Cleopatra and the book of Daniel
A very brief note about a story from today’s TimesOnline (UK). Archaeologists in Egypt think they have discovered the location of Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s tomb, and will begin digging next week. While the Times UK article is talking about Cleopatra VII, it provides an opening to show how amazing Bible prophecy is, as the story of Cleopatra’s ancestry was written by Daniel, centuries before Cleopatra I was brought to Egypt.
Daniel 11 is a prophecy of the world empires from the time of Daniel until the Antichrist reigns, just before Messiah returns. There are at least 125 prophecies found in that chapter, and we will go into some of them during the Daniel series later this year. For now, understand that beginning in verse 5 we see the history–written in advance–of the conflict between Syria (Assyria/King of the North) and Egypt (the king of the South). It begins with the forced marriage of Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II of Egypt, with Antiochus II, King of Syria. Daniel continues to weave through the history of these powerful nations, telling bits and pieces of the entire conflict, including the birth of the Cleopatra line of Queens.
From Daniel 11:14-19:
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. So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist. But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power. “He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him. After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him. Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
In short, Antiochus III, king of Syria, offered his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V, king of Egypt, in an attempt to undermine Egypt so he could take control of it. His plan failed though because Cleopatra was loyal to her husband. She became the matriarch of the Cleopatra line, spawning a string of Queen’s leading up to the famous one of Antony & Cleopatra.
We will delve into this amazing chapter more later.
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