Daniel Chapter 11 part 2 – A Vile Person
Basic and General Study of the Book of Daniel
DAN.11:21 and in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
** PSA.55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
DAN.11:22 and with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. (or as it probably should have been translated, “yea, he is also the prince of the covenant”.)
DAN.11:23 and after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
** 2TH.2:9, 10 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
** REV.12:9 and the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world…
DAN.11:24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
Again (as in verse 21) we hear of this “enter peaceably” strategy. This seems to be a peculiar feature of modern times when media and economic “weapons” are powerful enough in themselves to conquer nations.
DAN.11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
DAN.11:26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
DAN.11:27 and both of these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
“Speaking lies at one table” is a good picture of today’s diplomacy and politics.
DAN.11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
** DAN.9:27 and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week…
DAN.11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
DAN.11:30 for the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
DAN.11:31 and arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
Jesus mentioned to his disciples about this very “Abomination of Desolation” as a sign of His return.
** MAT.24:15, 21 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
DAN.11:32 and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
DAN.11:33 and they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Yet for all the opposition, those who know God are going to be strong and do exploits. Those who have studied God’s Word and are spiritually prepared will understand the why’s and wherefore’s of what is happening, and therefore they will instruct those who don’t understand what’s going on.
DAN.11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
DAN.11:35 and some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
But some will be killed by sword and fire, and some will be captured and their goods plundered. But even this “fall” has benefits, because it will refine and purify those who know and love God.
DAN.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 (wrath) be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
In the New Testament we learn more about the activities and character of this final ruler:
** REV.13:5-7 and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
** 2TH.2:4 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, showing himself that he is God.
And about the “indignation”:
** REV.16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
DAN.11:37 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.
DAN.11:38 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.
DAN.11:39 Thus shall he do in the strongest 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.
What does this chapter tell us about this king of the North? It’s actually a detailed description of the antichrist:
He is vile, he uses peace and intrigue to obtain the “throne,” he also fights several wars, he is deceitful, he rises to power with a small number of people, he disperses the plunder to his followers, he works against the Holy Covenant, he defiles the Jewish temple (sanctuary), stops Jewish religious rituals (daily sacrifices), and places the “Abomination of Desolation.”
He corrupts people, he attacks those who believe in God, he claims to be greater than God and blasphemes Him. He worships a strange god of fortresses, and doesn’t care about women. He enters the Glorious Land (Israel), plants the “tents of his palace” between the seas and Mount Moriah, and then he comes to his end. Where have we heard some of these things before? In chapters 7, 8, and 9! And as we know from those chapters, the person they were talking about who did such things was the Antichrist.
From chapter 7 we read that he speaks against God, he persecutes the saints, and he subdues kings.
In chapter 8 we are told that he enters the Glorious Land (Israel), he attacks God’s people, he exalts himself as God, he stops the daily sacrifices, he is fierce, and he uses cunning, deceit, and sinister schemes.
And in chapter 9 we find out that he confirms a covenant, breaks it, stops the daily sacrifice in the middle of the last 7 years, and then makes things desolate by means of an enigmatic abomination right to the end.
Even though we get more information in this chapter, there is plenty about the characteristics, actions, and demeanor of this King of the North that line up with what we are told of the Antichrist in previous chapters. It should be safe to say then that this King of the North should be identified as the coming Antichrist.
DAN.11:40 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.
DAN.11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land (Israel), 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.
Edom, Moab and Ammon are ancient names of places that today comprise the country of Jordan. Why do they escape? We don't know. Maybe they make a deal with the Antichrist or maybe God miraculously spares them for hiding and helping His people. We shall see.
DAN.11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
DAN.11:43 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.
He moves his forces all the way down to Egypt, apparently skirting the lands of Edom, Moab, and Ammon (modern-day Jordan), and that nation is spared. When the Antichrist invades the Mideast, Libya and Ethiopia are going to be "at his steps", meaning a place of submission, a place of subservience, a place of agreement, a place of cooperation. And at the time of the end, right towards the end of the Antichrist’s oppressive rule, the king of the south comes again to attack him. And then the king of the north comes against him with everything he has. And somehow Ethiopians and Libyans are involved in his invasion forces.
It is interesting to compare this to Ezekiel 38-39 and the invasion of Gog from Magog, a powerful nation to the north. Ezekiel 38 also names the Ethiopians and Libyans being involved with the armies of Magog, as well as the Iranians and others. It would appear that the descriptions in Daniel 11 of the “king of the north” and in Ezekiel 38-39 of this mysterious “Gog” figure are both talking about the same person.
** EZE.38:3-5 And say, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet.
DAN.11:44 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.
DAN.11:45 and he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas (between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean) in the glorious holy mountain; (Mount Moriah in Jerusalem) yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
** REV.19:20 and the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And so we come to this chapter’s end, but the heavenly messenger is not yet finished. There is more to come in chapter 12. The events described above will take place during the Great Tribulation and the end of chapter 11 is tied to the end time events presented in chapter 12.
Be ready for these events. You can receive Jesus at this very moment. Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door (of your heart), and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev.3:20
Please pray this simple prayer:
"Jesus, please forgive all my faults and sins. I accept that You are the Son of God and that You died for me. I invite You into my heart and life. Thank you for your gift of eternal life and please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to read and understand Your Word. Amen"
Compiled and edited by Gaetan from multiple sources.