Daniel 11:1-2 (TS2009) And in the first year of Dareyawesh the Mede, I myself stood up to support and protect him. And now I declare the truth to you: See, three more sovereigns are to arise in Persia, and the fourth is to become far richer than them all. And by his power, through his riches, he stirs up all against the rulership of Greece.

The three rulers after Cyrus the Great are Cambyses II, Bardiya and Darius the Great. The fourth is Xerxes the Great who ruled the empire at its territorial apex and who is known for his invasion of Greece in 480 BC which failed. The Persians were defeated.


Daniel 11:3-4 (TS2009) And a mighty sovereign shall arise, and he shall rule with great authority, and do as he pleases. But when he has arisen, his rule shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of the heavens, but not among his descendants nor according to his authority with which he ruled, because his rule shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.

After the defeat of Xerxes the Persian Empire was in decline. It was eventually conquered by Alexander the Great. After Alexander's death, at age 32 in 323 BC, his empire was divided among his four generals. The four major kingdoms were the Ptolemaic Kingdom or Egypt, the Seleucid Empire or Syria, the Kingdom of Macedon and Thrace and Asia Minor. From Jerusalem's point of view Egypt was the king of the South and Syria was the King of the North. There were also some minor insignificant states besides these.


Daniel 11:5 And a sovereign of the South shall become strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong over him and shall rule – his rule shall be a great rule.

The strong King of the South is Ptolemy I. The stronger prince is Seleucus I Nicator who served as admiral under Ptolemy I in the fight against Antigonus of the Macedonian Kingdom during the Third War of the Diadochi from 314 to 311 BC. He was the founder of the Seleucid Empire.

Daniel 11:6 And at the end of years they shall join themselves together, and a daughter of the sovereign of the South shall come to the sovereign of the North to make an alliance. But she shall not retain the strength of her power, nor would he or his power stand. And she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and he who brought her forth, and he who supported her in those times.

After Antigonus was defeated and Ptolemy and Seleucid had formed separate kingdoms, the daughter of Ptolemy II, Berenice, was given in marriage to the Seleucid king Antiochus II Theos in order to create or maintain peace between the kingdoms. In 246 BC Berenice was killed by Laodice I, the first wife of Antiochus II. Antiochus II and his son with Berenice, Antiochus, were both also killed by Laodice I in 246 BC. Berenice's father, Ptolemy II, died in 246 BC.

Daniel 11:7 But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, and he shall come into the defence and come into a stronghold of the sovereign of the North, and shall act against them, and shall prevail,

This is about the Third Syrian War. Berenice's brother Ptolemy III takes over. Ptolemy III avenges his sister's death. He succesfully attacks Seleucus II in 246 BC.

Daniel 11:8 and also their mighty ones, with their princes and their precious utensils of silver and gold he shall seize and bring to Mitsrayim. And he shall stand more years than the sovereign of the North.

He invaded and plundered the Seleucid Empire,* captured Antioch and even reached Babylon. Ptolemy III reigned from 246 to 222 BC. Seleucus II from 246 to 225 BC.

Daniel 11:9 Then he shall enter the reign of the sovereign of the South, but shall return to his own land

Antiochus III wanted to reconquer territory and attacked Ptolemy IV, but his invasion of Coele-Syria in 221 BC failed due to resistance by Ptolemy's military general Theodotus of Aetolia.

Daniel 11:10 But his sons shall stir themselves up, and assemble a great army. And he shall certainly come and overflow and pass through, then return to his stronghold, and be stirred up.

Antiochus III had three sons and several daughters. His sons were, in order of succession, Antiochus, Seleucus IV Philopator and Mithridates who would be renamed Antiochus IV Epiphanes. His first son Antiochus fought in the army under his father. In 219 BC Antiochus III began the Fourth Syrian War. The campaigns of 219 BC and 218 BC carried the Seleucid armies almost to the confines of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Daniel 11:11-12 Then the sovereign of the South shall be enraged and go out to fight with him, with the sovereign of the North, who shall raise a large army. But the army shall be given into the hand of his enemy, and he shall capture the army, his heart being exalted. And he shall cause tens of thousands to fall, but not prevail.

This probably talks about the Battle of Raphia in 217 BC. Ptolemy IV had 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 war elephants and Antiochus III 62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 102 elephants. Ptolemy's victory secured the province of Coele-Syria for Egypt. The region encompassed modern-day Palestine and Israel.

Daniel 11:13 And the sovereign of the North shall return and raise an army greater than the former, and certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much supplies.

The Fifth Syrian War. Antiochus III staged a second invasion of Coele-Syria.

Daniel 11:14 And in those times many shall rise up against the sovereign of the South, while some violent ones among your people exalt themselves to establish the vision, but they shall stumble.

Antiochus III made an alliance with Philip V of Macedon who was involved in the Cretan War from 205 to 200 BC and the Second Macedonian War against Rome from 200 to 197 BC. This is likely about the growing enmity between traditional Judaism and Hellenistic Judaism leading up to the Maccabean Revolt.

Daniel 11:15 Then the sovereign of the North shall come in and build a siege mound, and capture a city of strongholds. And the arms of the South shall not stand, nor his choice people, for there is no strength to stand.

The Battle of Panium took place in 200 BC in which cataphracts were used to attack Egypt. The city captured was likely Sidon or Phoenicia. Antiochus III won the battle decisively and recaptured Coele Syria in 198 BC.

Daniel 11:16 So his opponent shall do as he pleases – with no one standing against him – and stand in the Splendid Land with destruction in his hand.

Antiochus III also recaptured Judea in 198 BC and went on to raid Ptolemy V's remaining coastal strongholds in Caria and Cilicia.

Daniel 11:17 And he shall set his face to enter with the strength of his entire rule, and make an alliance with him. And he shall do so, and give him the daughter of women to corrupt her. But she shall not stand, neither be for him.

Ptolemy signed a conciliatory treaty with Antiochus in 195 BC, leaving the Seleucid king in possession of Coele-Syria. Under pressure from Antiochus III Ptolemy V agreed to marry Antiochus' daughter Cleopatra I around 193 BC. This ended the Fifth Syrian War. Just before his death in 180 BC, Ptolemy V had been planning a new war against the Seleucid kingdom, but Cleopatra I immediately ended the war preparations and pursued a peaceful policy, because of her own Seleucid roots and because a war would have threatened her hold on power. Cleopatra I died around 177 BC.

Daniel 11:18 Then he shall turn his face to the coastlands and capture many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end. And with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him.

This is about the Roman-Seleucid War from 192 to 188 BC. Antiochus III moved to Asia Minor, by land and by sea, to secure the coast towns which belonged to the remnants of Ptolemaic overseas dominions and the independent Greek cities. He captured the coastlands without much trouble. Antiochus III's enterprise earned him the antagonism of the Roman Republic. Smyrna and Lampsacus appealed to the republic of the west and the tension grew after Antiochus had in 196 BC established a footing in Thrace. By the Treaty of Apamea in 188 BC Antiochus abandoned all the country north and west of the Taurus, most of which the Roman Republic gave either to Rhodes or to the Attalid ruler Eumenes II, its allies. As a consequence of this blow to the Seleucid power, the outlying provinces of the empire, recovered by Antiochus, reasserted their independence. The treaty marked a shift of power from the Seleucid Empire to Rome. The Roman Republic left the vassal states to themselves and retreated. An example of divide and conquer.

Daniel 11:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the strongholds of his own land, but shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

Antiochus III then focused on the east side of his empire and mounted a fresh expedition in Luristan, where he died while pillaging a temple of Bel at Elymais, Persia, in 187 BC.

Daniel 11:20 And in his place one shall stand up who imposes taxes on the adorned city of the rule, but within a few days he is destroyed, but not in wrath or in battle.

Antiochus III was succeeded by his son Seleucus IV Philopator who sent Heliodorus, a tax collector, to Jerusalem to collect money to pay the Romans. On his return from Jerusalem in 175 BC, Heliodorus is believed to have assassinated Seleucus, and seized the throne for himself. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the third son of Antiochus III, managed to oust Heliodorus in the same year. The infant son of Seleucus IV, also named Antiochus, was formal head of state for a few years until Antiochus IV had him murdered.

Daniel 11:21 And in his place shall arise a despised one, to whom they shall not give the excellency of the rule. But he shall come in peaceably, and seize the rule by flatteries.

Antiochus III the Great was liked by the Jews, but his son not. Antiochus IV Epiphanes forbade Jewish religious practices and persecuted Jews. He was not meant to be ruler of the Seleucid Empire. His brother and king Seleucus IV Philopator died in 175 BC and the king's first son Demetrius I was the heir, but he was very young and a hostage in Rome at the time, so Antiochus IV seized the opportunity and killed the second son of Seleucus IV and titled himself king after deceiving the people.

Daniel 11:22 And the arms of the flood shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes was a strong Seleucid king who would win many wars. In 175 BC Antiochus IV Epiphanes replaced the Jewish High Priest Onias III, the chief religious official of Judaism, with a Hellenistic Jew, namely Jason. An abomination in the eyes of traditional Jews.

Daniel 11:23 And after they joined him, he shall work deceit, and shall come up and become strong with a small nation.

Antiochus IV becomes king with support of king Eumenes II Soter of Pergamon.


Daniel 11:24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province, and do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: distribute among them plunder and spoil and supplies, and devise his plots against the strongholds, but only for a time.

Antiochus III left a vast territory despite having lost Asia Minor in the end to Rome with the Treaty of Apamea. Antiochus IV Epiphanes gained the rich provinces Coele-Syria and Judea from Egypt. Since the end of the rulership of Antiochus III temples were plundered more often in order to finance for example wars. Antiochus IV cultivated a reputation as an extravagant and generous ruler. He scattered money to common people in the streets of Antioch; gave unexpected gifts to people he did not know; contributed money to the Temple of Zeus at Athens. He also supplemented the Seleucid army with mercenaries. The Seleucids were the wealthiest kings in the world, they were able to pay a tribute to Rome of about 1,500 talents in 13 years and maintained a great army to fight Egypt.

Daniel 11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the sovereign of the South with a great army, and the sovereign of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army, but not stand, for they shall devise plots against him.

In 170 BC King Ptolemy VI Philometor demanded the return of Coele-Syria, but Antiochus IV Epiphanes launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, conquering all but Alexandria and captured king Ptolemy whom he gave rule over Egypt as a puppet king.

Daniel 11:26 And those who have been eating his food shall destroy him, and his army be swept away, and many fall down slain.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes' invasion of Egypt led to unrest and subsequent calls by the Alexandrian Mob* for Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II to ascend to the throne. Later these two co-ruled with Ptolemy VI Philometor until 164 BC. Ptolemy VIII was known for his many intrigues. His reign was characterised by fierce political and military conflict with Ptolemy VI.

Daniel 11:27 And both these sovereigns’ hearts are to do evil, and speak lies at the same table, but not prosper, for the end is still for an appointed time.

Ptolemy and Antiochus both sought after their own good and deceived each other. Ptolemy hoped for the intervention of its ally Rome which was completely occupied by the Third Macedonian War. Antiochus hoped that that war would last long enough so he could conquer Alexandria without Rome's meddling.

Daniel 11:28 Then he shall return to his land with much supplies, and his heart be against the set-apart covenant. And he shall act, and shall return to his land.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes returned to Syria with tremendous riches of his plundering and passed by Jerusalem because of a revolt and re-installed Menelaus as the High Priest around 170 BC who had been deposed by Jason.

Daniel 11:29 At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south, but it shall not be like the former or the latter.

In 168 BC Antiochus IV Epiphanes, angered by the alliance of his puppet king Ptolemy VI with Ptolemy VIII, marches again to Alexandria in order to completely conquer Egypt.


Daniel 11:30 For ships from Kittim shall come against him, and he shall lose heart, and shall return in rage against the set-apart covenant, and shall act, and shall return and consider those who forsake the set-apart covenant.

Jeremiah 2:10 speaks about the "isles of Kittim". In this context it refers to islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Between the Second and Third Punic War Rome became the leading force in the Mediterranean region. The Egyptians sent to Rome asking for help and the Senate despatched Gaius Popilius Laenas to Alexandria. Meanwhile, Antiochus IV Epiphanes had seized Cyprus and Memphis on his way to Alexandria. Around 168 BC, at Eleusis, on the outskirts of Alexandria, he met Gaius Popilius Laenas who offered the Seleucid king an ultimatum from the Senate: he was forced to evacuate Egypt and Cyprus immediately. Antiochus had no choice but to obey the Roman ultimatum. The "Day of Eleusis" ended the Sixth Syrian War and Antiochus' hopes of conquering Egyptian territory. Antiochus was furious and passing through Judea he again plundered Jerusalem and the temple and persecuted and killed many Jews.

Daniel 11:31 And strong ones shall arise from him and profane the set-apart place, the stronghold, and shall take away that which is continual, and set up the abomination that lays waste.

From 168–167 BC Antiochus IV Epiphanes established a military Greek citadel called the Acra in Jerusalem to serve as a stronghold for Hellenized Jews and a Greek military garrison. The abomination that lays waste has to do with the worship of false gods. He ordered the worship of Zeus and the offering of pigs in the temple. Daniel 8 says: because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose that which is continual. (Daniel 8:12) God punishes the Israelites for transgressing His laws. It also shows that, although the little horn is powered by Satan, God is ultimately in control of the little horn and Satan.

Daniel 11:32-35 And by flatteries he shall profane those who do wrong against the covenant, but the people who know their Elohim shall be strong, and shall act. And those of the people who have insight shall give understanding to many. And they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering, for days. And when they stumble, they shall be helped, a little help, but many shall join them, by flatteries. And some of those who have insight shall stumble, to refine them, and to cleanse them, and to make them white, until the time of the end, for it is still for an appointed time.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes used the Hellenized Jews against the traditional Jews. This is about the Maccabean Revolt, the rebellion of traditional Jews against Antiochus IV and the Hellenistic Jews. The little help may refer to the historical fact that the Maccabees were aided by the Romans which is evidenced by the Roman-Jewish Treaty of 161 BC, but it may also be divine intervention that aids the Maccabees. In its direct context the phrase until the time of the end likely means until the end of the revolution when the temple will be cleansed. In the overall context of Scriptural prophecies it may very well allude to the time of the end of Satan's final global empire and future little horn.

Daniel 11:36-37 And the sovereign shall do as he pleases, and exalt himself and show himself to be great above every mighty one, and speak incredible matters against the Ěl of mighty ones, and shall prosper until the wrath has been accomplished – for what has been decreed shall be done – and have no regard for the mighty ones of his fathers nor for the desire of women, nor have regard for any mighty one, but exalt himself above them all.

Antiochus IV styled himself Epiphanes, meaning "God Manifest". He was the first Seleucid king to use divine epithets on his coins, like "manifest god". He exalted himself as god on earth. The future little horn will have no regard for any gods invented by humans, he will be Satan's king.

Daniel 11:38-39 But in his place he shall give esteem to a mighty one of strongholds. And to a mighty one which his fathers did not know he shall give esteem with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. And he shall act against the strongest strongholds with a foreign mighty one, which he shall acknowledge. He shall increase in esteem and cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

As we saw before, Antiochus IV ordered the worship of Zeus in the temple. But the god which Antiochus really worships is Satan. Antiochus is called the little horn in Daniel 8, and the little horn is directly linked to Satan. This also shows that he is a precursor of the little horn in Satan's final global empire in the time of the end. The reason that this prophecy is so detailed is to make people understand the little horn.

Daniel 11:40 At the time of the end the sovereign of the South shall push at him, and the sovereign of the North rush against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall enter the lands, and shall overflow and pass over,

This is about Antiochus IV and his first near-conquest of Egypt in 170 BC. He defeated the Egyptian army led by Ptolemy VI, VIII, and Cleopatra II. Antiochus reached to Alexandria, threatening a siege. Likewise, in the time of the end, shortly before Satan's final global empire, there will be a time of great distress on the earth, likely involving a world war between the two remaining power blocks. See also Daniel's Four Beasts.


Daniel 11:41 and shall enter the Splendid Land, and many shall stumble, but these escape from his hand: Eḏom, and Mo’aḇ, and the chief of the sons of Ammon.

After defeating Egypt Antiochus IV went to Jerusalem, but he did not invade the kingdoms of Edom, Moab and Ammon southeast of Israel. Perhaps this indicates that close to the future time of the end the future little horn will again attack Israel, leaving the surrounding regions or countries untouched. Time will tell.

Daniel 11:42-43 And he shall stretch out his hand against the lands and the land of Mitsrayim shall not escape. And he shall rule over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the riches of Mitsrayim, and Libyans and Kushites shall be at his steps.

Antiochus IV conquered Ptolemaic Cyprus, Memphis, and reached Alexandria again. Lybia and the Kingdom of Kush south of Egypt were literally at its borders. This is very interesting, if this prophecy is related to the future time of the end, then it means that the future little horn will come from the King of the North and it will defeat the King of the South. Also, the little horn will be active before Satan's final global empire is in place, and play a role in the world war leading up to it.

Daniel 11:44 Then reports from the east and the north shall disturb him, and he shall go out with great wrath to destroy and put many under the ban

The reports from the east are from Parthia which wanted to attack the Seleucid Empire. The reports from the north are from the Roman Republic which sent embassador Gaius Popillius Laenas in 168 BC to order Antiochus to retreat from Egypt. He was forced to retreat and in anger Antiochus set up the abomination in the temple. Around 164 BC Antiochus would take his army to war against Parthia in the east. If this is also related to the future, then it might indicate that the little horn is about to defeat the King of the South, but is ordered to not completely destroy it. In the end both kings will merge into Satan's final global empire in which the little horn will be Satan's king.

Daniel 11:45 and he shall pitch the tents of his palace between the seas and the splendid set-apart mountain, but shall come to his end with none to help him.

In prophecy the seas often symbolize people in unstable times. Under Satan's power Antiochus tried to intervene between the people and God by taking control of the temple. He died in 164 BC, around the time that the temple was restored, and his death is surrounded by various accounts and interpretations. Some historians say that he died of disease. With resprect to Satan's future little horn it is obvious from other prophecies that he will persecute God's people and His chosen ones and set up the abomination that lays waste as mentioned by the Son of God in Matthew 24. But he will be destroyed by the Son of God.

Daniel 12:1-4 (TS2009) Now at that time Mikael shall stand up, the great head who is standing over the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of distress, such as never was since there was a nation, until that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book, and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth wake up, some to everlasting life, and some to reproaches, everlasting abhorrence. And those who have insight shall shine like the brightness of the expanse, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, hide the words, and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall diligently search and knowledge shall increase.

Michael is the powerful messenger of God who leads God's army against Satan and his army at Armageddon (Revelation 12:7, Daniel 10:13). This talks about the resurrection of the dead and judgement at the future time of the end.

Daniel 12:5-7 (TS2009) Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, and he held up his right hand and his left hand to the heavens, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it would be for an appointed time, appointed times, and half a time. And when they have ended scattering the power of the set-apart people, then all these shall be completed.

The period an appointed time, appointed times, and half a time is a period of 3.5 years as is also mentioned in other prophecies in Daniel and Revelation. It is the duration of Satan's final global empire and the little horn who will kill the remainder God's chosen ones on earth in order to complete the government of God's Kingdom. Then Satan's empire and the little horn will be destroyed and God's people will be delivered.

Daniel 12:8-10 (TS2009) And I heard, but I did not understand, so I said, “My master, what is the latter end of these matters?” And he said, “Go, Daniel, for the words are hidden and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be cleansed and made white, and refined. But the wrong shall do wrong – and none of the wrong shall understand, but those who have insight shall understand.

According to Paul: the mighty one of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the enlightening of the Good News of the esteem of Messiah, who is the likeness of Elohim, does not shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Satan deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9).

Daniel 12:11-13 (TS2009) And from the time that which is continual is taken away, and the abomination that lays waste is set up, is one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who is waiting earnestly, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. But you, go your way till the end. And rest, and arise to your lot at the end of the days.

Satan's little horn will set up the abomination that lays waste in order to deceive and destroy as many people as possible. This is likely the moment in the time of the end when all people on earth are forced to make the choice between worshiping Satan or God. The duration of 1,290 days, which amounts to a little over 3.5 years, encompasses the period between the start of the time of the end and the creation of Satan's final global empire and the abomination set up by Satan's little horn somewhere halfway in the total period of the time of the end of around 7 years. Note that in Daniel 7, Revelation 12 and Revelation 13 a period is mentioned of 1,260 days which amounts to 3.5 years. The duration of 1,335 days mentioned here in Daniel 12 adds some crucial detail which possibly involves events concerning the resurrection and judgement, and it might indicate that this starts even before Satan's final global empire is destroyed. Because shortly after the abomination is set up all people will have made their choice, concerning life with God or death with Satan.