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Daniel 11 meaning explained in AI Summary

Daniel 11 is a lengthy and complex chapter detailing a prophetic vision given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel. It outlines a series of conflicts and alliances between kings and kingdoms, primarily focused on the historical struggle between the Ptolemies of Egypt (the "king of the South") and the Seleucids of Syria (the "king of the North").

of the chapter's key sections:

Verses 1-20: Setting the Stage (Persian and Greek Empires)

  • Verses 1-4: Gabriel confirms Persia's imminent fall and the rise of Alexander the Great, who will conquer the known world but die young.
  • Verses 5-20: The chapter then focuses on the division of Alexander's empire among his four generals, with particular emphasis on the southern kingdom (Ptolemy) and the northern kingdom (Seleucid). It predicts their initial struggles for power and shifting alliances through marriages and betrayals.

Verses 21-45: The Abomination of Desolation (Antiochus IV Epiphanes)

  • Verses 21-35: This section focuses on a particularly vile "king of the North," widely understood to be Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He will rise to power through deceit, attack Egypt, desecrate the Jewish temple in Jerusalem ("the abomination that causes desolation"), and persecute the Jewish people.
  • Verses 36-45: These verses describe the arrogance and blasphemous actions of Antiochus IV, highlighting his self-proclaimed divinity and his attempts to replace Jewish worship with pagan practices.

Verses 40-End: Beyond Antiochus (Future Interpretations)

  • Verses 40-End: The prophecy becomes more ambiguous, with interpretations varying widely. Some see it as referring to the Roman Empire's rise and its eventual persecution of Christians. Others view it as a prediction of events leading up to a final battle between good and evil at the end of time.

Key Themes:

  • God's Sovereignty: Despite the seemingly endless cycle of human conflict and ambition, the chapter emphasizes that God is ultimately in control, orchestrating events to fulfill His purposes.
  • The Importance of Faithfulness: The prophecy highlights the importance of remaining faithful to God even in the face of persecution and hardship, as exemplified by the Jewish people's resistance to Antiochus IV.
  • The Future Hope: While the chapter describes periods of great tribulation, it also points towards a future time of deliverance and restoration for God's people.

Important Note: Interpretations of Daniel 11, particularly the later verses, vary widely among scholars and religious traditions. This summary provides a general overview, but further study and consideration of different perspectives are encouraged.

Daniel 11 bible study ai commentary

Daniel chapter 11 provides the longest and most detailed prophecy in the entire Bible, meticulously charting the political and military history between two competing Hellenistic dynasties, the Ptolemies and the Seleucids, following the death of Alexander the Great. This specific, verifiable prophecy concerning the "king of the South" and the "king of the North" culminates in the actions of the notorious persecutor Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whose profane acts serve as a direct typological pattern for a final, future Antichrist who will rise at the end of the age. The chapter's purpose is to assure God's people that even in the midst of terrifying geopolitical conflict and intense persecution, God remains sovereign, has foreknowledge of all events, and will ultimately deliver His people and judge the wicked.

Daniel 11 Context

The prophecy of chapter 11 was given to Daniel in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia (c. 536 BC). It is a direct continuation of the angelic vision that began in chapter 10. The angel, identified possibly as Gabriel, reveals a detailed scroll of "what is inscribed in the writing of truth" (Dan 10:21). The historical setting is the early Persian empire, but the prophecy's scope leaps forward to the Greek empire and the subsequent centuries of conflict that directly impacted the nation of Israel, situated geographically between the rival kingdoms of Egypt (the South) and Syria (the North). The astonishing accuracy of the predictions has led many critical scholars to argue for a 2nd-century BC date of writing (after the events occurred), while conservative scholars see it as a powerful validation of supernatural prophecy.


Daniel 11:1

And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

In-depth-analysis

  • This verse links directly back to the events of Daniel 9:1 and the broader vision starting in Daniel 10. The speaker is the angel (likely Gabriel).
  • The angel reveals his role is not just to deliver messages but to actively participate in and influence human history, strengthening earthly rulers (in this case, Darius the Mede) to accomplish God's purposes.
  • It highlights the unseen spiritual battle and divine providence behind the rise and fall of empires, a core theme of Daniel (Dan 10:13, 20).

Bible references

  • Daniel 10:13, 20: 'The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me... but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me...' (Spiritual warfare influencing earthly kingdoms).
  • Ezra 1:1: 'the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia...' (God's direct influence on pagan kings).

Cross references

Dan 2:21 (God changes times and seasons), Dan 5:26 (God numbered Darius's kingdom), Acts 17:26 (God determines allotted periods).


Daniel 11:2

And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.

In-depth-analysis

  • "Three more kings": Following Cyrus the Great, these are historically identified as Cambyses II (530-522 BC), Pseudo-Smerdis/Gaumata (522 BC), and Darius I Hystaspes (522-486 BC).
  • "A fourth shall be far richer": This is universally identified as Xerxes I (486-465 BC), the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther. Herodotus's histories corroborate his immense wealth.
  • "Stir up all against... Greece": This pinpoints Xerxes' infamous, massive invasion of Greece in 480 BC, which included the battles of Thermopylae and Salamis. This foolish act provoked Greece and set the stage for their eventual retaliation under Alexander the Great.
  • The prophecy notably skips about seven subsequent Persian kings, focusing only on the one whose actions were the catalyst for the next great empire's rise, demonstrating divine selection in prophecy.

Bible references

  • Esther 1:1-4: '...this is Ahasuerus... he reigned from India to Ethiopia... he showed the riches of his royal glory...' (Confirmation of Xerxes/Ahasuerus's vast wealth).

Cross references

Dan 7:5 (The bear, Persia), Dan 8:4 (The ram pushing west, north, and south), Esther 3:9, 10:1 (Details of the Persian administration and wealth).


Daniel 11:3-4

Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and given to others besides these.

In-depth-analysis

  • "A mighty king": This is a clear prophecy of Alexander the Great of Macedon (ruled 336-323 BC). He conquered the Persian Empire with incredible speed ("do as he wills").
  • "As soon as he has arisen": At the peak of his power, aged 32, Alexander died suddenly of a fever.
  • "Broken and divided toward the four winds": His empire was not inherited by a single heir but was fractured. It was ultimately carved up by his four main generals (the Diadochi).
  • "Not to his posterity": Alexander's legitimate son (Alexander IV) and half-brother were murdered. His lineage did not rule. The empire was given to "others."
  • The four resulting Hellenistic kingdoms were:
    1. Cassander: Ruled Macedonia and Greece.
    2. Lysimachus: Ruled Thrace and Asia Minor.
    3. Ptolemy I Soter: Ruled Egypt and Palestine.
    4. Seleucus I Nicator: Ruled Syria, Babylon, and east.

Bible references

  • Daniel 8:8: 'The male goat grew very great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns...' (An earlier, symbolic vision of the same events).
  • Daniel 7:6: '...another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast had also four heads...' (The leopard symbolizing Greece's speed, the four heads its division).

Cross references

Dan 8:21-22 (Explicit identification of the goat as Greece and the horn as its first king), Joel 3:2 (The Lord judging nations for scattering His people).


Daniel 11:5-9

Then the king of the South shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South shall come to the king of the North to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants and her father and the one who supported her in those times... And he shall come into the realm of the king of the South and return to his own land.

In-depth-analysis

  • "King of the South": Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. The Ptolemaic dynasty would consistently be the "King of the South" relative to Israel.
  • "One of his princes shall be stronger": Seleucus I Nicator, the "King of the North," initially a general under Ptolemy I, later established his own, larger Seleucid Empire in Syria/Babylon.
  • v. 6 Alliance: After years of war, Ptolemy II (South) made an alliance with Antiochus II (North) by having him divorce his wife Laodice and marry Ptolemy's daughter, Berenice.
  • "She shall not retain... she shall be given up": After Ptolemy II died, Antiochus II took back his first wife Laodice. Laodice, fearing a reversal, poisoned Antiochus II and had Berenice and her infant son murdered. Berenice's "arm" (offspring) did not endure.
  • vv. 7-9 Revenge: Ptolemy III ("a branch from her roots"), Berenice's brother, invaded Syria to avenge his sister. He was highly successful, conquering Syria, killing Laodice, and carrying away immense "spoil" to Egypt.

Polemics

The stunning, history-book precision of this section is a major battleground. Critics claim it must have been written after the events (c. 165 BC), serving as history disguised as prophecy. Believers point to this precision as incontrovertible proof of God's omniscience and the Bible's divine authorship, as it was recorded by Daniel centuries earlier (c. 536 BC).


Daniel 11:10-13

His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through... and carry the war to his fortress. Then the king of the South, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the North. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. ...For the king of the North shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first...

In-depth-analysis

  • "His sons": The sons of the defeated northern king (Seleucus II). First Seleucus III (who was quickly assassinated), then his more famous brother, Antiochus III, the Great (223-187 BC).
  • Antiochus III retook territory, "overflowing" down into Israel and reaching the "fortress" of Raphia on the Egyptian border.
  • v. 11 "King of the South, moved with rage": The historically weak and dissolute Ptolemy IV of Egypt finally marched against Antiochus III. At the Battle of Raphia (217 BC), Ptolemy IV's forces defeated Antiochus III's larger army ("given into his hand").
  • v. 12 Weak Victory: Despite his victory, Ptolemy IV "shall not prevail." He made a hasty peace, returned to his life of debauchery in Egypt, and did not press his advantage.
  • v. 13 Northern Return: Thirteen years later, after Ptolemy IV's death, Antiochus III returned with an even larger army ("greater than the first") to attack Egypt, now ruled by the child king, Ptolemy V.

Daniel 11:14-19

...many shall rise against the king of the South, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. Then the king of the North shall come and throw up siege works and take a well-fortified city... But he who comes against him shall do as he wills... and he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand. He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall make an agreement with him. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage... After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands... but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. ...he shall turn back to the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall and be found no more.

In-depth-analysis

  • v. 14 "Violent among your own people": Pro-Seleucid Jewish factions who allied with Antiochus III against their Ptolemaic rulers. They believed they were "fulfilling the vision" of Israel's deliverance but ultimately "failed" as it simply traded one Gentile master for another.
  • v. 15 "Take a well-fortified city": Antiochus III defeated the Egyptian general Scopas at Paneas (Caesarea Philippi) and later captured the key coastal fortress of Sidon.
  • v. 16 "Stand in the glorious land": Antiochus III took full control of Judea ("the glorious land"). Israel passed from Ptolemaic to Seleucid rule.
  • v. 17 "Daughter of women": Antiochus III gave his daughter, Cleopatra I (not the famous one), to the young Ptolemy V of Egypt, hoping she would act as a spy and secure Egypt for him. This plan "shall not stand," as she was more loyal to her husband and Egypt.
  • v. 18 "Turn his face to the coastlands": He expanded his empire into Asia Minor and Greece, where he confronted the rising power of Rome.
  • "A commander shall put an end to his insolence": The Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus decisively defeated Antiochus III at the Battle of Magnesia (190 BC). The Romans ("commander") forced him into a humiliating treaty, demanding huge reparations and his son as a hostage.
  • v. 19 "Stumble and fall": To pay the heavy Roman tribute, Antiochus III tried to plunder a temple in his own territory (Elymais) and was killed by the local populace, a disgraceful end.

Daniel 11:20

Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle.

In-depth-analysis

  • "One who shall send an exactor of tribute": This refers to Antiochus III's successor, his son Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175 BC). His primary task was raising the crippling tribute money demanded by Rome.
  • He sent his minister, Heliodorus, to plunder the Temple in Jerusalem to get funds (related in 2 Maccabees 3). This man was an "exactor of tribute" for the "glory" (or more accurately, the preservation) of the kingdom.
  • "Within a few days... broken, neither in anger nor in battle": After a relatively short reign (12 years), he was quietly poisoned by his own minister, Heliodorus, who sought the throne for himself.

Daniel 11:21-28

In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries... and the prince of the covenant shall be broken before him. And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully... he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him... He shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.

In-depth-analysis

  • "A contemptible person": The focus now shifts to the infamous Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC), the younger brother of Seleucus IV. He was "contemptible" (despicable).
  • "To whom royal majesty has not been given": The rightful heir was Demetrius I, the son of Seleucus IV, who was still a hostage in Rome. Antiochus seized the throne through political intrigue ("flatteries").
  • v. 22 "Prince of the covenant": This is likely the Jewish High Priest Onias III, whom Antiochus had deposed and later assassinated, a great offense to the "holy covenant."
  • vv. 25-27: This details Antiochus's first successful invasion of Egypt. He defeated the armies of Ptolemy VI. The Egyptian defeat was aided by treachery ("plots... devised against him"). Verse 27 describes the fake peace negotiations where both kings lied to each other, a historically confirmed event.
  • v. 28 "His heart shall be set against the holy covenant": On his way back from Egypt, hearing a false rumor of his death and a subsequent uprising in Jerusalem, he attacked the city, slaughtered thousands of Jews, and plundered the Temple.

Bible references

  • Daniel 8:9, 23-25: '...a little horn... a king of bold face, a master of intrigue... by his cunning he shall make deceit prosper...' (The parallel symbolic prophecy of Antiochus IV).
  • 1 Maccabees 1:16-24: (Historical account of Antiochus IV taking the throne, invading Egypt, and then plundering the Jerusalem Temple).

Daniel 11:29-31

At the time appointed he shall return and come into the South, but it shall not be this time as it was before. For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be enraged and turn back, and be enraged against the holy covenant... and they shall profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.

In-depth-analysis

  • "Not... as it was before": Antiochus's second invasion of Egypt was a failure.
  • "Ships of Kittim": This refers to Roman warships. "Kittim" originally referred to Cyprus but came to signify western Mediterranean powers. A Roman envoy, Gaius Popillius Laenas, met Antiochus near Alexandria and, famously drawing a circle in the sand around him, demanded he withdraw from Egypt before stepping out of the circle. Humiliated and furious, Antiochus had to comply.
  • "Enraged against the holy covenant": He vented his fury on Jerusalem.
  • v. 31 "Profane the temple": This time, he was not just plundering but determined to eradicate Judaism. He banned sacrifices ("take away the regular burnt offering"), circumcision, and Sabbath observance.
  • "Abomination that makes desolate": On the 15th of Kislev, 167 BC, his forces erected an idol of Zeus in the Holy Place of the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar. This ultimate act of sacrilege is the historical "abomination of desolation."

Bible references

  • Matthew 24:15: 'So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place...' (Jesus references this event as a prophetic type for a future event).
  • Daniel 9:27: '...and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate...' (The original prophecy of this event).

Cross references

Dan 12:11 (The "abomination" sets a timeline), Mark 13:14 (Jesus' parallel sermon), Num 24:24 (An earlier prophecy mentioning ships of Kittim), 1 Mac 1:54, 59 (Historical dating of the event).


Daniel 11:32-35

He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. ... And some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end...

In-depth-analysis

  • v. 32 "Seduce with flattery": Antiochus found support among Hellenized Jews who forsook their faith.
  • "The people who know their God shall stand firm": A direct prophecy of the Maccabean Revolt, led by Mattathias and his son, Judas Maccabeus. They resisted Antiochus's decrees and fought for God's Law.
  • vv. 33-35 The Persecution and its Purpose: This describes the intense persecution (martyrdom by sword and flame) and the resistance. The "little help" refers to the initial successes of the Maccabees. The suffering is not meaningless; it serves to refine, purify, and make white God's faithful people. This is a key theological point about suffering.

Bible references

  • Hebrews 11:35-38: '...Some were tortured... Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.' (Describes the sufferings of Old Testament saints, largely understood to be from the Maccabean period).
  • Revelation 7:14: '...These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' (The same theme of refinement through suffering).

Cross references

Dan 12:10 (Many shall be purified and made white), Zec 13:9 (I will refine them as one refines silver), 1 Pet 1:6-7 (Testing of faith produces steadfastness).


Daniel 11:36-39

And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods... He shall pay no attention to the God of his fathers, or to the one desired by women... He shall honor a god of fortresses... a god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.

Prophetic Shift

Most conservative scholars see a significant shift here. While some details can be retrofitted to Antiochus IV, the language escalates dramatically. The focus moves from a historical king to a future, ultimate Antichrist, for whom Antiochus was a type.

In-depth-analysis

  • v. 36 "Exalt himself... above every god": This goes beyond Antiochus's minting coins calling himself Theos Epiphanes (God Manifest). This describes a being claiming supreme divinity, a direct parallel to the "man of lawlessness."
  • v. 37 "Pay no attention to the God of his fathers": He is an apostate, rejecting all established religion.
  • "The one desired by women": A debated phrase.
    • Some interpret this as a rejection of Tammuz/Adonis, a popular fertility god in the ancient near east.
    • Others see it as a rejection of normal human affection, love, and family.
    • A Messianic interpretation suggests he rejects the Messiah, the one "desired" by the women of Israel to be born from their line.
  • vv. 38-39 "A god of fortresses" (elohay ma'uzzim): He worships only military power. His god is might and warfare, whom he lavishly funds. He uses this power to conquer and reward his followers with land and wealth.

Bible references

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:4: '[He] opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.' (A perfect parallel to the Antichrist).
  • Revelation 13:5-6: 'And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words... It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God...' (Describes the blasphemous pride of the end-times Beast).

Cross references

Isa 14:13-14 (Lucifer's desire to exalt his throne), Rev 13:15-17 (Economic control of the Beast), Eze 28:2 (The pride of the Prince of Tyre).


Daniel 11:40-45

At the time of the end, the king of the South shall attack him, but the king of the North shall rush upon him like a whirlwind... and he shall pass through many countries. He shall come into the glorious land, and tens of thousands shall fall... He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape... But rumors from the east and the north shall alarm him... And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.

In-depth-analysis

  • "At the time of the end": This phrase frames the entire passage as eschatological. The titles "king of the South" and "king of the North" are reused, likely referring to a future alignment of nations in those geographic areas.
  • The Final Campaign: This Antichrist figure, here called "the king" (a blending of the "king of the North" identity), launches a final, massive military campaign.
  • v. 41 He invades Israel ("the glorious land"), but Edom, Moab, and Ammon (modern-day Jordan) are mysteriously spared, perhaps as a refuge for fleeing Israelites (cf. Matt 24:16).
  • vv. 42-43 He conquers Egypt and seizes control over the treasures of North Africa (Libyans and Cushites/Ethiopians).
  • v. 44 "Rumors from the east and the north": An army from the east (cf. Rev 16:12, the kings of the East) and north mobilizes against him, causing him to return to Israel for a final confrontation.
  • v. 45 "Between the sea and the glorious holy mountain": He establishes his headquarters on the plains of Megiddo or near Jerusalem, between the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Zion.
  • "He shall come to his end, with none to help him": Despite his immense power, he is suddenly and supernaturally destroyed, not by human hands.

Bible references

  • Ezekiel 38:14-16: '...Gog, I will bring you against my land... You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days...' (Prophecy of a final invasion of Israel from the North).
  • Revelation 19:19-20: 'And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse... the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet... they were thrown alive into the lake of fire...' (Describes the final end of the Antichrist).
  • Zechariah 14:2: 'For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle...' (Describes the final battle centered on Jerusalem).

Cross references

Joel 3:2, 12 (Battle in the Valley of Jehoshaphat), Rev 16:16 (Gathering at Armageddon), 2 Thess 2:8 (The Lord will kill him with the breath of His mouth).


Daniel Chapter 11 analysis

  • Prophetic Typology: This chapter is the preeminent example of prophetic typology in the Bible. The hyper-detailed account of the Hellenistic period and Antiochus IV is not just history told in advance; it's a divine pattern. The actions, character, and blasphemy of Antiochus IV serve as a blueprint to help God's people identify the final, global Antichrist. What Antiochus did to one nation (Israel) on a small scale, the Antichrist will attempt to do to the entire world.
  • Vaticinium ex eventu (Prophecy from the event): Critical scholars argue the precise detail proves the book was written after Antiochus IV's persecution (~165 BC) by an author pretending to be Daniel. They claim the prophecy "fails" after verse 39 because it incorrectly describes Antiochus's death. (He died of illness in Persia, not in Palestine). This critique misses the point of the typological shift. The prophecy transitions from the type (Antiochus) to the antitype (Antichrist). The death described in v. 45 is not that of Antiochus, but of the future figure he foreshadows.
  • Divine Sovereignty: The central message for the original audience—and for all believers—is that God is in complete control of history. The meticulous detail demonstrates that no tyrant or empire acts outside of God's foreknowledge and permissive will. His plans are inscribed in "the writing of truth" (Dan 10:21), and human history unfolds according to His script, even the darkest chapters.
  • Refinement Through Suffering: The chapter teaches that God uses persecution to "refine, purify, and make white" His saints (v. 35). Suffering is not a sign of God's absence but a tool in His hand for sanctification, preparing His people for glory (Dan 12:1-3).

Daniel 11 summary

Daniel 11 is an angel's revelation to Daniel, detailing a precise prophetic history of conflict between the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt ("the South") and the Seleucid kings of Syria ("the North"). It culminates with an intensely specific description of the reign and blasphemous persecutions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whose defilement of the Temple serves as a historical "abomination of desolation." From verse 36 onwards, the prophecy transitions from the historical type (Antiochus) to the eschatological antitype—a final, god-defying global ruler who will rise "at the time of the end," lead a final campaign against Israel, and be supernaturally destroyed by God.

Daniel 11 AI Image Audio and Video

Daniel chapter 11 kjv

  1. 1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
  2. 2 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
  3. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
  4. 4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.
  5. 5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.
  6. 6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
  7. 7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
  8. 8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.
  9. 9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.
  10. 10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.
  11. 11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
  12. 12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.
  13. 13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.
  14. 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
  15. 15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.
  16. 16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
  17. 17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
  18. 18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
  19. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
  20. 20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
  21. 21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
  22. 22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
  23. 23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
  24. 24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
  25. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
  26. 26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
  27. 27 And both of these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
  28. 28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
  29. 29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
  30. 30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
  31. 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
  32. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
  33. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
  34. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
  35. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
  36. 36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
  37. 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
  38. 38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
  39. 39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
  40. 40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
  41. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
  42. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
  43. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
  44. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
  45. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Daniel chapter 11 nkjv

  1. 1 "Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.)
  2. 2 And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.
  3. 3 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
  4. 4 And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.
  5. 5 "Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion.
  6. 6 And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her authority, and neither he nor his authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times.
  7. 7 But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail.
  8. 8 And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.
  9. 9 "Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.
  10. 10 However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.
  11. 11 "And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy.
  12. 12 When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.
  13. 13 For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.
  14. 14 "Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall.
  15. 15 So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist.
  16. 16 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power.
  17. 17 "He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him.
  18. 18 After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him.
  19. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
  20. 20 "There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.
  21. 21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
  22. 22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.
  23. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people.
  24. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.
  25. 25 "He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him.
  26. 26 Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain.
  27. 27 Both these kings' hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time.
  28. 28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.
  29. 29 "At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter.
  30. 30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. "So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.
  31. 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
  32. 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
  33. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.
  34. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue.
  35. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.
  36. 36 "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
  37. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.
  38. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.
  39. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.
  40. 40 "At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.
  41. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon.
  42. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
  43. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.
  44. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.
  45. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

Daniel chapter 11 niv

  1. 1 And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)
  2. 2 "Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who 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. 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.
  4. 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. 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. 6 After some years, they will become allies. 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. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.
  7. 7 "One from her family line will arise to take her 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. 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. 9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.
  10. 10 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.
  11. 11 "Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.
  12. 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant.
  13. 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. 14 "In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success.
  15. 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. 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 will have the power to destroy it.
  17. 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. 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. 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. 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. 20 "His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.
  21. 21 "He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.
  22. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.
  23. 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power.
  24. 24 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.
  25. 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. 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. 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. 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. 29 "At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before.
  30. 30 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. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
  31. 31 "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
  32. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
  33. 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. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
  35. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, 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. 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. 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. 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. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign 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.
  40. 40 "At the time of 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.
  41. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.
  42. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape.
  43. 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. 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. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Daniel chapter 11 esv

  1. 1 "And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.
  2. 2 "And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.
  3. 3 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills.
  4. 4 And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.
  5. 5 "Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority.
  6. 6 After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times.
  7. 7 "And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail.
  8. 8 He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north.
  9. 9 Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.
  10. 10 "His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress.
  11. 11 Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand.
  12. 12 And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.
  13. 13 For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first. And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies.
  14. 14 "In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail.
  15. 15 Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand.
  16. 16 But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand.
  17. 17 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage.
  18. 18 Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him.
  19. 19 Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.
  20. 20 "Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle.
  21. 21 In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
  22. 22 Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant.
  23. 23 And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people.
  24. 24 Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers' fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time.
  25. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him.
  26. 26 Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain.
  27. 27 And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed.
  28. 28 And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.
  29. 29 "At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before.
  30. 30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant.
  31. 31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
  32. 32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.
  33. 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder.
  34. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery,
  35. 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.
  36. 36 "And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.
  37. 37 He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all.
  38. 38 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.
  39. 39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.
  40. 40 "At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through.
  41. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites.
  42. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
  43. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train.
  44. 44 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction.
  45. 45 And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.

Daniel chapter 11 nlt

  1. 1 I have been standing beside Michael to support and strengthen him since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.)
  2. 2 "Now then, I will reveal the truth to you. Three more Persian kings will reign, to be succeeded by a fourth, far richer than the others. He will use his wealth to stir up everyone to fight against the kingdom of Greece.
  3. 3 "Then a mighty king will rise to power who will rule with great authority and accomplish everything he sets out to do.
  4. 4 But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king's descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
  5. 5 "The king of the south will increase in power, but one of his own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength.
  6. 6 "Some years later an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be abandoned along with her supporters.
  7. 7 But when one of her relatives becomes king of the south, he will raise an army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and defeat him.
  8. 8 When he returns to Egypt, he will carry back their idols with him, along with priceless articles of gold and silver. For some years afterward he will leave the king of the north alone.
  9. 9 "Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land.
  10. 10 However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy's fortress.
  11. 11 "Then, in a rage, the king of the south will rally against the vast forces assembled by the king of the north and will defeat them.
  12. 12 After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will execute many thousands of his enemies. But his success will be short lived.
  13. 13 "A few years later the king of the north will return with a fully equipped army far greater than before.
  14. 14 At that time there will be a general uprising against the king of the south. Violent men among your own people will join them in fulfillment of this vision, but they will not succeed.
  15. 15 Then the king of the north will come and lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The best troops of the south will not be able to stand in the face of the onslaught.
  16. 16 "The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel, intent on destroying it.
  17. 17 He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom from within, but his plan will fail.
  18. 18 "After this, he will turn his attention to the coastland and conquer many cities. But a commander from another land will put an end to his insolence and cause him to retreat in shame.
  19. 19 He will take refuge in his own fortresses but will stumble and fall and be seen no more.
  20. 20 "His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. But after a very brief reign, he will die, though not from anger or in battle.
  21. 21 "The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession. He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue.
  22. 22 Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince.
  23. 23 With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers.
  24. 24 Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land. Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich ? something his predecessors had never done. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while.
  25. 25 "Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south. The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for there will be plots against him.
  26. 26 His own household will cause his downfall. His army will be swept away, and many will be killed.
  27. 27 Seeking nothing but each other's harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time.
  28. 28 "The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey.
  29. 29 "Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different.
  30. 30 For warships from western coastlands will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant.
  31. 31 "His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration.
  32. 32 He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.
  33. 33 "Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed.
  34. 34 During these persecutions, little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere.
  35. 35 And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.
  36. 36 "The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place.
  37. 37 He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all.
  38. 38 Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses ? a god his ancestors never knew ? and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and expensive gifts.
  39. 39 Claiming this foreign god's help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward.
  40. 40 "Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood.
  41. 41 He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape.
  42. 42 He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape.
  43. 43 He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians will be his servants.
  44. 44 "But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many.
  45. 45 He will stop between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him.
  1. Bible Book of Daniel
  2. 1 Story of Daniel
  3. 2 King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
  4. 3 King Nebuchadnezzar statue
  5. 4 Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream
  6. 5 The Handwriting on the Wall
  7. 6 Daniel and the Lions Den
  8. 7 Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts
  9. 8 Daniel's Vision of two Rams and Goat
  10. 9 Daniel's Prayer for His People
  11. 10 Vision of the Glorious Angel
  12. 11 The Kings of the South and the North
  13. 12 The Time of the End