Daniel 12:1

Daniel 12:1 says, And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  After all the prophesies of doom and destruction that would often come to God's people, there is now a prophecy of hope.  We know that not only was there a time of trouble for God's people in the time before Christ came and immediately thereafter,, but also that it will get worse before Christ returns again.  Matthew Henry says that those written in the book of life were written in before creation and would remain written in after the destruction of the world.  As I have stated many times, I do not believe that some people are destined to be saved and others doomed even before they are born, so I would say that a person's name is written in the book of life at the time that person accepts Christ as Savior and Lord.  In the Old Testament they entered into a relationship with God looking ahead to the coming Messiah, and since Jesus, the Messiah, came, we look back to His sacrifice on the cross.  The Bible tells us that faith in Christ is the only way to salvation, and that each person must make a decision whether to accept or reject Him.  Verse two adds, And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  This is a definite reference to the second coming of Christ.  The dead shall rise, some to everlasting life with God through their faith in Christ, and all others to everlasting contempt.  Again, if all this was predetermined, then there would be no purpose to anything that happens in this life.  Verse three continues, And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.  I believe that this means that those who believe in Christ will shine in His presence, and especially those that reached others for Him.  Verse four concludes, But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.  Daniel was told to seal the book until the time of the end.  At the appointed time, it would be opened and understood.  The same is true of the second coming of Christ.  The time is determined, but we do not know when that will be, and no amount of studying will ever reveal that day to us.  We need to simply live as though today is the day.

Daniel 11:38

Daniel 11:38 says, But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.  Daniel said this king would honor the god of forces and a god he created, since his fathers did not know this god.  Unlike most rulers before him, he did not allow the worship of any god except the one he created.  There are countries today who worship false gods and deny people the right to worship any other.  Verse thirty-nine adds, Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.  He would be prosperous in his following of this god he created.  Verse forty continues, And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: 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.  Matthew Henry says this was most likely a fourth battle with Egypt, when Antiochus basically just plundered their riches.  I believe it is safe to say that he was feeling indestructible.  When rulers begin to feel this way, especially those that do not acknowledge God, then they feel that they have the right to do whatever they please to do.  Verse forty-one states, He shall enter also into the glorious land, and 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.  He will enter that glorious land, Israel, and will overthrow many countries, but some will escape.  By claiming Israel, he will really think himself all powerful.  Verse forty-two adds, He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.  Verse forty-three continues, But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.  Once more, it seems that he is unstoppable.  He has gained not only territory, but also great resources.  Resources still lead to wars today.  The concern may not be as much for occupying the land as it is for claiming a right to the resources.  Verse forty-four says, But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.  He will receive word about some rising against him and will be troubled by this.  Verse forty-five adds, And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.  Matthew Henry states that during this time that Antiochus will really begin to punish the Jews, but when he begins to fall no one will come to his aid and his reign will end.  This should be a prophecy of hope for God's people.  Even though things would be bad for them for many years, God would still be with them.  Today, no matter how bad things may get in the world, God is still the ultimate victor, as are those who put their faith in Christ.  This should always bring us hope and comfort.

Daniel 11:29

Daniel 11:29 says, At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.  Having been successful before, Antiochus would again go to war with Egypt, but Ptolemaeus Philometer will have aligned himself with the Romans, so Antiochus would not succeed.  When Daniel made this prophecy, these kings would not come to power for years.  Daniel did not give their names, and I refer to Matthew Henry to provide them.  What we must understand is that we look back on what Daniel looked ahead to.  God's prophecy through Daniel was fulfilled in this part.  Verse thirty adds, For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.  Being defeated, Antiochus will return home and begin to take out his anger against the holy covenant, or God's people.  Verse thirty-one continues, And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  Antiochus would take away daily sacrifices to God, or worship experiences, and would pollute the sanctuary of God.  In much of the world today, it is illegal to worship God, and some of these places are very powerful nations.  What we need to remember is that their power and their days are limited.  Verse thirty-two states, And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.  Even as Antiochus is at war against God and His people, the people that know God will remain strong.  I believe this is where those who are God's people in name only are separated from those who truly follow Him.  If we are in a position of having to follow the dictates of the world or the commandments of God, we need to pray for the strength to follow God.  Verse thirty-three adds, And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.  There will be God's people who attempt to teach others about God, but they will be persecuted, even tortured and killed, for their efforts.  We can never allow fear to stop us from witnessing for God.  Verse thirty-four continues, Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.  When God's people seemed to be successful, there would be those who came to them flattering them, but they would not truly believe in God.  There will always be those who will speak highly of Christians if they think it will benefit them, but they will soon abandon them if hardships come.  Verse thirty-five says, And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.  Daniel was told that some of God's people would fall to try them and to purge those that professed to believe in God from those who really did.  It is easy to say we follow God when it doesn't cost us anything or even benefit us in some way.  Verse thirty-six adds, And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.  Matthew Henry states that many see this as a beginning reference to the anti-Christ, with Antiochus being the prototype.  While God's people were suffering, the king would exalt himself and speak boldly against God.  This continues even today.  There are even those within countries that profess to believe in God that speak boldly against God and still prosper.  What we must remember is that our relationship with God is not just about life here, but about the everlasting relationship with God.  Verse thirty-seven continues, Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.  This king would worship himself above all else.  I guess we could say that he was a real ego maniac.

Daniel 11:21

Daniel 11:21 says, And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.   Matthew Henry says these next few verses refer to the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horn spoken of before (Dan 8:9) a sworn enemy to the Jewish religion, and a bitter persecutor of those that adhered to it. He added that "What troubles the Jews met with in the reigns of the Persian kings were not so particularly foretold to Daniel as these, because then they had living prophets with them, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage them; but these troubles in the days of Antiochus were foretold, because, before that time, prophecy would cease, and they would find it necessary to have recourse to the written word."  He would come to power not by military might but by flattery, or trickery.  Even today, there are those who use flattery and deceit to gain power in the world.  Verse twenty-two adds, And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.  Matthew Henry says this refers to an uprising against Antiochus Epiphanes, during which the rightful heir, his nephew, was killed.  Verse twenty-three continues, And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.  He would make a league with others by being deceitful and would become strong with a small people.  He will use those without much power to gain control of the country for himself.  Verse twenty-four states, He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.  Unlike those before him, he will scatter, or share, the wealth.  Many times, today, rulers come into power by appealing to those who feel powerless and treating them well for a time, but then turning their backs on them.  Verse twenty-five adds, And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.  The king of the south, Ptolemaeus Philometer, would go to war against the king of the north, Antiochus,, but would lose.  Verse twenty-six continues, Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.  Part of the reason that the king of the south failed was because he was betrayed by his own people.  Verse twenty-seven states, And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.  The two kings would get together to declare peace, but neither would be sincere.  We often hear of cease fires in wars, or conflicts, today that do not last because either one or both of the sides are not sincere in their negotiations.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.  Antiochus would gain great riches, but his heart would be against the holy covenant, or God and His people.  Though there are rulers who gain great power today, if they stand against God and His people, their doom is already assured.

Daniel 11:15

Daniel 11:15 says, So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.  We will continue to see this ebb and flow of power back and forth during this period of history, much like we see in the world today.  What we must realize is that God was still in control of the ultimate outcome.  The king of the north was again attacking the king of the south.  Verse sixteen adds, But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.  In victory, the king of the north would do as he pleased, and Judah, the glorious land of God's people, would be caught in the middle.  God's people are still often caught in the middle of conflicts today, but that does not mean that God has failed.  God's victory is assured.  Verse seventeen continues, He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.  The people of God would stand with this ruler.  He would attempt to secure his position through the marriage of his daughter, but she would turn against him and side with her husband.  I believe that what this says to us today is that the plans of people shall fail, but God's plan never will.  We cannot attempt to force our plans on to God's plan.  Verse eighteen states, After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.  Matthew Henry says that in taking the isles that this king went to war with the Greeks and Romans.  Verse nineteen adds, Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.  Being defeated, he had to return to his own land and pay tribute to those who defeated him.  Verse twenty continues, Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.  Having to raise taxes to pay the tribute, this king would not fall in battle, but at the hands of his own people.  I believe that we can say that God does not need armies to accomplish His will, but it often comes about from within a kingdom itself, with people rising up against their oppressive rulers.

Daniel 11:9

Daniel 11:9 says, So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.  Matthew Henry says that due to disputes in his own kingdom that this ruler, most likely Ptolmey, had to return to his own land.  Verse ten adds, 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, even to his fortress.  Again, Matthew Henry says these are two sons of the defeated king of the north.  They would be stirred up to reclaim their kingdom, though one would only live a couple of years.  The second would be Antiochus the Great and he would rule for thirty seven years.  These are still just prophecies being fulfilled, which is what we need to understand today.  We really don't have to know all the names and dates, though it is good if we do, but we do need to acknowledge that God's prophecies did come to pass then and will in the future.  Verse eleven continues, And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.  Verse twelve states, And when he hath taken away the multitude, his thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.  The king of the south will briefly be victorious again, but this will not last long.  Matthew Henry says this was Ptolemaeus Philopater, who was moved with indignation at the indignities done by Antiochus the Great.  Verse thirteen adds, For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.  The king of the north will return with greater power than before.  Again, we can look back and see these kings and kingdoms as they rose and fell, but Daniel was looking ahead.  We today may attempt to assign names to the kingdoms involved in the wars before the second coming of Christ, but that is not the main concern.  Just as Daniel was not given the names of these kings and kingdoms, but only the assurance that they would come to and fall from power, we can be just as certain of Christ's return at God's appointed time.  Verse fourteen continues, And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.  Matthew Henry says that the Jewish people would willingly align themselves with the king of the north in an attempt to fulfill the prophecy of Daniel, but they would fall.  We cannot force our interpretation onto God's prophecies.

Daniel 11:1

Daniel 11:1 says, Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.  We are continuing in the progression of Daniel's life.  Darius, the Mede, is now ruler, and Daniel stood to confirm and strengthen him.  Matthew Henry seems to imply that the person speaking here is the angel, but since it says "I stood" and not "he stood," then I believe that Daniel was speaking.  Though God does send His angels to aid in His work, He most often works through His followers.  Verse two adds, And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.  Again, we can interpret this as Daniel speaking to Darius or as an angel speaking to Daniel, but since we have no statement that this was a dream or vision, I believe it was Daniel speaking.  We know that Daniel was never afraid to speak God's word, or prophecies to any ruler.  Either way, the prophecy spoke of four kings of Persia, the last of which was to be the greatest.  Matthew Henry says this was most likely Xerxes, whose wealth and power came to the attention of the Greeks.  Verse three continues, And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.  Matthew Henry says that most agree that this was was Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known world.  He would have great power during his lifetime, but the kingdom would be divided after his death.  Verse four states, And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.  Though he would be a mighty king, his kingdom would be divided after his death.  Alexander the Great would be worshipped as a god.  No matter how much power a ruler has today, and some are considered gods, their end is certain.  Only God's kingdom will remain.  Verse five adds, And the king of the south 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.  Matthew Henry says that the two kingdoms would be Egypt and Syria.  Verse six continues, 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: 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.  There was an attempt to unite the two kingdoms through marriage.  Verse seven says, But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, 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:  Verse eight adds, And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.  Matthew Henry says that this was the brother of the king's daughter who attempted to establish the alliance between the kingdoms.  What we can say with certainty is that these kingdoms rose and fell according to Daniel's prophesy.