Laodicea in the Bible?
Mighty King Alexander the Great defeated rich and famous Persian king Darius III in 331 BC, and founded the biggest empire in the world. He died in young age and he had no legitimate heir, his son Alexander IV by Roxane being born after Alexander's death. Alexander's companions asked him on his deathbed to whom he bequeathed his kingdom; his laconic reply was "tôi kratistôi"—"to the strongest". His empire was divided into 4 parts.
Lysimachus took Thrace and much of Asia Minor. Cassander controled Macedonia and Greece. Ptolemy I (King of the South) ruled Egypt, Palestine, Cilicia, Petra and Cyprus. He founded Ptolemaic Dynasty which lasted untill the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC. Seleucus I Nicator (King of North) was even stronger than Ptolemy I (South King) and ruled remaining parts of Asia, and founded Seleucid Empire which was comprised of Mesopotamia, the Levant, Persia and Part of India. Seleucus was assassinated by Ptolemy, and his son Antiochus I ruled the Seleucid Empire. Around 262 BC Antiochus tried to break the growing power of Pergamum, but suffered defeat near Sardis and died soon afterwards. He was succeeded in 261 BC by his second son Antiochus II Theos.
After some years a war started between Ptolemy II (King of South) and Antiochus II (King of North). As terms of peace, Antiochus II agreed to divorce his wife Laodice, disinherit her son and marry Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy II) and join the two empires. However, it didn’t work out as expected. Shortly after the wedding, Ptolemy II died and Antiochus II divorced Berenice and remarried Leodice. However Leodice didn’t forget his betrayal; she poisoned Antiochus II, and had Berenice, her son and her attendants all executed. Laodice then proclaimed her son Seleucus II a new king of Seleucid Empire. After reading this short historical information, we understand Daniel 11: 2-7 better and get idea about the origin of the name of the city of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches.
The Kings of the South and the North
2 “Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. 6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.
7 “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious.