The Antichrist Seizes Power

Daniel lived about two thousand five hundred years ago, and the prophecy in Daniel 11 gives us an overview of the entire period.  Looking back, we can see where many of the things he prophesied have been fulfilled.  Right now concerns about terrorism, oil shortages, disruption of the food supply, and economic concerns have tensions running very high.  Those tensions have been building since World War II, and It would not take much to touch off a major war in the Middle East, whether with Iran, Syria, The Palestinians or one of the other countries, fulfilling Daniel 11:16-17.  “But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.  He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.”  Unfortunately, because it has not yet happened, I cannot tell exactly when it will, or give details beyond what are given in the various prophecies.

This kingdom or alliance of nations descended from the northern kingdom will make a seven year treaty with Israel according to Daniel 9:27.  “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week…”  bolstered by success in bringing peace to the Middle East, they will turn to the far East, in an attempt to settle conflicts over ownership of islands there, as Daniel 11:18-19 describes.  “After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.  Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.” 

At present, China is being quite aggressive in claiming Islands that other countries have claimed for centuries.  This group from the North, quite possibly United Nations or European Union forces will attack and be defeated, and almost wiped out by a country fightint to protect themselves.  China has the largest, and one of the best equipped military forces in the world, and is the most likely prospect to defeat such a coalition of forces. 

The destruction of their military will result in economic disaster, and changes in the leadership, with huge tax increases in an effort to rebuild their military and economic base.  The increase in taxation will only exacerbate the problem causing economic collapse, as Daniel 11:20 tells us.  “Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.” 

The collapse of the economic system will allow a powerful tyrant to seize power, even though no one wants him to be the ruler, as Daniel 11:21-24 describes.  “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.  And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.  And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.  He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.”

In order to gain power, this ruler, whom we know as the Antichrist will play various groups against one another, often funding both sides of a conflict.  He will make treaties he has no intention of keeping to get groups to let down their guard, then overrun them before they get set.  He will use bribes and encourage criminals to seize the property of those who oppose him, and will exterminate groups who resist his power, while lying about them and blaming them for the problems.  While Hitler is probably the best known example,  it is the same thing every socialist tyrant has done. 

Hitler made treaties with communist  Russia, getting them to attack some of the countries around them so that he could conquer other countries before turning on Russia itself,  The Antichrist will use the Moslem countries in the Middle East, and their religion to grow his power.  Saddam Hussein had rebuilt Ancient Babylon with the intention of making it the primary center for the Islamic religion.  When he was killed, the United Nations took over the project, and it is likely the Antichrist will help in making it such a center in order to gain Islamic support.  Once he is fully in control, the Antichrist will turn on the Moslem nations, destroying Babylon, as described in Revelation 18.  Zechariah 5 and Revelation 17 describe the wickedness which leads to her destruction.  Conflict between the various factions will weaken the Islamic forces forcing them to make treaties with the Antichrist, as we see in Daniel 11:25-27.  “And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.  Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.  And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.”

With a cease fire in the Middle East, The Antichrist will return home, consolidating his power.  Wanting to a god to the people, he will hate Israelites and Christians, or anyone who worships another god.  As a result, he will again attack the Middle East to destroy Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as we see in Daniel 11:28-32.  “Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.  At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.

For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

This second invasion will be far less successful, and the Antichrist will be forced to ally himself to Jews who do not believe in God’s promises to Israel to maintain control.  It is at this time he desecrates the Temple and makes it illegal to practice the Jewish religion, and those who believe in God will be forced to flee, as described in Matthew 24:15-22.  Daniel 9:27 warns, “…and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Contrary to what many expect, the Antichrist’s reign will be a time of constant turmoil and war that will only get worse as time passes.  The government’s efforts to resolve the world’s problems will only make them worse.  Neither Satan nor the Antichrist know how to fix them, as should be obvious from looking at the things which are going on right now.