141 - The Coming Antichrist

The Future Is Bleak

Daniel standing beside the river Tigris saw a certain man. Daniel 10:4. The Theophany. K&D.  Theophany means, a visible manifestation of a deity. Merriam-Webster.  It is said that a theophany is when Jehovah shows Himself to humans as He did many times throughout the Bible.  

Bible students who do not believe that Jehovah has an actual body, of course, say that these sightings were not real, just theophanies, in spite of the fact that the Bible speaks of Jehovah as having a visible body and the sightings of Him as being real. For example: And they will see His face. Rev 22:4.  The face of God, so as he is not to be seen now; they shall see him as he is. Gill.

Or maybe the certain man was not a Theophany but, some say this is Jesus Christ before He was born. Guzik.

• How could Daniel see Christ before Christ even had a body?  
• If Christ is God, (as many preach but which is a doctrine that the Bible does not teach), why would He have needed Micheal's help as stated in Daniel 10:13?   

Or maybe this certain man (it sounds like the archangel Micheal) was an angel above the rank of Gabriel. An angel of the highest order; for earlier he commands Gabriel to make Daniel to understand the vision. Jamieson, Fausset, Brown.

Gabriel says, But the ruler (a wicked archangel) of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days. But lo, Michael, one of the chief rulers, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 10:13.   Daniel prayed for 21 days but this certain man could not bring Daniel the answer to the prayer because the certain man was busy pleading with the ruler of Persia.  

Each country has an archangel over it, as individuals have an angel. Haydock.  Not all archangels are good, and some want what is bad for a country. A wicked archangel, if he is not contested by a good archangel, can do a lot of damage to a country.

For a few examples: 

• Russia when the communists took over; 
• Germany when the Nazis wanted to rule the world; 
• The leaders of ISIS doing as much violence as possible. 

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:12/

In the first year of Darius the Mede, I (the certain man) was standing for a supporter and for a fortress for him (Darius).11:1.   That certain man is here continuing to explain to Daniel what will happen to the Jews in future years.  

I picture an evil archangel standing on the left shoulder of Darius, whispering into his ear, "Don't let the Jews go, Don't let the Jews go" while this certain man is standing on his right shoulder, whispering, "You were brought up to do what is right, are you going to forsake your principles now, so late in life".

Chapter 11 is a repeat of the history of the Levant from the time of Darius and onward.  They say "History repeats itself" but I am not history.  To comment on this segment again would be repetitive and so we skip down to verse 36. 

The writer had been writing about the king of the south (Egypt), the king of the north (Syria), the king from the west (Rome) but now suddenly a new force arises, his source is not specified.

Worse Than Antiochus

Historians fit all of this into the time between Daniel until the time of Antiochus, who died in 164 B.C.E.  We already know that some prophecies made for Old Testament times also relate to the New Testament era.  This may be a case in point.

This is what the Bible says about Antiochus and, by inference, also about the antichrist: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things (speak monstrous things-Darby) against the God of gods, (that is, Jehovah).  

Does this not sound like ISIS and their fellow terrorists?  It is not at all difficult to believe that the antichrist will rise from the ranks of the terrorists.  However, when the individual, the antichrist, will first appear he will come with a smooth tongue and speak of bringing peace.  This will continue for 3.5 years (or half his allotted time) and then his true character will show and he will start his murderous rampages across the world.

He will not regard the God of his fathers, (some suggest that the antichrist will be of Jewish descent).  Is it unbelievable that a Jew could be a Roman Catholic fighting for ISIS?

nor the desire of women. The following was said regarding Antiochus;  He had no regard for the weaker sex, ... killing all indiscriminately.  Haydock.  The modern terrorist groups certainly fit the picture.

He will not regard any god and shall prosper until the fury is fulfilled. He will move forward in his fury until Jehovah says, enough is enough.

For that which is decreed shall be done. Jehovah's plan will still triumph.

For he shall magnify himself above all.  ISIS has already proven that it does that.

In his place he shall honor the god of forces; He will honour violence and indiscriminate killings.

at the end-time, the king of the south (Egypt?) shall butt at him (will take up arms against ISIS). And the king of the north (Turkey and/or Russia) shall come against him like a tempest.

he shall enter into the countries (worldwide, as terrorist groups are doing now) and shall overflow and pass over. He shall also enter into the glorious land (Israel), and many shall be stumbled (overthrown, Strong H3782).

he shall stretch out his hand on the lands. And the land of Egypt shall not escape. Watch the news and see it happen. And the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 11:36-43.

To be continued in the next post.