"THE BOOK OF DANIEL" The Vision Of The Time Of The End - III (11:36-12:13) INTRODUCTION 1. We have been studying the final vision recorded in the book of Daniel... a. Depicting what will affect Daniel's people (i.e., Israel) - Dan 10:14 b. Describing events "in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come" - Dan 10:14 c. Its words were closed and sealed "till the time of the end" - Dan 12:9 -- For such reasons this vision has been called "The Vision Of The Time Of The End" 2. In the introductory remarks of the vision, there is a glimpse of spiritual warfare... a. Angelic forces withstanding each other - Dan 10:13a,20 b. Angelic forces helping each other - Dan 10:13b,21; 11:1 -- Such forces affecting the nations of Persia and Greece 3. As the vision unfolds, a series of future conflicts involving nations is described... a. Between the Persians and the Greeks - Dan 11:2-4 b. Between kings of the South (Egypt) and kings of the North (Syria) - Dan 11:5-35 1) In this conflict, Israel would be caught in the middle 2) Israel would suffer extreme blasphemies by one Syrian king (Antiochus Epiphanes) 4. Beginning with Dan 11:36, there is a large diversity of opinion... a. Regarding the identity of the king described in Dan 11:36-45 b. The time in which events described in Dan 11:36-12:13 would be fulfilled [As with any difficult portion of Scripture, especially one involving prophecy, dogmatism should be avoided. In this study, our final one in this series of lessons on the Book of Daniel, I shall offer what I believe is a plausible explanation of the text...] I. THE IDENTITY OF THE KING AND HIS TIMES A. THREE DIFFERENT VIEWS... 1. The king is Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria a. The vile and blasphemous ruler described in Dan 11:21-35 b. The time of his persecution would therefore be 169-167 B.C. c. The time of the Maccabean revolt -- This view is espoused by Albert Barnes in his commentary 2. The king represents the Roman emperors a. Who persecuted Christians in the early years of the church b. The time of this persecution would therefore be 60-313 A.D. -- This view is proposed by Robert Harkrider in his workbook 3. The king represents the Anti-Christ a. A future ruler still to come b. The time of this persecution would be shortly before the return of Christ -- This view is held by pre-millennialists, but also by some amillennialists (e.g., Edward Young) B. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES SEEMS A LIKELY CHOICE... 1. The allusion in previous verses is undoubtedly to Antiochus Epiphanes 2. There is no indication in the prophetic narrative of any change; notice... a. "Then the king shall do..." - Dan 11:36 b. "At the time of the end the king of South shall attack him..." - Dan 11:40 c. "At that time Michael..." - Dan 12:1 d. "And at that time your people shall be delivered..." - Dan 12:1 3. A sudden transition, with no given indication, is not in accordance with what is usually found in prophetic writings (Barnes) 4. The word "king" is never applied to Antichrist (if there in fact be "the Antichrist", as the Bible speaks of many antichrists - 1Jn 2:18,22; 4:3; 2Jn 7) 5. The description that follows can easily be applied to the person and times of Antiochus Epiphanes [This is not imply there is no difficulty with applying this passage to Antiochus Epiphanes and his times, but I believe it possesses fewer difficulties than alternative views. Now let's consider what is described to come...] II. THE EVENTS AT "THE TIME OF THE END" A. THE BLASPHEMY OF THIS KING... 1. He shall magnify himself above every god - Dan 11:36-37 a. Speaking blasphemies against the God of gods b. Prospering till the wrath that has been determined is done (suggesting that this was allowed by God as part of divine judgment against Israel) - cf. Dan 11:35; as with the case of Assyria and Israel, Isa 10:5-12 c. He shall not regard the god of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor any god 2. He shall honor a god of fortresses - Dan 11:38-39 a. A god which his fathers did not know (some suggest the Roman god Mars, or Jupiter) b. He shall act against the strongest fortresses with this foreign god, rule over many and divide the land for gain -- In his commentary, Albert Barnes explains how this could apply to Antiochus B. THE CONQUESTS AND END OF THIS KING... 1. The king of the South (Egypt) shall attack him - Dan 11:40 a. Note that this will occur "at the time of the end" b. This may help pinpoint the meaning of the "latter days" of Dan 10:14 2. The king of the North (Antiochus Epiphanes) will respond and overwhelm the countries - Dan 11:40-43 a. Entering the "Glorious Land" (Israel) b. Overthrowing many, while Edom, Moab and Ammon will escape c. Egypt will not escape, even Libyans and Ethiopians will submit 3. He shall come to his end - Dan 11:44-45 a. News from the east and north will trouble him (from Persia) b. He shall proceed to destroy and annihilate many, planting his tents between the seas and the glorious holy mountain (Mt. Zion, Jerusalem?) c. Yet he shall come to his end, no one helping him (Antiochus died in 163 B.C. of a terrible disease) -- Again, Barnes relates in detail how these events could refer to Antiochus C. THE ULTIMATE VICTORY OF DANIEL'S PEOPLE... 1. To occur "at that time" - Dan 12:1 a. To be assisted by "Michael...the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people" - cf. Dan 10:13,21 b. In a time of a trouble not seen before c. Deliverance of Daniel's people "at that time" 1) I.e., the time just previously described 2) I.e., the time of the conflict involving Antiochus Epiphanes 2. Many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake - Dan 12:2 a. Some to everlasting life b. Some to shame and everlasting contempt -- Note that this is not likely the physical resurrection of the dead, for then "all" (not "many") shall be raised - Jn 5:28,29 3. Those who will shine at this time - Dan 12:3 a. The wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament b. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever -- Using the figure of the resurrection, this may depict the Maccabean revolt when the Jews came out of caves and mountain hideouts to resist Antiochus - cf. Dan 11:33-35 D. FINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND ANSWERS GIVEN TO DANIEL... 1. Shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end - Dan 12:4 a. Perhaps what is meant is to stop writing, and secure what he has written b. Compare this with Dan 8:17,19,26 1) Both visions (Dan 8, 10-12) were to be sealed up 2) Both pertained to many days in the future 3) Yet both visions were fulfilled within 200-400 years c. Contrast this with Rev 22:10 1) The vision of the Revelation was not to be sealed, for the time was at hand 2) How then the explanation of some that the events of Revelation have yet to begin, nearly 2000 years later? 2. Two final questions answered a. One question overheard by Daniel - Dan 12:5-7 1) Daniel saw two others, one on each side of a river bank 2) One asked the man clothed in linen (cf. Dan 10:5-6) above the river: "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?" 3) The answer: "...a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished." a) The "time, times, and half a time" (3 and a half years, 42 months, 1260 days) is commonly used to describe a definite, marked, period of tribulation - cf. Dan 7:25; Re 11:2,3; 12:6,13-14; 13:5 b) When the persecution has accomplished its purpose, then the things described will take place b. The question asked by Daniel - Dan 12:8-13 1) Not understanding, Daniel asks: "...what shall be the end of these things?" 2) Daniel is first told: a) To go, for the words are closed and sealed till the time of the end b) That many shall be purified, and the wise shall understand - cf. Dan 11:33-35 c) That the wicked shall do wickedly, and not understand - cf. Dan 11:32 d) That there will be a period of "1290 days" beginning from: 1/ The time the daily sacrifice is taken away - cf. Dan 11:31 2/ The abomination of desolation is set up - cf. Dan 11:31 e) Those who wait and come to "1335 days" will be blessed -- Whether literal or figurative, these numbered days appear to apply to the period of the Antiochian persecution (ca. 168 B.C.) 3) Daniel is then told: a) To go his way till the end b) For he shall rest and arise to his inheritance at the end of the days -- This "end" or "end of the days" may refer to the actual resurrection on the day of Judgment, not "the time of the end" spoken of throughout this vision CONCLUSION 1. We have seen that "The Vision Of The Time Of The End" describes events that would... a Affect Daniel's people (i.e., Israel) - Dan 10:14 b. Take place "in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come" - Dan 10:14 c. Occur in "the time of the end" - Dan 11:35,40; 12:4,9 2. From the context, "the time of the end" likely refers to the closing days of God's dealings with Israel as His covenant nation; i.e.,... a. The inter-testamental period between Malachi and Matthew b. The period involving the Greek-Persian and Egyptian-Syrian conflicts -- Which is how the phrase is used in "The Vision Of The Ram and The Goat" that depicts many of the same events - cf. Dan 8:1-27 (esp. 17,26) 3. As we conclude our study of the Book of Daniel, we have found it to be a book that... a. Strengthens faith in God and His Word through its fulfilled prophecies 1) Describing the rise and fall of world empires - Dan 2,4-5 2) Foretelling the establishment of God's everlasting kingdom - Dan 2,7,9 3) Depicting the events to befall the people of Israel - Dan 8,9, 10-12 b. Inspires faithfulness to God through its examples of dedicated faith and service 1) Of Daniel - Dan 1,6 2) Of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego - Dan 3 While there is certainly much in this book that challenges our understanding, may we never neglect to mine its spiritual treasures preserved for the people of God: "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." - Ro 15:4