| Daniel 11
describes a struggle between the King of the North and the King of
the South. Who are they?
The King of the South represents the
Islamic nations that are to the south of Israel, which was
Daniel's home. (Negeb, the Hebrew word for South comes from a root
meaning parched). Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have dominated the
South in the last two decades. These nations are all parched.
The King of the North is called Greece in
Dan 11:2. This means that the common idea that the King of the
North is Russia is wrong. The King of the North is clearly linked
with Greece. However it is not the nation of Greece, but the
civilisation that came out of Greece. Modern historians and
philosophers consider that Western Civilisation emerged out of
ancient Greece. Therefore, the King of the North symbolises
Western Civilisation (the Hebrew word for North comes from a root
meaning darkness).
Originally, Western Civilisation was
centred on Europe, but the United States now dominates Europe in
terms of military power and cultural influence. Since the Second
World War, Europe has been dependent on the United States. The
Marshall Plan kick-started the European economies. Many European
businesses are controlled by United States companies. European
defence has been the responsibility of NATO and is guaranteed by
the United States. American troops are still based in Germany. The
United States has developed an enormous arsenal of weapons
(including nuclear weapons), and it now uses them to exert its
influence in the world. Since the end of the Cold War, it has
become the dominant force in the world. America by default has
become the world's policeman.
We are living in a time when the King of
the North is in ascendancy, but is being challenged by the King of
the South (remember that these are spiritual powers). The struggle
between the King of the North and the King of the South is a
picture of a clash between Western Civilisation (initially the
United States) and the Islamic nations. This clash is now coming
to a head. This struggle will dominate the next few decades, in
the same way as the Cold War dominated the post-war decades. |