Many people believe this text refers to the antichrist. However, the problem with this is that the “time of trouble” described in Daniel 12:1 does not come until after the king comes to his end and no one helps him. This is unlike the antichrist ruler who has help from all over the world in going against Israel, and is then cast alive into the lake of fire.

Daniel 11:36-45 “(1) And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he shall magnify himself above all. (2) But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: (3) whosoever acknowledgeth him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price. (4) And at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and (5) the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; (6) and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, (7) and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; (8) and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (9) But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. (10) And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; (11) yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

Comment by Numbers:

  1. This king is accountable to no one.
  2. His god is his military strength and he spends money on his military equipment so that he can stand against the strongest military.
  3. Those who support him are given authority to help rule the land.
  4. The “king of the south” could be from Saudi Arabia.
  5. The “king of the north” could be Kurdish.
  6. He will go in and attack “the glorious nation,” or Israel, and in his destruction he causes a “mortal wound” to the Arab world. In the process, Jordan will fall and is then controlled by Israel.
  7. Egypt will not escape his control as can be seen during the Gulf War when most of the refugees fleeing Iraq were from Egypt and they had lost their jobs. Egypt also saw a loss of revenue then when the tourism busses were attacked.
  8. Libya and Sudan supported Iraq in the Gulf War; following Iraq in; Libya was making weapons of mass destruction.
  9. Iran (to the east) and the Kurds (to the north) were gassed during his war with Iraq.
  10. Saddam hid his military weapons in the desert between the Persian Gulf and Israel.
  11. When has one king stood against the whole world alone? If this passage refers to Saddam Hussein he did come to his end with no help. This king is before the time of trouble that follows in Daniel, Chapter 12.

Summary: Daniel 11:36-45

During the end times, we know from the book of Revelation that there are three distinct identities in the final battle of Armageddon. We need to be careful not to tie all of Daniel’s visions into one person (the antichrist). Daniel saw them separately and would have told us if they were the same. Daniel saw the last king of Daniel Chapter 11 as coming to his end with no help given to him from other kings. After this king comes to an end, Daniel is told the worst time of trouble that will ever be is coming. It is possible this king was Saddam Hussein as he spent the wealth of his country on military equipment. As news came from the East (Iran) and also the north (Kurds), he did go forth with great fury using his weapons of mass destruction to kill those opposed to him. The only two countries that supported him verbally during the Gulf War were Libya and Sudan (Ethiopia). He also used attacks against Israel to try and bring the Arabs on his side. He received no help from any other nation.

 

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