(580 B.C.)
15
Daniel is
the link between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament prophecy (Book of
Revelation). It was written during the exile of Judah in Babylon, where the
prophet Daniel serves in the King’s court. It’s topics, among others, include
the "little horn" (the antichrist), the Fourth Kingdom (fourth
beast), and the "70 week prophecy" (time table for key events).
Daniel is a very important influence on the Qumran community of the Dead Sea
Scrolls and New Testament scripture. Daniel, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Book
of Revelation are the three main sources of information concerning the
antichrist.
Accuracy of Prophecy
Daniel,
chapter 11 contains some of the most specific and detailed prophesies in the
Bible. It successfully predicts close to 400 years of world history. Starting
from the Persian-Median empire (539 B.C.), it proceeds through Greece and
Alexander the Great, Egypt and the Ptolemies, Syria and the Seleucids, and ends
with the archetypical anti-Christ figure Antiochus IV Epiphanes (164 B.C.). I
would estimate that there are several hundred accurate prophecies within this
single chapter of Daniel alone. The prophecies are so specific and so detailed
that many so called "critical scholars," who deny the possibility of
any supernatural reality, have assumed and argued that these prophecies were
written after the events had taken place. However, study of Aramaic documents
in the recently discovered Dead Sea Scrolls argue strongly against such a late
date for Daniel. Quoting from Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls, by Randall
Price, 1996, we have the following:
. "90 percent of Daniel’s Aramaic
vocabulary occurred in documents dated to
the fifth century B.C. or earlier"
. "Persian loan words were Old Persian"
. "Greek loan
words precede the fifth century B.C."
. "Some
syntactical forms in Daniel were shown not to have survived beyond
the fifth century B.C., precluding any later
date."
. "The
alternative date for Daniel in the sixth or fifth century B.C. has more in
its favor today from the point of view of
language alone than ever before."
(Old
Testament scholar Gerhard Hasel)
Prophecy is real! It has much
evidence in favor of its validity. Prophecy still concerns us and our future. Truth
is being revealed in a strategic way to bring information to people at the
right time. God’s plan is unfolding under our feet and beneath
our awareness.
To see
for ourselves just how detailed and accurate this prophecy is, let’s now take a
look at a small sample of Daniel’s prophecy in chapter eleven. We will focus in
on the prophecy regarding Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He is the prototype of
Caligastia’s (the devil’s) human personification, the antichrist.
After
Alexander the Great dies young (age 35) his empire is split up four ways (as
prophesied) into North, South, East and West. The North and South are the two
main players on stage. Egypt (South) and Syria (North) battle each other with
Jerusalem in the middle. We are first introduced to Antiochus Epiphanes in
chapter eight of Daniel:
Daniel 8:8 And the he-goat (Alexander the Great) magnified
himself
exceedingly, and when he was young and
strong, the great horn
(that he was) was suddenly broken; and
instead (of him) there
came up four notable horns, one toward
each of the four winds of heaven
(N, S, W, E)
Daniel 8:9 Out of littleness and small beginnings
came forth a horn
(North) whose presumption and pride grew
exceedingly
toward the south (Egypt), and toward the
east, and toward the
precious land (West, Israel).
Horns
represent power, good or evil. The size of the horn is proportional to the
magnitude of the power. Little horn equals little power and large horn equals
great power.
Notice that the little horn here, in Daniel 8, is
different from the little horn of Daniel 12. In Daniel 8 the little horn is one
(North) of the four horns (N, S, E, W) of the third beast and grows larger from
Antiochus the Great through Antiochus IV Epiphanes his son. In Daniel 12, the
little horn is a separate eleventh horn, which grows out from under three of
the ten original horns (Kings) growing on the fourth beast (the messianic world
Kingdom). Both little horns are manifestations of Satan’s or Caligastia’s power.
Antiochus IV corresponds to the little horn of Daniel 8 and the little horn of
Daniel 12 corresponds to the antichrist of our age, the messianic age. Many of
the same characteristics of Antiochus IV Epiphanes may also be true of the
antichrist figure yet to come and is therefore worthy of study.
We now skip over to Daniel 11:21 through 11:45 where
Antiochus Epiphanes is discussed in great detail. In order to give the reader a
taste of this awesome demonstration of God’s omniscience, I will first give the
verses 11:21 through 11:29 of Daniel (King James Version) and then follow this
by its analysis given in Matthew Henry’s Commentary written in the 1700's.
Remember that Daniel’s prophecy is written 300 to 400 years before the events
take place! Matthew Henry’s historical information is taken directly from
historical sources about the events prophesied. The following verses describe
the arrisal of Antiochus Epiphanes from the lineage of Antiochus the Great and
his first two (of three) expeditions to Egypt.
Accuracy of Prophecy
Daniel 11:21 And in his
estate (Antiochus the Great) shall stand up a vile
(KJV) person (Antiochus
Epiphanes), to whom they shall not give the
honour
of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and
obtain
the kingdom by flatteries.
Daniel 11:22 And with the
arms of a flood shall they be overflown from
(KJV) before him, and
shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
Daniel 11:23 And after the
league made with him he (Antiochus Epiphanes)
(KJV) shall work
deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become
strong
with a small people.
Daniel 11:24 He (Antiochus
Epiphanes) shall enter peaceably even upon the
(KJV) 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.
Daniel 11:25 And he shall
stir up his power and his courage against the
(KJV) king of the south
(Egypt) 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 (King of the South) shall not stand: for they shall forecast
devices
against him.
Daniel 11:26 Yea, they
that feed of the portion of his (King of the South)
(KJV) meat shall destroy
him, and his army shall overflow: and many
hall
fall down slain.
Daniel 11:27 And
both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they
(KJV) shall speak lies at
one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the
end shall be at the time appointed.
Daniel 11:28 Then shall he
(Antiochus Epiphanes) return into his land with
(KJV) great riches; and his
heart shall be against the holy covenant;
and
he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
Daniel 11:29 At the time
appointed he (Antiochus Epiphanes) shall return,
(KJV) and come toward the
south; but it shall not be as the former,
or
as the latter.
Next, we
have the commentary from Matthew Henry describing the historical records of
this same event. The writing is somewhat difficult to follow at times and it is
necessary to read it very carefully and slowly in certain parts. For the sake
of clarity another commentary, Jamieson, will be presented following Matthew
Henry and will cover the same ground. The bold type is the commentator’s and
are the scripture phrases from the Daniel text being discussed.
Matthew All this is a prophecy of the reign of
Antiochus Epiphanes, the
Henry little horn spoken of before (Dan 8:9), a
sworn enemy to the
Commentary Jewish religion, and a
bitter persecutor of those that adhered to it. What
troubles the Jews met with in the reigns of
the Persian kings were not so
particularly foretold to Daniel as these,
because then they had living
prophets with them, Haggai and Zechariah,
to encourage them; but these
troubles in the days of Antiochus were foretold, because,
before that time,
prophecy would cease, and they would find
it necessary to have recourse
to the written word. (Prophesy ceased
because the Lord/Melchizedek left.)
Some things in this prediction concerning
Antiochus are alluded to in the
New-Testament predictions of the
antichrist, especially Dan. 11:36, 37.
His character: He shall be a vile person.
He called himself Epiphanes –the
illustrious, but his character was the
reverse of his surname. The heathen
writers (historical sources) describe him
to be an odd-humoured man, rude
and boisterous, base and sordid. He would
sometimes steal out of the court
into the city, and herd with any infamous
company incognito – in disguise
he made himself a companion of the common
sort, and of the basest
strangers that came to town. He had the
most unaccountable whims, so
that some took him to be silly, others to
be mad. Hence he was called
Epimanes – the madman. He is called a vile
person, for he had been a long
time a hostage at Rome for the fidelity of
his father when the Romans had
subdued him; and it was agreed that, when
the other hostages were
exchanged, he should continue a prisoner at
large.
(Matthew Henry Commentary)
His accession to the crown: By a trick he
got his elder brother’s son,
Demetrius, to be sent a hostage to Rome, in exchange for him,
contrary to
the cartel; and, his elder brother being
made away with by Heliodorus
(Dan 11:20), him (Epiphanes) took the
kingdom. The states of Syria did
not give it to him (Dan11:21), because they
knew it belonged to his elder
brother’s son, nor did he get it by the
sword, but came in peaceably,
pretending to reign for his brother’s son,
Demetrius, then a hostage at
Rome. But with the help of Eumenes and
Attalus, neighbouring princes,
he gained an interest in the people, and by
flatteries obtained the kingdom,
established himself in it, and crushed Heliodorus, who
made head against
him with the arms of flood; those that
opposed him were overflown and
broken before him, even the prince of the
covenant, his nephew
(Demetrius), the rightful heir, whom he
pretended to covenant with that he
would resign to him whenever he should
return, Dan 11:22. But, (Dan 11:
23) after the league made with him he shall
work deceitfully, as one whose
avowed maxim it is that princes ought not
to be bound by their word any
longer than it is for their interest. And
with a small people, that at first
cleave to
him, he shall become strong, and (Dan 11:24) he shall enter
peaceably upon the fattest places of the
kingdom of Syria, and, very unlike
his predecessors, shall scatter among the
people the prey, and the spoil,
and riches, to insinuate himself into their
affections; but, at the same time,
he shall forecast his devices against the
strong-holds, to make himself
master of them, so that his generosity
shall last but for a time; when he has
got the garrisons into his hands he will
scatter his spoil no more, but rule
by force, as those commonly do that come in
by fraud. He that comes in
like a fox reigns like a lion. Some
understand these verses of his first
expedition into Egypt, when he came not as
an enemy, but as a friend and
guardian to the young king Ptolemaeus Philometer, and
therefore brought
with him but few followers, yet those stout
men, and faithful to his
interest, whom he placed in divers of the
strong-holds in Egypt, thereby
making himself master of them. (Matthew
Henry Commentary)
His war with Egypt, which was his second expedition thither: This is
described, Dan 11:25,27. Antiochus shall
stir up his power and courage
against Ptolemaeus Philometer king of
Egypt. Ptolemy, thereupon, shall be
stirred up to battle against him, shall
come against him with a very great
and
mighty army; but Ptolemy, though he has such a vast army, shall not
be able to stand before him; for
Antiochus’s army shall overthrow his, and
overpower it, and great multitudes of the
Egyptian army shall fall down
slain. And no marvel, for the king of Egypt
shall be betrayed by his own
counselors; those that feed of the portion
of his meat, that eat of his bread
and live upon him, being bribed by
Antiochus, shall forecast devices
against him, and even they shall destroy
him; and what defense is there
against such treachery? After the battle, a
treaty of peace shall be set on
foot, and these two kings shall meet at one
council-board, to adjust the
articles of peace between them; but they
shall neither of them be sincere in
it, for they shall, in their pretenses and
promises of amity and friendship,
lie to one another, for their hearts shall
be at the same time to do one
another all the mischief they can. And then
no marvel that it shall not
prosper. The peace shall not last; but the end of it
shall be at the time
appointed in the divine Providence, and
then the war shall break out again,
as a sore that is only skinned over.
(Matthew Henry Commentary)
Another expedition against Egypt: From the former (expeditions) he
(Antiochus Epiphanes) returned with great
riches (Dan 11:28), and
therefore took the first occasion to invade
Egypt again, at the time
appointed by the divine Providence, two
years after, in the eighth year of
his reign, Dan 11:29. He shall come towards
the south. But this attempt
shall not succeed, as the two former did, nor shall he
gain his point, as he
had done before once and again; for (Dan
11:30) the ships of Chittim shall
come against him, that is, the navy of the
Romans, or only ambassadors
from the Roman senate, who came in ships.
Ptolemaeus Philometer, king
of Egypt, being now in a strict alliance
with the Romans, craved their aid
against Antiochus, who had besieged him and
his mother Cleopatra in the
city of Alexandria. The Roman senate
thereupon sent an embassy to
Antiochus, to command him to raise the
siege, and, when he desired some
time
to consider of it and consult with his friends about it, Popilius, one of
the ambassadors, with his staff drew a
circle about, and told him, as one
having authority, he should give a positive
answer before he came out of
that circle; whereupon, fearing the Roman
power, he was forced
immediately to give orders for the raising
of the siege and the retreat of his
army
out of Egypt. So Livy and others relate the story which this prophecy
refers to. He shall be grieved, and return;
for it was a great vexation to him
to be forced to yield thus. (Matthew Henry
Commentary)
His rage and cruel practices against
the Jews: This is that part of his
government, or mis-government rather, which
is most enlarged upon in
this prediction. In his return from his
expedition into Egypt (which is
prophesied of, Dan 11:28) he did exploits
against the Jews, in the sixth
year of his reign; then he spoiled the city
and temple. But the most terrible
storm was in his return from Egypt, two years
after, prophesied of Dan
11:30. Then he took Judea in his way home;
and, because he could not
gain his point in Egypt by reason of the
Romans interposing, he wreaked
his revenge upon the poor Jews, who gave
him no provocation, but had
greatly provoked God to permit him to do it,
Daniel 8:23.
(Matthew Henry Commentary)
He had a rooted antipathy to the Jews’
religion: His heart was against
the holy covenant, Daniel
11:28. And (Daniel
11:30) he had indignation against
the holy covenant, that covenant of peculiarity
by which the Jews were
incorporated a people distinct from all
other nations, and dignified above
them. He hated the law of Moses and the
worship of the true God, and was
vexed at the privileges of the Jewish nation and the promises
made to
them. Note, that which is the hope and joy
of the people of God is the
envy of their neighbours, and that is the
holy covenant. Esau hated Jacob
because he had got the blessing. Those that
are strangers to the covenant
are often enemies to it. (Matthew Henry
Commentary)
Next, I will give another commentary, Jamieson, Fausset &
Brown, on the same verses 11:21 thru 11:29 for your further study. Matthew
Henry Commentary was written in the 1700’s and Jamieson was written in the
1800’s. As you can see, this information and knowledge has been covered over by
the prejudices of the so-called Modern age. There is much truth just beneath
the surface of our false assumptions, waiting to be rediscovered. The
information in brackets are the historical sources referred to. The bold
letters are the biblical verses being commented on.
Daniel 11:21 vile -- Antiochus called Epiphanes, that is, "the
illustrious," for
Jamieson vindicating the claims of the royal line against
Heliodorus, was
nicknamed, by a play of sounds, Epimanes,
that is, "the madman," for his
mad
freaks beneath the dignity of a king. He would carouse with the
lowest of the people, bathe with them in
the public baths(sound familiar?
my comment), and foolishly jest and
throw stones at passers-by
[POLYBIUS, 26.10]. Hence, as also for
his crafty supplanting of
Demetrius, the rightful heir, from the
throne, he is termed "vile." they
shall not give…kingdom: but…by flatteries -- The nation shall not, by a
public act, confer the kingdom on him, but
he shall obtain it by artifice,
"flattering" Eumenes and Attalus
of Pergamos to help him, and, as he had
seen
candidates at Rome doing, canvassing the Syrian people high and
low, one by one, with embraces [LIVY,
41.20].
Daniel 11:22 shall they be overflown…before him --
Antiochus Epiphanes shall
Jamieson invade
Egypt with overwhelming forces.
prince of the covenant --Ptolemy
Philometer, the son of Cleopatra,
Antiochus’ sister, who was joined in
covenant with him. Ptolemy’s
guardians, while he was a boy, sought
to recover from Epiphanes
Coelo-Syria and Palestine, which had
been promised by Antiochus
the Great as Cleopatra’s dowry in
marrying Ptolemy Epiphanes.
Hence arose the war. Philometer’s
generals were vanquished, and
Pelusium, the key of Egypt, taken by
Antiochus, 171 B.C.
Daniel 11:23 TREGELLES notes three divisions in the
history of the "vile
Jamieson
person," which is continued to the end of the chapter: (1) His
rise (Daniel 11:21,22). (2) The time
from his making the
covenant to the taking away of the
daily sacrifice and setting up
of the abomination of desolation
(Daniel 11:23-31). (3) His
career of blasphemy, to his destruction
(Daniel 11:32-45); the
latter two periods answering to the
"week" of years of his
"covenant with many" (namely,
in Israel) (Daniel 9:27), and
the last being the closing half week of
the ninth chapter. But
the context so accurately agrees with
the relations of Antiochus
to Ptolemy that the primary reference
seems to be to the "league"
between them. Antitypically,
Antichrist’s relations towards
Israel are probably delineated. Compare
Daniel 8:11,25 with
Daniel 11:22 here, "prince of the
covenant."
work deceitfully -- Feigning
friendship to young Ptolemy, as if
he wished to order his kingdom for him,
he took possession of
Memphis and all Egypt ("the fattest
places," Daniel 11:34) as
far as Alexandria. with a small
people -- At first, to throw off
suspicion, his forces were small.
Daniel 11:24 peaceably
-- literally, "unexpectedly"; under the guise of friend-
Jamieson ship he
seized Ptolemy Philometer.
he shall do that which his
fathers have not done -- His predecessors,
kings of Syria,
had always coveted Egypt, but in vain: he alone
made himself master of it.
scatter among them…
prey -- among his
followers (1 Maccabees 1:19).
Forecast his devices against…
strongholds -- He
shall form a studied
scheme for making himself master of the
Egyptian fortresses. He
gained them all except Alexandria,
which successfully resisted
him. Retaining to himself Pelusium, he
retired to Judea, where,
in revenge for the joy shown by the
Jews at the report of his death,
which led them to a revolt, he subdued
Jerusalem by storm or stratagem.
for a time -- His rage
shall not be for ever; it is but for a time limited
by God. CALVIN makes "for a
time" in antithesis to "unexpectedly,"
in the beginning of the verse. He
suddenly mastered the weaker
cities: he had to "forecast his plans" more gradually
("for a time")
as to how to gain the stronger
fortresses.
Daniel 11:25 A fuller detail of
what was summarily stated (Daniel 11:22-24).
Jamieson This is
the first of Antiochus’ three (Daniel 11:29) open invasions of
Egypt.
against the king of the south
-- against Ptolemy Philometer.
Subsequently, Ptolemy Physcon (the
Gross), or Euergetes II, was
made king by the Egyptians, as Ptolemy
Philometer was in Antiochus
hands.
great army -- as
distinguished from the "small people" (Daniel 11:23)
with which he first came. This was his
first open expedition; he
was emboldened by success to it.
Antiochus "entered Egypt with
an overwhelming multitude, with
chariots, elephants, and cavalry"
(1 Maccabees 1:17).
stirred up -- by the
necessity, though naturally indolent.
not stand --
Philometer was defeated.
they shall forecast, &c. --
His own nobles shall frame treacherous
"devices" against him (see
Daniel 11:26). Euloeus and Lenoeus
maladministered his affairs. Antiochus,
when checked at last at
Alexandria, left Ptolemy Philometer at
Memphis as king, pretending
that his whole object was to support
Philometer’s claims against the
usurper Physcon.
Daniel 11:26 they that feed of…his meat --
those from whom he (Philometer)
Jamieson might
naturally have looked for help, his intimates and dependents
(Psalms 41:9, John 13:18); his
ministers and guardians.
his army shall overflow --
Philometer’s army shall be dissipated
as water. The phrase is used of
overflowing numbers, usually in
a victorious sense, but here in the
sense of defeat, the very numbers
which ordinarily ensure victory,
hastening the defeat through mis-
management.
many shall fall down slain
-- (1Maccabees 1:18, "many fell
wounded to death"). Antiochus,
when he might have slain all in
the battle near Pelusium, rode around and
ordered the enemy to be
taken alive, the fruit of which policy
was, he soon gained Pelusium
and all Egypt [DIODORUS SICULUS,
27.77].
Daniel 11:27 both…to do mischief --
each to the other.
Jamieson speak
lies at one table -- They shall, under the semblance of
intimacy, at Memphis try to deceive one
another
it shall not prosper
-- Neither of them shall carry his point at this time.
yet the end shall be
-- "the end" of the contest between them is
reserved for "the time
appointed" (Daniel 11:29, 30).
Daniel 11:28 (1 Maccabees 1:19, 20, &c).
Jamieson against
the holy covenant -- On his way back to Syria, he attacked
Jerusalem, the metropolis of Jehovah’s
covenant-people, slew
eighty thousand, took forty thousand
prisoners, and sold forty
thousand as slaves (11 Maccabees 5:5-14).
he shall do exploits
-- He shall effect his purpose. Guided by
Menelaus, the high priest, he entered
the sanctuary with blasphemies,
took away the gold and silver vessels,
sacrificed swine on the alter,
and sprinkled broth of the flesh
through the temple
(11 Maccabees 5:15-21).
Daniel 11:29 At the time appointed
-- "the time" spoken of in Daniel 11:27.
Jamieson return
-- his second open invasion of Egypt. Ptolemy Philometer
suspecting Antiochus’ designs with
Physcon, hired mercenaries
from Greece. Whereupon Antiochus
advanced with a fleet and an
army, demanding the cession to him of
Cyprus, Pelusiuim, and
the country adjoining the Pelusiac
mouth of the Nile.
it shall not be as the former -- not
successful as the former
expedition. Popilius Loenas, the Roman
ambassador, met him at
Eleusis, four miles from Alexandria,
and presented him the decree
of the senate; on Antiochus replying
that he would consider what
he was to do, Popilius drew a line
round him with a rod and said,
"I must have a reply to give to
the senate before you leave this
circle."
Antiochus submitted, and retired from Egypt; and his
fleets withdrew from Cyprus.
or as the latter --
that mentioned in Daniel 11:42, 43 [TREGELLES].
Or, making this the third expedition,
the sense is "not as the first or
as the second" expeditions
[PISCATOR]. Rather "not as the former,
o shall be this latter" expedition
[GROTIUS].
From this small sample I think you can see for
yourself just how amazingly detailed and accurate these prophecies are. Anyone
interested in studying this further can do so at www.biblestudytools.net under
commentaries about Daniel (Matthew Henry and also Jamieson, Fausset and Brown).
Changing topics, next consider
this verse from the Amplified Bible:
Daniel
12:4
But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book
(Amplified) until the time
of the end. Then many shall run to and fro
and search anxiously (through the Book),
and knowledge
[of God’s purposes as revealed by His
prophets] shall be
increased and become great.
Amos 8:12 And (the people) shall wander from sea to
sea and from
(Amplified) the north even to
the east; they shall run to and fro to seek
the word of the Lord (inquiring
for and requiring it as one
requires food), but shall not find it.
These two
verses above reveal that there will be a great thirst for the proper
understanding of prophecy near the end of the messianic age, and that God’s
purposes will be progressively revealed through "greater understanding of
His prophets of old." Many will be confused in their search for God’s
truth. The Qumran community, of the Dead Sea Scrolls, foretell a final prophet
called "the interpreter of the law" who reveals God’s truth through
an inspired interpretation of the Olden Prophets. This demonstration of God’s
omniscience through His prophets is one of the major events to unfold during
the end and completion of this age.
God next tells us through Daniel:
Daniel
9:24 Seventy
weeks (of years or 490 years) are decreed upon
(Amplified)
your people and
upon your holy city (Jerusalem), to finish and
put an end to transgression (1), to seal
up and make full the
measure of sin (2), to purge away and
make expiation and
reconciliation for sin (3), to bring in
everlasting righteousness
(4), to seal up vision and prophecy and
prophet (5), and to
anoint a Holy of Holies (6).
Since we
haven’t ended the age yet, this means that transgression (against the will of
God) is not yet finished, that the "full measure of sin" has not yet
been attained, that full righteousness has not yet come, and that prophecy
remains incompletely fulfilled and incompletely interpreted. Continuing:
Daniel
9:25 Know
therefore and understand that from the going forth of
(Amplified) the commandment to
restore and build Jerusalem (King Artaxerxes
on March 14th, 445 B.C.) until the
coming of the Anointed One, a
Prince, shall be 7 weeks (of years = 49)
plus 62 weeks (of years =
434, total = 483 years); the city shall
be built again (2nd temple)
with square and moat in troublous times.
(my parentheses)
Daniel 9:26 And after sixty-two weeks (of years) the
Anointed One shall
(Amplified) be cut off (or killed)
and shall have nothing (and no one)
belonging to (or defending) Him. And the
people of the
(other) prince who will come will
destroy the city and the
sanctuary (Roman War A.D. 70). Its end
shall come with a
flood (of terror and war); and even to
the end there shall be
war, and desolations are decreed. (my
parentheses)
The two verses above predict the
rebuilding of the 2nd temple over a 49 year span, followed by the killing of
the Anointed One (Jesus) 62 weeks or 434 years later, which works out to be
A.D. 38, close to the actual crucifixion date of Jesus. The total weeks so far,
up to the death of Jesus, the Anointed One of 9:26, is 69 and there is a pause
in the prophecy after Jesus’ death for 2000 years while the Christian Age is
traversed, until the final week (the 70th) begins a 7 year period of trials
during the messianic end of the age. These dates and time periods are in
excellent agreement with the facts of history so far and there is every reason
to believe they will continue to be accurate in the future. The last verse of
this chapter pertains to the events of the final seventieth week.
Daniel
9:27 And he
(Antichrist) shall enter into a strong covenant with the many
(Amplified) for one week (7
years). And in the midst of the week he shall cause
the sacrifice and offering to cease (for
the remaining three and
one-half years); and upon the wing or
pinnacle of abominations
(shall come) one who makes desolate,
until the full determined
end is poured out on the desolation.
"He" of the first line of 9:27 is the antichrist of the upcoming
messianic period who "makes a covenant with many for one week." This
covenant is probably one or another of the Middle East agreements between
modern Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. I suspect that it will be the
one which may presently be forthcoming. The next line talks about the
antichrist causing sacrifice and offerings (presumably in the Temple) to cease
at mid-week (3.5 years). However, there is presently no Temple to cease
sacrifices. (Presently, the Arab, Dome of the Rock sits on top of the Temple
Mount.) So either there is a 3rd temple to be built soon, or this verse is not
being interpreted properly. However, other scripture implies that the 3rd
Temple will be built after Melchizedek arrives rather than before, again
yielding a contradiction to 9:27. Hopefully, further study will clarify this
point.
Chapter
12 of Daniel covers some events at the end of the age that are discussed
elsewhere.
Chapter 7 is also important and describes the fourth
and last beast (Kingdom) with ten horns (kings/rulers) followed by an eleventh
"little horn" who "plucks up" 3 kings by their roots,
meaning probably that the little horn takes their powers to himself from an
"inside" position. This little horn then "makes war with the Saints"
(probably those who elect God’s will) and prevails until Melchizedek enters the
scene and brings "release to the captives." (See end of Dead Sea
Scrolls chapter for more on beast and antichrist).
One final point, before leaving Daniel, is the recognition
of the behind the scenes activity of a variety of celestial beings, who shape
and influence human history. It would appear that negative beings such as
Caligastia (devil) and Satan have had their greatest impact on human history as
a result of their influence on key individuals in diverse spheres of influence
(academic, intellectual, economic, political, etc.). For example, Nietzsche
represents the flowering and culmination of a long and flawed line of German
philosophy. The slope is slippery and starts with seemingly innocuous and even
well-intended errors which pass off as truth. Through such influence, a whole
class of "intelligentsia" has been lead astray and the world has
followed along unaware. One is left to ask how and where may such influences be
manifesting themselves today? Only one clue is necessary. Wherever power is,
there lies in wait those who would use power to further their own ends. It is
said that absolute power corrupts absolutely and that every man has his price. Evil
tends to be much better organized, goal oriented, and assertive than good on
our world and I’m afraid that the reigns of power (all types) have been and are
in the hands of those who would use them to further their own
ends rather than for the welfare of those that are in their charge.
This leadership elite of mankind has become so powerful that a superhuman
effort will be needed to overcome it.
Chapter 2:1-49 discusses Nebuchadnezar’s dream of the
great image, which symbolizes the kingdoms of man and their final destruction
by the eternal Kingdom of God. The final kingdom of man has feet of iron and
clay. The iron is strong and unyielding and the clay is weak and fragile (like
human nature). Perhaps the iron represents authoritarian and the clay
democratic nations. Irregardless, these verses end with a divine
kingdom "made not with human hands" that "breaks
in pieces and consumes" all the kingdoms of man gone before it. This is
the Kingdom of heaven and earth, which "shall stand
forever." Rebellion and isolation are ended, full restoration then takes
place, and Melchizedek’s comprehensive plan for rehabilitation is
completed. Next in line is
Haggai.