Lesson
38
3. 11:5-20 Concerning
- This
portion covers approximately 150 years of history.
-
Here we see the rival between the empires of 2 of Alexander the Great's generals
Ptolemy in the
South,
-
These 2 rival empires, constantly were waging war with each other; What's in the
middle??
In vs:7-9 We find out what he did; vengeance good description!
- the "descendants"
here is Berenice's brother Ptolemy III
*
All of these events may seem trivial and peripheral, but they furnish us an essential background for
the seesaw struggle between the two nations, which resulted in the ascendancy
of Syria over Egypt and the return of Israel to Syrian control, this is the
thrust of the prophecy in vs:10-19....All this set the stage for the
persecutions of Israel under Antiochus Epiphanies, which is the major focus and
concern of vs:21-35.
-
Vs:10 we see the sons of Seleuchus
II Callinicus assume power and attempt to regain
ascendancy over
-
Vs:11-12 Ptolemy IV finally gets angry and responds.
-
Vs:13 During
this fairly long interval (212-204 BC); Antiochus regrouped his troops; made some successful campaigns to the East;
as far as
In 201 BC he
headed off to attack
-
Vs:14 At this point in history
>
In vs:15-16
(198 BC) Antiochus the Great
conquered a leading Egyptian General named Scopas;
-
Egyptians made three attempts to rescue Scopas, sent
3 of their best generals; but all failed.
>
vs:17 By this time, 198-195 BC the rising power of Rome was beginning to
threaten from the west Syria's expansionist program.
>
Vs:18 Beginning
in 197 BC; Antiochus the Great conquered several
>
Vs:19 Antiochus
the Great was so soundly defeated that he had to withdraw to his own
>
Vs:20 Antiochus
the Great was succeeded by his son Philopater who
reigned as Seleucus IV from 187 - 176 BC.
>> 11:21-35 Career of Antiochus Epiphanes. His impact on
Note: What we
see here with A/E prefigures what
will occur with the "coming man of sin" the Antichrist during the
Tribulation period.