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Daniel 11:36–45 (The king who exalts himself)

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Stories and Visions, and we are in the middle of this final vision in the book. This is the fourth and final vision Daniel receives in the vision section, and, as we saw last week, also the most detailed.

Last week we saw how Israel was caught in the middle between the kingdoms of Egypt and Syria, culminating in Antiochus IV’s vicious attacks on the Holy Land. It was a time of severe persecution for God’s people and a time of testing, as many were forced to choose sides with or against Antiochus.

But as we move into the last part of the vision, something changes. The angel speaks about a king who exalts himself. Is he still talking about Antiochus? Or is he pointing to someone even further in the future, someone who will arise near the end of time? That is part of what we will explore in our message today. (Read Daniel 11:36 and pray.)

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There are three main views regarding this king who exalts himself.

1) In the first view, the angel is still speaking about Antiochus IV. The difficulty with this view is that the details in this section do not line up with what we know of Antiochus historically.

2) In the second view, this part of the vision is a prophecy of the early Roman Empire. The difficulty here is that it is hard to match all these details to any single king.

3) In the third view, this part of the vision is a prophecy of the Antichrist. I believe this view best fits the context. Right before this section, the angel speaks about the time of the end. Immediately after it, he speaks about the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and eternal righteousness — all of which take place at the end of time.

The angel has just finished telling Daniel about Antiochus IV, who would rise to power during the time of the Greek empire. He describes this as a time of great persecution for God’s people. He then begins speaking about the king who exalts himself.

At first it seems he is still speaking about Antiochus, especially since he has not told of Antiochus’ end yet. Many of the details here still correspond to Antiochus, and yet the descriptions in this part of the prophecy go deeper and seem to speak of another figure like Antiochus who will arise later, at the time of the end. In this way Antiochus becomes a type or foreshadowing of the Antichrist, who is the real focus of this section. [Take slide down]

We were first introduced to the Antichrist back in chapter 7, where he was depicted as the little horn that grew up among the ten horns of the fourth beast. Chapter 7 gave us a few basic details about the Antichrist, but now the angel fleshes out those details even more here in chapter 11.

Just as Antiochus brought a time of testing for God’s people, so will the Antichrist. People will be forced to choose sides. And so the question for all of us is, are you ready? Are you ready for the time of testing? Are you ready for persecution? Are you ready for the Antichrist? Let’s look at this final part of the vision together.

I. Sets himself up as God (36–39)

The first thing this king who exalts himself does is set himself up as God. Hmmm, who else tried to make themselves like God? Satan was cast out of heaven because he tried to make himself like God (Isa. 14:12–15), and Satan is the one who motivates the Antichrist in his fury against God and God’s people.

   A. Exalts himself above all gods (36–37)
      – Ps. 115:3; Matt. 24:22; 2 Thess. 2:4

The angel tells Daniel that this king will do as he pleases and will exalt himself above all gods. Look at verses 36–37:

“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. 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.” (Dan. 11:36–37)

The fact that this king will do as he pleases shows that he has no accountability for his actions. This is part of his attempt to set himself up as God. In the Bible, God is the one who does as he pleases (Ps. 115:3). That’s a good thing when God does it, because God is good. It is not a good thing when anyone else does it, because we are not good. And it is definitely not a good thing when the Antichrist does it, because the Antichrist is completely opposed to God and all that is good.

The king will exalt and magnify himself above every god. This is an act of self-deification. This is another way Antiochus foreshadows the Antichrist. Antiochus was also known as Antiochus Epiphanes. Do you know what Epiphanes means? “God manifest.” Do you know who gave Antiochus that name? Antiochus did! Just as Antiochus exalted himself, so this king will exalt and magnify himself above every god.

He will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. This is an example of blasphemy against the one true God. We find a parallel to this in the New Testament when Paul writes about the Antichrist: “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 Thess. 2:4).

The king will be successful until the time of wrath is completed. God uses him to accomplish his purposes, including this time of testing and persecution, but the king operates on God’s timetable, and God will cut that time short for the sake of His people. Jesus spoke of this when he said: “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (Matt. 24:22).

The king will have no regard for the gods of his fathers. He will reject not only the one true God but also the false gods of his ancestors. (This verse could also be translated “the God of the fathers,” which would refer specifically to the God of Israel.)

He will also have no regard for “the one desired by women.” Jewish women longed to be the mother of the Messiah, and so “the one desired by women” here refers to the Messiah himself. Who does this king have no regard for? The Messiah. That makes him truly Antichrist, for he is Anti-Messiah. He exalts himself above all gods and shows no regard for any of them.

   B. A god of war and fortresses (38–39)

Except for one. The angel says he will honor a god of war and fortresses. Look at verses 38–39 next:

“Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.” (Dan. 11:38–39)

He makes war his god. This speaks of a lust and thirst for power fueled by violence and cruelty. The “help of a foreign god” likely refers to the idolatry of war itself, although it could also be a veiled reference to Satan, who motivates and empowers him.

His heart is bent on violence and power. He will attack the mightiest fortresses and reward those who acknowledge him. He will distribute the land at a price. The language here calls to mind God distributing the land of Canaan to Israel, which makes this yet another example of the king setting himself up as God.

II. Wages a great battle (40–43)

Next, the angel tells us that this king will wage a great battle.

   A. The battle of Armageddon (40)
      – Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 16 and 19

You’ve probably heard of the battle of Armageddon. Although a number of the prophets spoke of the coming day of the Lord, Ezekiel was the first to describe this great battle in fuller detail (Ezek. 38–39). The book of Daniel now picks up on Ezekiel’s prophecy as the angel continues to tell Daniel about the time of the end. Look at verse 40 next:

“At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.” (Dan. 11:40)

The phrase “at the time of the end” once again places this passage in the end times rather than in the days of Antiochus. Here we are also reintroduced to the kings of the North and the South. Remember, earlier in chapter 11 these titles were used generically and referred to different kings at different times. Here they likely serve as stand-ins for the many nations that will be involved in this great battle, elsewhere called Armageddon (Rev. 16:16; 19:19–21).

Although the angel uses imagery familiar to the people of Daniel’s day (chariots, cavalry, ships), this does not preclude the nations using modern weapons of war (drones, bombs, missiles, etc.). The battle is portrayed with the weapons of Daniel’s day, but it will more likely be fulfilled with the weapons of our day.

B. The attack on God’s people (41)

At the very center of this battle is the attack on God’s people. Look at verse 41:

“He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.” (Dan. 11:41)

The Beautiful Land is Israel. Edom, Moab, and Ammon are no longer around, so these names are likely symbolic of other peoples or nations. Once again, this prophecy was first partially fulfilled by Antiochus IV during the time of the Greek empire. Then Jesus used the details surrounding Antiochus to foretell the destruction of Jerusalem, and then he used that to speak of the great persecution of God’s people that will take place under the Antichrist. In this way Antiochus IV foreshadowed the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 as well as the coming of the Antichrist at the end of time.

   C. Expanded power and reach (42–43)

The next verses tell how this king who exalts himself will expand his power and reach over many nations. Look at verses 42–43:

“He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.” (Dan. 11:42–43)

As the Antichrist expands his power and reach throughout the world, it seems nothing can stop him. If the vision ended here, it would truly be terrifying.

III. Comes to his end (44–45)

Thankfully, he will not ultimately succeed but will come to an end. Look at verses 44–45:

“But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 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.” (Dan. 11:44–45)

   A. A great rage (44)
      – John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8–9

The scope of the battle continues to grow, and the king sets out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. This is not a happy individual. No one who fights against God is ultimately happy in this life or the next. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that [you] may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Only God will bring true peace and fulfillment in your life.

Well, the Antichrist doesn’t have God. He is against God. He is opposed to God. And so he sets off full of rage and destruction. We find a similar description of Satan in the New Testament. Peter writes: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Pet. 5:8–9). The Antichrist is full of rage and destruction because Satan is full of rage and destruction, and Satan is the driving force behind him.

   B. Final destruction (45)
      – 2 Thess. 2:8; Revelation 19:11–16, 19–20

The Antichrist sets off full of rage and destruction, yet he will come to final destruction himself. That tiny word “yet” shows that although it looked like the end for Israel, it turned out to be his end instead.

This will take place “between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain.” This refers to Mount Zion — the temple mount in Jerusalem — located between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Dead Sea to the east. This is another indication that the angel is no longer speaking about Antiochus. Antiochus died in Persia; this individual dies in Israel.

After such a lengthy description of all his wars, battles, persecution and exploits, the end comes quickly. In our English translation it is given in just six brief words: “He will come to his end.” That’s followed by another six words: “And no one will help him.” Why not? Because Christ will defeat him and God will judge him. No one can stop God.

The New Testament fills out more of these details for us. Paul writes: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming” (2 Thess. 2:8).

The splendor of Christ’s coming is described further in Revelation where John writes: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns…. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations…. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:11–16).

John goes on to describe the final end of the beast: “Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf…. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Rev. 19:19–20).

As we said in our earlier message on Daniel 7 and the vision of the beasts: God is bigger than the beasts, and he is bigger than the Beast. The Antichrist sets off full of rage and destruction. He seems unstoppable. But Jesus will come riding on the white horse of victory. He will defeat all the powers of evil. The lawless one will be overthrown by the breath of his mouth. That is all it will take from Jesus — just a breath, and the enemy will be blown away, destroyed by the splendor of Christ’s coming.

CONCLUSION: This is the final and climactic vision in the book of Daniel, so let’s tie it all together now. We have to keep going back to Antiochus IV because he is key to all this.

Antiochus IV was a terrifying ruler who was successful for a time but was eventually defeated after attacking and persecuting the people of Israel. Big mistake. His reign foreshadowed another ruler who will make the same mistake, one who will attack God’s people and bring great suffering and persecution in the end times.

As bad as Antiochus was, the Antichrist will be worse. Motivated by Satan, he will take his stand against God and against God’s people. He will have victory for a time but will be soundly defeated when Christ returns.

What does this mean for us? Jesus warned of a time of great persecution during which many will fall away. We need to be prepared to stand strong. Those who remain loyal to Christ will be delivered, while those who oppose Christ will be defeated.

The Bible warns us about many antichrists before that final day. John writes: “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18).

These many antichrists share the same qualities as the final Antichrist — self-exaltation, blasphemy, violence, hatred of God, and persecution of his people. But the most important quality of the Antichrist is this: he will fail. Christ will ultimately defeat him.

So I ask you again, are you ready? Are you ready for the Antichrist? Are you prepared to hold true to your faith? Will you commit yourself to following Christ no matter the consequences? You need to make that commitment now. Don’t wait until the time of persecution comes, or you’ll be too late and make the wrong choice.

Many antichrists have already come, and Christians around the world are being persecuted right now for their faith in Christ. But God is faithful, God will deliver, and God will defeat all who come against him and his people. Choose your side, and choose carefully.

© Ray Fowler

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