DANIEL:
THRIVING IN A GODLESS CULTURE
XVI: God's Encouraging
Details Of Antichrist's Future Reign
(Daniel 11:35b-45)
I.
Introduction
A.
We
believers living in a spiritually decaying, godless culture, need to live
affirmatively in victory over sin.
B.
Daniel
as a young man was taken captive by godless Babylonians, and he lived through
Persia's conquest of Babylon, righteously and wisely serving the Lord in a
godless culture as a great example for us.
C.
One of
the great encouragements we can glean from Daniel's life experiences was the
revelation God gave him on His vast sovereignty over the Antichrist himself,
what Daniel 11:35b-45 provides (as follows):
II.
God's Encouraging Details Of Antichrist's Future
Reign, Daniel 11:35b-45.
A.
The Daniel
7-12 visions predict trials God's people would face after Daniel's era under
godless empires until the arrival of Christ’s Kingdom. Daniel 11:35b-45 predicted the details of the
Antichrist's reign, revealing God's great sovereignty over even the worst human
ruler in history.
B.
We view
that insight given by God's powerful angel to Daniel for our edification,
Daniel 11:35b-45:
1.
Though
the events of the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in Daniel 11:21-35a have all been
literally fulfilled, none of the events in Daniel 11:36-45 relate to Antiochus
IV, Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1370.
2.
To
explain, the Daniel 11:35b ESV phrase, "for it still awaits the appointed
time" marks a break with the era of Antiochus IV, so though he was like the Antichrist who will rise from the Roman Empire (Dan. 7:7-11), Antiochus
IV was not part of the end time era, and Daniel
11:36-45 deals with the actual Antichrist.
3.
We thus
view the details of the actual end time Antichrist in Daniel 11:36-45 for
insight and edification:
a. The Antichrist will not submit to anyone, but
he will do as he pleases, exalting and magnifying himself above every god and
saying "astonishing" (ESV) things against the God of gods, Daniel
11:36a.
b. "He will be successful until the time of
wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place," Daniel
11:36b NIV. Thus, God in His wrath will let the Antichrist rise and commit great
sin to punish Israel and the world for having rejected Christ as predicted in Zechariah
11:1-14, 15-17.
c. The Antichrist will not have regard for his
religious heritage nor for Israel's hope for the Messiah, here called the
"one desired by women" (NIV), but he will exalt himself over all, Daniel
11:37; Ibid., p. 1371.
d. In place of these gods, the Antichrist will
exalt a god of fortresses, the god of military might, honoring this god with
gifts of gold, silver, precious stones and costly gifts, Daniel 11:38 NIV;
Ibid.
e. He will use military might to expand his
dominion, greatly honoring those who support him, granting them power over many
people and distributing the land possibly at a reduced price, Daniel 11:39;
Ibid.
f. Near the end of his reign, namely, during the
second half of the 70th prophetic week of Daniel 9:27, the
Antichrist's interests will be attacked at Israel, the nation with whom he will
be in a seven-year league (Daniel 9:27a), and the attack will come from the
king of the South, from Egypt and its Arab allies in the Sinai area and the Persian
Gulf (Dan. 11:40; Ibid., p. 1371-1372) while the king of the North will storm
out against Israel with chariots, a cavalry and a great fleet of ships, Dan.
11:40a. The king of the North will not
be a Seleucid, but some as yet unidentified ruler from the northerly direction,
Ibid., p. 1372.
g. The Antichrist will react to this dual attack
on his ally Israel by moving his army from Europe (cf. Daniel 9:26-27 where he
is identified as the ruler of the Revived Roman Empire) to the Middle East,
invading many countries and overflowing them, Daniel 11:40b.
h. The Antichrist will then enter Israel, "the
Beautiful Land," while Edom, Moab and the leaders of Amon east of the
Jordan River will be delivered from his hand, Daniel 11:41. He will extend his rule over many nations, going
down into Egypt to gain control of its gold, silver and the rest of its wealth,
and the Libyans and Nubians will be in submission to him, Daniel 11:42-43;
Ibid.
i. Nevertheless, reports out of the east and
north will alarm the Antichrist, reports of possibly more massive enemy armies
headed his way, so he will set out in great fury to destroy and annihilate
many, Dan. 11:44.
j. Infuriated, Antichrist will return to Israel,
pitch his tent at the temple mount, break his treaty with Israel, defile the
temple and try to destroy all Hebrews, Dan. 11:45a; 9:27b; Matt. 24:15-22; Rev.
12:13-17; Ibid. Yet, he will come to his
end as Christ returns and casts him into the lake of fire, Dan. 11:45b; Rev.
19:20.
Lesson: Though
the Antichrist will be the evilest ruler in history, God will sovereignly use
him to punish sinners.
Application:
May we rest in the infinite sovereignty of God over evil rulers and grow in holiness
in our walk.