Daniel Chapter 11 verse 14 to 30
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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.
19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
20 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.
21 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.
22 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.
23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
24 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.
25 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.
26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
27 And both of 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.
28 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.
29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
30 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.
🟡“Robbers of thy people”
The word robbers, periyts in Hebrew, means destroyers. Gabriel is now introducing to Daniel who would be the ones to finally destroy his people, the Jews. We know from chapter 9 that the destroyers of the Jews was Rome.
🟡“Shall exalt themselves”
Rome sent Scopas to lead the Egyptian forces to Palestine in 202 B.C. He took back Coele-Syria and Palestine and brought all of Judea into subjection to the authority of Egypt. This was done because Rome had accepted the guardianship of Epiphanes the young king of Egypt. This also shows that Rome did not rise out of Alexander’s kingdom, which was divided into two at this point, north and south. For Rome went on behalf of the south, against the north.
🟡“King of north shall come… Take most fenced cities”
Antiochus Magnus was to come back at Scopas and was quick to make steps in recovering Palestine and Coele-Syria from the hands of the Egyptians. He took back the lost territory including Sidon, which was, in situation and defences, one of the strongest cities of those times. We shall see how he did this now.
🟡"Arms of south not withstand”
Ptolemy Epiphanes could not withstand him.
🟡“Neither his chosen people”
Scopas was sent to meet Antiochus near the sources of the Jordan. Scopas was defeated and chased to Sidon where a siege was laid against it by Antiochus. Three of the ablest generals of Egypt went to aid against the siege, but without success. With famine and an opponent Scopas could not cope with, he had to surrender on the dishonourable terms of life only. Scopas and his 10,000 men were let go stripped and naked.
🟡“But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will”
Even though Scopas, who came against the north on behalf of the south, could not stand against Antiochus Magnus, king of the north, we see that Rome will come back with power under the rulership of Pompey. Now we will see Rome start to show its power. Rome, under Pompey, was to come against the king of the north, who at that time was Antiochus Asiaticus 69 B.C. Pompey conquered Syria and took it out of the hands of Asiaticus, the king of the north, in 65 B.C. making it a province of Rome.
🟡“He shall stand in the glorious land”
In 161 B.C. the Jews made an alliance with the Romans. But in 63 B.C. two competitors, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, were struggling for the crown of Judea. Pompey came up against Jerusalem, with Aristobulus’ people wanting to close the city up, and Hyrcanus’ wanting to open it to Pompey. The latter of the two being in the majority, opened the city up to Pompey. At this point the people of Aristobulus went to the temple on the mount, ready to defend it. Pompey finally broke through the wall of the temple and took, by force, the temple site. Thus Jerusalem became a province of Rome in 63 B.C.
🟡“By his hand shall be consumed”
Never again did Judea or Jerusalem have its independence. The iron hand of Rome held it until they destroyed it by the hand of Titus in 70 A.D.
Previous to this, Rome had conquered Macedon and Thrace. Now with the overthrow of Syria and Judea the northern part of Alexander’s kingdom was now ruled by Rome. Rome now becomes the king of the north.
🟡“He" in verse 17
That is, Rome lead by Julius Caesar.
🟡“Set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom”
The word with in this verse means against in Hebrew. So we would read this verse as such, set his face to enter against the strength of his whole kingdom. Julius Caesar set his face to enter the whole of Alexander’s kingdom and take it. At this time, the only portion left of Alexander’s kingdom unconquered by Rome was Egypt.
🟡“Upright ones with him”
Ptolemy the 12th and his sister Cleopatra were to rule co-jointly in Egypt, until there was a dispute between them. Julius Caesar came down with 800 horse, and 3200 foot to settle the quarrel. The war started to rage with Achillas trying to drive Caesar out of Alexandria with 20,000 men. Caesar was able to repel this attack, but the Egyptians then tried to destroy Caesar’s fleet. In turn Caesar set their fleet to the flames, and some of those vessels came to close to the quay and set alight several buildings. One of these was the famous Alexandrian library containing nearly 400,000 volumes, this was destroyed by flames.
The attack became worse, and Caesar realized he had an insufficient amount of men. Caesar sent for help in the neighbouring countries. A large fleet came from Asia Minor, also Mithridates set out for Egypt with a large army raised from Syria and Cilicia. Antipater, the Idumean, joined him with 3000 Jews, or the upright ones. The Jews held the passes into Egypt, and permitted no interruption. Without this, Caesar would have failed. For the arrival of this army decided the contest.
Ptolemy, attempting to escape, drowned in the river Nile. Alexandria and all of Egypt submitted to the victor. Rome had now entered into and absorbed the whole of the original kingdom of Alexander by 47 B.C. Cleopatra remained ruler until 30 B.C. and it was at that time that Egypt was made a province of Rome.
🟡“The daughter of women, corrupting her”
Caesar gained Cleopatra and had one son with her. It is said that his passion for her was the reason behind the campaign of the Egyptian war. This passion also kept him in Egypt for quite some time. Nights were spent in feasting and carousing with Cleopatra.
🟡“Not stand on his side, neither be for him”
Cleopatra afterward joined herself to Antony, the enemy of Augustus Caesar, and exerted her whole power against Rome.
🟡“After this...turn his face unto the isles”
After this, Julius conquered all the remaining coast lands, Spain, north Africa, and Pharnaces king of Cimmerian Bosporus.
🟡“But a prince… Shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease”
This prince was a man by the name of Brutus. Rome was a republic, but after all the conquests of Julius Caesar the title of king was offered to him. This would be a big reproach to the republic, to now become a monarchy. Brutus showed friendship to Caesar and his desire to be king. Caesar desired in his heart to be king but knocked the offer back twice because of the disagreement of the populace. Brutus was the one who was going to cause the kingship offered to Julius to cease. So Brutus was the one behind the whole affair. Brutus had no desire to be king and caused the whole idea to fall back onto Julius Caesar.
🟡“He shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land”
Julius turned his face back to Rome after his conquests.
🟡“But he shall stumble and fall, and not be found”
When he arrived back at Rome, he finally accepted the offer of kingship. Julius came into the Senate and sat upon his golden throne to receive his title. It was now that he was murdered by Cassius, Brutus and others. He was pierced 23 times with a dagger, causing him to stumble and fall as the Bible states. He could not be found as he was dead. This took place in 44 B.C.
🟡“Stand up in his estate”
Augustus Caesar was the successor of his uncle Julius Caesar. Augustus Caesar was the raiser of taxes in the time of Christ Luke 2:1-3. This period was known as the Augustan age, where Rome was at peace, justice maintained, luxury curbed, discipline established, and learning encouraged. It was known as the golden age of Roman history.
🟡“Few days he shall be destroyed… Neither in anger, nor in battle”
Eighteen years after the raising of taxes Augustus died. This seemed only a few days to the prophet, who was looking down centuries of the world’s history. Augustus died peacefully in his bed, at Nola, where he had gone to seek repose and health. In August 19, 14 A.D. at the ninth hour of the day he died. 35 days before his 75th year of age. There is some implication that his fourth wife, Livia, poisoned him to have her son, Tiberius, rule in his stead.
🟡“In his estate shall stand up a vile person”
In the estate of Augustus, there was one who would stand up being a vile person. This rightly fits Tiberius Caesar. He was a vile, wicked, cruel, and licentious person. He was only intoxicated once in his life, this was a state of continual intoxication.
🟡“Come in peaceably...obtain the kingdom by flatteries”
Livia entreated Augustus to set Tiberius as his successor, but was unsuccessful the first time. The reason why is that the rulership was to go to Agrippa, a very virtuous and much respected Roman. Also Augustus said that Tiberius was too vile a person to wear the purple of Rome. But Agrippa died, forcing Augustus to choose again. Livia once again entreated Augustus. By now Augustus was weakened with age and ill health and consented.
🟡“With the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him”
Tiberius went on to lead 7 successful military campaigns in Germany and in the east on the frontiers of Armenia and Parthia. But the overflower was to be overflown himself. Leaving his favourite island, Tiberius stopped at a country house near the promontory of Micenum. It was here on the 16th of March 37 A.D. he sunk into a lethargy, in which he appeared dead. Caligula was preparing an escort to take possession of the empire, when his sudden revival threw them into consternation. Marco, the praetorian perfect, caused him to be suffocated with pillows at this time. Tiberius died being 78 years of age.
🟡“The prince of the covenant”
his can only refer to Messiah the Prince who was going to confirm the covenant with many for one week 9:25-27. So Jesus Christ was to be broken during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. According to Luke 3:1-3 Tiberius was reigning when John the Baptist was preaching, which he started in 26 A.D. Jesus was baptized in 27 A.D. and crucified in 31 A.D. So Jesus was crucified in the 17-18th year of Tiberius’ reign, before Tiberius died in 37 A.D.
This confirms the 70 week prophecy of Daniel 9.
🟡“League made with him… He shall work deceitfully”
This is the league made with the Jews in 161 B.C. Rome worked deceitfully as they never kept the league, conquering the Jews in 63 B.C.
🟡“Shall become strong with a small people”
Rome was only small at this stage when the league was made, but it was to rise to power even though it was small.
🟡“He shall enter peaceably...fattest places...fathers have not done”
Rome entered upon some of the land by alliances or request, as we have already seen that Ptolemy asked Rome to be guardian of Egypt. All other nations gained their power by conquest alone. This was not so with Rome. They entered upon the best of lands, securing them without war.
🟡“Among them the prey, and spoil, and riches”
Rome protected all their provinces from their enemies and showed kindness and leniency toward them. All gained the advantage under the Roman rule.
🟡“Forecast his devices against the strongholds, even for a time”
A time in the Bible is equal to a year, which is 360 days. So this being a prophetic time it is 360 years. This time period would have to start when Rome was complete ruler over all kingdoms. This was in 31 B.C. If you add 360 years to this date, you come to the year 330 A.D. It was in this year that Rome ceased to be the city from where all ruling was done and the base of the kingdom. It was at this time that Emperor Constantine moved the seat to Byzantium, later called Constantinople, in the west.
🟡“He shall stir up his power...against king of south”
Octavian [Augustus Caesar], Mark Antony, and Lepidua formed the Triumvirate to avenge the death of Julius Caesar. Lepidus was finally pushed out of the triumvirate leaving Mark Antony and Octavian. Antony went down to Egypt on government business, but he fell victim to the arts and charms of Cleopatra. He started to bestow upon her province after province to please her. Octavian thus had no trouble declaring war upon Egypt and Cleopatra, even though the war was really against Antony as neither of them were satisfied with only half the kingdom.
🟡“King of south shall be stirred up...very great and mighty army”
Antony assembled a fleet of 500 ships with 200,000 foot and 12,000 horse, at Samos.
🟡“But he shall not stand”
Octavian assembled only half the amount of ships with 80,000 foot. Unlike Antony, all of Octavian’s troops were hand chosen and only experienced seamen were picked.
As soon as the season permitted, both armies were put in motion on both sea and land. The battle was fought Sept 2, B.C. 31, at the mouth of the gulf of Ambracia, near the city of Actium. Cleopatra became frightened by the din of battle, fled when there was no danger taking sixty ships with her. Antony, out of his infatuation for her, went after her.
🟡“Feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him”
First Cleopatra deserted him with sixty ships. Then his army, being disgusted at his infatuation for her, went over to Octavian’s side who was more than happy to take them. Also when Antony came to Lybia, he found that the forces that were left there under Scarpus had declared to Octavian/Caesar. Antony committed suicide by stabbing himself.
🟡“His army shall overflow… Many shall fall down slain”
Antony’s army went over to Octavian. Before evening closed the whole fleet was destroyed. Most of the men and all of the treasure on board perished.
In verse 27 we see the final outcome of the conflict. Both Octavian and Antony were formally in alliance. Yet whilst professing friendship to each other, they were both striving for universal dominion. Their conversation to each other was lies spoken at one table, for they were hypocrites in professing friendship of one another. All councils did not prosper. Octavian eventually came out the victor, with Antony killing himself and also Cleopatra. But Rome’s end was still to be at the time appointed.
🟡“Return into his land with great riches”
Octavian/Augustus, with great success over Egypt, took its riches with him back to Rome.
🟡“Against the holy covenant and he shall do exploits”
The holy covenant referred to here is the covenant that God made with His people in ages past. This deals with, in a broad sense, the Gospel, the plan of salvation, the promised seed, but also to the promised land which is Canaan. The only part that seems to fit is the land of Canaan which was included in God’s promise to Abraham. The reason for this is that we are dealing with the exploits or conquests of the Roman power, so we would be looking for exploits by Rome upon the promised land, which was a part of the covenant, after Rome’s conquest on Egypt. We will now see how it all fits together.
Under Vespasian, in 66 A.D., the Romans invaded Judea, and took the cities of Galilee, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, where Christ had been rejected. They destroyed the inhabitants, and left nothing but ruin and desolation. Disorders at Rome caused the temporary withdrawal of the Roman armies, as foretold by Christ in Matthew 24:15 and Luke 21:20. The only reason why the righteous could flee was because Vespasian was called back to Rome. On his returning to Rome, he was made emperor and his son Titus took up the work of subjugating Jerusalem.
Titus came upon Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and in five months had destroyed it and the temple. 110,000 Jews perished, and 97,000 were taken captive. The city was later levelled by Tarentius Rufus with the foundations of the temple being ploughed up also. The duration of the entire war was 7 years, and 1,462,000 persons are said to have perished over this period. The survivors were banished, sold, and dispersed into all parts of the world. The Jews cry of His blood be on us and upon our children was definitely fulfilled.
Rome did do exploits upon the promised land/Palestine/Judea and Jerusalem, or Canaan as it was formally known as, and returned into its own land.
🟡“At the time appointed”
The time appointed, or the end of the 360 years which ended in 330 A.D.
🟡“He shall return”
The he here is Constantine, as we will see more clearly as we go.
🟡“Come toward the south”
Constantine came toward Licinius.
🟡“But it shall not be as the former, or as the latter”
This war was not to be as the former wars against Egypt nor as the latter against Judea and Jerusalem. It was not, as it was an in house war between Constantine in the west and Licinius in the east, as the Roman empire was divide into east and west.
Licinius lost two battles and a truce was established lasting from 314 A.D. to 323 A.D., when war again broke out. Licinius was defeated and finally executed, 324 A.D. This left Constantine at the head of the Roman world. Byzantium, later called Constantinople, fell into Constantine’s hands and he decided to make it his capital instead of Rome. So he moved the seat of power from Rome to Byzantium in 330 A.D.
Rome ceased to be and was no longer the place where he ‘forecast his devices against the strongholds’ v24. The Roman empire was weakened by this move and now starts to disintegrate.
🟡“Ships of Chittim shall come against him”
The Vandals, from northern Africa, under Genseric, raged against the Roman empire with their naval forces. The Vandals repeatedly visited the coasts of Spain, Liguria, Tuscany, Campania, Lucania, Bruttium, Apulia, Calabria, Venetia, Dalmatia, Epirus, Greece, and Sicily. Italy itself was not spared from Genseric as well. Genseric’s career was from 428 A.D. to 468 A.D.
🟡“He shall be grieved and return”
There were desperate efforts made to dispossess Genseric of the sovereignty of the seas, the first by Marjorian, the second by Leo, both of which proved to be utter failures; and Rome was obliged to submit to the humiliation of seeing its provinces ravaged, and its “eternal city” pillaged by the enemy.
🟡“Indignation against the holy covenant”
Rome was to rise up and have indignation against the holy covenant, or the true Gospel or those who hold fast the true profession of faith. But how did they do this?
🟡“Intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant”
The Emperors of Rome began to unite with the Bishops of Rome, **who had forsaken the true Gospel. This move, of uniting the church with the state, was done to increase the stability and power of the state. “Thus the state within the state was abolished; the strongest political force then existent, to wit, the church, was made the cornerstone of the state. Both parties, the emperor and bishops, were equally well pleased.” Historians History of the World pages 639, 640, 642.
This process began under Constantine when he converted to the Christian faith and Christianity no longer was persecuted within the empire. It proceeded until in order to exterminate the heresy of Arianism held by the three powers that overran the “Eternal City” namely the Heruli, Goths and Vandals, Emperor Justinian decreed in 533 A.D., see appendix A for decree, that the Bishop of Rome was the head of the entire Church and the corrector of heresies. This aspect of church and state however, was not made up of the true and pure followers of Bible truth. This amalgamation of church and state was the product of years of compromise that had slowly begun to permeate more and more of the professed Christian world. Scattered amongst the provinces were faithful believers who refused to bow the knee to the newly established Bishop of Rome as head over the church of God.
They had forsaken the true Gospel by the dedication of Chapels to angels, saints, and martyrs. Superstitious ceremonies were woven into everyday life. Wakes and banquets for the dead were celebrated; the relics of the saints were collected and adored, and they pushed aside the council of Christ by uniting church and state Matthew 22:21.