Daniel 11:36-12:4
In this passage we see the personality profile of the Antichrist, the final king who will attempt to rule the world. The Antichrist will be an egotistical blasphemer who will not be satisfied until he has conquered the entire world and become the object of its worship but the return of Jesus Christ will put an end to his plans.
In verses 1-35, the angel in Daniel’s vision is describing a political history of the major kingdoms with direct influence over Israel spanning the Medo-Persian, Greco-Macedonian and Roman kingdoms, getting detailed enough to mention treaties, negotiations and battles between kings. The vision is so detailed and accurate that some critics contend that it must have been written after the events described, making it history and not prophesy. However, the LORD has no problem predicting events before they happen and as we come to verse 36 the focus switches to the future king that we know as the Antichrist.
Daniel 11
36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
“And the king shall do according to his will” - The Antichrist will be self-willed and will not listen to anyone disagreeing with his will. No one will be in a position to prevent him from doing as he pleases.
“and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god” - He will demand that all glory and worship be focused on him. He will consider himself to be superior to all of the gods of the religions of the world.
“and shall speak marvellous [surpassing; extraordinary; astonishing; to cause to marvel] things against the God of gods” - The boastful and blasphemous things that the Antichrist will say against the LORD Himself will surpass even the blasphemy we hear from atheists today. It will be amazing to hear such things coming from the mouth of a mere human being.
“and shall prosper till the indignation [anger] be accomplished” - He will seem to get away with his blasphemy and evil deeds until the LORD decides it is enough, at which time Christ will return and destroy him (Rev. 19).
“for that that is determined shall be done” - Nothing that the Antichrist does will be beyond the LORD’s sovereign control for the LORD has already determined how far the Antichrist will be allowed to go before He steps in and stops it.
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
“Neither shall he regard [recognize; respect] the God [Eloheem] of his fathers” - The word for “God” is the generic word for God and, being plural, can refer to either the God of Israel or the gods of other nations. Thus the phrase could easily be rendered as “neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers.” The Antichrist will be so self-willed that he will not respect any of the gods that his ancestors worshiped.
“nor the desire of women” - There are various interpretations of this phrase. Some commentators believe the Antichrist will either be a homosexual or else more interested in conquest than in women. Sandwiched between two phrases describing his lack of respect toward any religion other than his own, it’s likely this phrase has something to do with his disregard for religion. Some commentators suggest it refers to the desire of Jewish women to be the mother of the Messiah, thus the Antichrist will have no respect for Jesus Christ. The phrase “the desire of women” likely has some association with the worship of some deity, either the LORD or some false god.
“nor regard any god” - He does not respect the gods of his ancestors nor does he respect the gods of anyone else either. He does not want to think of himself as subservient to any deity because he believes he is superior to all other gods.
“for he shall magnify himself above all” - He wants all worship to be focused on himself for he will set himself up as God (2 Th. 2:4 (referring to the coming Antichrist) “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”).
38 But in his 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. 39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
“But in his estate [stand; pedestal] shall he honour the God of forces [strongholds]” - Instead of worshiping these other gods, he worships power as his god as his focus and affections will be on acquiring military strength.
“and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things” - He will worship this “god of power” by pouring money into his military might along with weapons research and development in order to increase his military strength. Hitler did the same thing during WW2 in his bid for power.
“Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory” - His “god of power” will help him defeat the strongholds of his enemies and so he will honor this “god” for giving him victories.
“and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain” - People who are instrumental in gaining him more power will also be rewarded with with land and positions of authority.
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. 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.
“At the time of the end” seems to indicate that this will be the military campaigns that lead up to the battle of Armageddon. The kings of the north and the south will come against the Antichrist (or possibly the Antichrist is the king of the north), but the Antichrist will defeat his enemies and occupy their land. He will then enter into the land of Israel (“the glorious land”) on his way to conquer other nations. This may be when he commits the “abomination of desolations” that Jesus warns about. The territories of Edom, Moab and Ammon (the modern-day nation of Jordan east of the Dead Sea) will escape being conquered by the Antichrist.
42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 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.
The Antichrist will continue his military campaign southward into the African continent, conquering Egypt and looting its treasuries of gold and silver. He will be in control over all of Egypt’s riches with the help of Libya and Ethiopia (“at his steps” implies they are with him at each step).
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. 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.
“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him” - He will hear news of armies deploying from the north and east to challenge him, causing him to stop his southerly advance as he turns to face the new threat.
“therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away [annihilate; exterminate] many” - The idea that anyone would dare challenge him militarily apparently enrages the Antichrist so that he turns to face these northern and eastern armies, intending to totally destroy them and anything that gets in his way.
“And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain” - He sets up his command post on the temple mount in Jerusalem (“between the seas” - the Mediterranean and Dead seas). It would certainly fit his ego for him to have his headquarters in the temple since he proclaims himself to be God. This may be what draws the nations of the world to Jerusalem to face the Antichrist at the battle of Armageddon.
“yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him” - The Antichrist will believe himself to be unconquerable but Jerusalem will be his final stand because the Lord Jesus Christ will return and destroy him and his army. No one will be able to help him, even if they were willing.
Daniel 12
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people” - Michael the archangel seems to be a warrior angel who has the responsibility of protecting Israel. During the tribulation Michael will protect the chosen of Israel from the Antichrist’s attacks.
Dan. 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”
Rev. 12:6-7 “6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels...”
“and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” - It will be during the tribulation that Israel will be in the greatest danger it has ever faced in its history. Matt. 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
“and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” - The Jews who have turned to their God for salvation will be delivered from the tribulation. Only those who have been saved by faith will be in the Lamb’s book of life. Rom. 9:6 “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:”
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
“And many [multitude; a great quantity] of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake” - The word “many” doesn’t mean that only a portion of those who have died will be resurrected. Rather, it emphasizes that there will be a large number of people that will be resurrected.
“some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” - The resurrected will fall into two groups: those who will be raised to everlasting life and those who will be under the judgment of God.
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament [an expanse (like the sky)]” - The “wise” are those who looked to the LORD in faith and they will be rewarded by being able to reflect the brightness of the glory of the LORD forever.
“and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” - Those who not only trust in the LORD by faith but also influence others to do so as well will be rewarded by the LORD in like manner.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end” - Daniel is instructed to end the book and write no more additions to it, for the information in it is intended for “the time of the end.” The prophesies in the book of Daniel have been mysterious throughout the centuries but when the time for which they are intended arrives, they will provide invaluable information.
“many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” - During the tribulation there will be those who will be searching for answers to explain what is happening in the world and will find their knowledge increased as they study the book of Daniel.
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