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DANIEL- LESSON TEN

I. DANIEL UNDERSTANDS FUTURE FOR ISRAEL: PERSIAN-GREEK-ANTIOCHUS III (10:1-11:19)

A. Daniel receives vision at the side of the Hiddekel River (Tigris) (v.4).

1. On the 24th. day

B. Subject of vision involved warfare (v.1)

C. Daniel has mourned over God’s people for 3 whole weeks (21 days) (v.2-3).

D. Daniel beholds man whose appearance represents one on a glorious heavenly mission (v. 5-6).

E. Fearful quake causes men with Daniel to flee – vision causes Daniel

            To lose strength – voice causes Daniel to go into a deep sleep (v. 7-9).

F. Angel explains his mission (v. 10-21)

1. He has been with Michael dealing with Persian ruler (21 days) (v.13) – prayer had been heard at the beginning (v. 12).

2. Vision deals with events “many days” away or “latter days” (v. 14)

3. He will go back and deal with Persian ruler along with Michael – promise that prince of Greece will arise (v. 21).

 

G. Events unfolding for Jews: the remainder of Persian rule to Alexander the Great (11:1-4).

1. Persian rule: remainder of Cyrus’ rule – Cambyses – Darius I Hystaspis (Darius the Great) – Xerxes (Ahasuerus) (riches – Esther 1:3-4)

2. Alexander III (the Great) will fall – kingdom divided not among his posterity- but four ways.

a. Lysimachus

b. Antipater (Cassander)

c. Seleucus I Nicator

d. Ptolemy I Soter

 

H. King of south strong – future agreements through marriage will not profit (v. 5-6)

1. Ptolemy I strong with Seleucus (prince) who come in 316 B.C. to Ptolemy I for strength.  Ptolemy I (king of south – Egypt – stronger of the two).

2. Later, marriage between Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy II) to Antiochus II Theos (Seleucid king) to no avail.

a. Antiochus II Theos had divorced Laodice to marry Berenice – Laodice poisons Antiochus II, Berenice and her child.

I. Series of conflicts between kings of south and north culminating with the death of Antiochus III (king of north) (v. 7-19)

1. Bernice’s brother – Ptolemy III – attacks and is successful against Seleucus II Callinicus (Laodice’s son) (v. 7-9).

2. One of Seleucus’ II sons – Antiochus III attacks king of the south – Ptolemy IV; Ptolemy IV wins but success does not last.  Battle of Raphia – 217 B.C. (v. 10-12)

3. Antiochus III, with help of warlike Jews, arises again with victory which will be their downfall. Antiochus IV would be of Antiochus’ seed to come and profane the Temple and kill many Jews (v. 13-19)

a. Takes fortified city of Sidon – defeats Ptolemy general Scopas who was in hiding (v. 15).

b. Palestine – the glorious land – under Antiochus III (v. 16)

c. Tries to establish power with Jews through equitable ways – marriage between his daughter and Ptolemy V – a boy- for practical reasons; does not work to his advantage (v. 17)

d. Antiochus III turns in battles to coasts of Asia Minor (197 B.C.); Thracia (196 B.C.); Greece (192 B.C.) (v. 18).

e. Turned back by Roman leaders: Acilius Glabrio defeats him at Thermopylae (191 B.C.); Cornelius Scipio defeats him at Magnesium (190 B.C.) (v. 18)

f. Because of losses and crippling tax, he returns to his own land and dies robbing temples in Persia (v. 19)

QUESTIONS:

1. Where is Daniel when he receives the vision of chapters 10-12?

2. What was causing Daniel sorrow?  How long had he been in mourning?

3. What subject did the vision involve?

4. Who appears in the vision to Daniel and what does his appearance say about his mission?

5. Was Daniel alone in receiving the vision?  

6. What happens to Daniel when he sees the vision and hears the voice?  

7. When was Daniel’s words heard by God?

8. What had the angel been doing for 21 days?

9. Identify who helped the angel:

 

10. Were the events outlined in the vision to occur soon?

11. Who was the fourth Persian ruler? Identify him in Scripture:

12. Identify the mighty king of Greece:

13. What two facts would happen regarding his (king of Greece) kingdom?

14. Who is the king of the south in verse 5?

15. Who is one of his “princes?”

16. How would these two come into agreement? Would it avail much?

17. Who prevails against the king of the north in verse 7?

18. Who attacks the king of the south in verse 10?

19. Who helps the king of the north to gain a victory?

20. Where does the king of the north stand which is important to the history of the Jews?

21. How does the king of the north work to gain footholds in his kingdom?

22. What happens to the king of the north that causes his downfall?

DANIEL- LESSON ELEVEN

I. DANIEL UNDERSTANDS FUTURE FOR ISRAEL: ANTIOCHUS IV – ROME’S DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM (11:20-12:13).

A. Rise and fall of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) – end of Seleucid’s strength (11:20-12:13)

1. Seleucus IV in power and sends Heliodorous, his prime minister, throughout the kingdom to raise money.  Seleucus IV killed by Heliodorous as a political expedient (v. 20).

2. Antiochus IV – “contemptible person” stands in Seleucus IV’s place (v. 21-35).

a. Demetrius I was expected heir (v.21)

b. Antiochus IV, through flattery, wins support of influential Asia Minor kings (v.21).

c. Successful in war – works deceitfully with allies through covenants (v. 22-24)

d. Defeats Ptolemy VI near Pelusium in 170 B.C. – close associates of Ptolemy VI betray him (v. 25-26)

e. Antiochus IV and Ptolemy VI will not prosper while they are using each other to gain control – Antiochus uses defeated Ptolemy as political pawn – God has appointed their end (v. 27).

f. Antiochus IV returns to own land with riches from Egypt; stops in Jerusalem to put down sedition – ousted High Priest, Jason, was working to gain position again after thinking that Antiochus IV was killed – then Antiochus returns to Syria (v. 28).

g. Antiochus IV fights again in 168 B.C. only to withdraw after orders of Roman envoy brought by Cyprus ships; hears of siege at Jerusalem and returns to put it down (v. 29-30).

h. The temple profaned (168-165 B.C.) (v. 31)

    1. Slays thousands of inhabitants in Jerusalem

    2. Robs temple of its treasures

    3. Prohibits Jewish worship

    4. Introduces worship of Zeus – abominations

i. Influences apostate Jews and persecutes the righteous people along with their faithful teachers until appointed end of Seleucid’s dynasty accomplished (v. 32-35; cf. 8:25, 11:27)

 B. Roman Empire brings end of Seleucid and Ptolemaic dynasties (v. 36-45)

1. Empire becomes a fiercer persecutor to “holy people” than Antiochus IV (v. 36, cf. 12:7)

2. Exalts self through rulers against God – until God’s indignation brings it to and end also (v.36)

3. Things as religious tradition, desire of women – basic drives of man – will not deter this power from its course – it will bow only to god of conquest regardless of whose god it is (v. 37-38).

4. Will honor those who honor his power – a mingling kingdom through alliances (v. 39, cf. 2:43, 7:7)

C. Ptolemy (king of south) brought to an end by Roman Empire (v. 40-45)

1. Cleopatra’s (ruler of south) alliance with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony ends in defeat at Actium at the hands of Augustus (Octavian).

2. Augustus (king of north) had marched to Egypt through Syria; Edom, Moab and Ammon escaped; enriched along way by Herod of the Jews (v. 41).

a. Egypt’s treasures were in Rome’s hands; Lybians and Ethiopians were “at the steps” in the triumphal procession - but word from East and North (Germans and Guals) were threats that demanded attention (v. 43-44).

b. Rome plants tents in Judaea – between Mediterranean Sea and Mount Zion – yet Rome too will come to an end (v. 45).

D. Rome destroys Jerusalem in A.D. 70 - time of incomparable trouble for Jews (12:1-13).

           1. Trouble will come at that time – when Rome is firmly planted in land (v. 1).

2. At this time, God’s true people will rise to new life and shine in righteousness in Christ (v. 2, 3; cf. 9:24-27).

3. Daniel told to preserve book of truth (chapters 10-12) until accomplished – knowledge will increase but will not change the truth revealed (v. 4)

4. One asks man clothed in linen (10:4-5); “How long?” (v. 5-7)

    a. Answer: time, times and a half of time (3 ½) – partial time of turmoil

    b. Power of Jews broken in pieces (v. 7)

5. Daniel seeks to understand further (v. 8-13)

    a. Righteous will do righteousness; wicked will do wickedly and both will be rewarded according to their         works (v. 10).

    b. Those who live through and endure the time of turmoil (1260 days – 1290 days) will enter time of blessing         1335 days (v. 11-12)

    c. Daniel comforted with knowing he will be established – as prophet (v. 13).

QUESTIONS:

1. Who stands in the place of Antiochus III?

2. Who is the vile or contemptible person in v. 21?

3. What battle is referred to in verse 25?

4. What causes Antiochus IV to cease his battle with Egypt in 168 B.C.?

5. What does Antiochus IV do that affects the Jews in 168 B.C.?

6. Identify and describe the character of the king of the north in verses 36-45?

7. Who is the king of the south in verse 40?

8. What time of trouble is considered in chapter 12 for the Jews?

9. What resurrection is referred to in 12:2

 

10. What is the significance of the 1290 and 1335 days?