DANIEL SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 11.40
Gleanings
from the Book of Daniel:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
DANIEL
Chapter
Eleven
Daniel’s Final Vision
The Prophecy
The Antichrist:
His Fall
Introduction
At this juncture in the future,
Daniel’s Seventieth Week (7 years) has begun and the Antichrist will become the
world dictator. During the first three and one-half years, he will allow Israel
to enjoy many privileges under a world peace treaty.
After three and one-half years (42,
months, 1260 days), a great military battle, in fact, war, will characterize
the eschatological period appointed by God - the time of the end, before the appearance of Messiah.
Ezekiel chapters 38 through 39 talk
about an individual named Gog, primarily from the land of Magog in the north, i.e., of
Israel. As stated in Ezekiel, the north rendered
in Hebrew refers to the far north. Therefore, Geographically Russia is the only
nation fitting this description.
(Verse 40)
And at the time of the end shall the king of
the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a
whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall
enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
The
Time of the End
The
phrase, the time of the end, is referencing the end of the Seventieth Week of Daniel, also known as the consummation of the
age or the end of the world
Matthew 24:3 - And as He sat upon
the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these
things be? and what shall be the
sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The
King of the South
During
the second and third centuries, the Ptolemies were noted as kings of the South,
namely Egypt. Here, the south of the Holy Land involves much more than just
Egypt. It has been assumed an African army, including Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia,
as mentioned in verse 43, will go to battle and gain control of the Middle
East.
The
King of the North
Likewise,
during the second and third centuries Syrian kings, the Seleucidae founded by
Seleucus I Nicator, ruled as the kings of the North. However, in this passage,
Russia and some relative territories comprise the North, i.e., of Israel.
Ezekiel
38 describes a time of peace for the Holy Land. And, at mid-point in the
Tribulation Period, Russia’s military force will break the peace treaty, attack
Israel, and place them under intense persecution [read Ezekiel 38].
The
Identity of Him
The
word him goes back to verse 36 where
it says, the king shall do according to
his will. This king already has been identified as the Antichrist of the time of the end. Recall:
Daniel 11.36 - But in his [the Antichrist] estate shall he
honour the God of forces: and a god whom his
fathers knew not shall he honour with gold,
and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
[They} shall come against him [the Antichrist] like a
whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships
Both,
the king(s) of the South and the king of the North will come against the
Antichrist like a whirlwind suddenly,
impetuously, and with great rapidity. They will attack the Antichrist with the
modern counterpart of chariots and horsemen. Ships will be replaced by technological and nuclearized battleships
far more advanced than the world has today.
And he
[the Antichrist] shall enter into the countries and shall
overflow and pass over
Ezekiel 39 also notates
that God will give victory to the Antichrist. He will enter into their countries overspread their lands and pass through
like a flood.
(Verse 41)
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and
many countries shall be
overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the
chief of the children of Ammon.
Forward
March
Next,
Antichrist will enter into the land of
ornament, the Hebrew expression for the
glorious land (see Daniel 11:16). And, except the former territories of Edom,
Moab, and the chief of the children (their first fruits) - the leaders of the
Ammonites, many countries shall be
invaded and overthrown.
[Note:
Ammon was the unlawful son of Lot by his younger ````daughter (see Genesis
19:34-38)].
They
may be allies of the Antichrist, but most likely, Antichrist does not see any
strategic value in their dry Southwestern desert territories. Interestingly,
they embrace the Arabs of the modern day.
(Verse 42)
He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the
countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
A Victorious Campaign
The Antichrist will then
extend his power over these adjacent countries he conquered, particularly Egypt,
which will also fall under his authority.
(Verse 43)
But he shall have power over the treasures of
gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans
and the Ethiopians shall be at
his steps.
Spoils of War
This account parallels
his prototype, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Antichrist will likewise have the plundered
wealth of Egypt at his disposal:
1. The treasures of gold
2. The treasures of
silver
3. The treasures of
precious or desirable things. These may incorporate:
a. Rich lands
b. Public buildings
c. Monuments
d. Ancient artifacts
e. Works of art
f. Manuscripts
And the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps
The word for steps in
Hebrew is derived from a root word meaning to step upon, That is to say, the
nations of Libya and Ethiopia will be under his submission. These nations are
identified as allied mercenaries of Egypt (see Ezekiel 30:5). And, with them,
the Antichrist will have control over Africa and the wealth of the world.
(Verse 44)
But tidings out of the east and out of the
north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to
destroy, and utterly to make away many.
Military
Force
While
in Egypt, the Antichrist will receive disturbing reports from the East and the North.
The East indicates the Orient, namely
China, India, and surrounding nations, and Russia to the North, as previously established. Their military buildup will consist
of 200 million men (cf. Revelation 9:16).
Noteworthy,
Antiochus IV Epiphanes once waged an expedition against Arsaces, leader of the
Parthians in the East, and Artaxias, king of Armenia to the North (cf. 1 Maccabees
3:10, 37). Upon his return home, he died in 164 B.C.
In
his great fury, the Antichrist sets
forth to destroy and a great multitude of the invaders will be slain, i.e., eliminated
or annihilated.
(Verse 45)
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his
palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his
end, and none shall help him.
A Global Leader
After the Antichrist
returns to Palestine he will establish his world-wide headquarters for world
conquest.
[The Antichrist] shall plant the
tabernacles of his palace
Palatial tents will be
established for the base of his operations. They will be used to accommodate
his entourage. In antiquity, it included some or all:
1. Residents of a king’s
court
2. Princes, satraps, or
Heads of State
3. Military officials and
their wives
4. Concubines
His Command Post
The word for palace also used in this text is a foreign
word, most likely Persian, designating a regal pavilion or a tent.
His
Location
He shall plant [them] between the seas in the
glorious holy mountain
Two distinct locations
of the Antichrist’s international headquarters are prophetically and
specifically given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel. It will be situated thusly:
1. Between the seas
There have been some
minor differences as to which seas are being referred to here, but most agree it
is citing the Mediterranean Sea to the West and the Dead Sea, or Sea of Sodom
as sometimes called, to the East.
2. In the glorious Holy
Mountain
The glorious Holy Mountain has been specified as Mount Moriah, further
known as Mount Zion, upon which the Temple rests in Jerusalem. It is here where
the Antichrist will proclaim himself to be god and pose as the Messiah.
Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall
help him
His Doom
The Antichrist’s final
demise will be the time of the end, i.e., the
time of Jacob’s trouble, the end of Tribulation (cf. Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew
24:21). It will come upon him quickly at the coming of Jesus Christ when
Antichrist, the False Prophet, and his loyal followers are finally cast into
the burning Lake of Fire (cf. Revelation 19:11-21). Hence, no one will be able
to help him.
Post Script
As a reflection for
today, the Psalmist pleads for God’s servants to refute any false idols or
gods:
Psalm 115:10-12 - O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the
LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield. The LORD hath been
mindful of us: He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.
At the end of the Age, ultimately there will be severe persecution of the
Jews. Learn how God deals with Israel in the ensuing studies of Chapter 12.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the modern name for Magog?
2. In the South, what countries are
involved?
3. What armies war against the Antichrist?
4. What are some of the treasures in view?
5. How large is the military from the East
and North combined?
6. What does the term tabernacle of his palace signify?
7. Where will the Antichrist's command
post be located?
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