Daniel 11

Daniel 11:20-45

Guzik adds that…Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Seleucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Da 10:14-note), and Da 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a "last days Antiochus Epiphanes." We know that everything about this prophecy was not fulfilled during the career of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus specifically said the real abomination of desolation was still in the future (Matthew 24:15). (Daniel 11 Commentary) Daniel Akin has a good summary - First, the antichrist is a self-willed man. He “will do whatever he wants.” He is egomaniacal. Second, “he will exalt and magnify himself above every god.” He sees himself as a divine man. Third, “he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.” He is a gross blasphemer. Fourth, “he will be successful until the time of wrath [God’s judgment] is completed” (ESV, “accomplished”). This is a signed and settled reality “because what has been decreed [by God] will be accomplished.” (BORROW Exalting Jesus in Daniel page 154) John Whitcomb identifies Daniel 11:36 as descriptive of future events for the following reasons… The fact that these events will occur during the future Great Tribulation (Ed comment: This period is the last 3.5 years and it difficult to identify when in the Da 11:36 through 45 that time period is being described. Certainly the last few verses are clearly in the last 3.5 years but it is otherwise difficult to be dogmatic) is suggested by (1) the chronological reference of Da 12:1-note ("now at that time"), which places the events of Da 11:36-45 into the time of final resurrection and judgment (Da 12:2-note); (2) the transitional events of Da 11:35-36, which continue "until the end time"; (3) the broad scope of Da 10:14-note, which would fail if its only possible fulfillment, namely, Da 11:36-12:3, is not eschatological; and (4) what we know of the career of Antiochus Epiphanes, which simply does not fit the wording of Da 11:36-12:1.20 (Whitcomb, J. Daniel Everyman's Bible Commentary) Dr Donald Campbell offers the following points to support the premise that Daniel 11:36 begins a section which refers to unfilled future events… Though not all have agreed, the evidence seems conclusive that the spotlight now falls on an evil ruler of the last days-Antichrist. (1) According to the angel's words, the scope of this prophecy was to include the "latter days" (Da 10:14-note). (2) In the opening verses of this section (Da 11:36, 37, 38, 39), introductory statements are made as if this person is being introduced in this context for the first time. This corresponds with the fact that the story of Antiochus in relation to the Jews was brought to completion (Da 11:35). (3) The prophecies (through Da 11:35) find fulfillment in history, but there is no historical correspondence with what now follows. (4) This king is actually distinguished from the king of the north (Da 11:40-note). Therefore, he cannot be Antiochus Epiphanes. (5) The entire section (Da 11:36-45) corresponds remarkably with other recognized prophecies of the final Antichrist (Da 7:24, 25, 26, 27; 8:23, 24, 25-note; Da 9:26-note, Da 9:27-note; 2Th 2:3, 4; Rev 13, 17). (6) In connection with this person's rule there will occur the time of Great Tribulation (Da 12:1 "great distress"). (BORROW Daniel God's Man in a Secular Society - aka "Daniel: Decoder of Dreams".) The Wycliffe Bible Commentary adds that another reason this section refers to a future prophecy is because… Da 11:36 mentions a king whose period is “the indignation,” a technical term drawn from Israel’s prophetic literature, usually having reference to eschatological events (e.g., Isa 26:20). (Ed comment: See more discussion on the indignation below) (Pfeiffer, C F: Wycliffe Bible Commentary. 1981. Moody) Jerome (original written in 417AD) wrote that… The Jews believed that this passage has reference to the Antichrist alleging that after the small help of Julian a king is going to rise up who shall do according to his will and shall lift himself up against all that is called god, and shall speak arrogant words against the God of gods (Jerome's Commentary on Daniel. Translated by Gleason L. Archer, Jr. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Book House, 1958. Page 136) Gleason Archer writes that "This present section (Da 11:36, 37, 38, 39) contains some features that hardly apply to Antiochus IV, though most of the details could apply to him as well as to his latter-day antitype, “the beast.” Both liberal and conservative scholars agree that all of chapter 11 up to this point contains strikingly accurate predictions of the whole sweep of events from the reign of Cyrus (during which Daniel brought his career to a close Da 1:21-note) to the unsuccessful effort of Antiochus Epiphanes to stamp out the Jewish faith. But the two schools of thought radically differ in the explanation for this phenomenon. Evangelicals find this pattern of prediction and fulfillment compelling evidence of the divine inspiration and authority of the Hebrew Scriptures, since only God could possibly foreknow the future and see to it that his announced plan would be precisely fulfilled. (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) Remember that if God has perfectly fulfilled 135 prophecies from Daniel 11:1-35, the sure word of prophecy in these following verses Daniel 11:36 through Daniel 12:3 will be fulfilled just as perfectly! The king - Note that in contrast to the pattern in this chapter, this one is identified only as "the king" without qualifying him as from the North or the South (cf every previous mention of the king - Da 11:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 25). The only previous use of king with geographic designation is in Da 11:3 where king refers to Alexander the Great who "will rule with great authority and do as he pleases" (Da 11:3-note) even as will the Antichrist. See also the discussion on Da 11:40. And so the king is a reference to the infamous Antichrist, the same individual that Daniel 9:26-note referred to as the "prince who is to come" who originates from the people who destroyed Jerusalem (the Romans). Daniel 7 also implies that the Antichrist will be a king… As for the ten horns (on the "dreadful and terrifying beast", the Roman Empire), out of this kingdom ten kings will arise (This fact projects this prophecy into the future as there has yet to be a "Ten King/Kingdom Stage" of the Roman Empire, implying that it will be revived and will have a 10 King stage); and another (Another what? Implication is "another king", an 11th if you will) will arise after them (The 11th king arises after the 10 kings come into existence and the fact that he arises from them indicates they are contemporaneous not sequential kingdoms), and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. (Da 7:24-note) Will do as he pleases - Self willed ("Strong willed"). This self oriented focus is common to other godless rulers - Alexander the Great (Da 8:4-note, Da 11:3-note), Antiochus III "the Great" (this is not Epiphanes) (Da 11:16-note) Will exalt himself above every god - This speaks of his self-deification (if he is above every god, the clear implication is that he considers himself to be a god! cf the root of all human sin in Ge 3:5). Guzik rightly observes that this description is not perfectly fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes and thus is additional support that the description of the the king which begins in Da 11:36 points to another king, one yet future…"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 himself. This will be far more precisely fulfilled in the Antichrist, who sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2Th 2:4+, cf Rev 13:15, 16+)." (Daniel 11 Commentary) Paul describes the Antichrist's "god complex" in the context of explaining to the saints at Thessalonica that they are not in the terrifying Day of the Lord instructing them to… Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness (Remember - In Scripture one's name often speaks of one's character. What is the character of this man?) is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes (present tense = not just once or twice but as his continual practice, his lifestyle of anti-god attitude and actions) and exalts (present tense = continually) himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God (The Temple was destroyed in 70AD, thus this verse underscores the fact that the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt), displaying (present tense = continually; Greek = apodeiknumi = means to cause something to be known as genuine, in this case that he is the "real deal", that he really is god! Remember is a master deceiver) himself as being God. (2 Thes 2:3,4+ ) Will speak monstrous things against the God of gods - He blasphemes the true and living God. Daniel offered a similar description of the "Little Horn" (aka, the "King" of Da 11:36) in chapter 7… And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (for this same time phrase see Da 12:7+, cf Rev 12:6-note, Rev 12:14-note) (Da 7:25-note) John adds … And there was given to him (Antichrist = The King = The Little Horn = The Beast of Revelation 13) a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. (Rev 13:5-note, Rev 13:6-note) Will prosper (cf "prosper" in Da 8:12-note referring to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a foreshadowing of the Antichrist) - He will be allowed to have power. Where did he get his power and/or authority to prosper? Ultimately the sovereign God allowed him to prosper, but in Revelation 13 John teaches that… the dragon (Satan - see Rev 12:9-note for several of his many names) gave him his power and his throne and great authority. (Rev 13:2-note) Even the usually non-futuristic older commentary by Matthew