When Nations Are Shaken (Part 1)

By Gordon Dickson | April 20, 2021

Daniel 11:5-12

How do you feel when you see a plan come together?

Now sometimes, plans are hard to make. There are just so many variables, so many factors that you must consider.

How do you prepare for the “what if’s?” What if this were to happen? What if that were to happen?

It’s one thing to lay out your strategy, to reach for your goal. But it’s quite another thing to have a plan that works, and then to work your plan to bring about the desired goal.

But let’s add another wrinkle. What if the plan is not for the next 24 hours, or the next 7 days, or the next 365 days? That would still be possible for you to do, right? If you keep up with your “G.P.A.” (your goal, your plan, and your administration of the plan), then you could find your path to success.

But what if it were a 10-year plan, a 50-year plan or a 100-year plan? You see, as you include additional time, you add in more and more variables.

What could you accomplish if you could accurately predict the events a century from now or two centuries from now?

These questions highlight the remarkable accuracy of what we are studying today. God gave this prophecy to Daniel in either 536 or 535 B.C. The “mighty king” of Daniel 11:3 was Alexander the Great. He invaded the Persian Empire in 336 B.C., years after God gave that prophecy about him! And some of the events described in today’s text were 300 years after Daniel wrote this prophecy.

From the passage before us today, clearly, God says what He means, and means what He says. When kingdoms are shaken, you can confidently trust in the Most High God who rules in the kingdoms of men.

What Do We Learn from “the Shake-ups” among the Nations?

How did God show you that the Bible is true? In an earlier message1 we highlighted the importance of Isaiah 48:3-5b. The Lord said, “I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that you are obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I showed it thee:”

God tells the future and fulfills the future He tells. He predicts the future precisely and fulfills His predictions suddenly. He does so to prove beyond any doubt that we can Him. And as we shall see, His fulfillment is so exacting that critics of the Bible can only insist that these prophecies were written after the fact!

What do we learn from the numerous shake-ups in the kingdoms described in Daniel chapter 11? Take a close look at the verbs translated with the helping verb “shall,” throughout this passage. In fact, go back to Daniel 10:20 and notice the angel’s message of what shall happen: the prince of Greece shall come. Along with the prince of Persia (with whom the angel was fighting), the prince of Greece appears to be some sort of demonic ruler. So, it is instructive to see that – even in the heavens – The Most High God controlled what would happen in the formation of the short-lived Greek Empire.

The Apostle Paul summarized these and other events with a single phrase: “the fullness of time.” He wrote to the Gentile church in Galatians, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4).

Do you see how significant this is to you today? This Redeemer redeemed you and me. The only way that we can go to heaven is by redemption from God’s Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Through Him we enjoy the blessings of adoption as God’s sons. Let’s stop for a moment to remember this good news of the Gospel. To Joseph of Nazareth, God made a prediction about Mary’s son. His name would be “Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). So, the question today is this: Are you one of His people? The wages of your sin is death (Romans 6:23) but God sent His Son for you “For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:20). In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son to redeem you, to adopt you and to allow you to be clothed in His righteousness. Would you trust Him today as your Savior and Lord? Then, let’s rejoice in the Father who sent forth His Son in the fullness of times.

In a message just before the Christmas holidays,2 we studied this phrase “the fullness of time.” And we saw how the Lord had prepared the world for the good news of His Son.

  • In the Exile: God’s Glory was on display in Babylon and Media-Persia
  • Because of rampant idolatry there was an exasperation with mankind’s spiritual condition
  • In the Jewish Dispersion, the world learned these prophecies and learned to long for the Messiah
  • Because of Alexander’s conquests, the Greek language (the language of the New Testament) was known throughout the world
  • Because of the brutality of the “Roman Peace” (Pax Romana), the world longed for real peace
  • Because of the ingenuity of the Romans, an international road system enabled the rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The nations were shaken to prepare for the coming of God’s Son. But the nations will also be shaken in preparation for the Second Coming of God’s Son. (Hebrews 12:26-27)3 Even now, as nations shudder under burgeoning developments, the Most High God is ruling the world’s kingdoms and fulfilling His prophecies. And the writer of Hebrews assures us that the reasons for this current shaking of nations is clear: “… that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” (Hebrews 12:27b-28). In our adult Sunday school lesson today,4 we will learn how to persevere in difficult times as the nations are shaken.

What Do We Learn about God’s Precise Control?

In Daniel 10:14, the angel described the prophecy as being about “what shall befall your people in the last days.” This explains why the focus changed from the Greek Empire (which extended from Greece into India) to the areas around Syria and Egypt. What lies between Syria and Egypt? The answer is “The Promised Land” where the promised Lord would come.

God’s Precise Predictions in Daniel 11:5-12

“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. 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. 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: 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.  So [the latter]5 the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. But his [the king of the north’s] 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. 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. 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.” (Daniel 11:5-12)

When the nations are shaken, remember that the Most High God reigns over these kingdoms. Daniel 11:5-20 prophesies about the conflicts between two of the divisions of the Greek Empire (after Alexander’s sudden death). These two divisions are the Ptolemaic (Egyptian, see v. 8) and Seleucid (Syrian) divisions of the empire. The Promised Land lay between these two kingdoms, and was an ongoing point of contention between them. Now notice God’s precise predictions and their fulfillment.

  1. The king of the south shall be strong, v.5 This Ptolemy I Soter (one of Alexander’s generals)
  2. One of that king’s princes shall become stronger than he, v. 5 This was Seleucus I Nicator (who had been a lesser general under Alexander). He had originally received Babylon, but was driven out by another general, Antigonus.
  3. That prince’s dominion shall be a great dominion, v. 5 This came about with Antigonus’ defeat at Gaza in 312 B.C. Seleucus returned to power and his kingdom (Babylonia, Media and Syria) actually grew greater than any other, including that of Ptolemy in Egypt.
  4. After years have gone by, they shall join forces by marriage. The daughter of the king of the south will marry the king of the north, v.6 Conflicts began between the two kingdoms, but when Ptolemy II sought peace with Antiochus II (grandson of Seleucus) in 250 B.C, we find the fulfillment of v. 6. The peace treaty included Antiochus’ marriage to Berenice, Ptolemy’s daughter. This agreement required Antiochus to divorce his wife, Laodice.6
  5. That agreement and that marriage will fail, v.6 The scorned, yet powerful, Laodice murdered Antiochus, Berenice and their child. Laodice then ruled as queen regent.
  6. But a member of that daughter’s family (of the king of the south) shall attack and prevail against the king of the north, even entering into his fortress. That king of the south (Egypt) would carry away captives and spoil back to his country, vs. 7-9 Ptolemy III (Berenice’s brother) attacked Syria in retaliation for its treachery and looted the Syrian capital at Antioch. He killed Laodice (about 241 B.C.). He carried Syrian captives and treasures back to Egypt.
  7. There would be a time of upheaval in the northern kingdom as the king’s sons stir up trouble, and conflicts would resume. The king of the south would triumph, slaughter his enemies and become very proud. vs. 10-12 This prophecy came to pass when Antiochus III rose to power in Syria and attacked Phoenicia and Palestine (part of the Ptolemaic kingdom). Ptolemy IV counter-attacked and won a great victory and slaughtered his enemies.

According to Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” So, you can guess where the story goes next. And before this chapter is complete, we will meet one of the most terrifying figures in history: the archetype of the coming Antichrist.

What Can We Learn as God’s People?

  • Treasure these prophecies: The Lord gave Daniel these prophecies for all people, especially believers. He treasured this prophetic teaching as should we.
  • Trust in the Most High God: (Daniel 4:17) Believers should not be shaken when the kingdoms of this world are shaken. We trust in the Most High God who rules in the kingdoms of men. The kings of Syria and Egypt trusted in their chariots and horses. But Psalm 20:7 speaks for all of believers, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Today we might say, “Some trust in Abrams tanks and F-35 fighters, but we will trust in the Lord.”
  • Remember the nature of mankind: When we see the kingdoms of this world in upheaval, remember the nature of mankind. “From whence come wars [quarrels] and fighting among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:1-2). It’s important to remember that Peter wrote these words to believers (see 1 Peter 4:15). During this current shaking of nations, including our own economy, it would be tempting for believers to take out their frustrations on each other. So, when oppressions come, believers are to be patient and not take out their grudges on each other (James 5:1-9). And remember the dangers of arrogance and pride.
  • Remember that we will inherit a kingdom which will never be shaken: “… that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” (Hebrews 12:27b-28). So today, let’s give ourselves to knowing and loving the God of the Bible, the God who fulfills His promises. Let us fear God and worship Him as God’s people.

Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio www.cbcfindlay.org

Photo by Mathias P.R. Reding on Unsplash

  1. How Could I Know The Bible Is True? September 27, 2020 accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/how-could-i-know-the-bible-is-true/ [↩]
  2. In the Fullness of Time, December 6, 2020 accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/in-the-fullness-of-time/ [↩]
  3. See also Joel 3:16, Isaiah 2:19-21; 13:13 [↩]
  4. See “The Disciple” Isaiah 50:4-11 accessed at https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=4816821271 [↩]
  5. The king of the north is the subject of verse 9, as in the NKJV, NASB and NIV [↩]
  6. Laodice I, Encyclopedia.com accessed at https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/laodice-i-c-285-c-236-bce [↩]
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