Who is the covenant (league) maker in Daniel 11:23?
(Daniel 11:1-28; Isa. 9:15; Dan. 7:22-25; Matt. 2;13-16; John 12:31) Blog Mar. 8-14, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: In the first chapter of Daniel we learned three basic principles necessary to a proper understanding of this apocalyptic book. They were the principles of explanation, interpretation, and operation. Then as we began the primary level education in chapters 2-6 we learned through simple math and pointed stories the order of events to take place from Daniel’s day until the restoration of God’s kingdom on earth and that this restoration would take place only through crisis and divine intervention. Our secondary level education (chapter 7) taught us that a blasphemous “little horn” power would follow the four world empires and their division into “ten” and would dominate humanity for 1260 years before restoration would take place. At college-level (chapters 8-9) the second and third world empires were identified and besides being given more details about the “little horn” we were give a longer time prophecy that was to occur before restoration and it included date markers as determined by the cross of Christ. Now at university-level (10-12), chapter ten revealed the nature of the “big bang” restoration, which is Jesus as high priest interceding for his people on judgment day.
Battles over God’s People (Daniel 11:1-15; 8:4, 12; 10:14; Esther 1:1-8)
1. What is the center of attention in Daniel 11? God’s people.
2. Who was the fourth Persian king that was very rich? Ahasuerus (Xerxes) who married Esther.
3. What phrase indicating the entrance of a new world empire appears repeatedly in Daniel 11? “Do according to his will.”
4. Since we have learned that each of Daniel’s four prophetic outlines follows a “1, 2, 3, 4, 10, little horn, bang” sequence and the first three have already been identified, what world power is introduced in Daniel 11:3? Greece.
5. When Greece’ first king died who took over the kingdom? Alexander’s four generals: Seleucus, Casander, Ptolemy, & Lysimanus.
6. Why does the narrative continue talking about only two of the sectors of Greece? Because they were the two powerful ones who invaded Israel – one from the north (the Seleucid dynasty) & one from the south (The Ptolemy dynasty).
7. How has history proven the accuracy of Gabriel’s prophetic narrative? Ptolemy II gave his daughter Bernice as wife to Antiochus II Theos whose first wife, Laodice, then murdered her competition & husband just as verses 7-9 foretell.
8. Who are “the robbers of thy people” in verse 14 that think they are the fulfillment of Daniel 8:14, but are not? The Maccabees.
The Covenant Prince invades humanity (Daniel 11:16-22; Lk. 2:1; 3:1-2)
9. According to what we have learned so far in Daniel, what world empire emerges in verse 16? The fourth.
10. When the fourth empire emerges what is the “glorious land” over which he takes control? Israel, the land of God’s people, & not without reason for the Maccabees had made alliance with this nation in their effort to eliminate Antiochus Epiphanes.
11. Does the Bible identify the “raiser of taxes” mentioned in verse 20? Yes, in Luke 2:1, Augustus Caesar is this “raiser of taxes,” thus giving us the identity of the fourth world empire as Rome.
12. Now, finally in Daniel 11, knowing what the fourth world empire is, can we easily identify its leaders? Yes, Julius Caesar appears in the verses preceding verse 20 & Tiberius Caesar is the “vile person” who appears in verses 21 & 22.
13. Who is the “prince of the covenant” that was killed under the rule of Tiberius Caesar? Jesus Christ, the Prince that confirms the covenant according to Daniel 9:27, & is “Michael, Daniel’s Prince”.
The Early Church (Daniel 11:23-28; Lk. 12:32; Acts 15:11; Rom. 15:19; 2 Cor. 6:8; Rev. 6:2)
14. Who is the covenant (league) maker in verse 23 that “shall become strong with a small people”? It is Jesus who deceived the Roman soldiers & Jewish leaders (who called him a deceiver & Paul uses the term) by “coming up” alive from Joseph’s tomb & went forth “conquering and to conquer” using his “little flock.”
15. What are we to understand from the expression “he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches”? That Jesus, upon his ascension, poured out the booty of his victory by imputing his righteousness & imparting his Holy Spirit to his followers.
16. According to Daniel 11:24, how long would the early church continue to make progress against the “strong holds” of Satan in the peaceful Roman empire? For “a time (1 year)” prophetically 360 years.
17. If we begin the 360 years of church advancement from the end of Daniel’s “70 weeks” to what date do we arrive? 394 AD.
18. What were the significant accomplishments of the early church between 34 AD and 394 AD? The Jerusalem Counsel settled the doctrine of “justification by faith alone,” Paul & the other apostles carried the Gospel to the then known world, at the Counsel of Nicaea (325 AD) Christ was acknowledged to be of the same substance & fully equal with the Father, at the Counsel of Chalcedon (381 AD), the person of Holy Spirit was acknowledged to be of the same substance & fully equal with the Father & the Son, at the Synod of Hippo (394 AD) the 66 books of the Holy Canon were acknowledged & accepted (it was that same year that the Catholic mass was adopted & only a year later Agustin (the designer of the church as the “city of God” was consecrated Bishop of Hippo.
19. What religious controversy is pictured in Daniel 11:25? Jesus, through the early church, “stirred up his power and his courage against” the Arian, allegorical, & gnostic ideas prevalent in Alexandria, Egypt (these ideas represent the new “king of the south” who will morph into Nicolaitan antinomianism) & at the Counsel of Nicaea the more powerful Arians were defeated because of internal intrigue (v. 26) & the imposition of Constantine from Rome who supported the anti-Arian, Roman bishops (& who’s legalism would become the new “king of the north” — the political intrigue between these two new kings (v. 27) did not deter the progress of the church, for the AD 394 “time appointed” was still future.
20. What power is pictured as taking rule over God’s people in Daniel 11:28? Constantin’s “Christianity” returns home triumphant & establishes itself in opposition to God’s Law (covenant).