Since writing this post, I have been able to learn more about the transition to Rome in Daniel 11. The relevant impact of that information shows up in two of my more recent posts:
Daniel 11:16 (September 17, 2018)
Testing Daniel 11:16-22 (August 30, 2018).
For the entire chapter laid out with the pronouns identified, you may be interested in the book, Daniel and Revelation Bound Together, available at BibleProphecyCentral.com.
Bible prophecy is history foretold. In no chapter of the Bible is more history detailed than in Daniel 11, written around 535 B.C.
There has been over the years a lot of interest in identifying the kings of the north and south in Daniel 11. But much of the chapter, though not explicitly labeled as such, actually focuses on a third compass point: the West. The spotlight of prophecy moves to the west in 64 B.C. when Syria becomes a province of Rome. And not until the time of the end does the chapter shift its attention back to the kings of the north and south.
The section on the West is reproduced below with my attempt at identifying the players. I've replaced pronouns with the names (in bold) of those most likely referenced, and I've added a few bracketed comments.
16 But
Pompey, that cometh against Antiochus XIII Asiaticus, shall do
according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand
in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
17 Julius Caesar shall also set his face
to enter with the strength of Alexander’s
whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall Caesar do: and he shall give him the daughter of women [Cleopatra], corrupting her: but she
shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
18 After
this shall Caesar turn his face unto
the isles [Pontus, North Africa, and Hispania], and shall take many: but a
prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease;
without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
19 Then
Caesar shall turn his face toward
the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
20 Then
shall stand up in Caesar’s estate a
raiser of taxes [Augustus] in the
glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in
anger, nor in battle.
21 And
in Augustus’ estate shall stand up a
vile person [Tiberius], to whom they
shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and
obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
22 And
with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be
broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant [Jesus].
[This literary climax mirrors
Gabriel’s earlier commentaries that culminated with “the Prince of princes” in
Chapter 8 and “the Messiah the Prince” in Chapter 9. At this juncture, before
continuing with the narrative, the angel backs up to give us a little more
background.]
23 And
after the [161 B.C. Jewish] league made with the Roman Senate, the Republic shall work deceitfully: for he shall
come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
24 He
shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he
shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he
shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and the emperor shall forecast his devices
against [or from] the strong holds [Rome],
even for a time [that is, one prophetic "year" of 360 prophetic "days" (literal years) extending from the decisive battle of Actium in 31 B.C. (verse 25) to the
founding of Constantinople in A.D. 330 (verse 29)].
25 And
Octavian shall stir up his power and
his courage against the king of the south [Mark
Antony] with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to
battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they
shall forecast devices against him.
26 Yea,
they that feed of the portion of Mark
Antony’s meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many
shall fall down slain.
27 And
both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at
one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time
appointed.
28 Then
shall Octavian return into his land
with great riches; and Nero’s heart
shall be against the holy covenant; and Vespasian,
and his son Titus, shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
29 At
the time appointed Constantine
shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or
as the latter.
30 For
the ships of Chittim [suggestive of the Vandal naval attacks, a reference to
the barbarian invasions as a whole, the first major blow being the Gothic
victory over the Romans at Adrianople] shall come against Valens: therefore Theodosius
shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant
[the pure gospel]: so shall Theodosius
do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with the bishops that forsake the holy covenant.
[After the fall of the Roman
Empire in the west, the prophetic narrative continues with the leading western
rulers.]
31 And
arms shall stand on Clovis’ part,
and his army shall pollute the
sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall
place the abomination that maketh desolate.
32 And
such [the pontiffs] as do wickedly
against the covenant shall Pepin,
Charlemagne, and their successors corrupt by flatteries: but the people
that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
33 And
they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall
by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
34 Now
when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall
cleave to them with flatteries.
35 And
some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to
make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time
appointed.
36 And
the king [Louis XIV] shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and
magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the
God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that
that is determined shall be done.
37 Neither
shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any
god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
38 But
in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers
knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and
pleasant things.
39 Thus
shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall
acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many,
and shall divide the land for gain.
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