Daniel 11:36 Commentary and Bible Study

From this point to the end of the chapter there is considerable variety of interpretation. Some continue to see a historical Antiochus IV described in these verses, but whereas the prophecies up to this point have a relatively easily understood reference to historical events, that is not true of what follows. Leupold disapprovingly adds that some even speculate that Antiochus had a further campaign which is not recorded in history which explains these verses. Others agree that this is a historical reference to Antiochus, but view him as the type of the antichrist. Some refer the prophecy to the Romans (Calvin), to Herod (Mauro), or to some other historical figure. But the traditional view of the passage is that from verse 36 Daniel is being told exclusively about the final antichrist (though perhaps, under the figure of the king of the north still), and that there has been a transition from verse 35, where the history of Antiochus was finished with. Why then is there not a clearer indication of this transition? Leupold answers that there is a clear transition, because verse 35 has brought us to the end, and we are told there that ‘it is yet for a time appointed’; that expression looks into the distant future. Daniel 12 which acts as a conclusion to the vision gives the same impression. Daniel is told, ‘At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people’ (Daniel 12:1). At what time? At the time of the events prophesied in the final verses of chapter 11 (verse 36 onwards). That time is linked to the very end of the world, the time of the resurrection (Daniel 12:2), and Daniel himself will play his part in those final events (Daniel 12:13), and until they are fulfilled they remain sealed (Daniel 12:4, 9). If in fact these words are speaking of yet unfulfilled prophecy, we should not be surprised that they are hard to understand. Who could have understood many of the earlier predictions in chapter 11 before they happened? Their proper understanding awaited the unexpected twists and turns of history by which they were fulfilled. We therefore take what follows to the end of the chapter as a prophecy about the final antichrist. Although antichrist may be viewed under the figure of the king of the north, this is no longer dual fulfilment but single fulfilment at the end of time.Here then is the aircraft taking off. Up till now it has, as it were, been going down the runway, in touch with the ground. There has been an earthly fulfilment of all that we have read, and it is not hard to relate the prophecy – admittedly, only in hindsight – to recorded historical events at the time of the Greek and Seleucid empire. We have gone through these centuries before Antiochus from Cyrus, with a lot of detail in certain parts; it was all fulfilled. But now the aircraft takes off and we are reading about the very end of time. ‘And the king shall do according to his will.’ What king? It certainly isn't Antiochus, because nothing that you read now from verse 36, was really fulfilled in Antiochus. It's all fulfilled up to verse 35. But Antiochus dies – that is in a previous chapter – and from here on this is talking about some other king. Who is it? ‘And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every God.’ Antiochus never actually did that. He was certainly against the God of gods. He like all Syrian kings considered himself a god, but only one of them. But this king ‘will be above all gods, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods’ – be against him and attack him – ‘and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished’ – all antagonism against God has run its course – ‘for what is determined shall be done.’ This is an end times prophecy. What king is it? You turn back to chapter 7:24: ‘And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. ²⁵ And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.’ This is about the fourth beast, the Roman Empire. Ten is the number of completion. It is a symbol of all the kingdoms that will follow the Roman Empire, right up until this special king. ‘But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion’ (Daniel 7:26). This is the end times antichrist, and when you come back to Daniel chapter 11 and verse 36, it is picking this up. It is picking up the little horn, the prophecy of the antichrist. ‘And the king’ – the king Daniel 7:25 – ‘shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every God’ – it’s the same description – ‘and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation [all the antagonism to God] be accomplished, for that that is determined shall be done.’ So we are looking now at antichrist. If we read 2 Thessalonians 2:4, we see the same description of antichrist, that comes all the way from Daniel chapter 7:25 and 11:36. ‘Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ⁴ Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.’ That is almost a quote from Daniel 11:36. So it is the antichrist; Paul writing under inspiration clearly thinks so.