God’s Word clearly predicts that in the very last days before the Lord Jesus comes back there will be an Antichrist. One who is also called in God’s Word the man of sin or the son of perdition. This man will be the final manifestation of many antichrists that have appeared throughout history. All of them were demon-possessed men. Since creation Satan’s supreme ambition has been to set up an earthly ruler through whom he can receive the worship of men and he has tried to do it with the rulers of every historic empire going all the way back to Nimrod the first major type of the Antichrist in the Bible. Through the final Antichrist, Satan will achieve his goal namely to re-incarnate himself in a human body and to be worshipped as God by men.
In the Book of Daniel chapter 11: 1-35 we have the prophet describing the historical battles that would occur between the kingdoms of Seleucus of Syria and Ptolemy of Egypt leading up to the coming of the Seleucid Greek General Antiochus Epiphanies. In the Bible Antiochus is a major type of the Antichrist and Daniel was telling us that the Antichrist would come with the same character traits of Antiochus. The Lord Jesus Himself said that this would be so when He spoke about “the abomination of desolation” that would occur at the end of this age. Jesus was saying that another in the character of Antiochus would repeat “the abomination” at the end of this age, namely, the desecration of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15)
In Daniel chapter 11:21-35 the prophet describes Antiochus and what the Holy Spirit is trying to show us is that the Antichrist would be just like Antiochus and like Antiochus be a military commander as well as a political ruler and despot. Now between verses 35 and 36 Daniel changes the time frame (a time leap) and begins to describe another character that will appear at the time of the end which is specifically mentioned and the context of the passage. (Daniel 11:40) (Daniel 12:1-3) This man will be the Antichrist himself.
When you look at what is happening today in the Middle East it is very clear that we are seeing Biblical prophecy literally being fulfilled before our eyes. Of course Israel is centre stage and although there are other trouble spots in the world the situation in the Middle East surpasses them all. It is no accident that the whole world is being exposed to the events occurring in the Middle East today. The stage is now being set for the ‘Antiochus’ to come who will seek the desolation of Jerusalem and the destruction of Israel. Today there is only one empire that is arising in the earth, a “wild beast” bent on the subjugation of the entire world. Indeed the ‘Babylonian’ empire is rising again!
The beast “wounded by the sword” is alive again and striding through the earth! Very soon their leader will be revealed and he indeed will be “the King who exults himself.” We are looking at Daniel Chapter 11:36-45; 12:3. Now let’s look at the text itself and the features of the Antichrist Daniel describes. What will he be like and what will he do?
1. The king who exults himself will be a wilful and rebellious king.
(Vs. 36) “The king will do as he pleases.
The Antichrist will be a wilfully rebellious and wicked despot who has his own agenda for the world, a man in the character of Nimrod who sought to build a tower up to heaven to challenge God, and they say he did this because of the flood that God had brought upon the earth in the time of Noah. All past rulers of the ancient empires were this way. Whether they were the kings of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece or Rome they all did as they pleased and received worship as gods. This will be the mark of the Antichrist. He will be a ruthless dictator who does not care for men or for God! Undoubtedly there have been many antichrists in history and they are still around today. The Antichrist’s empire will ultimately reach into many nations and his law will be the only law.
Today there is an empire arising in the earth and it is more powerful than any western, European confederation. It is one whose political, economic, military and religious power will surpass Europe and the west. Today it is the power of Islam! At the heart of this beast empire is the hate towards any who believe in the Triune nature of God and the fact that He has a Son. This man who is called the Antichrist will be an arch rebel in the face of God like Nimrod of whom it is written in the original Hebrew language, “He was a mighty hunter in the face of God.” In other words according to the Hebrew text Nimrod was a rebel of the worst kind and his ambition was to build an empire that breached the walls of heaven itself and defied the Living God!
2. The king who exults himself will claim to be God Incarnate.
“He will exult and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods.”
The Antichrist will seek to be worshipped as God incarnate. All of the past rulers of the ancient empires sought to be deified in some way. This man will exult himself above every religion on earth especially Christianity and will make laws and proclamations that no ruler before him has made. Historically all of the other religions have denied the basic tenants of Christianity but this man with his political ideology and religion will destroy all religions except his own. Ultimately he wants to be the only ‘god.’
Today Islam has an agenda and that is to conquer the world and establish global Islamic Sharia law. This ideology is clearly taught in the Koran and in other Islamic literature. The Koran clearly states that the two great enemies of Islam are “the people of the book” i.e., the Jews and the Christians who accept the Bible as God’s only divinely inspired Word. This militant attitude is clearly seen in the Ayatollahs of Iran who are still calling for the total extermination of Israel. In fact in countries like Indonesia, the Sudan and in many other Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia Christians to this day are murdered and tortured in the name of Mohammad and Islam.
Ultimately this man Daniel describes will stand on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to proclaim himself as God to the whole world. Paul the apostle tells us this in the New Testament when he said concerning this man of sin, “He opposes and exults himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, and even sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4) When the Antichrist is worshipped as God on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in some way he will also be worshipped in the professing Christian Church. The worship of this man will supersede the worship of the Pope. This man will say, “unheard of things against the God of gods” and speak against the LORD in a way that none of his predecessors ever did. He will be possessed by Satan himself.
This man’s empire will sweep all through the Middle-east and beyond. In fact as I have already mentioned in other studies that Islam is not merely another religion like Buddhism or Hinduism, but a political, socio-economic and militaristic entity bent on world domination. There is a religious component that is true but it cannot be relegated to just another religion. Satan of course has a religious side to him and understands the power of religion; however, he knows full well that it is not religion that saves the soul but only the blood of the Messiah our Lord Jesus and His righteousness received by faith.
In fact all religion is a vain thing. Knowing God personally through His Son and the Blessed Holy Spirit is the only thing that really matters in this world. The Lord Jesus said; “I am the way, the truth and the life and no-one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Again it is written in scripture that “salvation is found in no-one else for there is no other name under heaven given among men by whom we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The reality is that Buddha is dead and buried Confucius is dead and buried, Mohammad is dead and buried, but the Lord Jesus is alive and doing well! In Him is the resurrection to eternal life and is found in no-one else! The Lord Jesus also said; “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and is believing in Me will never die” (John 11:25-26).
Today Islam denies the Father and Son relationship in the Godhead and places a curse on all those who accept that God has begotten a Divine Son in the Lord Jesus the Messiah. Many down through the centuries have been saying that the final Pope will be the Antichrist, however, that is not possible because the Roman Catholic Church in its doctrines and dogmas, which cannot be changed, do not deny the divinity of Jesus or deny the Trinity. However Islam denies these Biblical truths. While it can be said that the Popes sit in the seat of the Antichrist because of the titles given to them, they, at least publicly, do not deny the divinity of Jesus or the Trinity.
The spirit of antichrist denies the Father and the Son relationship in the Godhead and the Bible says that whoever does this is the Antichrist. The Apostle John himself said, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist-He denies the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22) However, God will have the final word! Daniel tells us concerning the Antichrist, “He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.” God Himself has fixed a boundary for the Antichrist and there is an appointed time on God’s historical Calendar when this rebel and his entire empire will come to a fiery end. As it is written also in Daniel; “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beat was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.” (Daniel 7:11) Also see (2 Thessalonians 1: 7-9)
This beast empire is active today in Islam however, when Jesus comes back He will destroy Islam from the face of the earth forever. Those who have followed the Antichrist will, along with him, burn in the lake of fire forever! As John writes; “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Revelation 14:9-12) The nations that have followed the Antichrist will all go down into the pit of Hades in wholesale lots. (Ezekiel 32:17-32) The nations and geographical areas mentioned by name are all Islamic today.
If we are obeying God’s commandments by the Holy Spirit’s power, enduring the Satanic pressures arrayed against us and living moment by moment under the protection and power of the blood of the Messiah, then we will not be among those that worship the beast and his image and receive the mark of his name. We most certainly will not be among those who will be tormented forever in the Lake of Fire.
3. The king who exults himself will despise and hate the Lord Jesus, the Anointed Messiah
(Vs. 37) “He will show no regard for the god’s of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exult himself above them all.”
This man will reject the many “gods” of his ancestors and exult himself above them all. Even though he will come out from a Polytheistic culture he will deny them all. Already this has happened in history with Mohammad. Traditionally before his time there were many pagan gods in Arabia including Allah the moon-god of war and there were 360 Arabic ‘gods’ worshipped in Mecca. When Mohammad invaded Mecca he wanted a Monotheistic God like the Jews and the Christians so he got rid of all of the Arabic gods of his fathers except Allah the Moon god of war. Mohammad then proclaimed that Allah was the only god and that he, Mohammad, was his prophet. The image of this ‘god’ was the black stone which we see in the Kaaba in Mecca today. It is in fact a meteor.
Of course Allah is not the God of the Jews and the Christians but another “god,” one invented by man himself. In fact both in the Old and New Testaments the Bible clearly tells us that “other gods” are demons! (Deuteronomy 32:16-17) (1 Corinthians 10:20) When you see “so called Christians” indulging in Inter-faith worship or even bowing down to images of Mary and the saints, as they do in Roman Catholicism, they are in reality worshipping demons.
The Antichrist will make himself to be greater than the God of the Jews and the Christians. When you hear the Muslim’s cry out, “Allah Wakbarr” they are not saying, “God is Great” but “God is Greater.” You may ask “greater than whom?” Well they are saying their ‘god’ is greater than the God of the Jews and the Christians. There is only one other who said that he was greater than God and that was Satan himself as recorded in the books of the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel. (Isaiah 14:12-15) (Ezekiel 28:11-15)
In passing notice the phrase, “the one desired by women.” Every Jewish woman of Abraham’s descendants through Isaac’s line wanted to give birth to the Messiah. Daniel tells us that the Antichrist will have no regard at all for the Messiah of Israel. The Antichrist will despise the Messiah and because he cannot touch him he will go after his family both the Jews and faithful Christians. Also it does not mean that he has no desire for women but that he regards them as worthless and to be suppressed by men. Of course this fits perfectly in with Islamic teaching concerning the place of women according to the Koran and the Hadith.
4. The king who exults himself will have a religion of the sword and great wealth at his disposal
(Vs. 38-39) Instead of them, he will honour a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honour with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honour those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.”
Notice several things about this man. “He will honour a god of fortresses;” i.e., his ‘god’ will be a war god. Of course Allah in reality is the moon god of war. Islam is a religion of the sword. Their emblem is the crossed swords as well as the Crescent Moon. The crossed swords are pointed upwards denoting conquest and subjugation by the sword. Then it goes on to say, “A god unknown to his fathers he will honour with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.” This man will be a Muslim General and Politician. This man will not be a worshipper of the true and living God but honour “a foreign god” and have great wealth at his disposal. Today Islam has the wealth through its oil supplies to most of the nations of the world. Islam denies the Father and the Son relationship in the Godhead, worships a different ‘god,’ believes it has a global agenda to conquer the world with the sword, and has a religion that is reaping the wealth of the western nations through oil. Let’s continue with the text.
“He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honour those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.”
When this man and his vast army sweep down from the North of Israel he will not only attack Israel and Jerusalem but will also attack other nations as well. His invasion force will come from the North of Israel. If you draw a straight line from Jerusalem true north, the line dissects Ankara in Turkey, not Moscow. Today Islam has a “Trojan Horse” in the western nations. Already the Islamic terrorists have been at work in Europe, America, England, France, and Russia and in many other European countries. Even in Muslim countries like Indonesia the terrorists of Islam have been reaping havoc with their suicide bombings. When the Antichrist with his armies invade the Middle East it will trigger a global Jihad, an Islamic “chain reaction.” The “sleeper cells” predominantly in western countries will be activated unleashing terror on a scale far worse than we have seen already. When you look at the twentieth and the twenty first century the terrorists and suicide bombers have all been Islamic extremists.
In verse 39 the “foreign god” is not the God of the Bible but a vicious and cruel god who kills, steals and destroys everything. This man will use his religious and political ideologies to gain popularity and acknowledgement and set up an economic system that rewards all those who submit to his authority. Indeed this beast empire will seek to subjugate as many nations as it can especially those who follow the God of the Bible. In the book of Revelation chapter thirteen we are told that Believers in Jesus as well as faithful Israelites who also believe in the Messiah, will be hunted down, tortured and killed for their faith because they refuse to worship the Antichrist as God.
The Apostle John records this when he wrote; “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”(Revelation 13:5-8)
Notice the text tells us that the Antichrist will “greatly honour those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.” Islam today is rapidly moving towards controlling the world’s economy primarily through its oil. Even though America has its own oil fields the politicians in the White House still “curry favour” and “suck up” to the Islamic Oil Sheiks of Arabia. Even though Saudi Arabia to this day murders Christians the western politicians turn “a blind eye” to these atrocities in their greed for the petro-dollar! Obama when he was in office invited the Muslim Brotherhood into the White House and “rubbed shoulders” with other Islamic leaders. When the Antichrist comes to power he will have a vast empire that encompasses the whole Middle–Eastern region that geographically was approximately the same region occupied by the Ancient Kingdoms of Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome and the Turkish Ottoman Empire at the zenith of its power.
Added to this, his empire will stretch into parts of Europe as well. Throughout his empire he will reward all who acknowledge him and will give them land. Of course in Islam today those who own land in their countries and do not follow the Islamic faith have to pay the “Jizya Tax” to their Muslim Government. This tax is enforced on all non-Muslims in Islamic countries today where Sharia law is enforced. When the Antichrist comes, this will be included in his mandate throughout his vast Middle-Eastern Empire.
If you are reading this article and you know that your name is not yet written in the Lamb’s Book of Life then you need to thoroughly repent of your unbelief in Jesus, confess and turn away from all of your sin and rebellion towards God and run to the Lord Jesus the Messiah for mercy, pardon and cleansing through His precious blood that has atoned for yopur sin. Unless you are under the protection of His blood by faith alone in Him you cannot be saved and you will worship the Antichrist and take his mark or the number of his name (Badge of Servitude). You must turn from a Messiah hating, Messiah rejecting way of life to a Messiah loving, Messiah accepting way of life! This will lead you away from a life of sin and rebellion and lead you into a life of righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit and ultimately to heaven.
You have only one of two choices to make Christ or the Antichrist? When the Lord Jesus comes back again, only those who have been really born again and know the strength and sustaining power of the Holy Spirit in their life and the power of the Messiah’s blood will be the ones who have stood against the man of sin and not bowed to or embraced his ideology or his image. If you make Jesus Lord over your life then you will be rescued from the wrath that is surely coming upon the Antichrist and those who will ultimately follow him when he arrives on the scene. We do need to differentiate between the wrath of Satan and the wrath of God.
5. The king who exults himselfwill invade many countries and fight many nations
(Vs. 40) “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships.”
Historically, the first kings of the North and the South were Seleucus and Ptolemy. For territory Seleucus eventually got control of what we now know as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of Turkey. Reigning for a time from Babylon in modern Iraq, he built a new capital city 20 miles to the south east on the Tigris river and named it Seleucia. Ptolemy took Libya, Egypt, the Sudan, Israel and Jordan, and chose Alexandria in Egypt as his capital. According to history and the book of Daniel there was a prolonged war between these two kingdoms. Daniel records these wars in the earlier part of Daniel chapter eleven. There were six wars between the Ptolemy and Seleucid kingdoms from 274 BC to 168 BC. The last major king of the North to immerge was Antiochus Epiphanies the Seleucid Greek General who came from Syria and swept down into the Land of Israel, invaded the city of Jerusalem and desecrated the Temple Mount.
It is almost certain that in the not too distant future that there will be another war in the Middle-East between the King of the North and the King of the South. If you look at the same geographical areas today that made up the kingdoms of Seleucus and Ptolemy you can well see another North and South conflict brewing. Today the King of the North will be a man who comes from the region of Turkey (Revelation 2:13). Historically parts of Turkey were under Seleucid rule. Most likely the last King of the North will be the Antichrist leading a vast army from the countries of Syria, the Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Turkic speaking southern States of Russia and Turkey itself. His goal will be the destruction of Israel and the subjugation of those countries in the South that are moderate Muslims and aligned with the western powers. These nations following the King of the North would be Islamic fundamentalists bent on conquering the world for Islam and the glory of Allah.
The King of the south will be from Egypt and lead a confederacy of moderate Muslim nations associated with the western nations through oil deals. The main players supporting the Egyptian led confederacy would be Saudi Arabia and Jordan and possibly even Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The Saudi and Kuwaiti Oil Sheiks supply oil to the Western nations. Under the Presidency of Donald Trump when he was in office a peace accord was signed between the United Arab Emirates and Israel with Bahrain also wanting to join the accord. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump believed at that time they would see other moderate Islamic Arab nations also join the peace accord. Of course the Biden Administration came to power and things went haywire in the Middle-East even to this day. Possibly with Presidnet Trump soon to be inagurated in a few weeks things will change once again and possibly another peace accord will occur? The Arab states by and large, located in the Saudi Arabian peninsula, are all scared of Iran because of its race to become a nuclear power with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. All the militant regimes in Iran, in North Korea, in China and in Russia are watching to see what will happen when President elect Donald Trump comes to power in the Oval Office at the Whitehouse.
A war with the king of the North would possibly involve America and its allies to defend their investments in the Middle-East. Russia may well join in the conflict. Remember when Kuwait was attacked by Iraq America went to their defence. This could be the same type of scenario but on a much wider scale. The king of the North would want to enforce strict Sharia law and make his moderate Islamic ‘brothers’ in the South die-hard Muslims. America on the other hand would want to protect their investments in the South especially Saudi Arabia and Kuwait because of the oil deals going down with these countries. When the King of the North attacks Israel Iran will be one of the nations supporting him. (Ezekiel 38:5)
In the prophet Ezekiel there was a “principality” (powerful demonic spirit) behind the throne of the Kingdom of Persia and that same “principality” today is behind the Iranian regime of the Ayatollahs and their intense desire is the destruction of Israel! According to scripture there will be a final war between the King of the North and the King of the South. Remember that prophecy is a “pattern.” The Seleucid and Ptolemy wars of past history Daniel records for us will happen again for the last time within the same geographical locations. But let’s now move on. What else are we told about the Antichrist?
“He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.”
The Antichrist and his armies will invade many countries and will sweep through them much like the armies of Ancient Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome swept through nations and kingdoms. In fact this Islamic beast empire will be the combined ferociousness of all of the past ancient nations put together and empowered by Satan himself. We read about this beast empire in Revelation, “The beast (empire) I saw resembled a Leopard, (Ancient Greece but Alexander’s Middle-Eatern leg of his empire ) but had feet like those of a bear, (Ancient Persia) and a mouth like that of a lion (Ancient Babylon). The dragon (Satan) gave the beast (Empire) his power and his throne and great authority.” (Revelation 13:2)
The “Leopard” today would primarily be Turkey as parts of Turkey were included in the Ancient Seleucid Greek Empire. The “Bear” today would be Iran which was Ancient Persia. The “Lion” today would be Iraq which was Ancient Babylon. All of these nations were part of the ancient Seleucid Greek Empire. These are all Muslim nations today and they are driven by Satan to destroy Jews and Christians alike and are hell-bent on the destruction of Israel itself! Furthermore, they are expecting the promised Mahdi to lead them in a so-called ‘glorious’ Jihad for Allah to establish a Global Caliphate ruled by Sharia Law. This is the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood and Erdogan of Turkey adheres to this ideology. Egypt rejects this ideology.
Daniel’s description of this man in chapter eleven fits the character and the conduct of the Antichrist like a glove. The fastest expanding empire today is Islam. It is rapidly gaining in political, economic and military power to challenge the West. Today Europe, America, Great Britain and even in Australia there is an “Islamic Trojan Horse.” In other countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan Islam is spreading at an alarming rate and then there is Indonesia with the larget Muslim population in the world just north of Australia.
During the crusades the western armies in Europe may have turned back the tide of Islam in history; however, this last empire driven by Satan himself will turn back the tide of Western democracy and power. In the end the West will be hard pressed to stop the global expansion of Islam. God may well use Islam to judge the western nations because of their moral and spiritual decadence. The immergence of the Islamic Antichrist with his vast army will ignite a major Middle-Eastern war and draw the other nations of the world into the conflict. The end goal of this great army will be the subjugation of Israel and sovereignty over the city of Jerusalem. The Muslims do not want a two state solution. They want the lot!
Ultimately things will become so bad in the world that only the return of the Lord Jesus the Messiah will save the planet from totally annihilating itself. (Matthew 24:21-22) When you think about the nuclear arsenal in the world today it paints a very frightening and gloomy scenario.
6. The king who exults himself will Invade Israel
“He will also invade the Beautiful Land. (Israel)”
In the book of Zechariah chapters 12-14 we see Israel invaded by the armies of the nations. Also in Ezekiel chapters 38-39 we see the same scenario described. In fact in Ezekiel chapter 38 these nations are specifically mentioned and correspond to the following geographical areas we see today. Ezekiel writes; “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.” (Ezekiel 30:1-6)
Firstly, there is Gog, of the land of Magog the Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal. Gog or “Gygez” was a real historical person from Turkey and lived around the same time that Ezekiel was writing his prophecy. Today Magog would be Turkey, parts of Southern Russia such as former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan with around 60 million Muslims, and possibly northern parts of Afghanistan. Also it would include Northern Iran, Syria and the Turkic Regions of Central Asia.
Secondly, we have Meschech and Tubal which were also located in Modern day Turkey. Thirdly, there is Persia which today of course is Iran. Fourthly, there is Cush which today would be the Sudan and even includes Somalia. Put today would include Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya. Fifthly, there is Gomer which is located in North Central Turkey today. Togarmah is Eastern Turkey. All of them are Muslim countries. It is interesting that most of these countries at one time or other were part of the Eastern Leg of the Roman Empire with Constantinople (Istanbul today) as its capital. The Eastern Leg of the Empire came to be known as Byzantium until its demise at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
In the light of what is happening in the Middle-east today with the countries lining up against Israel the last great beast empire ruled over by the Antichrist will be the empire of Islam and possibly the final image of the beast will be the Koran being broadcast over the internet and on television screens and on mobile phones and ipads? In the world today well over 1.2 billion Muslims proudly mark themselves with the number 666. For Muslims who know the Koran this number proves the perfection of the Koran and the proof for them that Mohammed was the prophet of Allah. There is no doubt that Islam is using the media, especially television broadcasts, to send the message of the Koran and Islam out to the nations of the world. In the book of Revelation the number 666 does not stand for a specific man but for a man made global confederation that opposes the Lord Jesus the Messiah and the Kingdom of God, and one in the same vein as that of Nimrod’s empire. Now let’s move on.
“Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.”
In the Bible these nations were enemies of Israel and Satan’s tools in trying to destroy the Israelites. In these areas for centuries there have been principalities in the heavenly realms arrayed against God’s purposes for Israel and they are still around today. For centuries the Edomites, Moabites and the Ammonites opposed the Israelites and many wars were fought between these nations and Israel. They had always been hostile to Israel. The countries of Edom, Moab and Ammon correspond to what the British called the Trans Jordan or what we call the Jordan area today. Millions of Arabs and a bastion of Islamic fanaticism occupy these geographical areas within Israel. These are the ‘Palestinian’ Arabs we see today. These people are spared by the armies of the Antichrist as in some way they will have already submitted themselves to his rule. From ancient times the Arab nations have always fought against Israel and at the time of the Antichrist’s invasion will support him against Israel. “The king who exults himself” will subjugate the whole Middle Eastern region and in the middle of this vast Arab empire will be the State of Israel. At the time of this invasion and its duration for three and a half years only the Second Coming of Jesus will save the nation of Israel and the world itself from total annihilation. (Matthew 24:22) And so we continue with the text.
(Vs. 42-43) “He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians (Northern Sudan) in submission.”
In the Bible Egypt has always been a type of the world and the Pharaohs a type of the devil, the ‘god’ of this world and by extension the Antichrist. The Antichrist will subjugate Egypt and plunder its wealth. To some degree it will be a judgement on Egypt at this time as it has been supported by the western democracies and if the truth be known is against Israel. Today there is a government in Egypt with a leader who is against the Muslim Brotherhood which is a movement that has as its mandate the subjugation of the world to Islam and the enforcement of Strict Sharia Law. Their symbol is an image of crossed swords pointing upwards and the Koran. The Antichrist will restore a government in Egypt committed to the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood once again.
Radical Islam or those in Islam committed to Jihad hate the west and are hell bent on destroying our freedom of speech and democratic way of life. Many Muslims see the spiritual and moral decadence of the western nations and fervently believe that their agenda is to purge the west from this corruption. Also when they see the effects of western culture and the philosophies of the Greco Roman way of thinking drawing multitudes of philosophical Muslims away from Islamic Sharia Law, and the strict teachings of the Koran you can understand why those committed to Jihad hate the west. Added to this, the radical Jihad minded Islamic mindset sees the Arab nations located in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula as the harlot of Islam that rides on the back of the beast empire of fundamentalist Islam.
(Vs. 44) “But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great rage to destroy and annihilate many.”
Islam has always been fragmented as they are the seed of Ishmael and according to the Bible there will always be conflict between the Arab nations (Genesis 16:12,27:40). The reports from the east and the North that alarm the Antichrist may possibly be those who are opposing his military campaigns. Whoever they are they will disturb him. To the east of Turkey is China which will never accept Islam and north of Turkey is Russia. Historically there have been quite a few wars waged between Turkey and Russia.
Islam is so widespread today that a Supreme Caliph or Mahdi possessed by Satan and having supernatural power would be able to summon up and field an Islamic army of 200 million to follow him. Look at what Adolph Hitler did in Germany, watch the old footage of his speeches and the lens of the camera sweeping over the vast hypnotised multitudes, and you will understand what that demonic power is that persuades the masses. Look at the Imams today preaching Jihad from the pulpits in their Mosques, not only in the countries in the Middle-East, but also in the western democracies.
Now the Antichrist, Enraged by those who are resisting him, will vent his anger on everyone and everything that seeks to oppose him and frustrate his plan for global domination. At this time the whole world will be in an advanced state of fear and anxiety not knowing the way out. It will be just like the Lord Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and the tossing of the sea (the nations in turmoil) Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Luke 21:25-26)
Can you imagine thermonuclear exchanges resulting in fallout, sickness and death on a scale unequalled in history? Can you imagine millions around the globe dying from earthquakes, diseases, famines and radiation sickness? Can you imagine polluted rivers and contaminated food? Only the return of the Messiah will save this planet from its headlong plunge into annihilation. Remember that the empire of the Antichrist is a “wild beast.” Today the mentality of a Muslim who is waging Jihad is that if he dies with his finger on the button of a thermonuclear weapon according to Islam he will go straight to paradise to be with 70 beautiful virgins. What does he care about anyone? The Muslims kill their own people! It really does not matter to the “Jihad minded” Muslim who he kills! What else are we told about the Antichrist?
7. The king who exults himself will desecrate the Temple Mount
(Vs. 45) “He 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.”
Quite a few years ago now on May the eleventh in 2011 on Al-Aqsa, the official Hamas-run television channel, the Hamas MP and Cleric Yunis Al-Astal said these words, “When Palestine is liberated and it’s people return to it, and the entire region, with the grace of Allah will be turned into the United States of Islam, the land of Palestine will become the Capital of the Islamic Caliphate, and all the countries will turn into the states within the Caliphate.” (End of quote) Now the end goal of the Antichrist will be to establish his capital in the City of Jerusalem, “between the seas at the beautiful Holy Mountain.” According to the Bible the Beautiful Holy Mountain is the City of Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:16, 20) (Zechariah 8:3) The two seas on either side of Jerusalem would be the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. When the Antichrist pitches his “tent” in Jerusalem, makes it his headquarters and desecrates the Temple Mount, it will bring about the final three and a half years of this present age namely “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble,” a time of distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world and never to be equalled again.” (Matthew 24:15, 22) (Daniel 12:1) At the end of this period of time the Antichrist will come to his end! Now let’s move on into Daniel Chapter twelve.
(Chapter 12:1-2) “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-everyone whose name is found written in the book-will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
“At that time” is the time when the Antichrist will pitch his tent in Jerusalem proclaiming to be God sitting on the Temple Mount. Israel will be centre stage in world affairs and this event will unleash the last three and a half years of this present age, “a time of distress such as not happened from the beginning of nations.” This is the same period of time Jesus mentioned (Matthew 24:22), at this time Michael the Archangel will move to protect Israel from total destruction at the hands of the Antichrist’s forces. At the end of this time Jesus will return to destroy the Antichrist and the armies arrayed against Jerusalem and the rapture and the resurrection of all the saints will occur. They will rise to, “everlasting life.” Then at the end of the Millennium the unbelieving dead will rise to “everlasting contempt” before the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15).
(Vs. 3) “Those who are wise (impart wisdom) will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
The last thing God showed Daniel was a faithful remnant at the end of this present age who will be preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and like Noah, warning people to live right before God and to flee into the “Ark of Salvation” from the wrath to come. Stars in the Bible are symbolic of faithful believers in both Testaments (Genesis 15:5) (Philippians 2:15-16). The Lord Jesus Himself also said that the last great “sign” that would occur just before He came back would be the global proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14). Preaching righteousness and holiness will be the distinguishing mark of faithful believers in the last days. Preaching the Gospel that includes the Second Coming of Christ will lead many to righteousness in these last days.
Using Eschatology in evangelism is a very powerful instrument in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Remember that Noah himself was a preacher of righteousness, and righteousness was his message to the people of his day. They had one of two choices. Go into the ark to be saved or to stay in the world and to perish. The people of Israel in Egypt had two choices, shelter under the blood of the lamb or perish at the hands of the destroying angel. In the end all of us will have to choose Christ or the Antichrist? No one will be left in a vacuum. Indeed Joel the prophet put it this way when he said concerning the last days, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14)
Yes, the Antichrist is coming. Yes, there will be a “Time of Jacob’s Trouble.” Yes, there will ultimately be a global spiritual seduction in the Church and a denial of God’s Word. Yes, there will be ever-increasing tension in the Middle East and violence in the world. Yes, there will be war, famine, earthquakes and disease that will continue to the end of this age. Yes, there will be a global persecution of faithful Christians. However, the Lord Jesus told his faithful followers that when they see these things, not to be shaken or alarmed but to look up because their deliverance will be at hand. In the end God’s Word will prevail!
He said; “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. “Be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live upon the earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:28, 33-36)
As we close this study there is one more thing to always keep in mind that the Antichrist “will come to his end, and no one will help him.” For the sale of the elect God will cut short those days and the Antichrist and his armies will be annihilated which leads us to the final point concerning this man of sin.
8. The king who exults himselfwill come to his end with no one to help him
We need to remember that this king who exults himself will come to a fiery end! (2 Thessalonians 2:8). His kingdom will not stand in the judgement! Like Satan his father he will suffer the same judgement for holding to the same sin of pride and rebellion his father Satan had against God. Isaiah the prophet records God’s words in passing sentence of Satan and the Antichrist. “You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of the assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the most high.” But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let the captives go home?” (Isaiah 14:13-17)
The Apostle John also writes about the end of the Antichrist’s empire and those empires of the false prophet. “But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur. The rest of them (the armies) were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” …“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 19:21) (Revelation 20:10).
When the armies of Islam attack Israel for three and a half years the whole world will be plunged into the time of great tribulation. Right at the end of this period of time the Lord Jesus will pour out the bowls of His wrath upon the inhabitants of the world, plunging the Kingdom of the Antichrist into darkness. Just before these bowls of God’s wrath are poured out on the earth the Lord Jesus will rapture and resurrect the elect, save Israel, and fight those Islamic nations that have surrounded Jerusalem. Faithful Jewish and Gentile believers will not experience this wrath. (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9) True believers will be sheltered from it because of their faith in the atoning blood of the Messiah. (Romans 5:9)
Our Saviour, Lord and Messiah the Lord Jesus will return to the Mount of olives and take the war up to Megiddo and into Lebanon and Syria, Iraq and Iran and then all the way down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and into Saudi Arabia and into Egypt itself decimating the Islamic armies of the Antichrist until they have all been annihilated. After this the Messiah our Lord Jesus will return to Jerusalem to plant His feet on the Mount of Olives once again to proclaim total Victory over the kingdoms of this world. As far as Islam is concerned it will have ceased to exist! Indeed the last beast empire will have perished from the face of the earth! In the end Isaiah the prophet said, “And they (the redeemed and the surviving nations) will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against Me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” (Isaiah 66:24).
NB. At the time of updating this article (9.12.2024), the collapse of the Assad regime at the hands of the Syrian rebel forces backed by Turkey has removed the last major despot in the Middle-East Bashar al-Assad of Syria. The despotic dictator Saddam Hussein has gone, the despotic dictator Muammar Gaddafi has gone, and now the despotic dictator Bashar al-Assad has been removed, and the only one left to fill ‘the gap’ left by these dictators would be the despotic dictator Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, who with his military forces, will invade Syria and ultimately lead the Ezekiel Chapter 38 invasion force against Israel just as Antiochus Epiphanes did in 167BC. Time will tell if these things will occur as I have written in this article based on the Word of God and on historical and current events in the Middle-East. However, time is rapidly running out! The Messiah our Lord Jesus is coming soon and our responsibility before our Triune God is to make sure we are ready for His return!
