First, some background: Daniel had been fasting and had a vision that left him pale. It took the archangel Michael 21 days to help the angel that did get to Daniel to get there and explain the vision that Daniel had. The first part of Daniel explains the various kings involved, but starting with verse 20 is the beginning of the end of days.
The Bible I use is a Precepts Bible that is used by Kay Arthur. This means that it has absolutely no study notes, no explanations by other scholars, only the scriptures. It is the New American Standard Version.
Daniel 11:1-20 tells of 3 kings coming to power, and then a 4th king will rise that gains more riches than any other. Then it says "And a mighty king will arise..." I don't know if they're still speaking of the 4th king, or of a next one, but this one will have his kingdom parceled out to the 4 points of the compass against his will. Then the king of the South gets strong and strikes a bargain with the king of the North, through a daughter. But she doesn't retain her power; one of her descendants arises and strikes against the king of the North.
This new king takes Egypt captive and refrains from attacking the king of the North for some years. Then he takes the king of the South, but returns to his own land.
The king of the South will fight the king of the North and lose. Then this other king will take the Beautiful Land (which I take to be Israel). He will take a woman to ruin it, but she's not on his side. Then he turns his attention to the coastal areas. But a commander will put a stop to his scorn against him, and repay him for his scorn. At this point, he stumbles and falls, and is no more.
Then someone takes his place who is very oppressive but only for a few days. He's shattered but not in battle or anger.
In HIS place comes a despicable person who is not a king and comes during a time of tranquility and seizes the kingdom by intrigue. After the alliance is made, he will practice deception, and will gain power with a small force of people.
In a time of peace, he will enter the richest parts of the kingdom and do what his ancestors had never done. "He will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them and will devise his schemes against strongholds, but only for a time."
The king of the South will come against him, but he won't win. This not-king will scheme against the king of the South. He will plant traitors: "Those who eat his choice food will destroy him." They will speak lies to each other at the same table, but the end will still come at the appointed time. He will go home with plunder and his heart set against the holy covenant.
At the appointed time, he will return to the South, but the ships of Kittim (or the Islands of Cyprus) will be against him. He will return enraged at the holy covenant and take action. He will favor those who forsake the covenant (or godless). Forces from him will set up the abomination of desolation.
With smooth words he will favor godlessness and those who act wickedly. But those who know God will be brave and take action. Those with insight will give understanding to many, but they will also fall by sword, with flame, into captivity and by plunder for many days. "Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help and many will join with them in hypocrisy." This means that even though there are people standing with them, they don't help them once they are captured. This is to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time because it is still to come.
The king (non-king) will do as he pleases and put himself above every god and say monstrous things about God. He will prosper until all the indignation's are finished. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or the desires of women because he places himself above all things. He honors a god of fortresses. He honors him with gold and silver, costly stones and treasure.
He will take action against the strongest fortress with the help of a foreign god. he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and cause them to rule over many and will parcel out land for a price.
At the end time, the king of the South will collide with him and the king of the North will stand against him. He will enter countries, overflow them and pass through them. He will also enter Israel and many countries will fall. These will be rescued: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. The land of Egypt will not escape. He will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt and the Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels.
But rumors from the East and North will disturb him and in anger he will go and kill many. He will settle between the seas and "the Beautiful Mountain" and there come to his end, with no one coming to help him.
At this point, Michael, the archangel, will come to our defense. There will be a time of distress such as has never occurred. At this time, everyone who is in the Book of Life will be rescued. The dead will rise, and those in the Book get everlasting life. Those not, get disgrace and everlasting contempt. So, everyone lives forever, just a matter of whether it's with God or not.
Those with insight will shine brightly and those who have lead others to God will shine like the stars forever.
Here, Daniel is told to seal up the words until the end time. When he looked up, there were 2 men, one on one side of the river and the other on the other side. One asked the other one how long until all this happened. The one in linen answered, "A time, times and a half a time, and as soon as the finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed."
The wicked will continue to do wicked, but those with insight will understand. From the time they set up the abomination of desolation there will be 1,290 days. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days.
Then he tells Daniel it won't be during his lifetime, because he tells him he will enter his rest and rise again at the end of days.
Lori Ann Smith
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