The Book of DANIEL
James J. Barker


Lesson 22
THE ANTICHRIST SHALL COME TO HIS END

Text: DANIEL 11:40-45


INTRODUCTION:


  1. Students of the Word of God know that the world is moving toward the rise of the antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon, and the second coming of Christ.
  2. There is an expression found three times in Daniel 11 -- "at the time appointed" (11:27, 29, 35).
  3. This means important events are appointed by God. For example, Galatians 4:4 says, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son." In other words, according to God's perfect schedule.
  4. The book of Daniel emphasizes that everything happens according to the will and sovereign purpose of God.
  5. There is no development in history that takes God by surprise.
  6. History is "His-story."
  7. King Nebuchadnezzar eventually understood this. In Daniel 4:35, he said the LORD does "according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"
  8. In addition to the phrase, "at the time appointed" (11:27, 29, 35), a similar expression is found in verse 36, where it says the antichrist "shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done." "The indignation" refers to the tribulation period.
  9. Our Lord said in Matthew 24:6, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."
  10. Last week we looked at the rise of the antichrist. Tonight we will look at his fall (11:45b). It "must come to pass."

 

I. IT WILL BE AT "THE TIME OF THE END" (11:40).

  1. This phrase refers to the tribulation period (11:40; cf. 11:36b).
  2. "The time of the end" will involve a series of great military struggles that will characterize the end of the age.
  3. Our Lord said, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:6, 7).
  4. Zechariah 12:2, 3 says, "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."
  5. Revelation 16:16 says, "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
  6. Revelation 19:19 says, "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army."
  7. The "king" (11:36-39), i.e., the antichrist will be attacked by “the king of the south” and “the king of the north" (11:40).
  8. The king of the south will be the leader of a political and military alliance that will come from the area south of Israel. Note: "the Libyans and the Ethiopians" (11:43). Libya and Ethiopia are south of Egypt.
  9. In the early part of Daniel 11, the "king of the south" is Egypt, but during the tribulation the king of the south will probably head up an alliance that may include several other African armies.
  10. In the early part of Daniel 11, the "king of the north" is Syria, but during the tribulation the king of the north will probably head up an alliance that will cover an area greater than Syria.
  11. It will probably include all the military force of the lands north of Israel, especially Russia.  Incidentally, Russian President Vladimir Putin is a key ally of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
  12. Ezekiel 38:15 says Israel's enemy will come from "out of the north parts," and "many people" will come with him.
  13. Some of the allies mentioned are Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya, and Gomer (Ezekiel 38:5, 6).  Gomer probably refers to Germany.
  14. The battle described here in Daniel 11:40 is quite different from that of Ezekiel 38 and 39, and will probably develop later, toward the end of the tribulation -- "At the time of the end" (11:40).
  15. Interestingly, the king of the north will attack at least twice (11:40, 44).
  16. In Ezekiel's prophecy, the invader comes only from the north, whereas in Daniel 11, Israel is invaded both from the north and south, and later from the east (11:40-44).
  17. Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 describe the antichrist as a world ruler, heading up a one-world government. Therefore, the war here in Daniel 11 describes a rebellion against his leadership and the breaking up of his one-world government.
  18. Revelation 13:4 says the dragon (Satan) will give power to the antichrist.  Second Thessalonians 2:9 says the antichrist will come "after the working of Satan."
  19. But in spite of his satanic power and support, the antichrist's one-world government will eventually fall apart, leading to a terrible world war which, climaxing with the second coming of Christ.
  20. World War I was called "the war to end all wars."  Ten million men lost their lives on the battlefield, and another twenty million were wounded.
  21. Then came WWII, with over 40,000,000 deaths, making it the bloodiest conflict and the largest war in history.
  22. Both of these terrible wars will pale in comparison to the Battle of Armageddon, and all of the other battles and conflicts that will take place in the tribulation period.
  23. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse will soon start to ride.  The fourth horse will be a pale horse, "and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth" (Rev. 6:8).
  24. Ezekiel 38 & 39 describe a future invasion of Israel by Gog (Russia). 39:12 says, "And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land." 

 

II. HIS ALLIES WILL TURN AGAINST HIM

  1. Daniel 11:40 says, the kings of the south and north shall 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.
  2. There will be a counterattack on those who have attacked him, resulting in the antichrist entering into their countries and occupying “the glorious land," i.e. Israel (11:41).
  3. Edom and Moab and the children of Ammon shall escape, but "the land of Egypt shall not escape" (11:41, 42).
  4. His victory is such that he is able to increase greatly his treasures of gold and silver and obtain precious things from Egypt (11:43).
  5. However, verses 43 and 44 describe trouble from the Libyans and the Ethiopians, and tidings out of the east (China and her allies). These armies "shall be at his steps" (11:43, 44).
  6. From this point on, the antichrist's one-world empire will start to fall apart as his allies turn against him.
  7. Daniel 11:44 says, "But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him..." This indicates there will be a second attack from the north (cf. 11:40).
  8. The "tidings out of the east" probably refer to an invasion from China (and her allies), described in Revelation 9:13-21.
  9. Revelation 16:12 says, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared."
  10. The Euphrates River is mentioned twenty-one times in the Bible. It is one of the most prominent rivers of the world.  In Genesis 15:18, Deuteronomy 1:7, Joshua 1:4, and Revelation 16:12 it is called “the great river Euphrates.”
  11. In Genesis 2:10 we are told that a river went out of the Garden of Eden to water the garden; "and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads."  One of those four rivers is the great Euphrates River (Genesis 2:14).
  12. The Euphrates River is 1,780 miles long and is a natural boundary between the Middle East and the Far East. It formed the eastern boundary of the ancient Roman Empire, as well as the eastern boundary of the promised land (Gen. 15:18; Deut. 1:7; 11:24; Joshua 1:4).
  13. According to Bible prophecy, the battle of Armageddon will take place in Israel; therefore a way will be prepared for the huge Chinese army to cross over and invade Israel (Revelation 16:12).
  14. Revelation 9:16 describes 200 million horsemen crossing the Euphrates River.  Today Red China claims to have a militia numbering over two hundred million soldiers.
  15. In order for this huge army to cross over, the water will be "dried up" (Rev. 16:12).  It is literally drying up now.
  16. There is a severe water shortage in Syria today. According to an official at the Syrian Red Crescent, "The situation signals a humanitarian and health disaster."
  17. John Daly (The Turkey Analyst): "As armed conflict ravages Syria and Iraq, Turkey risks adding to the social and political tensions to its south by cutting the water flow of the Euphrates, which originates in southeastern Turkey and is Western Asia’s longest river... Compounding Iraqi misery, ISIS has been using water as a weapon of war."
  18. Right now Turkey is drying up the Euphrates River, but that can be corrected.  But Revelation 16:12 says an angel will pour out his vial (the sixth vial judgment) "upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up."   That cannot be corrected or altered.
  19. Daniel 11:40 says, "But tidings (reports) out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him..."  When the antichrist hears the disturbing news that the huge Chinese army, with over two hundred million men, are marching toward him, he will be "troubled."
  20. The antichrist will quickly "go forth with great fury" toward Israel, "and he shall plant the tabernacles (tents) of his palace between the seas (Jerusalem is situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea) in the glorious holy mountain (Mount Zion)" (11:44, 45).
  21. His attempt to set up "his palace" in Jerusalem indicates he will attempt to make Jerusalem his headquarters.  Second Thessalonians 2:4 says he will sit in the temple in Jerusalem, "shewing himself that he is God."

 

III. HE WILL BE DEFEATED AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

  1. The conflicts between the antichrist and his various adversaries will go on without cessation right up to the day of the second coming of Christ (cf. Zechariah 14:1-4).
  2. Daniel does not dwell upon any of the details in the climax of this struggle, but information is given elsewhere in Scripture (cf. II Thess. 2:8; Revelation 19:17-21).
  3. Daniel 7:11 says, "I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame."
  4. Daniel 8:25 says, "he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."
  5. Daniel 11:45b simply says, "yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

 

CONCLUSION:


  1. Daniel 11:36 says the antichrist "shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done." This refers to the sovereignty of God, and reminds us that God is in control, even when events and circumstances seem to be out of control.
  2. Things definitely seem out of control now -- ISIS, Ebola, wars breaking out everywhere, etc. And it will get worse as we draw closer to the second coming of Christ. But God is in control, and our Lord is coming back.
  3. Zechariah 14:9 says, "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one."


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