Daniel 11 and the Struggle for Power: Prophecy, Politics, and the People of God

In this episode of About Scripture, Dr. Ed Gallagher unpacks the historical and prophetic layers of Daniel 11, a passage that details the power struggles between the Ptolemies and Seleucids—two dynasties that ruled after Alexander the Great. With Judah caught in the crossfire, Dr. Gallagher explores the political chaos of the era, the rise of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and his persecution of the Jewish people. He also examines the controversial final verses of the chapter: Do they describe Antiochus, Rome, or the Antichrist? Tune in for a compelling discussion on power, suffering, and God’s control over history.

🔹 Topics Covered:

• The political landscape of Daniel 11
• Judah caught between warring empires
• Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his persecution of the Jews
• The role of prophecy in history
• Debating the identity of the "King of the North"

🔹 Keywords & Hashtags:
#Daniel11 #BibleStudy #AntiochusEpiphanes #BibleProphecy #OldTestament #EndTimes #Seleucids #Ptolemies #ChristianPodcast #AboutScripture

00:00 - Introduction: Welcome to About Scripture and episode overview
00:30 - The wrong people in power? A historical perspective
02:00 - Daniel 11: Prophecy and political turmoil
03:20 - Alexander the Great and the division of his empire
04:40 - The Seleucids and Ptolemies: Judah caught in the middle
06:10 - The "King of the North" and "King of the South" explained
08:00 - Antiochus IV Epiphanes: The infamous persecutor of the Jews
10:15 - The suffering of God's people under oppressive rulers
12:30 - The accuracy of Daniel’s prophecy in historical context
14:45 - Do the final verses of Daniel 11 predict the Antichrist?
17:10 - Different interpretations of the ‘King of the North’
20:00 - The lasting message of Daniel 11: God’s sovereignty over history
22:30 - Closing thoughts: Faith in uncertain times