In this Part I, we give a brief summary of the overall purpose, analysis and conclusion of our bible study. We also explore some background information pertaining to the term “antichrist” and give some detailed analysis to determine the geographic origin of the coming Antichrist.
In Part II of our study, we examine the Gog of Ez 38, 39 and how Gog is related to the coming Antichrist. We also examine various names given in scripture to the coming Antichrist which give clues to his character, origin and other attributes.
In Part III of our study, we examine some of the activities to be carried out by the coming Antichrist, the extent of his reign, God’s purpose for him, the timing of events associated with his coming, and other scriptural references to the coming Antichrist.
Purpose: This blog is an in-depth Bible study to identify the geographical source, religious alignment, character, and activities of the coming antichrist (hereafter, coming “AC”) who will rise to power quietly then lead a worldwide government which opposes everything Godly and which persecutes those who worship the one true God – the Holy One of Israel, be they Jew or Christian. The analysis herein is based on prophecies found in the Bible and on historical fact found in secular non-Biblical sources. We must be vigilant and watchful as current news events around the world reveal to us on an ever-increasing basis that the end time beast government of Rev 13 is beginning to form.
Analysis - I have compared Biblical prophecies and descriptions about the coming AC with the writings of many Biblical scholars, both of antiquity and of recent vintage, and numerous old and new world maps which indicate the location of various people groups in history relevant to our discussion. As a result of my study, I have reached some general conclusions regarding the geographic origin of the coming AC, which we will examine below in greater detail.
Summary Conclusion: The Bible requires that the coming AC is from a certain geographic area, rule over a worldwide government, and carry out various activities. (cf., Dan 2, Dan 7, Dan 8, Dan 9, Dan 11, Micah 5, Rev 13, and Rev 17). Based on my analysis, I believe the coming AC will originate from a geographic area of the world which was ruled in ancient times under each of the consecutive empires of: Assyria, the Greeks under Alexander, the Seleucids of the post-Alexander era, and the eastern portion of the Roman Empire. Today, that geographic area of the world includes the following nations: Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Iran – all of which today have mostly Muslim populations which practice Islam. Therefore, it is my belief that the coming AC will be a practitioner of Islam -- a Muslim.
Combining an analysis of history with an analysis of Biblical prophecies and descriptions concerning the coming AC, I believe that he will most likely originate from, or be a very direct descendent of someone who originates from, one of the following modern nations: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq or Iran. He will be an individual who hails from the eastern portion of the old Roman Empire, and will most likely be someone who either practices Islam or who sympathizes deeply with those who do.
As partial evidence of this hypothesis, consider Rev 13: 15. In that verse, God tells us that those who refuse to take the mark of the image of the beast will be killed. Rev 13: 10 tells us that he who kills with the sword must also be killed with the sword. Finally, Rev 20: 4 tells us that “the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands” will live and reign with Christ during the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. (Emphasis added)
The sword is the Islamist’s weapon of choice and is used to behead infidels. The sword, or its equivalent, will no doubt be used by the coming AC and loyal Islamic forces to kill by beheading Christians who refuse to bow to him and to take his “mark."
Current Political Environment
In the United States for the past decade or so there has been an increased variety and amount of federal policies and programs that, regardless of their purported purpose, have resulted in a decrease in individual rights and freedoms – from healthcare reform legislation to mandatory “safety measures” for air travel to prevent terrorism on airplanes. Americans today are being conditioned and acclimated to increased government intrusiveness in daily life, which is something Americans of generations past would not have tolerated.
Today’s younger Americans, those under age 30, passively accept these negative changes since they have been methodically neutered through “political correctness” which began during their primary school education as children. This generation is asleep and oblivious to the real issues in the world and would rather play on their “smart phones” and watch sports or celebrity gossip shows while remaining blissfully ignorant and having not much care, concern or understanding of current geopolitical or economic events. Without a doubt, most of this generation is clueless and unconcerned about what the Bible says about the times in which we live and where we are heading.
Worldwide, we see increasing political and economic chaos enveloping nation after nation around the world. These chaotic activities will ultimately culminate in wars, political turnover and economic collapse, thereby creating a worldwide “need” for a form of government to ostensibly eliminate those wars, calm the political chaos, and stabilize economic markets. The only certain outcome of more governmental control, on wherever scale it is implemented, is a decrease of individual freedoms.
The noted Christian lecturer Gary Kah has reached the same conclusion. He is an outspoken opponent of the Wold Constitution and Parliment Association which promotes a unified world government and worldwide interfaithism (merger of Christianity, Islam and many religions with the false belief that there are MANY paths to God, and that Jesus is not the only way to the Father). For an interesting 1 hour video of Gary Kah and these concepts, please visit this link.
The Bible has more to say about the epoch of time in which we now live than any other epoch in human history. God has warned us through the prophets to make sure that today those of us who have eyes to see and ears to ear have plenty of information to help us discern the times and seasons based on patterns and prophecies in the Bible which are matching up with current events.
We must not sleep. We must be vigilant and watch. We must prepare our hearts for the travail which will soon come upon the world. Hard times are ahead, but God has also given Christian believers plenty of hope and encouragement so we may endure the coming tribulation for the joy He has set before us – to stand before the Son of Man and be rewarded as an overcomer.
For those of you who believe that you need not worry because you will not be here to see the coming AC or the tribulation and hard times he brings because you will escape in a secret pre-tribulation rapture, I strongly advise you to read my blog entitled, “There Will Be No Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church –Here’s Why.” Better to prepare your heart to endure than to do nothing and be surprised when your hoped-for pre-tribulation rapture does not occur.
The term “Antichrist”
in the Bible
Let us first explore the use of the term “antichrist” in the Bible. The Greek word translated “antichrist” appears in the Bible only in 1 John 2: 18, 22; 1 John 4: 3; and 2 John 1: 7. In 1 John 2: 18 the Greek word for “antichrist” is preceded by the definite article “the.” The Greek word transliterated “anti” means “the opposite of” or “in the place of.” Thus, 1 John 2: 18 is the only verse in the Bible which indicates that “the antichrist” will be a certain individual who will oppose, or claim to be a substitute or replacement for, Christ. The other usages of the term “antichrist” in 1 John and 2 John are directed generally to anyone in the course of history who has a spirit which opposes Christ.
1 John 2: 18 reads:
“Little children it
is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is
coming, even now many antichrists
have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” (Emphasis added - NKJV)
The Bible gives us many other descriptive titles to the coming AC which provide us information about his geographic origin, intents, attitudes, activities, timing, etc. These clues are scattered throughout the entire Bible. It for us to find and study them.
We will investigate in this study many of those descriptive titles and descriptions and will put together many of these clues to form a mosaic which hopefully will give the reader enough detailed information about the coming AC to allow the reader to recognize the AC when he comes on the world scene.
The Geographic Origin of the
Coming Antichrist
We begin our analysis of the geographic origin of the coming AC in Daniel 2. Beginning in verse 31, Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar the dream that the King had, and also interprets the dream for him. In the dream God had shown to the King a great image or statue of a figure, representing present and future earthly kingdoms. The image had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, a belly and thighs of bronze (or copper), legs of iron, and feet and toes partly of iron and partly of clay.
Daniel tells the King that the head of gold represented his Babylonian kingdom and that the remaining body parts on the image of differing composition represented kingdoms that would follow Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. The feet of the image represented the last earthly kingdom which would exist at the end of time. During the time of this final kingdom, God would destroy all earthly kingdoms and create an eternal kingdom which would never be destroyed. We should be familiar with this story in Daniel.
1. Head of
gold – Babylonian Empire
2. Chest and
two arms of silver – Median/Persian Empire
3. Belly and
thighs (sides) of brass (copper) – Greek Empire under Alexander the Great
4. Legs of
iron – Roman Empire
5. Feet and
toes of iron and clay – Revived Roman Empire based in Europe
Many Bible teachers over the past 30 years tell us that the revived Roman Empire has already been formed, as evidenced by the birth of the European Union or Commonwealth of European Nations. But, before we jump on that bandwagon and agree with that analysis of a western Europe revived Roman Empire, let us consider additional information God has given us to determine the origin of the coming AC.
The 10 toes on the feet of the two iron legs of the image of Dan 2 consist of 5 toes on one foot and 5 toes on the other foot of the image. Since the western portion of the Roman Empire was based in Rome, we would expect five leaders (five toes of the “western” foot of the image) of the coming worldwide government to be from European nations – most likely western European nations. Similarly, since the eastern portion of the Roman Empire was based in Byzantium in Turkey (the name was changed by Constantine of Rome in 324 AD to Constantinople after he fled Rome) we would also expect five leaders (five toes of the “eastern” foot of the image) of the coming worldwide government to be from Middle East nations which comprised the original eastern portion of the Roman Empire. Thus, five of the 10 end time government leaders from the west (European nations) and five from the east (mid-east nations). More on this later.
In Dan 7 we have the vision of the “four beasts” which arise out of the Great Sea. The first beast is described as being like a lion having eagles wings on its back which are then plucked off, after which the lion is given a man’s heart and was lifted up to stand on its two feet like a man. The second beast is described as being like bear which is raised up on one side and has three ribs in its mouth, after which it is told to arise and devour much flesh. The third beast is described as being like a four-headed leopard having four wings of a foul on its back.
Many teach, incorrectly, that the first three beasts of Daniel’s vision in Dan 7 (the lion, the bear and the leopard) represent the same ancient kingdoms represented by the head of gold, the chest/arms of silver, and the belly/thighs of bronze, respectively, of the great image of Dan 2. But, Dan 7 shows us that this cannot be true since all four of the Dan 7 beasts must represent end time nations and kingdoms. Dan 7: 7 teaches that those first three beasts exist contemporaneously with each other and with the end time beast until Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom on earth. (We will see later that Rev 13 teaches us that these three beasts (nations) will form part of the end time beast government and describe its characteristics.)
Dan 7: 12 reveals that God takes away the dominion of the first three beasts when Jesus returns but also that those three beasts are not destroyed, but they continue “for a season and a time.” Dan 7: 7 states that the fourth terrible beast “was different from all the beasts that were before it.” (Emphasis added) The Aramaic word translated “before” (Strong’s 6925) means “in front of” or “before” in a spatial sense. It does not mean “before” in time. Dan 7: 12 confirms this, since only the dominion of these beasts is taken away by Christ when He returns. They are not destroyed but continue during Christ’s reign on earth. Only the fourth beast of Dan 7, the terrible beast representing the end time worldwide AC government, is destroyed when Jesus returns, along with the ancient kingdoms described by the first three kingdoms of the image of Dan 2.
We see that first three beasts of Dan 7 are contemporaneous with the end time terrible beast worldwide government. The images of the first three beasts of Dan 7 do not represent historic Babylon, Media/Persia, and Greece. These three kingdoms were represented by the upper three portions of the great image of Dan 2, but they will be destroyed when Christ returns. The descriptions of the first three beasts of Dan 7 were given to us in such a way to enable us today to be able to determine that the end time worldwide government is not far off. When we see all three of these nations arise, we know we are in the end times and that the terrible end time beast kingdom will soon form.
Rev 13 describes how the terrible 7-headed, 10-horned end time beast, which is the same beast as the fourth beast of Dan 7, is a composite of the characteristics of each of the first three Dan 7 beasts. The first three beasts (nations) of Dan 7 are identifiable by us today (unlike in Daniel’s time, or in history until the 20th century) through the symbols and descriptions used to identify those three beasts. Based on those descriptions it appears these three beasts are:
(1) The United
Kingdom (the lion) having eagle wings (America) being plucked from it (the United States’ 1776 declaration of independence
from England);
(2) Germany
(the leopard) having four heads (representing three historic fascist Reichs –
1871, 1919 and 1934, and a fourth future Reich) and having four wings of a fowl on its back (two pairs of fowl wings, each representing a Franco-German relationship which existed during each of the two prior world wars; the national bird of France is a rooster); and
(3) Russia
(the bear).
Dan 7 shows us that these three kingdoms are contemporaneous end time kingdoms or nations which will have their dominion taken away, but are not destroyed, when Jesus returns and destroys the end time beast (the fourth beast). These three nations will continue (v.12) for a while (into the millennium). Since these three kingdoms will continue into the millennium, they must be future kingdoms (future to Daniel’s time) which exist only when Jesus returns.
Dan 7: 17 provides further evidence, and states: “Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which shall arise out of the earth.” (NIV - Emphasis added) These are future kingdoms. The angel is speaking to Daniel during the reign of the Babylonian kings (Dan 7: 1), and since at the time the angel is speaking to Daniel Babylon has already arisen the lion of this prophecy cannot be representative of Babylon but represents a future kingdom to arise on the earth some time after the Babylonian Empire. Also, from the context of Dan 7 we learn that this fourth beast represents an end time kingdom which shall arise in the last days. This terrifying end time kingdom will be led by the “little horn” which will seek to harm the saints of God for 3 ½ years before having its dominion taken away forever by God Almighty, and Dan 7: 7 shows us that these other three kingdoms are contemporaneous with it.
Dan 7 also predicts an end time resurgence of fascism (the 4th Reich). Will it begin and then flourish in Germany, and/or elsewhere -- perhaps America. As noted above, there have already been three Reichs in German history. The coming end time fascism will be a main characteristic of the coming worldwide beast government. Fascism, totalitarianism, tyranny, no freedom -- slavery for the people.
Rev 13: 2 tells us that the coming beast world government (the 4th beast of Dan 7) is first and foremost “like a leopard.” Thus, the coming worldwide beast government will be fascist. Watch for a growing fascist movement in the world in the coming years as a clear sign that the worldwide government will soon take over. The fourth Reich will likely begin to coalesce in the not too distant future after a worldwide economic collapse (Please visit my blog: The Heavens are Signaling an Economic Collapse in 2015 -- Make Ready) which will usher in the worldwide government with the support of Germany and the West. God help us if the cradle of the fourth Reich is America.
Dan 7, 8 and 11 tell us that the worldwide beast kingdom will speak loud proud things (mouth of the lion), be powerful in movement and military strength (feet of the bear), and be totalitarian or fascist in nature (body of the leopard). As Dan 7 tells us, it will devour, destroy and break in pieces those who oppose it.
Many teach that the 4th beast of the Dan 7 vision is the equivalent of the “revived Roman Empire” they say is represented in Dan 2 by the two feet and 10 toes at the bottom of the two iron legs of the image, where the two feet and 10 toes are comprised of iron mixed with clay. My reading of Dan 2 and Dan 7 reveals to me a somewhat different analysis.
I believe the Roman Empire was a “kingdom” represented by the legs of iron of the Dan 2 image and that it followed the Greek Empire “kingdom” represented by the belly/thighs of bronze. I believe that the feet of toes of the Dan 2 image represent another kingdom, a divided kingdom (Dan 2 : 41) which is both weak and strong and is not the revived ancient Roman Empire kingdom which was not described in Dan 2 as being divided or weak. As Rome represented by the two iron legs followed Greece as the belly of bronze, so the end time divided beast kingdom will follow Rome as the two legs of iron.
Dan 2 describes the 10 toes of the image and infers that they represent 10 future kings. Dan 2: 44 tells us that “in the days of these 10 kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.” Dan 2: 41-43 tells us that the feet and toes of the image are partly of iron and partly of miry clay signifying that “this kingdom will be divided, and partly strong and partly fragile, and that they (perhaps fallen angels or demonic influence?; cf. Jer 31: 27 regarding mingling of seed of man and beast) shall will mingle with the seed of men but they will not adhere to one another”, as iron and miry clay will not adhere to one another. (Emphasis added) We see that the future divided kingdom is the 4th beast of Dan 7 – the coming end time beast government run by 10 rulers and ultimately by the coming AC.
Rev 13: 1 describes this 7-headed beast as the end time beast which shall dominate the world just before the return of Christ, since Rev 13: 1 states that the 10 kings (10 toes of Dan 2) of the 7-headed beast (the 4th terrible beast of Dan 7) are each given authority (a crown) in the end time context. Rev 17: 12 confirms that the 7-headed beast is the end time beast, where its 10 horns on the 7-headed beast represent 10 kings who (at the time of John's life) have received no kingdom as yet, but they will receive authority “for one hour as kings with the beast (the coming AC).”
I believe the 5 toes on one foot of the Dan 2 image represent 5 kings of the coming divided end time kingdom of areas within the original eastern portion of the Roman Empire and the 5 toes on the other foot represent 5 kings of the coming divided end time kingdom of areas within the original western portion of the Roman Empire. Based on Dan 2, the coming worldwide beast government will be headquartered somewhere within the combined eastern and western geographical boundaries of the original Roman Empire (represented by the two iron legs of the image of Dan 2), but this government will itself be a new end time divided kingdom represented by the two feet and 10 toes of the image of Dan 2, where it will have great strength and also have weakness.
Scripture shows that the 10 kings will initially rule the coming worldwide beast government during the first half of Daniel’s 70th week (2 Thes 2: 3-4; Rev 13: 5; Rev 17: 12-13; Dan 7: 7-8: Dan 9: 24, 27) before they hand control of the government over to the coming AC during the second half of the week (i.e., the final 3 ½ years before Christ returns).
As mentioned above, many teachers (Christian TV preachers
and sellers of Christian prophecy books) tell us that the revived Roman Empire
will come from Europe (e.g., the European Union) which is the western portion
of the old Roman empire represented by one of
the legs of the image of Dan 2. For the
analysis we just completed, I disagree.
Perhaps they forget that the Dan 2 image had TWO legs representing the Roman Empire – a western portion AND an eastern portion.
Most who study the Dan 2 prophecy agree that the two feet
and 10 toes made of mixed iron and clay represent an end time empire. But many forget, or fail to notice, or choose
not to notice, that the separation between the two legs of the image,
representing a maintained separation of the eastern and western portions of the
Empire, is maintained during the last days.
The image illustrates that the two legs maintain their separateness and
distinct identity throughout their time in history as two separate legs – one
leg “in the west” and one leg “in the east.”
"It has been confidently urged by some that as
the ten kingdoms were symbolised by the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image,
five on either foot, five of these kingdoms must be developed in the East, and
five in the West. The argument is plausible, and possibly just; but its chief
force depends upon forgetting that in the prophet's view the Levant and not the
Adriatic, Jerusalem and not Rome, is the centre of the world." (Sir
Robert Anderson, The Ten Kingdoms)
Daniel 8 Analysis
We must fine tune the location of origin of the coming AC within the area of the eastern portion of the old Roman Empire by considering additional Bible prophecies which are on point. In Dan 8, we have another vision by Daniel where he sees a two-horned ram being destroyed by a male goat which has a large notable horn between his eyes and which charges quickly toward the ram from the west. The goat attacks the ram viciously with furious power and knocks the ram to the ground before trampling it.
The vision shows that afterwards the goat becomes strong, but eventually the large horn is broken off and in its place four notable horns arise. Then out of one of the four horns arises a “little horn” which grows exceedingly toward the south, east, and the Glorious Land (land of Israel). An angel in the vision tells Daniel that the ram represents the kingdom of Media/Persia and the goat represents Greece. The “little horn” represents a vile person who will arise in the last days from one of the kingdoms represented by the four horns on the goat during the latter time of their kingdoms when transgressors had reached their fullness.
The Dan 8 prophecy illustrates the destruction of the
Babylonian Empire by Alexander the Great.
The Dan 8 vision informs us, among other things, the geographical area
of the world from which will arise the coming AC. In this prophecy of the he-goat representing
Alexander the Great of Greece, the goat travels quickly towards, slams into and
tramples the ram (male sheep) representing the Babylonian Empire. We know from history that this prophecy was
fulfilled in the 4th century BC when Alexander and his Greek army quickly
crossed the Middle East and defeated the
Median/Persian Empire.
In that prophecy, there is also mention of the four notable
horns which arise afterwards, which represent how after Alexander’s death his
Empire was split into four major (notable) geographic regions, each led by one
of Alexander’s former top generals or associates. Also in the vision, “out of one of the 4
notable horns” arises a “little horn” which speaks blasphemous things and
exalts itself. This is clearly an image
of the coming AC.
An angel explains to Daniel (Dan 8: 17) that the vision
refers to the time of the end. The
little horn of the vision of Dan 8 is similar to the little horn of Dan 7 and is
given further description in Dan 8 as one who will deceive, destroy God’s
people, be cunning, exalt himself, and eventually be destroyed by God.
Another lesson learned from Dan 8 is than the vision can be used to determine
the geographic origin of the coming AC. The
angel told Daniel that the little horn arises from one of the four horns of the male goat. Thus, the coming AC arises out of one of the
4 regions of Alexander’s split empire.
History teaches us that after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC the Greek Empire split apart. Each portion was governed as a separate political kingdom having its own small or large geographic footprint within the now defunct Greek Empire. After some in-fighting among several of those kingdoms in the post-Alexander world, four predominate (notable) kingdoms emerged. Those four kingdoms and their respective leaders were:
(1) Ptolemy in Egypt;
(2) Lysimachus in Macedonia
(modern northern Greece) and
western Turkey;
(3) Cassander in Greece
(modern southern Greece);
and
(4) Seleucus in Asia Minor and Asia (modern eastern
Turkey, Israel, Lebanon,
Syria, Iraq and portions of Iran
and Afghanistan).
Sir Robert Anderson, who was mentioned earlier in this study, reached the same conclusion regarding the geographic origin of the coming AC in his book, “The Coming Prince”, which was first published in Great Britain in 1894. On page 191 of the 1977 reprint of his classic work, he states affirmatively:
That Antichrist is to arise from the eastern part of the Roman
empire, and from that part of the east which fell under the rule
of Alexander’s successors, is rendered unquestionable by this chapter [8 of
Daniel]. (Emphasis added)
The Assyrian Connection
According to the Bible, Nimrod of Gen 10 fame was not only
from the original Babylon but could be considered an Assyrian since he lived
and ruled in Nineveh, which is in the land eventually controlled by the
Assyrian Empire which would follow original Babylon. The Assyrian Empire controlled land within
territory which eventually would be controlled by the Seleucid reign after
Alexander’s death noted above.
Nimrod was a prototype of the coming AC and was the leader
of the first “kingdom” of Babylon. God did not destroy him, but He thwarted Nimrod’s
efforts to unite all peoples into a worldwide government bent on challenging
God’s authority. God confused their
common langue when they were building the tower of Babel
in their pride to show how great they were.
Babel
means “confusion” and God confused their language so they were dispersed
throughout the world and could not continue united against Him.
A review of Dan 2, Dan 8, Micah 5 and other scripture,
places a bull’s-eye on the land of the ancient Assyria Empire as the ethnic
origin of the coming AC. He will be the
final “Assyrian king” who will be the leader of the final world government. We must now determine the geographic area in
the modern world that corresponds to that part of the world once controlled by
ancient Assyria.
Based on my review of these and other maps, both old and new, which show the extent of the Assyrian Empire at various times in its history, the largest geographical area it encompassed occurred sometime between 650-625 B.C. As can be seen in the map below, at that time the area of the Assyrian Empire included: eastern Turkey, land to the southern slope of the Caucasus Mountains (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), Lebanon, Syria, Jordon, Iraq, Kuwait, western Iran, northern Saudi Arabia, and Egypt (along the Nile valley eastward and including the Sinai peninsula). All of this area today is ground zero for the Islam religion, with small pockets of Christianity spread throughout that region.
During the days of ancient Nineveh the Khosr River ran directly through the center of Nineveh. Nineveh was surrounded by a protective wall which also came right up to the bank of the river Khosr. In its prime, Nineveh was one of the largest cities in the world and was an important commercial center located along an ancient trade route which ran from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.
Perhaps when Micah 5: 5 is fulfilled (when the coming AC
ventures into the land of Israel) it will bring about the fulfillment of the
prophecy of Ez 17/Jer 49 (when the city of Damascus
is destroyed by Israel or
another nation – a sword against Assyria, land of Nimrod
at its entrances). Time will tell.
In Rev 17: 10 an angel tells the apostle John that the 7-headed beast which appears before him (also described in Rev 13) represents 7 kings (kingdoms). He says that, "Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come." The angel is speaking to John in approximately the year 90 AD. At that time in world history 5 major world kingdoms had come and gone:
(1) Egypt
(others would suggest ancient Babylon under
Nimrod, instead of Egypt,
was the first true world empire);
(2) Assyria;
(3) Babylon
(or neo-Babylon);
(4) Media/Persia; and
(5) Greece.
One world kingdom (the Roman Empire) existed at the time of John, and one world kingdom had not yet come (the future divided worldwide kingdom of the coming AC, illustrated by the feet and 10 toes of mixed iron and clay in the great image of Dan 2 and the 7-headed, 10-horned beast of Dan 7 and Rev 13, 17). As we discussed, the future divided kingdom will initially be ruled by 10 rulers (the 10 toes/horns of Dan 2: 42; Dan 7: 24; Rev 13: 13; and Rev 17:10, 12, 13). These rulers will then give complete control of the divided kingdom to the coming AC, who emerges from among the 10 kings (Dan 7: 8) and subdues three of them. (Dan 7: 8, 20, 24)
The Bible tells us that the coming AC worldwide government will itself be an 8th beast (Rev 17: 11) and "is of" or "is from among" the seven which preceded it. I believe that the head which appears to be mortally wounded (Rev 13: 3, 14) represents the kingdom of ancient Assyria. In the last days we will come to learn that Assyria was never destroyed, though it appeared to have been for the past several thousand years. The geographic area of ancient Assyria will be the origin and power base of the coming AC.
We now turn to Dan 9 for confirmation of our coming Assyrian AC analysis.
Daniel 9 Analysis
Dan 9: 26 gives us more clues regarding the geographic origin of the coming AC. Among other things, that verse discusses the timing and description of various events which have already occurred in history, including: the decree issued by King Artaxerxes of the Media/Persian Empire which ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple; the public appearance of Jesus the Messiah as King on a Palm Sunday in Jerusalem when He rode in on a donkey amongst cheering crowds only days from his crucifixion; and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Most importantly for our purpose, Dan 9: 26 gives provides a clue as to the geographic ethnicity of the coming AC who is described in this verse as the infamous coming “prince” of the people who were prophesied to destroy Jerusalem and the temple. As noted, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 AD. Who and from where were those who actually carried out that destruction?
Many teach that this coming “prince” of the people who destroyed Jerusalem must be from western Europe -- from the western portion of the old Roman Empire which was based in Rome. They base this analysis on their conclusion that the people who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD were Romans from Rome, and thus were western Europeans. They find further support for this conclusion in view of the Dan 2 image which has the two legs of iron – representing the eastern and western portions of the old Roman Empire. They conclude that the geographic area of land represented by the “western” leg of iron of the image will give rise to the coming AC. For reasons previously stated, I believe such an analysis is flawed, and thus such a conclusion is erroneous.
Let us take a look at historical secular records which help us identify the "people" who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Once we identify those people, we will know their origin and thus the origin of the coming AC, the coming prince of Dan 9: 26. We will also examine whether Jewish orthodox teaching is correct which states that this verse describing a coming "prince" was fulfilled in the 2nd century BC by Antiochus Epiphanes IV.
In pertinent part, Dan 9: 26-27 reads as follows:
(v. 26) “And
after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and
the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the
city and the sanctuary. The end of it
shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.
(v. 27) Then
he shall confirm a covenant with
many for one week; but in the middle of the
week he shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offering; and on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes
desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on
the desolate.”
(NKJV – Emphasis
added)
We can see in these two verses the reference made to the “people”
and the coming “prince” of those people.
Most Bible teachers agree that this coming “prince” is the coming AC who
was previously mentioned herein in reference to Dan 8: 9, 23 (the “little horn”;
and the “king having fierce features.”)
Let us analyze the identity of the “people” who carried out
the destruction.
In Dan 9: 26, the Hebrew word translated “prince” may be
better translated in this context as a “ruler” or “leader” (Strong’s 5057),
since there is no required association of royalty with the Hebrew word. This notion is confirmed in Dan 11: 21 which
refers to the coming AC and states that to him “they will not give the honor of royalty.” (Emphasis added) So, the coming AC will not be a true king
having royalty but will likely have a high title or position of authority in a
secular government.
As an aside, some Jewish teachings and commentary on the Old
Testament (Rahsi) suggest that the Messianic references in Dan 9: 26 regarding
he who is “cut off” refer to King Agrippa (A.D. 27-93) of Judea
and not to Jesus the Messiah. Such an interpretation
appears faulty even for reasons based strictly on historical grounds. My research indicates that King Agrippa actually
helped Rome to
destroy the temple in 70 A.D. and that he did not die until 93 AD which was 23 years
after the temple was destroyed. Obviously, Agrippa was not “cut off” prior to
or during the destruction of the temple.
Therefore, for the remainder of our analysis of the coming AC, we will
assume that Jesus is indeed the Messiah figure referred to in Dan 9: 26 who was
cut off.
Interestingly, in a short hand written note by a 109 year
old, well respected Orthodox Jewish man, Rabbi Yitzhak Kadur, prior to his
death in January 2006 alludes to the identity of the soon-coming Messiah. It is said that the Rabbi had often mentioned
that the Messiah was going to come soon.
The note, written in the rabbi’s handwriting, is translated as: "he will raise the people and confirm
that his word and law are standing", which by an acronym formed from the
Hebrew words used in this message suggests the name "Yehoshua" as the
name of the coming Messiah. We know of such
a person as Jesus.
Apparently, the rabbi had asked that the note not be read
until one year after his death. It was
posted to a website for the Jewish community and subsequently removed after the
discovery of the allusion to Jesus being the Messiah. I am certain this note by such an esteemed
orthodox Jewish rabbi, who dedicated his entire life to study of the Torah, has
caused no small stir in the Orthodox Jewish community.
The Jewish Rashi also interprets the “prince” that is to
come of Dan 9: 26 as being the Roman monarch Titus of Rome since it was “Roman”
soldiers who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. (This is the same conclusion reached by some
Christian teachers, as we discussed previously, that those who destroyed Jerusalem were Roman and
European.) They reason that the “people”
are Roman soldiers since the “prince” of those soldiers was Titus of Rome. However, we have already shown that by
letting scripture interpret scripture the coming “prince” is not of royalty. Additionally, we will see below that the
“people” who actually destroyed the temple were not Romans from Rome, but were conscripts
from lands conquered by Rome
and used by the Roman army to do some of their dirty work.
In writing about the destruction of the Temple, the historian Tacitus writes:
''Early in this year Titus Caesar, who had been
selected by his father to complete the subjugation of Judea
…. He found in Judea three legions, the
5th, the 10th, and the 15th, all old troops of Vespasian’s. To these he added
the 12th from Syria,
and some men belonging to the 18th and 3rd, whom had withdrawn form Alexandria (Egypt). This force was
accompanied by twenty cohorts of allied troops and eight squadrons of cavalry,
by the two kings Agrippa and Sohemus, by the auxiliary forces of king
Antiochus, by a strong contingent of Arabs,
who hated the Jews with the usual hatred of neighbors, and lastly, by many
persons brought from the capital and from Italy by private hopes of securing
the yet unengaged affections of the Prince. With this force Titus entered the
enemy's territory, preserving strict order on his march, reconnoitering every
spot, and always ready to give battle. At last encamped near Jerusalem.'' (Emphasis added)
The Jewish secular historian Josephus writes:
''Hereupon some of the deserters, having no other
way, leaped down from the wall immediately, while others of them went out of
the city with stones, as if they would fight them; but thereupon they fled away
to the Romans. But here a worse fate accompanied these than what they had found
within the city; and they met with a quicker dispatch from the too great
abundance they had among the Romans, than they could have done from the famine
among the Jews; for when they came first to the Romans, they were puffed up by
the famine, and swelled like men in a dropsy; after which they all on the
sudden overfilled those bodies that were before empty, and so burst asunder,
excepting such only as were skillful enough to restrain their appetites, and by
degrees took in their food into bodies unaccustomed thereto. Yet did another
plague seize upon those that were thus preserved; for there was found among the
Syrian deserters a certain
person who was caught gathering pieces of gold out of the excrements of the
Jews' bellies; for the deserters used to swallow such pieces of gold, as we
told you before, when they came out, and for these did the seditious search
them all; for there was a great quantity of gold in the city, insomuch that as
much was now sold [in the Roman camp] for twelve Attic [drams], as was sold
before for twenty-five. But when this contrivance was discovered in one
instance, the fame of it filled their several camps, so that the deserters came
to them full of gold. So the multitude
of the Arabians, with the Syrians,
cut up those that came as supplicants, and searched their bellies. Nor does it
seem to me that any misery befell the Jews that was more terrible than this,
since in one night's time about two thousand of these deserters were thus
dissected.'' (Emphasis added)
''Indeed, the majority of the ''Roman'' soldiers
that destroyed Jerusalem
were Arabs, Syrians and Turks. When we look at the four Roman legions that
were under Titus during the siege against Jerusalem,
we see that they were from the Eastern portion of the Empire and were primarily
from Syria or eastern Turkey.
Below are the four legions that were under Titus during the Jewish Roman war
and the location that history records for their garrisons:
Legion X
Fretensis: Turkey,
Syria
Legion 15
Apollinaris: Syria
Legion 12
Fulminata: Melitene: Eastern Turkey, Syria
Legion 5
Macedonica: Moesia: Serbia, Bulgaria
These four legions were all involved in the
destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The legion X, or
tenth legion, in particular was the group which went through the wall breach and
set fire to the Temple.
It was this particular legion that actually pulled down the entire Temple and made the Temple Mount
its new base. It should be pointed out
that each legion was composed of several smaller ''cohorts.''
Below is a list of the actual cohorts that
comprised the X, or tenth, legion and where they originally came from:
A. Thracum: Syria
(Syrians)
B. IV
Cohort Thracia: Bulgaria and
Turkey
(Turks)
C. Syria
Ulpia Patraeorum: Petra in Edom (Nabatean Arabs)
D. IV Cohort Arabia
(Arabs)
Again, these were a mixture of Syrians, Turks and Arabs.
While the people who destroyed the temple were indeed Roman citizens, they were
not primarily Europeans or Italians, but rather the peoples that lived in Syria and Eastern Turkey
during the first century. This verse is concerned with the heritage and lineage
of the people as restricted by the text ''people of the Prince'' and not their
allegiance to Rome.
This is why the text is written in this way. It insists in this connection.
Once again, the Bible has led us to the same region. In context, the ''people
of the prince'' are simply the people of the Antichrist; the Hebrew ''Am'' for
people is persons, members of one’s people, compatriots, countrymen, kinsman
and kindred. (Strong's 5971)” (Emphasis added)
From these sources, we conclude that the “people” of the
prince who is to come in Dan 9: 26 who caused most of the destruction to the
city of Jerusalem and the temple were mostly Arabs, Syrians, and Turks, all of
who are from the eastern portion of
the Roman Empire. These ethnic groups
hated the Jewish nation and would have taken pleasure in sacking Jerusalem and the temple. No doubt, that is why the Roman general Titus
used their services.
In Christian teaching, it is commonly accepted that the coming
“prince” of Dan 9: 26 corresponds to the coming AC. This is based on what Jesus told His disciples, as recorded in Mat 24: 15, that they were to watch for the coming Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. Jesus was obviously referring to the reference in Dan 9: 26-27 of the coming "prince" who is to set up the Abomination of Desolation. If Antiochus Epiphanes IV had fulfilled this prophecy in Daniel almost 200 years earlier, Jesus would not have referred to it as being a future end time event to occur just prior to His return to earth. Therefore, I will dispense with an analysis
of the word translated “prince” from the Hebrew word pronounced “naw-gid” (Strong’s
5057) and an analysis of what the Jewish Rashi has to say on the subject.
Suffice it to say that the word “naw-gid” means a ruler or leader, rather than a prince having royalty. This fits perfectly with Dan 11: 21 which says that the coming “vile person” will not be given the honor of royalty.
Suffice it to say that the word “naw-gid” means a ruler or leader, rather than a prince having royalty. This fits perfectly with Dan 11: 21 which says that the coming “vile person” will not be given the honor of royalty.
Dan 9: 27 uses Hebrew words and idioms which are apparently
difficult to translate clearly and succinctly into English. Note the variation of interpretations of various
English words and phrases used in this verse among the various extant English
versions of the Bible (e.g., the KJV, the NKJV, the NIV, the Amplified version,
etc.) For the purpose of our analysis, to
obtain a perhaps more accurate and useful interpretation, I chose to take a
look at Rashi commentary on this subject.
Below is an English interpretation of Dan 9: 27 highlighted
with Rashi commentary:
(v. 27) “And he will strengthen a
covenant for the princes for one
week;”
(Note: The Rashi indicates this refers to many
princes of Israel,
but I would suggest it is not limited to a rulers of Israel
and may refer instead to a group of
nations which includes the nation of Israel)
“And half the week he shall abolish
sacrifice and the meal offering; and on the wing (on high), among abominations
(detestable things), will be the abomination which makes desolate (the dumb or
silent one); until destruction and extermination befall the one making desolate
(the dumb one / silent one).”
(Emphasis added – Note mine – Words
in parentheses from the Rashi)
The Rashi is helpful here in interpreting this difficult
verse by giving the following commentary on some of the Hebrew words and
phrases used:
-
the abomination
which makes desolate is referred to as the “dumb one”, which is a pejorative
phrase referring to pagan deities
-
abominations
are disgusting, detestable things
-
“wing” refers to a high place, like the height of a
flying bird
-
the abomination
will continue until it is destroyed in the days of King Messiah
-
at that time, total destruction will fall upon the dumb
one (the image of the pagan deity), and upon its worshipper
So, what exactly is this “dumb” one or “silent” one? The Hebrew word translated “dumb” means
silent or unable to speak. In 1 Cor12:
2, Paul writes to gentile believers in Corinth
and uses a similar description by referring to “dumb idols” that they, as gentiles,
used to worship. The Greek word used by
Paul for “dumb” likewise denotes silent, or an inability to speak. It appears then that the thing referred to in
Dan 9: 27 is some sort of idol for a false deity which will be set up in the
temple in Jerusalem
by the coming AC.
In Dan 11: 31 and Dan 12: 11, the same Hebrew words are
again used to describe this detestable idol which the coming AC, or his false
prophet sidekick, is going to set up for worship.
Jesus commented on this abominable thing, as recorded in Mat
24: 15 as follows:
“Therefore when you
see the abomination of desolation
spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place …” (NKJV – Emphasis added)
The Greeks words translated “abomination of desolation”
could also be translated “foul/detestable” or “destruction” or “grief.” So the phrase “abomination of desolation”
could be translated as “the detestable thing causing destruction or
grief.” This interpretation informs us
that this “abomination” being referred to is a nonliving thing and not a
person.
In sum, it appears that some sort of detestable idol will be
set up in the Most Holy Place
of a future temple in Jerusalem
by the coming AC and/or the false prophet who will cause grief and destruction
among worshippers of the true God. This
idol may be the image of the beast described in Rev 13: 14 which is to be
worshipped.
Prince of the
Covenant Analysis
We will now analyze whether the coming prince (the coming AC)
of Dan 9: 26-27 is the same person as the “prince of the covenant” found in Dan
11: 22. Let us consider those verses
using Christian and Jewish interpretations in an attempt to give us a clearer
understanding of what those verses mean.
Relevant words and phrases are highlighted below for our study.
Daniel 9: 26-27 appears in many Christian translations similar to the following:
26 “And
after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and
the people of the prince who is to come
shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be
with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then
he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the
week he shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offering. And on the wing
of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation,
which is determined, is poured out on the
desolate.” (NKJV)
These same verses appear in orthodox Jewish translations similar to the following:
26
“And after the sixty-two weeks, the
anointed one will be cut off, and he will be no more, and the people of the coming monarch will destroy the city
and the Sanctuary, and his end will
come about by inundation, and until the end of the war, it will be cut off into
desolation. 27 And he will strengthen a covenant for the princes for one week, and half the
week he will abolish sacrifice and
meal-offering, and on high, among abominations, will be the dumb one, until
destruction and extermination befall the dumb one.”
Daniel 11: 21-23 appears in many Christian translations similar to the following:
21 And
in his place shall arise a vile person,
to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 With the force of a flood they shall be
swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And
after the league is made with him he
shall act deceitfully, for he shall
come up and become strong with a small number
of people. (NKJV)
These same verses appear in orthodox Jewish translations similar to the following:
21And a contemptible
person will stand in his place, and they did not place the glory of the
kingdom upon him, and he will come
in peace and seize the kingdom with flattery.
22And the arms of inundation will be inundated from before him and be broken, and also the leader with whom they made a
covenant. 23And from the alliance with him he will work
deceitfully, and he will go up and
overpower with few people.”
In both the Christian and orthodox Jewish versions of these
passages, it becomes apparent that the “prince” or “leader” who is to come
described in Dan 9: 27 cannot be the
same person who is the “prince of the covenant” of Dan 11: 22 who is
overpowered or broken by the coming AC.
Looking at both versions, though the wording in each is slightly
different, the point being made in both versions is the same – that the “prince
who is to come” of Dan 9: 26 is also the “vile” or “contemptible” person of Dan
11: 21 who is the coming AC. It is the coming
AC who overpowers the “prince” of Dan 11: 22 after a covenant has been made with
him.
Perhaps this “covenant” referred to in Dan 11: 22 creates
the “league” or “alliance” with the coming AC which is discussed in Dan 11:
23. But, this is not the same “covenant”
of Dan 9: 27 which was not made but “confirmed” or “strengthened” for one week
(7 years). Therefore, the confirmed covenant of Dan 9 must already
be in existence when it is strengthened
by the coming AC, whereas the Dan 11 covenant is created by the coming AC with another ruler (likely a ruler in Israel) who is then
overcome by the coming AC.
In sum, we see that the “covenants” of Dan 9 and Dan 11 are
not the same and that the two “princes” of Dan 9 and Dan 11 are not the
same. The coming AC will at first (by
himself or with others) give strength to an existing
agreement involving Israel (perhaps an acknowledgment of God’s land covenant
that He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in perpetuity found in Gen 12, 15,
26, 28). The coming AC will some time thereafter
enter into a newly created peace agreement with a “prince” (leader) in Israel
and others to create a league or alliance of nations to facilitate an illusory
peace, which he will use to his advantage through lies and deceit.
Dan 11: 21 et seq. shows us that this illusory peace will be
shattered by the lies and deceit of the coming AC as he sets out to gain power and
use the alliance to his advantage. He will tighten his grip on world domination
and control, acting spitefully against Israel
(the people of the covenant) and in favor those who oppose Israel.
In Part II and Part III of this study we will examine the activities of the coming
AC and other attributes in greater detail.
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