Outline
Introduction
A. The Chastening of Israel
B. The Protection of Israel
Lesson
I. Ahasuerus (v. 2)
II. Alexander the Great (vv. 3-8)
A. The Extent of His Dominion
B. The Division of His Empire
C. The Resulting Conflict
III. Antiochus the Great (vv. 9-20)
A. Revenge from the North (vv. 9-10)
B. Retaliation from the South (vv. 11-12)
C. The Return of the North (vv. 13-20)
1. The Attack (vv. 13-15)
2. The Aftermath (vv. 16-20)
IV. Antiochus Epiphanes (vv. 21-35)
A. His Accession (vv. 21-24)
B. His Aggression (vv. 25-35)
1. The first attack (vv. 25-28)
2. The second attack (vv. 29-35)
a) Against Egypt (vv. 29-30)
b) Against Israel (vv. 31-35)
(1) Israel’s desolation
(2) Israel’s defense
Conclusion
Introduction
We live in a rebellious age. Daniel 11 chronicles an age of defiance towards God–a defiance that will last through our own time to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. The Chastening of Israel
Within the larger context of the world’s rebellion against God we read of Israel’s rebellion against Him. The Old Testament affirms that Israel is God’s chosen nation. Yet it also chronicles its disobedience to Him through idolatry and immorality. It defied God, spurning His grace and lovingkindness. As a result God has chastened Israel.
The chastening of Israel sets the context for Daniel 11. The prophet Jeremiah declared Israel would be punished by spending seventy years in captivity. While in captivity the prophet Daniel realized the seventy years were nearly over and expected the Jewish people to return to their land, Jerusalem to be restored, and the Temple rebuilt. But when permitted to return, only a small fragment of the people made the trip to the Promised Land. Jerusalem remained in disrepair and the Temple in ruins. Instead of responding to God’s chastening, they remained entrenched in the pagan lifestyle of Babylon. The seventy-year exile in Babylon was obviously only the beginning of Israel’s chastening.
Daniel was discouraged by what he saw and turned to God in prayer. He wanted to know why things hadn’t turned out the way he expected. After mourning with fasting and prayer for three weeks, Daniel received the prophecy contained in Daniel 11-12. He was told that the chastening of Israel would continue until when the nation was completely restored. At that time the Messiah will establish His kingdom on earth.
B. The Protection of Israel
Daniel 11:1 says, “I [the messenger angel], in the first year of Darius, the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen [the archangel Michael]. ” Michael had helped out that angel about three years previously (Dan. 10:1) when the decree allowing the Jewish people to return to their land was issued. Apparently the demon named “the prince of Persia” (Dan. 10:13) was trying to prevent that return, and that’s why Michael needed assistance. That gives us insight into how the holy angels enforce God’s will in the midst of demonic activity.
The messenger angel brought a revelation of God’s future plans for His people. Though Daniel was told that his people would continue to suffer through the tribulation until the establishment of the millennial kingdom (Dan. 12:2) , it was a comfort for him to know that his people would be under the protection of God’s holy angels throughout that period.
Daniel in the Critic’s Den
Though the prophecy in Daniel 11 deals with the rise and fall of Gentile world powers, it’s primarily concerned with the suffering and fate of Israel. The minute details of the prophecy have already been fulfilled in history with an accuracy that has attracted the attacks of literary critics. It so precisely predicted future events involving the Persian and Greek Empires that critics assume Daniel must have been written written after the events took place. That’s based on the premise that God didn’t write the Bible and they must thus conclude that the author of the book of Daniel was a liar, since he claimed to receive knowledge of future events from God prior to their actually happening. They are left with a God who doesn’t know the future and a prophet of impeccable character (Ezek. 14:14, 20) who in fact behaved dishonorably. But there are many linguistic and historical reasons to authenticate the book of Daniel as prophecy. (For further information see Josh McDowell’s Daniel in the Critic’s Den, available from Josh McDowell Ministries, P. O. Box 1000, Dallas, Texas 75221; 1-800-222-JOSH). Daniel wasn’t a liar and our God is able to tell us about the future as easily as if it were the past.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
