Daniel 11:36 to 12:13 • The King Who Exalts Himself and the End Times

Steve Schott
14 minutes ago
9 min read

► The time of Daniel's last recorded vision is coming to an end.

→ In chapter 10 the dialogue set the stage for the actual vision.

→ In the first part of chapter 11, we discussed the "near" fulfillment of the vision, in that we correlated some of the information to represent Antiochus IV Epiphanes as the fulfillment of that part of the vision. He executed the "abomination of desolation" as it occurred during the inter-testamental period during his reign from 175BC to 164BC.

→ Today we are going to finish chapter 11, and look at chapter 12, to see the "far" fulfillment of the "abomination of desolation" as it will occur still yet in the future.

► Daniel 11:36 to 12:13 →

Conflicts to Come

Chapter 11

³⁶ “Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. ³⁷ He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all.

► This "king", whom we believe to be the antichrist, will have no regard for any "god", whether it be the true God of Israel, here called the "God of gods", or any false god created in the minds of any people group of any time in history. He will place himself into the highest position of all.

► Some speculate that when it says that he doesn't regard "the desire of women" this means that he is either a homosexual or celibate.

→ Another thought on this could be that since "the desire of women" from a Jewish perspective would be to be the mother of Messiah, is that this is saying that the antichrist has no regard for the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

³⁸ But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures. ³⁹ He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.

► This is the 5th and 6th of 6 times in this chapter that the word "fortresses" is used. In Hebrew, this word actually has the connotation of meaning "a strong place". This would give the impression that what he worships is power.

► Here are some verses from the New Testament that correlate to Daniel 11:36-39...

→ 2 Thes 2:3-4 - "³ Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God."

→ 2 Thes 2:7-8 - "⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. ⁸ Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;..."

→ 1 John 2:22 - "²² Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son."

→ Revelation 13:5-8 - "⁵ There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. ⁶ And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. ⁷ It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. ⁸ All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain."

→ These verses all speak of, and confirm, the verses in Daniel as to who this person is, the antichrist.

⁴⁰ “At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through.

► "king of the South"; "king of the North" - these are the same basic countries that battled with Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the intertestamental period, and will also oppose the antichrist, if for no other reason than they want to have that control.

⁴¹ He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.

► "the Beautiful Land" refers to Israel.

► "but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon." - the text doesn't explain why this is. Speculation could include that they are out of his way so he's just ignoring them. Or that as historical enemies of Israel, he considers them as his allies by default.

⁴² Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. ⁴³ But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels.

► He's not limiting himself to capturing and denigrating Israel alone; he's also taking over what looks like a significant portion of North Africa.

⁴⁴ But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. ⁴⁵ He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

► Hearing "rumors" that "disturb him", in his anger he heads back to Israel, creating havoc everywhere he turns, until he settles himself somewhere between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea.

► It is here that he meets his final end...

→ Rev 19:19-21 - "¹⁹ And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. ²⁰ And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. ²¹ And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh."

Chapter 12

The Time of the End

¹ “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. ² Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. ³ Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. ⁴ But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

► "Now at that time Michael,..." - this indicates that the believing people of Israel, living at that moment, will be protected from the antichrist by Michael, the archangel.

► Verses 2 and 3 indicate that a resurrection will occur at that point of both believers and non-believers. Some to glory; others to judgement.

► The phrase "conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time;..." is a little confusing. Obviously, we have the book today, so what was concealed and when is the end of time? Commentators have a few different views on what exactly this means - some don't comment on it at all. Most who do recognize the "end of time" to be a reference to the 70th week of Daniel, which is now commonly called the tribulation.

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. ⁶ And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” ⁷ I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. ⁸ As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” ⁹ He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. ¹⁰ Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. ¹¹ From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. ¹² How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! ¹³ But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

► So here at the end, in Daniel's vision, he sees 3 angels conferring. One floating over the river, and each of the others standing on opposite banks of the river.

► One asks "how long" and is told "a time, times, and half a time", referring to the 3-1/2 year time period of the last half of the tribulation.

► "1,290 days" is 3-1/2 years (or just a little bit longer). Again this is a reference to the last half of the tribulation. This is a horrific time for Israel, as at the beginning of this time, temple sacrifices, which had been re-instituted, will again be stopped. And if that isn't bad enough, once again the "abomination of desolation" in the temple will occur. The total desecration of the temple.

→ There is some difference of opinion in regards to the number 1,290. Some commentators believe that the number for the 3.5 year time period should be 1,260 days, which is 3.5 x 360. It is speculated that the 1,290 days includes an extra 30 days for the judgement to be completed. Then the reference to the "1,335" days allows an extra 45 days to complete the setting up of the glorified kingdom. With Jesus on the throne.

So What?

► So we've reached the end of the book of Daniel. At times it can be very confusing, what with all the jumping back and forth in relation to the timing of events.

► But all of this serves to remind us, that no matter who is running the country, ultimately God is in control.

► And His plan will succeed, regardless of how many upstarts try to run the show.

Posts in this series

► An introduction to the book of Daniel

► Daniel 1:1-21 • Daniel & Friends Tested and Enter the King's Service

► Daniel 2:1-49 • Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream and Promotion of Daniel

► Daniel 3:1-30 • The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace

► Daniel 4:1-37 • Nebuchadnezzar Dreams, Goes Insane, and Comes to His Senses

► Daniel 5:1-30 • The Handwriting on the Wall

► Daniel 6:1-28 • Daniel in the Lion's Den

► Daniel 7:1-28 • Daniel's Dream and Visions of Four Beasts

► Daniel 8:1-27 • Daniel's Vision of a Ram and a Goat