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Daniel 11 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Daniel 11 contains some of the most specifically accurate prophecies in the entire Bible. Critics have often wondered if this chapter was written after the historical events took place because it is so deadly accurate. Of course, we know God in His foreknowledge gave insight to Daniel about 400 years before these events.
In simple terms, this chapter contains prophecies concerning Persia (11:2), Greece (11:3-4), Egypt, and Syria (11:5-35). The Antichrist follows in 36-39.
“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. 37 He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.
Daniel 11:36-39 ESV
Though Antiochus Epiphanes was a specific type of Antichrist, based on other snippets of Scripture, we can accurately assume that this willful king is the final Antichrist. (Dan 7:8, Dan 7:11-12, Dan 7:25; Dan 9:27; Rev 13:4-7).
The king will ignore the god his ancestors served, and also the god that women love. In fact, he will ignore every god, because he will think he is greater than any of them.
Daniel 11:37 GNB
The Antichrist will not follow in the footsteps of others before him. He will represent a new and intriguing persona. What will he be like? J. Dwight Pentecost, in his book “Things to Come” (p. 334), gives a list of names compiled by Arthur W. Pink which are applicable to Antichrist:
“The Bloody and Deceitful Man (Psa 5:6), the Wicked One (Psa 10:2-4), the Man of the Earth (Psa 10:18), the Mighty Man (Psa 52:1), the Enemy (Psa 55:3), the Adversary (Psa 74:8-10), the Head of Many Countries (Psa 111:6), the Violent Man (Psa 140:1), the Assyrian (Isa 10:5-12), the King of Babylon (Isa 14:2), the Sun of the Morning (Isa 14:12), the Spoiler (Isa 16:4-5; Jer 6:26), the Nail (Isa 22:25), the Branch of the Terrible Ones (Isa 25:5), the Profane Wicked Prince of Israel (Eze 21:25-27), the Little Horn (Dan 7:8), the Prince that shall come (Dan 9:26), the Vile Person (Dan 11:21), the Willful King (Dan 11:36), the Idol Shepherd (Zec 11:16-17), the Man of Sin (2Th 2:3), the Son of Perdition (2Th 2:3), the Lawless one (2Th 2:8), the Antichrist (1Jn 2:22), the Angels of the Bottomless Pit (Rev 9:11), the Beast (Rev 11:7; Rev 13:1).”
Arthur W. Pink
Bottom line: he will be the opposite of Jesus:
- Self-willed (Antichrist) VS Obedient to the will of God (Jesus)
- Self-exalting (Antichrist) VS Humble and submissive (Jesus)
- Self-magnifying (Antichrist) VS Sacrificial (Jesus)
“It is blasphemous rebellion against God which marks the willful king as the final and logical expression of humanism. He is the typical representative of that which is against God and that which is our old nature…”
J. Vernon McGee