The final message of the prophet Daniel is recorded in the 11th and 12th chapter of the book bearing his name. Now, according to Jesus, there is a specific sign of the beginning of the end of the world. It is the abomination of desolation, albeit it must be the one spoken of by Daniel. Daniel speaks of such an abomination, the surrounding of Jerusalem, and the removal of the daily sacrifices, all followed by desolations as God Himself backs off from the scene. Nothing can be more desolate than this.No less than a messenger from Heaven, Gabriel, is behind all these prophecies. All agree that these things happen in the final days of earth's history. Daniel points out a man behind all the problems: "a little horn", "a king," and "the prince who is to come." He sees him not as a "type" but as the actual perpetrator of the evil.
All of this in the chapters leading up to chapter 11. I tremble as I think ahead to that chapter. For I believe I have identified there the one who will come before Christ. The last prophecy of Daniel is like no other in Scripture. Daniel 8 tells of one whose ancestry goes back to Alexander's kingdom and who later arises as the antichrist. Daniel 11 tells us that the ancestor and the antichrist are the same man. Some preliminary details for study are in order for this chapter also.
First it will be necessary to explain and employ the "gap" thinking that exist in chapters eight and nine. Though a narrative unfolds and takes the reader from beginning to end, first time readers usually need to be told that somewhere in the story there is a huge gap in time. When they see it for themselves they are left with the problem that has had Bible students scratching their heads for centuries. "Closing the gap" is one of the objects of this study. The explanation that is confirmed by reading the book of Revelation and picking up other clues here and there is not comprehensible by the human experience. I will still maintain that this is what the Spirit is saying to the churches in our time and forward. I believe that more and more people will see this as the time for His appearing draws near.
A second concept must be grasped before Daniel 11 can be understood. Put simply, history does repeat itself. We have seen it happen already in the discussions of this book. Consider the ways there have already been repeats of events, just in regards to Jerusalem :
1. Armies encircle the city. 163 B.C. and 70 A.D. to name only two times.
2. In those same years, the Temple is desecrated, then destroyed.
3. The people of Israel are scattered to other nations, by Assyria, Babylonia, Rome.
4 An evil anti-Semitic king or emperor or dictator surfaces and wreaks havoc.
5. Someone seeks to kill all Jews: Haman, Raamses, Hitler etc.
History does repeat itself. Consider also:
1. While a Father looks on, a Son climbs a hill carrying the wood on which he is scheduled to die: 2000 B.C., Abraham & Isaac. But also 33 A.D., Jehovah and Jesus.
2. A man climbs the ascent called the Mount of Olives, crying. His people have rejected him, and are trying to kill him and take away his throne. His best friend has just betrayed him. Yet many of the people walk along crying with him. 1000 B.C., David. 33 A.D., Jesus. Many events can come around to be replayed, proving that the first ones were only shadows and prefigures.
There is a section of chapter eleven that I have struggled with for some time. I am forced to believe that this small group of verses can only be explained in the light of repeated history. To me there is no question that at least most of that portion of the text has already happened. But there seems to be equally strong evidence to support the notion that it will happen again.
And thirdly, it is important for us to understand the concept of the preservation of life. All life is preserved, though most of it is behind the scenes. All human lives have an appointment with death, and then receive a new body that will be eternally with God or suffering apart from Him. There are two men of the Bible account who never died, but have an appointment with death, and will return to the planet as prophets in the end time. Many say they are Elijah and Enoch, and they are prophesied both by Zechariah and John as future "invaders" of our planet. God is able to preserve lives, and cause them to re-appear. They will come, die, leave us again, to meet us in the air when Jesus comes back.
With Antiochus Epiphanes, I believe a similar principle is at work. He already died. But he is scheduled to receive a new body. It is with that "glorified" body that he returns. The pattern for all three of these men is not unusual, but the placement before our eyes is strange. All three die, then are hidden from us, then get a new body and re-appear.
Enough for now. Welcome to the mystery of Daniel 11. Its solution is available only to those who believe every Word of God is true.
http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!
And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.
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