Daniel 11
Matthew Henry · Citado em PreceptAustin
Daniel 11:20-45
Henry remarks that…The remainder of this prophecy is very difficult, and commentators differ much respecting it. From Antiochus the account seems to pass to Antichrist (however unfortunately Henry goes on to equate the historical Roman Empire with the Antichrist) Kenneth Gangel makes the point that…Readers dissatisfied with the premillennial interpretation of this chapter should look at the InterVarsity Press publication The Meaning of the Millennium for a variety of positions on end-time events. The premillennial interpretation is hardly some recent position rising out of prophecy mania developed in twentieth-century fundamentalism. (See Holman Old Testament Commentary - Daniel) UNTIL THE INDIGNATION IS FINISHED Indignation (02195) (za'am) literally means frothing at the mouth and speaks of fury and in the Scriptures is often a dramatic picture of God's great displeasure with sin (Isa 26:20; Isa 30:27; Hab 3:12). NAS = indignation(21), insolence(1). Za'am - 22 verses - Ps 38:3; 69:24; 78:49; 102:10; Isa 10:5, 25; 13:5; 26:20; 30:27; Jer 10:10; 15:17; 50:25; Lam 2:6; Ezek 21:31; 22:24, 31; Da 8:19; 11:36; Hos 7:16; Nah 1:6; Hab 3:12; Zeph 3:8. NAS = indignation(21), insolence(1). Indignation is defined as (extreme) anger (mingled with contempt, disgust, abhorrence) aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean. The 1828 Webster's defines indignation as "The anger of a superior; extreme anger; particularly, the wrath of God against sinful men for their ingratitude and rebellion. The effects of anger; the dreadful effects of God’s wrath; terrible judgments." Until the indignation is finished - "Until" is an expression of time which indicates that the Antichrist will prosper for a time but that his seemingly indomitable kingdom will come to an abrupt end when the indignation is finished. So what is the indignation? In the present context, the indignation speaks of God's wrath which will be poured out on the nation of Israel during the last 3.5 years of the Seventieth Week of Daniel, the Great Tribulation. Henry Morris agrees…Claiming to be the greatest of all men, representing the highest attainment of the cosmic evolutionary process, and energized by Satan himself (cf Rev 13:2-note), this man, the final Antichrist, will briefly attain world dominion, but only until God's "indignation be accomplished"--the "day of God's wrath," the Great Tribulation , the seventieth week of the prophetic calendar. (Defenders Study Bible notes online) We see a foreshadowing of God's final indignation in Daniel 8, where the angel lets Daniel know… what will occur at the final period of the indignation (Hebrew = za'am; Lxx = orge [word study] = wrath), for it pertains to the appointed time (Heb = moed; Lxx = kairos) of the end. (Daniel 8:19-note) While the prophecy of Daniel 8 focuses on the emergence of the Grecian empire and specifically on the anti-Semitic reign of the rather small horn, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, this description of Antiochus seems to foreshadow the future reign of terror of the Antichrist (See also Da 8:26-note "pertains to many days [in the future]") In a similar use of indignation Isaiah writes… Come (All verbs in red are commands), my people, enter into your rooms, and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while, until indignation (za'am) runs its course ("has passed by" - NIV, ESV). For behold (interjection to arrest the reader's attention - Listen up!), the LORD (Jehovah) is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth (When will Jesus return to punish the earth? Has this happened yet? This must speak of His Second Coming - see chart comparing the Rapture versus the Second Coming) for their iniquity (cp Rev 19:11-21); and the earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:20, 21) Thomas Constable Comments: Before the restoration of Israel, however, God’s people would experience hard times (in the Tribulation, cf. Rev. 12)… Yahweh would come out of His heavenly place of quiet to punish Earth Dwellers for their secret sins in the Tribulation. The earth itself, the forces of nature, would assist the Lord, metaphorically, by exposing sins that lay hidden (cf. Isa 26:12). (Daniel Expository Commentary Notes) KJV Bible commentary on Isaiah 26:20: The passing over of the indignation (za'am, indignant denunciation) may refer to the survival of the Jewish remnant during the Tribulation Period. (Dobson, E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson) John Martin comments: Isaiah wrote that the future remnant should hide during the time of distress (God’s wrath in the Tribulation) (Ed note: See same phrase Da 12:1-note), knowing that deliverance from the Lord will come. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., et al: The Bible Knowledge Commentary) The prophet Zephaniah also uses indignation (za'am) in a passage describing the future Great Tribulation… Therefore wait (command) for Me,” declares the Lord, for the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out on them My indignation (NIV = "My wrath"), all My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal (NIV = "jealous anger"). (Zeph 3:8) John Hannah comments: The prophet concluded the “judgments” portion of his prophecy by reverting to the universal theme with which he introduced the section. He began with a summary statement of universal judgment (Zeph 1:2, 3); then he delineated God’s judgment on Judah and Jerusalem (Zeph 1:4-2:3) and on other nations (Zeph 2:4-15). Then for emphasis he repeated the judgment on Jerusalem (Zeph 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Now he ended this long section with another general summary of universal judgment. In the Lord’s impending universal judgment on the nations, His cup of wrath was about to be poured out; at that time His grace would take second place to His anger! At the end of the yet-future Tribulation, God will cause the nations’ armies to assemble toward Jerusalem, and in the Battle of Armageddon (See Campaign of Armageddon) (cf. Zech 14:2+; Rev 16:14, 16+) He will pour out on them His wrath (za‘am, from “foam”), all His fierce anger (cf. Zeph. 2:2), and the fire of His jealous anger (lit., “jealousy”). (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., et al: The Bible Knowledge Commentary) John
Daniel 11:20-45
Henry comments that Antiochus Epiphanes…was a cruel and violent persecutor of the Jews. See what decaying, perishing things worldly pomp and possessions are, and the power by which they are gotten. God, in His providence, sets up one, and pulls down another, as He pleases. This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men's lusts. All changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event, are plainly and perfectly foreseen by God. No word of God shall fall to the ground; but what He has designed, what He has declared, shall infallibly come to pass. While the potsherds of the earth strive with each other, they prevail and are prevailed against, deceive and are deceived; but those who know God will trust in Him, and he will enable them to stand their ground, bear their cross, and maintain their conflict. Daniel 11:22 THE OVERFLOWING FORCES WILL BE FLOODED AWAY BEFORE HIM AND SHATTERED, AND ALSO THE PRINCE OF THE COVENANT. with: Da 11:10 9:26 Isa 8:7,8 Am 8:8 9:5 Na 1:8 Rev 12:15,16) also: Da 8:10,11,25 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NIV- Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. The overflowing forces will be flooded away (engulfed, swept away) before him - Describes the military victories of Antiochus IV Epiphanes over his enemies. Prince of the covenant (berit/berith/beriyth) - NET = "a covenant leader will be destroyed." The identity of this individual is debated. Some commentaries favor this as reference to the "shattering" (murder) of the high priest Onias III who Antiochus Epiphanes ordered in 172BC. Others feel this represents Ptolemy VI Philometor who was defeated by Antiochus' forces. Walvoord notes that "The high priest bore the title “prince of the covenant” because he was de facto the head of the theocracy at that time. In Da 11:28 and Da 11:32 the “covenant” is used for the Jewish state. Daniel 11:23 AFTER AN ALLIANCE IS MADE WITH HIM HE WILL PRACTICE DECEPTION, AND HE WILL GO UP AND GAIN POWER WITH A SMALL FORCE OF PEOPLE. work: Da 8:25 Ge 34:13 Ps 52:2 Pr 11:18 Eze 17:13-19 Ro 1:29 2Co 11:3 2Th 2:9 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception - NET = "After entering into an alliance with him, he will behave treacherously" (Da 11:23NET) Gain power with a small force of people - Antiochus the despicable deceiver allayed suspicion when he came against Egypt with a small force but was able to gain power over Egypt as far as Memphis. Wikipedia…When the guardians of King Ptolemy VI Philometor of Egypt demanded the return of Coele-Syria in 170 BC, Antiochus launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, conquering all but Alexandria and capturing King Ptolemy. To avoid alarming Rome, Antiochus allowed Ptolemy VI to continue ruling as a Puppet-king. Upon Antiochus' withdrawal, the city of Alexandria chose a new King, one of Ptolemy's brothers, also named Ptolemy (VIII Euergetes). Instead of fighting a civil war, the Ptolemy brothers agreed to rule Egypt jointly. Daniel 11:24 IN A TIME OF TRANQUILITY HE WILL ENTER THE RICHEST PARTS OF THE REALM, AND HE WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT HIS FATHERS NEVER DID, NOR HIS ANCESTORS; HE WILL DISTRIBUTE PLUNDER, BOOTY AND POSSESSIONS AMONG THEM, AND HE WILL DEVISE HIS SCHEMES AGAINST STRONGHOLDS, BUT ONLY FOR A TIME. Jdg 9:4 Pr 17:8 19:6 Devise his schemes: Da 7:25 Pr 23:7 Eze 38:10 Mt 9:4 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NLT - Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land and do something that none of his predecessors ever did--distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while. In a time of tranquility - When they felt they were secure. He will distribute plunder, booty, possessions among them - He used the treasures he gained from his victories to bribe and influence others to cooperate with him (cf 1Macc 3:30). Only for a time - This phrase reminds us that God is sovereign even over the events of evil men. God set the limits allotted to Antiochus Epiphanes. THOUGHT - Beloved child of God, are you experiencing unjust evil against you? Rest assured of two things, God limits evil men and He is your Covenant Defender. If the payback to the evil person is not in this lifetime, it will be in the next! Daniel 11:25 HE WILL STIR UP HIS STRENGTH AND COURAGE AGAINST THE KING OF THE SOUTH WITH A LARGE ARMY; SO THE KING OF THE SOUTH WILL MOBILIZE AN EXTREMELY LARGE AND MIGHTY ARMY FOR WAR; BUT HE WILL NOT STAND, FOR SCHEMES WILL BE DEVISED AGAINST HIM. stir up: Da 11:2,10 Pr 15:18 28:25 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries