Read Daniel 11:36-12:13.

Introduction⤒🔗

There is a fast food drive-through in California that guarantees to fill your order in ninety seconds, or else it’s free. Instant service! T.V. commercials promise FAST relief from pain and discomfort: there is a nasal spray that goes to work in 2.2 seconds; a certain lotion provides “healing you can feel instantly.” Instant relief!

Modern-day advertising not only seeks to sell a product, it also promotes and cultivates a lifestyle: a lifestyle that has no time for patience and no place for endurance. We have a great desire for fast service and instant relief from every pain and discomfort. Modern advertising promotes the myth that we deserve such service and that we have a “right” to such relief, and we are to expect such things.

But the myth promoted by the advertisers does not correspond to everyday life. We still encounter many occasions that call for the exercise of patience; from something as minor as a major city traffic jam to something as major as the maturing of our children. We still encounter many situations that require steadfast endurance; anything from putting up with difficult neighbors to handling prolonged pain and disability.

In giving instruction to new converts to Christ, the Apostle Paul gave the following exhortation:

...they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, ²²strengthening the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and [teaching] that we must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations. Acts 14:22-23

We have a great desire for fast relief from all pain and discomfort, but such is not always God’s plan for our lives. Because of the obstacles we presently encounter, and because of the glory we shall eventually experience, as Christians, we must practice perseverance.

Practice Perseverance, because the Times are Hard←⤒🔗

In chapter 12:1b the LORD declares that there shall be a time of trouble such as was never before experienced by the people of God. He is referring to the events outlined in chapter 11, verses 36-45.

Daniel 11:2-35 has provided a detailed account of ancient history from approximately 320 B.C. to the times just prior to the coming of Christ; the passage especially concentrates on the interaction between Egypt and Syria, with Israel finding itself in the middle of these two powerful kingdoms. But beginning with verse thirty-six, the passage leaves ancient history behind and projects us into the future, to those last days of world history that culminate in the return of Christ and the Final Judgment (note 12:1-3). Verses 36-45 are speaking about a person and describing events that shall occupy a place at the end of history, but they are described in Old Testament terminology. That is to say, people and places familiar to the Old Testament people of God are employed as living models to describe future people and places and events that share serve the same function or fulfill the same role as their historical predecessors.

Verses 36-39 reveal the character of the anti-Christ (and his empire), especially his defiance of God. Verse 36a describes his blasphemous pride: “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak astonishing things against the God of gods.” Having exalted himself among men, and having successfully magnified himself above the idols of men, he shall foolishly speak against God Himself. Note, also, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, which is speaking about the anti-Christ, “he opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, and even sets himself up in God’s temple, presenting himself in the place of God.”

Verse thirty-seven describes his unnatural affections: “He will show no reverence for the gods of his fathers, nor will he have [a natural] desire for women, nor will he reverence any god, for he will magnify himself above all [things].” He shall have no loyalty to his ancestral religion; he shall be devoid of all natural human desires and affections, (having no desire for women: neither sexual attraction nor familial affection). He shall be devoid of any conventional religious allegiance, (he shall not regard any god); and he shall make an idol out of himself: magnifying himself above all; (note, again, 2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Having just declared him to be irreligious in terms of conventional religions, verses 38-39a now go on to describe the anti-Christ’s peculiar and sinister religion: “Instead of them, he will honor the god of fortresses; a god whom his fathers did not know he will honor with gold and silver and priceless jewels and all sorts of treasures. ³⁹He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god.” He shall reverence might and worship power, as seen by his honoring “the god of fortresses.” But there is a personality, a spirit, a god, which he worships, “a god whom his fathers did not know.” He will be in league with the devil. He shall conquer apparently unconquerable fortifications “with the help of a foreign god;” (i.e. with the help of the devil himself).

The twentieth century has witnessed the appearance of men who have possessed the anti-Christ personality (as described in Daniel 11:36-39) to an unprecedented degree. The coming to power of such men was actually predicted by the 19th century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche maintained that the belief in the Christian God was outdated for modern man and the modern “scientific” age. Consequently, the removal of Christianity from the center of Western civilization would create a spiritual vacuum. According to the British historian, Paul Johnson,

The history of modern times is in great part the history of how that vacuum has been filled. Nietzsche rightly perceived that the most likely candidate would be what he called the “Will to Power.” In place of religious belief, there would be secular ideology... And, above all, the Will to Power would produce a new kind of messiah, uninhibited by any religious sanctions whatever, and with an unappeasable appetite for controlling mankind.¹

The twentieth century has witnessed precursors to the final anti-Christ, men who have displayed the character of the anti-Christ as described in Daniel 11:36-39. Two such men were Vladimir Lenin and Adolph Hitler. As Johnson writes, “The central tragedy of modern world history is that both the Russian and the German republics, in turn, found in Lenin and Hitler adversaries...who embodied the will to power to a degree unique in our times.”² Again, with regard to Lenin and Hitler respectively Johnson writes:

Both [Lenin’s] parents were Christians. Religion was important to him, in the sense that he hated it. Unlike Marx, who despised it and treated it as marginal, Lenin saw it as a powerful and ubiquitous enemy. He made clear in many writings...that he had an intense personal dislike for anything religious... From the start, the State he created set up and maintains to this day [i.e. circa 1983] an enormous academic propaganda machine against religion. He was not just anti-clerical, like Stalin, who disliked priests because they were corrupt. On the contrary, Lenin had no real feelings about corrupt priests, because they were easily beaten. The men he really feared and hated, and later persecuted, were the saints. The purer the religion, the more dangerous... No man personifies better the replacement of the religious impulse by the will to power.³

Hitler was totally irreligious and had no interest in honor or ethics...he was only really at home, like Lenin, in a world where the pursuit of power by conspiracy, agitation and force was the chief object and satisfaction of existence... He had the same intellectual egoism, lack of self-doubt, ruthlessness in personal relations, preference for force as opposed to discussion and, most important, the ability to combine absolute fidelity to a long-term aim with skillful opportunism.⁴ [The same is equally true, if not more so, of the Chinese Communists of the 21st century.]

As Daniel 12:1b indicates, such intensely demonic opposition to God and His truth will be the occasion for extremely hard times for the people of God: “There will be a time of trouble such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.” By way of example, consider the political States erected by Lenin and Hitler and what the church of Jesus Christ experienced under those regimes:

[In Soviet Russia] the attack on religion was hardly restricted to propaganda. Church and State were declared to be separate. Church property was confiscated on a huge scale. Church activity in the schools was banned. There was widespread persecution of priests or any who attempted to teach religion, and most churches and seminaries were taken over for secular uses. Perhaps the greatest symbolic event in the assault upon Christianity was the movement of the capital from Petrograd to Moscow, and locating it in the ancient walled city, the Kremlin. Up until the 18th century, the Kremlin had been the governmental and religious center of Russia. Peter the Great had moved the capital to St. Petersburg, which much later became Petrograd. The government buildings in the Kremlin deteriorated after that, but the great cathedrals and other religious shrines were maintained. When the Communists moved their headquarters into the Kremlin, it signified the replacement of Eastern Orthodox Christianity with anew religion: communism.⁵

[In Nazi Germany] our education was also nationalized, [writes a woman who grew up in Nazi Germany]. I attended a very good public school. Ninety-eight percent of the population was Catholic at that time, so we had religion in our schools. The day we elected Hitler, March 13, 1938, I walked into my schoolroom and where we had a crucifix, it was replaced with Hitler’s picture and the flag. Our teacher, a very devout woman, stood up and told the class that we wouldn’t pray or have religion any more. We sang “Deutschland, Deutschland, Uber Alles” and had physical education instead. Our parents were not happy about the sudden change. On Sunday, we had National Youth Day. It was compulsory to attend. We were told if our parents would not send us on Sunday, they would get a stiff letter of warning the first time. The second time they would be fined the equivalent of $300, and the third time they would be subject to jail. As time went along, we loved it. The first two hours we had political indoctrination. The rest of the day we had sports. Oh, we had so much fun and got our sports equipment free. We would go home and tell our parents gleefully what a wonderful time we were having. My parents didn’t like it at all: no church, no religion in school, and no prayer... Our churches were nationalized. The church was the only real opposition to Hitler’s belief of humanism. Before 1938, we supported our churches privately. After they were nationalized, they were being financed by the government. The priests were being used to get their propaganda through. They had to support the whole system, or they went to Dachau, the labor camp.⁶ [Note: The bold print has been added for emphasis.]

There is the need to practice perseverance, because living for Christ in this world is never easy, not at any time nor in any place; but especially is this the case when the society is dominated by the anti-Christ spirit and personality. Consider the sober warning as to what a disciple of Christ may expect, especially when living in a society that rejects the Christian faith in favor of a secular, humanistic religion: “everyone who would live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).

Consider, too, the command to practice perseverance:

Live your life only in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that if I come and see you, or if I remain absent, what I will hear about you is that you are standing firm in one spirit, and with one soul are contending for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸and that you are in no way being intimidated by those who oppose you.Phil. 1:27-28a

Consider the incentive for perseverance:

Our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Cor. 4:17

Consider the secret of how to practice perseverance:

So we focus our attention not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporal, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor. 4:18

Practice Perseverance, even Though the Time of Trial May Seem to be Endless←⤒🔗

In verse six of chapter twelve, Daniel hears an angel ask the question that, no doubt, was foremost on his own mind, “How long will it be before these wonders are fulfilled?” That is to say, “When shall these events come to pass, and when shall they come to an end?”

The LORD responds by declaring, “It shall be fora time, times, and half [a time].” Compare this present statement with Daniel 7:25, which defines the reign of the anti-Christ as continuing for “a time and times and half a time.” The point is that this final epitome of rebellion against God must appear, (represented by “a time”); it must advance, (represented by “times,” that is, the doubling of “time”); and then it shall finally be destroyed, (represented by “half a time,” that is, the breaking of “time”).

With regard to this pattern of allowing evil to fully manifest itself, note Psalm 92:7, “When the wicked spring up like the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish; it is so that they may be destroyed forever.” The LORD does not provide any actual date as to the duration or termination of this period of time when the final anti-Christ shall be permitted to reign; He merely answers by asserting that these things must happen, but when they have run their course, they will be terminated.

In verses 11-12 it is again impressed upon Daniel that the events described in chapter 11:36-39 must be fulfilled, and the people of God must persevere to the end: “From the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.” The banning of the Old Testament sacrifices and the desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 B.C. is presented here as a model, or type, depicting the final assault on biblical religion in the days of the final anti-Christ.

This desecration of all that is identified with biblical religion is viewed as the starting point of a period designated as 1290 days, which equal three years and seven months, another way of stating “a time” (one), “times” (plus two), “and half a time.” Both of these time periods, approximating three and a half years, are symbolic references to the duration of the anti-Christ’s reign. With regard to the two prominent 20th century examples of the final anti-Christ personality and empire, note that as soon as Lenin and Hitler had established themselves in power, their assault on the church of Jesus Christ commenced.

Then in verse twelve Daniel is told, “Blessed is the one who waits and comes to [the end of] the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.” Once again, the numbers are symbolic and the point being made is the need for perseverance. There is the need to persevere through the tribulation and persevere until the deliverance, even though the time may seem to be endless: the 1290 days expire but the wait must continue another 45 “days!”

There is the need to practice perseverance, even though the time of trial may seem to be endless. Consider the LORD’s word to Habakkuk, “The revelation is for the appointed time, and it speeds toward the end and shall not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay” (Hab. 2:3). We may think that God is negligent about His promises, but such is not the case; His purposes are being carried out in His sovereignly appointed time, and we must wait for the day of their fulfillment.

By way of illustration: God’s promises and their fulfillment are like the local commuter train, as opposed to the express train. The express train does not stop at every station, it travels directly to its final destination in the heart of the city. The local commuter train stops at every station along the route. We would prefer that the fulfillment of God’s promises would follow the course of the express train: swiftly traveling to their final fulfillment without any painful and agonizing “delays.” But the LORD informs us through the prophet Habakkuk that the fulfillment of His promises run their course more like that of the local commuter train: they stop at every station, (causing us who are expecting the express train to wonder why the fulfillment of the promises is tarrying); but, in fact, “the train is running right on schedule,” and it will arrive at the divinely appointed time,” it will not delay.”

Practice Perseverance, because the Time of Deliverance will Surely Come←⤒🔗

In the latter part of verse one of chapter twelve, the LORD assures Daniel that at the appointed time his people shall be delivered:

At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will stand up. There will be a time of trouble such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people, everyone [whose name] is found written in the book, shall be delivered.

The “at that time” mentioned in the latter half of the verse is referring back to the “at that time” spoken of at the beginning of the verse. The “time” is the time of the deliverance of God’s covenant people. But intervening between the initial mention of the time of deliverance and the assurance of its coming, is a parenthesis forewarning the period of tribulation that must precede the time of deliverance.

In verse seven the LORD solemnly swears that the time of tribulation shall not extend beyond the designated period. The deliverance shall surely come, at which time the redeemed shall be raised to everlasting life (vs. 2) and shall shine like the brightness of the heavens (vs. 3).

Christian, there is the need to practice perseverance, because the time of deliverance will surely come; whether that be deliverance from a personal trial or whether it be the final deliverance of the church. May we be encouraged by the assurance given by the Apostle Peter:

But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will personally restore you, support you, strengthen you, and establish you. ¹¹To him belongs the dominion forever. Amen.1 Pet. 5:10-11

See the Accompanying Appendix for a Detailed Exposition of Daniel 11:36-12:4.←↰⤒🔗

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. Beginning at 11:36, the revelation imparted to Daniel leaves ancient history behind and thrusts forward to the final days of world history, describing the appearance of the final anti-Christ. What shocking thing about him are we told in Daniel 11:36a, 37? In the person of the anti-Christ, we see the embodiment of the desire that has dwelt in the heart of sinful mankind ever since the Fall; what is that desire? See Gen. 3:4-6 Even as Christians, do we still find ourselves struggling with the temptation to usurp the place of God; what forms might that take in our lives?

The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the indignation has been accomplished, for what has been determined will take place. ³⁷He will show no reverence for the gods of his fathers, nor will he have [a natural] desire for women, nor will he reverence any god; for he will magnify himself above all [things].Dan. 11:36-37

...the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die; ⁵for God knows that in the day you eat the fruit of that tree your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like God, knowing good and evil. ⁶And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired as a means of making one wise, she took of its fruit, and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it.Gen. 3:4-6

2. Having just described the anti-Christ as being opposed to all religion and to God Himself, what does Daniel 11:38-39 go on to say about him? Who is this “foreign” (i.e. strange) god? Note Rev. 13:4/Rev. 12:9 Why would mankind give their allegiance to a Satanically-inspired world leader? Note 1 Jn. 5:19/Eph. 2:2,

...he will honor the god of fortresses; a god whom his fathers did not know he will honor with gold and silver and priceless jewels and all sorts of treasures. ³⁹He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god, and he will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rule over many people and will distribute lands as a reward.Dan. 11:38­-39

The whole world was amazed and followed the beast; ⁴and worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? And who is able to wage war against him?' Rev. 13:3-4

The enormous dragon was flung down, the ancient serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world...Rev. 12:9a

...the whole world lies [under the sway of] the wicked one.1 Jn. 5:19b

you once walked in accord with the course of this world, [which is] in accord with the ruling prince of the air, [that is], the spirit who is now working in the sons of disobedience.Eph. 2:2

3. When such a Satanically-controlled empire is permitted to govern the earth, what is the prospect for the church of Christ (Dan. 7:21); and what is her ultimate destiny? See Dan. 7:22 If, in God’s providence, we should be called to endure martyrdom for the name of Christ, what is our sure hope? See 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 3:20-21,

As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailed against them; ²²until the Ancient of Days came and a verdict was pronounced in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.Dan. 7:21-22

The “horn” is a reference to the O.T. manifestation of the Satanically-controlled anti-Christ.

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.2 Cor. 5:8

...our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹By the power that enables him to bring everything into submission to himself, he will transform the body belonging to the present state of our humiliation, so that it may be conformed to his glorified body.Phil. 3:20-21

4. Living in a world in which the devil is permitted to exercise his rule, what does our Lord Jesus expect of us as His redeemed people? See Dan. 12:11-12; see, also, Matt. 10:22b But awaits the Christian, who by God’s grace, endures? See Isa. 25:9,

From the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. ¹²Blessed is the one who waits and comes to [the end of] the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.Dan. 12:11-12

These time designations, (1290 “days” and then the need to continue to wait as that period is extended to a total of 1335 “days”), are intended to symbolically indicate the seemingly endless period of time during which the Christian must exercise endurance and patiently wait for the day of deliverance and the coming of Christ’s kingdom.

And you will be hated by all men for my name’s sake; but he who endures to the end shall be saved.Matt. 10:22

On that day it shall be said, Surely this is our God; we have trusted in him, and he has saved us. This is the LORD; we have trusted in him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.Isa. 25:9

5. What are we informed is the final fate of the anti-Christ? See Dan. 11:45b; note, also, Rev. 20:10 What is the inheritance of all those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and, by His grace, remain faithful to Him? See Dan. 12:1b-3a; note, also, 2 Thess. 2:14,

...he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.Dan. 11:45b

The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet also are. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.Rev. 20:10

...everyone [whose name] is found written in the book, shall be delivered. ²Multitudes that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the heavens; and those who turn many to righteousness [shall shine] like the stars forever and ever.Dan. 12:1­-3

...[God] called you by our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Thess. 2:14