Daniel 11

The Great Tribulation (11:36 – 12:13)

When we come to Daniel 11:36, we suddenly leap over the centuries and arrive in the last days. Bible scholars tell us that while the previous verses have been fulfilled exactly, these verses are yet for the future and have experienced no fulfillment in history. Daniel has finally made the transition from the type of the Beast or Antichrist to the Antichrist himself. Obviously, the theme of the Beast is a central theme of the whole book of Daniel. It is of utmost importance that we look carefully at the characteristics of this individual, that we will not fail to recognize both his spirit (1 Jn. 4:3; 1 Jn. 2:18) and his person.

This king will do as he pleases (11:36). He is known in the Greek language as “the lawless one” (2 Thess. 2:8). He will make his own laws and rules. He will greatly exalt himself and will blaspheme the true God (11:36; Rev. 13:6). In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul says: “ 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. ”

He will not honor the true God but will instead honor a “god of fortresses” (11:38). It seems that he will worship military might. In Revelation 13:4, we see people saying of him, “ Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him? “ In Daniel 11:39, we see that he will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. The same thing happened in the days of Antiochus IV. In 11:32, we see him corrupting with flattery those who would violate the covenant. Surely the benefits will be great for all those who receive his mark of approval in their hands and upon their foreheads (Rev. 13:16; 20:4). The Beast will even distribute the land for a price (11:39). Perhaps this involves yet one more fanciful “peace plan” or distribution plan for the land of Israel. We are assured in 11:41 that he will come against the Beautiful Land. We can know already that whatever price he establishes will be far too high for Israel to pay.

From a practical point of view it would be wise for us to pause here and consider first of all just how the Beast-type attacked the people of God in the second century B.C. Based upon Daniel and the Books of 1 & 2 Maccabees we can outline the main points of his attack. From this we can draw some conclusions for the end-days.

He totally looted and defiled the Temple of God, even carrying away the sacred furnishings. The end-day Antichrist will likely do the same thing, attacking both the natural Temple and the spiritual one. He will no doubt try to bring his abominations into the lives and hearts of the saints for they make up the true temple. He made it a capital offense to practice the Jewish religion in any way. As circumcision and worship were banned in the second century B.C., all outward show of devotion to the true God will likely become a criminal offense in the last day.

He made it a capital offense to read or even possess the word of God. We are already seeing a great attack on the word of God in many places. Likely, just carrying a Bible will bring the death sentence in the days of the Antichrist. We had best busy ourselves hiding the word in our hearts.

The Beast also mightily oppressed the people, killing them, selling them into slavery, taking their goods and livestock, and burning their houses and cities. We must not get too attached to the things of this world in which we take comfort. In the last days they will all be gone.

He made it necessary for the faithful to flee to the caves and deserts in order to survive. To be sheltered in the secret place of the Most High will be the only safe-house in the end-days.

Last of all, he greatly encouraged and rewarded renegade believers, using them in his devious plans against the faithful. Paul warns us that in the last days many will depart from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1). Jesus himself speaks of families betraying their own members (Matt. 10:21). It is clear that those who have fallen away will become the pawns of Antichrist in his devious and destructive work against true believers.

Now, we should consider how the faithful stood against this Old Testament antichrist. They did several things. They dared take a stand against him regardless of the personal danger or cost to themselves or their families. The true believers tore their clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned, seeking God’s intervention. It is of note that they stood together and fought even though they were few and woefully outnumbered. The true believers wholly supported God’s anointed leadership sent for their deliverance. Like their leaders, they believed that God could save by many or by few, thus they expected miracles. They remembered to praise God and sing hymns with every victory. Finally they were able to remove the pollutions from the Temple and rededicate it. Still, they did not rest until all God’s people were delivered from the enemy.

We see that everything will not be smooth sailing even for the Antichrist. He will have his problems holding the world together. Nations and armies from the south and north will rise against him (11:40). However, like Antiochus IV, he will not neglect to attack the land of Israel, even in the midst of all his problems (11:41). We are told: “ He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him “ (11:45).

Now we see that Michael, Israel’s great angelic helper, will arise to assist the nation in this dreadful hour (12:1). The thing that Daniel had glimpsed on many other occasions is finally given to us in detail. There will be a time of distress unlike any distress that has ever happened in the history of the world (12:1). Jesus mentions this awful time in Matthew 24:21-22, and promises us that the days will be shortened for the sake of God’s elect. Jesus mentions that during this time the love of most will grow cold, but that those who endure unto the end will be saved (Matt. 24:12-13). In Revelation, John warns Gentile churches to overcome so that they might be kept from the hour of temptation that is about to come upon the whole world to try those who live on the earth (Rev. 3:10).

The angel assures Daniel that everyone written in the book will be delivered (12:1). Jesus makes a similar promise when he says to the churches: “ He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels ” (Rev. 3:5). Daniel is told that there will be a resurrection in these last days (12:2). We know from scripture that there will be first a resurrection of the righteous and later a resurrection of the wicked. It seems that somehow, all saints of God who have ever lived will be involved in this great and final hour of history. The angel tells Daniel that those who are wise will shine like stars in this darkest hour (12:3).

Now the prophet is told to seal up the words of the scroll until the time of the end (12:4). We can know by this that the book of Daniel will make a lot more sense to us as the end-days draw nearer. We are then given a special clue about what it will be like in the end-days. We are told that, “ Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. “ (Dan. 12:4). In several other translations it is confirmed that people will run to and fro and that knowledge will increase.

Today, more than at any other time in history, people are running to and fro all over the world, and knowledge is increasing. For instance, when I was a child I rode in a team-drawn wagon just as people had done for thousands of years. Yet in my short lifetime there has been a proliferation of cars, airplanes, and even space travel. I remember well the first time I ever saw an electric light. In the rural area where I grew up, we used oil lamps just like people had done for thousands of years. Now we not only have electric lights, but x-rays, laser lights, and many other electrical wonders. We type on word processors and send information out all over the world in a flash. Our television programs are sent through space and broadcast back to us. Even a small computer disc can now hold entire encyclopedias.

According to Knight Ridder Newspapers in 2004, the number of scientific papers published has been doubling every three years. In just one field, global climate data, the volume of recorded information is expected to explode from 2 billion gigabytes in 2000 to 15 billion gigabytes by 2010. Yes, knowledge is certainly increasing in our day!

We can know by this clue that the dreadful but glorious times of the end days are literally at our door. One of the angels in conversation asked how long before all these astonishing things would be fulfilled. The answer came back with the familiar refrain heard so often in Daniel and in Revelation, “it shall be for a time, times, and an half” (12:7). Once more we are told that the Great Tribulation will last approximately three and one half years. It will last until the power of God’s holy people has been broken (12:7). This likely includes both Israel and the church.

We see clearly that it is not just Israel that is broken. Many saints of God will be purified, made spotless and refined (12:10). We must understand that it is not the careless, self-indulgent church that will meet the Messiah in the end-days, but the church that has gone through the fire and has been purified and made white by tribulation. As the scripture says, “these are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb ” (Rev.7:14).

At last the wheat and tares will be separated. At last we will all be able to see the difference between the righteous and the wicked (Mal. 3:18). The wise will understand all these things, but the wicked will not understand (12:10). The wicked will continue to be wicked, and the filthy will continue to be filthy (Rev. 22:11). We are already seeing a great and increasing obsession with this filthiness, especially in the area of internet pornography. For such as these who do not repent the prophet Malachi warns, “‘ Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire, ‘ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them. ‘” (Mal. 4:1). Malachi also says to the overcomers: “ Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the LORD Almighty” (Mal. 4:3).

It seems that God has an end-day plan to burn the wicked out of the earth while at the same time leaving and purifying the righteous. The scripture says that the Lord knows how “ to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment ” (2 Pet. 2:9). The fire of the end-day may be a bit like the pressure cookers we use in home canning. When the fire gets hot the pressure mounts; the bacteria are destroyed; the jars are sealed and the fruit is then preserved. What destroys the one preserves the other.

In the Didache, an early Christian teaching manual that likely comes from apostolic or at least from sub-apostolic times, the writer exhorts: “for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, if ye be not perfected at the last season” ( Didache 16:2).

Daniel is told that from the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up in the Temple, there will be a period of 1,290 days (slightly more than 3 1/2 years). Daniel is told that there is a great blessing in store for those who can hold on until 1,335 days (12:12). The additional 45 days are critical and will apparently be needed to fully usher in the Kingdom of God. Here we need to remember that old baseball maxim of Yogi Berra: “It ain’t over till it’s over!” We need to especially remember Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:13: “ but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

May we endure like the saints of old and like Daniel. May we be able to stand firm through the days of the end and receive our allotted inheritance.

Dear reader, if this little book has been a blessing to you would you please drop us a line and let us know? We would appreciate any comment, whether positive or negative. You may reach us at the following address: Gerrishes@aol.com