Daniel Chapter 11
The Third World Empire and It's Successors
2. The Kings of the North and South
4. The Abomination that Desolated
In the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia (535 B.C.), Daniel received his
last vision. The kingdom of Babylon of his first vision which was signified
by the golden head, had fallen to Medo-Persia. The prophecies of
Daniel 11 cover the remainder of the Persian monarchy to the end of the
First World War. Chapter 10 provides an introduction to this incredible
vision that spans 14 centuries.
The four great empires shown to Nebuchadnezzar in the form of a great
image in chapter 2 were later shown to Daniel as four wild beasts in
chapter 7. In like manner, memorable events of the ram and he-goat in
chapter 8 were shown again more clearly in chapter 11.
It is the usual method of the Holy Spirit to make the latter prophecies
explanatory to the former. Revelation is "as the shinning light that
shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Pr 4:18)
The prophecy is divisible into two sections. The first 30 verses deal
with the time of the Persian and the Greek Empires. These prophecies
were fulfilled by 168 B.C. and there is very little difference of opinion
regarding them among commentators.
The prophetic spotlight moves to the fourth empire at this point and
the controversy among expositors begins here.