Daniel 11 is one of the most amazing prophecies in the Bible. It is most specific, describing historical events, up to the present, in more detail than any other prophecy. Daniel 11is the longest prophecy in the Bible. The prelude is found in the 10th chapter of the book of Daniel. The prophecy came to Daniel in the third year of the reign of Cyrus, king of the Persian Empire (Daniel 10:1). A "man," apparently the angel Gabriel (Daniel 9:21), appears before Daniel, to make him understand what shall befall God's people in these present "latter days" (10:14).

The first verse of the 11th chapter is a continuation from the last verse of the 10th chapter.

1. What did the angel Gabriel say to Daniel? (Daniel 11:1).

Note: The angel is saying that his assignment began in the first year of Darius the Mede in defending the Persian Kings.

2. How many more kings will arise in Persia? (Daniel 11:2). What is special about the fourth king?

Note: Actually there were 12 more kings in the Persian Empire, but only the first four following Cyrus were of importance for the purpose of this prophecy.

The first king was Cambyses who was the oldest son of Cyrus the Mede. He reigned from 529 B.C. to 523 B.C.

The second king was Pseudo-Smerdis. Smerdis was a younger son of Cyrus who was murdered by the Pseudo-Smerdis, who pretended to be the younger son of Cyrus. He reigned one year and was killed in 522 B.C.

The third king was Darius the Persian who began to reign in 522 B.C. He was a cousin of Cyrus. He reigned from 522 B.C to 485 B.C.

The fourth king who is richer than the others began to rain in 485 B.C., and his name was Xerxes, also known as Ahasuerus of the book of Esther. He stirred up war with Greece. He ruled from 485 B.C. to 464 B.C.

Gabriel says that this fourth king was far richer than the others. As he was getting power by his wealth He will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

Herodotus tells us what Xerxes did. Xerxes masted an Army of 1 million men, and took that Army into Greece and conquered Macedonia and worked his way down into Greece. He almost had conquered the entirety of Greece. However, the Persian navy was confronted by a conglomeration of Greek navies from various city states and the Greek navies blew them out of the water. The Persian navy was virtually no more. This occurred in 480 B.C., when the Navy of Xerxes was defeated. When the Navy was gone the supply lines were cut off and, therefore, the Army had to withdraw. Xerxes, was not able to conquer Greece and he was upset that he failed so when you read the book of Esther, you find that he was so upset when he came back he was almost suicidal and it was recommended that he have a Miss Medo Persian contest, which at that time Esther became the queen.

In 464 BC Artaxerxes I came to the throne. Artaxerxes was a son of Xerxes. In the seventh year of Artaxerxes the decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem.

3. Will a mighty king arise? (Daniel 11:3).

Note: Then King Philip of Macedonia planned a great war to conquer the Persian Empire, with an army made up mostly of Grecians. He died before the plans were completed. But his son, Alexander the Great, took over his plans, and invaded Persia. He met the Persian army at the Battle of Issus, 333 B.C. (Daniel 8:2, 5-6). Then he swept down into Egypt, and then to a final crushing defeat of the Persian Empire at the Battle of Arbella, 331 B.C., after which Alexander marched on a conquest clear to India, sweeping all before him.

This mighty king is a reference to Alexander the great. This was about 130 years after Xerxes.

4. Will this mighty kingdom be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven? (Daniel 11:4).

Note: Notice how marvelously and how accurately this came to pass. We quote from one of the authoritative English-language histories published in the last century, A Manual of Ancient History (Student Series) by Rawlinson: "Cut off unexpectedly in the vigor of early manhood [the 33rd year of his age, June, 323 B.C.], he [Alexander] left no inheritor, either of his power or of his projects" (p. 237). The Empire was left leaderless and in confusion, but out of this emerged, by the year 301 B.C., four divisions, just as prophesied, as a result of a division of the Empire into four divisions by Alexander's generals. They were:
    1. Ptolemy (Soter), ruling Egypt, part of Syria and Judea.
    2. Seleucus (Nicator), ruling Syria, Babylonia and territory east to India.
    3. Lysimachus, ruling Asia Minor.
    4. Cassander, ruling Greece and Macedonia.
    Thus was the prophecy of verse 4 fulfilled to the letter.

5. Will the king of the South become strong and shall he gain power and dominion? (Daniel 11:5).

Note: Now notice what follows. From here the prophecy foretells the activities only of two of these four divisions: Egypt, called "king of the south," because it is south of Jerusalem; and the Syrian kingdom, the king of the north, just north of Judea. It is because the Holy Land passed back and forth between those two divisions, and because their different wars were principally over possession of Judea, that the prophecy is concerned with them. Here in verse 5: "And the king of the south [Egypt] 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." In history, we learn that the original Ptolemy I, called Soter, became strong and powerful, developing Egypt beyond the greatest dreams of Alexander. One of his princes, or generals, Seleucus Nicator, also became strong and powerful. And, in 312 B.C., taking advantage of Ptolemy's being tied up in a war, he established himself in Syria, and assumed the diadem as king.

6. Will there be an agreement for the daughter of the king of the North between the king of the North and the king of the South? (Daniel 11:6).

Comment: Verse 6 says, "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 [margin, "rights" or "equitable conditions," or "marriage union"]: 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."

This prophecy was fulfilled to the letter. At the end of 50 years, this occurred exactly as described!

Syria's ruler, the king of the north, at this time was Antiochus II, called Theos. His wife was named Laodice. And, says Rawlinson's Ancient History, page 251, "Her influence ... engaged him in a war with Ptolemy Philadelphus [king of the south], B.C. 260, which is terminated, B.C. 252, by a marriage between Antiochus and Bernice, Ptolemy's daughter."

The prophecy says "he that begat her" shall be given up. Also that she shall not retain the power of the arm, neither shall the king of the north, whom she married, stand. All three are to come to their end. Notice how accurately this came to pass.

Says Rawlinson's History, pages 251 and 252: "On the death of Philadelphus [he that begat her], B.C. 247, Antiochus repudiated Bernice, and took back his former wife, Laodice, who, however, doubtful of his constancy, murdered him to secure the throne for her son Seleucus (II) B.C. 246 ... Bernice ... had been put to death by Laodice."

Nowhere in all the Bible is there so literal a prophecy, giving so many details of future history. And to read an ancient history of these kingdoms is simply to see unfolded before your eyes, step by step, verse by verse, this marvelous prophecy. There can be no doubt of its right application!

7. Will a relative from the king of the South come with an army against the king of the North and prevail? (Daniel 11:7).

Comment: Next let us notice that the Holy Land changes hands in verse 7: "But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate [margin, "in his office"], which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail."

"Out of a branch," or "shoot," of her roots. Her parents were her roots. Hence, this must be her brother, who next should occupy the throne of king of the south and fulfill this prophecy. Now listen to this accurate fulfillment, quoted word for word from the same page of Rawlinson's work (p. 252):

"Ptolemy Euergetes [the III, eldest son of Philadelphus (p. 272) and therefore Bernice's brother, a branch of her roots] invaded Syria, B.C. 245, to avenge the murder of his sister, Bernice ... .In the war which followed, he carried everything before him."

8. Will this invader carry their gods captive to Egypt? (Daniel 11:8).

Comment: The eighth verse of Daniel 11 says this king of the south would carry captives and vessels of silver and gold into Egypt, and continue to reign more years than the king of the north, who at that time was Seleucus II.

9. Will this invader eventually return to his own land? (Daniel 11:9).

Comment: Verse 9 says he shall return into Egypt. As verse 7 said he should "enter into the fortress of the king of the north," Ptolemy III did seize the fortress of Syria, Seleucia, the port of Antioch, capital of the kingdom! Then he carried back to Egypt immense booty and 2,500 molten images and idolatrous vessels which, in 526 B.C. Cambyses had carried away from Egypt. He continued to rule until 222 B.C., while the king of the north, Seleucus II, died in 226 B.C.

When he died, his two sons took over the kingdom of the north; first Seleucus III, 226-223 B.C., who ruled only three years, and then his brother Antiochus III, called "the Great," 223-187 B.C. Both of these two sons of Seleucus II assembled immense forces to war against Egypt, avenge their father, and recover their port and fortress, Seleucia. This was accurately prophesied in verse 10.

10. Will his sons stir up strife? (Daniel 11:10).

Comment: "But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return and be stirred up [margin, "be stirred up again"], even to his fortress."

11. Will the king of the South go out and fight with the king of the North? (Daniel 11:11).

Comment: In fulfillment of the latter part of verse 10, Antiochus the Great, after 27 years, recovered his fortress, Seleucia, and he also conquered the territory of Syria, as far as Gaza, including Judea. But the young Egyptian king, now Ptolemy IV (Philopater), was roused, and with an army of 20,000 inflicted severe defeat on Antiochus the Great;

12. Will he cast down tens of thousands but not prevail? (Daniel 11:12).

Comment: And fulfilling verse 12, he killed tens of thousands and again annexed Judea to Egypt. But he was not strengthened, for he made a rash and speedy peace with Antiochus, and returned to dissipation, throwing away the fruits of victory.

13. Will the king of the North return and muster a multitude greater than the former? (Daniel 11:13).

Comment: It was "after certain years," or 12 years later, 205 B.C., that Ptolemy Philopator died, leaving his throne to an infant son, Ptolemy Epiphanes. Then Antiochus assembled a greater army, and won great victories.

He then made a treaty allying Philip of Macedonia with him, and others, against Egypt, and they wrested Phoenicia and southern Syria from the king of the south. In this they were assisted by some of the Jews. Josephus' Jewish history says many Jews helped Antiochus.

14. In those days, shall many rise up against the king of the South? (Daniel 11:14).

15. Will the king of the North come and build a siege mound and will the forces of the South be able to withstand him? (Daniel 11:15).

16. Will the king of the North stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power? (Daniel 11:16).

Note: "The glorious land," of course, refers to Judea, the Holy Land. Antiochus the Great besieged and took Sidon from Egypt, ruined the interests of Egypt in Judea at the Battle of Mount Panium, 198 B.C., and then Antiochus took possession of Judea.

17. Will the king of the North give his daughter in marriage to the king of the South? (Daniel 11:17).

Note: The "upright ones" in Hebrew means "equal conditions, or marriage," but the one he marries will not stand on his side. In 198 B.C., Antiochus arranged a marriage between his daughter, Cleopatra (not the Cleopatra of 31 B.C. in Egypt) and young Ptolemy Epiphanes, king of the south, by which he hoped subtly to gain complete possession of Egypt; but the plan failed. Says Rawlinson, page 254, "Coele-Syria and Palestine promised as a dowry, but not delivered." Cleopatra did not truly stand on the side of Antiochus, for it was only a trick to gain possession of Egypt.

18. Where will the king of the North next turn his face to? (Daniel 11:18).

Note: And so Antiochus turned his attention in another direction and tried to conquer, 197 to 196 B.C., the islands and coasts of Asia Minor. But the Roman general, Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus, utterly defeated him at the Battle of Magnesia, 190 B.C.

19. Will he turn his face toward the fortress of his own land? (Daniel 11:19).

Note: Antiochus next turned his attention to the fortresses of his own land, in the east and west. But, attempting to recruit his dissipated wealth by the plunder of the Oriental Temple of Belus, in Elymais, he was killed, 187 B.C.

20. Will someone arise in his place who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom? (Daniel 11:20).

Note: Seleucus IV Philopator (187-176), his son, in an effort to raise money, sent a tax collector, Heliodorus, through Judea. But he reigned only 11 years, when Heliodorus poisoned him.

21. Will a vile person arise and come in peaceably and seize the kingdom by intrigue? (Daniel 11:21).

Note: He left no heir. But his brother, a younger son of Antiochus the Great, named Epiphanes (Antiochus IV), a contemptible reprobate, came by surprise and through flattery took the kingdom. To his aid came his assistant, Eumenes. Rawlinson says, page 255, "Antiochus [Epiphanes], assisted by Eumenes, drives out Heliodorus, and obtains the throne, B.C. 176. He astonishes his subjects by an affectation of Roman manners" and "good-natured profuseness [flattery]."

22. Will he use force like a flood and will many be swept away? (Daniel 11:22).

Note: "The prince of the covenant" does not refer to Christ. This was the attempt of Antiochus to replace the Jewish high priest by another who would be subservient to him.

23. Will he act deceitfully and become strong with a small number of people? (Daniel 11:23).

24. Did he enter peaceably and do what his fathers had not done? (Daniel 11:24).

Note: Although only a few were with Antiochus at first, yet by this "Roman manner," by deceit and flattery, he crept into power and prospered. He also invaded Galilee and Lower Egypt. His fathers, the former kings of Syria, had favored the Jews, but says Rawlinson, page 255, they "were driven to desperation by the mad project of this self-willed monarch."

25. Will the king of the North stir up his power against the king of the South with a great army? (Daniel 11:25).

Note: Rawlinson, pages 255-256, says, "Threatened with war by the ministers of Ptolemy Philometor [now king of the south], who claim Coele-Syria and Palestine as the dowry of Cleopatra, the late queen-mother, Antiochus marches against Egypt ... B.C. 171" (pp. 277-278). But he was met by his nephew, Ptolemy Philometor, king of the south, with another immense army. But the Egyptian king was defeated through the treachery of his own officers and was outwitted by Antiochus.

26. Will his army be swept away, and will many fall down slain? (Daniel 11:26).

27. Will both of these kings' hearts be bent on evil? (Daniel 11:27).

Note: Continuing in Rawlinson, page 278: "After his victory at Pelusium, Antiochus advanced to Memphis, and having obtained possession of the young king's person [Ptolemy Philometor, king of the south], endeavored to use him as a tool for effecting the entire reduction of the country." In 174 B.C., the uncle of the king of the south sat at a banquet. Antiochus pretended to ally himself with the young Ptolemy, against his brother, Euergetes II, but each was trying to deceive the other.

28. While returning to his land with great riches, was his heart moved against the holy covenant? (Daniel 11:28).

Note: In 168 B.C., returning from Egypt with great plunder, Antiochus set himself against the Jews, massacred many, and then returned to Antioch with golden vessels from the Temple at Jerusalem.

29. At the appointed time will he return and go toward the south? (Daniel 11:29).

Note: The same year, he again invaded Egypt, but with none of his former success, because Philometor, king of the south, got help from Rome.

30. Will ships from Cyprus come against him? (Daniel 11:30).

Note: The Roman fleet came against Antiochus, he was forced to surrender to the terms of Popillius, commander of the Roman fleet, and retire from Egypt and restore Cyprus to Egypt. Returning through Judea, smarting under the defeat, he vented his exasperation against the Jews, and extended special favors to those Jews who would turn from their religion.

31. Will the sanctuary be defiled and the daily sacrifices be taken away? (Daniel 11:31). Will there be an ‘abomination of desolation’ set up?

Note: In 167 B.C. came the climax of the horror. Antiochus sent troops to the Holy Land, who desecrated the Temple and sanctuary, abolished the daily sacrifice (see also Daniel 8:11, 24) and (Kislev 15, Hebrew calendar) placed the abomination — an image — on the altar in the Temple precincts, making it desolate (Rawlinson, p. 255). Many who claim to teach the Bible try to apply the prophecy of this verse to Moslems in the 7th century A.D., building the Dome of the Rock on the supposed site of the ancient Temple at Jerusalem! But every verse of this prophecy, step by step, verse by verse, unfolded in actual history, just as here recounted, so there can be not the slightest shadow of doubt as to this abomination that "maketh desolate" — it was an idol set up in 167 B.C., by Antiochus Epiphanes.

32. Did some of the Jews in Jerusalem do wickedly against the covenant? (Daniel 11:32). Were they corrupted by flattery? What will be carried out by those who remain faithful to God?

Note: Antiochus tried to end the religion of the Jews. He took away the daily sacrifice, forbade the ministration at the Temple. He perverted by flatteries the Jews who were willing to forsake their religion.

But — right here, the prophecy cuts off from the continuation of events in the history of those ancient north and south kingdoms. Up to this point, the prophecy was unfolded, step by step, in the actual history of the northern kingdom of the Seleucidae, or Syria, and the southern kingdom of Egypt. But, say most commentaries, all accurate details seem suddenly to stop short with this verse.

Now let us notice verse 32 in detail, and particularly the last part:

"And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries." This, Antiochus Epiphanes did do. But now notice the last part of the verse: "but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits."

So our question now is, when, beginning with, and following, 167 B.C., did people begin to know God, and to be spiritually strong, and to do exploits in the Lord's service? The answer is, at the time of the Maccabees, beginning in 166 B.C., and, two centuries later, at the first appearing of Jesus Christ and in the days of the apostles!

33. What will the people who understand do? (Daniel 11:33). Will many be killed by the sword for many days?

Note: Jesus and the apostles did instruct many. But Jesus was put to death, and history indicates that all the early apostles were martyred, except John. And this continued, many days, even into the Middle Ages, when millions were martyred for their faith.

34. How much help will be given when they fall? (Daniel 11:34).

35. What happens to those of understanding who fall? (Daniel 11:35). Is the ‘time of the end’ mentioned in this verse?Note: Here is described in general the whole course of God's people, from the days of Christ to the present. Compare with such passages as Rev. 12:6, 11, 13-17. And notice the vision carries on down to this present time of the end.36. Will the king do according to his own will? (Daniel 11:36). Will he exalt himself above every god and speak blasphemies against God?

Note: The king of the north — who is he, now, in the early and middle New Testament times, to which our prophecy has come? In 65 B.C., Syria was swallowed up by the Roman Empire, and became a Roman province. The Roman emperor now controlled Judea, and therefore the king of the north, here referred to, is, at this time, the emperor of the Roman Empire. This verse says he should do according to his will, and he did — exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and he did; for the Roman emperors required all to worship them and sacrifice to them, as a god. He was as a god. He was to speak against the true God, and he did and persecuted all Christians.

37. Will he have any regard for the God of his fathers or any god? (Daniel 11:37). Who will he exalt?

Note: His fathers had worshiped idols, but the Roman emperors set themselves up as gods.

38. Who will he honor? (Daniel 11:38).

Note: The Roman emperors honored the god of forces, or (margin) munitions, and developed the greatest war-making power the world ever knew. After setting themselves up as gods, before A.D. 476, the emperors who followed, beginning with Justinian, A.D. 554, began to honor with gold, silver and power a god in a high religious office never known to their fathers. (Compare this prophecy of Daniel with Revelation 17:4, 5, and 18:3, 16.)

39. Will he act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god? (Daniel 11:39). Will he divide the land for gain?

Note: The emperors did acknowledge the supremacy of religion, increased it with material glory and caused it to rule over many.

40. At the time of the end will the king of the South push at him? (Daniel 11:40).Will the king of the North come against him like a whirlwind? Will he enter into countries and overwhelm them?

Note: This prophecy now skips to the present. Now we come to the very present century. Who is today the "king of the south"? It cannot be the king of Egypt, for in 31 B.C. Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, swallowed up by the king of the north. Today Egypt is a republic ruled by native Arabs. It has no king of its own.

But, in the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes (verse 7), 247-222 B.C., Egypt annexed part of Ethiopia, immediately south of Egypt (Rawlinson, pp. 272, 273). Since that time, the 11th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica says (article "Ethiopia") Egypt and Ethiopia were two or three times under the same government. Thus, the two were as one land. And the only portion of that land of the "king of the south" that remained independent until the 20th century is Ethiopia!

Ethiopia was the only country in all East Africa that continued independent, and had a government and kingdom dating back before the Roman Empire. It was the southern part of the kingdom of the South. So it is the only possible government that could be the king of the South.

At the time of the end — our time — this king of the South was to push at the king of the North, now at Rome!

In 1895 King Menelik, of Ethiopia, sent an army of 9,000 to 10,000 men against General Baratieri's Italian army.

North of Ethiopia was Eritrea, belonging to Italy. And southeast was Italian Somaliland.

In 1896 General Baratieri with 13,000 men tried to defend Eritrea against the Ethiopians. They lost 4,600 whites and 3,000 native troops, and more than 3,500 were taken prisoner.

In a later engagement the Italians were cut to pieces because of their inexperience in fighting in mountainous country and because they were greatly outnumbered. This defeat was disastrous to Italian expansion in Africa.

Ever since, Italy demanded revenge! In 1927 Mussolini set the time, at just 40 years from that defeat, or 1935, when he would be ready "finally to make our voice heard, and see our rights recognized!"

1935 came. The hour struck! Mussolini attacked! Now notice verse 40: "... and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over."

A whirlwind comes in the air, sweeping all before it. Mussolini did send a great air force into Africa! Also many modern "chariots" — trucks, tanks, etc. — and ships, loaded with soldiers. More than 100,000 sailed to Ethiopia.

And, notice it, Mussolini's forces were to pass over — in the air! It is at this precise point in this astounding prophecy that Mussolini's struggle in Ethiopia and in World War II ended. Mussolini did not finish the prophecy. There is yet another leader to arise in Europe! Notice what will next happen!

41. Will the King of the North enter the Glorious Land of Israel? (Daniel 11:41). Will many countries be overthrown? What countries will escape from his hand?

Note: "He shall enter also into the glorious land ... "the Holy Land. This is yet to be fulfilled. When the coming revival of the Roman Empire takes the Holy Land, then the nations will be plunged into the initial phase of the great, last and final crisis at the close of this age!

"And," continues verse 41, "many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon" — the modern land of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The coming dictator will unite many others with him — 10 in all (Revelation 17:12) — reviving the ancient Roman Empire.

42. Will the land of Egypt escape out of the hands of the king of the North? (Daniel 11:42).

Note: Verse 42 says Egypt shall not escape, proving Egypt is not now the "king of the South."

43. Will the King of the North have power over the treasures and precious things of Egypt? (Daniel 11:43).

Note: Verse 43 says the Libyans and Ethiopians (observe that after its conquest by Mussolini, Ethiopia is not again referred to as the king of the south) shall be at his steps — and he will then control them. Italy lost control of Libya and Ethiopia after the war.

44. What will trouble the King of the North? (Daniel 11:44). What will he do in great fury?

Note: News out of the east and out of the north — Russia and the Orient — shall trouble the revived Roman Empire. Russia will enter the war!

45. Where will the King of the North plant his palace? (Daniel 11:45). Will he come to his end and who will help him?

Note: The coming Roman Empire shall establish its palace, as capital of the revived Roman Empire, and eventually its religious headquarters, at Jerusalem! Zechariah 14:2 says the city shall be taken! "Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him"! This language signifies the end of the "beast" and the "false prophet" at the hand of God! You will find this end described in Revelation 19:19-20 and Zechariah 14:12.

And now what is the time of this end, at the close of this marvelous prophecy? The next verse, Daniel 12:1, says at the time of the resurrection of the just — at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ!

This prophecy begins with the kingdoms of Syria and Egypt, soon after the death of Alexander the Great — 2,300 years ago. But it ends at the time of the resurrection and the Second Coming of Christ to bring peace at last to the region — and to the entire world! It is so plain, there can be no doubt of its right application!