Dan 11:5-16 Be ye not troubled – Part 2

Dan 11:1  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
Dan 11:2  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.
Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 
Dan 11:4  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.

This section of chapter 11 reminds us that historically both the Persian Empire and the Greek empire tried to destroy the Jewish people, who typify the Israel of God (Gal 6:16, Rom 2:28-29). These attempts at trying to destroy the physical nation of Israel typify for God’s elect the reality of the powers and principalities against which we wrestle in our heavens as God’s children, and how the devil constantly wants to sift us like wheat, but by God’s power we are kept spiritually alive through Christ.

It is by the words of eternal life that contain exceedingly great and precious promises that we are sanctified and washed and given increase from our Father as we grow (1Co 3:7) and become persuaded (Rom 8:38) that we are in fact more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Eph 6:12, Luk 22:31, Rom 8:37).

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The mighty king that rises up in Daniel 11:3-4 is Alexander the great and he is another type of the self-willed man of perdition that has war in his heart, and opposes Christ (Mat 25:40). The spiritual lesson God is showing us via these evil rulers is that we will have many spiritual battles, much tribulation (Act 14:22) in our own heavens, and it will only be through Christ that we will conquer any and all empires that dominate our heavens at first (2Co 4:15).

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Alexander’s kingdom would not endure and would be divided after his death. There were no descendants who succeeded him, and after his death there were four generals that controlled the Greek Empire, but none of them “according to his will.” This reminds us of the vanity of flesh that cannot inherit the kingdom, as we look at all the conquests of Alexander the great come to nought as others would come in and rule his empire and not in a manner that would have been desirable to him. This is a very parallel situation to king Solomon (Dan 11:3, Ecc 2:17-18). 

Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Ecc 2:17  Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 
Ecc 2:18  Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

The next prophecies focus on two of the four inheritors of Alexander’s realm and the dynasties they established. Historically there were four inheritors of Alexander’s realm, however only two are focused on because they were continually fighting over the Promised Land because of its location between the northern and southern kings. 

Those struggles and wars over the promised land typify for us what we read in Romans 7:19-25. These verses in Romans chapter 7 become central to our thinking whenever we read of wars or power struggles in history, where we learn that not every battle is won “but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Pro 24:16), however in the end the war will be won against all the powers and principalities with which we war, through Christ, if that is God’s will for us (Rom 8:37, 1Sa 17:47).

Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Dan 11:5  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. 

Below are some historical facts surrounding this fifth verse which demonstrate how God controls who He puts in places of rulership in order to direct the course of history according to the counsel of His own will (Dan 4:17, Eph 1:11). It’s in our former conversation of Ephesians 2:1-3 that the basest of men take residence in our hearts and war ensues as a result, symbolized by the king of the South and the king of the North.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Dan 11:6  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.

According to the historical account, “the end of years they shall join themselves together” took 130 years of warring between these two dynasties. What transpired to make this happen is “the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement.“

Below are some historical facts that can help us understand what physically unfolded, and then we can look more closely at what this represents for us spiritually, the natural preceding the spiritual (1Co 15:46). What is very evident is that every part of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar that represents the corrupt history of humanity had vast schisms and weaknesses, each being a little different than the former but all corrupt and divided in the final analysis (Mar 3:24-25). 

Mar 3:24  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mar 3:25  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

When reading the history of this verse of Daniel it brings to mind this verse, which pertains especially to the end of the ages prior to Christ’s return, but it also has an application for these days we’re reading of as well (2Ti 3:1-4).

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Dan 11:7  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: 
Dan 11:8  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. 
Dan 11:9  So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

The king of the South represents our fleshly life without the judgment of God that comes from the north, and in fact in this story the South dominates the North and takes vengeance for past offenses, which ends up just continuing the cycle of violence. The lesson for God’s people is to love our enemies, resist not evil, and forgive those who have trespassed against us or the unsettled dynasties will continue to rule in our heavens (Mat 5:44, Mat 5:39, Mat 6:14-15). Below is the historical confirmation of more wars and rumors of wars that are perpetuated in Satan’s kingdom as a result of Christ not being present in the hearts of mankind. 

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses [cycle of violence will continue in our heavens].

Dan 11:10  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.

The irony in this section of scripture is that the Holy Land is being taken back through war, and as we read the historical account of the battle, it was deemed to be furious. These actions typify for us how in our appointed time we violently took the kingdom by force, even as Babylon still does to this day even while saying, “Lord, Lord” but not doing the things He commands (Mat 11:12-15, Luk 6:46).

Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Mat 11:13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 
Mat 11:14  And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Mat 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Dan 11:11  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. 
Dan 11:12  And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

As these wars progress in the book of Daniel, it would be beneficial to answer the question of where all these wars are coming from (Jas 4:1-7), and how are they being instigated from God’s perspective (1Sa 16:14, Eph 1:11), and what the spiritual lesson is for God’s elect today, and eventually all the world. 

Jas 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 
Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 
Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 
Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 
Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

1Sa 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

This battle of the South against the North goes in favor of the Southern empire who was “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.“

This overcoming of a great multitude and then after that “when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands” represents the power God gives us even while in Babylon to overcome very physical addictions and bad behaviors. However, as this verse concludes “but he shall not be strengthened by it” telling us that these physical victories of the empire from the South are more akin to what the disciples were so excited over when they realized that they had been given dominion over evil spirits outwardly that were now subject to them (Luk 10:17). Not having the holy spirit within them yet, Christ turned their attention to what would truly strengthen them; that being to have the spirit of God within them to gain dominion over the powers and principalities within themselves against which they would wrestle in this life (Luk 10:18-20). Christ was speaking of things as though they were not (Rom 4:17) when He told His disciples to rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven, which is synonymous with being sealed with the holy spirit of promise (Eph 1:13-14).

Luk 10:17  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 
Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Dan 11:13  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. 
Dan 11:14  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. 
Dan 11:15  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. 
Dan 11:16  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. 

I can’t guarantee that every part of the historical commentary throughout this study is one hundred percent accurate, but what I can say confidently is that the spiritual lessons we can take from all these battles and power struggles which have unfolded for our spiritual learning today are profitable to us in instructing us in His righteousness (2Ti 3:15-17).

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

This last section we will look at for this study represents for us how evil men will wax worse and worse, “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” (2Ti 3:13). Whether the time period for these events is happening as the historians suggest does not mean there is not an aorist, is, was and will be manner in which we can understand what we are reading, always applying what we read primarily inwardly, in the present ‘is’ manner, as this is the only place where the scriptures we are reading can become relevant for our dying daily sojourn in the Lord (Rev 1:3).

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

These verses (Mat 24:12-14, Mat 10:21-23, 2Ti 3:1) correspond with the historical events that were taking place at this time in history. “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“, and we are reminded of Christ’s words to “be you not troubled” (Mat 24:5-8), as all these things must happen inwardly in our own heavens, but the end is not yet.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. [from battle to battle, glory to glory (2Co 3:18)]

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 

Mat 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows [from battle to battle, glory to glory (2Co 3:18)].

Next week, Lord willing, we will continue to break down more verses and possibly conclude with chapter eleven to bring us to a very hope-filled last chapter in the book of Daniel.