Endless Rebellion

Series on Daniel

III. The Consummation

D. Antiochus and Antichrist in Homogeneity, Text: Daniel 11

Title: Endless Rebellion

Introduction

Daniel 8-12 contains prophecies which run from Daniel’s life up to the end of history. We saw in chapter 8 the prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes which was an event occurring before the coming of Christ and approximately 4 centuries after Daniel. Then in chapter 9 the coming of Christ approximately 2 centuries later. After the parenthesis of chapter 10 we see the whole sweep from Daniel’s time through Antiochus to the very end of time. What is absolutely breathtaking about this chapter is the exquisite detail of the prophecies. Some have said this is un-preachable and it would be if we engaged in a mere history lesson which belongs in the classroom. What is necessary for salvation in the Bible is clear to the simplest mind, but studying Scripture can be hard work. There is pretty widespread agreement among Bible believing Christians about the meaning of this chapter. Not the least of their convictions is that in spite of the great detail this is real prophecy and not something written after the fact as the liberals would say. It is genuine prophecy, in detail, of events yet to come. This immediately suggests our first point. We see here the nations as a seething pot of rebellion against God and when that pot boils over it burns those who are trusting in God. Yet as we look at this scene the first important principle we discover is that God controls this rebellion.

I The Control of the Rebellion

The very fact that this is a precise prophecy of what will come to pass reminds us that God is in control. Were He not in control of history He could not reveal to Daniel what would come to pass particularly in such detail. The list of the names of the rulers who can be identified in this passage would totally smother and confuse the ordinary person. In fact the complex history involved in this chapter would challenge even history devotees. One example is found in verses 6 and 7, After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed over, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her. “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. This is talking about the bigamous marriage between Antiochus the II and Berenice daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus in the south. Ptolemy died, Antiochus divorced Berenice and went back to his first wife Laodice who promptly poisoned Antiochus and encouraged her son to murder Berenice and her child. leaving the way clear to the throne for her son, but the assassinated Berenice had a brother Ptolemy III, a branch from the same roots, who arose in his place, that is in the place of Laodice’s son. He pillaged the kingdom of the north. Are you confused yet? And that is only two verses. So rather than continue to confuse you with obscure historical detail we shall be satisfied with simply reading verses 2-35. The thing you should try to observe in this passage is the way in which the details of the prophecy remind us of God’s complete control over history. Notice also the frequent occurrence of the word “but” signifying how often the plans of these characters are thwarted, “Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others. “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed over, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her. “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress. “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped. “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. The violent men among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it. He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him. Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back upon him. After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more. “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle. “He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time. “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country. “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. Verse 35 reminds us that through all the adverse circumstances the people of God are refined and purified, so we are talking about Romans 8:28. God is in control and He is working all these things together for the good of His people. Thus our first observation is that the rebellion is under control.

II The Character of the Rebellion

All of this complicated history is the story of people and nations and rulers who tried to live their lives in opposition to God and his people. We have already examined the climax of this rebellion in the Old Testament in chapter 8, the abomination in the holiest, the story of Antiochus Epiphanes, Antiochus the Fourth, the last ruler mentioned here. Let us see what this passage has to tell us about his rebellion. You remember he came to Jerusalem murdered the people, ravaged the city, defiled the sanctuary, abolished the sacrifices and set up an altar to Zeus in the holy place. In Antiochus in the Old Testament we find the most perfect fulfillment of Psalm 2 that the kings of the earth have set themselves against the Lord and against his Christ. Specifically in this chapter we see two things that are important. First in verse 8 which records the fact that one of these earthly kings carries the God of another captive to his own land, He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. What does this mean to us? It means that every struggle is spiritual in nature. These earthly kings were doing their own thing but it is clear that the battles and the victories or defeats were of greater significance. It meant the defeat of the gods of the conquered people. It reduced their deities to impotency. it always frustrates me when people try to separate the Church from the political process. That’s like saying our faith has nothing to do with life. Every law that congress passes, every decision of the supreme court, every product that’ s marketed, every management decision, every union strike, every time a teacher is hired by the school, or a parent disciplines a child it is part of a spiritual struggle. Idols fall or are erected, deities are discredited or established. What is really sad about this attitude of ignoring the spiritual significance of our actions is that now we are fighting battles against Islamic terrorists and many of our leaders keep saying it is not Islam, but radicalism. Wake up America. This is a spiritual battle. The second thing we see here is in v.30-32, Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. Antiochus got the Jews who were concerned about becoming more like Greeks to collaborate with him. He pretended to be kindly disposed toward the Jews. Historians believe that this double dealing led to his success. In other words this rebellion against God always seeks to enlist the Church to corrupt at least a part of it and to gain a foothold in the City of God. Unless Christians watch and pray they get caught up in the rebellion through compromise.

III The Conquering of the Rebellion

This chapter as i have said carries us beyond Antiochus and the Old Testament to the antichrist in the New Testament. Just as verses 1-35 have reference to commonly agreed identifiable historical events in great detail, so much the opposite are verses 36-45. There are no historical counterparts to these persons and events, so we are moving on to the consummation here, that is to what the Bible calls the last days. In the last nine verses, 36-45, we read, “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price. “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission. But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. Jesus Himself referred to the abomination of desolation not only as something in the past but something in His future. Some have interpreted it of the Romans’ destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. I am convinced that it refers to the final conflict at the end of the ages. The thing that most inclines me to that opinion is the statement of verse 37, He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. Since this statement appears in the midst of a list of objects of worship for which Antichrist will have no regard, it seems best to assume that “the desire of women” also refers to an object of worship. In Old Testament times it was the desire of the women of Israel to be the mother of the Messiah. In light of this, it would appear that Daniel was being told that Antichrist will have no regard for the Messiah. Not only will he refuse to worship Messiah, but also he will be totally opposed to Him. This is why the Scriptures call him Antichrist (anti Messiah) in the New Testament. This antichrist is seen here magnifying himself, uttering blasphemies against God, rejecting his heritage, and exalting himself above everything. He follows the god of fortresses, or war. The scene of the struggle is the glorious land according to verse 41 which surely refers to Israel, God’s land. How physically we should interpret these details is not certain. Hardly anyone is completely physical in their interpretation. For example, in verse 40, chariots and horsemen is a reference to the way Old Testament battles were fought. The duplication of physical details in the future is questionable. The statements are best taken as a portrayal of future conflict in terms of a then contemporary cultural and political map. Edom, Moab and Ammon in verse 41 represent the ancient enemies of God’s people. If we have here a reference to the final scenes of history, it should be remembered that they are described in terms of the ancient world order. Prophecy does foretell the future, but also speaks to its contemporary world in terms drawn from its own time. The true message is spiritual; that the church is in such a battleground, that it is under attack and that as Paul says in II Thessalonians 2:8 this antichrist will be destroyed by Jesus when he comes again, Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. In our text we have a lengthy chapter building up to a final personification of evil. He himself is described in amazing language but his destruction is in 13 words, monosyllables, half a verse, Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. That’s it! So the message to Daniel is that this struggle is under God’s control, that it is a spiritual struggle, that God will end it in a second and what it teaches us to do is persevere in faith and obedience as Daniel did and, recognizing what is going on around us, and watch and pray. According to I John 2:18 the antichrist is here now and we are being subjected by those who worship false messiahs around the world. The identification of a particular individual in the future is not as important as identifying the forces of anti-christ in our own time and space.