THE MIDDLE EAST IN PROPHECY

(Illustration photo created using GPT Image2 for COJCOM)

by Leonard V Johnson

I find this subject of most interest and of importance prophetically. I’ve spoken of this important subject several times throughout different articles, but here I would like to put it all together in one place.

As we see today on the front page of our world newspapers, the special reports on our favorite news media programs, or any other world news source──the MIDDLE EAST is on the threshold of erupting into an all-out war on a MASSIVE SCALE! Few people actually have any real conception of the danger this whole world is facing.

It is high time that we awoke from our slumber and pay attention. It’s high time we properly knew what God’s living word in prophecy truly reveals. It’s time we knew not only the historical background-- but its future reality. The grave seriousness of this crisis we find ourselves in.

And as we’ve been proclaiming──and our online ministry has been proclaiming since 2019──there is only one Way to properly know the truth. Our Creator, who has made the world and all there is──who has raised kingdoms and has caused kingdoms to fall──reveals the future before it actually occurs so that His servants can know the things which must shortly take place.

As Sydney J. Harris once stated, “History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.” Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ has warned us to ‘Watch!’ Watch world events and to watch for those signs that He has warned us would emerge as we get ever closer to the end of this present evil age. To better understand, we must rely on God’s Spirit to guide us- in fact, just before our Lord Jesus’ departure, He promised that after His departure, the Holy Spirit would come to guide us into all truth.

I find this long prophecy──I believe the longest within God’s living word──the prophecy of the ‘king of the North’ and the ‘king of the South’ to be one of the most amazing of all prophecies! It is most specific, describing real historical and future events in great specificity. It’s found in the Book of Daniel, chapter 11. It describes a centuries-long conflict and an end-time impending war!

Let’s briefly turn to the 10th chapter of Daniel──this prophecy came to the Prophet Daniel in the third year of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Persian empire. He had captured Babylon in 539 BC, and his third-year rule began about 536 BC, which coincides with Daniel’s vision here; chapter 10 moves into the post-exilic era ──

“In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.” – Daniel 10:1.

A man, whom he had seen in vision──likely the archangel Gabriel──had appeared to make known to him what would befall the LORD God’s people “in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.’” – Daniel 10:14.

The ‘king of the South’ and the ‘king of the North’

In chapter 11 of the Book of Daniel──a continuation from the last verse of chapter 10. The archangel Gabriel continued explaining to Daniel ── “’ And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 3) Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.’” – Daniel 11:2-3.

Now, there were twelve more kings of the Persian Empire, but only the last four are of importance for this prophecy. They were ──

• Artaxerxes I (465-424 BC) shifted focus to Susa and funded Greek conflicts.
• Darius II (424-404 BC) and Artaxerxes II (404-358 BC) dealt with internal revolts and the Peloponnesian War.
• Artaxerxes III (358-338 BC) reconquered Egypt; then Arses (338-336 BC) ruled briefly before Darius III (336-330).
• Artaxerxes V (Bessus) was executed by Alexander the Great in 329 BC, ending the twelve-king Achaemenid era.

The execution of Artaxerxes V (Bessus) in 329 BC. 

(Illustration photo created using GPT Image2 for COJCOM)

So, verse 3, “a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will,” was Artaxerxes V (Bessus).

Alexander III of Macedon invaded Persia. He met the Persian army at the Battle of Issus, 333 BC. (cf. Daniel 8:2, 5-6). Then he swept down into Egypt and then delivered a crushing blow, finally defeating the Persian Empire at the Battle of Arbella, 331 BC.

Let’s notice verse 4 ── “’ And when he has risen [Alexander III], his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.’”

After King Alexander III’s sudden death, His four generals, Seleucus, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Cassander, each carved out a quarter, turning the empire into the Hellenistic kingdoms we see in the record. Thus was this prophecy of verse 4 fulfilled.

Now, notice what follows. The prophecy foretells the activities of two of these four divisions: Ptolemy I of Egypt ── called the ‘king of the South,’ because it is south of Jerusalem; and the Syrian kingdom ── called the ‘king of the North,’ because it is north of Judea. It’s also because the Holy Land had passed back and forth between two divisions, and because there were different wars fought over the principal possession of Judea, that the prophecy is concerned with.

Verse 5 ── “’ Also the king of the South [Ptolemy I Soter, who took Egypt after Alexander’s empire split] shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion.’”

So, in history, we learn that the original Ptolemy I, called Soter, did become strong and powerful, developing Egypt beyond the dreams of Alexander III. And one of his ‘princes,’ a general, Seleucus I Nicator, also became strong and powerful.

Seleucus I Nicator (c. 358-281 BC) was a Macedonian officer who had been under Alexander III, later appointed satrap of Babylon after Alexander’s death. He was forced out by Antigonus, found refuge with Ptolemy I, and with Egyptian support retook Babylon in 312 BC, then founded the Seleucid Empire. He expanded eastward and westward, eventually clashing with Ptolemy I’s forces and defeating Antigonus at Ipsus in 301 BC, solidifying his rule over Syria, Mesopotamia, and beyond. His empire grew at the expense of the Ptolemaic realm’s eastern territories. 1

Verse 6 ── “’ And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her authority, and neither he nor his authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times.’”

So here, the ‘daughter of the king of the South’ was Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt. She was sent to Antiochus II Theos, the Seleucid ‘king of the North,’ c. 252 BC, to seal a peace treaty after the Second Syrian War. She brought with her a huge dowry, but after Ptolemy II died, Antiochus II restored his first wife, Laodice, and Berenice lost her authority. 2

All this, too, was fulfilled to the letter! ‘him who begot her.’ So, neither would the ‘king of the North’ whom she married stand. Antiochus II Theos, who had married Berenice as part of a peace treaty, died in 246 BC ── likely from poisoning ── Laodice remained in power.

Nowhere in all of God’s living word is there so literal a prophecy, giving so many details of future history!

The Holy Land Changes Hands

Let’s continue here with verse 7 ── “’ But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail.’”

So, here verse 7 is talking about a ‘branch of her roots’ ── a leader who comes from the line of the southern princess Berenice. He rises from humble beginnings, gathers a great army, and breaks into ‘the fortress of the king of the North’ ── the Seleucid monarch at that point was Seleucus II Callinicus, who ruled Syria and Mesopotamia. It’s Berenice’s son, Antiochus III Theos, who stormed the Seleucid stronghold.

The 8th verse of Daniel 11 ── “’ And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.’”

So, this southern king, Antiochus III Theos, seizes the northern king’s gods, idols, silver, and gold treasures and carries them off to Egypt, and then stays away from the north for ‘more years than the king of the North,’ outliving the northern ruler.

Verse 9 ── “’ Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.’”

So, Seleucus II Callinicus, the Seleucid king, tried to push back into Egypt around 242-241 BC, but his fleet was scattered, and his army struck resistance at the frontier, so he withdrew to his own lands.

Verse 10 ── “’ However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.’”

After Seleucus II Callinicus’s defeat, his sons ── especially Antiochus Hierax ── stirred up a fresh war, gathering forces that swept through the region and threatened the southern kingdom once again.

“’ And,’” continues verse 11 ── “’ … the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy.’”

So, this ‘king of the South’ here in verse 11 points to the Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. In the period of this verse, it’s describing likely Ptolemy IV Philopator, who reigned from 221-205 BC and led the Egyptian forces against the Seleucids ── Antiochus III the Great; and, fulfilling verse 12, he killed tens of thousands and again annexed Judea to Egypt.

Verse 12 ── “’ When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.’”

This clash at Raphia describes Ptolemy IV Philopator of Egypt gathering a huge force, routing Antiochus III’s army and driving the captured troops and spoils back into Egypt, c. 217 BC. The battle was brutal ── ancient sources say around ten thousand Seleucid footmen and a few thousand cavalry fell, plus many were captured and enslaved.

“’ For,’” continuing in verse 13 ── “’ … the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.’”

Following the Raphia clash, Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucids rebuilds his forces, waiting about a decade, then marching south again into Coele-Syria and Judea with a massive army, c. 203-202 BC.

Verse 14 ── “’ Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall.’”

Daniel 11:14 is packed ── it’s talking about the Fifth Syrian War, roughly 203-195 BC. The young Egyptian king Ptolemy V Epiphanes is besieged by a coalition of Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucids, Philip V of Macedon, and other Hellenistic allies, while opportunistic Judean factions stir up rebellion from within.

Moving on to verses 15 to 19 ── it’s showing us the Seleucid king, Antiochus III, rallying his forces again, only to be beaten by the Egyptian Ptolemy V’s army. These verses track the back-and-forth: the North tries to seize the South’s territories, then the South pushes back, and the conflict drags on with shifting alliances and occasional Jewish uprisings, all the way through the latter part of the Fifth Syrian War. 3

Verse 20 ── “’ There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.’”

Here there was a brief reign after Antiochus III’s death. Seleucus IV Philopator, his son, took the throne in 187 BC, raised heavy taxes to pay Rome’s indemnity and sent Heliodorus to collect tribute from the temple in Jerusalem. He ruled only about twelve years and was then poisoned ── so he was ‘destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.’

Verse 21 picks up right after Seleucus IV Philopator. ‘A vile person,’ a short-lived ruler, Antiochus V Epiphanes, a child king who inherits the throne, raises a large army, but is quickly overthrown and disappears when the Seleucid line collapses under internal revolt and Roman pressure.

Verse 22 ── points to Antiochus IV Epiphane’s early triumphs ── he crushes the Egyptian forces, seizes Pelusium and captures Ptolemy VI, sweeping away the opposing armies. ‘the prince of the covenant’ here was the Jewish high priest, Onias III, who was the living head of the Mosaic covenant and was deposed and killed by Antiochus early in his reign.

Continuing this history with Antiochus IV Epiphane ── verse 23. After his treaty with the South, he rises to power with only a handful of men, then works deceitfully ── using intrigue and gifts to win allies, building a large army, and eventually seizing control of Egypt.

Verse 24 ── Antiochus IV Epiphane turns his attention back to the South, mustering a massive army, and launches a second campaign that crushes the Egyptian forces, seizing Pelusium and forcing Ptolemy VI into a brief captivity.

Verse 25 ── Antiochus IV Epiphane is mustering a massive force, turning on Ptolemy VI of Egypt. The Egyptian king raises an even larger army, but internal plots cause his defeat.

Verse 26 ── Antiochus IV Epiphane’s own people are turning on him; those who share his food betray him, his army collapses, and many are slain.

Verse 27 ── is showing us Antiochus IV Epiphane of the Seleucids and Ptolemy VI of Egypt scheming together, each trying to out-deceive the other at the negotiating table, but their plots fail because ‘the end will still be at the appointed time.’

Verse 28 ── Antiochus IV of the Seleucids, fresh from Egypt, turns back north and, before he leaves, strikes Jerusalem ── his heart set on the covenant, he wounds the city and its people.

Verse 29 ── Antiochus IV of the Seleucids will go back to the South again, but this time his campaign won’t end like the earlier ones ── this time he’ll be checked by the Roman fleet, and the result will be different.

Verse 30 ── A renewed push on Egypt, only to be halted when a Roman fleet ── sent from Kittim ── arrived. The Roman envoys, led by Popilius Laenas, forced him to abandon the siege of Alexandria, turning his campaign into a retreat.

Verse 31 ── After the Roman fleet forced him back, Antiochus IV lashed out at the holy covenant ── plundering the Jerusalem temple, erecting a Greek altar, banning the Sabbath, and sparking the Maccabean revolt. His troops defiled the Jerusalem temple, halting the daily sacrifices, and installing ‘the abomination of desolation,’ the Greek altar of Zeus that he set up after the earlier raid.

Moving on to verse 32 ── Antiochus IV’s next move. Using flattery to lure Jews into abandoning the covenant, while the faithful Maccabees held fast and pushed back against his Hellenizing pressure.

Verse 33 ── points to the rise of the faithful, ‘the people who understand’ ── people like Mattathias the priest and the scribe Eleazar ── who, amid Antiochus IV’s Hellenizing push, kept the covenant alive, instructed many, and helped the Maccabees hold fast.

Verse 35 ── wraps up the Maccabean picture. ‘some of those of understanding shall fall,’ captured or burned, but their suffering refines them. The LORD God set the end of that trial. But God will bring the final deliverance ‘for the appointed time.’

Historically, up to verse 35 pointed us to Antiochus IV Epiphane, but from this point forward in this chapter it moves beyond his deeds and points us toward the future, an ultimate oppressor who will repeat those same defiant actions.

Prophecy Skips to Our Immediate Future

So, the Book of Daniel as well as the Book of Revelation also speak of the future. Recall, the angel of the LORD said, “’I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people IN THE LATTER DAYS.’” So, there is a secondary fulfillment of this very prophecy. So, this very thing actually did take place – as did the utter destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, led by the future emperor of Rome – Titus. But there will be a future fulfillment of this prophecy, in which a “man of sin,” as the Apostle Paul says in 2nd Thessalonians, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, sitting himself in the temple of God, claiming that he is God! He is going to set himself up in a newly built third temple, desecrate the temple, and will call himself God.

Verse 36 – “’Then the king [a final Catholic-led European ‘beast’ leader] shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath [meaning, the Day of the LORD] has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37) He shall regard neither the God of his fathers …’” – he will possibly be an atheist. “ …’ nor the desire of women, …’” – could this be a reference to the fact that he will be a homosexual? Or will he just not acknowledge what women might think? “ …’nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.’”

Verse 40 – “’ At the time of the end the king of the South …’” – and as I’ve said, a combination of nations under Islam, such as North Africa, the Middle East, and over in areas like Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran. “ …’ shall attack him; and the king of the North …’” – this reorganized and revitalized concept of the “Holy” Roman Empire. The king of the North vs. the king of the South. The European combine and the Islamic confederation – whatever they will call themselves in the future. “ …’shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.’”

Notice that all of Daniel 11 is a constant flow of conflict between the king of the North and the king of the South! And I think that we understand those Scriptures to mean the king of the North (a future European combine; Catholic Europe) – which is taking shape right now! And yet, receiving very little notice on the world stage.

So, Daniel 11 picks up right after the Babylonian exile ends- around the time when King Cyrus the Great lets the Jews return roughly 538 BC and then moves into the Persian/Greek era.

Indeed, if you map the succession──Seleucids for the North, Ptolemies for the South──you can draw a line into a future clash. But as the line moves forward, the ‘king of the South’ shifts away from Egypt. It becomes a broader reference of power which opposes the North, but not the old Ptolemaic realm. The line aligns with the proper understanding that the ‘king of the South’ is a coalition of Islamic nations opposing the Northern power in the end times. There has been a long-standing clash between the West and the Arab world.

If you trace the succession through the early caliphates──Umayyad, Abbasid, then the Ottoman realm──you can see a thread of Islamic political blocs that keep expanding. Today’s ‘push’ toward a broader Islamic security pact, like the Mecca agreement among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is the modern echo of that evolving final ‘king of the South’coalition.

And just like the South──the ‘king of the North’ moves beyond the old Seleucid line, it too becomes a broader reference to the power that rises in the North. If you follow the ‘North’ thread from the Seleucid line through the Roman-Byzantine era, the medieval “Holy” Roman Empire, the rise of Prussia and Bismarck’s German unification, you can map it onto today’s push for a “United States of Europe.” The pattern shows a series of northern powers consolidating, ending in the modern federalist vision.

Here we are in the time of this end, closing in on this marvelous prophecy! Notice Daniel, chapter 12 ──

“’ At THAT TIME Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble [a time of ‘great tribulation’], Such as never was since there was a nation [the nation of JUDAH], …’” – Daniel 12:1. Certainly, the glorious blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMPET, the resurrection trumpet! The glorious and powerful Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Are you ready for that event? Because it is fast approaching. Now is high time to get ready, for our Lord Jesus said, “’ And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!’” □

Sources:

1 Amazon.com, 9 Oct. 2026.

2 Ibid. 1.

3 Ibid. 1.