Daniel 11:40-44
It has been said that sometimes the saints are schizophrenic. Those who would say so are not saying that all Christians are mentally ill. They are using the non-medical definition of “schizophrenia” to highlight “contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes.”[i] In other words, many believers are double-minded. On the one hand, we see threatening world events and say, “I will fear the evil” (rather than, “I will fear no evil” Psalm 23:4). But we forget that Jesus said that “when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh” (Luke 21:28). Discussions about the Antichrist cause many people to become fearful. How can we use Daniel 11:40-44 to help them confront their fears?
In earlier messages, we identified “The Arrogant Antichrist”[ii] as a wicked warrior[iii] (based on the teaching of Daniel 11:36-39). In Daniel 11:40-44, we learn much about the aggressive nature of the Antichrist. But though he will be aggressive, the Antichrist will not be almighty; no indeed, the Antichrist will be ruled by the hand of the Almighty.
At the Time of the End
Verse 40 places these events “at the time of the end.” This refers to the end of the present age; these are events that will occur near the end of this commonplace life on earth. Gleason Archer noted about verse 40 and following, “As for the final paragraph of this chapter, the effort to tie its details into the known career of Antiochus Epiphanes becomes utterly hopeless.”[iv] There is no question that the events described here are yet future.
And it helps to compare these verses with others in order to get a multi-dimensional understanding of the time of the end. It will not only be a time of military conflict; it will also be a time of tumultuous disasters on the earth.
Consider just a few of these from Revelation chapter 8: Hail and fire will fall from the heavens, burning up a third of the trees and grass (8:7), a third of all sea creatures and a third of all ships will be destroyed by a volcanic eruption (8:8-9), through astronomical wonders, a third of the rivers and springs will be fouled, resulting in many deaths (8:10-11), and a third of the sun, moon and stars will be darkened (8:12). Revelation chapter 9 predicts that monstrous beasts will be released to inflict stinging torment on the inhabitants of the earth. A third of mankind will suffer a horrible death (9:18). And in the midst of all these things, the aggressive Antichrist will wage his wars. But though he will be aggressive, the Antichrist will not be almighty; the Antichrist will be ruled by the hand of the Almighty.
- The coming Antichrist will be an aggressive military genius. 40-43
He will rebuff and overwhelm his attackers. 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 …” It is likely that “the king of the south” is a reference to the leader of Egypt (see v. 43). The king of the north is the Antichrist. This king of the south will oppose the Antichrist, seeking to defeat him. But this king will learn a painful lesson at the hands of “the Beast.”
He will win many military victories. 40
“ … and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.”
Perhaps through deceit (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) but certainly with devastating force, the Antichrist will go forth “conquering and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). This is “the little horn” with the big mouth who will conquer many nations (Daniel 7:8). According to Colossians 1:20, Jesus Christ made peace by His own blood on the cross; Antichrist will try to make peace by the blood of others.
He will attack the Holy Land. 41
“…He shall enter also into the glorious land …”
The Holy Land will not escape from the invading Antichrist. In the next message we will study how this invasion prepares for the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).
He will conquer many countries, including Egypt, capturing their treasures. 42-43
“…He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver …”
To the victor go the spoils and the Antichrist will become fantastically wealthy through his conquests. These events seem to indicate that the aggressive Antichrist will rule supremely, but look again.
2. The coming Antichrist will not be almighty, but will struggle to maintain his kingdom. 40, 41, 44
He will be challenged almost continually. 40, 44
“…shall the king of the south push at him …” and “…tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury …”
It is common to speak of the coming one world government as if it will be all-powerful. Discussions of the Antichrist and the mark without which no man may buy or sell (Revelation 13:17) terrify many. Technological developments seem to give bureaucracies the ability to control the lives of people. Lately it seems as if every new intrusion against personal privacy brings forth a reference to the coming Antichrist. But passages such as Daniel 11:40-44 show us that the Antichrist will not be almighty – far from it. Other nations will continually be challenging his power. The king of the south will push at him; news from the north and east will trouble him. This is an important note for those who cling to conspiracy theories. Even this evil superman (who will be animated by the Devil, 2 Thessalonians 2:9) will not maintain sovereign control over the nations; the Scriptures indicate that he will challenged repeatedly. Though he will be aggressive, the Antichrist will not be almighty; instead, the Antichrist will be ruled by the hand of the Almighty.
Many people will escape from him. 41
“… but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Israeli people will escape from the Antichrist by fleeing into neighboring territories. In a series of messages on the Book of Obadiah[v], we learned that Edom would be destroyed (due to their treatment of Israel). So what is meant by the references in verse 41? Are these political or geographical references? They are geographical references – the territories once identified by the names of those countries. Archer commented that they have “long since ceased to exist as political entities.”[vi]
The prediction that people will escape out of the hand of the Antichrist is especially tantalizing. Verse 41 describes lands that are east of the Jordan River extending to the south and southwest of the Dead Sea. One of the reasons that this is notable is that it may give us a little hint as to how the people of Israel will escape from the Antichrist. Jesus instructed the people who will be alive when the Antichrist exalts himself: “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:” (Mark 13:14). The mountain areas identified in Daniel 11:41 are full of caves where many people could find shelter. This verse would be one of the reasons that some to speculate that Jewish people will flee to the region around Petra. In the Old Testament, this city was known as “Sela” and “Joktheel” (Isaiah 14:7). That there will be refugees fleeing from the Antichrist is indicated in Zechariah 13 and Revelation 12.
“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, says the Lord, Two parts therein shall be cut off and die; But the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” (Zechariah 13:8-9).
“And when the dragon [the Devil] saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth” (Revelation 12:13-16)
3. The coming Antichrist will be ruled by the hand of the Almighty. 40-44
“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. 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. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 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. 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.” (Daniel 11:40-44)
12 times in verses 40-44, the word “shall” appears in our English translation, describing what shall and shall not occur in the future. This word reminds us about the sovereign hand of the Most High God who rules over the kingdoms of men (Daniel 4:17, 25, 32; 5:21). “The approximately 135 specific prophecies in the first 35 verses of this chapter [Daniel 11] have been fulfilled with amazing accuracy, as would be expected of a divine revelation. There is every reason to believe, therefore, that the remaining prophecies of the chapter will have the same precise and literal fulfillment in the future.”[vii] Though he will be aggressive, the Antichrist will not be almighty; instead, the Antichrist will be ruled by the hand of the Almighty. McClain commented that “In all these events, for those who have eyes to see, the great rebel is acting only under the permission of the heavenly court. If he has power over the saints, it is because they have been “given into his hand”; even the extreme limit of his career is inflexibly set by divine decree – “until a time and times and the dividing of time” (7:25)”[viii] (or 3 ½ years).
The Almighty God reveals, rescues and reigns over all.
In an earlier message in this series summarizing Daniel chapters 2-8[ix], we studied the God who reveals, rescues and reigns. We can see this same theme in Daniel chapters 11-12.
The Almighty God, who fulfills His prophecies, deserves our complete trust.
The Almighty God has given us His Word, and this revelation deserves our careful study.
Revelation 1:7-8 exalts the Almighty Christ: “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7-8) This is Jesus Christ who was pierced on Calvary’s cross for the sins of mankind. He was tortured for the transgressions of every man. Christ died the death that each man deserved. But He rose again from the grave to demonstrate that He is the Almighty; even the grave could not hold Him! He is the Amen, the Alpha and Omega, and the Almighty! If you follow the Almighty Christ, you need never fear the aggressive Antichrist.
Discussion questions for today’s family fellowship groups:
- Discussions about the Antichrist cause many people to become fearful. How can we use Daniel 11:40-44 to help them confront their fears?
- Daniel 11:32 reminds us that that people who know their God will be strong and take action (doing exploits). This is a classic verse about knowing, being and doing. How can we as a church do a better job of helping our children and our fellow believers to put Daniel 11:32 into practice?
- Daniel 11:35 speaks of trials that purge or purify God’s people. Think about this verse in the light of James 4:8. How are some of our present trials causing us to take a careful look at our actions and attitudes? How can we turn away from being double-minded?
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio www.cbcfindlay.org
[i] Schizophrenia, Merriam-Webster dictionary, accessed at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schizophrenia
[ii] The Arrogant Antichrist, manuscript, audio and video available at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/the-arrogant-antichrist/
[iii] Antichrist: A Wicked Warrior, manuscript, audio and video available at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/antichrist-a-wicked-warrior/
[iv] Gleason L. Archer, Jr. Daniel, in Daniel and the Minor Prophets, edited by Frank Gaebelein, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986, p.146
[v] Four messages from the Book of Obadiah, accessed at https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?subsetitem=Obadiah&subsetcat=bible&keyword=calvaryfindlay&SourceOnly=true&includekeywords=&ExactVerse=
[vi] Archer, p. 147
[vii] Donald Campbell, Daniel, God’s Man in a Secular Society, Grand Rapids: Discovery House Publishers, 1988. Excerpt accessed at https://www.preceptaustin.org/daniel_11_commentary2
[viii] Alva J. McClain, The Greatness of the Kingdom, Winona Lake: BMH Books, 1992, p.184
[ix] Our God Reveals, Rescues and Reigns, December 27, 2020, accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/our-god-reveals-rescues-and-reigns/