A Systematic Expository Study of the Word of God
THE FUTURE INVASION OF THE ANTICHRIST
Daniel 11:21- 45
Daniels inspired writing did not only record history, it also revealed prophecy. And the revelation of prophecy through Daniel was not limited to Israel, the great events concerning major Gentile kings and kingdoms were revealed in great and minute details. Some prophets predictions and prophecies were fulfilled only a few years, decades or centuries after their ministry or lifetime. Daniels prophecies span a very long period, from the time he prophesied till the end of time, that is, till the end of the world. Some of his prophecies were fulfilled immediately (Daniel 5:25-30), others some months or years later (Daniel 4:24-33) and still others were fulfilled hundreds of years after he spoke (Daniel 2:39-43; 8:20-22). The coming of the Messiah the Prince, was also prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 9:25,26). Our Lord, Jesus Christ, affirmed that some of Daniels prophecies are yet to be fulfilled in the future (Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15). Even now some major parts of Daniels prophecies are still to be fulfilled (Daniel 2:44; 7:13,14; 9:27; 11:40-45; 12:1-4). Daniels ministry is relevant to Israel and to all the nations of the world, important and instructive at his own time and our time, profitable to the Jews and the Gentiles, enlightening, encouraging and strengthening to the early church and the end-time church. May our lives and ministries touch, teach and transform people beyond our locality and periods beyond our lifetime.
THE POLITICS OF THE SELF-WILLED KING
Daniel 11:21-29; 7:8,25; 8:9-11,23-25; 9:26; Psalm 55:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Habakkuk 2:3.
These verses found their immediate or their first fulfilment in Antiochus Epiphanes but their ultimate or final fulfilment will be in the Antichrist. Antiochus Epiphanes is referred to in Daniel 8:9 as a little horn who was to rise to power by craft and deceit, gaining recognition and power by intrigues and hypocrisy. It was predicted that he would wax exceedingly great though he would be a vile person; by peace and deceitful policies he would destroy many. As predicted, Antiochus, a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom rose to power and obtained the kingdom by flatteries. He raised up a mighty army, described as the arms of a flood (Daniel 11:22; Jeremiah 47:2,3). The character of Antiochus is fully described by Daniel the prophet. He shall be a vile person (verse 21), he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries (verse 21), he shall work deceitfully (verse 23), he shall enter peaceably and he shall do that which his fathers have not done (verse 24), he shall do mischief and speak lies (verse 27), deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13), his heart shall be against the holy covenant (verse 28). Under the guise of friendship, Antiochus plundered the richest lands and persecuted the Jews severely.
THE PROFANITY OF THE SELF-CENTRED KING
Daniel 11:30-34; 8:12,13,24; 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 13:5,11-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 John 2:18; 2 Peter 2:1-3,18,19;
2 Corinthians 11:13-15.
These verses in Daniel chapter eleven look prophetically at two personalities. To Daniel, one was to be in the near future while the other was to be in the far future. One was to rise to power before the First Coming of Christ while the other will rise to power just before the Second Coming of Christ. One, the first fulfilment, was Antiochus; the other, the final fulfilment, will be the Antichrist. Jewish history has it on record that Antiochus had great indignation against the holy covenant (verse 30) and did exactly as Daniel had prophesied they shall pollute the sanctuary (verse 31), and shall take away the daily sacrifice (verse 31) and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate (verse 31). Antiochus, with his soldiers desecrated Israels temple, sacrificing pigs on the altar; banned circumcision and daily sacrifices. He even imposed an idol statue in honour of the Olympian god, Zeus into the temple (December 15, 167 B.C.). That abomination of desolation caused the Jews to abandon worship in their temple. That atrocity was only a preview of the abomination that would happen later under the final Antichrist (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15).
THE PERDITION OF THE SATAN-CONTROLLED KING
Daniel 11:35-45; Ezekiel 38:22; Daniel 2:35,44,45; 7:26; 8:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 14:14-20; 17:12-14; 19:19-21.
Daniel eleven, verse thirty-five looks forward to the time of the end, which is yet for a time appointed. The reference to this end prepares for a transition in verse 36 to the final Tribulation period under the reign of the Antichrist, whom Antiochus prefigures. These two eschatological terms, the time of the end and the appointed time or a time appointed point to a forward leap across thousands of years of history from Antiochus to a future similar period of fierce persecution when the self-willed king shall reign. The self-willed king is the future Antichrist. The remaining verses of the chapter describe the Antichrists reign of terror in the last seven years before Christs millennial Kingdom. The Antichrist shall do according to his will (verse 36) he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god (verse 36) and shall speak marvellous (terrible, blasphemous) things against God (verse 36), he shall magnify himself above all (verse 37), he shall honour the God of forces (verse 38). He will be opposed to God and Christ, the Son of God; he will speak against God and fight against the people of God, Israel; he will resist Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom of peace; he will use force and diabolical wickedness to try and turn the whole world against God and righteousness. He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. He shall come to his end, and none shall help him (Daniel 8:25; 11:45). And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
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