Daniel And The Middle East Wars

Daniel And The Middle East Wars

Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. Daniel 11: 2-4

Alexander the Great: Daniel lived during the time of the Babylonian Empire and foretold of the future wars that would occur in the Middle East during the centuries following the Babylonian Empire, and the subsequent collapse of the Grecian Empire. Daniel details the rise of Alexander the Great as king of Grecia, and the expansion of his empire to include the entire known world, and following his sudden death, the division of the Grecian Empire into four kingdoms, which were the Antigonid, Seleucid, Bactrian, and Ptolemaic Empires. Daniel 11: 5, begins with a description of the wars between the Seleucid = Babylonian portion of the former Grecian Empire, centered in Syria/Iraq, which at that time were a single nation, and the Ptolemaic Empire = Egyptian portion of the former Grecian Empire, centered in Egypt. The Antigonid and Bactrian Empires at this point were already conquered by the Seleucids.

These two kingdoms are represented by the king of the north = Seleucid Empire, and king of the south = Ptolemaic Empire. The description of the ongoing wars continues until Daniel 11: 15-16, when the king of the north = Seleucid Empire, conquers the king of the south = Ptolemaic Empire, and the king of the north stands in the glorious land = Egypt. Soon after the Ptolemaic Empire was defeated by the Seleucids, the Roman Empire which had become the dominate power in the region forced the Seleucids out of Egypt, and Egypt became a province of Rome. The Seleucid Empire itself later dissolved as Syria too became a province of Rome.

Prophetic Leap: Beginning with Daniel 11: 40, below, there is a prophetic leap to the end times. We know this because it specifically states, "And at the time of the end", and also because Daniel 12, that follows further below, describes the resurrection at the end of the world. We also know that this war takes place in the Middle East because the entire preceding portion of Daniel 11, is about the Seleucid/Ptolemaic wars, and since the Seleucid Empire conquered the Ptolemaic Empire, it can be concluded that the location of this end time war will also be in the area of the Seleucid Empire = Syria/Iraq.

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. Daniel 11: 40

He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. Daniel 11: 41

He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Daniel 11: 42

But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. Daniel 11: 43

But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. Daniel 11: 44

And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Daniel 11: 45

Iraq Is The Center Of A Middle East War: As the prophecy of Daniel reveals above, a war in the Middle East will develop (at the time of the end) just prior to the arrival of the Kingdom of God. It will begin in the former area of the Seleucid Empire, and more specifically the area of Syria/Iraq, but since Daniel 7: 7-8 & 23-25, also indicate that this kingdom is composed of three, this specifically points to Iraq which is composed of Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul. The war will overflow and pass over the borders of Iraq, and will result in a greater war that will sweep the entire Middle East, and many countries will be overthrown, including Egypt.

This could mean an Islamic Revolution that sweeps many governments from power. Already their is much anger amongst the Muslim populations within the Middle East over the continuing U.S. military occupation of Iraq. It could also mean the expansion of the war against terror to neighboring nations such as Iran, which then sweeps throughout the entire Middle East. A preemptive attack on Iran for example by Israel or the United States could bring about such a war, or an Islamic revolution that brings total war to the region. The bottom line however, is that Iraq will be the center or beginning of a greater Middle East war. The king who is prophesied to bring this war to the Middle East, the eyes of the 'little horn', with a mouth speaking great things - Daniel 7: 7-8, can be none other than a President of the United States, the current ruler of Iraq by virtue of military occupation. It is during the time of this war that the Kingdom of God will be established upon the Earth, Daniel 12:1-4 below.

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased Daniel 12: 1-4.