SERMON: “Who is the Antichrist? Part 2” (Dan. 11:36–45)
“Who is the Antichrist? Part 2”
(Dan. 11:36–45)
Series: “Daniel:
God’s Sovereign Plans” #33 Text: Daniel
11:36–45
By: Shaun
Marksbury Date: August 30, 2026
Venue: Living Water Baptist Church Occasion: PM Service
Introduction
Last time, we considered that there are a lot of theories as
to who the Antichrist might be. For
instance, a case being made for Henry Kissinger in the early 80s, and others
were theorizing it was Mikhail Gorbachev.
These are not names known by people under a certain age, but decades
ago, a generation of Christians were convinced that they might be looking at
the rise of the Antichrist on television.
So, it should be no surprise that current names like Jared Kushner, Emmanuel
Macron, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump are among the suggested
candidates today for the Antichrist.
It’s not wrong to theorize, as long as you have the humility to
recognize that you are likely wrong on this side of the rapture and tribulation.
Again, the truth is that we can’t know for certain who the
Antichrist is yet because 1.) if he is alive, he will be insignificant until
the appointed time (cf. Dan. 7:20), and 2.) we have not reached that time
yet. Yet, there is a point at which the
Antichrist will be revealed, and we noted some of his traits last week.
For instance, we saw that much about Antiochus IV is
applicable to the Antichrist. This
explains why the abomination of desolation, an action committed first by
Antiochus (Dan. 11:31), is said to be coming again at the end of this book
(12:11), and Christ tells His disciples to watch for it (Matt 24:15; Mark 13:14). As the Apostle John will later say, “even now
many antichrists have appeared” (1 John 2:18), and there are aspects of
Antiochus and other tyrants of history in the Antichrist, just as there are
parallels in their opposition to God.
That’s why we can also see parallels in both Islam and the Roman
Catholic Church to the spirit of Antichrist.
Still, the text would have us focus here on the similarities between him
and Antiochus IV.
Now, some might object that that places a huge gap spanning
millennia between vv. 35 and 36. Yet, that’s
not completely strange, as there are many smaller gaps between the other verses
in this chapter. We also saw a gap of
decades back in 9:26, describing the time of the Messiah’s crucifixion and the
destruction of the temple, and there is a gap of perhaps 2,000 years between
vv. 26–27 of that chapter. We’re seeing
a gap including that same period here in this chapter.
So, we’ve continuing to briefly look at the final seven
years of history for the Jewish people this evening, specifically considering
the Antichrist is this evening. Today,
we’ll see the second point, the temporary victories of the Antichrist (vv.
40–45).
Second, the Temporary Victories of the Antichrist
(vv. 40–45)
At the end time
the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will
storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will
enter countries, overflow them and pass through. He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and
many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab
and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Then
he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt
will not escape. But he will gain
control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious
things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. But rumors from the East and from the North
will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and
annihilate many. He will pitch the tents
of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he
will come to his end, and no one will help him.
Verse 40 is a vital part of understanding when this is —
it’s at “the end time.” Daniel is not
merely describing another conflict between Egypt and Syria. Earlier in the chapter, Daniel spoke about an
appointed time. And now, in vv. 36–45, we
have moved to the mountain peak on the eschatological horizon, the end time.
We read that, at this time, “the king of the South will
collide with him.” Now, we might think
that the “king of the South” is referring to one of the Ptolemies, but remember
that this is future and probably just refers to the region of Egypt. This will be some power at that time from
that region — perhaps including the Libyans and Nubians (v. 43). That would keep the power relatively Southern
to Israel.
Perhaps this is an attack against Israel, with whom the
Antichrist has a covenant. In that case,
that would be an attack against him.[1] In other words, there will be a southern
power capable of challenging the Antichrist.
After this comes the attack from the king of the North. Now there is some debate concerning his identity. Some interpreters identify this king with the
Antichrist himself.[2] Others understand the king of the South and
king of the North as two separate powers that simultaneously attack the
Antichrist.[3]
There is good reason for distinguishing the king of the
North from the Antichrist. In vv. 36–39,
the Antichrist is simply called “the king;” earlier in the chapter the Seleucid
rulers were repeatedly called “the king of the North.”[4] Furthermore, Daniel 7 identifies the final
Antichrist with the little horn arising from the fourth kingdom, not the Greek
kingdom represented by the earlier kings of the North.
The Antichrist will be confronted by powerful enemies, and
he will overcome them. The language is
deliberately overwhelming: There are chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He enters countries, overflows, and passes
through them. The picture is one of
military movement on an enormous scale.
Now, the ancient imagery of chariots, etc. naturally
communicates military might. In our
modern context, of course, we don’t expect the Antichrist to literally to
conquer the world using horses. Rather,
the prophetic imagery describes military power and warfare, meaning we could
reasonably expect this to include armies, armored forces, air power, naval
fleets, missiles, drones, and the machinery of modern warfare.[5] The point is that he is dangerous and
seemingly unstoppable.
Verse 41 says, “He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and
many countries will fall.” Again, this
seems to make it clear that the Antichrist is someone other than the king of
the North. He enters Israel (cf. 8:9; 11:16), the geographic center of everything,
and he will conquer.
And yet, even in the midst of this sweeping conquest, there
will be exceptions. Daniel says that “these
will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of
Ammon.” These are ancient territories
southeast of Israel, historically the enemies of Israel,[6] corresponding
broadly to what is today the territory of Jordan.[7] The antichrist will not invade these areas,
and the text doesn’t say why.
Perhaps because he is allied with them.[8] But, the text doesn’t say. There is a lesson there for us. Sometimes Christians become so fascinated
with prophecy that we begin filling in every blank. But, the wise student of Scripture knows the
difference between what the Bible says, what can reasonably be inferred, and
what is merely speculation.
These escape, but others do not according to v. 42. These would be the region associated with the
king of the South — Egypt, Libya,
and Ethiopia.[9] Again, it’s speculation, but this might be an
“Arab bloc led by Egypt.”[10]
Whatever the case, the
Antichrist will capture more money and control.
This will continue to increase his ability to dominate the world.
However, these are only
temporary victories. The Lord is still
sovereign, and He will bring the Antichrist to a stop. And, it begins with rumors.
V. 44 notes the
shift. It seems the Antichrist receives
intelligence about a growing and powerful opposition from the East and
North. We can’t say with certainty
exactly what these reports are. It may
be that they’re related to massive armies described in Revelation 9:16 and with
the sixth bowl judgment in Revelation 16:12–16.[11] Revelation describes the Euphrates being dried
up so that the way is prepared for the kings from the east.
These armies will deploy
in the Palestinian theater, including the Antichrist.[12] This is the preparation for the great war of
Armageddon.[13] The antichrist will engage in battle and
destroy many in his rage. It appears at
the moment that he will continue to have victory.
And yet, notice something else. His anger is itself evidence that his kingdom
is not secure. He’s reacting, defensive
and disturbed. The man who appears to be
in complete control is not actually in control, for only God is sovereign.
According to v. 45, he is there with his army. He pitches his tent. As one study notes, “When campaigning, the army lived in tents. The king’s tent would serve as his royal
residence if he accompanied the army, and would be quite lavish.”[14] And where is this?
The Antichrist seems to be using Israel as his royal
headquarters. The “seas” most naturally
refer to the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea, with the “beautiful Holy
Mountain” referring to Mount Zion and Jerusalem.[15] This is particularly significant because
Jerusalem is ultimately the city from which Jesus Christ will reign in His
earthly kingdom. It’s as though the
Antichrist is posing as Jesus.[16]
The usurper sits in the place that belongs to Christ. Paul describes the man of lawlessness in 2
Thessalonians 2:4 as the one who “takes his seat in the temple of God,
displaying himself as being God.” He
wants what belongs to God.
But Daniel tells us it ends: “Yet he will come to his
end.” That is one of the most comforting
statements in the entire passage! After
all the armies, all the victories, all the wealth, all the conquest, all the
blasphemy, all the terror, there is a simple sentence: He will come to
his end. The Antichrist does not win.
The kingdoms of this world ultimately give way to the
kingdom of the Son of Man. Paul says in
2 Thessalonians 2:8 that the man of lawlessness will be slain by the Lord Jesus
“with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His
coming.” Revelation 19 gives us the
climactic picture of Christ’s return, where He defeats the armies gathered
against Him, and He throws the antichrist alive into the lake of fire. Daniel gives us the same basic truth here.
And Daniel adds that “no one will help him.” He will have no allies remaining, and no
power of man (or angels) will save him.
No amount of wealth will purchase his escape. No one can help him.
Why? Because when God
brings judgment, there is nowhere to hide.
Conclusion
Scripture calls us to live with confidence because history
is not spinning out of control. God has
already written the conclusion! Daniel
11 ends with the Antichrist coming to his end, and the next chapter immediately
moves into the resurrection and the ultimate destiny of God’s people. The Antichrist’s kingdom ends, while Christ’s
kingdom does not.
The point of prophecy is not to become obsessed with world
events, trying to find prophetic significance in every gust of wind. The point is purifying trust in the Word of
God. We should so treasure the Scripture
that we allow it to transform us by obeying it.
The Holy Spirit gives us the strength, but only if we walk in faith
behind this Bible lamp.
[1] J. Dwight Pentecost, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,
1985, 1, 1371.
[2] Stephen R. Miller, Daniel,
The New American Commentary, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers,
1994), 18:309.
[3] Pentecost, 1372.
[4] Miller, 18:309–310.
[5] Ibid., 18:309.
[6] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne
House, The Nelson Study
Bible: New King James Version, (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers,
1997), Da 11:41–43.
[7] Pentecost.
[8] Miller, 18:311.
[9] Radmacher, et. al.
[10] Miller.
[11] Pentecost.
[12] John MacArthur Jr., Ed., The MacArthur Study
Bible, electronic ed., (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1249.
[13] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A
Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth,
(Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 554.
[14] John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael
S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R.
Grigoni, and David Bomar, Faithlife Study
Bible, (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Da 11:45.
[15] Pentecost.
[16] Ibid.