Daniel 11:36-45

 Daniel 11

Prophecy: the Antichrist

Daniel 11:36-45

Do you know your prophecies?

There are few if some prophecies which are so mind-blowing as Daniel chapter 11, especially when you know about the history of the Persian Empire, the Hellenistic Greece (after Alexander the Great) and the rise of Rome. This is especially shocking to Atheists trying to understand everything through scientific knowledge. One of the most absurd claims I've heard was in a Youtube video some days ago: "If science can't explain it, it's nonsense". 

I have to tell you about my relationship with science. My first job was as a teacher of Physics, my second one as a draughtsman of steel structures, then as a design engineer of steel structures, then an AutoCAD programmer (this is the program my company bought to use computers in engineering) and then I became a popular musician, after 15 years in technical branches. If you don't get your "science" right you couldn't teach children what speed, acceleration, inertia or uniform rectilinear motion is. Then you couldn't either understand the shear force, momentum or axial force in a beam or column, and choose the right I-beam or truss (forget Eiffel tower or the Empire State building). And certainly, that which you can't do with a drawing table, a compass and the rest of the old-school equipment, you will not be able to "teach the computer" to do it either - which is what programming is about. The drawings are in your head, and then you use drawing equipment or a PC to draw them, in the same way that melodies are in your head, and then you sing them, or play them in a violin, a guitar or a piano.

There is hardly a technical profession where you can ignore science. But everyone who knows science and has used it knows the limitations of science. Science shouldn't make anybody an Atheist, because there are Christian scientists, doctors, astronomers and many more. And all Christians whose branch has to do with science know that there are a lot of things science can't explain, as the Creation of life, the virginal birth of the Lord, the resurrection, miraculous healings, predictive prophecy... but they have no problem with being Christian and using scientific facts as well. Beyond the "laws of nature", the only field that science properly and decently could claim to explore and know to a certain degree, there are "miracles", that which happens when the God Who created nature and its laws wants to do something outside those laws. And besides the "laws of nature" there are Spiritual laws which science has never understood, because you can't prove them in a lab or theorize about them. There is no "nonsense" in the belief that there is a God. The "nonsense" is to assume that science can explain everything. 

If you haven't read the rest of the messages under the titles beginning with "Daniel 11:something" I suggest that you do it before you read this (or after). This chapter contains the most detailed depiction of all prophecies in the book of Daniel, about the empires that would influence Israel. The basic frame of the prophecy is in Daniel 2, where the prophet interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and in Daniel 7, when he saw the same history God had shown to the king, but with other images. Daniel 8 elaborates about two empires, and Daniel 9 is about the last times (the last empire before the arrival of the Kingdom of God). The prophecy we are about to read is related to that last empire, which has not yet risen in its last form, but was prophesied by Daniel more than 2500 years ago. 

The word of God we read today is in Daniel 11:36-45:

"The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price"

"At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission" 

"But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him"

The original Hebrew is this:

36 וְעָשָׂ֨ה כִרְצוֹנ֜וֹ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְיִתְרוֹמֵ֤ם וְיִתְגַּדֵּל֙ עַל־כָּל־אֵ֔ל וְעַל֙ אֵ֣ל אֵלִ֔ים יְדַבֵּ֖ר נִפְלָא֑וֹת וְהִצְלִ֙יחַ֙ עַד־כָּ֣לָה זַ֔עַם כִּ֥י נֶחֱרָצָ֖ה נֶעֱשָֽׂתָה׃

37 וְעַל־אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתָיו֙ לֹ֣א יָבִ֔ין וְעַל־חֶמְדַּ֥ת נָשִׁ֛ים וְעַֽל־כָּל־אֱל֖וֹהַּ לֹ֣א יָבִ֑ין כִּ֥י עַל־כֹּ֖ל יִתְגַּדָּֽל׃

38 וְלֶאֱלֹ֙הַּ֙ מָֽעֻזִּ֔ים עַל־כַּנּ֖וֹ יְכַבֵּ֑ד וְלֶאֱל֜וֹהַּ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יְדָעֻ֣הוּ אֲבֹתָ֗יו יְכַבֵּ֛ד בְּזָהָ֥ב וּבְכֶ֛סֶף וּבְאֶ֥בֶן יְקָרָ֖ה וּבַחֲמֻדֽוֹת׃

39 וְעָשָׂ֞ה לְמִבְצְרֵ֤י מָֽעֻזִּים֙ עִם־אֱל֣וֹהַּ נֵכָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר ׳הִכִּיר׳ ״יַכִּ֖יר״ יַרְבֶּ֣ה כָב֑וֹד וְהִמְשִׁילָם֙ בָּֽרַבִּ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה יְחַלֵּ֥ק בִּמְחִֽיר׃

40 וּבְעֵ֣ת קֵ֗ץ יִתְנַגַּ֤ח עִמּוֹ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הַנֶּ֔גֶב וְיִשְׂתָּעֵ֨ר עָלָ֜יו מֶ֣לֶךְ הַצָּפ֗וֹן בְּרֶ֙כֶב֙ וּבְפָ֣רָשִׁ֔ים וּבָאֳנִיּ֖וֹת רַבּ֑וֹת וּבָ֥א בַאֲרָצ֖וֹת וְשָׁטַ֥ף וְעָבָֽר׃

41 וּבָא֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַצְּבִ֔י וְרַבּ֖וֹת יִכָּשֵׁ֑לוּ וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ יִמָּלְט֣וּ מִיָּד֔וֹ אֱד֣וֹם וּמוֹאָ֔ב וְרֵאשִׁ֖ית בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן׃

42 וְיִשְׁלַ֥ח יָד֖וֹ בַּאֲרָצ֑וֹת וְאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לֹ֥א תִהְיֶ֖ה לִפְלֵיטָֽה׃

43 וּמָשַׁ֗ל בְּמִכְמַנֵּי֙ הַזָּהָ֣ב וְהַכֶּ֔סֶף וּבְכֹ֖ל חֲמֻד֣וֹת מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֻבִ֥ים וְכֻשִׁ֖ים בְּמִצְעָדָֽיו׃

44 וּשְׁמֻע֣וֹת יְבַהֲלֻ֔הוּ מִמִּזְרָ֖ח וּמִצָּפ֑וֹן וְיָצָא֙ בְּחֵמָ֣א גְדֹלָ֔ה לְהַשְׁמִ֥יד וּֽלְהַחֲרִ֖ים רַבִּֽים׃

45 וְיִטַּע֙ אָהֳלֶ֣י אַפַּדְנ֔וֹ בֵּ֥ין יַמִּ֖ים לְהַר־צְבִי־קֹ֑דֶשׁ וּבָא֙ עַד־קִצּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֥ין עוֹזֵ֖ר לֽוֹ׃

Which sounds like this:

"Veasá kirtsonó hamélek, veyitromém veyitgadél al-kol-el, veal el elím yedabér niflaót, veyitslíax, ad kála záam. Ki nexerátsa neesáta. Veal elohé avotáv lo yavín, veal xemdát nashím. Veal-kol-elóha lo yavín, ki al-kol yitgadál. Veleelóha mauzím al-kanó yexabéd, veleelóha asher lo-yedaúhu avotáv yexabéd bezaháv, ubexésef, ubeéven yekará, ubaxamudót. Veasá lemivseré mauzím im-elóha nexár. Asher hikír yarbé kavód, vehimshilám barabím, veadamá yexalék bimehír"

"Ubeét kéts yinagáx imó mélek hanégev, veyistaér aláv mélek hatsafón beréxev uvparashím ubaaniyót rabót. Uvá baaratsót veshatáf veavár. Uvá beérets hatseví, verabót yikashélu, veéle yimaletú miyadó: Edóm, u-Moáb, vereshít bené Ammón. Vayishláx yadó baaratsót, veérets Mitsráyim lo tihyé lifletá. Umashál bemixmané hazaháv, vehakésef, uvxól xamudót Mitsráyim, veluvín vexushím bemitsadáv"

"Ushmuót yevahalúhu, mimizráx umitsafón, veyatsá bexemá gedolá lehashmíd ulehaxarím rabím. Veyitá oxolé apadnó ben yamím lehar-seví-kódesh, uvá ad kitsó, veén ozér lo"

In verse 37 we read, "He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors...". The Hebrew expression for "the gods of his ancestors" is אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתָיו֙ , "elohé avotáv". In this construction, "elohé" means "gods of" or "God of", because the Hebrew word for "God" is אֱלהִים, "Elohím", and it is always used in plural, even when it is addresing the only God. That's why the King James Version, Young's Literal Translation and many other versions translate "the God of his ancestors", because it is the primary option, only to be rejected if the context clearly points to a common plural (false "gods") which is also possible. For the rest of the passage, the translation of NIV is almost literal, even elegant in its adaptation to English.

In the New International Version we have got a title between verses 35 and 36 of Daniel chapter 11, "The King Who Exalts Himself". It marks most definitively the end of the prophecy about Antiochus IV Epiphanes, when the vision browses many centuries forward to another era, with other actors and other empires. That's why this title is a right one, in the right place at the right time. This jump is necessary because chapter 12 is an apocalyptic one - dealing with the last times, resurrection and the Kingdom of God - and the two chapters are linked with "At that time..." in Daniel 12:1, meaning that the apocalyptic prophecy takes place "at the time" of the events depicted in Daniel 11:45. Then we have to understand that the king of 11:45 is the one that will be defeated when the Kingdom of God comes, and the prophecy of Daniel 11:36-45 deals with another king, not Antiochus. 

There are some other signs pointing to another person, not Antiochus, in this passage. 

⦁ this king will exalt himself "above every god". Antiochus IV didn't persecute all religions, only the Jewish one. 

⦁ this king will descend from faithful parents. Antiochus IV descended from pagans.

⦁ the land of Egypt "will not escape" from him. But Egypt "escaped" from Antiochus IV.

⦁ this king will invade Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya. Antiochus IV tried but didn't succeed in the conquest of Egypt. He didn't even attack Ethiopia or Libya. 

⦁ this king will "pitch his royal tents between the seas and the beautiful holy mountain" - meaning Israel. "He will come to his end, and no one will help him"=> he will die fighting in Israel. Antiochus IV died in Elam (or Persia, now Iran) and from a disease, not in war.

The king which is defeated at the arrival of the Kingdom of God is called the Antichrist. In Daniel 7 he is a "little horn", a king; in Daniel 9, "a ruler who will come". For Our Lord Jesus Christ he will be a false Messiah; for John, "the" antichrist. Paul calls him "man of lawlessness" and "lawless one", and in the book of Revelation he appears in several chapters, as "the beast" (specifically, the "beast out of the sea" or a "scarlet beast") and as a rider in a white horse. You can check the NOTES at the end, where these Scriptures are given. In a nutshell we can say that he will be the last human ruler on earth who will try to conquer the whole world and govern it, beginning from a reborn Roman Empire, but he will not succeed because Jesus will defeat him at the Second Coming. 

The passage in Daniel 11:36-45 adds some details to the activity of the antichrist that we know from other Scriptures. 

⦁ From Revelation 13 we know that the antichrist will be worshipped by "all inhabitants of the earth". This satanical worship - which includes "the dragon", Satan - shall be imposed by a "second beast", which the Bible calls the "false prophet". The antichrist shall "exalt and magnify himself above every god" (Daniel 11:36)

⦁ From 2 Thessalonians 2:4 we know that he "will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God". In Daniel 7:8 we read that he "spoke boastfully", and here, that he "will say unheard-of things against the God of gods" and "show no regard for the God of his ancestors" (Daniel 11:36-37)

⦁ In Revelation 6:1-2 we read that he "held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror". His activity will cause war and death (Revelation 6:4, 8; Revelation 9:13-19) because he will gather a great army to accomplish his conquests. Here we read that he "will be successful until the time of wrath is completed" (Daniel 11:37) because his conquests will succeed until the destruction which is determined by God is poured on him. Daniel 9:27 prophesies, "until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".

⦁ The antichrist will get his power from Satan. It is clear from 2 Thessalonians 2:9, where his appearance occurs "in accordance with how Satan works" and from Revelation 13:4, where the dragon - Satan - had "given authority to the beast". Here we read that he will "honor a god of fortresses", and a "foreign god" (Daniel 11:38)

⦁ The antichrist will manipulate the economy in his favor, depriving those who oppose him from the most basic needs. The false prophet (in the authority of the antichrist) shall mark as "666" all people who worship the antichrist, and those who are not marked shall be excluded from the acquisition of goods (Revelation 13:16-18). Here we read that he will "honor those who acknowledge him" and "distribute the land at a price" in Daniel 11:39.

⦁ In Revelation 9:13-19 we saw that he would unleash an army which kills a third of mankind. Here we see where the war is taking place, in Africa (Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya, which belong to the "king of the south" in  Daniel 11:40-43) and the Middle East (Daniel 11:40-41, the "many countries" except "Edom, Moab and ... Ammon "). This final war will happen between the antichrist and the Islamic world, which is the final alliance under the "king of the south" whereas the antichrist's forces are the "king of the north". Jordan ("Edom, Moab and Ammon") is not a part of the conflict, for there will Israel find a safe haven (Revelation 12:6, 14)

⦁ In Revelation 12 we read about Satan, the dragon, pursuing the "woman" - meaning the nation of Israel. We read also how God protects Israel from the persecution and hides them from the evil one. And then "...the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring - those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus". Daniel 9:27 shows us that the antichrist will make a pact with Israel, but he will betray them "in the middle of the week". It is because of this pact that Israel will rebuild the temple - as it is prophesied in Ezekiel - and restore the Jewish sacrifices. At the time, Messianic Jews will also preach Jesus and win souls. 

When Satan sees that he can not reach and destroy Israel, his persecution targets the Messianic community, "those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus". Remember that the antichrist is working on the spirit of Satan, and under the evil one's guidance. As the dragon "was enraged at the woman", the antichrist will "set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many" when he receives news "from the north and the east" - being in Africa, those news come from Israel and Jordan, about the escape of the Jewish people, and the dragon being unable to get them. Then he will march against Israel "to wage war against the rest of her offspring" - the disciples who have converted to Judaism or Messianic Judaism - and he will "pitch his royal tents between the seas and the beautiful holy mountain". Where is this place?

The "seas and the beautiful holy mountain" have a special meaning in the Bible. The mountain is of course mount Zion, in Jerusalem. And there are three "seas" the Bible mentions in Israel most of the time: the Mediterranean, the Sea of Galilee and the Death Sea (the last two are lakes indeed). If you look at Israel's map, there is a special place in the area between these seas and mount Zion: the Jezreel Valley, from mount Carmel to mount Gilboa. This is the scenario of many events in the Bible. In mount Carmel the prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18) and in mount Gilboa the Philistines defeated king Saul, which paved the way for David to become king (1 Samuel 31). In the Jezreel Valley, the Israelites defeated Jabin king of Canaan (Judges 5), Gideon defeated Midian (Judges 7), and Pharao Necho killed king Josiah in battle (2 Kings 23). There are even more events in Israel's history that took place in the Jezreel Valley. But the most important one is yet to happen. 

In the book of Revelation, chapter 16, we read that Satan, the Antichrist and the false prophet summon the kings of the earth to "gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty", and that they are reunited with their armies in Armageddon, to fight that battle. But when the Messiah comes with His armies, He defeats them (Revelation 19). "Armageddon" is Greek for the Hebrew "Har Megiddo", which means "mount Megiddo". This mount is in the southern boundary of the Jezreel Valley, circa 20 km east of mount Carmel. And the Jezreel Valley is the ideal place to deploy great armies. The last fight that the antichrist will start, and lose, will take place in this location in Israel. This is the place "between the seas and the beautiful holy mountain" Daniel was talking about. 

As we have seen, Daniel 11:36-45 was not fulfilled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and is not connected with the Seleucid Empire but with the remake of the Roman Empire which will be the last human government on earth before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Israel's Messiah. Nevertheless, all of the prophecies in Daniel 11 fulfilled by Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, Alexander the Great, all Ptolemaic and Seleucid kings, up to Antiochus the Great and Antiochus IV Epiphanes, are a strong reason to believe that the rest of the prophecies about the Antichrist will be also fulfilled. Israel suffered persecution under some of the empires named in Daniel's prophecies, and at its best was a vassal kingdom under their dominion. In the same way the last empire, which will try to conquest the whole world, will persecute Israel, betraying the inicial treaty with them. The Antichrist will fulfil the prophecies of Daniel about the "feet of iron and clay" in chapter 2, the "fourth beast" in chapter seven, the "a ruler who will come" in Daniel 9, or this "king who exalts himself" in Daniel 11:36-45. 

There are some wrong interpretations that twist the meaning of the prophecy, and that we have warned about in this blog in several messages. You can check the NOTES at the end, under the title "Passages that deal with this matter". 

The two last verses of the Bible are about Jesus' words: 

'He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon". 

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen'.

Revelation 22:20-21

Hallelujah!

Jesus is coming soon!

At the arrival of Our Lord, Israel's Messiah, the Kingdom of God will begin and we will live eternally in peace and justice. It will be the outcome of our faith, the salvation our souls and eternal life. But there is another outcome for those who didn't believe. 

The Nicene Creed was penned in the IV century to rebuke heresies in the church. After declaring our faith in God Father Almighty, Creator of heavens and earth, it continues with our faith in Jesus Christ, His Son. This passage ends with these words:

"He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end".

I don't know if you believe these things, but the Bible, the Word of God, testifies about them. Take a special look to this passage, "He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end". Jesus was taken to heaven in the presence of His disciples (Luke 24:50-52 ; Acts 1:4-11) and He is coming back, as He said in the book of Revelation, "I'm coming soon". He is "sitting at the right hand of the Father" as it was prophesied by king David (Psalms 110:1) in a statement that Our Lord Jesus applied to Himself (Matthew 22:42-44). He will come back to establish the Kingdom of God in this world, as it is prophesied in Daniel 7:13-14. And last but not least, He is coming to "judge the living and the dead". 

There are several passages in the Scriptures dealing with this judgement of the living and the dead. In Revelation 20:4, 5 we read, "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge...This is the first resurrection". The "living" will experience a "resurrection of transformation" together with those who have died in faith and are risen from the dead when Jesus comes (1 Corinthians 15:50-53). Our faith is the reason that the judgement we receive is one of reward, not about salvation and condemnation. This judgement is presented in the Scriptures in several passages (Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and it is a promise of recompense for our acts of faith. 

The judgement of the spiritually dead is a very different thing. The "first resurrection", as it is called in Revelation 20:5, is for "the dead in Christ" (1 Thessalonians 4:16) meaning the believers who have passed away. The unbelievers ("rest of the dead" in Revelation 20:5) will experience another resurrection, and a very different kind of judgement which is depicted in Revelation 20:11-15. After the antichrist, the false prophet and Satan himself being thrown into the lake of fire (aka hell), they will be judged and join them. Don't be deceived; there is no annihilation. The Word of God talks about eternity, where there are only eternal life and eternal condemnation. The prophet Daniel wrote, "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt". Our Lord Jesus Christ also said, "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out - those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned". Revelation 20 tells us when the two kinds of resurrection and judgement both Our Lord and the prophet spoke about. 

If you have not yet received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, don't wait any longer! Today can be the day of your salvation, if you decide it. The only thing you have to do is to pray to Jesus Christ, confess your sins before Him, ask for His forgiveness and pray that He will come in your life to be your Lord and Savior. The Bible says, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved". 

In the love of Christ, your brother

Israel Leonard

PS. Jesus is coming soon!

NOTES:

Scriptures about the Antichrist:

Daniel 7:8 = a king from the empire represented by the fourth beast

Daniel 7:20-22, 24-27 = that king is defeated at the arrival of the Kingdom of God

Daniel 9:26-27 = the "ruler who will come". "His people" will "destroy the city and the sanctuary" at the end of the 69th week, after the Messiah's death. But the "ruler" will be dealing with Israel for a week (another one, the 70th week)

Matthew 24:5, 23-24 = false Messias (leader who demands worship)

2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 = "man of lawlessness" who demands worship; the "lawless one" who's defeated by Jesus "with the breath of His mouth" and "by the splendor of his coming"

1 John 2:18 = "the" antichrist vs. many antichrists

Revelation 6:1-2 = the rider in the white horse

Revelation 13:1-10         = the beast out of the sea

Revelation 17:3, 8-14 = the beast out of the earth rides the beast out of the sea

Revelation 19:20; 20:10 = the beast out of the sea

Passages that deal with this matter:

You can find information about the Antichrist and the difference between him and Antiochus IV Epiphanes in this blog, and about the Second Coming, and the right or wrong interpretations of the Scriptures concerning it, under these titles:

- No Maccabean thesis: Daniel 2:39-40; Daniel 7:7-8; Daniel 8:13-14

- No Ammillennialism: Daniel 6:26-29; Daniel 8:20-21

- No Preterism: Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 8:20-21 

- antichrist defeated by Jesus: Daniel 7:11-12

- who is the antichrist: Daniel 2:41-43; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:7-8; 

        Daniel 7:11-12; Daniel 7:23-27; Daniel 8:13-14

- who is Antiochus IV: Daniel 8:9-12; 8:13-14