7 – 22-23 22
At this stage described in Daniel 11:31 Antichrist is fully control-led by Satan so that he acts as Satan’s agent. The events from verse 32 to verse 45 are the climax of Antichrist’s rule and occur from the mid-point (Dan. 9:26) of the 70th ‘seven.’ i.e., up to the end of the last period of ‘seven’ years:
“His [Antichrist’s] army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration [for 1290 days]. He will flatter and win over those [apostate majority of Jews] who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him” (Dan. 11:31-32 NLT).
PERSECUTION
“Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed. During these persecutions [the great tribulation], little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere. 35 And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come” (Dan. 11:33-35 NLT).
In this passage we see Antichrist’s evil satanic nature described.
“Then the king will do whatever he wants. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods [now turns against Christians]. He will be successful until the time of wrath [his wrath against God’s people] is completed, because what has been decreed will be accomplished. 37 He will not show regard for the gods of his fathers, [he suppresses all other religions] the god longed for by women [female worship of Tammuz and related deities//Rev.13:11, 18], or for any other god, because he will magnify himself above all. 38Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses [the personification of war i.e., militarism]—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39 He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god [military power]. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward” (Dan. 11:36-40 CSB).
This parallels the description of Antichrist in Daniel 8:24 showing the terrible destruction he will cause to those who worship the True God. Nevertheless, his end is about to come according to the last part of Daniel 11. Furthermore, Antichrist’s arrogance is seen here and which the Apostle Paul commented on in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
This section concerns Antichrist’s final battle with the King of the South in which he is successful and gains riches from Egypt. However, certain reports cause Antichrist to turn against Israel, but he is killed at this point:
“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. 41 He will also invade [in the Jehoshaphat Campaign/Valley of decision in Joel 3] the Beautiful Land [Israel]. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand [possibly they are rescued because that is the general area where the ‘woman’ flees to]. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him [Media destroying the City of Babylon (Isa. 13:17; Jer. 51:11, 28) “kings from the East (Rev. 9:13-16; 16:12)], and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas [the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea] at the beautiful holy mountain [Zion]. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him” (Dan. 11:40-45 NIV).
Neither General Titus nor Tiberius Caesar died in Palestine or at that time. This applies specifically to the future death of the Satan controlled final Antichrist.
The Great Tribulation is followed
by the Resurrection
Daniel 12:1-4 summarizes the major events to come, including the resurrection:
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise [throwing Satan out of heaven Rev.12:7-9]. There will be a time of distress [great tribulation] such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake [come to life by means of resurrection]: some to everlasting life [first resurrection], others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
So, in spite of Satan’s attempts through Antichrist to destroy God’s people, both Israel and Christians, he fails and comes to his end when Christ destroys him as also shown in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 19:20b.
Concerning the statement about the Antichrist in Daniel 11:21, namely, that “the despicable person will arise, on whom the honour of kingship has not been conferred in a time of peace [and he] seizes the kingdom by intrigue” there are a number of parallels found in chapters 7, 8, and 9 of Daniel. These help in the interpretation of the various details in these chapters and are:
The ‘little horn’
The ‘little horn’ that came up among [the ten horns] and uproots three horns (7:8).
The ‘little (small) horn’ that comes out of the four conspicuous horns and grows great toward the South, the East and the Beautiful land (8:9).
Royalty
A king will arise skilled in intrigue (8:23).
“The prince who is to come” makes a firm covenant (9:26, 27).
This king/prince should be taken as a reference to the same person as ‘the little horn’ in the prophecies contained in 7:8 and 8:9. Indeed, the titles “king” and “prince” in the other main prophecies are also shown to refer to the same evil person because of the parallel details given for them both.
The Sacrilege Which Causes Desolation
The king of the North’s armies will desecrate the sanctuary” (11: 31a)
The prince is the one who makes desolate (9:27).
Stops the Sacrifice
The king of the North does away with sacrifice…sets up the desolating sacrilege (11:31b).
The horn removes the regular sacrifice … sanctuary down (8:11).
He will put a stop to sacrifice etc and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate (9:27).
From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the sacrilege which causes desolation lasts 1,290 days (12:11).
The Great Tribulation
The insightful will fall by the sword, flame and captivity (11:33).
The little horn wars with God’s people for 3½ times (7:21, 25).
Little horn causes stars to fall...destroys God’s people (8:10, 24).
For 3½ times; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed (12:7).
Antichrist’s Arrogance
The king of the North magnifies himself above every god (11:36).
The horn has eyes like a man and a mouth uttering great boasts (7:8, 20).
The horn magnified itself to be equal to the Commander of the host (8:11).
The king will magnify himself and destroy many while they are at ease and oppose the Prince of princes (8:25).
Antichrist’s End
He [king of the North] will come to his end with no one to help (11:45).
The Kingdom will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms. (2:44).
The Beast...slain and its body was destroyed and given to the fire (7:11).
Little Horn’s “dominion taken away and destroyed forever” (7:26).
He [the king] will be broken (8:25).
His end will come with a flood (judgment) (9:26).
A complete destruction is poured out on the one who makes desolate. (9:27).
Just as we today would have many questions if we should ever happen to receive a vision, so too with Daniel:
Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, [at the end of the Great tribulation] all these things will be completed.” I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”’ (Dan.12:5-13 NIV)
So, the answer to the question “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” is 1,290 days which begin when Antichrist sets up “the sacrilege which causes desolation.” Then there will be a further 45 days to a particular “blessing.”
NOTE: Additional timing information was already given in Daniel 8:13, 14: “Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?" 14And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state”’ (ESV). The explanation of the 2,300 “evenings and mornings” is given in Chapter 17.
The Satanically Controlled Antichrist
Daniel 11:31 to 12:13
Antichrist Begins Persecuting God’s People
Daniel 11:31 to 12:13
Antichrist Begins Persecuting God’s People
At this stage described in Daniel 11:31 Antichrist is fully control-led by Satan so that he acts as Satan’s agent. The events from verse 32 to verse 45 are the climax of Antichrist’s rule and occur from the mid-point (Dan. 9:26) of the 70th ‘seven.’ i.e., up to the end of the last period of ‘seven’ years:
“His [Antichrist’s] army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration [for 1290 days]. He will flatter and win over those [apostate majority of Jews] who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him” (Dan. 11:31-32 NLT).
PERSECUTION
“Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed. During these persecutions [the great tribulation], little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere. 35 And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come” (Dan. 11:33-35 NLT).
Characteristics of the Final Antichrist
In this passage we see Antichrist’s evil satanic nature described.
“Then the king will do whatever he wants. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods [now turns against Christians]. He will be successful until the time of wrath [his wrath against God’s people] is completed, because what has been decreed will be accomplished. 37 He will not show regard for the gods of his fathers, [he suppresses all other religions] the god longed for by women [female worship of Tammuz and related deities//Rev.13:11, 18], or for any other god, because he will magnify himself above all. 38Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses [the personification of war i.e., militarism]—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39 He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god [military power]. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward” (Dan. 11:36-40 CSB).
This parallels the description of Antichrist in Daniel 8:24 showing the terrible destruction he will cause to those who worship the True God. Nevertheless, his end is about to come according to the last part of Daniel 11. Furthermore, Antichrist’s arrogance is seen here and which the Apostle Paul commented on in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
The Closing Stages of Antichrist’s Career
This section concerns Antichrist’s final battle with the King of the South in which he is successful and gains riches from Egypt. However, certain reports cause Antichrist to turn against Israel, but he is killed at this point:
“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. 41 He will also invade [in the Jehoshaphat Campaign/Valley of decision in Joel 3] the Beautiful Land [Israel]. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand [possibly they are rescued because that is the general area where the ‘woman’ flees to]. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him [Media destroying the City of Babylon (Isa. 13:17; Jer. 51:11, 28) “kings from the East (Rev. 9:13-16; 16:12)], and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas [the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea] at the beautiful holy mountain [Zion]. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him” (Dan. 11:40-45 NIV).
Neither General Titus nor Tiberius Caesar died in Palestine or at that time. This applies specifically to the future death of the Satan controlled final Antichrist.
The Great Tribulation is followed
by the Resurrection
Daniel 12:1-4 summarizes the major events to come, including the resurrection:
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise [throwing Satan out of heaven Rev.12:7-9]. There will be a time of distress [great tribulation] such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake [come to life by means of resurrection]: some to everlasting life [first resurrection], others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
So, in spite of Satan’s attempts through Antichrist to destroy God’s people, both Israel and Christians, he fails and comes to his end when Christ destroys him as also shown in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 19:20b.
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The Parallels in Daniel’s Prophecies
23
The Parallels in Daniel’s Prophecies
Concerning the statement about the Antichrist in Daniel 11:21, namely, that “the despicable person will arise, on whom the honour of kingship has not been conferred in a time of peace [and he] seizes the kingdom by intrigue” there are a number of parallels found in chapters 7, 8, and 9 of Daniel. These help in the interpretation of the various details in these chapters and are:
The ‘little horn’
The ‘little horn’ that came up among [the ten horns] and uproots three horns (7:8).
The ‘little (small) horn’ that comes out of the four conspicuous horns and grows great toward the South, the East and the Beautiful land (8:9).
Royalty
A king will arise skilled in intrigue (8:23).
“The prince who is to come” makes a firm covenant (9:26, 27).
This king/prince should be taken as a reference to the same person as ‘the little horn’ in the prophecies contained in 7:8 and 8:9. Indeed, the titles “king” and “prince” in the other main prophecies are also shown to refer to the same evil person because of the parallel details given for them both.
The Sacrilege Which Causes Desolation
The king of the North’s armies will desecrate the sanctuary” (11: 31a)
The prince is the one who makes desolate (9:27).
Stops the Sacrifice
The king of the North does away with sacrifice…sets up the desolating sacrilege (11:31b).
The horn removes the regular sacrifice … sanctuary down (8:11).
He will put a stop to sacrifice etc and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate (9:27).
From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the sacrilege which causes desolation lasts 1,290 days (12:11).
The Great Tribulation
The insightful will fall by the sword, flame and captivity (11:33).
The little horn wars with God’s people for 3½ times (7:21, 25).
Little horn causes stars to fall...destroys God’s people (8:10, 24).
For 3½ times; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed (12:7).
Antichrist’s Arrogance
The king of the North magnifies himself above every god (11:36).
The horn has eyes like a man and a mouth uttering great boasts (7:8, 20).
The horn magnified itself to be equal to the Commander of the host (8:11).
The king will magnify himself and destroy many while they are at ease and oppose the Prince of princes (8:25).
Antichrist’s End
He [king of the North] will come to his end with no one to help (11:45).
The Kingdom will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms. (2:44).
The Beast...slain and its body was destroyed and given to the fire (7:11).
Little Horn’s “dominion taken away and destroyed forever” (7:26).
He [the king] will be broken (8:25).
His end will come with a flood (judgment) (9:26).
A complete destruction is poured out on the one who makes desolate. (9:27).
Answering Questions on the Fifth Vision
Just as we today would have many questions if we should ever happen to receive a vision, so too with Daniel:
Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, [at the end of the Great tribulation] all these things will be completed.” I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”’ (Dan.12:5-13 NIV)
So, the answer to the question “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” is 1,290 days which begin when Antichrist sets up “the sacrilege which causes desolation.” Then there will be a further 45 days to a particular “blessing.”
NOTE: Additional timing information was already given in Daniel 8:13, 14: “Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?" 14And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state”’ (ESV). The explanation of the 2,300 “evenings and mornings” is given in Chapter 17.
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