Daniel and Revelation

A time of “indignation” was coming upon the people of God such as they had never experienced - Daniel 12:1-13 .  Daniel’s final vision concludes with the description of the “ tribulation ” that is to befall the Jewish nation, one more severe than any preceding trial in its history. There were no chapter divisions in the original document penned by the prophet, and contextually, chapter 12 is the continuation of the vision from chapters 10 and 11 - [ Storm Winds - Photo by Lucy Chian on Unsplash ].

The war between the kings of the “North” and “South” culminates in the rise of an arrogant ruler who persecutes the saints - Daniel 11:5-45 .  Beginning with the division of the Greek kingdom, the angel outlined the coming conflicts between two of the subsequent realms that would culminate in the rise of a “ contemptible ” ruler. Previously, the rise and division of the Greek empire were portrayed in the vision of the “ Ram and the Goat ,” representing the “ Medes and Persians ” and “ Greece ,” respectively - [ Greek Temple - Photo by FERNANDO TRIVIÑO on Unsplash ].

The conflict between Persia and Greece presented in the vision of the ram and goat is recapped at the start of the final vision - Daniel 11:1-4 . The introduction to the final vision did more than just portray an impressive angelic visitation. It provided verbal links to the vision of the “ ram and the goat ” and its interpretation. Now, additional details are presented concerning the demise of Persia, the rise of Greece and its first great king, and its division into four lesser realms - [ Greek Temple - Photo by  Simon Maage  on Unsplash ].

Daniel chapter 10 introduces the final vision that is detailed in chapter 11, including verbal links to the vision of the ram and goat - Daniel 10:1-21 .  The tenth chapter introduces the final vision that Daniel received from one with the “ appearance of a man .” Several verbal links connect it to the preceding visions. It begins by expanding on the vision of the “ goat ” that foresaw Greece divided into four “ lesser kingdoms ,” then focuses on the intermittent warfare between two of those realms until the rise of the “ contemptible ” king and the “ abomination that desolates .” - [ Long view - Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash ].