Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalm 119: 159-160
Throughout the book of Daniel, we have seen God miraculously protect and preserve the nation of Israel throughout the years of captivity. There was always a remnant of faithful believers such as Daniel who fervently worshiped God and prayed for the people. It had been throughout centuries that the people of Israel would waiver; often, rebellious and stiff necked toward God. With pride filled arrogance, they would seek after their own desires. There had been great leaders such as Hezekiah and Josiah who would lead the nation into revival; only, for the people to shortly thereafter, turn once more to idle worship under a new corrupt leader. Whom we choose to be a leader for our nation is also of grave importance. If we choose corrupt leaders, we will become a corrupt nation.
Also, throughout the book of Daniel we have seen God reveal future events to His servant Daniel. Each revelation came with increasing detail concerning the events that would occur over the coming years. I am certain that this was an act of Grace by Almighty God, not to reveal more than Daniel was prepared to handle. So, it is that we have now come to Chapter 11 of Daniel. This revelation came in the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia. This would have been 537 B.C. Daniel wrote down these prophecies long before their occurrences; yet, with great detail as we can now look back at history and confirm.
Verses 2 through 35 have already occurred. Then the prophecy shifted and began in Chapter 11:36 to 12:7 began to describe events in the future. Today, I want to take a moment and briefly show you some of the details from verses 2 through 35 in chapter 11 and how they did come true exactly as prophesied.
VERSE 2: 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. Following Cyrus, there were Cambyses II (530-522 B.C.), Smerdis (522 B.C.), Darius I the Great (521-486 B.C.) and the fourth king was Xerxes (486-465 B.C.). Xerxes was the one who extended the strength and wealth of the Persian Empire into Greece and even burned down Athens.
VERSE 3: And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. This was Alexander the Great (356 B.C. to 323 B.C.)
VERSE 4: 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. When Alexander died, the Kingdom was divided among his 4 generals; because, he had no children to take over rule—this was in 323 B.C.
VERSE 5-6: 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. 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. The king of the South was Ptolemy I who then was succeeded by Ptolemy II who was greater and was from 246-221 B.C. This occurred after some further controversies, which included Ptolemy II making an alliance and marrying off his daughter Berenice to the northern King Antiochus II. However, the first wife of Antiochus II (Laodice) had Berenice and her son assassinated. Ptolemy III was Berenice’s brother.
As I have pointed out, each detail that Daniel was told in prophecy was true. Every minute detail and I could continue through all 35 verses with the same being true. As every battle, every alliance was outlined. Even the proposal made by Antiochus III to give his daughter Cleopatra I in marriage to Ptolemy V as outlined in verse 17. The prophesy even foretold of her becoming an ardent supporter of Egypt alongside her husband. Then would arrive Antiochus IV (216-164 B.C.) His reign of terror against the Jews was foretold in versus 21-35. He established himself as Antiochus IV Epiphanes Theos—referring to himself as “God Manifest”. Although Antiochus IV Epiphanes was real and ruled from 215-164 B. C.; he also was a portrait of the antichrist who is yet to come. Only the Antichrist will be even worse.
I have not included every part of these scriptures in Daniel 11 because of time and space here in a single post. However, I did want to include enough of the details so as to show you that every detail was fulfilled exactly. The same was true of every verse from 2-35. Every detail of the prophecy was fulfilled and can be verified by history. So, in 537 B.C. Daniel wrote down events that would occur 400 years after he died with exacting accuracy by the guidance of God’s messenger to him.
Just as those events did occur, so can we be assured that every promise of God is true and every detail as to the future final judgement is also true. Jesus Christ will return and will establish His Kingdom. There will be a final judgement for all the human race. Only those who have accepted the free gift of salvation will be able to spend eternity with God.
We, like Daniel, must pray for our nation. We do not know when the appointed end of this age will occur. We must feel the weight of it just enough to understand the urgency that we spread the gospel to a world in need of Grace. Yet, for all we who know Jesus Christ as our Savior; we must not despair either. Our hope, joy, peace and Glory are found in the truth of God’s promises.
photo by permission https://unsplash.com/@josephgardnerphotography The Inscription I added.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.