143 lines
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143 lines
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<h2><a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'all');">Dan 11</a> - Antiochus and Antichrist Revisited</h2>
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<p><i>Introduction</i></p>
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<p class="c1">1. This chapter contains one of the most specifically fulfilled prophecies of the Bible, predicting history over some 375 years, and to the end, with amazing accuracy.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. The chapter is so specific, that many critics who deny supernatural revelation, have insisted that it is <i>history</i>, written after the fact, fraudulently claiming to be prophecy.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. Because of the detail of the prophecy, we will be forced to frequently summarize; and the fulfillment of the prophecy will be observed as it is described.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. Commentator Joyce Baldwin explains the mindset of late-daters:</p>
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<p class="c4">a. "Though all of this is presented as if it were future, the considered opinion of most scholars is that the writer was using an accepted literary form, which would have deceived no-one. The intention would be to show that the course of history was under God's direction, and so achieving His purposes...When the history becomes prophecy the transition can be detected, because events proved him wrong."</p>
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<p class="c4">b. Such a view <i>must</i> undermine confidence in the entire book. If the late dating theory is correct, then "the so-called revelation was in fact nothing of the sort...it follows that the preparation for the vision in chapter 10 was also a fiction put in as local colour for the sake of effect."</p>
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<p>A. The division of the Greek Empire.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,2);">2</a>) Four future kings.</p>
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<p class="c2">And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than <i>them </i>all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Three more kings will arise in Persia</span></b>: Simply, the angel tells Daniel that there will be three more kings <b><span class="c3">in Persia</span></b> until a fourth arises. The <b><span class="c3">fourth</span></b> king will be strong, rich, and oppose <b><span class="c3">the realm of Greece</span></b>. This strong, rich <b><span class="c3">fourth</span></b> king was fulfilled in the Persian King Xerxes.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. In fulfillment, there were actually four kings from the time Daniel speaks of until Xerxes, the one who did <b><span class="c3">stir up all against the realm of Greece</span></b>. Either the angel omitted the current king (Cyrus), looking only to the future or he ignored King Smerdis of Persia (522-21 <span class="c6">b.c.</span>) because he ruled less than one year and was an imposter to the throne.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. These visions and insights regarding the future of the Persian and Greek Empires were relevant because at some time, each empire attempted to wipe out the people of God.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The Persian Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes, through the plot of Haman (as shown in the Book of Esther).</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. The Greek Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people during the reign of Antiochus IV, when he attempted to kill every Jew who did not renounce their commitment to God and embrace Greek culture.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'3-4');">3-4</a>) The rise of a mighty king.</p>
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<p class="c2">Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Then a mighty king shall arise</span></b>: The angel told Daniel of a mighty king with a <b><span class="c3">great dominion</span></b> - but his kingdom would not endure, and it would be divided after the death of the <b><span class="c3">mighty king</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will</span></b>: This is fulfilled in Alexander the Great, who certainly was <b><span class="c3">a mighty king</span></b>. Alexander died at 32 years of age of a fever after a drunken party in Babylon.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Not among his posterity</span></b>: Afterward Alexander's death, none of his descendants succeeded him. It wasn't for lack of trying. Alexander did leave three possible heirs: a half brother named Philip, who was mentally deficient; a son who was born after Alexander died; and an illegitimate son named Hercules. The half-brother and the posthumous son were first designated co-monarchs, each with a regent. But fighting amongst the regents eventually resulted in the murder of all possible heirs.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">Divided towards the four winds of heaven</span></b>: After the death of all Alexander's possible heirs, four generals controlled the Greek Empire, but none of them <b><span class="c3">according to his</span></b> (Alexander's) <b><span class="c3">dominion</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The rest of this prophecy focuses on two of the four inheritors of Alexander's realm, and the dynasties they established. Only two are focused on because they constantly fought over the Promised Land, because it sat between their centers of power.</p>
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<p>B. The kings of the North and the kings of the South.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,5);">5</a>) The strength of the king of the South.</p>
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<p class="c2">Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as <i>one </i>of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion <i>shall be </i>a great dominion.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">The king of the South shall become strong</span></b>: One of the four inheritors of the empire of the <i>mighty king</i> will become stronger and greater than the others.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled in Ptolemy I of Egypt, who exerted his control over the Holy Land. Soon after the division of Alexander's Empire, the Ptolemies dominated this region.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Ptolemy I had a prince named Seleucus, who rose to power and took dominion over the region of Syria. He became more powerful than his former Egyptian ruler. The Seleucids are identified with the <i>Kings of the North</i>, and the Ptolemies were the <i>Kings of the South</i>.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. The dynasties of the Seleucids and the Ptolemies fought for some 130 years. The stronger of the two always held dominion over the Holy Land.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,6);">6</a>) A marriage between the families of the kings of the North and the kings of the South.</p>
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<p class="c2">And at the end of <i>some </i>years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her authority, and neither he nor his authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in <i>those </i>times.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">They shall join forces</span></b>: Joined by a marriage, the kings of the North and South will be allies for a while, but the arrangement will not last.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled in the marriage between Antiochus II (of the Seleucids) and Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy II). There was peace for a time because of this marriage, but it was upset when Ptolemy II died.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">Shall not retain the power of her authority</span></b>: Once Ptolemy II died, Antiochus II put away Berenice and took back his former wife, Laodice.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. <b><span class="c3">Neither he nor his authority shall stand</span></b>: Laodice didn't trust her husband Antiochus II; so she had him poisoned.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. <b><span class="c3">She shall be given up, with those who brought her</span></b>: After the murder of Antiochus II, Laodice had Berenice, her attendants, and an infant son of Antiochus II and Berenice killed.</p>
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<p class="c5">iv. After this reign of terror, Laodice set her son (Selecus II) on the throne of the Syrian dominion.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'7-9');">7-9</a>) From the South, an army defeats the kingdom of the North.</p>
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<p class="c2">But from a branch of her roots <i>one </i>shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail. And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes <i>and </i>their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue <i>more </i>years than the king of the North. Also <i>the king of the North </i>shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Who shall come with an army</span></b>: The angel told Daniel that a <b><span class="c3">branch of her roots</span></b> will come from the South and <b><span class="c3">prevail</span></b> over the kings of the North.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled in the person of Ptolemy III. He was the sister of Berenice (the <b><span class="c3">branch of her roots</span></b>). Avenging the murder of his sister, Ptolemy III invaded Syria and humbled Selecus II.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">He shall continue more years than the king of the North</span></b>: Ptolemy III lived four years past Selecus II.</p>
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<p class="c1">4. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,10);">10</a>) The sons of the king of the North and their victory.</p>
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<p class="c2">However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and <i>one </i>shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">His sons shall stir up strife</span></b>: The sons of the kings of the North will continue the battle. One of the sons will conquer the Holy Land (<b><span class="c3">overwhelm and pass through</span></b>) which stood as a buffer between the kings of the South and the kings of the North.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled in Seleucus III and Antiochus III, the two sons of Seleucus II. Both were successful generals, but Seleucus III ruled only a short time and was succeeded by his brother.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. In a furious battle, Antiochus III took back the Holy Land from the dominion of the Ptolemies.</p>
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<p class="c1">5. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'11-12');">11-12</a>) The king of the South gains an upper hand over the king of the North.</p>
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<p class="c2">And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his <i>enemy</i>. When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">The king of the South shall be moved with rage</span></b>: The angel tells Daniel that the king of the South will attack and meet a <b><span class="c3">great multitude</span></b> of soldiers from the king of the North. The king of the North will lose in battle and his <b><span class="c3">multitude</span></b> will be defeated.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled when Antiochus III was defeated at the battle of Raphia. Because of that loss he was forced to give back dominion over the Holy Land to Ptolemy IV.</p>
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<p class="c1">6. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'13-16');">13-16</a>) The king of the North and his occupation of the <b><span class="c3">Glorious Land</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c2">For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment. Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall. So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not withstand <i>him. </i>Even his choice troops <i>shall have </i>no strength to resist. But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">The king of the North...shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army</span></b>: The angel told Daniel that the northern dynasty would answer back and defeat the king of the South in an extended siege. This victory will give the king of the North dominion over <b><span class="c3">the Glorious Land</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "The land of ornaments - that is, Judea, which, lying betwixt these two potent princes, was perpetually afflicted, as corn is ground asunder lying betwixt two heavy millstones." (Trapp)</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled when Antiochus III invaded Egypt again, gaining final control over the armies of Ptolemy V and over the Holy Land.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">Many shall rise up against the king of the South</span></b>: Jews living in the Holy Land helped Antiochus III defeat the <b><span class="c3">king of the South</span></b>. This was because the Jewish people resented the rule of the Egyptian Ptolemies (<b><span class="c3">violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision</span></b>).</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. <b><span class="c3">He who comes against him shall do according to his own will...with destruction in his power</span></b>: The Jewish people of <b><span class="c3">the Glorious Land</span></b> initially welcomed Antiochus III as a liberator from Egyptian rule. Their decision to support Antiochus III proved unwise when he turned <b><span class="c3">destruction</span></b> upon the <b><span class="c3">Glorious Land</span></b> and its people.</p>
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<p class="c1">7. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,17);">17</a>) The king of the South will give his daughter to the king of the North.</p>
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<p class="c2">He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand <i>with him, </i>or be for him.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">He shall also set his face</span></b>: The king of the North who ruled over the Holy Land would also attempt to dominate and destroy the king of the South. He would make one attempt by giving the king of the South <b><span class="c3">the daughter of women to destroy</span></b>, but this plot would not succeed.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled when Antiochus III gave his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V of Egypt. He did this hoping to gain permanent influence and eventually control in Egypt. To the great disappointment of Antiochus III, the plan did not succeed because Cleopatra wasn't faithful to her Egyptian husband at all.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. This was not the Cleopatra most famous from ancient history, but this was the ancestor of the more famous Cleopatra. The more famous Egyptian woman lived some 100 years after the time of this Cleopatra.</p>
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<p class="c1">8. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'18-19');">18-19</a>) The king of the North is stopped and stumbles.</p>
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<p class="c2">After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him. Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">He shall turn back on him</span></b>: After the disappointing effort through the daughter, the king of the North will turn his efforts towards <b><span class="c3">the coastlands</span></b> - until he is stopped by one formerly under <b><span class="c3">reproach</span></b>, until <b><span class="c3">he shall stumble and fall, and not be found</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled when <span>Antiochus III turned his attention towards the areas of Asia Minor and Greece. He was helped by Hannibal, the famous general from Carthage. But a Roman General, Lucius Cornelius Scipio, defeated Antiochus in Greece. Antiochus planned to humiliate Greece but was humiliated instead. He returned to his former regions, having lost all that he gained and died shortly after.</span></p>
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<p class="c5">i. After this defeat Antiochus III had an inglorious end. Needing money badly for his treasury, he resorted to pillaging a Babylonian temple and was killed by enraged local citizens.</p>
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<p class="c1">9. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,20);">20</a>) The brief reign of the succeeding king of the North.</p>
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<p class="c2">There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes <i>on </i>the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">There shall arise in his place</span></b>: After the inglorious end of the king of the North, his successor will raise taxes and meet a soon end.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled in the brief reign of Seleucus III, the eldest son of Antiochus III. He sought to tax his dominion (including the <b><span class="c3">glorious kingdom</span></b>, the Holy Land) to increase revenues. His plan to pillage the Jerusalem temple was set aside when his ambassador had an angelic vision of warning.</p>
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<p class="c5"><span>i. <b><span class="c3">Within a few days he shall be destroyed</span></b></span>: <span>Seleucus III was assassinated, probably by his brother Antiochus IV.</span></p>
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<p>C. Antiochus IV, known as Antiochus Epiphanes: <i>A Vile Person</i>.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,21);">21</a>) The <b><span class="c3">vile person</span></b> comes to power.</p>
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<p class="c2">And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">In his place shall arise a vile person</span></b>: The angel told Daniel that after the brief reign of the former king of the North, the next king would be <b><span class="c3">a vile person</span></b>. He would not be recognized as <b><span class="c3">royalty</span></b>, but shall take power by <b><span class="c3">intrigue</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled in the successor of <span>Seleucis III, who was named </span>Antiochus IV. He did not come to the throne legitimately because it was strongly suspected that he murdered his older brother, the previous king. The other potential heir (the son of Seleucus III) was imprisoned in Rome.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">He shall come in peaceably</span></b>: Apart from the murder of his older brother, Antiochus IV didn't use terror to gain power. He used flattery, smooth promises and <b><span class="c3">intrigue</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. "He <i>flattered Eumenes</i>, king of Pergamus, and <i>Attalus</i> his brother, and got their assistance. He <i>flattered</i> the Romans, and sent ambassadors to court their favour, and pay them the arrears of the tribute. He <i>flattered</i> the Syrians, and gained their concurrence." (Clarke)</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. Antiochus IV took the title "Epiphanes," meaning "illustrious." Others derisively called him "Epimanes," meaning "madman."</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'22-27');">22-27</a>) The <b><span class="c3">vile person</span></b> fails to conquer the king of the South.</p>
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<p class="c2">With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. And after the league <i>is made </i>with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small <i>number of </i>people. He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do <i>what </i>his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but <i>only </i>for a time. He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. Both these kings' hearts <i>shall be </i>bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end <i>will </i>still <i>be </i>at the appointed time.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">He shall act deceitfully</span></b>: The angel tells Daniel that the new king of the North (the <i>vile person</i> of <a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,21);">Dan 11:21</a>) will attempt a deceitful covenant with the king of the South. This will fail, and there will be a great battle that will not change the balance of power.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes carried on the feud between the dynasties but pretended friendship and alliance to catch them off guard. Despite massive efforts and epic battles, Antiochus Epiphanes did <b><span class="c3">not stand</span></b>, and <b><span class="c3">his army</span></b> was <b><span class="c3">swept away</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The defeat of Antiochus Epiphanes at his second campaign against Egypt was important, because Egypt beat Antiochus with the help of Rome. At the end of it all, Antiochus Epiphanes and his kingdom were under the dominion of Rome.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. In a famous battle, the Roman Navy defeated the navy of Antiochus Epiphanes. After the battle, a Roman general drew a circle around Antiochus in the dirt and demanded to know if he would surrender and pay tribute to Rome - and demanded to know before he stepped out of the circle. From then on, there was no doubt: Antiochus Epiphanes took his orders from Rome and was under Roman dominion.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. <b><span class="c3">Those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him</span></b>: This was fulfilled in the <span>treachery against Anitochus IV by his own counselors.</span></p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'28-35');">28-35</a>) The <b><span class="c3">vile person</span></b> turns on the Holy Land with violence.</p>
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<p class="c2">While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be <i>moved </i>against the holy covenant; so he shall do <i>damage </i>and return to his own land. At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do <i>damage. </i>So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily <i>sacrifices, </i>and place <i>there </i>the abomination of desolation. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out <i>great exploits</i>. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet <i>for many </i>days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And <i>some </i>of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify <i>them, </i>and make <i>them </i>white, <i>until </i>the time of the end; because <i>it is </i>still for the appointed time.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">His heart shall be moved against the holy covenant</span></b>: When the vile person returns to his land he will attack the land, people, and the temple of Israel. It will be a time of great courage and great treachery among the people of God.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. This was fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes returned from Egypt, bitter from defeat. He vented his anger against Jerusalem, which was already reeling because Antiochus sold the office of High Priest and persecuted the Jewish people to conform to Greek culture, forsaking the faith and traditions of their fathers.</p>
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<p class="c5"><span>i. </span><b><span class="c3">While returning to his land with great riches</span></b>: Failing in his invasion of Egypt, Antiochus Epiphanes returned home with <span>only great plunder to salve his wounded pride.</span></p>
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<p class="c5">ii. <b><span class="c3">Ships from Cyprus shall come against him</span></b>: This was <span>naval assistance from the Romans, who helped the Egyptians turn back Antiochus Epiphanes.</span></p>
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<p class="c5">iii. <b><span class="c3">They shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation</span></b>: Antiochus Epiphanes set up an image of Zeus at the temple altar. He demanded sacrifice to this image, and later desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig on it. "It was in truth an abomination, which brought a desolate condition to the Temple, for now no one would come to worship at all." (Wood)</p>
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<p class="c5">iv. <b><span class="c3">Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong</span></b>: When Antiochus Epiphanes turned on Jerusalem the Jewish people were divided. Some forsook their covenant with God and embraced Greek culture. Those who knew their God made a stand for righteousness in the face of incredible persecution.</p>
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<p class="c5">v. <b><span class="c3">For many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering</span></b>: In his attack on Jerusalem Antiochus IV is said to have killed 80,000 Jews, taken 40,000 more as prisoners, and sold another 40,000 as slaves. He also plundered the temple, robbing it of approximately $1 billion.</p>
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<p class="c5">vi. <b><span class="c3">Until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time</span></b>: This terror could only last for as long as God had appointed it and God had a purpose even for such persecution and blasphemy.</p>
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<p>D. The Antichrist: the "last days Antiochus Epiphanes."</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,36);">36</a>) "The willful king": a shift to a future fulfillment.</p>
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<p class="c2">Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god</span></b>: The angel explained to Daniel that this king will blaspheme God and exalt himself until <b><span class="c3">the wrath has been accomplished</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">what has been determined shall be done</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. Here we shift from what <i>was</i> fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what <i>will</i> be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to <i>the latter days</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',10,14);">Dan 10:14</a>), and <a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,36);">Dan 11:36</a> begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a "last days Antiochus Epiphanes."</p>
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<p class="c5">i. We know that everything about this prophecy was not fulfilled during the career of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus specifically said the <i>real</i> abomination of desolation was still in the future (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',24,15);">Mat 24:15</a>). The Apostle Paul paraphrased <a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,36);">Dan 11:36</a> in reference to the coming Antichrist: <i>Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.</i> (<a onclick="return mV('2Th',2,'3-4');">2Th 2:3-4</a>)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. Antiochus Epiphanes is important, but mostly as a historical preview of the Antichrist. This is why so much space is given to describing the career of one evil man - because he prefigures the ultimate evil man. Antiochus Epiphanes is the "trailer" released well before the Antichrist, who is like the "feature."</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god</span></b>: Antiochus Epiphanes certainly did this in the general sense that all sinners oppose God. Yet he remained loyal to the Greek religious tradition, which revered the entire Olympian pantheon. Antiochus Epiphanes put a statue of Zeus in the temple, not of <i>himself</i>. This will be far more precisely fulfilled in the Antichrist, who <i>sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God</i>. (<a onclick="return mV('2Th',2,4);">2Th 2:4</a>).</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">Shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished</span></b>: Antichrist will do much damage, but he is on a short chain and will only work into God's plan. God's purpose will be <b><span class="c3">accomplished</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'37-39');">37-39</a>) The character and authority of the "willful king."</p>
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<p class="c2">He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above <i>them </i>all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, <i>and </i>advance <i>its </i>glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women</span></b>: Based on this, some Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent, and perhaps will also be a homosexual. These things may not be popularly known about the man, but they may be true nonetheless.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. But many commentators believe that <b><span class="c3">the desire of women</span></b> refers to Jesus, in that all women desired the honor of bearing the Messiah and understanding "desire" as it is used in <a onclick="return mV('Hag',2,7);">Hag 2:7</a>. Seeing <b><span class="c3">the desire of women</span></b> as Jesus makes most sense in light of the flow of context.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">He shall honor a god of fortresses</span></b>: The Antichrist will take and hold power with military might and the shrewd use of great riches.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',11,'40-45');">40-45</a>) The final conflict.</p>
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<p class="c2">At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm <i>them, </i>and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many <i>countries </i>shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians <i>shall follow </i>at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">At the time of the end</span></b>: The angel described to Daniel a confederation of kings coming against this great leader, with a battle in and near the Holy Land.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. Prophetically speaking, a precise identification of peoples mentioned is difficult. The <b><span class="c3">king of the South</span></b> may be Egypt or represent the Arab community. The <b><span class="c3">king of the North</span></b> may be the Antichrist's domain (as the "new Antiochus Epiphanes") or it may be Russia.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The precise points may be cloudy, but the general idea is clear. The end will be marked by great conflict, culminating in the world's armies gathering at the Promised Land to do final battle.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him</span></b>: In the end there is no hope for the Antichrist or for any of his followers.</p>
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