ORIGIN OF THE KINGS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH

Many scoff at Biblical prophecy, but consider the fact that certain events in the book of Daniel concerning the Middle East are supported by documented history. Further, The Bible recorded this history some 400 years before it occurred. The fact that Daniel chapters 10-11 record nearly 400 years of Middle Eastern conflict is not a big deal. After all, there are thousands of histories, many that give much more detailed account of the history than Daniel. But what makes Daniel's different is that it was revealed by God and written by Daniel before the events happened. Daniel wrote about 400 years of history before it was recorded history! That makes it fulfilled prophecy, which is later confirmed by secular history. But part of this recorded history is yet to be fulfilled, and God, through Daniel, said it will happen at the "time of the end," or the end-time.

Let's look at both parts of Daniel's prophetic vision, that which is fulfilled, and that which will be fulfilled. Because Daniel accurately recorded these events that have since happened, there should be no question that what is said will happen in the near future. Daniel 10:10-12:4 is the longest single vision recorded in the Bible. God revealed it to Daniel in the third year of the reign of Cyrus king of the Medo-Persian Empire, B.C. 555. Again in another prophecy, the name of Cyrus was revealed well over 150 years before his rise to power, and he would overthrow Babylon and release the Jews, who were exiled there, to return to Judea and Jerusalem, B.C 538-537.

Daniel 10:1 says the revelation given to him is true and it concerned a great war in the Middle East. Daniel also explains what will happen in the future, for the vision concerns a time in the "latter days" or a time yet to come. "Latter Days" or a time to come means the end-time just prior to the return of the Christ (Messiah) named Jesus. Even though much of this prophecy is fulfilled centuries ago, the main fulfillment of this passage is during the latter days, the time we are living in now.

Persian and Greek Empires in Brief ...

God said there would be four more kings to reign after Cyrus. These were Cambyses, Gomates, Darius, and Xerxes. Although there were several latter Persian (Iran) kings, God only drew attention to these four. Darius' son, Xerxes set out to conquer Greece. The Greeks cut the Persian naval fleet to pieces, and it was the beginning of the end to the Persian Empire. Historical confirmation of these prophesied events are well documented (Myer's classic volume Ancient History). I am not about to get into historical details that anyone can look up. The point is that the power and supremacy of the Persian monarchy passed away with the reign of Xerxes. There are just too many historical details revealed in advance for this just to be mere coincidence. "And a mighty king will stand up, and do according to his will." Xerses began to tangle with Greece, and that a mighty Grecian king stood to "rule with great dominion." His name was Alexander the Great, and he arrived in B.C. 334 to crush what remained of the Persians. God revealed in Daniel 2:31-45 about four world-ruling empires that will succeed each other until Jesus returns to this earth to set up his Kingdom. Alexander's Grecian Empire was the third of these biblical prophesied empires. First there was the Babylonian (Chaldean) of Daniel's time, Medo-Persian, Greco-Macedonian, and finally the Roman Empire.

Daniel chapter 11 reveals 200 years before the fact that "... his kingdom will be broken, and will be divided toward the four winds of heaven ..." Alexander's reign was cut short in B.C. 323 by his untimely death at age 32. There was no one strong enough to rule the vast expanse of his territory so his kingdom was divided into four parts, each ruled by one of Alexander's generals Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus Nicator, and Ptolemy, who each had assumed the title king. Cassander ruled over Greece and Macedonia and Lysimachus ruled Asia Minor. The other two, however, set the stage for two centuries of conflict and struggle in the ancient Middle East. It is these two kingdoms, Seleucus north (Syria) of Jerusalem, and Ptolemy south (Egypt) of Jerusalem that is the prophesied birth of conflict to set the end-time stage for the kings of the North and South.

Ancient Wars Between the Kings of the North and South ...

Now I will provide more details, boring as they may be, but extremely important to understand the prophetic biblical verses that show how the prophetic events were proved by the recorded secular names and personalities, hundreds of years later, to the the events that actually occurred in ancient history. These prophetic events reveal the historic evolution of the king of the North and the king of the South as mankind's system of things down to end-times.

Seleucus, king of the North ruled Syria, the same general region of ancient Assyria and Babylon. The Syrian kingdom during the two centuries before being absorbed by the Roman Empire played an important role in the civil history of the world. Ptolemy, king of the South ruled Egypt, Judea, and part of Syria. This kingdom was perhaps the most important of the four divisions because of its influence upon civilization.

Daniel 11:5 reveals that "and the king of the South will be strong, and one of his princes (or generals), will be strong above him, and have dominion: and his dominion will be a great dominion." This verse specifically explains how the two strongest kingdoms of the four divisions developed. Temporarily, Ptolemy of Egypt (South) was the most powerful. Seleucus was originally one of Ptolemy's generals in the north (Syria). But while Ptolemy was occupied in a war, Seleucus gained control in the north, founding the powerful dynasty of Seleucide in B.C. 312.

And notice the amazing prophetic details in Daniel 11:6 "And in the end of the years they will join themselves together (or associate themselves), for the king's daughter of the south will come to the king of the North and make an agreement ..." Fifty years later this prophecy was fulfilled by marriage ending a two year war between Antiochus Theos, son of Seleucus, ruler the northern kingdom of Syria and Ptolemy Philadelphus, son of Ptolemy, king of the South, in B.C. 262. The two married and the two kingdoms temporarily joined themselves together. However, in the prophecy of Daniel 11:6 "But she will not retain the power of the arm; neither will he stand ... " In other words, although strengthened by the union, neither the king of the North nor his new southern wife could retain that power. To make a long story short, when the king of the South died in B.C. 247 the king of the North sent his new southern wife back to her family and went back to his former wife. But his former wife was angered from being dumped and she stayed with him to conceive and then promptly murdered her husband, thus securing the throne for her son, Seleucus II. She then assassinated the second wife as well, squelching the last hope of the Ptolemies to have a descendant on the Seleucide throne in the north.

The prophecy continues in Daniel 11:7 where out of Seleucus Theo's' second wife's family or "out of her roots" one will rise and take her place. This branch from her own family was her brother, Ptolemy III, who led an army and entered the fortress of the north. He invaded Syria in B.C. 242 and quickly avenged his sister's death by murdering Seleucus Theo's' wife. Daniel 11:8 reveals that Ptolemy would carry many captives and spoils back to Egypt, which he did because history confirms it. God also prophesied that Ptolemy's reign would continue longer than his counterpart in the north, Seleucus II. God was right again, Ptolemy outlived him by four years.

Daniel 11:11-12 prophesied that Seleucus III and Antichous III, sons of the king of the North will wage campaigns of war against the Egyptian king of the South. The king of the South would march out in a rage and fight against the Syrian king of the North. In this prophesied seesaw battle "many will rise against the king of the South. The violent men among your own people (Jews) will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success." Jewish historian Josephus recorded many Jews helped in the fight against the Egyptian king of the South. Now consider how accurately God foretold of this anti-Egyptian alliance hundreds of years in advance. The next time someone tries to cast aside the Bible as flawed because men write it, have them try to explain away this prophecy given to Daniel. The next several verses give more details concerning the king of the North's conquests. Daniel 11:16 reveals that he will stand in "The Glorious or Beautiful Land." This is a type of dual prophecy applied to the time of ancient Judea and to the end-time of Israel. The Syrian king of the north defeated the Egyptian king of the South in B.C. 198 and assumed control of Judea and Jerusalem. This partial fulfilled prophecy is important because it sets the stage for the revealed latter-day, or end-time prophecy, which will again revolve around Israel and Jerusalem.

Daniel 11:17-19 reveals an attempt by King Anatiochus of the north to gain complete control over his dominion, to include Egypt by making an alliance with the king of the South with an offer of his daughter in marriage. The scheme backfired because his daughter knew she was being used as bait. She betrays her father and gives her full support to her new husband, the king of the South, Egypt. Antiochus, king of the North focused his energies elsewhere to the coast lands of the west of Asia Minor where a certain Roman general stops him. By this time, the Romans were beginning their ascension to world rule. The young Roman general mentioned in the Bible is Luxius Scipio Asiaticus. He crushed the forces of the king of the North in the Battle of Magnesia in B.C. 190. The king of the North returns to Syria where he died in B.C. 187. Daniel 11:20 reveals that Antiochus, king of the North was succeeded by his son Seleucus Philopator, B.C. 87-176. As the Bible notes he was famous for collecting taxes, and later poisoned. Since Seleucus left no heir, the other son of Antochous III who was called Antiochous Epiphanes was responsible for setting up the later abomination of desolation in the Jerusalem Temple. This significant because of a prophecy concerning the end-time abomination of desolation between the Vatican and EU Chritendon whose shiny cup is filled with flattering lies and deceit.

Daniel 11:21-45 (also note 8:23-25) reveals Antiochous, king of the North to be an exceptionally cruel king, it is not so much the name as it was his ruthless method of dictatorship through deceitful lies and flatterys. This king of the North was the Jews worst enemy in history, until Hitler. He tried to make Jerusalem into a Greek city rather than Jewish by destroying its religion. He sold the Jewish high priest's position to an opportunist and transformed the Jewish Temple into an alter for the Greek god Zeus. This desecration and the slaughter of thousands sparked one of histories earliest guerrilla wars, the Maccabees revolt that began in B.C 168. He outlawed Judaism and proclaimed himself to be God incarnate. Much of the struggle between the Jews and the Syrian king of the North is recorded in the book of Maccabees of the Hebrew Bible.

And yet, like all tyrants their types will culminate in the end-time into a final system of things revealed as the man of lawlessness. Keep your eye on the merging German-led EU with its European alliances into one revived Euro-Roman system whose goal will be to dominate the world. Yet despite this eventual world dictatorial end-time system of things with its lies and flatterys too will fall in the end by the direct hand of Almighty God.

Daniel 11:25-35 reveals continuous clashes between the king of the North and the king of the South with kings deceiving each other via peace talks, but not peace (sounds a lot like the peace talks of today). Again, the king of the North encounters another Maccabees insurrection. "His heart was set against the holy covenant," meaning God's people the Jews. Then Daniel records, "He will do exploits," or "He will take action against it," meaning the king of the North just did as he pleased against the Jews, and massacred them. Then God prophesied of a third campaign into Egypt by the king Antiochous of Syria, but it "does not go well because the ships of Chittim or western coast lands opposed him." A Roman fleet from Cyprus defeated the king of the North who returns to Judea to take his frustrations out on the Jews. Then it says he had spies within the Jewish disloyal contingent of God's people (I guess there are lot of Judas types in this world and so it will be in the end-time). God goes on to reveal that most of the ancient Jews were deceived about the truth and paid the price, the same can be said today about most Christians.

Daniel's vision now focuses on what is called dual prophecy, that prophecy that uses a past event to reveal a future event. In this case, Daniel records the duality by comparing man and his system of things like Syria as the king of the North, which is followed by the Roman empire and its brand of emperors. When Syria, the king of the North went against Egypt, the king of the South for the third time, Roman ships defeated his forces. In B.C. 65 king of the North is swallowed up by the Roman Empire. Now here is a key point, because the Roman emperor now controlled Judea, references to the king of the North from this point on in Daniel 11:36 refers to the Roman Empire, not Syria. Tyrants rise up one after another, but they disappear just as quickly. God gives apt description of Roman emperors, who have, historically done accordingly to their own will, even exalting themselves above Almighty God. "And the king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god (thing) and will say unheard-of (blasphemy) against the God of gods." He will exalt himself above them all and claim himself to be God. "Instead of them (gods), he will honor a god of fortress (war) ... He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him."

Daniel 7:2-8 records the prophesied four world-ruling empires that would succeed each other right up to the return of Jesus at the end of this recorded age. The Roman Empire is the fourth and will be the final resurrected Eu empire to dominated world events one last time. It is not that the empire fell in A.D. 476, but only that the city of Rome was sacked, and Rome fell off the world stage. Passages in Daniel and Revelation prophesied of seven attempted resurrections of what became known as the "Holy" Roman Empire. In 554 the Roman Emperor Justinian began the restoration of Rome. Since that time, there have been six attempts to restore the Roman Empire, and there is to be one more before the end-time. Watch the EU and the Vatican, oh how they hold hands!

Daniel 11:40-45 reveals the end-time: "At the time of the end the king of the South (Arab-Islamic Coalition) will engage him (EU) in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him ... he will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood ... he will also invade the Beautiful Land (Israel)." But reports from the east (China) and the far north (Russia) will alarm him, and he will set out in great rage to destroy and annihilate many. Other Biblical passages discuss the king of the East, which challenges the king of the North for supremacy. The king of the North will establish its HQ in Jerusalem. But the Chinese hordes gathering 55 miles north of Jerusalem will descend upon him in the place called Armageddon. "He will pitch his tents (armies surrounding Jerusalem) between the seas (plains of Har-Magedon) at the beautiful holy mountain (HQ at Jerusalem). Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him." God will destroy him in the final battle of Armageddon!

God says that when the end-time arrives, the king of the South will wage war with the king of the North. War will be waged because of radical religion. Anciently, the king of the South was south of Jerusalem in Egypt, but in this end-time it will comprise a conglomeration of nations much larger and more powerful than ancient Egypt. The nations in and around the Holy Land are for the most part Islamic and a force to be reckoned with. Most notable among the rising tide of radical Islam is Iran (former Persia), which since the end of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, has accumulated massive miilitary capability. They are considered the world's number one sponser of terrorism. And with the acquisition of nuclear weapons and support of many other Islamic nations will be able to deliver a formidable "push" against the king of the North. But as Daniel 11:40 reveals, the south will be no match for the whirlwind response of the European force it will encounter, whose power will not be unveiled until the moment of its blitzkrieg in its finest hour.

Daniel chapter 12 reveals the times that it will be take to complete the final act at time of the end-time "From the time that the daily sacrifice (the truth of God's word suppressed) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation (EU established in Jerusalem) is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits for and reaches, the end of the 1,335 days." This is also dual prophecy that relates to the time of Jesus ministry, death, and pentecost as well as the end-time of 3 1/2 years of the time of trouble (great tribulation) ending in the transfiguration of the saints to eternal life, those that have died, and those living transfigured "in the twinkle of an eye" as the two true witnesses to God's word.

God tells Daniel clearly "None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand." The question is not whether or not these end-time events will occur? The question is, what are you doing to understand and prepare for it?