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CHAPTER THREE

The Contextual Key to Daniel's Visions

While tribulationism makes unrealistic demands of Daniel's visions, there is virtually unanimous agreement among interpreters of all schools concerning the exposition of Daniel 11:2-35. These verses are part of the detailed spanning Daniel 10-12. Controversary surrounds the interpretation of the latter portions of this vision, however, all interpreters agree Daniel 11:2-35 is limited to the 470-year period between the time of Cyrus the Great and Antiochus Epiphanes. Therefore a close examination of this text will provide a solid foundation for a contextual analysis of the visions underlying tribulationism.

Futurists and Critics Agree

Futuristic and critical interpreters agree that Daniel 11:2-35 relates to the Seleucid and Ptolemiac Empires, and culminates in the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. Dispensationalist Paul Lee Tan includes an analysis of Daniel 11:2-35 in the appendix of his book, The Interpretation of Prophecy, Tan states:

"Daniel 11 fits the history of the Seleucids and Ptolemies like a pair of tailor-made gloves." [1]

Walvoord also recognizes the close correspondence of Daniel 11:2-35 with archaeological history. He states:

"... verses 1-35, describes the major rulers of the Persian Empire and then gives in great detail some of the major events of the third empire following Alexander the Great, concluding with Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.)." [2]

Since basically all interpreters agree on its interpretation, Daniel 11:2-35 may be considered neutral ground in this study of dispensational tribulationism. The point of contention over this text centers on its composition date. But regardless of one's opinion concerning the dating of Daniel, the point here is to recognize the text's accurate correspondence with historical facts. To this end, Daniel 11:2-35 will be examined on a verse-by-verse basis, focusing on a general exposition of each verse that may be agreed upon by all interpreters. [3]

Analysis of Daniel 11:2-35

The vision in Daniel 11:2-35 is set in the third year of the Persian King Cyrus the Great (ca. 536 B.C.). The Greek conqueror Alexander the Great is briefly mentioned in Daniel 11:2 as a "warrior king," and the fourfold division of his empire is referred to in Daniel 11:3. Daniel 11:5-20 describes the wars between the Ptolemiac and Seleucid Empires. Daniel 11:21-35 is devoted to Antiochus Epiphanes, his rise to power, attacks on Egypt, and subsequent persecution of the Jews. The reader should particularly note the increased attention given to detail as the vision focuses on the second century B.C. and the tyranny of Antiochus.

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NOTES

  1. Paul Lee Tan, The Interpretation of Prophecy, (Rockville, MD: Assurance Publishers, 1974), p. 323. Return
  2. John F. Walvoord, Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1974), p. 252. Return
  3. Futuristic interpreters view Daniel 11:2-35 as history recorded in advance, written by Daniel in the sixth century B.C. Critical interpreters see this section as past history, written in the second century B.C. The latter view is the one taken in this book, and will be proven the more plausible authorship date as the visions of Daniel are examined. Return