Quick summary of chapter 11: The King of the North and the King of the South did not like each other and fought over the whole land, but in the end they were all destroyed.
Very often prophecies have very several fulfilments, a short term fulfilment and a long term fulfilment.
The Babylonian Empire was the most powerful. It was situated in a central area around many other nations who looked up to it (even if they weren’t ruled by it) – Medes, Persians, Egyptians, Lyconians, just like in the vision of the tree where it was visible to all the earth.
The prophecy of Daniel is so accurate to what’s happened in history that critics say it must’ve been written after the events had taken place – but we know it wasn’t. When we get to Alexander the Great in history, we know that he was very powerful and conquered a huge area but when he died age 33 he had no children and so his kingdom was given to his four generals.
Compare this to Daniel 11:3,4 (NIV) “3Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. 4After he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parcelled out towards the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.”
The four generals that got parts of the kingdom were: Ptolemy who got Egypt; Cassander who got Greece; Lysimachus who got Turkey; and Seleucus who got an incredibly large area – from Israel stretching out across towards India. They all battled with each other and eventually Seleucus got Greece and Turkey too, leaving just the southern area that belonged to Ptolemy – King of North and King of South.
Verse 6 – “After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed over, together will her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.”
If you know history you will know this is what happened. (taken from our study book) Antiochus Theos, the third king of the dynasty of the north put away Laodice, his first wife, and married Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphius, the second king. – This is what verse 6 is talking about!
Chapter 11 talks a lot about the ‘time of the end’. Shows it’s also a long term prophecy.
When Norman was younger, he heard a lot about Russia giving Egypt a lot of financial support (North and South). Now in the news (on Sunday 17th) Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, and Russia is totally against it. They are saying they will use military force – very similar to the prophecy. Verses 9&10 “9Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.”
Hopefully next week we will be looking more into this chapter…
No comments:
Post a Comment