Daniel 11:36-45 and Daniel 12 Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the AntiChrist, and the Tribulation Period.

Daniel 11:36-45 and Daniel 12

Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the AntiChrist, and the Tribulation Period.

• Setting
• Chapter 12 is the last chapter in the book of Daniel.  Daniel is now near the end of his life.
• Overview
• The Tribulation period is a 7 year period of time just before the final return of Jesus Christ.   The Great Tribulation period is the last 3-½ years of this time.   The purpose of the Tribulation period is to give the Jews an opportunity to return to the LORD.   (Daniel 9:27, Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 12:1, Matthew 24:21-22, Revelation 12:1-6, Revelation 13:4-5, Revelation 13:16-18, Daniel 12:4-7, Daniel 12:11-12, Isaiah 62:1-4, Isaiah 35:10)
• 7 year Tribulation = ‘time of Jacob’s trouble’ = Daniel’s 70th week.

• 7 years = 3-½ years + 3-½ years.
• 3-½ years = 1260 days (based upon the Jewish calendar)
• 3-½ year mark = the midpoint of the Tribulation period.

• The midpoint is often thought of the time when the AntiChrist will set up his image in the Temple and declare himself to be God.
• 3-½ years = 1260 days later = the battle that ends all battles, the battle of Armageddon, a war to end all wars.
• The rise of the AntiChrist.   (Daniel 11:36-39).
• The Tribulation Period (Daniel 12:1).
•  War and Invasions.   (Daniel 11:40-43)
• The Battle of Armageddon.   (Daniel 11:44-45)
• The Return of Jesus Christ to defeat the AntiChrist.   (Daniel 11:45)
• The resurrection of the dead.   (Daniel 12:2)
• The glorious Kingdom.   (Daniel 12:3)
• Breakdown of the Verses.
• verses 11:21 - 35
• Not only is this about Antiochus IV Epiphanes, it is also a picture of the AntiChrist that will appear at the End of Times.
• Both make a treaty with the Jews, both persecute the Jews, and both do something to stop the sacrifice.
• verses 11:36 - 45   The Time of Tribulation.
• Daniel places this in his last week of his 70 weeks.   Both the Old Testament and the New Testament call this period of time to be of great tribulation in the future.   This event is triggered at the beginning of the last 7 years in the signing of a covenant with Israel by a powerful world leader who arises from the 10 nation confederacy of Europe   (Daniel 7:7-28).   This covenant guarantees his protection of Israel while the Jews rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem,   This Tribulation period ends with the return of Jesus Christ.
• Verses 36 through 39 introduces the AntiChrist who arises from an European nation.   He is the little horn that arises from the 10 horns.   (Daniel 7:24)
• He begins as a man of peace who solves the Arab/Israeli problems as he proves himself to be a master politician.   Eventually his evil desires are exposed in the middle of the 7 year period and he then breaks his covenant with Israel.   He then claims to be God and sets himself up as God.   (Daniel 9:27, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13)
• Gabriel describes this ruler as a selfish and willful person.   He is a man of no religious faith.   He is also very successful until the return of Jesus Christ.    (Daniel 11:45)
• The phrase ‘Lord God of our Fathers” refers to the God of Israel.    This phrase can be literally translated to ‘the God of his Fathers’.   (Deuteronomy 26:7, 1 Chronicles 12:17, 2 Chronicles 20:6, Ezra 7:27, Acts 3:13)
• The phrase ‘the desire of woman’ refers to the desire of the Jewish woman to give birth to the Messiah.   The AntiChrist desires that the Messiah will not return.   The AntiChrist will reject all religions and he will oppose the Jewish religion in particular.   He will become the ‘god’ of might and power and he will make the people of the world worship him, which in essence will be worshipping Satan, the authority who puts the AntiChrist in power.   People will be rewarded to worship the AntiChrist.
• These verses contain a gap in time.    This would be time between Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the appearance of the AntiChrist.    The AntiChrist will fight against the King of the South and the King of the North.
• Ezekiel 38 and 39 tell of a future alignment of nations, most of which are Muslim.
• This alignment has not occurred in history yet as the King of the North and the King of the South did not fight against Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Daniel 11:36, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Daniel 11:39, Joel 3:2, Zechariah 12:3-9).
• Egypt and Syria will not be enemies of Israel during the whole Tribulation period.   
• verses 11:40 - 43      Military Invasion
• The AntiChrist will prosper for a short time.   The Kings of the North and South will push against him and bring their armies into Palestine.   During this time, many nations will fall with the exception of modern day Jordan (Edom, Moab, and the children of Amman).   This may give a place for the Jews to flee in the later days.
• Many believe this to be an alliance headed by Russia from the North and the South being the armies of Egypt and its allies.   The AntiChrist will overcome these armies and acquire great wealth.   (Refer to Ezekiel 38 and 39).
• The AntiChrist will take power over the treasures of Gold, Silver, and the precious things of Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia.
• Not everyone will bow down to the AntiChrist after he establishes in the temple and declares himself ‘god’ and ruler of the whole world.
• verse 11:44 - 45      Armageddon
• ‘Tidings out of the East’ represents the land east of the Euphrates River.  Some believe this to be the country of China.
• ‘Tidings out of the North’ is believed to represent the country of Russia.
• The key to remember is that these prophecies were made 2500 to 2600 years ago.
• Their will continue to be a growing dissent and opposition to the AntiChrist, who is being energized by Satan.   
• The growing army from the East will meet the AntiChrist’s army in the Plain of Esdraelon to fight what will be called the Battle of Armageddon.   Armageddon means ‘mountain of Megiddo’ and this will be at the end of times.
• This event will usher forth the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.   Jesus’s return will occur when the army of the East gets positioned to attack the army of the AntiChrist.   Then the ‘Son of Man’ shall appear in the heavens.   Both armies will then unite to fight the army of Jesus Christ.  Jesus’s army will defeat both armies, they will capture Satan, and the AntiChrist and the False Prophet will be captured and thrown into the Lake of Fire.   (Revelation 19:11-21, Zechariah 12:1-9, Zechariah 14:1-3).   
• Though this is not mentioned by Daniel, the prophet Zechariah promises that the nation of Israel will see their Messiah as he comes from Heaven, they will recognize him, they will repent of their sins, they will trust the Messiah, and the nation of Israel will be cleansed.   (Zechariah 12:10-13:1).   Jesus will then stay on the Mount of Olives and establish himself ‘LORD and King over all the Earth and he will establish his Kingdom upon Earth for 1000 years.   (Acts 1:11-12, Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 20:1-7)
• verse 12:1      The Tribulation
• ‘At that time’ is translated to mean ‘during the time of the end’.   This verse now reaches the middle of the Tribulation period where the AntiChrist breaks his treaty with Israel, he then seizes the temple and sets himself up as god and a world dictator.   This is when the ‘Abomination of Desolation’  takes place (Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31, Daniel 12:11, Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14).
• The last 3-½ years of the Tribulation Period will usher in terrible sufferings, sufferings of which this world has never seen before.   (Matthew 24:21, Revelation 13 through 19).
• Satan will declare war against the Jewish people.   Michael the ArchAngel has been assigned to care for the Jewish people and he will come to their aide.   (Daniel 1: 13 & 21, Revelation 12:7)    God’s elect, the 144,000, will be preserved.   (Revelation 7:1-8).   God keeps his covenant with Abraham to see that the Jewish remnant will enter into the Promised Land.
• verses 12:2      The Kingdom and the Resurrection.
• In Revelation 20:1-7, the words ‘thousand years’ is mentioned 6 times.   The Latin word for ‘thousand years’ is mille annum, which gives us the English word ‘millennium’.
• Millennialists are Christians who believe the Old Testament prophets of a Kingdom on Earth will be fulfilled.   Those who do not believe this will occur are amillennialists.   An amillennialist believes the Kingdom on Earth is now established on Earth and it is represented by the modern day church
• God has promised a Kingdom to his Son and he will keep his promise.   (Luke 1:30-33, Psalm 2).
• One day Jesus will deliver that Kingdom up to the Father.   (I Corinthians 15:24)
• Knowing this promise, Satan tempted Jesus while in the desert.   (Matthew 4:8-10)
• Jesus affirms this promise to his disciples.   (Luke 22:29-30, Acts 1:6-8).
• Jesus instructs us not to speculate his return, but to attend to the work he left them to do.   (2 Timothy 4:1).
• Verse 2 introduces us to the Resurrection.   Although the Resurrection was presented with clarity in the New Testament, the doctrine of Resurrection is hinted at in the Old Testament. when Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac at Mount Moriah.   (Hebrews 11:19).
• Job expected to see GOD in his resurrected body.   (Job 19:25-27), Hosea 13:14).
• Jesus finally explains what the resurrection shall be.   (2 Timothy 1:10, John 5:19-30, John 11:17-44, I Corinthians 15)
• The resurrected body will be a new and glorious body.   (1 Corinthians 15:35-53).
• The burial of the body is like a planting of a seed and the resurrection of the body is likened to the harvest.
• When Jesus returns, the dead in Christ will be raised first and next the living believers will be caught up with them to be with the LORD.   (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
• When Jesus returns to Earth at the end of the Tribulation period, he will bring his people with him to share in his victory and glory.   At this time, the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation martyrs will be raised to enter into the Kingdom.
• Those who died without faith in Christ will not be raised until after the Kingdom age and then will be judged.   (Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15)
• Daniel states ‘some will wake 1000 years later to enjoy the glorious life GOD has promised them, while others will awake to be judged in shame and everlasting contempt’.   ‘Hell’ is called the 2nd death.   (Revelation 20:14).
• If you are born twice, you can only die once.   If you are born once, you can die twice.
• verse 12:3      The Reward.
• How well we lived and served the LORD will determine our rewards in heaven which will be given to us at the Judgment Seat of Christ.   (Romans 14:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10)
• Every cup will be filled, but some will be filled more than others.
• There will be a special consideration made to those who remained faithful during the Tribulation, a time where it will be costly to identify with Jesus Christ.   (Matthew 24:14, Revelation 7:9-17).
• Jesus emphasized the truth to serve him faithfully and of its rewards.   (Matthew 13:43, Matthew 19:27-28, Matthew 25:14-30, Revelation 2:26-27, Revelation 5:9-10).
• During Jesus’s reign on Earth, we will share in whatever work he has for us to do, based upon our life here on Earth.   Believers who suffered in their service for Christ will be compensated more.   (Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18)
• verses 12:4      Final Instructions to Daniel..
• In the Ancient World, official transactions were ratified with 2 documents.   One was always kept sealed up and kept in a safe place where the other document was kept and made available.   (Jeremiah 32:1-2)
• God used Daniel’s writings to let the Jewish people know he would faithfully keep his promises to the people of Israel.   This book was treasured, protected, and shared with the Jewish people.   The book was ‘sealed’ in the sense that the full meaning would not be understood until the ‘end of times’.   (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 12:8)
• The Apostle John was told in Revelation not to seal up the book because the time was at hand.   (Revelation 22:10)
• The book of Daniel helps us to better understand and explain the book of Revelation.  71 passages of Daniel are quoted or referred to in 16 New Testament books, most of which can be found in the book of Revelation
• All of Daniel 6 is referred to in Hebrews 11:33.
• The study of God’s word is referred to in Daniel 12:4 when it is said that ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
• Amos 8:11-12 contains a warning that a day will come when there will be a famine of God’s word and people will be seeking for the truth but not being able to find it.   But God gives Daniel a promise that at the end of times people will increase in knowledge of the prophetic Scripture as they apply to the word of God.
• verses 12:5-7   The Times
• 2 more Angels appear with one on each side of the Tigris River.   The man clothed in linen refers to the same awesome person Daniel saw at the beginning of Daniel 10:5-6, who was probably the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ.   One of the Angels asks this person, ‘How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?’.  The LORD replies, ‘for a time, times, and a half’.   This is the 3-½ years, the last half of the Tribulation period.   (Revelation 12:14)
• This will be the 42 months as referred to in Revelation 11:2 and Revelation 13:5.
• This period is also the 1260 days referred to in Revelation 11:3.
• Once the treaty between Israel and the AntiChrist is signed, the clock starts ticking off the 7 years of Daniel (or the Tribulation Period).
• Once the AntiChrist sets himself up in the Temple of GOD at the halfway point of the Tribulation Period (3-½ years), the last half of Daniel’s 70th week begins.   As the LORD Jesus spoke in Daniel under oath, he raises both hands towards heaven.
• verses 12:8-13      The End.
• Daniel humbly asks, ‘How long?’ and ‘How will it end?”.   We tend to ask these same questions when times are difficult and the future is in doubt.
• Daniel also asks humbly ‘What’s the purpose of it all?’.  Daniel did what we should do, humbly ask GOD for the wisdom that is needed.
• GOD knows how much we need to know and how much we can take.   (John 16:12)
• GOD promises these truths will be clearer for those who are living at the end times.   This is an encouragement to us to prayerfully study Scriptures, including the prophetic.
• GOD reveals that trials will come at the end of times.   These trials will either make the people more wicked or more pure and wise.   (2 Timothy 3:13, Revelation 22:11).
• The unbelievers will be ignorant of the Truth.   The believers will have their eyes opened to the Word of GOD.   (2 Peter 1:19).
• Jesus Christ travels from the site of Armageddon to rescue those hidden in Bosrah (Jordan).   Jesus then returns to Jerusalem with the ‘ransomed of the LORD’.  
• What is the purpose of the ‘1290’ or the ‘1335’ days past the midpoint of the Tribulation.   This leaves a gap of 30 and 75 days that is unaccounted for.   GOD does promise a blessing to those who reach the end of the 1355 days.   The starting both for both will occur with the ‘Abomination of Desolation’ which occurs in the Temple at the midpoint of the Tribulation period.   Since 3-½ years equals 1260 days before the Tribulation ends, 1290 days would be 30 days beyond the return of the LORD.   The 1355 days would be after 75 days have elapsed after the return of the LORD.   These days are not explained but certain events will more than likely occur.
• Will this be the binding of Satan?   Remember, the AntiChrist and the False Prophet will have already been thrown into the Lake of Fire.  The judgment of the evil doers and unbelievers has not yet taken place.
• Will this be the regathering of the Gentile nations?   (Ezekiel 20:33-38, Isaiah 1:24-2:5, Isaiah 4:2-6, Isaiah 11:1-16).
• Will this be the rebuilding of the Millennial Temple?
• Will this be the clean-up from all the destruction that has occurred?
• Will this be the judgment of nations?
• Or could this be something else?
• Although GOD taught Daniel many things and GOD revealed many mysteries to Daniel, it was not necessary for him to know everything.  It was enough for Daniel to know that he had been faithful and that one day that he should rest for his labors.   (Revelation 14:13, Matthew 25:21, Psalm 17:15, I John 3:1-3, Romans 8:24)
• Conclusion
• It is important to know GOD’s future plan and to obey GOD’s present will in our lives.   (1 John 3:3, 2 Peter 3:11).
• Both Daniel and Joseph were called to serve GOD in difficult times and in pagan nations.   Both were cruelly taken from their homes and handed over to cruel masters.   Both went through periods of testing.  Both were lied about and falsely accused while still maintaining their godly character and their conduct was respected by rulers.   Both ministered to God’s people and helped preserve the nation of Israel.   Daniel also gave the Jews encouragement for their future.
• Both Daniel and the Apostle Paul tell of a spiritual battle taking place that cannot be seen by this world.
• The key to Daniel’s success can be found in Daniel 1:8.
• A review of Daniel’s that life that we should apply to our own lives.
• He believed in a sovereign GOD.   (Daniel 4:25 and 32, 5:21)
• He had a disciplined prayer life.   (Daniel 2:14-23, 6:10)
• He studied the Word of GOD and believed it.   (Daniel 9:2)
• He had an understanding of Spiritual Warfare.   (Daniel 10:12-15)
• He sought only to glorify GOD.   (Daniel 2:28 & 47, 4:34-35)
• He realized that he had work to do.   (Daniel 6:1-5)
• He was tactful and considerate.   (Daniel 2:11-14)
• He had insight into Human History.   (Daniel 4, Daniel 2, Daniel 10 - 12)
• He lived up to his name, as Daniel translates to ‘God is my judge’.
• Following is an excerpt from a preaching of DL Moody: ‘Daniel thought more of his principles than he did of earthly honor or esteem of man.   Right was right with him.   He was going to do right today and let the morrows take care of themselves.   That firmness of purpose in the strength of GOD, was his secret of his success.
• Following is an excerpt from a song by Phillip P. Bliss, one of DL Moody’s associates.

            “Dare to be Daniel,

             Dare to stand alone!

             Dare to have a purpose firm!

                                     Dare to make it known!

                                     Be Resolute!’