Daniel 11:2-45 Armageddon?

 

Jack Straw has inflamed the controversy over Muslim women wearing veils by saying that he would prefer them to stop wearing the garments altogether. The former Foreign Secretary provoked widespread anger, both among Muslim groups and in his Blackburn constituency, when he disclosed that he asked female constituents to uncover their faces in meetings…

 

Also in the news today… Radical reforms to speed up terrorist trials are being considered in an attempt to free up a worsening legal log jam. The move comes as the case of six men accused of taking part in the failed bomb attempts in London on July 21, 2005, was adjourned yesterday until next year. There are now a record 90 terror suspects awaiting trial in Britain’s severely overcrowded prisons…

 

In the South, Darfur is at a "critical stage", the UN secretary general has warned, after the Sudanese government served notice that any attempt to dispatch a UN force to the troubled region would be considered an invasion…

 

In the Beautiful Land, Hamas will not be pushed out of power, accept compromise or recognise Israel, a combative Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas told a mass rally yesterday…

 

To the North, the crisis between Georgia and Russia deepened yesterday as Moscow started deportations, and ordered schools to report children with Georgian surnames, in the latest show of force against its ex-Soviet neighbour… Tony Blair has promised British troops serving in southern Afghanistan they will be given whatever resources they require to achieve a successful outcome…

 

In the East, South Korean troops have fired warning shots at soldiers from the North amid rising tension over North Korean plans to test a nuclear weapon. Early reports suggest that about 40 shots were fired when soldiers crossed into the demilitarised zone. North Korea could carry out a nuclear test today, according to Chinese sources. Preparations to detonate a bomb at a 2,000 metre-deep abandoned coalmine close to the Chinese border have reportedly been completed, enabling North Korea to go ahead with the controversial test as the leaders of Japan and China hold urgent talks at a summit in Beijing…

 

Meanwhile, diplomats from Britain, the United States and other leading powers are to start work next week on drawing up sanctions against Iran over its refusal to abandon its nuclear programme. At talks in London on Friday night, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - the UK, US, Russia, China and France - plus Germany, agreed to consult on sanctions against Tehran. Work on a new Security Council resolution under Article 41 of the UN charter, which allows for sanctions, would start next week. This is unlikely to deter or deflect Iran from pursuing its programme of uranium enrichment. And Israel continues to warn of a pre-emptive response if it believes Iran has the fuel to create nuclear bombs.

 

And those were just the world news headlines for yesterday. Signs of an impending Armageddon? Many Christian leaders think so. Tim LaHaye, Grant Jeffries, John Hagee and Hal Lindsey have made millions selling the idea that an apocalyptic world war is just around the corner so don’t worry about global warming, the debt crisis or AIDS. Those are just the warm up acts. In case you are wondering where the word ‘Armageddon’ comes from, it is a derivation of the Hebrew, Har Megiddo meaning the hill of Megiddo.


Megiddo is the most strategic location in Palestine and possibly in the entire Middle East. Situated at the entrance to the main pass through the Carmel mountains, it lies on the junction of two important historic roads used by armies and traders from the Stone Age to the present day. Megiddo guards access to the Mediterranean Sea in the west and the route east through the Jezreel Valley to Damascus and Mesopotamia.


Control of Megiddo therefore has been of military importance since at least the days of Thutmose III in the 15th century B.C. right up to General Allenby's campaigns in the First World War. Jezreel which means "God sows" (in Greek, Esdraelon) separates the hills of Samaria from those of lower Galilee. It is so flat it is possible to see for fifty kilometres in several directions. It is easy to imagine how great armies once camped within it on twenty different occasions.


Megiddo was once one of the royal fortified cities of the Canaanites (Joshua 12:21) It became one of Solomon's principal fortified cities like those at Hazor and Gezer. Extensive stables have been discovered large enough to accommodate 450 horses. During the divided monarchy, Megiddo again fell into the hands of the Egyptians and then to the Assyrians. In 609 B.C. Pharaoh Neco II and his Egyptian army passed through the valley of Jezreel on his way to fight against the Assyrians. King Josiah ignored God's guidance and tried to resist the Egyptians at Megiddo but was fatally wounded, despite his disguise, by an Egyptian archer and died in battle there (2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:20-24).
There is one brief reference to Megiddo in the Book of Revelation where Armageddon means the Hill of Megiddo (Revelation 16:14-16). The Apostle John describes a great battle between the armies of the world on the final day of the Lord. It is possible that this portrays a literal battle. It is just as possible that this describes instead, the final overthrow of evil by God.

 

This evening, as we come to Daniel 11, I want to give you three reasons we should sleep peacefully tonight. Three reasons why you have nothing to fear when you wake up. Three reasons why you can be energised instead of drained by the news headlines tomorrow morning.


1. God is in control of history (Daniel 11:2-31)

“Now then, I tell you the truth… Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:2, 35)

 

Daniel tells us this is the truth and that everything will happen at the appointed time. Everything that happens in history is on God’s Radar Screen. This is the reason for all of the detail in Daniel 11. This is 6th Century BC – but the vision contains detailed information about the rise and fall of empires up to the time of Jesus Christ. There is so much detail in here, the first 31 verses read more like history than prophecy. But that should not surprise us because that is what authentic prophecy is - history foretold. Now I don’t want this to turn into a history lesson but lets just skim through these verses:


The Collapse of the Persian Empire (11:1-2)
The Persian king who invaded Greece was Xerxes, who reigned 485-464 B.C. The three kings who preceded him after the death of Cyrus were Cambyses (529-523), Smerdis (523-522) and Darius the Persian (522-485). In 490 BC, Xerxes’ father, Darius Hystaspes, had suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Greeks. Determined to avenge his father, Xerxes raised up a large army, stirring up all of Asia against the tiny nation of Greece. Finally, commanding an estimated 3 million men, he invaded Greece, capturing Athens and burning the Acropolis. But then his navy was defeated at Salamis and his army at Plataea and Xerxes retreated to his capital. Thirty years later, Greece would force Xerxes’ successor to sign a treaty granting them a free status. Yet even that would not satisfy the Grecian desire for revenge. 150 years later, Alexander would destroy the Persian Empire, rallying his troops by reminding them of the invasion of Xerxes.


The Coming of Alexander (11:3-4)

The mighty king of verse 3 is Alexander the Great. He literally did "according to his will." Every where he led his armies he led them to victory. But when he died while still in the prime of his life, his kingdom was divided, as the Scripture foretold, to the North, South, East, and West. Also true to the prophecy, none of his posterity reigned after him. He fathered one illegitimate son and one of his wives was expecting a son when he died. Both were murdered.


The Conflict between the North and South (11:5-27)

Although the Greek Empire was split four ways, only the activities of the Ptolemic kingdom (the King of the South) and the Selucid kingdom (the King of the North) had any direct bearing on Israel. Daniel 11 describes their conflicts, their wars and temporary alliances. The kings would change, but the conflict would continue. And caught in the middle was the tiny nation of Israel. A good Study Bible will identify the names of the rulers of the Southern kingdom of Ptolemies and the northern kingdom of the Selucids who competed for control of Palestine.


The Rise of the Prefigured Anti-Christ (11:28-35)
The "contemptable person" (11:21) was none other than Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164) who massacred eighty thousand Jewish men, women and children, robbed the temple of its treasures, sacrificed a pig on the brazen altar, set up an image of Jupiter in the Holy Place, and barred the Jews from offering daily sacrifices (11:31). But notice that despite all the awesome destructive power of this evil despot, Daniel insists, "at the time appointed he will invade…" (11:29) and "it will still come at the appointed time." (11:35). As it turned out, after Antiochus departed from Jerusalem, a godly group of Jews, the Maccabeans rose up against Antiochus and ultimately defeated his armies and regained control of Jerusalem. On December 25, 165 BC, they rededicated the Temple. Less than a year later, Antiochus was dead.

 

The message of Daniel 11:1-35 is this: Nothing happens in history without the knowledge, purpose and will of Almighty God. He is the source of Daniel’s vision. God is operating from the unique perspective of eternity. And in everything God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28) So, despite present appearances, and with many contemporary candidates for the role of Anti-Christ, God is in control of history.


2. Evil will continue until Jesus returns (11:36-45)
“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.” (Daniel 11:36-37)

 

Although in the NIV verse 36 begins a new paragraph, the context shows that Daniel is describing the same person. This is confirmed by history. The title "Epiphanes" ("the Illustrious One") also carries the meaning of "very evident" or "manifest." His coins show that he linked up Epiphanes with the added title Theos ("God"), thus yielding the combination "Illustrious God" or "God Manifest."

 

Not only did Antiochus enthrone himself for adoration by the Jews as he sat in the court of the desecrated Jerusalem temple (in 168 B.C.), but he also claimed divine honors for himself on every major coin that he minted. What makes Antiochus Ephiphanes an enigmatic figure, however, is the way this passage about the “Abomination that causes desolation.” (11:31) is quoted by Jesus and also Paul.

 

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains... 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:15-27)

 

Here Jesus is warning his disciples about what is to happen in the very near future and then links it to his return. The apostle Paul also cites Daniel 11 in his letter to the Thessalonians.

 

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

 

It is here that commentators are divided. Some argue that Daniel’s prophecy, reiterated by Jesus and Paul, was fulfilled in AD 70 by the Romans. There is strong support for this interpretation.

 

Josephus, the first century Jewish historian and eye-witness to these events, specifically links Daniel’s prophecy to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army in AD 66-70 (Jos. AJ 10.2.7 [276]). And the Jewish Zealots who, between November 67 and the Spring of 68 AD., used the Temple as a military fortress (Jos. BJ  4.3.7 [151]), murdered Jewish opponents there (BJ  4.5.4 [343]), and entered the Holiest of Holies (BJ  4.3.10 [162-163]). They even appointed their own high priests who Josephus describes as ‘undeserving, ignoble and vile’.  The Temple was defiled yet again by the invading Roman army who placed their ensigns in the temple and offered sacrifices to them (BJ  6.6.1 [316]). The irony is that Josephus records how Titus, a pagan Gentile, lamented the failure of the Jews to respect their own Temple.[1]

 

When I came near to your temple, I again departed from the laws of war, and exhorted you to spare your own sanctuary, and to preserve your holy house to yourselves. I allowed you a quiet exit out of it, and security for your preservation... Yet have you still despised every one of my proposals, and have set fire to your holy house with your own hands.[2]

 

It was first and foremost therefore, the Jews who, having rejected Jesus and declared Caesar to be their only king, appointed apostate high priests, and used the Temple as a fortress, who ultimately fulfilled the words of Jesus and made Temple worship idolatrous.[3]  Whether at the hands of Jews or pagans, with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 the ‘abomination’ had indeed brought ‘desolation’.  Clearly, Jesus spoke with urgency intending his hearers to recognise the signs of the times and escape the imminent death and destruction about to befall Jerusalem, and when the city was surrounded, we know that the Christians escaped to Pella in Jordan.

 

Some commentators today, however, interpret Matthew 24 as prophecy awaiting future fulfilment. So when Jesus promised these events would be witnessed by ‘this generation’[4] Hal Lindsey, understands the word ‘this’ to refer to the generation who had witnessed the founding of the State of Israel in 1948 and capture of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967.[5]  He and others predict a future Temple in Jerusalem that will be desecrated yet again by a world ruler who sets himself up as divine.

Let me illustrate this. Anyone not a fan of Star Trek? You will know that when they go to warp speed, all the stars on the screen become a blur because of the instant acceleration. In a similar way, it seems the prophecy of Daniel 11, was fulfilled not only in Antiochus Epiphanes, but also 200 years later by Titus.

And it may just possibly by fulfilled yet again 2000 years later by another antichrist figure. We don’t know. If you favour the popular view, I would just urge caution in identifying such a person. History is littered with casualties.

Remember the main point is this. Before God wraps things up, and Jesus returns, and his followers reign with him, there will be no shortage of anti-Christ contenders out there. Alexander the Great, Antiochus Epiphanes, Nero, Genghis Khan, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Mobutu, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Joseph Kony, Osama bin Laden -- were all ruthless killers who exhibited the madness that accompanies power gone array – except they aren’t the only ones. There are plenty more lining up in the wings.
The madness on a grand scale is manifest with countless crazies on the more local scale – the killing of the Amish school children in Pennsylvania this week - the drug dealers – the serial killers – the soldiers charged with war crimes. There is no shortage of evil out there and the temptation for godly people is to disengage and head for the hills – literally or figuratively.


However we understand the timescale described in Daniel 11, we can be sure of two things: God is in control and evil will continue until Jesus returns. There’s a third reason you can sleep peacefully tonight.


3. God’s people will triumph over evil (Daniel 11:32-35)

“With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33“Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:32-35)

 

Antiochus was a master in manipulating Jewish leaders who were divided in their loyalties, winning them over to his cause by glowing promises of preferment and reward. He already had as partisans for his cause a number of influential leaders in Jerusalem society and politics who were convinced of the expediency of a pro-Hellenic policy. These were doubtless "those who have violated the covenant"--i.e., their covenant relation with the Lord. The hope of Israel lay with committed believers who would risk their lives rather than betray their honour. A band of heroic patriots was stirred to action by a priest named Mattathias. He was the father of the Judas, Jonathan and Simon Maccabees, each of whom later became a "prince of Israel" during the victorious war of independence against the Seleucid government.

 

During the persecution by Antiochus, the patriot leaders preached to their fearful countrymen stirring messages of repentance and wholehearted commitment to the holy standards of the law of Moses and of the prophets, who had upheld their sanctity during the ensuing centuries. They summoned their people to trust in the promises and power of the Lord instead of bowing to the demands of the pagan tyrant. Thus "those who are wise" engaged in a ministry of education and evangelism among their own countrymen, urging them first to get back to God and to pattern their lives according to Scripture. Then they answered the call to arms and hazard their very lives for the liberation of their land from the yoke of their God-hating persecutors. Many lost their lives and property in the revolt. The account of the Maccabean uprising in the Apocrypha concludes with a strong emphasis on the spiritual meaning of this heroic struggle for those who risked their lives for the survival of the commonwealth of Israel.

 

This was the context for the teaching of John and Baptist, as much as of Jesus, calling people to repentance and faith in God who alone could deliver them from evil. God’s people did triumph over evil. God’s people can triumph over evil. What abiding purposes can we take to heart from this passage?  

 

Purpose 1: To Know God

“Those who know their God will firmly resist him (11:32)

Do you know your God? Is that your first priority? That is why Paul instructs us to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10). James promises, “Resist the devil and he will flee.” (James 4:7).

 

Purpose 2: To Serve God

“Those who are wise will instruct many” (11:33)
The armour Paul describes - the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace… are intended to make you wise and fruitful as you share God’s truth with others. Did you realise that God wants you to be wise. James says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault.” (James 1:5).


God wants you to be wise so you can share that wisdom with others. To help seekers make sense of this world and God’s purposes also. God wants you to be a wise teacher.
But resisting evil and instructing others will be costly. Many believers have indeed fallen by the sword or been burned or captured or plundered.” (11:33). And many Christ followers today suffer in this way. But even in this God fulfils his purposes.

To know God and to serve God.

 

Purpose 3: The Become like God

“so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless.” (11:35)

What could possibly be more important than realising this ultimate purpose. God’s plan is that we know him, and to serve him in order that we might become like Him. Refined, pure, spotless. This is the work of Jesus Christ for us and in us and through us.

 

“just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)

 

Now do you see why you can sleep easily tonight, despite the news headlines? We can trust God because in eternity, he is in control of history as well as the future. We can trust God despite the fact that evil will continue until Jesus returns. We can trust God because his people have and will triumph over evil - knowing him, serving him and becoming like him. As we close, I’d like us to stand and affirm our faith in this God. Lets use these verses from Romans 8 as an affirmation of faith.

 

A declaration that, until we meet again next week, we will hold the line. We will not be intimidated. We will not be fearful. We will not worry. We will trust God, what ever the headlines. We will serve God what ever happens to us this week. We will strive to become like him, irrespective of what may come our way. In fact I recommend you memorise this and quote it to your self and others especially when you’re feeling the world seems out of control.


Let’s read it together –


“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:28-39)

 

And all the people said “Amen”.

 

 

I am grateful to Bradley Boydston and David Zimmerman for ideas and material used in this sermon found on www.sermoncentral.com as well as the commentaries on Daniel by Ronald Wallace (IVP) and John Goldingay (Word)

 

 

 

 



[1]See also R. T. France, The Gospel According to Matthew, An Introduction and Commentary (Leicester: IVP, 1985), p. 340.

[2]Josephus, Wars, Book 6, Chapter 6.2 (346), pp. 901-902.

[3]DeMar, Last, p. 96. See also E. J. Young, The Book of Isaiah. 3 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972), 3:520. 

[4]Matthew 24:34.

[5]Lindsey, Late,  p. 54. See also Lindsey, Planet, p. 104.