The Time of the End

History tells us about the rise and fall of many powerful evil leaders.

So, who's the ultimate evil leader, the one the Bible calls the abomination of desolation in the book of Daniel? How will we recognize him? That's our focus today on Truth for Life as Alastair Begg continues our study in Daniel chapter 11. Yeah. Verses 21 to 35 were focused on the historical character Antiochus' epiphanies.

We also tried to help one another by pointing us in the direction of secular history so that we could see that what is prophesied here is actually recorded in secular records as having taken place. But now that we come to verse 36, we face a question that runs through all of the commentators. And the question is, does verse 36 and this king still refer to Antiochus Epiphanes, who has been the focus of our attention for the last 15 verses? And if it doesn't, does it refer to someone else? And if it refers to someone else, to whom does it then refer?

I take it that what is being pointed out is that it is introducing us. to another person, to another king, indeed to another period of time.

Now again, you're sensible people, you must examine the scriptures on your own. But I'm going to take it that from 36 on. We are introduced to some period of time. Between the days of Antiochus, Epiphanes, and the end of history as we know it. All right, so all the way along, we're going all the way to verse 35, and the prophecy is concerned with all these different things.

And I'm suggesting to you that, and there's disagreement over this, some say that verses 36 to 39 are still antioxidants some say that it is someone, and you can just it goes all over the place. But for me, I'm going to take it that what we have here is an indication of the very Antichrist who is the picture at the end of the age.

Now I say that because it is consistent with the way in which in verse thirty-one you have uh that phrase, that famous phrase, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. This notion from 36 on is consistent with the way in which Jesus makes use of verse 31 from Daniel chapter 11 when he's speaking to his followers and recorded in Mark 13 and in Matthew 24. This is Jesus in Matthew 24.

So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel standing in a holy place, let the reader understand. And it's almost as if he recognizes that Daniel himself, who was the writer, didn't fully understand.

So I'm suggesting to you that what we're going to take. For the time being, as the frame of reference is in keeping with what Jesus was saying himself.

So I take it that verse 36, this king is not Antiochus. If it isn't, then who is it?

Well, if you've done any of this kind of study in the past, you know that historically he has been identified as all kinds of people and things.

So for example, Calvin believed that this king was emblematic of the Roman Empire. not simply an individual, but an entity. Others throughout history have said that this fits Muhammad. That's what they said, because the animosity and the vitriol leveled against the people of God was embodied in that kind of way. And of course, the reformers, Calvin, Luther, and the rest of them, said that it looked very, very, very much like the papacy as they looked at what was going on.

Now, all of these things are part and parcel of people's attempts at saying, well, what do we have here in verses 36 to 39? If what we have Is the embodiment, if you like, of evil opposition to God. personified. then it's no surprise That various figures throughout history should have been viewed as fitting the description.

So, the prototype, if you like, as we said this morning in Antiochus Epiphanes. has then been uh re-represented throughout history. But eventually it forms up in an individual. Here we have, says Alec Matthias, the eschatological personage of whom even Antiochus is but a pale reflection. Here we have the ultimate rebel.

The Antichrist, the man of sin. And what is then described in the verses that follow tie in with that designation.

Now, we're not going to work our way through it painstakingly, but just notice what we're told of this king. First of all, he will do as he wills, he will do as he pleases. In other words, complete autonomy. Complete self-absorption.

Now, this picture is not new to us because we've seen, if you like, charcoal sketches of this kind of thing as we've gone through Daniel already. All of these things, if you like, pointing forward to this final picture. He will exalt himself. He will magnify himself above every God.

Now, this is one of the reasons I don't think it's Antiochus, because Antiochus, as much as he had a fat head and put his picture on his coinage, nevertheless he still worships Zeus. And he was concerned that others in his kingdom did the same thing. This character has no concern for any other God himself. He is, if you like, God. And he will speak astonishing things against the God of gods.

But you will notice. that he will only prosper until the indignation or the wrath is accomplished, for what is decreed shall be done. And that again, as we saw this morning, is just one of these little hints in the text. to remind the reader that God is sovereign over these things. The lie, if you like, and the pursuit of the lie.

It takes on monstrous dimensions. What is the lie?

Well, it's the lie of the devil in Genesis 3.

Now the only reason that God has told you this about this tree is because He knows that you will be like God. You don't have to listen to him. And the great appeal of that is an appeal which runs throughout all of history and each of us has a temptation to megalomania to our own degree and in our own little context. And here in this moment of great Um animosity This character is revealed. He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers.

or to the one beloved by women. In other words, he's the greatest. He combines blasphemy with inhumanity. And they are revealed. in this horrible figure.

It's no surprise, is it, that this kind of notion that has run throughout Daniel has been described in beastly-like activity. The individual has often been described as a beast, whatever that beast might be. And here, in the blasphemy of the person and in the inhumanity of the person. and in the magnifying of himself You find these things. Then we're told.

and that he will honor the God of fortresses instead of these. In other words, power and might and control are his great uh deifying feature. Warfare and political favors combine in order to draw people around himself. And he will then deal uh in this realm. And those who are prepared to acknowledge him, verse 39, he will load up with honor.

It made me think of certain political figures in the 20th century whom everybody described as very, very nice if you ever met them, tremendously nice, very nice. Never met anybody who didn't like them, didn't meet anybody, even if they were politically opposed to them. It's amazing the power of flattery. It's amazing. And this evil Empire.

is not simply uh identified By an animosity that comes at you with all of the intentions of aggravation. but actually may be sustained and developed. making rulers over many. and divvying up the prizes. for a price.

that he will charge. Then we come to verse 40. and at the time of the end.

Now this phrase again, as you go back through your text, you will find it. I take it that it refers to the last period before the end of time. at the time of the end. the last period before the end of time, before the end of history as we know it. I find that a very difficult thing to get my head around.

I find it a perplexing notion. The idea that there will be an end to history as we know it. that it will come to an end. Because you don't think of things really coming to an end. You think of your life eventually coming to an end.

But history itself as we know it being wrapped up. That God will eventually intervene as he's done before. and will bring everything to a complete denouement.

Now, this is where it gets really, really hard for me, and I'll just tell you this and then illustrate it for you. At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind. What is this? and with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships.

Well If we're going to read this Literalistically. Right? literalistically, not just literally. But literalistically. Then We have to face the fact That Chariots And Horseman and ships will be the The weapons of conflict.

in the last days. Right? So are they? Although we now are dealing in weapons of mass destruction, Although the idea of the end of the age is conceived of and understandably so in our minds. in terms of our contemporary grasp of the world.

If we take this passage literalistically, Then we have to conclude That in these final battles at the end of the age, it's actually going to involve. Horses and chariots And ships.

Now You are sensible people. Figure it out for yourselves. I don't think it's likely. It might be. Because you see, and here I'm going to quote my big brother.

This fails, such an interpretation fails to see. that prophetic visions view the future In terms of the contemporary.

So, for example, if 30 years ago we talked about how it was going to be, and people would communicate with one another, and we would say, and they're going to send these amazing faxes to one another, and there will be faxes. And if you go back another 85 or 90 years, and there will be telephones and so on, and then we wrote about that into the future. The people who are now living in our age said, faxes, what's a fax? Right? And telephones where you put money in.

But that would be the only way that you would write, you would convey the future in contemporary terms. And presumably that's what's happening here. And so that understanding. requires the recognition of symbolism. And as soon as anybody mentions symbolism, somebody gets really upset.

Because it sounds like, oh, symbolism. That means you're not taking it literally. No, I would be taking it literally, but not literalistically, if in point of fact this is representative of that which was conceived in that time. Because even among the people, Who favor a generally literal interpretation of this passage? It's not uncommon for the kingdom of the north.

to be interpreted as one of today's superpowers.

Okay, so someone will say, and the kingdom of the north is. And then, depending on who the flavor of the month is, they say, and this is, they're coming from the north, and there was someone on the east, and that was the Soviet Union, but they got disbanded, so we've moved it now to the north, to North Korea. And you hear them on the television all the time. And if you're sitting listening to it, you know, where did that come from? And actually I think it came from a fertile imagination.

It's not difficult to do. And so the kingdom of the north is then interpreted as a superpower. And that kind of interpretation then has tanks. instead of chariots.

Well, you say you're doing the same thing here. No, I'm not saying it's anything. I'm just saying this, that such an interpretation, like superpowers and tanks, already assumes. that the language is understood symbolically and not literally. Otherwise, how do you get to a superpower from the king of the north?

How do you get to a tank out of a chariot? Because you've actually said what I'm suggesting is the case.

Now, this is where it gets really tough, if you didn't think it was tough before. And this is where you're going to have to be really patient with me and with everybody else that you don't like and with whom you disagree over these things. Because what then follows here is just completely bewildering. Because you have these earthly powers jockeying for position. Opposition to this individual only exacerbates This dark, furious character who's to destroy and to devote to destruction.

And the battle is pictured once again in terms of ancient Geography. How else are we going to understand this? I suppose. Absolutely for what it says. And tens of thousands shall fall, and they will be delivered out of his hand, and Edom, and Moab, and the main part of the Ammonites.

Okay.

Now who were Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites? They were enemies of Israel. All right. Yeah. The glorious land at this point was Palestine.

After Christ's coming, The national and geographical boundaries of the kingdom were exploded. Because Jesus was sending his followers out into all the world to make disciples of all nations so that the company that would be put together, that would be assembled, that would be opposed by the Antichrist, would be the church. And where would the church be?

Now somewhere in near Egypt. The church would be in the entire world, all over the place. And the focus of the Antichrists. perspective would be on the people of God. Therefore, when we study this, we have to do something with it.

Edom, Moab, and Ammon were enemies of Israel. That, I take it, is why he would not be opposing them. Because if you update it to what I'm saying, the Antichrist is not going to attack those who are attacking the church. Those who are attacking the church, those who are the enemies of the people of God, will be the allies of the Antichrist.

Now Verses 42 and 43. Tell us that almost nothing is able to stop him as he moves ahead. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries. The land of Egypt shall not escape. He'll become a ruler of the treasures and so on.

And the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train.

Now, loved ones, I'm well aware of the fact that it is more than possible to take this as is. And you, again, I say to you, must deal with it as you choose. But you must notice that the big issue that is conveyed to us is that at the end of the day, When he pitches himself In the context of animosity to the people of God, all of a sudden, unexpectedly but definitely, he will come to his end. And there will be none to help him.

So To the extent That we stand far enough back from it to say, okay, well, we can disagree over Edom and we can disagree over chariots and so on, but what can we not disagree on? We cannot disagree on the fact. that the animosity The vitriolic hatred against the people of God will reach a final cataclysmic reality before the end of time, before the resurrection of the people of God, before Jesus wraps things up. And that, again, we have anticipated as we've gone through the book. In chapter 7, remember, the court will sit in judgment and his dominion will be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.

And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. In other words, we can be absolutely confident that that the Antichrist will end. Not with a bang. But with a whimper. They won't go out with a bank.

Eventually, he will be completely neutralized. Why? Because God is God. Because Christ is king. Because he's working everything out according to the eternal counsel of his will.

And when we find ourselves immersed in the details, which is fun to do. and staying up late at night arguing the pros and cons of different interpretations. which is also quite fun to do. We have to make sure. That we don't miss the wood for the trees or the trees for the wood.

That Daniel was not right in this.

So that a group of people on the east side of Cleveland. could get involved in these really esoteric discussions with one another. about the intricate details of The end of Daniel 11. He was writing it in order that the people in his day who were being hammered. who were being Devastated.

Who were tempted to believe that the whole thing had gone south on them and that there was no future for them. He was writing to them in order that they might be assured. that this God who by his purposes had brought them into the extremity of their exile. And who, by his goodness, had brought them out into the opportunity of rebuilding. was the same God who was going to bring to fruition the promises that he had made.

And finally, in the one who was to come. And when that one came, He was then opposed. He was then crucified. He was then buried. But God raised him up.

The Spirit was poured out on the church. The church sets out to do what it's to do. And what happens? Immediately, persecution. Immediately, hatred.

Immediately, the church is opposed. Stephen is stoned. What's happening? It's all Genesis 3. It's all the continued struggle between that which God has ordained.

and that which is in opposition to him. and at the most fundamental and basic level. It is the struggle in each of our hearts. Because by nature we want to be our own God. We want to have absolute autonomy.

We want to be able to decide what we're going to do, with whom we're going to do it, when we're going to do it, and we don't want anybody, no God telling us anything at all, and certainly not from that book, the Bible.

So the spirit of the Antichrist. is endemic. in the heart of man. That which has been charcoal sketched throughout the book. reaches this full horrible technicolor portrait.

In the person of the one who is to come. But again, I go back to my favorite hymn for the evening, which we're not going to sing.

So be it, Lord.

So be it, Lord.

Thy throne shall never like Earth's proud empires pass away. Your kingdom stands. and grows forever. Tell all your children. own its sway.

And it's for that reason that we do what Jesus said to do. We're not here to revere his memory. We're here to celebrate his presence. We're here to affirm his resurrection. And we desperately need God to enable us to live out what it means to hold to these things.

with confidence with conviction. and yet with a genuine sense of compassion.

so that others might come. to love Jesus too. You're listening to Truth for Life with Alastair Begg. We hope this study in Daniel challenges you to think deeply about God's Word. Daniel's story is a fascinating lifelong testimony to God's sovereignty and his steadfast faithfulness in the lives of his people.

Our current study focuses on Daniel's prophetic visions in the second half of the book, but if you'd like to listen to Alistair teach through the complete book of Daniel, you'll find the full series on our website at truthforlife.org. All 21 messages can be downloaded, watched, or listened to for free. And if you'd prefer to own the full two-volume series, it's available on a USB that you can purchase at our cost of just $5 in our online store. Visit truthforlife.org/slash store and search for a study in Daniel. Thanks for listening today.

So what is going to happen at the end of the world? We'll find out tomorrow. The Bible teaching of Alastair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life. Where the Learning is for Living.