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DANIEL
(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:
Dan 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)
Dan 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
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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
shall fall down slain.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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, Dan 8:23. (Matthew Henry
Commentary)
He had a rooted antipathy to the Jews’ religion: His heart was
against the holy covenant, Dan 11:28. And (Dan 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
biblicalverses being commented on.
Dan 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].
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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].
Dan 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).
Dan 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).
Dan 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,
so 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:
Dan 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:
Seventy Weeks Prophecy
Dan 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:
Dan 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)
Dan 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.
Dan 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. |
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