Future Past
Daniel 11:2-20
When approaching this passage interpreters fall on one of two sides. Some view this passage as prophetic future telling. Others understand this text as prophetic historical interpretation. The former take hints from the text, believing that Daniel recounts the angelic visitation in the 6th century. This visitation then shares a future known by God in which kings rise and fall and in which God’s people get caught in the middle of the machinations of political posturing. This view understands that God rules history and therefore can reveal His future purposes for His people as history unfolds. God is sovereign, revealing what is to come. In this way, God shows His lordship. God guides His people so that they might navigate the trials to come.[1]
Those who hold to the opinion that this angelic message retells the past understand that God speaks into a particular situation in order to offer hope and comfort for God’s people. Those with this view, believe that the author lives in the 2nd century B. C., during the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. In their opinion, the author of Daniel uses historical prophecy to remind those suffering under Antiochus IV Epiphanes that God is in control. Those who hold to this view consider the accuracy of the prophetic words related by the angel. They theorize that if God knows the future this precisely then human action is predetermined. A deterministic God is not a God who honors free will. Therefore, they believe that the author of Daniel retells history in order to emphasize that God is in control.[2] God brought the people of God through the tumultuous times of the past. Therefore, God will sustain the people of God through the trial they face in the present.
As both groups of interpreters consider the time period presented, they agree remarkably regarding what kings and dynasties are spoken of by the angel. The message from the angel begins by talking about four kings who represent various kings of The Persian Empire, ending with King Xerxes the wealthy king. Verse 3 then announces a mighty king. This mighty king is Alexander the Great. Interesting that a person whom humanity declares as great only receives brief mention in Scripture. Perhaps that which humanity considers great is not truly great.
Following the unremarkable survey of Alexander, the angel speaks of various kings form the north and south. The places of the compass mentioned here are in relation to Palestine. This series of rulers represent the Seleucids in Syria and Ptolemies in Egypt. These two dynasties are focused on rather than the other two that emerged from Alexander’s reign because of their proximity to Palestine. The people of God were caught between these powers. The political machinations, broken treaties, losses and gains affected Israel.[3] Verses 5-12 explore a time period mainly dominated by the southern Ptolemaic dynasty in which a series of treaties and betrayals occur. During these events, Palestine plays the part of a pawn.
These political machinations eventually lead to the victory of Antiochus III of the Seleucids. This victory and the events of Antiochus III’s reign are summarized in verses 13-19. When this occurs, Palestine passes into the control of this northern dynasty. In his pride, Antiochus III attacked areas under the reign of Rome. Upon doing this, Rome responded and defeated Antiochus. In order to fund the war against Rome, Antiochus III would raid local temples and steal their sacred valuables.
Eventually Antiochus III dies and the dynasty passes to Seleucus IV. When Rome comes knocking, seeking tribute from the Seleucid ruler, Seleucus chooses to fund the tribute by seizing funds from the temple treasury in Jerusalem.[4] This occurs in verse 20.
This survey of the happenings from the reign of Xerxes through Seleucus highlights the futility of the actions of human rulers.[5] The actions of these rulers are futile in light of God’s presence in the midst of history. As time unfolds, God knows people’s actions and the motivations behind these actions. In the midst of this, God sustains His people. The fact that the angelic messenger reveals this time period to Daniel, reinforces the fact that God is sovereign, guiding the paths of history toward a conclusion in which God and the faithful live in holy relationship with one another. In the midst of all times, God blesses His people.
Both of the approaches to this text, outlined above, emphasize that God reigns as the pages of history turn. Whether a person believes that Daniel received this word from an angel before the actual events occurred or believes that the inspired author of Scripture used a parabolic motif in order to speak to events already past, all believers should find hope in the fact that God benefits and protects His people throughout the ravages of time. As kingdoms rise and fall and as rulers seek to use their power to their own benefit, God remains, faithfully upholding His own. This becomes even more obvious as the angel’s words continue into the time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. God sustains the covenant people even as worldly powers seek to suppress them and the truth they stand for.
This should remind today’s rulers to submit to God. They should seek out God’s will, justice, and peace as they make decisions. Rulers should consider when their pride or selfish motivations interfere with the opportunity for God’s kingdom to enter into our world. In fact, all people should consider submitting to God so that God’s kingdom might reign in our lives, in our nations, and in our world.
All those who seek to faithfully follow God, whom God claims as His own, should find confidence in the fact that God reigns. As history progresses and cultures come up against the God designed way of living, the faithful need to stand firm! The covenant people need to commit to reflecting God and living out His peace, grace, faithfulness, and love in our world.
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, continue to remind us that you are Lord of all! As time progresses help all people come to acknowledge you as God. Help the faithful who suffer under oppression to know that you continue to reign. Help those who have become comfortable in aligning to the corrupt ways of our cultures to instead align ourselves with you. Direct our paths Lord, so that we might be people who reflect your wisdom. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen!
[1]
Sinclair B. Ferguson, The Preacher’s Commentary: Daniel. (Nashville:
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1988), 298.
[2] D.
S. Russell, Daniel. (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1981), 204.
[3]
Dale Ralph Davis, The Message of Daniel. (Downers Grove: IVP, 2013),
185.
[4]
Ibid., 190; Also, much fuller surveys of this history can be found in W. Sibley
Towner, Interpretation: Daniel. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1983;
Tremper Longman III, The NIV Application Commentary: Daniel. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1999; William B. Nelson, Daniel. Grand Rapids: Baker
Books, 2012.
[5]
Davis, 190.
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