Daniel 11:35

Even though many godly Jews died, the struggle against the Syrians (Greeks) purified the Jews. John Hyrcanus, the son of Simon Maccabeus, eventually founded a strong Jewish kingdom. His son, Alexander Jannaeus, enlarged it to its fullest extent in the last part of the first century B.C. [Note: See Anthony J. Tomasino, Judaism Before Jesus, for more detail of this "second temple period."]

Daniel received assurance that the predicted persecution would run its course and end. The purification of his people came eventually, though not completely, through the turmoil just described. There would be a final end later.

Mention of "the end time" (Daniel 11:35) prepares for the revelation to follow, which concerns events not yet fulfilled in history. "The appointed time" (Daniel 11:27; Daniel 11:29; Daniel 11:35; Daniel 12:7) reminds the reader that all these predicted events would be the outworking of divine control and purpose, even though they would involve suffering for the Israelites.

"The amazingly detailed prophecies of the first thirty-five verses of this chapter, containing as they do approximately one hundred and thirty-five prophetic statements, all now fulfilled, constitute an impressive introduction to the events that are yet future, beginning in Daniel 11:36. . . . The fact is that there is no supported evidence which can contradict any statement made in these thirty-five verses. . . . From the divine viewpoint, the accuracy of this prophetic word is supporting evidence that prophecy yet unfulfilled will have the same precise fulfillment in the future." [Note: Walvoord, Daniel . . ., pp. 269-70.]

We can understand why critics who deny the possibility of predictive prophecy believe these verses must have been written after they occurred.