Draft: A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Daniel 10-12
Part 2: Daniel 11-12
Kuruvilla Thomas
Bangalore
Part 1 Part 2

Introduction
In Part 2 of this 2-Part study, we treat Daniel 11:2b-12:13 as a cryptochiasmus in order to arrive at a coherent reconfiguration of the text. In Part 1, we pointed out the Janus connecting Daniel 10 to Daniel 11-12 and commented on Daniel 10:1-11:2a.
Text that is structured as a cryptochiasmus must be rearranged based on certain principles to be correctly interpreted. A cryptochiasmus is a new concept; see definition in [1]. If you wish to skip the technicalities of a chiastic parse, you may read starting from Section 4 of the Discussion section, which has the reconfigured text.
The prophecy in Daniel 11 traces the history of the Hellenistic Greek empire in some detail, but its primary focus is on one of the Greek kings, Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of the Antichrist. Daniel 12 is a short, cryptic chapter that makes predictions regarding the periods of tribulation before and after the Millennial Reign. This prophecy discloses the crucial date of the Final Resurrection at the End of the World.
Note:
We will use the term "Judahite" to refer to the Israelites - primarily those of the tribe of Judah and their descendants - that remained after the Assyrian exile of the Northern Tribes; we will try to avoid the term "Jew" to avoid the confusion it introduces.
Discussion
1. Presuppositions
We base our parse on Daniel 11:2b-12:13 on the assumption that it refers to 4 periods:- The Greek Empire (c. 333BC-164BC). The history of two kingdoms of the Hellenistic Greek Empire. Most of chapter 11 is devoted to this Period.
- The first half of the First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–70AD).
- The reign of the Antichrist (2023AD-2027AD). The Antichrist/Beast system (Rev 13) reigns for a period of around 3 1/2 years. We get the 2027AD date from our parse of Isaiah 59-63 [7].
- The End Times Tribulation and the Final Resurrection (c. 2967AD).
While parsing this cryptochiasmus, we will ensure that each of the last 3 Periods has a time period attached to it (for ex., 1290 days). Note that the "time of the end" phrase in these passages refers to the end of Satan's reign and the start of Christ's Millennial Reign.
2. Parsing the chiasmus
We will use the NIV translation for this parse.
Parsing this chiasmus involves dividing the text into four categories as above. We will call the period from Cyrus to Antiochus Epiphanes Period 1, the time of the First Jewish-Roman War Period 2, the time of the Antichrist Period 3, and the time of the Last Days Period 4.
Categorizing 11:2b-12:13
11:2b-30a belong to Period 1. The period from Alexander the Great to Antiochus Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire (the Medo-Persian empire is also mentioned in the introductory section). This passage has detailed prophecies on the Six Syrian Wars that were fought between the Syrian and Egyptian kingdoms of the Greek Empire - the Kings to the North and South of Israel. ( Note that 11:1-2a have been categorized in Part 1.)11:30b appears to belong to Period 3. The Antichrist will show favour to those who reject Christianity, the only relevant Holy Covenant extant at the time.
11:31 belongs to Period 2. The two attacks on Jerusalem at the beginning (66AD) and in the middle (70AD) of the war. The Roman army that lays siege to Jerusalem in 70AD, the midpoint of the war, is the Abomination that causes Desolation.
11:32-36 belong to Period 3. During his reign, the Antichrist will attack Christianity and Christians. He will have complete authority over the world but only for a short time. We believe that vs 36 applies to the Antichrist and not to Antiochus of Period 1, because, while the Antichrist is assigned a pre-determined time to rule (see Dan. 7:24,25), there is no mention of a "time of wrath" assigned to Antiochus' attack on the Judahites.
11:37-45 belong to Period 1. Details on Antiochus' religious beliefs, his accomplishments and his last days. We believe that vs 37-39 are not about the Antichrist because the specifics mentioned - gold, silver, precious stones, fortresses - conform better to the time of Antiochus.
12:1a belongs to Period 2. Michael, the protector of Israel stands by and allows the Romans to attack.
12:1b-7a belong to Period 4. Events of the Last Days: tribulation and rapture, the Final Resurrection and Judgement. This scroll is sealed. The allotted period is "time, times and half a time". Although 12:1b could belong to Period 2 as well, we place it here so that we get a balanced regular chiasmus in this Period.
12:7b-11 belongs to Period 2. This scroll is sealed. The timespan is 1290 days. We rake the "holy people" in 12:7b to refer to the Judahites of the first century.
12:12 appears to belong to Period 3. One of the reasons we place this passage in Period 3 is that we have a new timespan - 1335 days.
12:13 appears to belong to Period 1. We assign this passage to Period 1 to complete the cryptochiasmus.
Original text
We color-code the chiastic units of the original text (NIV) below for easy visual identification using: red for Period 1, blue for Period 2, green for Period 3 and yellow for Period 4. We have retranslated parts of the text.
Chapter 11 2b Three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth [a] will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.
6 After some years, they will become allies; for the [b] daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be betrayed: she, along with the one who brought her in; and her offspring, [c] the one who supported her.
7 “One from her family line will arise in his [d] place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8 He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.[e] 10 His sons will stir up strife and assemble a multitude of great forces. One of them will sweep on like an irresistible flood. He shall return and war, even to his fortress.[f]
11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will field [g] a large army, but it will be defeated. 12 When the army is swept away [h], the king of the South will be filled with pride. He will [i] slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.
14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will exalt themselves in the fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail [j]. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land, and all of it will be in his power [k]. 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom. But the upright ones will oppose his plans, and he will comply [l]. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him. 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.
20 “His successor will send out a tax collector through the glorious kingdom [m]. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.
21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty, but he will come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. [n] 22 With the power of a flood will they be swept away before him and will be crushed. Yes, also the prince of the covenant; 23 after [o] coming to an agreement with him, he will act treacherously. With [p] only a few people he will rise to power. 24 During a time of peace, he will go into even the richest parts of the realm, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his forefathers have done: distribute among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He will devise plans against fortresses, but only for a time. [q]
25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30a Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant.
30b He will recompense [r] and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
31 His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress when the regular sacrifices are stopped. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. [s]
32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
33 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will fall [t], so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.
37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god who greatly honors those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and parceling out land as a reward [u].
40 “In the end, [v] the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many will be overthrown [w], but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will die [x], and no one will help him.
Retranslation notes for Daniel 11
[a] vs 2 "the fourth" instead of "then a fourth, who".
[b] vs 6 "; for the " instead of ". The".
[c] vs 6 "she will be betrayed: she, along with the one who brought her in; and her offspring, " instead of "she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and". Partly based on the NET.
[d] vs 7 "in his" instead of "to take her".
[e] vs 9 "So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land". Verse taken from the KJV
[f] vs 10 "His sons will stir up strife and assemble a multitude of great forces. One of them will sweep on like an irresistible flood. He shall return and war, even to his fortress" instead of "His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress".
[g] vs 11 "field" instead of "raise".
[h] vs 12 "swept away" instead of "carried off".
[i] vs 12 "pride. He will" instead of "pride and will". Changed for chiasmus.
[j] vs 14 "exalt themselves in the fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail" instead of "rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success".
[k] vs 16 ", and all of it will be in his power" instead of "and will have the power to destroy it". From the NRSV.
[l] vs 17 ". But the upright ones will oppose his plans, and he will comply" instead of " and will make an alliance with the king of the South".
[m] vs 20 "through the glorious kingdom" instead of "to maintain the royal splendor". Based on the NKJV.
[n] vs 21 "royalty, but he will come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue" instead of "royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue".
[o] vs 22,23 "22 With the power of a flood will they be swept away before him and will be crushed. Yes, also the prince of the covenant; 23 after" instead of "22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. 23 After". Based on the KJV.
[p] vs 23 "treacherously. With" instead of "deceitfully, and with".
[q] vs 24 "During a time of peace, he will go into even the richest parts of the realm, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his forefathers have done: distribute among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He will devise plans against fortresses, but only for a time" instead of "When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time".
[r] vs 30b "recompense" instead of "return".
[s] vs 31 "to desecrate the temple fortress when the regular sacrifices are stopped. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation" instead of "to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation".
[t] vs 35 "fall" instead of "stumble".
[u] vs 39 "god who greatly honors those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and parceling out land as a reward" instead of "god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price".
[v] vs 40 "In the end," instead of "At the time of the end".
[w] vs 41 "will be overthrown" instead of "countries will fall".
[x] vs 45 "die" instead of "come to his end". Mainly for chiastic balance.
Chapter 12 1a “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will stand by [a].
1b There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end, when many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase [b].”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” [c]
7a The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.
7b When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” 8 I heard, but I did not fully understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the duration of this be [d]?”
9 He said [e], “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished to the time [f] the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will enter into rest. You will rise again to your destiny at the end of the time [g].”
Retranslation notes for Daniel 12
[a] vs 1 "stand by" instead of "arise".
[b] vs 4 "end, when many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase" instead of "end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge".
[c] vs 6 "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" instead of "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"
[d] vs 8 'I did not fully understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the duration of this be' instead of 'I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be'.
[e] vs 9 “said" instead of "replied".
[f] vs 11 “to the time" instead of "and".
[g] vs 13 “You will enter into rest. You will rise again to your destiny at the end of the time" instead of "You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance".
3. Building the reconfigured text
From this parse, it appears that 11:2b-45 forms a cryptochiasmus as below:A1 11:2b-30a Period 1. Alexander, Kings of the North and South
B1 11:30b Period 3. The Antichrist against Christianity
X 11:31 Period 2. The Abomination that causes Desolation
B2 11:32-36 Period 3. The Antichrist's reign
A2 11:37-45 Period 1. The last days of Antiochus Epiphanes
We now reconstruct the passages in the right order based on the chiastic structure above and based on the ordering rules of a cryptochiasmus [1].
We usually lead with the pivot point but for this reconstruction we place the central pivot 'X' at the end so that we get a multiply-applied chiasmus with Ch 12 (the rules of cryptochiasmi [1] allow this). The corresponding subunits (For ex., subunit A1 corresponds to A2) are placed contiguously to form units (For ex., A1,A2 is a unit) so that we get a list of such units.
The sequence selected for rearrangement is:
[A1,A2] [B1,B2] X (1)
We have the following sequence when we include Chapter 12:
[A1,A2] - Period 1
[B1,B2] - Period 3
X - Period 2
12:1a - Period 2. Michael stands by as Judea is destroyed
12:1b-7a - Period 4. Final Resurrection; Time, times and half a time
12:7b-11 - Period 2. Sealed scroll, 1290 days
12:12 - Period 3. Blessed is the one who reaches the end, 1335 days
12:13 - Period 1. Daniel must wait till the Time of the End
We still have text for the Periods in a non-contiguous form. We treat this as a multiply-applied cryptochiasmus as below:
M1 [A1,A2] Period 1
N1 [B1,B2] Period 3
O1 X, 12:1a Period 2
XX 12:1b-7a Period 4
O2 12:7b-11 Period 2
N2 12:12 Period 3
M2 12:13 Period 1
The sequence selected for rearrangement is:
[M1,M2] [O1,O2] [N1,N2] XX (2)
Note that we placed [O1,O2] before [N1,N2] and the pivot XX at the end in order to get the Periods in chronological sequence. The rules of cryptochiasmus [1] allow this as there is no discernible change in meaning.
Translating this sequence (2) into the sub-units of the first chiasmus, we get:
[[A1,A2], 12:13] [X, 12:1a, 12:7b-11] [[B1,B2],12:12] [12:1b-7a] (3)
Further translating (3) into verse numbers, we get:
[[11:2b-30a, 11:37-45],12:13] [11:31, 12:1a, 12:7b-11] [[11:30b, 11:32-36],12:12] [12:1b-7a] (4)
We arrive at the reconfigured passage in the next section by rearranging the verses so they are in sequence (4).
4. Daniel 11:2b-12:13 Reconfigured
Period 1. The Greek Empire (c. 333BC-164BC) (11:2b-30a, 11:37-45, 12:13)
Chiasmus 1: Alexander the Great (336-323BC) establishes the Greek EmpireChiasmus 2: Ptolemy III Euergetes defeats the Seleucid Empire (253BC-241BC)
Chiasmus 3: Antiochus III the Great (222-187 BC) defeats the Ptolemaic Empire
Chiasmus 4: Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC), the Vile Person
Chiasmus 5: The Prophet and the Prophecy: The Seal
Period 2 The first half of the First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–70AD) (11:31, 12:1a, 12:7b-11)
Chiasmus 1: The Romans Devastate Judea and Jerusalem (66AD–70AD)Chiasmus 2: The 1290 Days (66AD-70AD), The Seal
Period 3 The reign of the Antichrist (2023AD-2027AD) (11:30b, 11:32-36, 12:12)
Chiasmus 1: The Antichrist attacks Christianity and ChristiansChiasmus 2: The Antichrist will magnify himself and persecute Christians
Period 4 The End Times Tribulation and the Final Resurrection (c. 2967AD) (12:1b-7a)
5. A Commentary on the Reconfigured Text
5.1 Period 1. The Greek Empire (c. 333BC-164BC) (11:2b-30a, 11:37-45, 12:13)
This Period is structured as a series of 5 chiasmi: 4 are about the Greek Empire, and the last one is regarding the prophet and the prophecy itself. The passages of this Period consist of a long list of historical events, seemingly without structure, but when parsed into regular chiasmi, they become the stories of 4 politically significant Greeks; these 4 stories span the entire reign of the Greek Empire. ( Note that commentary for the introductory verses of Daniel 11, 11:1-2a, can be found in Part 1.)Chiasmus 1: Alexander the Great (336-323BC) establishes the Greek Empire
The passage below in 11:2b-4 is structured as a single-unit chiasmus:
A1 11:2b Prologue: The Persian Empire attacks Greece (480BC)
X 11:3 Alexander the Great establishes the Greek Empire (c. 333BC-323BC)
A2 11:4 Epilogue: The Greek Empire is divided into 4 kingdoms (c. 323BC-301BC)
Subunit A1: Prologue: The Persian Empire attacks Greece (480BC) (11:2b)
Chapter 11 2b “Three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
The three kings after Cyrus were Cambyses II (530-522 BC), Darius Hystaspes (522-486 BC) and Xerxes the Great (486–465BC). Xerxes the Great, the fourth king (when Cyrus is included), was extraordinarily wealthy, and he used his great wealth to gather a huge army of more than 2 million men from all over his vast empire. He employed this giant army to attack and destroy the Greek city of Athens (480BC), but was ultimately defeated and forced to retreat. At that time (480BC), Xerxes also deposed the Satanic priestly bloodlines that controlled Babylon, and he destroyed their temples, forcing them to flee to Pergamum (see appendix in [5]). The other Persian kings between the times of Xerxes and Alexander are not mentioned, presumably because it was Xerxes' attack on Greece and on the priests that prompted Alexander's retaliatory invasion of Persia.
Pivot X: Alexander the Great establishes the Greek Empire (c. 333BC-323BC) (11:3)
Chapter 11 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.
Alexander invaded the Persian Empire beginning in 333BC, and he conquered at will. Under him, the Greek empire grew rapidly, so that it extended from Greece and Egypt in the west to India in the east.
Subunit A2: Epilogue: The Greek Empire is divided into 4 kingdoms (c. 323BC-301BC) (11:4)
Chapter 11 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
Shortly after he rose to great power ("after he has arisen"), Alexander suddenly died in 323BC, and his generals, the Diadochi, warred over his empire, as he had left behind no clear successor. Alexander's sons were murdered, and after the battle of Ipsus in 301BC, the empire was permanently divided into 4 kingdoms: to the west, Cassander ruled Greece and Macedonia; to the north, Lysimachus ruled Thrace and Asia Minor; to the south, Ptolemy Soter controlled Egypt and Palestine; and to the east Seleucus Nicator controlled Syria, Babylonia and regions farther east up to India.
The rest of the chiasmi of this Period focus on two of the Greek empire's four kingdoms: The kingdom to the North of Judea, which was the Syrian Seleucid kingdom, and the kingdom to the South of Judea, the Egyptian Ptolemaic kingdom.
Chiasmus 2: Ptolemy III Euergetes defeats the Seleucid Empire (253BC-241BC)
The passage below in 11:5-9 is arranged in the form of a two-unit chiasmus:
A1 11:5 Prologue: The Ptolemaic Empire is weaker than the Seleucid Empire (c. 305BC)
B1 11:6a The Ptolemaic Empire fails to annex the Seleucid Empire (253BC-246BC)
X 11:6b-7a Ptolemy III takes over from Berenice in Syria (246BC)
B2 11:7b-8a The Ptolemaic Empire defeats the Seleucid Empire (246-241BC)
A2 8b-9 Epilogue: The Ptolemaic Empire is stronger than the Seleucid Empire (241BC)
Subunit A1: The Ptolemaic Empire is weaker than the Seleucid Empire (c. 305BC) (11:5)
Chapter 11 5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.
Ptolemy I Soter (305-282BC) became the first king of the Egyptian arm of the Greek empire and the founder of the powerful Ptolemaic Kingdom. Seleucus I Nicator (305-281BC), a general under Alexander, had been assigned the satrapy of Babylonia in 321BC. He had lost the kingdom to Antigonus and became a general under Ptolemy I ("one of his commanders") for a while. Seleucus, with Ptolemy's help, retook wealthy Babylonia in 312BC to become king of the Syrian arm of the Greek empire. Seleucus founded the Seleucid empire, which controlled a region that was larger, wealthier and more powerful than the Ptolemaic kingdom. Relations between these kingdoms later deteriorated and they fought two wars - the First Syrian War (274–271BC) and the Second Syrian War (260–253BC) - over the strategically important region of Coele-Syria.
Subunit B1: The Ptolemaic Empire fails to annex the Seleucid Empire (253BC-246BC) (11:6a)
Chapter 11 6a After some years, they will become allies; for the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last.
After the Second Syrian War, Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt (283-246 BC) made an attempt at peace by giving his daughter Berenice Syra in marriage (253 BC) to Antiochus II Theos of Syria (261-246BC). According to the marriage covenant, Antiochus had to divorce Laodice, his wife at the time, and his two sons had to renounce all claims to the throne - the aim of the covenant was to unite the two kingdoms under one family. But the alliance did not have the intended effect, because a few years later, Antiochus II divorced Berenice ("she will not retain her power") and took back Laodice, his previous wife. So Ptolemy II died in 246BC, without seeing his plans for acquiring Syria through Berenice come to fruition ("he and his power will not last").
Pivot X: Ptolemy III takes over from Berenice in Syria (246BC) (11:6b-7a)
Chapter 11 6b In those days she will be betrayed: she, along with the one who brought her in; and her offspring, the one who supported her.
Laodice, fearing her husband Antiochus II's fickleness, killed him with poison. A succession dispute broke out after Antiochus II's death. Laodice declared her son, Seleucus II Callinicus (246-225 BC), king of the Syrian empire. Queen Berenice declared her own son king in Antioch and seized control of most of Syria, claiming the regency for her infant son Antiochus III. So Laodice, who had killed Antiochus II ("the one who brought her [Berenice] in"), arranged for the assassinations of Berenice and her son Antiochus, the one who lent legitimacy to Berenice's reign ("the one who supported her").
Chapter 11 7a One from her family line will arise in his place.
Berenice's brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes (246–222 BC), rushed into Syria to support his sister; but she was killed before he got to the palace in Antioch. So Ptolemy III took over from Berenice and her son, Antiochus ("his place"), in this struggle for power in Syria.
Subunit B2: The Ptolemaic Empire defeats the Seleucid Empire (246-241BC) (11:7b-8a)
Chapter 11 7b He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8a He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.
Through the Third Syrian War / Laodicean War (246-241), Ptolemy III, avenged his sister Berenice's death by defeating Seleucus II Callinicus (246-225 BC). He seized Seleukeia, the fortified port of the capital Antioch, and overran the Syrian Empire, even up to Babylon. According to Porphyry, Ptolemy III returned to Egypt with forty thousand talents of silver, precious vessels, and twenty-four hundred images, including Egyptian idols, some of which Cambyses had previously carried from Egypt into Persia.
Subunit A2: Epilogue: The Ptolemaic Empire is stronger than the Seleucid Empire (241BC) (11:8b-9)
Chapter 11 8b For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.
This subunit summarizes the aftermath of the war. Ptolemy was forced to abandon his plans to permanently occupy Syria because of a revolt at home in Egypt, but in exchange for a period of peace, in 241 BC, Ptolemy III was awarded new territories on the northern coast of Syria. So Ptolemy, the king of the South, returned victorious from Syria with the spoils of war, and now the King of the South is stronger than the King of the North for a time.
Chiasmus 3: Antiochus III the Great (222-187 BC) defeats the Ptolemaic Empire
The passage below in 11:10-20 is arranged in the form of a four-unit chiasmus:
A1 11:10a Prologue: Antiochus' predecessor is murdered (223BC)
B1 11:10b-12a Antiochus is Defeated: By the Egyptians (217BC)
C1 11:12b-13 The Fifth Syrian War: The Beginning of the War (202BC)
D1 11:14 The Fifth Syrian War: Antiochus loses control over Judea (201BC)
X 11:15 The Fifth Syrian War: Antiochus defeats the Egyptians at the Siege at Sidon (200BC)
D2 11:16 The Fifth Syrian War: Antiochus gains control over Judea (200BC)
C2 11:17 The Fifth Syrian War: The End of the War (195BC)
B2 11:18-19 Antiochus is Defeated: By the Romans (188BC)
A2 11:20 Epilogue: Antiochus' successor is murdered (175 BC)
Subunit A1: Prologue: Antiochus' predecessor is murdered (223BC) (11:10a)
Chapter 11 10a His sons will stir up strife and assemble a multitude of great forces. One of them will sweep on like an irresistible flood.
The revanchist king Seleucus III Ceraunus (225-223 BC), son of Seleucus II Callinicus, with the aid of his brother Antiochus III the Great, began preparations to retake lost Syrian territory by gathering a large army. Seleucus III was murdered before he could begin the war, and it was up to a young Antiochus III to prosecute the war started by his brother. Antiochus III attacked with a great army ("irresistible flood") and recovered the parts of Syria that had been taken by Ptolemy III Euergetes (vs 7-9), up to Palestine (219-218BC). This was the beginning of the Fourth Syrian War (219–217 BC).
Subunit B1: Antiochus is Defeated: By the Egyptians (217BC) (11:10b-12a)
Chapter 11 10b He shall return and war, even to his fortress. 11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will field a large army, but it will be defeated. 12a When the army is swept away, the king of the South will be filled with pride.
Antiochus retired to winter at Ptolemais after the victories of the previous subunit, and then returned to continue his campaign in Palestine in 217BC, even up to the Egyptian border fortress in Gaza at Raphia ("his fortress"). But Antiochus was met at Raphia by the forces of Ptolemy IV Philopator (221–204BC), who had been angered by his loss of territory in Coele-Syria. The Battle of Raphia/Gaza (217 BC), during the Fourth Syrian War (219–217 BC), was one of the largest battles of the ancient world: Ptolemy's army consisted of 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 elephants, and Antiochus had 62,000 soldiers, 6,000 cavalry, and a 102 elephants.
Ptolemy IV defeated the mighty Syrian army at Raphia and retook most of the land in Coele-Syria that Antiochus had captured. After this great victory, he became proud and arrogant, to the extent that he went to the temple in Jerusalem to enter the holiest place (3 Maccabees 1,2).
Subunit C1: The Fifth Syrian War: The Beginning of the War (202BC) (11:12b-13)
Chapter 11 12b He will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.
Although Ptolemy IV massacred about 10,000 of Antiochus' army and took 4,000 captives at Raphia, the Egyptian gains were short-lived. Fourteen years after his defeat at Raphia, Antiochus III made war with Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204–180 BC), a mere child, with an even larger, better equipped army of about 70,000 (he had 62,000 at Raphia). This was the beginning of the Fifth Syrian War (202–195BC).
Subunit D1: The Fifth Syrian War: Antiochus loses control over Judea (201BC) (11:14)
Chapter 11 14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will exalt themselves in the fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail.
Antiochus III convinced Philip V of Macedon to join the war to conquer Ptolemy's territories in Asia Minor. Apart from Philip V, rebels from provinces subject to Egypt, from Egypt itself and from Judea rose against young Ptolemy V Epiphanes ("many will rise against the king of the South").
The Judahites were certain that Antiochus would win this war and control Judea, based on this prophecy in Daniel 11 (see vs 16 in the corresponding subunit). So a faction of the Judahites (the "violent") fought alongside Antiochus against their Egyptian overlords; Antiochus, when he took Palestine (201BC), rewarded them with prestigious positions ("exalt themselves"). But the Egyptians, under general Scopas, soon retook Judea (201BC), and these Judahites' gains were short-lived ("but they will fail").
Pivot X: The Fifth Syrian War: Antiochus defeats the Egyptians at the Siege at Sidon (200BC) (11:15)
Chapter 11 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand.
Antiochus the Great defeated Scopas, the Egyptian general, at the battle of Panium (200BC). Scopas fled to Sidon, a strongly fortified city, where he was forced to surrender by a siege induced famine. Ptolemy sent Egypt's choicest armies successively under Eropus, Menocles, and Damoxenus to deliver Scopas, but in vain.
This event of the pivot was a watershed, because the Ptolemaic Kingdom did not recover from its defeat at Panium and ceased to be an independent great power.
Subunit D2: The Fifth Syrian War: Antiochus gains control over Judea (200BC) (11:16)
Chapter 11 16 The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land, and all of it will be in his power.
With the Ptolemaic Kingdom weakened, no one in the region could oppose Antiochus the Great (though he was hemmed in by the Romans). He controlled all parts of Coele-Syria and Palestine. He had absolute power over Judea and Jerusalem ("the Beautiful Land") but dealt favourably with the Judahites because of their support for his campaign.
Subunit C2: The Fifth Syrian War: The End of the War (195BC) (11:17)
Chapter 11 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom. But the upright ones will oppose his plans, and he will comply. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.
Antiochus III then set out to conquer the Ptolemaic regions of Asia Minor with a mighty force; but the Romans, who policed the region ("upright ones"), were opposed to any further invasion into Egypt-controlled territories, and he had to obey them.
In an effort to gain control over these lands by other means, Antiochus proposed a marriage treaty with Egypt. He gave his daughter Cleopatra I Syra in marriage to Ptolemy V Epiphanes c. 195BC, with the hope of acquiring territory through her influence over the Egyptian king. The marriage treaty ended the Fifth Syrian War (202–195BC), but Antiochus' designs on Egypt did not bear fruit, because Cleopatra favoured her husband over her father.
Subunit B2: Antiochus is Defeated: By the Romans (188BC) (11:18-19)
Chapter 11 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.
Antiochus invaded the coastal towns of Asia Minor ("coastlands") that were controlled by Egypt and Greece, angering the Romans (they had forbidden this invasion - see 11:17). He entered Greece and occupied parts of it in 192 BC with a 10,000-man army and with audacious plans to "liberate" Greece from the Romans. However, during the Roman–Seleucid War (192–188 BC), the Roman general, Scipio Asiaticus routed Antiochus at Thermopylae in 191 BC, forcing him to withdraw to Asia Minor. The Romans followed up their success by invading Anatolia; their decisive victory at Magnesia ad Sipylum (190 BC) gave them control of Asia Minor.
Chapter 11 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.
By the Treaty of Apamea (188 BC), Antiochus had to abandon all the country north and west of the Taurus and pay 15,000 talents (450 tonnes) of silver as war indemnity. He retreated to the garrisoned cities left to him, too indebted to attempt any further expansions of his territory. He was killed while pillaging a temple of Bel at Elymaïs, Persia, in 187 BC.
Subunit A2: Epilogue: Antiochus' successor is murdered (175 BC) (11:20)
Chapter 11 20 “His successor will send out a tax collector through the glorious kingdom. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.
Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175BC), son of Antiochus III the Great, was compelled by financial necessities, created in part by the heavy war-indemnity exacted by Rome, to extract as much as possible in taxes and tribute. In an effort to collect money, he sent his minister Heliodorus to Jerusalem ("the glorious kingdom" - see also 11:16) to seize the Jewish temple treasury (see 2 Maccabees 3). Shortly after his return from Jerusalem, Heliodorus assassinated Seleucus ("not in anger or in battle") and seized the throne for himself.
Chiasmus 4: Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC), the Vile Person
The passage below in 11:21-30a,37-45 is arranged in the form of a three-unit chiasmus:
A1 11:21 Prologue: Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Ascension to the Throne (175BC)
B1 11:22-24 A summary of Antiochus' strategies (175-164BC)
C1 11:25-27 Despite human scheming, God controls all nations (170-169BC)
X 11:28-30a Antiochus attacks the "Holy Covenant" (169-168BC)
C2 11:37-39 Antiochus considers himself king of the gods (175-164BC)
B2 11:40-43 A summary of Antiochus' achievements (170-164BC)
A2 11:44-45 Epilogue: Death of Antiochus Epiphanes (165-164BC)
This chiasmus goes into some detail on Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and we believe this is because Antiochus is a type of the Antichrist. The chiasmus is structured on themes rather than chronological events, and these themes apply to both Antiochus Epiphanes and the Antichrist. We will point out parallels between the two as we see them in the passage below.
Subunit A1: Prologue: Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Ascension to the Throne (175BC) (11:21)
Chapter 11 21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty, but he will come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
Antiochus Epiphanes - Seleucus Philopator's brother - a vile, contemptible person, on seeing that his brother's throne had been usurped by Heliodorus (vs. 20), made his way to Syria from Athens accompanied by the forces of Eumenes II of Pergamum (Antiochus, who had been a prisoner of Rome as part of a treaty arrangement, had just been freed in exchange for Philopator's son, Demetrius). Eumenes' army stopped at the border of Syria so that they would not be invading the country, and Antiochus continued to the capital with his retinue ("peaceably"). Heliodorus fled on seeing that Antiochus, a potential heir to the Seleucid line, had the backing of Pergamum's forces. The legitimate heir to the throne, Demetrius I Soter - Seleucus Philopator's son - was a hostage in Rome, as agreed by the Treaty of Apamea. So Antiochus Epiphanes effectively seized the throne from Heliodorus and Demetrius, but he made an infant son of Seleucus co-regent to appease Demetrius and those faithful to the young heir. Antiochus murdered his nephew a few years later, and with that, he became the sole Seleucid ruler ("seize the kingdom by intrigue").
The Antichrist will also be a contemptible person, who will seize control over the world through intrigue (see Dan. 8:23,24). Antiochus came into power through the aid of Pergamum, Satan's capital at that time (Rev. 2:12-13), and the Antichrist will similarly gain power over the world through the Vatican, Satan's headquarters at the start of the Millennial Reign (see appendix in [5]).
Subunit B1: A summary of Antiochus' strategies (175-164BC) (11:22-24)
Chapter 11 22 With the power of a flood will they be swept away before him and will be crushed. Yes, also the prince of the covenant; 23 after coming to an agreement with him, he will act treacherously. With only a few people he will rise to power.
This passage (vs 22-23) points out the stratagems Antiochus used to ascend to the throne. Large armies, like Pergamum's, are sometimes called a "flood" (see also Dan 9:26), and so the "power of a flood" refers to the implied threat of invasion that comes with the presence of Pergamum's army at the borders of Syria. Antiochus swept away Heliodorus and Demetrius and took the throne using a threat of invasion. He made a covenant with Demetrius' infant brother - Antiochus, son of Seleucus IV - that he would share the throne with the boy, but then treacherously murdered the infant to acquire absolute power (the infant is the "prince of the covenant"). So Antiochus became emperor through treachery with the help of a small band of co-conspirators and not with a large invading army.
Like Antiochus, the Antichrist will grab power using deception (see Dan. 8:23,24), but he will be backed by the Vatican's powerful army, that of the Beast of Rev 13,17.
Chapter 11 24a During a time of peace, he will go into even the richest parts of the realm, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his forefathers have done: distribute among them plunder, spoil, and goods.
In times of peace, Antiochus went into provinces of his realm, even its richest, and used some of his wealth and plunder to buy the allegiance of his people: he distributed money to commoners in the streets of Antioch; according to Polybius, Antiochus gave a gold piece to every Greek citizen in Naucratis, Egypt. Neither his father nor grandfather could do this because of their large debts to Rome by the Treaty of Apamea (see 1 Maccabees 3:30).
The Antichrist will also be generous to his supporters around the world, with the wealth stolen from their nations (see vs 30b in Part 3).
Chapter 11 24b He will devise plans against fortresses, but only for a time.
For a while, Antiochus made preparations to attack some of the strongest fortresses in Egypt, particularly the capital in Alexandria, but was forced to withdraw (see vs 30).
The Antichrist and Beast will make plans against the New Israel, but their assault will be thwarted (Ezekiel 39).
Subunit C1: Despite human scheming, God controls all nations (170-169BC) (11:25-27)
Chapter 11 25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him.
The guardians of young Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-145 BC) of Egypt, in an effort to retake Coele-Syria, started war preparations against Syria in 170 BC - this was the beginning of the Sixth Syrian War (170–168 BC). However, in 169 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes launched a pre-emptive strike against Egypt with an overwhelming multitude. He defeated Ptolemy Philometor's powerful army to seize the strategically important town of Pelusium. Ptolemy was apparently defeated through treachery in his ranks ("he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him").
Chapter 11 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle.
When he saw that Antiochus planned to push further into Egypt, Ptolemy Philometor negotiated a friendship agreement with him, which in effect reduced Egypt to a vassal state of Syria. Seeing Ptolemy Philometor was controlled by Antiochus, two prominent Ptolemaic generals ("those who eat from the kings provisions"), Comanus and Cineas, made Philometer's brother Ptolemy VIII Physcon king in Alexandria. Enraged that his plan to rule Egypt had failed, Antiochus extended his campaign into the heart of Egypt, defeating the large Egyptian army to conquer Memphis. He also attacked Alexandria, but he was unable to mount an effective siege against the capital city.
Chapter 11 27a The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other,
Antiochus installed Ptolemy VI Philometor in Memphis and negotiated another treaty of friendship with him (Philometer was Antiochus' nephew through the marriage alliance of vs 17, and family "sits at the same table"). But both parties behaved deceitfully: by the treaty, Antiochus reduced Ptolemy to a Seleucid client; and within two months Ptolemy VI repudiated the treaty. Ptolemy VI reconciled with his brother, so that the two became co-regents again along with their sister Cleopatra II in Alexandria.
Chapter 11 27b but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.
All the verses in this subunit (vs 25-27) mention some sort of intrigue, deceit or treachery, and this last passage of the subunit makes its point. In spite of all the clever scheming by the leadership of the two nations, the results will be as and when ordained by God and as laid out in prophecy. The predictions of this prophecy are excerpts from the "Book of Truth" (Dan 10:21), implying that God has made similar predictions for all nations for all times.
The period of the Antichrist's reign through the Beast will also be a time of intrigue, deceit and treachery, for these are the ways of Satan and his fallen angels (see Daniel 8:25). But ultimately, God is in control of all things.
Pivot X: Antiochus attacks the "Holy Covenant" (169-168BC) (11:28-30a)
Chapter 11 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
After his victories in Egypt, Antiochus IV Epiphanes returned with immense wealth from his plunder of the country (Sep. 169BC). On the way back to Syria, Antiochus attacked Jerusalem (the land of the "holy covenant"). He killed large numbers of its residents, and plundered and desecrated the temple (see 1 Maccabees 1:19-28).
Chapter 11 29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30a Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant.
At the time appointed by God, in 168BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes invaded Egypt up to Memphis a second time, because the Egyptians violated the treaty of the previous year by recruiting new troops. But this time the Romans opposed his plans. At Eleusis, on the outskirts of the capital, Alexandria, Antiochus was stopped by Popilius Laenas, who offered the king an ultimatum from the Senate: he must evacuate Egypt and Cyprus immediately. Antiochus begged to have time to consider but Popilius drew a circle round him - a line in the sand - with his cane and told him to decide before he stepped outside it. Antiochus chose to obey the Roman ultimatum, for he dared not defy the Romans after the humiliation they had visited upon his forefathers (vs 18,19). The "Day of Eleusis" ended the Sixth Syrian War and Antiochus' hopes of conquering Egyptian territory
On the way back from this humiliation in Egypt in 168BC, hearing of a rebellion in Judea, Antiochus vented his wrath on the Judahites and Jerusalem (the second attack after the one in vs 28). He killed many tens of thousands of Judahites, took many into slavery and desecrated the temple (2 Maccabees 5:11-17).
The Antichrist will similarly attack and devastate the people of the New "Holy Covenant", faithful Christians around the world (Rev. 13).
Subunit C2: Antiochus considers himself king of the gods (175-164BC) (11:37-39)
Chapter 11 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.
Antiochus believed that he was a manifestation of the king of the Greek gods, Zeus (Epiphanes means "god manifest"), and so considered himself superior to all the Greek gods ("the gods of his ancestors") and the gods of other nations.
The Mesopotamian goddess Nanaya, a goddess of love and sensuality, seems to be the "one desired by women" - many seals with the inscription "servant of Nanaya" have been found, and they appear to have belonged to women. Antiochus showed a complete disregard for Nanaya when he tried to pillage a temple in Persia dedicated to the goddess.
Chapter 11 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god who greatly honors those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and parceling out land as a reward.
Antiochus honoured Jupiter, the Roman equivalent ("a god unknown to his ancestors") of the Greek god Zeus, for Antiochus believed himself to be an incarnation of Jupiter/Zeus (he had spent some time in Rome as prisoner, during which he developed a taste for Roman culture and religion). Jupiter ("god of fortresses") was considered capable of expanding a nation ("making them rulers over many", "parceling out land as a reward"), and so Antiochus worshipped the god (fallen angel) with lavish gifts, in keeping with the Roman practice of the time.
This subunit is regarding Antiochus' religion, which serves as a type of the Antichrist's religion. Like Antiochus, the Antichrist will exalt himself above all gods (2 Thess. 2:4, Dan 8:25) and steer worship to another god: Satan, the king of the fallen gods (Rev. 13:4,11-15). Satan, who rewards his worshippers with wealth and power, will give the Antichrist tyrannical control over the whole world (Rev 13).
Subunit B2: A summary of Antiochus' achievements (170-164BC) (11:40-43)
This subunit B2 [11:40-43] is itself structured as a single-unit chiasmus. The pivot [11:41] is regarding Antiochus' attacks on Judea. The subunits summarize the Sixth Syrian War (170-168BC): the first subunit [11:40] is regarding Antiochus' military push into Egypt, and the second subunit [11:42-43] details the rewards of his venture.
Chapter 11 40 “In the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.
The Egyptians were preparing to invade Syria, when Antiochus Epiphanes pre-emptively retaliated with a mighty army and defeated the Ptolemaic army (see also 11:25 above). He invaded Egypt and swept through many smaller nations on his path; his navy attacked Cyprus along the coast.
The phrase, "In the end," indicates that this subunit [vs 40-43] is a summary of Antiochus Epiphanes' achievements.
Chapter 11 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many will be overthrown, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.
Antiochus raided and desecrated the temple in Jerusalem twice (in 169BC and 168BC) and established control over Judea. He persecuted the Judahites, slaughtering a great number of them and taking many into slavery.
Antiochus deposed many leaders, but those of Edom, Moab and Ammon, neighbours of Israel, were spared, perhaps because they supported Syria against Judea (see also 1 Maccabees 3:10, 4:61, 5:1-8).
The Antichrist will similarly denigrate Christianity and persecute Christians, and he will reward the leaders who support him in his war against Christianity - the Judahites of this period are a type of the Christians during the reign of the Beast.
Chapter 11 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission
Antiochus established his dominion over the many countries he passed through, and although he did not conquer all of Egypt, he controlled significant regions of that great nation. He took back with him large quantities of Egyptian treasures as war booty. The Libyans and the Cushites/Ethiopians, were neighbours of Egypt and allied to it, and he apparently took many of them as slaves ("in submission"). This passage is regarding the results of Antiochus' exploits - he acquires great power, enormous wealth and many slaves.
The Antichrist will similarly control the nations of the world. He will acquire great wealth and power and will enslave many (see Rev 13).
Subunit A2: Epilogue: Death of Antiochus Epiphanes (165-164BC) (11:44-45)
Chapter 11 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many
Reports of rebellion by Armenians to the north and attacks by the Parthians from the east worried him, so he led the main Seleucid army on a campaign to the eastern part of his empire, where he had some initial success.
Chapter 11 45a He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain.
Antiochus, being busy on the eastern front, designated his commander Lysias to quell a rebellion in Judea. The Syrians pitched their battle tents at Emmaus, between the Mediterranean and Dead seas, in the hill country close to Jerusalem. They were preparing for an assault on Judea when they were defeated by guerilla attacks on the camp by the Maccabees in the Battle of Emmaus (165BC) (1 Maccabees 3:38–4:25, 2 Maccabees 8:8-28). Antiochus Epiphanes was humiliated at the defeat of his army by the small Judean province.
Chapter 11 45b Yet he will die, and no one will help him.
Accounts of Antiochus' death vary widely, but they agree in that he died, in Persia, in ignominy and misery and without succour (see 2 Maccabees 9:5–9).
The Antichrist's end will mirror that of Antiochus. The Antichrist will similarly lead the Beast army into a final assault on the New Israel. The Beast army will prepare for this battle at the mountains outside the New Israel, between two rivers (Joel 2:20). But the Beast and the Antichrist will be humiliatingly defeated and killed with divine assistance (see Rev. 19:19-20, Ezekiel 39).
Chiasmus 5: The Prophet and the Prophecy: The Seal
The passage below in 12:13 is structured as a single-unit chiasmus:
A1 12:13a Daniel will rise again at the start of the Millennial Reign
X 12:13b Daniel will die soon
A2 12:13c Daniel will rise again at the start of the Millennial Reign
Subunit A1: Daniel will rise again at the start of the Millennial Reign (12:13a)
Chapter 12 13a “As for you, go your way till the end.
Daniel is told to wait till "the end", where "the end" refers to the end of Satan's reign and the start of Christ's in Period 3. At that time, the Archangel Michael, who gave Daniel this prophecy, will come down to earth as the Messiah of the Millennial Age and explain this prophecy.
Pivot X: Daniel will die soon (12:13b)
Chapter 12 13b You will enter into rest.
This prophecy was given to Daniel towards the end of his life in 522BC (see 11:1), when he was almost a 100 years old.
Subunit A2: Daniel will rise again at the start of the Millennial Reign (12:13c)
Chapter 12 13c You will rise again to your destiny at the end of the time.”
Daniel, along with other righteous who are deemed worthy, will be resurrected at the First Resurrection (Rev 20:4-5) at the start of Christ's Millennial Reign (at "the end of the time" of Satan's reign). During the Millennial Reign, Daniel will occupy an exalted position in the government of Israel and the world ("your destiny") as a reward for his righteousness and faithfulness, even in the face of death (see Daniel 6).
The prophecy of this Unit A (Subunits A1, A2), that Daniel will rise again and that the prophecy will be unsealed in Period 3, connects this Period 1 (and the introductory passage in Daniel 10 - the two are united by the Janus) to Period 3. Along with similar passages in Period 2 and 4 (see 12:4,9), this Unit A is a part of a seal that ties Period 3 to the 4 other sections (Periods 1,2,4 and the opening section) of the prophecy of Daniel 10-12. This seal is the second seal of Revelation (see Rev 6:3-4), and the opening of this seal (explaining of the prophecy), that binds this prediction of a period of great warfare (Dan 11), unleashes the Rider on the Red Horse, who for a time creates great strife on earth.
5.2 Period 2 The first half of the First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–70AD) (11:31, 12:1a, 12:7b-11)
This Period is structured as a series of 2 chiasmi.Chiasmus 1: The Romans Devastate Judea and Jerusalem (66AD–70AD)
The passage below in 11:31,12:1a is structured as a single-unit chiasmus:
A1 11:31a The beginning of the war: The Romans punish the cessation of sacrifices for Caesar
X 11:31b The middle of the war: The Romans lay siege to Jerusalem
A2 12:1a The beginning of the war: Michael stops protecting the Judahites
Subunit A1: The beginning of the war: The Romans punish the cessation of sacrifices for Caesar (11:31a )
Chapter 11 31a “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress when the regular sacrifices are stopped.
The Judahites stopped prayers and sacrifices for Caesar (Emperor Nero) in order to protest the desecration of a Jewish synagogue in Caesarea. This was a major act of rebellion, and so the Roman governor, Gessius Florus, launched a raid on Jerusalem ("the temple fortress"), arrested and crucified numerous Judahite leaders, and plundered the Jewish Temple ("desecrated") (see also Dan 8:11b-12a). (See more details on this war in our paper on the "70 weeks of Daniel" [2]).
Pivot X: The middle of the war: The Romans lay siege to Jerusalem (11:31b)
Chapter 11 31b Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
In the spring of 70AD (around March), in the middle of the war, the Roman Army under Titus arrived at Jerusalem. They laid siege to the city, closing all exits and brutally killing anyone who tried to escape. They were the Abomination that causes Desolation, because they utterly destroyed the city and its people by September of that year (see Luke 21:20, see also Dan. 9:27, Matt 24:15).
Subunit A2: The beginning of the war: Michael stops protecting the Judahites (12:1a)
Chapter 12 1a “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will stand by.
The Archangel Michael, protector of the Judahites, stands by and lets the Romans destroy Judea and Jerusalem. God had made a covenant with Titus that allowed him to devastate His nation, Judea and Jerusalem, for 7 years. At the end of the 7 years, God reinstated His protection for the Christian Judahites that remained (see Dan 9:27 in [2]).
Chiasmus 2: The 1290 Days (66AD-70AD), The Seal
The passage below in 12:7b-11 is arranged in the form of a two-unit chiasmus:
A1 12:7b-8 The Duration of the First Half of the First Jewish–Roman War - Inquiry (66AD-70AD)
B1 12:9 The Prophet and the Prophecy: The Seal
X 12:10a The Righteous are Purified during the first half of the war (66AD-70AD)
B2 12:10b The Prophet and the Prophecy: The Seal
A2 12:11 The Duration of the First Half of the First Jewish–Roman War - Reply (66AD-70AD)
Daniel feels weak after the momentous prophecy of the previous passage, 12:7a, so before Michael reveals the last section of the prophecy, starting in 12:7b, he strengthens Daniel, as detailed in 10:16b-18 (Pivot X of Chiasmus 2 in Part 1).
Subunit A1: The Duration of the First Half of the War - Inquiry (66AD-70AD) (12:7b-8)
Chapter 12 7b When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
By the end of this Period, Jerusalem and its temple are destroyed (70AD), and the Old Covenant between God and the Israelites, that made them in a favoured people, is ended ("the power of the holy people has been finally broken") (see Zech. 11:10).
8 I heard, but I did not fully understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the duration of this be?”
Daniel hears the prophecy of this Period, as detailed in Chiasmus 1 above, and inquires about the duration of the first half of the war as specified in 11:31 and 12:11; the angel replies in 12:11 in the corresponding Subunit A2 below.
Subunit B1: The Prophet and the Prophecy: The Seal (12:9)
Chapter 12 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.
This prophecy is sealed until the "time of the end", where the "time of the end" is the period towards the end of Satan's reign, between 2023-2027AD in Period 3, at which time Michael, the coming Messiah, will unseal and explain this and other prophecies. This Unit B (Subunits B1 and B2), that predicts that Daniel will be resurrected around the start of the Millennial Reign and that he will be able to understand these predictions at that time, ties Period 2 to Period 3 and forms a part of the seal that binds Period 3 to all the other sections of this prophecy in Daniel 10-12 (see also 12:4,13).
Pivot X: The Righteous are Purified during the first half of the war (66AD-70AD) (12:10a)
Chapter 12 10a Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.
During the first half of the First Jewish-Roman war, many Judahites will turn to Christ and become righteous (see Zech. 12:10-14). These righteous will be saved from the Roman massacre, but the wicked Judahites will continue in their evil ways, and they will die in this war.
Subunit B2: The Prophet and the Prophecy: The Seal (12:10b)
This subunit continues from 12:9 in the corresponding Subunit B1 above.
Chapter 12 10b None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
When the seal is opened during the Pre-Millennial tribulation in Period 3, only the wise will understand and appreciate these prophecies. The wicked of that Period will remain blind to the truth of these predictions, so that they continue in their foolish ways that lead to their destruction (see also Daniel 11:32-34).
Subunit A2: The Duration of the First Half of the First Jewish–Roman War - Reply (66AD-70AD) (12:11)
This subunit continues from 12:8 in the corresponding Subunit A1 above.
Chapter 12 11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished to the time the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
The 1290 days is the time between the cessation of sacrifices for the Roman Emperor in Sep. of 66AD at the start of the war (see also Daniel 8:11), and the arrival of the Roman Army in Jerusalem around Mar. of 70AD in the middle of the war (see also Daniel 8:13, Daniel 9:27). This end date is significant because Jesus warns the Christians living in Jerusalem to flee immediately on seeing the Romans (Matt. 24:15-18).
The two 3 1/2 year sections of the 7 year war consisted of around 1290 days and 1260 days (we get the 1260 days from our parse of Rev. 12 [6]). The difference in length of the sections is on account of the Hebrew calendar of that particular period - the first 'half' had an extra leap month. For a more detailed analysis of these time periods, see the appendix of our paper of the "70 weeks of Daniel" [2].
5.3 Period 3 The reign of the Antichrist (2023AD-2027AD) (11:30b, 32-36, 12:12)
This Period is structured as a series of 2 chiasmi.Chiasmus 1: The Antichrist attacks Christianity and Christians
The passage below in 11:30b,32-34 is arranged in the form of a single-unit chiasmus:
A1 11:30b The Antichrist rewards those who forsake Christianity
X 11:32-33 The Antichrist punishes faithful Christians
A2 11:34 The Antichrist rewards those who forsake Christianity
Subunit A1: The Antichrist rewards those who forsake Christianity (11:30b)
Chapter 11 30b He will recompense and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
The Antichrist will reward those who leave Christianity ("the holy covenant") to worship Satan and the Beast (see also Rev 13:11-17). Note that at the time of the Antichrist, the only Holy Covenant in force is the Christian covenant or Christianity (the Mosaic Covenant was terminated in 70AD).
Pivot X: The Antichrist punishes faithful Christians (11:32-33)
Chapter 11 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.
While the Antichrist leads the unfaithful astray with pleasing words, faithful Christians (the "wise") will teach against his false doctrines. The faithful preach the gospel and lead many to God and into righteousness (Matt 24:14), but they face great persecution ("captured", "plundered"), and a painful death ("fall by the sword", "burned") (see also Rev. 13:10, Matt 24:9,10).
Subunit A2: The Antichrist rewards those who forsake Christianity (11:34)
This subunit continues from 11:30b in the corresponding Subunit A1 above.
Chapter 11 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
Those who fall away from Christianity will receive a little help from the wicked in these difficult times, and when other insincere Christians see this, they too will join them in apostasy.
Chiasmus 2: The Antichrist will magnify himself and persecute Christians
The passage below in 11:35-36, 12:12 is arranged in the form of a single-unit chiasmus:
A1 11:35 Christians will be persecuted during the Antichrist's short reign
X 11:36a The Antichrist will magnify himself
A2 11:36b, 12:12 Christians will be persecuted during the Antichrist's short reign
Subunit A1: Christians will be persecuted during the Antichrist's short reign (11:35)
Chapter 11 35 Some of the wise will fall, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
Some faithful Christians ("the wise") have their character tested and refined when they fall victim to tribulation, so as to be worthy of the honours and rewards they receive during the earthly and heavenly reign of Christ (Rev 13:9,10, Matt 24:9,10). These troubles are for a limited period, after which Satan's reign ends ("time of the end") and the Messiah's reign begins (c. 8 Apr 2027, from [7]).
Pivot X: The Antichrist will magnify himself (11:36a)
Chapter 11 36a “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods.
The Antichrist ("king") will have totalitarian control of the world ("do as he pleases"), and during his reign he will unleash torment on the earth (see also Rev. 12:12). The Antichrist will place himself above all gods (like his type, Antiochus Epiphanes - see 11:37); he can do this because he represents Satan, the king of all gods (fallen angels). He will blaspheme against God, the true God of all gods, and lie about Him (see also 2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 13:5-8, Dan. 7:25, 8:23-25).
Subunit A2: Christians will be persecuted during the Antichrist's short reign (11:36b, 12:12)
Chapter 11 36b He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.
The Antichrist's wrathful reign will end at the time determined by God and predicted in these prophecies. For God is in control of all things and He allows all this to take place to test and refine the righteous.
Chapter 12 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
The 1335 days is the interval between the start of the Antichrist's reign c. 16 Sep 2023 (Daniel 7 [9]), and his final destruction through the war between the Messiah and the Beast (see Rev. 19:19-21, Ezekiel 39:3-5, Rev. 14:17-20); so this defeat will take place 1335 days after 16 Sep 2023 on 13 May 2027 (note that the Antichrist's reign ends 35 days before this on 8 Apr 2027 [9]). Those Christians who faithfully wait out this period of persecution will be blessed, for after the absolute defeat and devastation of Satan's earthly agents, the Antichrist and the Beast, the faithful will be rewarded at the start of Christ's Millennial Reign.
Three different durations are predicted for various aspects of this reign of Satan:
- Time, times and half a time or 3 1/2 years, according to the Hebrew calendar, during which the Antichrist has control over the world (see Dan. 7:25 in [9]) (16 Sep 2023 - 8 Apr 2027).
- A time of 42 months, according to the Hebrew calendar, during which the Beast is given control over the world (see Rev. 13:5,6 in [10]) (circa 14 Nov 2023 - 8 Apr 2027.) ( Note that this 42 month period is around two months shorter than 3 1/2 years, because the Hebrew calendar of this period has 2 leap months.)
- An interval of 1335 days between the start of the Antichrist's reign and the destruction of the Antichrist and Beast (Daniel 12:12) (16 Sep 2023 to 13 May 2027).
5.4 Period 4. The End Times Tribulation and the Final Resurrection (c. 2967AD) (12:1b-7a)
This Period is structured as a single-unit chiasmus:A1 12:1b-3 End-Times: Events (c. 2967AD)
X 12:4 The prophet and the prophecy: The prophecy is sealed
A2 12:5-7a End-Times: Date (2967AD)
Subunit A1: End-Times: Events (c. 2967AD) (12:1b-3)
Chapter 12 1b There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
The period of the End-Times Tribulation will be a time of unprecedented tribulation ("such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then") (see also Matt 24:21). But before the tribulation begins, righteous Judahites ("your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book") will be raptured out (see Matthew 24:31). The book - the Book of Life - is a list of people of the world who are righteous before God (see also Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 17:8...). Note that all the righteous of the world will be raptured out - the Judahites are specifically mentioned here, because this prophecy is given to Daniel in response to his enquiry regarding the future of the Judahites (see Dan 10:14).
Chapter 12 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
At the end of this Period of tribulation, all the remaining dead will be resurrected and judged (see also Rev. 20:5,11-15), that is, those who were not raised in the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:4,5). The righteous will be rewarded with eternal life, while the wicked will be punished with eternal shame in the Lake of Fire (cf. Matthew 25:46, see Rev. 20:15). Those who are wise, righteous and faithful and those who lead others into righteous lives will be rewarded with great honours and enjoy a eternally glorious existence in heaven.
Pivot X: The prophet and the prophecy: The prophecy is sealed (12:4)
After the lengthy prophecy of Vision 2 (11:1c-12:3), Daniel wakes up from his trance weak and speechless. He is strengthened and his speech is restored (see Unit A of Chiasmus 2 in Part 1 - 10:15-16a,19) before he is given the prophecy of Vision 3 (12:4-12:13).
Chapter 12 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end, when many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”
Daniel is told to seal this prophecy until the "time of the end", the end of Satan's reign (Period 3), when Michael, the Messiah, will unseal this and other prophecies [2]. At that time, knowledge and understanding of this prophecy, and of the Bible in general, will significantly increase (see also Matt. 24:14). "Back and forth" refers to the action of rowing a boat, a metaphor for a great striving to learn Scripture.
This passage implies that Daniel will rise again in Period 3, around the time this seal is opened and this prophecy is interpreted. This passage ties this Period 4 to Periods 3 and forms a part of the seal of this prophecy of Daniel 10-12 (see also 12:9 in Period 2 and 12:13 in Period 1).
Subunit A2: End-Times: Date (2967AD) (12:5-7a)
Chapter 12 5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.
For the prophecy of this Vision 3 (12:4-12:13), two other heavenly beings join Michael, presumably to convey the significance of the message of this subunit. In certain prophecies, waters represent the physical world and land represents the spiritual world, so the heavenly beings' standing on both probably indicates that the message is for both realms (see Rev. 12:16, 13:1, cf. Rev. 10:2).
Chapter 12 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7a The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.
One of the heavenly beings asks Michael, the angel clothed in linen (to indicate his righteousness - see 10:5) and standing above the water, about the date of the End-Times Resurrection (described in 12:2 in the corresponding subunit A1 above). Michael is asked to reveal this date, because, as far as possible, all communication between heaven and earth must be made through angels.
Michael, raises both hands and swears by God before making his extremely important prediction, indicating that this is a solemn promise from God (cf. Rev. 10:1-7). Since Daniel asks about the entire duration of the prophecy up to the End-Times Resurrection (“How long shall it be till the end of these wonders"), we take "time, times and half a time" (1+2+1/2 = 3 1/2) to mean 3 1/2 millennia or 3500 years. Note that there is a similar vision of an angel with an arm raised in Rev. 10:5-7, and in our parse of Revelation [8]; we show that the resurrection (Rev 20:11-15) comes around 3 1/2 years after that vision and at the 7th Trumpet.
What are the start and end dates of this period?
Start Date:
The day on which the delivery of this prophecy began in Ch. 10, the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, 534BC, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month (Tishri). ( This was the date that the angel originally planned to give Daniel the vision in Dan 11-12.)
End Date:
Adding 3500 years to the start date gets us to 2967AD, the end of the overarching period. The end date is validated by Matt. 24:37, which predicts that it will be "as the days of Noe were"; that is, the difference between the 2017AD date when Christ is given partial control over the earth (see parse of Rev 12 in [6]) and the End-of-the-World date of 2967AD is 950 years - Noah's age at death (Gen. 9:29).
Since the start date is on the 24th of Tishri (see Dan. 10:4), it may be that the Final Resurrection also takes place on the same day (see more details on the End-Times dates in the appendix of [8]).
The Date of the 7 days of Creation:
If we consider this 534BC date to be the absolute midpoint of human history, the start date of life on earth should be 3500 years prior, at the start of the Hebrew year in the fall of 4034BC (see support for this date in the Sign of the Dragon in our paper on Revelation 12 [6]).
Conclusion
With this chiastic reconstruction, we have shown that Daniel 10-12 contains detailed predictions regarding 4 distinct Periods. The prophecy has been designated as sealed, and the opening of this seal releases the 2nd horseman of Rev. 6 - the Rider on the Red horse who brings war. This prophecy was given to Daniel at the midpoint of human history, and it predicts the dates of several significant events, most importantly the dates of the End-Times Resurrection 3500 years later and of Creation 3 1/2 millennia prior. This prophecy is unusual in terms of the emphasis given to the act of transmission of the prophecy - most of Dan 10 covers this.
Part 1 Part 2
References
[1] A Definition of Cryptochiasmus[2] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of "The 70 Weeks Of Daniel"
[3] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Daniel 8.
[4] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of "The Olivet Discourse" in Matthew 24
[5] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Daniel 8
[6] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Revelation 12
[7] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Isaiah 59-63
[8] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Revelation 4-22 Part 3: The last days (Period 3)
[9] A Commentary on Daniel 7
[10] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Revelation 4-22 Part 2