Daniel 11 Study Notes: Rival Kings and the Faithful Who Stand
A heavenly messenger tells Daniel of a long line of future kings who rise, scheme and fall in turn. A contemptible ruler attacks God’s covenant and temple, yet those who know God resist and the wise teach many through suffering. A self-exalting king appears, and at the end a conqueror perishes with none to rescue him.
General
How would the despicable person described in Daniel 11:21 gain the kingdom?
Answer: By coming in peacetime and taking it through scheming
The messenger said that a despicable person would arise in the former king’s place. He would not be given the honor that belongs to a rightful king. Instead he would come while things were peaceful and take the throne by scheming (11:21). After making an alliance he would act deceitfully and grow powerful with only a small group behind him. In peacetime he would invade the richest regions, do what his ancestors never did, hand out plunder to his followers, and scheme against fortified places, yet only for a limited season (11:23-24). That phrase sets a limit on his success. The vision of chapter 8 had also described a king who prospers through deceit and makes himself great, yet is broken without any human hand (8:24-25). However clever such rulers are, the LORD overturns the schemes of nations, while His own plans stand forever (Psalm 33:10-11).
- Daniel 11:21 (BSB)“In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue.”A contemptible ruler, denied the honors of a king, takes the throne by scheming while the land is at peace.
- Daniel 11:23-24 (BSB)“After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; for he will rise to power with only a few people. In a time of peace, he will invade the richest provinces and do what his fathers and forefathers never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will plot against the strongholds—but only for a time.”He deals deceitfully, rises with a small following, plunders rich provinces and rewards his supporters, but only for a limited time.
- Daniel 8:24-25 (BSB)“His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people. Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands.”The earlier vision describes a king who prospers by deceit and magnifies himself, yet is broken without any human hand.
- Psalm 33:10-11 (BSB)“The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.”The LORD frustrates the schemes of nations, while His own counsel stands for all generations.
Theological
By what means does the despicable person of Daniel 11:21 come to power?
Answer: By coming in peacetime and taking it through scheming
The successor is described as contemptible, a man to whom royal majesty is not conferred, who nonetheless enters in a season of peace and seizes the throne through intrigue (11:21). Once allied, he works by deceit, gains strength with a small band, invades the wealthiest provinces in peacetime, lavishes spoil on his supporters, and devises plans against fortified places, yet only for a limited season (11:23-24). That limiting clause is the key: even a ruler who rises by treachery operates within bounds God has fixed. Chapter 8 portrays a similar king who prospers by cunning and magnifies himself, only to be broken without human agency (8:24-25). The LORD brings the schemes of nations to nothing, while His own plans endure from age to age (Psalm 33:10-11).
- Daniel 11:21 (BSB)“In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue.”A contemptible ruler, denied the honors of a king, takes the throne by scheming while the land is at peace.
- Daniel 11:23-24 (BSB)“After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; for he will rise to power with only a few people. In a time of peace, he will invade the richest provinces and do what his fathers and forefathers never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will plot against the strongholds—but only for a time.”He deals deceitfully, rises with a small following, plunders rich provinces and rewards his supporters, but only for a limited time.
- Daniel 8:24-25 (BSB)“His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people. Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands.”The earlier vision describes a king who prospers by deceit and magnifies himself, yet is broken without any human hand.
- Psalm 33:10-11 (BSB)“The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.”The LORD frustrates the schemes of nations, while His own counsel stands for all generations.
General
True or False: The messenger said that when the two kings sat at one table speaking lies, their scheming would change the time set for the end (Daniel 11:27).
Answer: False
This is false. Both kings, their hearts set on evil, would sit at one table and lie to each other, but it would get them nowhere, because the end would still arrive when it was set to arrive (11:27). The chapter keeps returning to this point. The northern king would invade again only at the time already fixed (11:29), and the suffering of the wise would last until the final end, which would come exactly when appointed (11:35). Kings truly plot and are truly guilty for the evil in their hearts, yet the times God has appointed are never upset by them. People make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose wins out (Proverbs 19:21). He has fixed the times of the nations (Acts 17:26), and what He reveals waits for its set time and will surely come (Habakkuk 2:3).
- Daniel 11:27 (BSB)“And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.”Two kings intent on evil lie to each other at one table, but their plotting achieves nothing because the end comes when it is set to come.
- Daniel 11:29 (BSB)“At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time will not be like the first.”The king of the North invades again, but only at the time already fixed.
- Daniel 11:35 (BSB)“Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”The refining of the wise lasts until the time of the end, which arrives exactly when appointed.
- Proverbs 19:21 (BSB)“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.”People make many plans, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
- Acts 17:26 (BSB)“From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.”God has fixed the times allotted to the nations and the limits of their lands.
- Habakkuk 2:3 (BSB)“For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.”A vision from God waits for its set time and will surely come without delay.
Theological
True or False: According to Daniel 11:27, the lies of the two kings at a single table would alter the time fixed for the end.
Answer: False
This is false. The two kings, intent on wickedness, speak lies across one table, but their duplicity accomplishes nothing, for the end still comes when it has been appointed (11:27). The refrain recurs: the northern king’s second invasion happens at the fixed time (11:29), and the refining of the wise continues until the end God has fixed, which comes as appointed (11:35). Here sovereignty and responsibility stand side by side: the kings genuinely scheme and are culpable for their wickedness, yet they cannot shift by a single day the times God has decreed. Man devises many plans, but the LORD’s purpose prevails (Proverbs 19:21). He has determined the appointed times of the nations (Acts 17:26), and the vision awaits its set time without fail (Habakkuk 2:3).
- Daniel 11:27 (BSB)“And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.”Two kings intent on evil lie to each other at one table, but their plotting achieves nothing because the end comes when it is set to come.
- Daniel 11:29 (BSB)“At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time will not be like the first.”The king of the North invades again, but only at the time already fixed.
- Daniel 11:35 (BSB)“Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”The refining of the wise lasts until the time of the end, which arrives exactly when appointed.
- Proverbs 19:21 (BSB)“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.”People make many plans, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
- Acts 17:26 (BSB)“From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.”God has fixed the times allotted to the nations and the limits of their lands.
- Habakkuk 2:3 (BSB)“For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.”A vision from God waits for its set time and will surely come without delay.
General
What did the heavenly messenger say would happen to the mighty king’s kingdom once he was firmly established (Daniel 11:3-4)?
Answer: It would be split apart and handed to others, not his heirs
The messenger who had come to Daniel promised to tell him the truth about what was still to come. More kings would arise in Persia, then a fourth, far richer than the rest, who would use his riches to rouse all against Greece (11:2). Next a powerful king would arise who would rule with great power and do whatever he wished (11:3). Yet once he was firmly in place, his kingdom would be shattered and divided in four directions. It would not pass to his own offspring or keep the power he had held, but would be handed to others (11:4). The vision of chapter 8 had already said that the first king of Greece would be broken and four weaker kingdoms would replace him (8:21-22). Many interpreters connect parts of this chapter with later kings of the Greek period. Above all, the chapter shows history unfolding just as God said beforehand: He announces how things will end before they begin, and His purpose stands (Isaiah 46:9-10). He is the One who removes kings and sets them up (Daniel 2:21).
- Daniel 11:2 (BSB)“Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.”The messenger begins to reveal what lies ahead: more kings in Persia, and a rich fourth king who rouses all against Greece.
- Daniel 11:3-4 (BSB)“Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.”A powerful king rises and rules as he wishes, but once established his realm is divided and passes to others rather than his descendants.
- Daniel 8:21-22 (BSB)“The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation but will not have the same power.”The earlier vision already explained that the first king of Greece would be broken and four lesser kingdoms would take his place.
- Isaiah 46:9-10 (BSB)“Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’”The LORD alone announces the end from the beginning, and His purpose is sure to stand.
- Daniel 2:21 (BSB)“He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”Daniel had praised God as the One who removes kings and sets them up.
Theological
According to the messenger, what becomes of the mighty king’s realm after he is established (Daniel 11:3-4)?
Answer: It would be split apart and handed to others, not his heirs
The messenger opens his disclosure of the future with the kings of Persia, culminating in a fourth, enormously wealthy king who rouses all against Greece (11:2). A mighty king then rises, wielding great dominion and acting as he wills (11:3). At the very moment his rule is secure, it shatters: his kingdom is divided in four directions, passes neither to his posterity nor with his former strength, and is given to others (11:4). This echoes the interpreted vision of chapter 8, where the first king of Greece is broken and four lesser kingdoms arise (8:21-22). Many interpreters connect parts of this chapter with later kings of the Greek period. The chapter’s burden, however, is God’s foreknowledge and sovereign rule over the rise and fall of empires: the LORD announces the outcome from the start and accomplishes all His pleasure (Isaiah 46:9-10), removing and establishing kings (Daniel 2:21).
- Daniel 11:2 (BSB)“Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.”The messenger begins to reveal what lies ahead: more kings in Persia, and a rich fourth king who rouses all against Greece.
- Daniel 11:3-4 (BSB)“Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.”A powerful king rises and rules as he wishes, but once established his realm is divided and passes to others rather than his descendants.
- Daniel 8:21-22 (BSB)“The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation but will not have the same power.”The earlier vision already explained that the first king of Greece would be broken and four lesser kingdoms would take his place.
- Isaiah 46:9-10 (BSB)“Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’”The LORD alone announces the end from the beginning, and His purpose is sure to stand.
- Daniel 2:21 (BSB)“He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”Daniel had praised God as the One who removes kings and sets them up.
General
In the chapter’s final scene, how does the conqueror who invades many lands and camps near the holy mountain end (Daniel 11:40-45)?
Answer: He comes to his end, and no one helps him
A king is described who would do whatever he pleased, set himself up as greater than every god, and speak outrageous words against the God who rules over all gods. He would succeed only until the season of wrath was complete, because what God has decreed must be carried out (11:36). He would disregard the gods of his ancestors and honor instead a god of strongholds (11:37-39). In the end time, the southern king would engage him in battle, and the king of the North would storm out against him; a conqueror would sweep through many countries, seize Egypt’s riches, and enter the Beautiful Land (11:40-43). Bible readers differ on whether this conqueror is the self-exalting king of 11:36 or the northern king who comes against him. Either way, news from east and north would alarm him, and after he pitched his royal tents with the sea on one side and the holy mountain on the other, he would come to his end with none to rescue him (11:44-45). Nebuchadnezzar had learned that God is able to humble the proud (4:37). Isaiah describes a king who wanted to rival the Most High being brought down (Isaiah 14:13-15), and Mary praised God for bringing rulers down from their thrones (Luke 1:52).
- Daniel 11:36 (BSB)“Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished.”A self-exalting king blasphemes the God of gods and prospers only until the time of wrath is complete.
- Daniel 11:40 (BSB)“At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.”At the time of the end the southern king attacks, and the king of the North surges out with a great force through many lands.
- Daniel 11:45 (BSB)“He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him.”Encamped between the sea and the holy mountain, the invader perishes with none to rescue him.
- Daniel 4:37 (BSB)“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”Nebuchadnezzar confessed that God is able to humble the proud.
- Isaiah 14:13-15 (BSB)“You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”The arrogant king who aimed to make himself like the Most High is brought down to the depths.
- Luke 1:52 (BSB)“He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.”Mary praises God for toppling the powerful and lifting up the lowly.
Theological
How does Daniel 11 describe the end of the conqueror who overruns many lands and encamps near the holy mountain (11:40-45)?
Answer: He comes to his end, and no one helps him
The king acts according to his own will, exalts himself over every god and utters monstrous blasphemies against the God who is over all gods. Yet his prosperity is bounded: it lasts only until the season of wrath is complete, for the decree must be fulfilled (11:36). He disregards his ancestral gods and honors a god of strongholds (11:37-39). In the end time the southern king engages him, and the king of the North storms out against him; a conqueror overruns many lands, seizes the wealth of Egypt and enters the Beautiful Land (11:40-43). Interpreters differ on whether this conqueror is the self-exalting king of 11:36 or the northern king who comes against him. Whoever he is, reports from east and north unsettle him, and encamped by the sea near the holy mountain he perishes with none to help (11:44-45). The pattern is consistent across Scripture: God humbles the proud (Daniel 4:37), casts down the ruler who would make himself the Most High’s equal (Isaiah 14:13-15), and brings down the mighty from their thrones (Luke 1:52). Human self-exaltation never escapes divine decree.
- Daniel 11:36 (BSB)“Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished.”A self-exalting king blasphemes the God of gods and prospers only until the time of wrath is complete.
- Daniel 11:40 (BSB)“At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.”At the time of the end the southern king attacks, and the king of the North surges out with a great force through many lands.
- Daniel 11:45 (BSB)“He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him.”Encamped between the sea and the holy mountain, the invader perishes with none to rescue him.
- Daniel 4:37 (BSB)“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”Nebuchadnezzar confessed that God is able to humble the proud.
- Isaiah 14:13-15 (BSB)“You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”The arrogant king who aimed to make himself like the Most High is brought down to the depths.
- Luke 1:52 (BSB)“He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.”Mary praises God for toppling the powerful and lifting up the lowly.
General
While the king won over covenant breakers with flattery, what would those who know their God do (Daniel 11:32)?
Answer: They would hold firm and stand against him
The king would set himself in opposition to the holy covenant, God’s binding promise and agreement with His people. He would rage against it, reward those who abandon it, and send forces to defile the temple, stop the regular daily offering, and erect the abomination of desolation, a detestable thing that defiles God’s holy place (11:28-31). He would use flattery to corrupt covenant breakers. But those who know their God would hold firm against him (11:32). Knowing God here means more than knowing facts about Him. It is the living relationship Jesus called eternal life (John 17:3). Those who know God in this way are able to stand their ground in the evil day (Ephesians 6:13), because all who are born of God conquer the world by faith (1 John 5:4).
- Daniel 11:31 (BSB)“His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.”The king’s forces profane the temple stronghold, stop the regular offering, and set up the abomination of desolation.
- Daniel 11:32 (BSB)“With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”Flattery wins over the covenant breakers, but those who know their God stand against the king.
- John 17:3 (BSB)“Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”In His prayer to the Father, Jesus says eternal life is to know the one true God and the Son He sent.
- Ephesians 6:13 (BSB)“Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.”Believers put on God’s armor so that they can hold their ground in the evil day.
- 1 John 5:4 (BSB)“because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.”Those born of God have victory over the world, and that victory is won by faith.
Theological
What response does Daniel 11:32 ascribe to those who know their God when the king corrupts covenant violators by flattery?
Answer: They would hold firm and stand against him
The king turns his fury on the holy covenant, favors apostates, and his forces profane the temple, end the daily offering and erect the abomination of desolation (11:28-31). With flattery he corrupts those who already violate the covenant. Over against them stand those who know their God, and they hold firm against him (11:32). The verse sets covenant violators over against those who know their God. Knowing God here is more than belonging outwardly to the covenant people; it is the knowledge Jesus identifies as eternal life itself (John 17:3). Such steadfastness is the fruit of grace, not native courage: the regenerate stand firm in the evil day clothed in God’s armor (Ephesians 6:13), and all who are born of God conquer the world by faith (1 John 5:4). Their endurance is the perseverance of the saints made visible under persecution.
- Daniel 11:31 (BSB)“His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.”The king’s forces profane the temple stronghold, stop the regular offering, and set up the abomination of desolation.
- Daniel 11:32 (BSB)“With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”Flattery wins over the covenant breakers, but those who know their God stand against the king.
- John 17:3 (BSB)“Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”In His prayer to the Father, Jesus says eternal life is to know the one true God and the Son He sent.
- Ephesians 6:13 (BSB)“Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.”Believers put on God’s armor so that they can hold their ground in the evil day.
- 1 John 5:4 (BSB)“because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.”Those born of God have victory over the world, and that victory is won by faith.
General
Why does the chapter say certain wise ones would fall for a time (Daniel 11:35)?
Answer: So that they would be refined and made pure until the end
Those with insight would teach many people, even though for a season some of them would fall to sword or fire or be taken captive or robbed (11:33). They would receive a little help, and many would join them without being sincere (11:34). Then the messenger gave the reason certain wise ones would fall: in order that they would be refined, made clean and pure, until the end comes (11:35). Their suffering did not mean God had abandoned them. He was using it to purify them, as the closing vision repeats (12:10). Peter teaches the same thing: trials prove that faith is genuine, worth more than gold tested by fire (1 Peter 1:6-7). Malachi pictures the Lord who comes to His temple as a refiner who purifies the priestly line of Levi as metal is purified (Malachi 3:3).
- Daniel 11:33 (BSB)“Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered.”The insightful teach many, even while some of them suffer violence, captivity or loss for a time.
- Daniel 11:35 (BSB)“Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”Some of the wise fall in order to be cleansed and purified until the time of the end.
- Daniel 12:10 (BSB)“Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.”The closing vision again says many will be cleansed and made pure, while the wicked persist in evil.
- 1 Peter 1:6-7 (BSB)“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”Trials test faith and show it genuine, a faith worth more than fire-tested gold, ending in praise when Christ is revealed.
- Malachi 3:3 (BSB)“And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.”The coming Lord is pictured at work as a refiner, cleansing Levi’s descendants as precious metal is cleansed so that they bring right offerings.
Theological
What purpose does Daniel 11:35 give for the stumbling of certain wise ones?
Answer: So that they would be refined and made pure until the end
The insightful instruct the many, even if for a season some fall by sword, flame, captivity and plunder (11:33), receiving only a little help while hypocrites attach themselves to their cause (11:34). The stated purpose of their stumbling is refinement: they are cleansed and purified until the end arrives (11:35). Persecution is therefore not evidence of divine abandonment but an instrument of sanctification in God’s hand, a theme the closing vision restates (12:10). The New Testament applies the same image: trials test faith as fire tests gold, issuing in praise and glory at Christ’s revelation (1 Peter 1:6-7), and Malachi depicts the Lord who comes to His temple as the refiner who purifies the priestly descendants of Levi (Malachi 3:3). God’s keeping of His saints includes, rather than excludes, their suffering.
- Daniel 11:33 (BSB)“Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered.”The insightful teach many, even while some of them suffer violence, captivity or loss for a time.
- Daniel 11:35 (BSB)“Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”Some of the wise fall in order to be cleansed and purified until the time of the end.
- Daniel 12:10 (BSB)“Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.”The closing vision again says many will be cleansed and made pure, while the wicked persist in evil.
- 1 Peter 1:6-7 (BSB)“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”Trials test faith and show it genuine, a faith worth more than fire-tested gold, ending in praise when Christ is revealed.
- Malachi 3:3 (BSB)“And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.”The coming Lord is pictured at work as a refiner, cleansing Levi’s descendants as precious metal is cleansed so that they bring right offerings.