Alexander the Great is not mentioned by name in the Bible, but Daniel and Zechariah’s prophecies were fulfilled in Alexander the Great. These prophecies reveal that God holds the future and that His Word is trustworthy.
While Alexander the Great is not mentioned by name in the Bible, it is clear that God gave visions of the future to Daniel and Zechariah that included Alexander the Great. Daniel wrote in the sixth century BC, hundreds of years before Alexander lived. Zechariah wrote between 520 and 470 BC. Alexander was born more than one hundred years later, in 356 BC. Both Daniel and Zechariah recorded details about Alexander the Great that came to pass, including his early death and the breaking down of the kingdom. Alexander the Great lived only thirty-two years, but in that time he led armies throughout the known world—from his home in Macedon (Greece), through Persia, Asia Minor, Egypt, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea region. He had no heirs, but his legacy lived on through the establishment of Hellenism—the Greek culture. Greek became the official language in all his conquered areas, and Greek culture was required or encouraged in those areas and surrounding regions. For three hundred years the Greek influence reigned. In 63 BC the Romans conquered Jerusalem. Daniel foretold of these four empires in Daniel 2. The prophecy of Alexander the Great in the Bible reveals that earthly kingdoms come to power and are overtaken, but it is God who holds the future in His hands and His Word stands.
The Bible foretelling of Alexander the Great hundreds of years before his time reveals God’s sovereignty over history and over our lives. Isaiah 46:10 tells us that God declares “the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” The meticulous details provided by both Daniel and Zechariah regarding Alexander's conquests and his cultural impact through Hellenism serve as compelling evidence of the divine inspiration inherent in the Bible. They also reveal God’s sovereignty. God, who created all things, is still very much at work in humanity and has been throughout all of human history. Since the fall of humanity, God has been at work to restore and redeem His creation. Kings and kingdoms come and go, but God is on the throne forever. With this certainty, we can trust God with our lives, knowing that His plans are truly good and in His control. We do not have to worry about tomorrow and who is in political office because we know who has allowed them to come to power and because He knows their end as well (Romans 13:1). In seeing Alexander the Great prophesied, we gain historical insight and deepen our trust in the overarching narrative of God's sovereignty and the unwavering reliability of His Word.