Memory Verse: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” Luke 2:1

Daniel is again taken forward in vision to behold the rise and fall of earthly powers. He could see through the rise of nations and clash of arms, God guiding the destiny of His people, as well as His purpose for them.

1) We see Daniel in vision again. Who was king and what year of his reign was he in? Daniel 11:1 “Also I in the _________ ________ of ________ the _____________, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.”

2) Here we see a brief comment on remaining Persian history. In Daniel 11:2. (First Part) “And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet __________ __________ in Persia; and the __________ shall be ______ _________ than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.’”

3) The fourth king to rule Persia, with his riches and strength, did what? Daniel 11:2 (Last Part) “And now will I show 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 ________ _____ all against the realm of ____________.” Here is a list of the Kings of Persia.

Who was the riches of them all?

4) Verse 3, 4, we see a brief region of Alexander the Great. There followed a long contest between Kings of Syria and Egypt. Syria was known as the “King of the North” and Egypt the “King of the South”. These countries, being respectively North and South from Jerusalem. Daniel 11:3 “And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall __________ with _________ ____________, and do according to his will.” DANIEL 8:4 “I saw the ram pushing westward, and ____________, and ______________; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.” Daniel 8:8 “Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the ______ _________ was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.” (See Daniel 7:6; 2:39) Alexander dies in 323 B.C., at an early age; and his son was murdered and four of his generals divided his kingdom. The terms “King of the North” and “King of the South” had significance to the Jews. Palestine was the crossroads of the world. For centuries Palestine was threatened by the ruling power of the North and Egypt to the South. Their greatest enemy was the “King of the North” – Babylon, Persia. And the Northern Division of The Grecian Empire – “The Syrian Dynasty.”

5) In Daniel 11:5 – 15 (Read) this is the powerful Grecian Empire, was ruled by Alexander’s four great Generals.

King of the North Syria and Lysimachus (Syria, Babylon, and Neighboring Regions. The house of Potalemy the king of the South (Egypt) For 150 years these powers were engaged in an almost constant series of war. It was known as the “Syrian – Egyptian War”. This was Greeks at war with Greeks. Daniel 11:5 “And the ________ of the ___________ shall be _________, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.” This king of the South was Egypt, with the leader Potalemy. It was at war with both of these divisions of The Grecian Empire; it was greatly weakened by incessant fighting. The king of the North waged war on the king of the South; was about to loose the war, it appealed to Rome for protection. These verse 5 – 15 Have to do with the war between the king of the North and the king of the South. This went on for 15O years within the Grecian Empire. Remember the South was Egypt and the North was Syria, and it’s neighboring regions. Babylon was part of this region. These wars were known as the Syrian War. The Romans were rising rapidly with great strength in the West; With the two kingdoms enfeebled by war. Romans ordered Antiochus out of Egypt and brought the whole Empire of Alexander’s under their control in 168 B.C..

6) We do need to take a look at Daniel 11:6, 7 For this does play a part in the picture. Daniel 11:6 “And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the ______ ___________ of the _________ shall come to the _______ of the _________ to make an _________: but she _______ _______ retain the ___________ of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that ________ _______, and he that strengthened her in these times.” “At last the king of the North and that of the South made peace when Ptolemy II, called Philadelphus, gave his daughter Berenice in marriage to Antiochus Theos, grandson of Seleucus. “They shall join themselves together,” says the prophecy; “For the king’s daughter of the South shall come to the king of the North to make an agreement.” To seal the agreement, Laodica, wife of Antiochus, was divorced and her children declared illegitimate – A poor foundation for a lasting peace. A large dowry accompanied Berenice. Later, when her father died, Antiochus divorced her and took back his former wife Laodica. Fearing further disgrace this reclaimed wife had her husband poisoned and her son placed on the throne. Not long afterward she had her rival Berenice assassinated together with the Egyptian friends who had come with her. The remarkable accuracy of the prophecy is evident: “She shall be given up, and they that begat her, and he that begat her” (Her Child) Verse 6. “Then another shoot from the same stock as hers will appear in his father’s place,” Says the prophecy. Verse 7. Ptolemy Euregetes, who came to the Egyptian throne upon the death of his father Philadelphus, determined to avenge the death of his sister Berenice. With a large army he invaded the North and marched eastward as far as Babylon. He was compelled to return to Egypt because of an insurrection, but he brought with him from the kingdom of Selucus a large booty, including 2,000 gold and silver images and 4,000 talents of gold, 40,000 talents of silver, and precious vessels which Cambyses of Persia had carried into Syria 280 years earlier. It was then that the people named him “Euergetes”, meaning “Benefactor.” These ruling and warring families were not Syrians or Egyptians; they were Greeks, descendants of Alexander’s Generals.” Unfolding Daniel Page 132

7) In verses 16 – 28 the history of Imperial Rome is given. This was the next power to become the king of the North, and to carry on the tradition of persecution against God’s people. Daniel 11:16 “But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none ________ _________ before him: and he shall stand in the _______ __________, which by his hand shall be __________.” The “King of the North”, conquered the Egyptians forces; neither, he nor any other kingdom could stand before the growing power of Rome. Syria eventually became a Roman providence under Pompey in 65 B.C.. Judea came under the full jurisdiction of Rome in 63 B.C.. Palestine was known as the Glorious Land. So we see in verse sixteen, Rome standing in the Glorious Land, where Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple was built for the worship of God. In Matthew 24:2 Jesus told his disciples that the temple would be destroyed. This happened in (70 A.D.)

8) In verse 17 the “he” is Rome. Daniel 11:17 “He shall also _______ ________ ___________ to enter with the strength of his _________ ________, 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.” Verses 17 – 22 Describes three great Caesar’s of the Roman empire. All that was left of the “Whole Kingdom of Alexander” was Egypt, Macedonia, and Judea. So they set out to take Egypt “The King of the South” and bring it into subjection.

9) Daniel 11:18, 19 “After this shall he turn his _________ unto the ___________, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his ________ reproach he shall cause it to ______ _______ _________. Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.” Pagan Rome was ruled by the Cesar’s; Pagan Rome later became Papal Rome, they were ruled by popes and emperors. Julius Caesar having accomplished so much for the empire. Turned “His face toward the fort of his own land.” He had won fifty battles, taken more than 1,000 cities, at the cost of 1,192,000, of his soldiers. He fell not amid the strife of war but just when he thought all was well. Back in Rome, thinking all was well, he was found dead, in Roman forum, at the foot of Pompey’s statue, with twenty daggers in his body. It was the year 44 B.C., he had just returned to his own land.

10. Daniel 11:20 “Then shall stand up in his estate a _______ of __________ in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in _________, nor in __________. At Julius Cesar’s death he had no son; he had adopted Octavius, his nephew. Octavius succeded him, he joined Mark Antony and Dlepidus, to avenge the death of Julius Caesar. They formed a three person ruling government, when the other two died, Octavius became emperor. The senate conferred on Octavius, the title of “Augustus”. Where in the Bible do we find that name Caesar Augustus? Luke 2:1 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from _______ ___________, that all the world should be taxed.” He reigned fourty years and died in 14 A.D. This was not many years after the Birth of Christ.

11. Daniel 11:21 “And in his __________ shall ________ _______ a _________ ________, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the ____________ by ____________.” The next Caesar was Tiberius; he was the son of Augustus. He stood in the estate, he was known to be a “Vile” (Contemptible) person. It was told he was a drunk only once. for he was drunk all the time. (Not given honor as text says). He lost the respect of the citizens of Rome. He did not have qualities of a ruler. “He shall come peaceable and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” Livea, the wife of Augustus, urged him to nominate Tiberius her son by a former marriage, to succeed him as emperor. He replied, “Your son is too vile to wear the purple of Rome.” Agrippa was nominated, but he died before the death of Augusts. Livea, was not to be outdone, gained her end by flatteries. She organized a royal party in honor of the emperor. When the party was at its height, and after a flattering speech about her husband’s fine qualities. She repeated her request for Tiberius, nomination to the throne. Unwilling to hurt her feeling’s he made the official announcement. His sudden demise left no time to change anything, so the vile person came to the throne. He lost the respect of the people Note: Daniel 11 :History Repeated, will be continued on the next lesson.

Lesson 23

Lesson 25