Daniel 11 - King of the North/South

Daniel 11 is a fascinating but challenging chapter in Scripture to understand. Battles between powers are described, but ultimately God is ruler over all. In the end (12:4) Michael (Christ) stands up and puts an end to evil. The kingdom of Persia and Greece (11:2) are identified, and that the "mighty king" (v. 3) is a reference to Alexander the Great. After his death, Alexander's empire was divided into four territories (v. 4). As battles unfold between the king of the South and the king of the North, history presents different kings from the Seleucid and Ptolemaic Empires (north and south of Palestine) who are at war. Then verses 21—39 present a blasphemous power who matches the character of the little horn in Daniel 7 and 8. And verses 40—45 appear to describe a conflict between two powers that wage war just before Christ returns.

Persia and Greece The kingdoms of Persia and Greece are clearly identified in Daniel 11:2. Verse 3 says, "A mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion ..." Not only does Alexander the Great fit this description, but the description of his kingdom being "broken up and divided toward the four winds" (v. 4) parallels Daniel 7:6 which describes Greece as a leopard with four wings and four heads. Alexander's four generals eventually divided the empire which was later conquered by the next world empire, Rome. The interplay of powers between the Ptolemaic Empire (Egypt ruled by the Greek dynasty, king of the South) and the Seleucid Empire (Syria, king of the North) present battles around the Holy Land that included several kings from both sides. God's people found themselves between these two factions.

A Vile and Blasphemous Power Verse 21 says, "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." Though this vile person is not specifically referred to as "the king of the North" in Daniel 11, the characteristics match the description of the little horn power of Daniel 7 and 8. The Roman Empire was the next ruling world power according to Daniel 2:40. In Daniel 8:9 we see that Rome conquered the "Glorious Land" of Israel. So also Daniel 9:25, 26 identified this power as not only "cutting off" the Messiah, but destroying the city and sanctuary. All these happened under the rule of Imperial Rome.

Future Events Verse 45 is still in the future. "And he [king of the North] 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 11 contains parallels with other prophecies that describe these final evil powers coming to and end. Daniel 2:35 says, "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found ..." We can know with assurance that as the last battles against God's true remnant people takes place during the final events of Earth's history that Michael, the great prince, will stand up. "And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1).