.
- Tribulations are described in Hebrews 11:34-39
- He was the “antichrist”
- He performed the “abomination of desolation” in 167 BC
- Cast down: destroyer, persecutor – Daniel 8:10, 24
- Remove daily sacrifices: he did – Daniel 8:11
- 2300 days: many days of peace ends 171 BC – Daniel 8:14, 26
- Sanctuary closed: purification in 168 BC – Daniel 8:14
- He shall be broken: he died in 163 BC – Daniel 8:25
- A regular angel – Daniel 8:13-14
- The Effect on Daniel – Daniel 8:26-27
- Keep secret, it pertains to many days in the future: 400 years in the future.
- Daniel is exhausted and sick for days: there was none to explain it.
Daniel’s Earnest Prayer (the 70 Weeks) – Daniel 9:1-19
The Chapter Describes Two Time Periods: Historical, and Prophetic
- Insight – Daniel 9:1-2
- Daniel understood the desolation would come to an end as in the captivity – Jeremiah 25:11-12
- What will happen at the end of the 70 years?
- Intercession – Daniel 9:3-19
- Sin: the confession of Israel’s sin – Daniel 9:3-11
- Suffering: the consequences of rebellion – Daniel 9:12-14
- The request: the contention of Daniel – Daniel 9:15-19
- Instruction: (Daniel and Gabriel) – Daniel 9:20-23
- Interpretation – Daniel 9:24-27
- The details (70 sets of 7, 490 years) – Daniel 9:24
- First period (49 years, Jerusalem rebuilt) – Daniel 9:25
- Second period (434 years, Messiah will be crucified) – Daniel 9:26
- Third period (7 years, great tribulation?) – Daniel 9:27
- The intended target times?
- The time of Antiochus Epiphanes
- The first coming of Christ
- The second coming of Christ
- When does the author begin his calculations?
- The year after Jerusalem’s destruction (586 BC)
- 49 years later Babylon fell (539-538 BC)
- Cyrus allowed the Jews to return: the decree
- Zerubbabel could be a prince – see Luke 3:27
- Joshua was the High Priest – see Zechariah 6:11
- The year of the decree to return (458 BC)
- The letter of Artaxerxes – Ezra 7:7-11
- One 69 week period (not 7 and 62 weeks)
- The end of 69th is around the incarnation
- Target time is the second coming of Christ
- The gap theory: premillenial dispensationalism
- The period of time between weeks 69 and 70
- Reason: Matthew 24 (Mark 13) must take place
- The 69 weeks – Daniel 9:25
- Gap – Daniel 9:26
- Future – Daniel 9:27
- Target time is the first coming of Christ
- There is no distinction between 7 and 62 weeks – Daniel 9:25
- Decree under Ezra, not Nehemiah – Ezra 7:7-11
- Decree was 458, not 445 as in – Nehemiah 2:1
- End of 7 weeks is 409, nothing happened
- 69 weeks ends with Christ’s ministry
- AD 25-26
- 483 actual solar years after decree
- Objections
- Putting 69 weeks together – Daniel 9:25
- Which Artaxerxes?
- Jesus ministry was 1/2 week, death in AD 29
- The prince of Daniel 9:26 is Titus the destroyer AD 70
- Christ removed need for sacrifices – Daniel 9:27
- There is no distinction between 7 and 62 weeks – Daniel 9:25
- Target time is the time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes
- The entire passage is a reinterpretation of the 70 years of Jeremiah 25 and 29 as applied to the time of the suffering under Antiochus
- The word “restore” in Daniel 9:25 fits Jeremiah
- Life of returnees was difficult – Ezra 4:1-24
- The fall of Jerusalem came in 587 BC
- The captivity started in 586 BC
- The seven weeks refers to the Babylonian exile, 70 years.
- The ending would be in 537 BC
- One week calculation: 7 x 7 is 49 years
- Cyrus allows, but did not decree, Jews to return as in Nehemiah 2:1-8
- Decree – Ezra 6:3, 7-8 was about the temple
- Letter – Nehemiah 2:1-8 was building the walls
- Isaiah 44:28 says Cyrus will rebuild Jerusalem, see Daniel 5:13
- Zerubbabel led the first wave in 536 BC
- He was an anointed one Matthew 1:12-13
- He was a prince Haggai 1:1
- Joshua was the High Priest Ezra 3:2 and a colleague of Zerubbabel Haggai 1:1
- The 62 weeks refers to the three returns
- This time was longer than the captivity
- It was a troubled time – Daniel 9:25
- After the 69 weeks: Jews in control and worshiping in relative freedom
- The anointed one cut off: not same as – Daniel 9:25
- Legitimate line of priesthood cut off
- Joshua, the brother of Onias III, took the Greek name Jason and became High Priest by corruption (2 Macc 4:7-15)
- Later, Menelaus became High Priest by outbidding Jason by 300 talents of silver (2 Macc 4:23-24)
- Payment was demanded and Melelaus stole from the temple
- Onias III was faithful and exposed Menelaus
- Onias III was assassinated in 170 BC
- People of the prince: army of troops
- The prince who is to come is Antiochus IV Epiphanes: “desolations” refers to him
- Its end shall come with a flood: both the prince and the destruction – there’s hope!
- The strong covenant with many – Daniel 9:27
- Many Jews adopted false religion
- They removed proper sacrifices to God
- Sacrifices ended Dec 15, 168 BC
- Maccabean victory on Dec 25, 165 BC (3 years and 10 days)
- Abominations: Zeus Olympius in the temple whereby Antiochus became the desolator
- The decreed end of Antiochus – Daniel 9:27
- Complete destruction on him
- Curse of the Jews poured on him – Daniel 9:11
- The vile person has come to an end (climax of book)
- Daniel 9:26-27
- Daniel 11:21-45
- The book gives a basis for hope
- Through Scripture (Jeremiah)
- Through prayer
- Through confession
- Through faith
- Through revelation
- The entire passage is a reinterpretation of the 70 years of Jeremiah 25 and 29 as applied to the time of the suffering under Antiochus
- The year after Jerusalem’s destruction (586 BC)
- The details (70 sets of 7, 490 years) – Daniel 9:24
Prelude to Prophecy – Daniel 10:1-11:1
- Daniel’s circumstances – Daniel 10:1-4
- Duration of his fast (three weeks) – Daniel 10:1-3
- Location of his fast (banks of the Tigris River) – Daniel 10:4
- Daniel’s collapse (and an angel appears) – Daniel 10:5-17
- The radiance: the vision of the man in fine linen – Daniel 10:5-6
- The reaction: Daniel feels weak, friends see nothing – Daniel 10:7-8
- The reassurance: the prayer was heard from the beginning – Daniel 10:9-12
- The revelation: instruction for the future – Daniel 10:14
- The resistance: the delay was due to angelic warfare – Daniel 10:13, 15-21
- Hostility (Michael delayed) – Daniel 10:13a, 15-20
- He was hindered by a demonic leader in Persia – Daniel 10:13a
- He will be hindered by a demonic leader of Greece – Daniel 10:15-20
- Helper (Michael) – Daniel 10:13b, 21
- Hostility (Michael delayed) – Daniel 10:13a, 15-20
- Daniel’s convalesce – Daniel 10:18-11:1
- Gradual strengthening – Daniel 10:10, 16, 18-19
- More angelic warfare – Daniel 10:20-21
- The prince of Persia continues
- The prince of Greece is coming
- Daniel is an encouragement and protection for Darius the king of Mede – Daniel 11:1
A Vision of Kings – Daniel 11:2-12:4
- Persia (four kings) – Daniel 11:2
- Cambyses (son of Cyrus): 530-522 BC
- Pseudo-Smerdis (Guatama): 522 BC
- Darius I: 522-486 BC
- Xerxes (Ahasuerus of Esther): 486-465 BC
- Most powerful and affluent
- He fought the wars against Greece
- Greece (a mighty king) – Daniel 11:3-4
- The mighty king is Alexander the Great: 336-323 BC
- The four winds are generals after Alexander
- Egypt and Syria – Daniel 11:5-20
- The players – Daniel 11:5
- Ptolemy I Soter (South): 323-285 BC
- Seleucus I Nicator (North): 312-280 BC
- The alliance – Daniel 11:6
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC) gave his daughter, Berenice, to marry Antiochus II Theos (262-246) to end a war between them.
- Antiochus II must divorce Laodice
- Any son of Berenice would become king
- The agreement did not last
- Ptolemy II died in 246 BC
- Antiochus II took back Laodice
- Laodice distrusted Antiochus and poisoned in attempt to
have sons on the throne - Laodice has Berenice and her son
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC) gave his daughter, Berenice, to marry Antiochus II Theos (262-246) to end a war between them.
- The retaliation – Daniel 11:7-8
- Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-221 BC) brother of Berenice, succeed his father
- He fought Seleucus II Callinicus (247-226 BC)
- Ptolemy III would have overrun the north if not for an insurrection back home
- The seesaw struggles – Daniel 11:9-20
- The latter is Seleucus II Callinicus went to invade Egypt (242 BC) after he regained power in Asia, the event being disastrous – Daniel 11:9
- His sons – Daniel 11:10
- Seleucus III Soter (226-223 BC) murdered
- Antiochus III the Great (223-187 BC) campaigns against Ptolemy IV (219 BC) and capture of a great part of the south.
- The enraged king of the south – Daniel 11:11 * is Ptolemy IV Philopator (221-205 BC) conquered the north in 217 BC but did not take the whole kingdom – Daniel 11:12
- After an interval – Daniel 11:13 * refers to 12 years of virtual peace
- Antiochus III raised a greater army than he previously had and attacks
- Ptolemy IV died and 5 year old Ptolemy V Epiphanes became king (205-181 BC)
- Many will come against him – Daniel 11:14
- Antiochus III take advantage on the infant king Ptolemy V – Daniel 14-16
- In league with Philip of Macedon (men of violence) to attack Ptolemy V
- Antiochus takes the south in 198 BC
- He who comes against him: is Antiochus III
- The Glorious Land: is Palestine (Sidon)
- Antiochus III set his face toward Egypt – Daniel 11:17
- He did not attack but brought terms of peace, through a marriage
- The daughter of women (the essence of femininity) is
Cleopatra, the daughter of Antiochus III - She was betrothed to Ptolemy V (197 BC)
- Antiochus III wanted influence
- Cleopatra was loyal to the south
- Antiochus III turns toward the coastlands – Daniel 11:18
- He controlled most of Asia Minor by 196 BC
- He met the representative in Rome who counseled him to leave Asia Minor alone.
- He told the Romans to stop interfering in Asia Minor just as he was not to touch Italy.
- The breaking point was invading Greece – Daniel 11:19
- He began the Greek invasion in 192 BC
- He was stopped by the Romans in 191 BC at Thermopylae
- The commander who put a stop to him is Lucius Cornelius Scipio (190 BC)
- Defeated 80,000 men at Magnesia
- Humiliated and ruined him as far as Europe and Asia Minor.
- The Romans demanded indemnity and he returned home to plunder his own territories and temple of Bel (187 BC)
- In his place – Daniel 11:20
- The son of Antiochus III was Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175 BC)
- The sent oppressor is Heliodorus, the Prime Minister of Seleucus IV as told in 2 Maccabees 3:1-40, or is a Roman tax gatherer
- He spent most of his time raising money to pay off his father’s war debts
- Seleucus IV was assassinated by Heliodorus by conspiracy, not face to face
- The players – Daniel 11:5
- Antiochus Epiphanes (an evil Syrian king, 175-164 BC) – Daniel 11:21-45 (see next section)
- Captive: he was a hostage in Rome since 189 BC
- According to a treaty signed by his father, Antiochus III the Great in 198 BC
- Seleucus IV wanted him released and Demetrius, the rightful heir, the son of Seleucus IV took his place
- Epiphanes (God manifest) vs. Epimanes (madman)
- Craftiness: he took power through flattery and intrigue – Daniel 11:21-23
- He rushed back to Antioch when he heard of his brother’s death – Daniel 11:21, 23
- It was Onias III, the rightful High Priest (170 BC) Daniel 11:22
- He was one to understand riddles – Daniel 8:23
- Conquests: he captured powerful strongholds – Daniel 11:24
- He plundered his own people.
- He wanted to remove any thought of God from the Jews and replace it with Greek Culture
- The great comfort to hear “but for a time”
- Confrontation – Daniel 11:25-30
- With Egypt – Daniel 11:25-27
- Advantage in the death of his sister the queen, Cleopatra in 172 BC.
- Her sons (Philometor and Physcon) were both minors so the kingdom was run by two eunuchs named Eulaeus and Syrian Lenseus (26) those who eat his rich food.
- They convinced Philometor to go in battle, and the Alexandrian nobles set up Physcon as their king.
- The two kings: Philometor and Antiochus, his uncle – Daniel 11:27 Antiochus wanted his loyalty when he made Philometor the real king, But to no avail: the schemes failed.
- The “end” refers to Antiochus not lasting.
- His return to his own land with much plunder – Daniel 11:28
- Angered at not taking Egypt.
- Three envoys from Rome were coming.
- Disturbance by Jason’s attempt to retain the priesthood.
- Antiochus killed many Jews to prove he was still in power.
- He plundered the temple on his way back to Antioch.
- With Syria – Daniel 11:28-30
- At the “appointed time” means God in charge and this invasion was not as successful.
- The “ships of Kittim” are the peoples of Cyprus or the Mediterranean, or possibly refers to the Romans.
- He will be enraged and take it out on the Jews back in Jerusalem – Daniel 11:30.
- Some faithless, Hellenistic Jews will side with him.
- With Egypt – Daniel 11:25-27
- Cruelty: a hellish hatred of Israel – Daniel 11:31-35
- Desecration of the temple – Daniel 11:31
- Removal of sacrifices – Daniel 11:31
- Abomination of desolations – Daniel 11:31
- He will sway many people, even Jews – Daniel 11:32, 34
- Many will resist him – Daniel 11:32-33
- A “little help” refers to the temporary successes of the Maccabean revolt under Mattathias and his son Judas (1 Maccabees 2:15-28, 42-48, 3:11-12,23-26, 4:12-15)
- Wickedness: he claimed to be Theos Epiphanes – Daniel 11:36-39
- He took the place of God
- The temple was dedicated to Zeus
- Character: a summary of Antiochus Epiphanes – Daniel 11:40-45
- After the fourth beast and kingdom
- The king of the south is Ptolemy VI
- The king of the north is Antiochus
- An all-out attack with chariots…
- The “countries” refers to those between Syria and Egypt
- They will enter Palestine – Daniel 11:41
- Mentioning of Edom, Moab and Ammon
- Surprising since using their common name is not customary
- Especially since Moab was not a nation until the time of Antiochus.
- Moab and Ammon are mentioned as taking up arms against Judah following Antiochus’ policies (1 Maccabees 5:3,6)
- These are traditional enemies of Judah & included by scribes
- Reference point of Hellenizing Jews as in – Daniel 11:39 not being dealt with as severely as those loyal to God
- Daniel 11:37-39 * enlargement of 36
- Daniel 11:41-45 * enlargement of 40
- Daniel 11:42 * explanation – Daniel 11:40
- Rumors from east and north – Daniel 11:43-44
- Libya is west of Egypt
- Ethiopia is south of Egypt
- Representing the remotest parts of the Egyptian empire
- Compared to – Daniel 11:29-30 * in wrath
- Between the seas and mountain – Daniel 11:45
- Antiochus IV actually died in Persia in 164 BC (1 Maccabees 3:31-37, 6:1-16)
- His defeat was determined and he will come to an end and his defeat is immanent.
- Captive: he was a hostage in Rome since 189 BC
The King Deliverer – Daniel 12:1-4
- This is connected to the beginning of chapter 10
- If the student sees Antiochus Epiphanes in the previous section, you will see him here.
- This is either the end of Antiochus or the end of time: remember the timeless nature of apocalyptic literature.
- What will happen to those slain by Antiochus?
- Suffering – Daniel 12:1
- Separation: Many (why not all?) will be raised – Daniel 12:2
- Earliest reference to resurrection from the grave
- The only reference to everlasting life in the OT is here – Daniel 12:2
- Shining: like stars – Daniel 12:3
- Shame – and contempt on those who turned from God to Antiochus IV
- Sealing: the words – Daniel 12:4 * as in – Daniel 8:26, 9:24, 6:17
- There will be frantic search for an explanation – Daniel 12:4
A Vision at the River – Daniel 12:5-13
- Two others standing on each side of the river – Daniel 12:5
- A man dressed in linen – Daniel 12:6-13
- Above the waters means superiority
- How long? – Daniel 12:6, 8:13
- Wonders: the activities of Antiochus – Daniel 11:36 fearful and monstrous things
- The answer – Daniel 12:7
- Three and one half periods of time (years).
- The time from the stopping of sacrifices and the rededication of the temple was three years and 10 days.
- The Jews power being destroyed – Daniel 12:7
- Daniel still does not understand – Daniel 12:8
- The death of Antiochus IV will not bring peace although Antiochus V did allow religious freedom.
- The answer – Daniel 12:9-13
- Rehearsal of the vision – Daniel 12:10-11
- Antiochus – Daniel 11:33, 35
- 1290 days in Revelation 11:3, 12:6 * Revelation 12:6 is 1260 (plus 30 more days)
- Discontinued sacrifices
- Re-establishment of worship
- Deliverance from persecution
- 1335 days (1290 days plus another 45 days)
- Rededication of temple?
- Beginning of righteousness?
- Blessing – Daniel 12:12
- Promise – Daniel 12:13
- Live your life and don’t worry
- You will die but will be raised
- What an end to a book of hope!
- Rehearsal of the vision – Daniel 12:10-11
Language of the book:
Hebrew = 1:1-2:4a, 8:1-12:13
Aramaic = 2:4b-7:28
A lot of the historical information is from John Joseph Owens in the Broadman Commentary, Vol.6, 1971, pp.373-460. Some outline is from the Ryrie Study Bible.