“LATTER DAYS PT. 2”

Latter Days Pt. 2

 Daniel 11:20-35

Scripture, names, and dates:

• “Then shall arise in his place…” (v. 20) – Seleucus IV, eldest son of Antiochus the Great. He takes the throne after his father dies.
• “Exactor of tribute” (v. 20) – Heliodorus, the tax collector appointed by Seleucus IV sent to plunder the temple in Jerusalem.
• “A contemptible person” (v. 21) – Antiochus IV Epiphanes, brother of Seleucus IV and usurper of the throne. He takes control after his brother is assassinated.
• “Armies shall be utterly swept away” (v. 22) – The war between the Seleucid and Ptolemy Empires resulted in victory for Antiochus IV.
• “Even the prince of the covenant” (v. 22) – The high priest of Israel, Onais III, is murdered and replaced by the corrupt Menelaus, a puppet of Antiochus IV.
• “Even those who eat his food” (v. 26) – Ptolemy IV is betrayed by the scheming members of his court.
• “Two kings, their heart…bent on doing evil” (v. 27) – Ptolemy VI and Antiochus IV sit down at the negotiating table, each scheming on how to deceive the other. Neither are victorious over the other.
• “He shall return to his land” (v. 28) – Antiochus IV war with Ptolemies is profitable for him, but he was unable to capture the capital of Alexandria. So, he returned home in 169 BC.
• “His heart…set against the holy covenant” (v. 28) – Antiochus IV stopped in Jerusalem on his way back and robbed the holy temple of Yahweh.
• “At the time appointed he shall return” (v. 29) – Antiochus IV reinvades Egypt in 168 BC.
• “Ships of Kittim shall come against him” (v. 30) – The Roman Empire intervenes by sending its fleet against Antiochus IV, telling him to retreat or face Rome’s wrath. Antiochus IV flees in fear.
• “Take action against the holy covenant” (v. 30) – Antiochus IV takes his anger out on Jerusalem and the Jews by tearing down the city walls, slaughtering thousands, and selling Jews into slavery.
• “Profane the temple and fortress” (v. 31) – Antiochus IV orders further religious persecution against the Jews, including erecting idols in the temple and ceasing the daily sacrifices to Yahweh.
• “Abomination that makes desolate” (v. 31) – Antiochus IV commits an act of extreme blasphemy by setting up an altar in the temple and sacrificing a pig on it.
• “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” (v. 32) – Jews rise to resist Antiochus IV’s persecutions, sparking the Maccabean revolt (167 BC – 160 BC).
• “Until the time of the end” (v. 35) – The persecution of the Jews served the purpose of God purifying them. This work of purification will continue into a yet fulfilled eschatological future.