During my last message, we read Daniel chapter 9. It was about a prayer of Daniel. He prayed, “Lord, look with favor on your sanctuary.” His prayer was on target and understood the essence of true worship. He sought for true worship to be restored at the Temple. And God answered Daniel’s prayer. God’s answer was a revelation, a promise of the coming of Jesus Christ and his work. As for us today, we do not need to have Temple worship. Because of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, our worship is no longer bound to a certain place or time.
Today’s message is Part 7 on the book of Daniel. We will look at chapters 10 and 11. The theme for today is that God will judge the Antichrist. Previously we saw the Antichrist mentioned in chapter 8, and now in chapter 11 he is mentioned again in a vision of war between Syria and Egypt; and that the Antichrist will try to hinder worship of the true God. We live in a time where the end is approaching. But even today, God holds the course of history in his hands. And He knows all things and protects us, his people. This is what Daniel’s vision conveys and what I would like to talk about today.
I have mentioned this before, but the prayer of Daniel we read last month is ultimately about the Messiah. Through the Cross, the Messiah atones for our sins and brings eternal righteousness (9:24). The book of Daniel prophesies a number of times about this Messiah, who is a major theme of the entire Old Testament. The Messiah will be born during the time of the Romans, bring an end to nations, and establish the kingdom of God. Through the Cross, the Messiah will justify us in the eyes of God. However, besides the Messiah there will be an Antichrist. These two concepts cannot be separated. Through yet another vision, Daniel tells us more about the Antichrist and the Messiah.
In chapter 10, the war between Persia and Greece is not just an earthly battle but one fought in the heavens as well. 10:13 mentions the angel Michael. The angel Michael was described as protecting Israel. The vision also mentions other kinds of angelic beings in charge of Persia and Greece. The vision revealed that along with the battle fought in the heavens, on earth Persia would be defeated by Greece.
Later, 11:3 says, “Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.” This is Alexander the Great. With great power, this king of Greece will destroy Persia and expand his territory as far as Egypt. But, verse 4, says, “After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.” After Alexander the Great’s rule, Greece will be divided into four territories. From verse 5, the vision describes how the king of Syria will fight the king of Egypt. The king of the South refers to the king of Egypt. The king of the North is the king of Syria. A number of commentaries say that, just as Daniel’s vision described, several kings arose and continued the struggle between Syria and Egypt. God truly has history in his hands.
Going ahead to verse 21: “He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.” Verse 22: “Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.” This “contemptible person” disgraced the high priest Onias in 175 BC. And then attacked the neighboring territories but was weakened by Rome. Verse 29 says, “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before.” Invading the South here refers to attacking Egypt. Verse 30: “Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.” The ships of the western coastlands refer to Roman ships. Because he was resisted by Rome, he turned to attack Israel, who is described in this chapter as the “Beautiful Land.”
Verse 31 says, “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.” The enraged King of Syria, Antiochus Epiphanes, returned from his attack on Egypt, and on his way defiled the temple of Israel, deposed the priests, and brought a pagan altar into the temple of God. We have already covered this in chapter 8, and once again this king is revealed as the Antichrist in chapter 11.
Verse 33 says, “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.” When I covered chapter 8, I mentioned that when King Antiochus Epiphanes attacked Israel, a struggle for liberation arose among the Jewish people. That struggle was called the Maccabean Revolt. And Jerusalem’s temple worship was restored. In this chapter, those involved in the struggle for freedom are called “the wise.” And just like in chapter 8, the rule of Antiochus was only for a limited time; and through the efforts of the wise, people were free to worship in Jerusalem again. So once again, Daniel prophecies what will happen with the Antichrist.
From verse 36 onwards, the vision begins to talk about events in the end times. An Antichrist will arise. This is something we should be well aware of as Christians. According to verse 36, the Antichrist “will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.” Meanwhile, we can’t talk about the end times without mentioning Jerusalem, the Beautiful Land. According to verse 45, the Antichrist “will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” Looking at this verse closely, it says, “Yet he will come to his end,” meaning that the Antichrist will be judged by God, and those he had gathered to support him will be scattered in an instant.
In current times, the world surrounding Israel is changing from moment to moment. As we closely watch these changes, we should not be shaken but rather understand and respond the right way, even if we see the Antichrist challenging God. Trials and difficulties will definitely come on every believer. Even persecution may come. We see war in many places. So let us take to heart the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew, chapter 24, while praying to God, “Lord, carry out your righteous judgment.” (See Matthew 24:3-14)
Reflecting on today’s passage in Daniel, we see that there was war on earth, but no matter great the crisis, Israel was protected by the angel Michael. And that, one day, the Antichrist will be brought down by God. As believers, let us not be fearful of difficulties and trials on earth but keep our eyes on the Savior. Christ has received us, loves us, and will be with us until the end of time. He removes our sins, makes us righteous, and accepts us. He will surely return. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus as we worship, rejoice in our salvation, and live out our faith in each of our unique ways.
Thessalonians 5:2-10: . . . for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
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