Summary of Daniel 11:21-45
A contemptible person will invade the kingdom and seize it. The prince of the covenant will be destroyed. He will rise to power, invade other kingdoms, and distribute plunder amongst his followers.
With a large army, he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will not be able to stand. The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth.
At the appointed time, he will invade the South again. With flattery, he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.
At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 8, Day 4: Daniel 11:21-45
10a) The prophet says the ruler will “seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant” (v. 32). This describes the Hellenized Jews who willingly adopted Greek culture, abandoned their religious laws, and collaborated with Antiochus IV to persecute the faithful among their own people.In contrast to the apostates, Daniel prophesied that a core group of believers would resist:
- Be Strong and Act (v. 32): The people “who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” This refers to the military and spiritual resistance, historically fulfilled by the Maccabees and their followers, who actively fought against Antiochus’s tyranny.
- Teach and Suffer (v. 33-35): The “wise among the people shall make many understand,” attempting to educate the nation and maintain true faith. However, they would face heavy losses: “they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity, and by plunder.”
- The Purpose of Persecution (v. 35): Their suffering and stumbling were not meaningless, but intended “to refine, purify, and make them white, until the time of the end.” God allowed the oppression as a purifying process to separate the true believers from the unfaithful.
b) The faithful face ideological assault (forced public exclusion of conscience) and economic blockades (denial of jobs/services), mirroring ancient plunder. As in Daniel’s time, this creates a split: some believers violate the covenant for status, while others endure persecution and suffering to refine and purify their faith. The ultimate dynamic of political hostility and spiritual refinement remains the same.
c) The crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. Eternal life and vindication.
11) It’s encouraging because the intricate details prove God’s sovereign control over historical chaos. It’s fearful due to the forecast of intense persecution, symbolized by the abomination and the blasphemous ruler. Ultimately, it’s hopeful, guaranteeing that the oppressors will face a decreed limit and the faithful will be refined for ultimate deliverance (v. 45).
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 8, Day 4: Daniel 11:21-45
This one was challenging to say the least. Hopefully, my notes help!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 8, Day 4: Daniel 11:21-45
After the reign of the king of the North, the next king will be evil. This was Seleucis III, named Antiochus IV. He used flattery to gain his position. This new king of the North would try to deceive the king of the South. But this would fail after a great battle.
This vile king would then attack God’s people. He would desecrate the temple. Some people joined with the king when he invaded; others did not. The king killed and robbed many Jews. But God would not let this go on forever.
Verse 36 turns to the Antichrist. The real abomination of desolation was still in the future (Matthew 24:15)
Antiochus Epiphanes is really a footnote in history. He is important here because he foreshadows the Antichrist. God’s plan will be accomplished no matter what.
A confederation of kings will come together in a great conflict in the Promised Land to do battle.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 11:21-45 is a single, dramatic prophecy divided by scholars into two key sections: a detailed historical narrative that culminates in the persecution of the Jewish people, and a transition to an eschatological (end-time) event.
Part 1: The Historical King (Antiochus IV Epiphanes)
Verses 21-35 focus with incredible precision on Antiochus IV Epiphanes (the Seleucid King of the North, 175–164 B.C.E.), whose actions were central to Jewish history:
- Rise (v. 21-24): He takes the throne illegitimately, succeeding the tax collector (Seleucus IV) through deceit and flatteries, not by right.
- Conflict (v. 25-30): He repeatedly campaigns against the King of the South (Ptolemaic Egypt), often succeeding due to betrayal, but is ultimately forced by Roman intervention (the “ships of Kittim”) to withdraw from Egypt.
- Persecution (v. 30b-35): Enraged by the Roman humiliation, he turns his wrath on the “holy covenant” (the Jewish people). He abolishes the daily sacrifice and erects a pagan altar in the Jerusalem Temple, fulfilling the prophecy of the “abomination that makes desolate” (c. 167 B.C.E.). This event sparked the Maccabean Revolt. The prophecy notes that this persecution serves to “refine” the faithful.
Part 2: The Eschatological Shift (The Future Antichrist)
Verses 36-45 abruptly shift from the completed history of Antiochus IV (who died relatively peacefully) to an unparalleled final figure, demonstrating the prophetic technique of “telescoping” (merging a near event with a far future event). This final figure is widely viewed as the Antichrist:
- Character (v. 36-39): This King acts purely by his own will, exalting himself above every god, ignoring traditional deities and the desire of women (possibly suggesting disinterest in dynastic marriages or religious mandates). He relies on military might (the “god of fortresses”).
- Final War and End (v. 40-45): At the time of the end, he engages in a great war involving the King of the South and the King of the North, successfully invading the Glorious Land (Israel) and controlling the riches of Egypt. His campaigns are suddenly stopped by alarming reports from the East and North. He sets up his royal tent in Jerusalem, but the prophecy climaxes with the statement that “he shall come to his end, and no one will help him,” signaling divine intervention and the establishment of God’s final kingdom (Daniel 12:1-3).
In conclusion, the intricate prophecies of Daniel 11:21-45 are breathtaking in their accuracy, providing a profound assurance: God’s sovereignty extends over every twist of history, from the minor betrayals of the Seleucid kings to the great persecution by the “vile person,” Antiochus IV. This detailed foresight was given not for historical trivia, but to fortify the faithful. By demonstrating control over the ancient past, God strengthens their trust in His promise of final intervention, culminating in the destruction of the ultimate wicked ruler and the eternal vindication of His people.
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