Global Watch

D THE MEDITERRANEAN UNION

DANIEL 11 AND THE ARMAGEDDON TRIGGER The Antichrist is a worldwide leader (Dan. 11:36-45) who was prophetically foreshadowed by Antiochus Epiphanes (Antiochus IV; 175-164 BC). It is clear that Dan. 11:21-35 was partially fulfilled by Antiochus IV. Some view Antiochus Epiphanes as the main person in this passage. However, the historical facts of Daniel. 11:36-45 do not at all fit Antiochus’s life and military career. For example, Antiochus did not exalt himself above every god (Dan. 11:36-37), nor did he reject “the gods of his fathers,” or worship “a god unknown to his fathers” (Dan. 11:38). Rather he worshiped the Greek pantheon that his fathers did and built an altar to Zeus in the Jerusalem temple. Antiochus IV did not die or “come to his end” in Israel (Dan. 11:45). He died at Tabae in Persia. In other words, Dan. 11:36-45 was not remotely fulfilled by Antiochus IV. The most popular view among the Church fathers (Chrysostom, Jerome, Theodoret, etc.) is that this king was the Antichrist. Jerome wrote, “all these things are spoken prophetically of the Antichrist who is to arise in the end time”. Some scholars see this king as referring to the Roman Emperor (Calvin). To interpret this passage this ways requires one overlook many key details. The context makes clear this king will live in the End-Times just before the Second Coming (Dan. 11:40; 12:1; 10:14). In Dan. 10-12, Daniel gave a report of the details of one vision in which the End-Times is the primary theme. This “king” will reign in the time just before believers are resurrected and immediately after Israel is delivered from this king (Dan. 12:2). Even though the Antichrist is not called the King of the West we can make the assumption that the empire from which he will come to prominence will be from the west of Israel since the power blocks which come against him in Israel will be from the north, south and east. An interesting perspective to be observed is that if the ten toes of the image in Nebuchadnezzar's (Daniel 2) are in reference to the emergence of a Revival of the Roman Empire (the interpretation is that the two legs of iron represented ancient rome whereas the ten toes are a future fulfilment since they are crushed by the second coming of Christ) which many believe that the European Union will fulfil. Daniel 11:40 states that whilst the Antichrist (leader of a Masonic New World Order) is in Israel that the fragile world government he is trying to create will be tested when two major groups will rebel and attack him in an attempt to come against his authority. Daniel 11:40 clearly identities that a major military challenge will rise from the South and North of Israel (“time of the end” denotes it is a latter day event). 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. Many researchers have identified the King of the South as Egypt based on the historical and literal interpretation of the term “King of the South” in Daniel 11 and its detailed account of the Ptolemaic (southern section of the Grecian world empire) dynasties that arose during the reign of Alexander the Great. The Ptolemaic empire covered more than present day Egypt and there is flexibility in the interpretation that Egypt may bring along other North African nations into this conflict prompting the Antichrist to extend his influence beyond Egypt further into Africa i.e. Ethiopia, Libya. 11