DANIEL 11

GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL NATIONS

The angel who appears before Daniel continues to reveal future events concerning the nations that will rise and fall after Babylon’s captivity. Following the reign of three Persian kings, a fourth king will arise, often identified as Alexander the Great, who will build a powerful empire. After his death, this empire will be divided into four lesser kingdoms, ruled by his successors.

A prolonged conflict will unfold between the king of the south (Egypt) and the king of the north (Syria). The king of the north will eventually exalt himself above God, desecrating the temple and persecuting the faithful. This part of the vision aligns with historical events during the time of the Maccabees, when Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Syrian ruler, oppressed the Jewish people and defiled the temple.

This chapter contains rich and complex historical context, offering insight into the political and military developments of the time while highlighting God’s sovereign reign over the nations and events of the world. Despite these tumultuous events, the chapter reassures believers that God remains in control.