LESSON TWELVE

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Daniel was written to record events during Daniel's lifetime in exile in Babylon as well as to provide exiled Jews hope regarding God's plan for the future. The last event recorded by Daniel (Daniel 10:1) occurred in about 536 BC. The book of Daniel was likely completed around this time or shortly afterwards. Keep this information in the back of your mind, as we study the prophecies of Daniel.

Scripture to read: Daniel 2

Chapter 1 introduced King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Daniel—a captive youth from Jerusalem—and three other Jewish boys. After three years of education, the four Hebrew captives outperformed all the other trainees, even surpassing the wise men in Babylon. 

“28This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. 29As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will take place. 30But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living person, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.” 

In Daniel chapter two the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, is disturbed by a dream. Rather than simply asking his court occultists to explain it, he devises a test. It's possible the king inherited these magicians from his father and did not trust them. His claim is simple: if they cannot tell him what the dream was, it means their claims of spiritual insight have been lies. Anyone can invent an interpretation, but only real power can tell someone their own dream. After stalling for time, the conjurers claim the king's request is impossible and unreasonable. So, Nebuchadnezzar orders his wise men—all of them—to be executed. Daniel hears of this and appeals to the king. Though Daniel has no such knowledge yet, he is confident the Lord will provide it. 

“31You, O king, were watching and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary radiance, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. 32The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34You continued watching until a stone was broken off without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed to pieces all at the same time, and they were like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the entire earth.” 

In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream he sees a great image made up of several different substances. When God revealed the interpretation, a prophecy unfolded that straightforwardly outlines the powers that would rule over His church from that day until the end of time. The final ruling realm is called an eternal kingdom, never changing hands again. 

Realm #1. Head of Gold = Babylon (605BC to 539BC)

God revealed to Nebuchadnezzar that he (Babylon) was the head of Gold, and the first and most superior of the earthly realms. A Babylon alliance conquered the Assyrian capital of Ninevah in 612 BC and Babylon took Israel captive in 609 BC. The Babylonian Empire, also called the Neo-Babylonian or Chaldean Empire, was a magnificent and mighty empire. Judah was told they and the surrounding nations would serve the king of Babylon for 70 years. This occurred from 609 to 539 BC.

Realm #2. Breast & Arms of Silver = Medo Persia (539BC to 331 BC)

Medo-Persia was the next realm, conquering Babylon in 539 BC when the armies of Cyrus the great, attacked the seemingly impregnable city. Just moments before the attack, the Babylonian king Belshazzar, during a drunken party, saw the unseen hand write those terrifying words "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" on the wall. Shortly after, the armies of Cyrus marched into the heart of the unguarded city, having turned the Euphrates out of its channel. That very night Belshazzar was slain, and the Persians took the city. This second kingdom is described as inferior to the first. This is represented by the substances used in the image. The substances are given in descending order of value (Gold, Silver, Brass, Iron) and ascending order of strength.

Realm #3. Thighs of Brass = Greece (331BC to 168BC)

The third realm, Greece, conquered the Medes and Persians at the Battle of Arbela in 331 BC. Greece's famous young leader, Alexander the Great began to rule when he was only 20 years old. However, by the time he was 25 he had conquered much of the Eastern world. His amazing feats are exemplified by the battle of Arbela, where he defeated Darius' 600,000 strong army, with a force of less than 50,000 men.

Realm #4 Legs of Iron = Rome (168 BC to 476AD)

The fourth realm, Rome, is the last earthly realm. Roman armies defeated the Macedonian army at Cynoscephalae in 196 BC and crushed the Macedonian forces in the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC. The substances indicate an ascending order of strength (iron is the strongest), with the fourth being described as "strong as iron". Central rule disappeared by 476 AD.

Feet of Iron mixed with Clay = Divided Rome (476 AD to Second Coming)

The legs of iron become a mixture of iron and clay in the image's feet. Many factors contributed to what is called "The Fall of Rome," but ultimately the empire could not absorb the changes and keep direct control over its many territories. There were attempts to reunite the realm through political marriages. This can especially be seen during the era from the 1200s on. The Habsburgs were a famous European family that built their territory through strategic marriages. Though succeeding in ruling approximately half of Europe, they never were able to reunite the Roman Empire under one emperor. They were Holy Roman Emperors and one of the most powerful families in Europe.

This divided realm would still be strong (iron) and though central rule ended, there would still be certain unifying or central influences for the tribes and nations. Political powers that reached across borders, such as the papacy and house of Habsburg, would link countries together. Many determined and famous historical figures unsuccessfully attempted to reunite the realm as one political unit under one leader again. These included Justinian, Charlemagne, Charles V, Louis XIV, Napoleon, Hitler and Stalin. The iron reaches down to the end of time. There is only one power, Rome, that not only conquered Greece, but changes its form of government to a divided realm AND extends to the second coming.

Ten Toes = Modern Nations of Europe

The ten toes symbolize a division. The iron of the Roman Empire did not entirely fade, but it divided into decentralized kingdoms (toes) that were still somewhat linked together. This process occurred gradually during the 2nd through 5th centuries AD, when Germanic tribes migrated into the empire on mass scales. The divided kingdoms would eventually become the nations of Europe that we see today, along with their territorial expansions. The realm, though divided politically, is still treated as a single realm in subsequent prophecies in Daniel and Revelation. The prophecies are clear that this 4th realm continues until the second coming of Christ. 

Clay = Church

The substances (gold, silver, brass and iron) have provided insight into the value, strength and character of the kingdoms. A new substance, clay, now provides additional information about the nature of the fourth kingdom after it divides. The clay appears during the time of Divided Rome (toes) and mixes with the nations. We know from other prophecies that the 4th realm is different from the others because it becomes a religious-political power. In other words, the church mixes with politics.

In the Bible, God's people are likened to clay, which emphasizes that He formed them and continues to form them. God's people are represented by the clay. That was Israel in these verses, and today it is the church. The church (clay) and state (iron of Rome) would become intertwined. The church would become politically involved. The clay is also described as miry (Hebrew "tin" - sticky dirt to be swept away), indicating that the church is not pure.

We know from other prophecies that the Middle Ages and the time of the end are fraught with religious-political partnerships that persecute and obscure truth. When imperial Rome collapsed and the realm morphed into a divided realm, the church in Rome became powerful ecclesiastically and politically. It became very mixed with politics for hundreds of years. The book of Revelation also reveals that Protestantism loses its purity and becomes mixed with politics during the time of the end. The realm of iron (Rome-state) and clay (Babylon-church) will once again be revived in end times with the antichrist and false prophet as their kings.

Realm #5. The Stone = Christ's Kingdom (Second Coming to Eternity)

The next realm is the fifth and final realm. This realm is different from the others. It is made without hands.

"We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands and within three days I will build another made without hands" Mark 14:58

This final kingdom is set up "in the days of these kings" (divided Rome). This is a time future to the apostles. It is the very time in which we are currently living. The kingdom wouldn't appear, or be set up, until Jesus receives it and returns. Notice that Jesus must receive this kingdom. Jesus is given the kingdom by God the Father.

"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" Luke 1:32-33

The "great mountain" that fills the whole earth represents Christ's kingdom with His people that fill the entire planet, emphasizing the demise of ALL earthly powers and their associated corruption, unfair practices, greed and suppression. This is when the stone strikes the image, and it crumbles. The material is consumed at the end of 1000 years, when the dust is blown away as if it never was. Then the earth is recreated, and the saints fill it.

“48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” 

Daniel describes and interprets Nebuchadnezzar's disturbing dream, though the court magicians could not. As a result, the king promotes Daniel and his three friends to high positions over the provinces of Babylon.

Scripture to read: Daniel 7

Building upon Nebuchadnezzar’s dream interpreted by Daniel's vision in chapter 2, this next prophecy reveals more detail about the realms that would rule over God's people from Daniel's day until the second coming of Christ. 

“2Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: 5And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, 6after this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, 7after this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth, and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots.” 

A little horn on the fourth beast becomes the focal point, which is explained as a unique power that speaks against God, changes God's law (Ten commandments), is pompous and prevails against the saints for a certain time. This is followed by a court scene with a multitude of heavenly beings where the Ancient of Days sits and books are examined and judgments rendered, which brings an end to the little horn's power and enables the saints to possess the kingdom.

There will only be four realms that rule where the large part of God's people dwell, until God's everlasting kingdom. We know from history and other Bible verses the identity of the four kingdoms. They parallel the same four kingdoms outlined in the prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's Image in Daniel 2.

Realm #1: Babylon the Lion (605 to 539 BC)

4 “The first was like a lion and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.”

This first beast resembles a lion, which is thought of as the most powerful animal (king of the beasts), just like Babylon (also the head of gold in Daniel 2) was the greatest kingdom. The Bible specifically says that Babylon is the only power that is represented by the head of gold. However, Babylon is somewhat inclusive of the two world powers that preceded it. We see Babylon’s successor, Medo-Persia, whose symbol is a bear having three ribs in its mouth. The ribs indicate the remains of what was demolished. In this manner, we can almost say that Babylon was inclusive of three world powers. The head of gold, in a sense, includes Egypt and Assyria. 

The Babylonians launched attacks swiftly, symbolized by the eagle's wings. However, the advancement of their conquest was stayed, as represented by the wings being plucked. Giving the lion a man's heart symbolizes the change in Babylon's character from its initial fierceness under Nebuchadnezzar to its later relative calmness and rationality under later rulers. Being made to stand up as a man after being on all fours as a powerful beast symbolizes a change in the realm to comparable weakness after Nebuchadnezzar's death. 

Realm #2: Medo Persia the Bear (539 to 331 BC)

5 “And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.”

An imbalance of power (Persia was stronger than the Medes). The three main entities Medo-Persia conquered: Lydia (546 BC), Babylon (539 BC) and Egypt (525 BC). Cyrus the Great, of Persia, conquered the middle east. His son, Cambyses, extended the kingdom, also capturing Egypt. We understand that one of the ribs represents Babylon’s leftovers and the other two ribs represent the leftover of the world powers that preceded Babylon—Egypt and Assyria.

Realm #3: Greece the Leopard (331 to 168 BC)

6 “After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.”

The leopard is known for its speed and it's four wings represent the legendary extreme swiftness with which Alexander the Great conquered the mighty Persians and united Greece. The four divisions of political power into which Greece divided after Alexander died: Ptolemy (Egypt, Palestine and parts of Syria), Lysimachus (Thrace and a large part of Asia minor), Cassander (Macedonia and some interest in Greece) and Seleucus (Persian Empire, part of Asia Minor, Northern Syria, Mesopotamia and the east).

Realm #4: Rome the Beast (168 BC to Second Coming)

7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.”

The fourth beast is not associated with any specific animal. It is wholly unique and unlike the others. The fourth beast seemed too terrible to describe! The kingdom that followed Greece was Rome, which was strong (symbolized by iron teeth, just like the iron legs in Nebuchadnezzar's image in Daniel 2). The fourth realm, Rome, divides into 10 kingdoms (horns), just like the legs of iron divided into 10 toes in Daniel 2. Many of them were integrated into the army, to such a degree, that they gradually rose to fill positions of high command. Imperial power deteriorated, and in 410 A.D, Rome was looted, which led to the establishment of puppet emperors of German commanders. Eventually the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustus, was deposed in 476 AD and the last western Roman military commander was overthrown in 486 AD. 

8 “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

The story of the four Beasts refers to the succession of kingdoms, but once that story ends, the prophecy then zooms into that fourth beast to expound upon the kingships that are contained within that Beast. The Ten Horns and the Little Horn represent expanded detail into the career of the fourth Beast—a detail that wasn't provided for any of the other kingdoms. Thus, the Little Horn and the Ten Horns represent an additional narrative of Rome's kingship—a kingship that includes kings, emperors, and Popes. Once we understand that, spiritually, all the kingdoms from Egypt to Greece are found in the Roman Empire, we can begin to better understand Daniel 7's narrative.

Although Rome existed from the year 753 BC, Rome didn't become a superpower until around the second century BC. If we recall, Greece was the previous superpower; however, after Alexander the Great died, the Empire was divided into four kingdoms. The Bible illustrates this historical fact by a four-headed leopard.

According to the historical record, in 294 BC, Demetrius I, son of Antigonus (another one of Alexander's former generals) would conquer Macedonia from Cassander's lineage. Then, in 281 BC, Seleucus would defeat Lysimachus at the Battle of Corupedium. Seleucus would then also attempt to conquer Macedonia, but he would be assassinated before completing the task. By the 3rd century BC, the four territories were ruled by three kings: The Antigonid dynasty ruled Macedonia in the west, the Ptolemies ruled Egypt in the south, and the Seleucids ruled Syria and parts of Asia Minor in the east and the north. The three remaining kings of Alexander's divided Greek Empire were the three remaining horns Rome conquered in order to rule the known world! 

There were other groups within the Roman Realm, however, they did not become established in a way to qualify as a kingdom when Rome decentralized. Some were being ruled by one of the ten kingdoms. The prophecy is focused on the western Roman Empire. The eastern half had been set up in the 4th century and gradually became a completely separate entity. Though it still called itself Roman, by the 8th century it was a distinct realm, a Greek realm, separate from the western Roman realm and with no political authority in the west. Western Rome is where the division into ten kingdoms occurred. Once we understand that the previous seven horns had already lost their dominion, we can now see that Rome as the Little Horn rose up after the ten kingships.

25“And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”

The Dreadful Beast grew a mysterious horn, which becomes a focal point in the prophecy. Many identifying characteristics of this Little Horn are provided in the prophecy, which all fit the very influential and prominent Church of Rome in the Middle Ages. The papacy would rule ecclesiastically for 1260 years, from 538 to 1798 AD.

9 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.”

Here is a glimpse into heaven where we see the throne of God and the workings of His government. This description has similarities to the amazing accounts in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4 where more details are given. The word translated to "Ancient" is only used here in Daniel 7. It depicts someone very aged in years who is overseeing this court scene. Clothing symbolizes character and white symbolizes the purity of the character. Jesus is also described as having white hair like wool in Revelation 1:14.

In verse 13-14 one like the son of man is given a kingdom by the Ancient of days. It is God the Father who gives Jesus the kingdom. After Jesus was resurrected, He ascended to heaven and works at the right hand of God the Father. We know that God the Father gave all judgment to the Son, so we see here that God the Father is the one presiding over the court. This judgment occurs where the "Ancient of days" sits down and has a throne. His throne is described as a fiery flame and his wheels burning fire. This describes a Cherubim, an unstoppable, stay-out-of-the-way, efficient, apparatus that transports God or Jesus upon their throne. A divine being presides over this court and it is in heaven. The holiness and purity flow forth from God to do its work. 

10 “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”

The prophecy in Daniel 7 places great emphasis on a heavenly court scene. This court is focused on judgment. There is a time of presenting evidence as the books are opened, a deliberation and announcing a verdict. The language points us to a time when an investigation of evidence and a verdict occurs in a heavenly court. The descriptions related to the judgment show not only the condemnation of the beast, but the justification of the saints. Unlike modern concepts of judgment, in Biblical times judgment always involved both parties, resulting in vindication of one and punishment of the other. Those on the right will be proven right and announced to be right. 

The verdict is achieved by examining the books which are opened before thousands and thousands of heavenly beings, the most impressive court room in history. The fiery stream that is before the throne is the sea of glass described in Revelation. This sea of glass is where we will stand in judgment (fiery) and where we are cleansed by a heavenly baptism. The court scene reveals that there is a time of judgment that occurs before Jesus receives the kingdom and returns to earth with His people. 

"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" Ecclesiastes 12:14

"But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" Matthew 12:36-37

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" Hebrews 9:27

"Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world" Acts 17:31

Daniel is shown the final judgment of the little horn which will happen when the fifth and final kingdom reigns.

11 “I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.”

The first three beasts (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece) already had their dominion taken away years ago, but the 4th beast doesn't lose dominion until the second coming. At that point, all the kingdoms of earth are destroyed (burned) at Jesus' second coming.

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” 

Jesus moves to a new location in heaven to signify a new phase of His ministry. After Jesus rose from the grave, He went to heaven (1 Peter 3:22) and has been ministering for us as High Priest until he receives the kingdom and returns to earth a second time. This prophecy brings to light a time, prior to His return, when He moves to a new location, signifying a new phase of His ministry. This new phase, or location, of Jesus' ministry involves looking at books of record. 

14 “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

As a result of investigating the books, the decision is announced that Jesus receives the kingdom. Human probation closes, and all other earthly realms are destroyed.

Realm #5: Jesus & the Saints (Second Coming to Eternity)

18 “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever.”

27 “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”

When Jesus returns to earth, He destroys all earthly powers (note that this corresponds to the time when the stone strikes the image in Daniel's first vision). Jesus' realm is the last realm on earth, because it continues forever. Extraordinarily, He shares it with the saints. The final realm on this earth will have Christ for its ruler and those who choose to follow Him will be the ones entrusted with governing this everlasting kingdom. 

Foot note: I already know who is depicted in this vision of Daniels standing before the throne being judged and when Jesus will receive his kingdom, but because it is important to see the whole picture to understand, I must hold back on telling you for now. So, continue with your studies to find out the answer.

Scripture to read: Daniel 8, Leviticus 16&23, Numbers 29, Hebrews 8-10

Daniel has another prophetic experience, which ties into prior dreams and visions. Aspects of this prophecy were seen in Nebuchadnezzar's dream as well as Daniel's earlier vision. Some of these predictions will occur within a few centuries of Daniel's life. Others are yet to be fully realized. The vision begins at the banks of the Ulai canal, in the eastern province of Elam in the Babylonian empire. We are now about to see that the same narrative of the Ten Horns and the Little Horn in Daniel 7 is expanded on in Daniel 8. You will see that Daniel 8 tells us exactly who the Ten Horns are.

Notice Daniel 8:20 says, “The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.” Ask yourself this question. Why are we ignoring the Bible when it clearly identifies two horns out of the ten? But it doesn’t stop there. Notice what the next verse says: “And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.”. The next verse says, “Now that being broken, whereas four [horns] stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation”. And we should see that these four horns were the four divisions of Alexanders divided kingdom: Macedonia, Asia Minor, the Ptolemaic Empire, and the Seleucid Empire.

Daniel 8 has already mapped out seven of the Ten Horns for us! Here they are listed in their order:

1. The kings of Media (vs. 20)

2. The kings of Persia (vs. 20)

3. The king of Greece (vs. 21)

4. The kings of Macedonia (vs. 22)

5. The kings of Asia Minor (vs. 22)

6. The kings of the Ptolemaic Empire (vs. 22)

7. The kings of the Seleucid Empire (vs. 22)

So even though we only see seven horns presented in Daniel 8, we have no reason to believe that the kings of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon wouldn’t also be symbolized as horns. Thus, we can see that the Bible tells us exactly who the Ten Horns are in Daniel 8— the kingships of the world powers that persecuted God's people.

"1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will and became great". 

Realm #2: Ram = Medo Persia (539BC to 331BC)

In this vision, Daniel sees a ram, which the angel says symbolizes the Medo-Persian empire. One horn is higher than the other representing the imbalance of power (Persia was stronger than Media). This was also portrayed by the bear raised up on one side in Daniel's second vision. The ram pushes in three directions, indicating its three main areas of conquest, which are also represented by the three ribs in the bear’s mouth in Daniel's previous vision:

Northward - Lydia - 546 BC

Westward - Babylon - 539 BC

Southward - Egypt - 525 BC

"5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. 7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven". 

Realm #3: Goat = Greece (331BC to 168BC)

A goat appears after the ram, attacking it with fury, casting it to the ground. The angel also reveals that this symbolizes Greece (v.21) overpowering Medo Persia to become the next realm. The prophecy states that the goat's great horn is the first king of Greece, which was Alexander the Great. He conquered the empire with remarkable swiftness, but when Alexander was in his prime, he unexpectedly died in 323 BC ("great horn was broken"). Alexander's generals eventually settled on a division of the kingdom into four parts. This was also symbolized by the four heads on the leopard in Daniel's previous vision.

Ptolemy (Egypt, Palestine and parts of Syria)

Cassander (Macedonia and some interest in Greece)

Seleucus (Persian Empire, part of Asia Minor, Northern Syria, Mesopotamia and the east)

Lysimachus (Thrace and a large part of Asia minor)

“9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” 

Realm #4: Little Horn = Rome (168BC to Second Coming)

This little horn comes into power after the horn (Alexander the Great) on the goat (Greece) is replaced by four horns (divisions of political power in Greece under four of Alexander's generals) that spread out in all directions (north, south, east, west). When the angel interprets the vision, he says the little horn arises in the latter time of their (the four divisions). It becomes even greater than the realms prior to it ("exceeding great"). As already demonstrated in Daniel's previous visions and as known from history, Rome was the next realm and fits all the identifying characteristics of this little horn.

Out of one of them...

The little horn arises out of one of the "four winds of heaven" ("them"), which are the four directions of the compass. You should understand that when Alexander's kingdom fell, there was war and strife in the north, south, east, and west. Through this war and strife, four kingdoms would arise: Macedonia in the west, Asia Minor in the north, the Ptolemaic Kingdom in the south, and the Seleucid Kingdom in the east. And just like the four kingdoms arose out of that strife and warfare, another horn known as the Little Horn (Pagan Rome) would also arise. And so, when Daniel 8:9 says, “out of one of them,” you must understand that the rising of Rome in the west reveals that when it arose to power it had to have conquered the Macedonian horn which was situated in the west. History reveals that Rome conquered the Macedonian horn at the conclusion of the Third Macedonian War in 168 BC.

Exceeding great...

Medo Persia is described as "great", Greece is described as "very great", and the little horn is "exceeding great". The kingdom following Greece must be an even greater realm. In the angel's interpretation, the little horn symbolizes a "king of fierce countenance". The fierceness of Rome is also portrayed in previous prophecies as a kingdom of iron that subdues all and breaks them in pieces and bruises, and as an exceeding dreadful and terrible kingdom.

Little Horn Waxing Great (toward South, East & Pleasant Land): Pagan Rome (168BC to 538 AD)

The Bible not only revealed what nations Rome conquered to become a world power, but it also revealed the order in which those nations were conquered by Rome so that it stood unopposed. According to the prophecy, the Little Horn would rise out of the west, conquering Macedonia in 168 BC, then it would wax great towards the south and obtain Egypt in 88 BC, then finally it would wax towards the east and conquer Syria in 64 BC. It should now be clear to you that this phase of the Little Horn was obviously the Pagan Roman phase. And it should also be clear to you that both Daniel 7 and 8 reveal that the three horns plucked up by the Little Horn were the Macedonian, Egyptian, and Syrian horns.

10 “And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them.” 

Rome, now under papal influence, boasted and lifted itself up, gaining power until it had control over God's people (host), including the leaders/preachers (stars=messengers), overthrowing and persecuting them.

Note: The word translated to "host" (s?aba) means a mass of people organized for war, or an army. This army is "of heaven". When the angel interprets the vision, he refers to the mighty and the holy people being destroyed, which is symbolized here by the "host" being stamped upon. In Bible prophecy, stars symbolize messengers. In Rev. 1:20, the stars are the messengers of the churches. This would be people like the preachers, evangelists and leaders. Thus, the host represents God's people (the church) and the stars are the leaders or pastors of God's people.

Little Horn Waxing Great (Toward Heaven): Papal Rome (538 AD to 1798 AD)

Then, the Little Horn waxes great upward, to the host of heaven, showing Papal Rome's aspirations. The description of this little horn's activities and characteristics are similar to those of the little horn in Daniel's previous vision, making it apparent that this little horn not only represents the Roman realm through its years as a pagan empire, but also Papal Rome through the Middle Ages. Just like in Daniel 7, the characteristics reveal that a religious power is at work, one that persecutes, rejects truth and interferes with Jesus' ministry. Notice the religious nature of many of its activities:

It waxed great, even to the host of heaven

It cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them

Magnified himself even to the prince of the host

By him the daily sacrifice was taken away

By him... the place of his sanctuary was cast down

An host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression

Cast down the truth to the ground

Shall destroy the mighty and the holy people

He shall magnify himself in his heart

By peace shall destroy many

He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes

The Little Horn casts down and stamps on the host, and the host is given to the Little Horn. When the angel interprets the vision, he says the fierce looking king (little horn) will destroy the mighty and holy people, linking the host to God's people. The power of Papal Rome over God's people was also referenced in the previous prophecy in Daniel 7, where it was said it would "wear out the saints" and that "they shall be given into his hand". The saints were "given into his hand" in Daniel 7:25 and they were "given him" in Dan. 8:12.

11 “Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down”

Papal Rome boasted and lifted itself up as if it were equal with Jesus (prince of the host) and it took away from Jesus the continual ministry that Jesus does in the heavenly sanctuary (daily). It threw out the truth about Jesus' sanctuary. It took it away from Jesus by directing people to look to earthly priests for forgiveness and salvation. Of course, Jesus continued to provide His ministry, but for many, it was taken away as focus was redirected to the false earthly system.

Takes away the "Daily Sacrifice":

Papal Rome usurps Christ's continual ministry. As represented by the sacrificial animals in this vision, the casting down of the sanctuary by the little horn, and the cleansing of the sanctuary, the focus of the prophecy is on God's sanctuary. The little horn magnifies himself even to the prince of the host, takes away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and casts down the Lord's sanctuary.

The term "daily sacrifice" in Hebrew is "tamid", which means "continually" (note that the word "sacrifice" is not in the original) and is used in the Old Testament in connection with the earthly sanctuary services. The priests performed certain functions continually, such as keeping the lamps burning (Ex. 27:20, 2 Chron. 13:11), burning incense continually (Ex. 30:8) and keeping a burnt offering on the altar continually. The "daily sacrifice" in prophecy represents the continual service of Jesus Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. He is our priest and our intercessor, continually listening to our prayers, sending the Holy Spirit to help us, and mediating for us. The little horn thought to take this away, obscure it, or supplant it. Papal Rome (little horn waxing great toward heaven) did this by establishing a religious system where direct access to God through Christ was replaced with earthly mediators. The little horn ascribed to itself the work of the Prince and rejected the Prince's sanctuary as the only place of true forgiveness and mediation. This desolation of the sanctuary will eventually be put to an end after 2300 days when the sanctuary will be cleansed.

12 “And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered" 

God's people (host) and the continual ministry of Christ (the daily) are given over to the power of Rome (Little Horn), because of rebellion (transgression).

Sanctuary Is Cleansed: 

The sanctuary that is cleansed exists in "the time of the end", long after the Israelite sanctuary was destroyed. The following Bible verses reveal another sanctuary that needs cleansing in the time of the end.

13 "Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?" 

How long will Rome be allowed to put itself in place of Jesus' continual ministry in the heavenly sanctuary (daily) under the leadership of the papacy, and how long will Rome continue the rebellion that causes such devastation (desolation) as state powers enable the papacy, all of which abases/brings down (trod under foot) Jesus' sanctuary and God's people?

14 "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." 

The place of Jesus' continual ministry in heaven (sanctuary) will be vindicated/made right (cleansed) at the end of 2300 days. The events and timing of the "Cleansing of the Sanctuary," can be understood by studying the Day of Atonement symbolism in the earthly sanctuary. The Israelites observed the Day of Atonement on day ten of month seven. 

"And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month a holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls" (Numbers 29:7)

"For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people" Leviticus 23:29

This was a solemn day of judgment for the Israelites. Those who did not afflict (humble, weaken, answer, chasten self) his/her soul that day would be cut off. This was the only day of the year that the high priest would enter into the Most Holy compartment of the Sanctuary. He would make atonements for the people and also for the sanctuary itself. This was necessary because, throughout the year, confessed sins were transferred symbolically to the sanctuary. Now full atonement would be made and the sins removed completely (cleansed).

The Hebrew word for "cleansed" in Daniel 8:14 is "tsadaq" and is associated with concepts such as judgment, vindication, cleansing, and salvation. It indicates a restoration of the order established by God through a work of cleansing and judgment. The earthly sanctuary was patterned after the true tabernacle, the heavenly sanctuary. The process in the earthly sanctuary of finally removing sins from the sanctuary that were previously forgiven, is also what happens in the heavenly sanctuary. Those who have accepted Christ are investigated, and their previously forgiven sins are forever blotted out of the books and remembrance. The righteous principles of Christ’s kingdom and His people are vindicated. This is a time of investigation and judgment of the books, as revealed in Daniel's previous prophecy "...the judgment was set, and the books were opened".

The cleansing of the sanctuary would occur "then", at a specific time in the future. This brings to light the two phases of ministry that occur in the sanctuary. In the earthly sanctuary the priests carried out two distinct ministries, a daily ministry in the Holy Place, and a yearly ministry in the Most Holy Place. The yearly ministry only occurred once a year and was the time when the sanctuary was cleansed of all the sins that had been figuratively accumulated during the daily ministry. The daily and yearly ministry each foreshadowed a phase of Christ's priestly ministry in heaven. Jesus was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His "daily" intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension after His death on the cross and resurrection. He continually ministers on our behalf from the heavenly sanctuary making the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross available to believers. He forgives sins and takes away guilt, recording the sinner as pardoned. At the end of the age (after 2300 prophetic days), prior to His second coming, He performs the "yearly" ministry, which blots out those sins and vindicates God of any responsibility for sin, and thus cleanses heaven of all sin. This last phase of His atoning ministry "cleanses the sanctuary" or makes the sanctuary right again.

The meaning of the "cleansing of the sanctuary" indicates a time of investigation and judgment. This coincides with the same event foretold in Daniel's previous vision when he saw the court was seated and the books opened. The time of judgment referenced in Daniel 7 occurs during the "time of the end", prior to the second coming. This last phase is a work of investigative judgment that results in the removal of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. 

15” When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. 16And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, 'Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.' 17So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; and he said to me, 'Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.' 18Now while he was talking with me, I was dazed with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand at my place. 19And he said, 'Behold, I am going to inform you of what will occur at the final period of the indignation, because it pertains to the appointed time of the end. 20The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22The broken horn and the four horns that came up in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power. 23And in the latter period of their dominion, When the wrongdoers have run their course, A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue.” 24 "And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people." 

Rome would be powerful, accomplishing difficult things. It would destroy powerful people and God's people.

25 "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." 

Because of the intelligence (policy) of Rome, it would successfully promote and engage in deceitfulness/fraud (craft). It would boast and lift up (magnify) itself in its own mind. It would destroy others when they felt secure and at ease (peace), when they didn't expect it. It would rise up and set itself as if over Jesus. It will be destroyed by supernatural means, not by human agency.

You are now aware that the numbers play a huge part in the Bible, but I will let you know now that they play a major part in figuring out the timeline of events in the end times. Many people have only studied Revelation, but without Daniel, you will never figure it all out. I almost missed the opportunity myself, but the Holy Spirit pushed me to continue the research on the 2300 days. Many have made the mistake of assuming they are prophetic years and not literal days or that it does not refer to the future but the past. I will let you know that it is to be considered a 24-hour period of evenings and mornings. (1150 literal days) 

Scripture to read:   

Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28, Jeremiah 25, Daniel 9, Hosea 5-6:2

In Chapters 2, 7, 8 and 11 you received a history lesson on the empires that have ruled God’s people even until the end. You were shown how they ruled over Israel, the term and outcome of those empires and who will be ruling the end time power that Satan resurrects. Next in chapter 9, Daniel’s vision changes to focus on God’s people, Israel. 

I would like to encourage you to read the above scripture in the order listed. They will first show you the commandments God gave his people, then you will see his punishment (curse) for their rebellion and disobedience of his covenant (law of Moses), followed by God’s determination of what is necessary for their deliverance and restoration of their city, then lastly his promise of their deliverance. 

Notice that this chapter of Daniel has been misinterpreted for centuries as our final 70th week (7 years). As I have previously informed you, Daniel chapter 12 is the timeline to focus on now.

1” In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;” 

The first year of Darius is 539 BC. It is 9 years since Daniel's vision in chapter 8. The Jews had been subjected to the Babylonians since 609 BC. In 539 BC, Babylon was conquered by Medo-Persia and the captives were subject to a new ruling government. Darius the Mede is the same person as Cyaxares II, who was an uncle to Cyrus the Great and son of Astyages. Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC at which point Cyaxares II became its king. In about 537 BC, Cyaxares II gave his daughter in marriage to Cyrus and the Median kingdom as her dowry, which further cemented the merged Median and Persian kingdoms. Cyaxares II, under the throne name of Darius, died about 537 BC, and Cyrus then took the throne. The reference to Darius the Mede differentiates this Darius from the Darius (I) who ruled after Cyrus.

2” In the first year of his reign, I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”

Daniel was studying the prophecy of the 70-year captivity. This refers to a separate prophecy by Jeremiah that specified the length of time Israel would be in captivity by Babylon.

3 “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness’s, though we have rebelled against him; 10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.”

Knowing the captivity would soon be over according to the prophecy, Daniel prays to God, seeking deliverance of his people and the restoration of their city, Jerusalem. Daniel's earnestness brings to light the conditional nature of certain prophecies. He did not sit still, just awaiting the prophetic word to be fulfilled. He knew that repentance, honesty of heart and seeking God made a difference. 

Plus, in this prophecy, the act of God's people in seeking Him, was part of the prophecy. God said "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:12-13 

In the same way, today we should be praying for God's apostatizing people and for deliverance from end-time powers. The loyalty and repentance of God's end-time people are also prophesied in Revelation. As Daniel prays, he acknowledges God's faithfulness, mercy and longsuffering. He also acknowledges Israel's sins and that they have rebelled, ignored prophets and broken the covenant. Daniel seeks with all his heart, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. He takes the situation seriously.

11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore, the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the “law of Moses”, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is  righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice."

Daniel realizes that the curse of the law of Moses is upon them because of their transgressions. The curse that Daniel refers to can be read in Deuteronomy 28. Verses 1 to 14 outline the blessings for obedience. Verses 15 onward reveal what will happen if Israel disobeys. Read verses 45-51. Notice in verse 50 that a nation of fierce countenance will come against them because of their rebellion. In Daniel's vision in chapter 8 (the vision the angel is returning to explain here in Daniel 9) Daniel saw a king (kingdom) of fierce countenance stand up and come against God's people.

"And in the latter time of their [4 divisions of Greece] kingdom, when the transgressors [Israel] are come to the full, a king [Rome] of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up" Daniel 8:23

As we studied the succession of kingdoms in Daniel 8, we saw that the little horn, which is also described as the king of fierce countenance, represents the Roman Realm. Read on in Deuteronomy 28:52-57. This section describes the actions of the nation of fierce countenance and that it brings a siege to the gates of the Jew's city, Jerusalem. This is describing Rome, which besieged Jerusalem in 70 AD. It is also recorded in history that the cannibalism predicted in these verses really did occur during the siege (Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book VI, Chapter 3, Section 4). Daniel's reference to the curse of Deuteronomy 28, where the nation of fierce countenance refers to Rome's future siege of Jerusalem, provides additional evidence that the king of fierce countenance in Daniel 8:23 represents Rome. We can imagine this greatly startled Daniel, as he knows they have transgressed, and fears things will be put in motion so the king of fierce countenance will stand up and cause destruction.

15"And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness’s, but for thy great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."

Daniel pleads with God to forgive them and remove their reproach, for God's own sake. This situation was affecting God's people and therefore God Himself. Those under reproach are called by God's name. The actions of those claiming to be followers of God affect other peoples' view of God. Misdeeds and selfish actions don't only affect the perpetrator and those hurt by the perpetrator, but it misrepresents the true character of God to others, possibly turning them away from pursuing God in their own lives.

20 “And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter and consider the vision.”

Gabriel had been seen before, in Daniel 8:16, which is the first time Gabriel is mentioned in the Bible. Both times he appeared; his goal has been to make Daniel understand the vision. Notice that Daniel hadn't received a vision since the one in Daniel 8. 

24"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city" to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."

Now, in Daniel 9, as Daniel's mind is focused on the end of the 70 years of captivity and the rebellion of the Jews, the angel returns to explain the vision. The angel is speaking to Daniel, so "thy people" refers to Daniel's people, the Jews and their city, Jerusalem. There were to be 70 prophetic weeks, which is 490 (70 X 7) literal years (1 day = 1 year), designated especially for the Jews.

The Jewish nation had been selected for a special work... to spread the news about the Messiah and provide the bloodline for Messiah to come into the world. Only the Messiah could accomplish all the tasks outlined in this prophecy:

1. Finish the "transgression"

The Jew's rebellion or revolt (pesha) would be allowed to proceed until the 70 weeks were over. Then Jesus would close the Jewish nation's probation. By the end of the Medo-Persian realm the transgression of the Jews had developed to the point that the king of fierce countenance was allowed to stand up and initiate the destructions described as curses in the law of Moses. "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." Dan. 8:23

2. Make an end to sins, make reconciliation for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousness

Only Jesus' sacrifice and ministry could bring about these accomplishments. Jesus' ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, launched near the end of this 70-year time period, culminates in the "cleansing of the sanctuary" at the end of the 2300 days. It is then that:

(a) all sins are removed or blotted out,

(b) reconciliation or atonement is completed,

(c) that which is right is proved right and declared right so that righteousness can reign forever

3. Seal up the vision and prophecy

The word translated to "seal" means to close up or make an end. It is also used in the phrase translated to "make an end of sins". When Jesus preached, He said "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). The 70 weeks prophecy was about to be fulfilled by Christ and His apostles as the 70th and final week of the prophecy was completed.

4. Anoint the most Holy 

The word translated to "most Holy" is the same word translated to "sanctuary" in Dan. 8:13. After Christ was resurrected and ascended to heaven, He began His work in the sanctuary. Just like the earthly sanctuary was anointed before use, the heavenly sanctuary was to be anointed. The heavenly sanctuary service provides a way to end sins, reconcile iniquity and bring in righteousness that lasts forever. This is the sanctuary that is later cleansed at the end of the 2,300 days. 

25"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem"

Gabriel proceeds to explain the start date for the 70 weeks. There were four decrees related to the return of the Jews to Jerusalem. The date of 455 BC is the starting date for the time as it is the culminating decree that enabled the restoration of independent government and control of religious and civil affairs.

537 BC - Decree by Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4). It was Cyrus the Great who set the stage for the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the house of God. This event was foretold long before it occurred, and even Cyrus' name was prophesied (Is. 44:28, 45:1). A declaration issued by Cyrus, inscribed on a clay cylinder, was discovered in 1879 by an archaeologist in the foundation of the Marduk temple of Babylon. It is often referred to as the world's first charter of human rights, confirming the biblical view of Cyrus' generosity and religious tolerance.

519 BC - Decree by Darius (Ezra 6:1-12). This enabled the Jews to continue the work that had been hindered. It was the time of Haggai, Zechariah, Joshua and Zerubbabel. Like Cyrus' decree, this only enabled the building of the temple.

455 BC - Decree by Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:13-26, 4:1-24). It was this decree, in the autumn of 455 BC, a comprehensive decree by Artaxerxes Longimanus, that actually made restoration possible. It made it possible for an independent civil order to be established, and they restored magistrates and judges.

444 BC - Decree by Artaxerses (Neh. 2:1-4, 17, 20 and 6:1-15). The building process had been interrupted. This was not really a new decree but a reinstatement to Nehemiah to build the walls. "unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:"

After 455 BC (the commandment/decree to restore Jerusalem), the Messiah (anointed one), could be expected after 69 prophetic weeks, which is 483 literal years. Christ (the Messiah/Anointed one) was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit in 29 A.D, which marked the beginning of His ministry, exactly 69 weeks into the prophecy. Right after Jesus was baptized, and began to preach, he announced the fulfillment of this time prophecy. 

He said that "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel". (Mark. 1:15) I find it hard to understand that if they were aware of Daniel’s prophecy detailing the exact time that their Messiah would arrive, that they were not watching in anticipation. Not only that, but why would they deny their Messiah when he had already fulfilled several prophecies.

A question must be asked at this time. How could the Pharisees who were well versed in the prophecies pertaining to their Messiah's coming miss their fulfillment? How is it that one man's fulfillment of all the prophetic scriptures not be enough? 

Below is just a few of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus that should have confirmed his identity.

Virgin birth prophecy: Isaiah 7 

"14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 15Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings."

Fulfilled: Matthew 1

"18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Born in Bethlehem prophecy: Micah 5

"2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” 3Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;"

Fulfilled: Matthew 2

"3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Fulfilled:Luke 1

"10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Come out of Egypt prophecy: Hosea 11

"1When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son"

Fulfilled: Matthew 2

"13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,"

Messiah will arrive in Jerusalem riding on the foal of a donkey prophecy: Zechariah 9 

9“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey."

Fulfilled: Matthew 21

"1Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them"

The only possible way to explain their ignorance has to be due to their rigid adherence to tradition and their own interpretations of scripture. They expected a political-military deliverer who would overthrow Roman oppression and restore Israel to its former glory. Jesus' humble birth, emphasis on spiritual renewal, and non-violent approach, however, shattered their expectations. Their arrogance, desire for power, and refusal to consider alternative interpretations created a significant blind spot, hindering their ability to recognize the divine in Jesus' ministry. This spiritual blindness is evident in their attempts to discredit Jesus and ultimately, their role in his crucifixion.

“...the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

It would be difficult, and others would try to stop them, but the walls and the streets of Jerusalem would be built. The division of the 69 weeks into 7 and 62 indicates that the wall and streets would be built by the end of 7 prophetic weeks (49 literal years), or by 406 BC.

26"And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:"

In April 33AD, the Messiah's life would be cut short for the benefit of others. In looking forward to the time of the Messiah, the prophet Isaiah also revealed that Messiah would be cut off, and that this meant he would die. 

"He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken" Isaiah 53:8 

Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for others. Though innocent, He died a violent death, not accepted by His own people and alone. Isaiah also describes that the Messiah's life would be one of service and sacrifice, affliction and grief. He would do everything possible to save others from sin and ruin, even to the point of giving His own life. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed". Isaiah 53:5

"...and the people of the prince [Rome] that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined."

Jerusalem would be rebuilt, but its destruction is also here foretold. This was fulfilled in 70 A.D, when the Romans besieged Jerusalem, destroyed the city and burned the sanctuary. This identifies Rome as "the prince that shall come". Remember that Daniel 9 is explaining Daniel 8. The "king of fierce countenance" of Daniel 8 is the same power brought to light (Rome). This is the prince/king that would come to fulfill the curse of Deuteronomy 28 that had Daniel so disturbed. Moses predicted that the Jews' enemy would besiege them, parents would eat their children and families would turn upon one another. There would be sickness and fear, and they would be dispersed among nations. These were the exact results when Jerusalem was besieged by Rome, the "nation of fierce countenance".

Flood 

The end is described as a flood, which is often used in the Bible to represent an invading army or overwhelming force.

End of the war 

The wars between the Jews and the Romans continued long after Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. The Romans went on to desolate the land of Judea and disperse the Jews. When Jesus warned the Christians to flee from this siege of Jerusalem, He included the entire land of Judea in His warnings. There was terrible bloodshed on both sides, and the Jews, along with their homeland, were especially devastated in the wars of 115-117 and 132-135 AD. The Romans were determined to root out all traces of Judaism. They even officially ceased the name of Jerusalem in 130 AD and changed the name of the province to "Syria Palaestina". During these struggles, many Jews fled to Parthia, which protected the Jews and fought against the Romans until their last battle in 217 AD.

27"He [Jesus] shall confirm the [old] covenant with many for one week:"

One week

Jesus confirmed his Father’s covenant (Law of Moses) by his own baptism. Christ and His apostles focused on taking the gospel message primarily to the Jews for 7 years (3-1/2 years during Jesus' ministry and 3-1/2 years after), from 29 AD until the year 36 AD. At the end of those seven years, Stephen preached a final, convincing sermon to the leaders of the Jewish nation, giving them one last chance to keep God's everlasting covenant. After preaching, Steven looked up and saw Jesus in heaven. This enraged the Jewish leaders. They rejected the message and stoned Stephen to death. After this, the apostles shifted their focus to the Gentiles (the date of Stephen’s stoning is based on Paul's conversion and the gospel going to the gentiles). 

"...and in the midst of the week he [Jesus] shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,"

In the spring of 33 AD (precisely halfway through) Christ died on the cross. This occurred on the exact day of the Jewish Passover (14th day of the 1st month), perfectly fulfilling the symbolism of the feast. Jesus, identified as the innocent Lamb of God (John 1:29), eliminated the need for animal sacrifices, because his great sacrifice was what all the animal sacrifices foreshadowed. A visible sign emphasized this point at the moment Jesus died, as the veil in the Jewish temple was torn in half from top to bottom. Just as Jesus fulfilled the Passover on the exact day of the Jewish feast, He fulfills the remaining feasts on the exact day of the type. He was resurrected on the 16th day of the 1st month, fulfilling the symbolism of the Feast of First fruits and He poured out the Holy Spirit 50 days later, on the 6th day of the 3rd month to fulfill the Feast of Weeks. In the same way, he will fulfill the final feasts that will end with the Feast of Tabernacles in his millennial kingdom.

"...and for the overspreading of abominations he [Jesus] shall make it desolate,"

After the 70 weeks, when Jesus is repeatedly rejected and excluded from the services performed in the sanctuary, He finally withdraws and leaves it alone. It is then vulnerable to be desolated or, as the original word means, to experience astonishing devastation. The way is paved “for the overspreading of abominations”, which means detestable and idolatrous. Sadly, in early church history and onward, just as in the symbolic earthly sanctuary, abominations were brought into the church that obscured Jesus’ mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary. Many of God’s people were led to focus on man-made methods of salvation and on human intercession in place of Jesus. Their eyes were taken off the Lamb. The prophecies in Daniel 7, 8 and 11 provide details of how Rome continues to spread these abominations until the “consummation”.

When the Roman military surrounded Jerusalem and desolated the earthly sanctuary in 70 A.D., it gave us a clue to help understand Daniel's other prophecies of the abomination of desolation that occurred when Rome's military powers "surrounded" the heavenly sanctuary and desolated it as state powers established the Papacy's substitute mediatorial system in the churches in place of Jesus' mediation in heaven. This began in 554 A.D. when Justinian's decree officially integrated church officials into government and enforced the papal religion by force. They took over the churches, taking away the direct mediation that Jesus does from the heavenly sanctuary and giving the mediation to the papacy who set up an idolatrous system where people are directed to look to an earthly system of priests for forgiveness and church requirements for salvation.

"...even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate [Rome]"

The phrase "until the consummation" means "until the full end". Those who cause desolation and bring in abominations will eventually be destroyed. Since the Roman realm is the desolator, as well as the fourth and final kingdom of prophecy it will be the recipient of God's wrath. The second half is referring to the prince who is to come from verse 26. This is the same as the fierce king of Dan. 8:13 who we already know, is tied to the transgression of desolation.

The 490 years (70 weeks), designated especially to the Jews, had come to an end "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city". The Jews, while entitled to salvation just like everyone else, lost their special privileges as a nation, and the responsibility of disseminating the truth to the world and caring for the growing body of believers was given to the Christian church. The New Testament writers make it clear that God's covenant promises are to be fulfilled to those who are part of Christ's body/church. This group is often referred to as "Spiritual Israel" or the "Israel of God". These are they which live according to the Spirit of God instead of their own selfish desires. It's not your lineage that's important to God, it's your decision for Christ that allows Him to count you as His child.

Hosea 5-6:2

The book of Hosea was written by the prophet Hosea, who lived during the 8th century BC in the northern kingdom of Israel during a tumultuous time in the nation’s history. Hosea was called by God to deliver a message of judgment and restoration to the people of Israel, who had turned away from their covenant relationship with the Lord. 

5:15” I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.”

Despite their cries for help, there will be no one to rescue them from the consequences of their disobedience.

6:1“Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.”

Hosea continues to plead with the people of Israel to return to God and repent of their sins. He reminds them of God’s desire to heal and restore them, even though they have repeatedly broken their promises to Him.

6:2”After two days He will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.”

This verse suggests a period of waiting and anticipation for restoration. The mention of “two days” and “the third day” are symbolic of the time that would elapse before God’s intervention and restoration. The reference of “two days” suggests that he will come back after a prophetic term of 2000 years (1 day = 1000 years). Jesus ascended back to heaven “his place” after Israel rejected him in 33AD. 

This restoration will then take place as early as 2033 when they finally realize that he is the true Messiah and plead for forgiveness. They will then be restored to his people, live with him in his presence and worship him as their redeemer in his kingdom forever. Fortunately, this redemption will be for both Jews and Gentiles who have acknowledged Jesus as their true Messiah. We will all be in his presence in the Millennial Kingdom.

Scripture to read: Daniel 10&11

Daniel 10 and 11 combine to explain the next vision which occurs around 536 BC. Currently, exiles are beginning to return to Jerusalem and endure the hardships of rebuilding their city. However, Daniel is still in Babylon, now under the control of the Persian Empire. In chapter 10, Jesus arrives with his cherubim to deliver a long-delayed explanation of a vision he was given 120 days earlier. The angel explains that his delay was due to a conflict in Persia.

The prophecy of Daniel 11 begins at the time of Persia but takes us all the way to the end of the world. We will see that it gives us a map of the time of the end, and from this map, we can gather the area from which the Ten Kings arise at the end of the world. This fulfilled prophecy given to Daniel back in the 4th & 5th century BCE should confirm with anyone that the Holy Bible was written with divine hands and that no man back then could have known what would happen 2500 years later.

554AD (Pragmatic Sanction)

31“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”  Daniel 11

Just like the precedent in previous verses, the defeat of the Franks by the Byzantine-Papal alliance signals that the focus has now shifted away from the Franks to the papacy "them that forsake the holy covenant" and the next major significant event to affect the realm. The papacy was propped up by state powers as being ecclesiastically dominant throughout the 1260 years (538-1798AD), but this verse points to the time when the power of the state was used to integrate the papal system into government. The Byzantines "ships of Chittim" were initially the power that did this, as emperor Justinian desired to unify the empire with both religion and politics under his control. To this end, He issued the Pragmatic Sanction, which created a church-state government "abomination that maketh desolate".

The Pragmatic Sanction

Justinian's Pragmatic Sanction, issued in 554AD after defeating the Ostrogoths and Franks in the previous verse, declared the eastern empire's final victory and outlined how Italy would be incorporated into the empire. Justinian's edicts and laws, which he had made and assembled for decades, were already in Italy by edict, but could now be enforced because of his victory. The decree stated:

"The laws, moreover, and the statutes included in our Code, which have long ago been sent into Italy by edict, shall be in force. The constitutions, too, which we thereafter promulgated, shall be published by edict, and shall be in force in the land of Italy from the time that they were made public by edict, so that the state being united by God's will, the authority of our laws shall also be extended everywhere" (Josip Banic (ed.), Fontes Istrie medievalis, vol. 1: A seculo VI usque ad 803, doc. 554_IPS, fontesistrie.eu/554_IPS (last access: 01-01-2022).).

Justinian was determined to unify the empire under his rule, politically and religiously. To do this he established the papacy's position, as the head of all the churches, into the framework of his government. "Nothing could have made more plain Justinian's overpowering, personal commitment to maintaining the 'orthodox' Catholic faith in every city of his empire. And the 'orthodoxy' of Justinian was the basis of his claim, as Roman emperor, to universal rule" ("The Rise of Western Christendom". Peter Brown. Page 193).

The Pragmatic Sanction was requested by the pope "arms shall stand on his" [the papacy's] "part". The decree begins as follows: "Upon petition of Vigilius, venerable bishop of ancient Rome, we have thought it best to make some directions which are for the benefit of all those who live in the West" (FIM, 1: doc. 554_IPS.).

In addition to the edicts already issued and now to be enforced, the Pragmatic Sanction also included additional laws:

Magistrates would be chosen by bishops and chief men of each region (#12).

Forced sale of private property for public purposes would be judged by bishops and the primates of each place (#18).

The pope and the Roman senate were given control of weights and measures (#19).

The Sanctuary of Strength

The "sanctuary of strength" as a reference to the heavenly sanctuary, parallels Daniel's previous prophecies that go into much detail about the heavenly sanctuary where Jesus is ministering for us. In Daniel 8:11-13, the sanctuary is cast down and trampled on, in conjunction with the taking away of the daily sacrifice. Here in Daniel 11, the sanctuary is wounded (polluted, stained), also in conjunction with the taking away of the daily sacrifice. The heavenly sanctuary is eventually cleansed of all the defilement at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14.

The Placing of the Abomination That Maketh Desolate

In 554AD, by official decree, the papacy, a religious organization, was set up to operate within the framework of government in extraordinary ways. The Byzantines did this in 554AD when they retook Italy and issued the Pragmatic Sanction. The papacy's teachings offer an earthly system of priestly mediation and forgiveness. This is idolatry, an astonishing abomination, where a man (the pope) places himself in the place of Jesus. Jesus is our true high priest, in the true sanctuary in heaven, mediating for His people continually. When the eastern emperor reconquered Italy and issued the Pragmatic Sanction, he set up the papacy's integrated role in government and thus he established this substitute mediatorial system by force of arms. The Bible describes this state-integrated papal system as the "abomination of desolation" (idolatry/unfaithfulness that devastates) and the "transgression of desolation" (an astonishing revolt). 

In other words, by officially establishing the papacy's rebellion, by law, as part of the structure of government, the Byzantine-papal alliance established a state-church system "place the abomination that maketh desolate", which diverted souls away from Jesus' ministry "daily sacrifice", and instead pointed them to the papacy's substitute earthly system of priestly mediation, thus wounding the heavenly sanctuary "sanctuary of strength".

Taking Away the "Daily Sacrifice"

In Daniel 8:11-12, the "daily sacrifice" is also mentioned:

"Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced and prospered."

In this passage, the power being discussed, the "little horn", represents the Roman realm after it transitioned into its church-state phase (upwards instead of horizontal wars). In verse 11, Jesus' ministry of forgiveness and sanctification "daily sacrifice" for His church is taken from Jesus "prince of the host" and given to papal-led Rome "given him". Also, the place where this work is performed for the church, the heavenly sanctuary "place of His sanctuary", is cast down as the heavenly focus turned earthward.

It wasn't fully revealed how this was accomplished until now in chapter 11. In chapter 8, we just know that these were taken away from Jesus, and in verse 12, God's people "host" and the ministry of forgiveness and sanctification "daily sacrifice" were given to the papal-led Roman realm. Now here in Daniel 11, we learn how this was achieved as the Byzantine-papal alliance reconquered Italy and issued the Pragmatic Sanction in 554AD, which enabled them to implement/enforce prior edicts, integrate the papal system into government and enforce the papal substitute mediatorial system. Thus, in Daniel 11:31, they would "place the abomination" or firmly establish the rebellion through an integrated church-state government.

538 AD - Papacy became ecclesiastically dominant (declared head of churches and then freed to develop independently when the Ostrogoths withdrew from Rome in 538AD.

554 AD - Papacy integrated into state government.

“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Daniel 11:32-35

The people who forsook Biblical Christianity and those religious leaders who received high positions in government were flattered by the attention "corrupt by flatteries". But the people who knew God stood firm and took actions "do exploits" to counteract the errors.

As seen in other prophecies, God's people are given into the hand of persecuting Roman church-state powers for 1260 years (538 to 1798 AD). This period began when the Ostrogoths withdrew from Rome in 538AD, leaving the papacy free to exercise its ecclesiastical dominance and establish its independence and influence on state powers. Many state powers participated in persecuting Christians and others who did not adhere to papal beliefs. The Byzantines set the stage for this largely in 554AD, but the Franks were already well on their way to similar behavior, which would spread throughout the rulers of the Roman realm. Many brave souls were killed with the sword and burned at the stake "by flame", put in prison "captivity", and persecuted through bribery and convincing others to kill them to get their property “spoil". Despite intense persecution, God's people "they that understand" still spread the gospel "instruct many", including Columba's missionaries, the Waldenses, Albigenses and Hussites. Many fell and there was no one to help them. When Protestantism and the reformation became more popular, some joined through false motives and didn't really help the cause "cleave to them with flatteries" but perhaps gained advantages in areas where protestants ruled. God's people would endure this situation until the time of the end (after the "time appointed" - 538-1798). Note: The "time of the end" begins when the scattering of God's people ends and the ecclesiastical supremacy of the papacy ends. (1798 AD – Second Coming).

“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.”  Daniel 11:36-37 

The papacy is here described as the king that wants to take the place of God "magnify himself above every god". We know from multiple other prophecies that this describes the Roman church of the Middle Ages. The Papacy set itself up as if it was God on earth and was allowed to have ecclesiastical supremacy for 1260 years "till the indignation be accomplished". This prophecy characterizes these actions as blasphemous "speak marvelous things against the God of gods". As indicated in the verses, the papacy regarded a different God than that of the early Christians "God of his fathers". It was an offshoot from the true church. It also promoted celibacy "desire of women". It put its own decrees above all other churches and above the Bible itself "magnify himself above all".

Note: In 752AD, the papacy began crowing emperors. The perception was that if a king wanted to be the ruler of a Christian nation, then he would need the blessing of the recognized leader of Christianity. The papacy could achieve success through threat of excommunication and releasing subjects from their oaths of loyalty.

During the reign of Pope Innocent III (1198 - 1216 AD), the most powerful pope in history, the title "Vicar of Christ" was claimed for the popes, after which it has consistently been used since. The Papacy is symbolized by the "stout horn" in Daniel 7. It is the horn that uprooted three of the other 10 horns on the 4th beast. This qualifies it as a division of Rome and thus it is eligible to become a king of the north or a king of the south. However, the verses that describe the Papacy do not mention the KON or KOS. Verse 36 just mentions "the king", so the emphasis during the remaining 1260 years was not on warring kings/divisions but on the persecution of God's people and the blasphemy of the king that caused it.

“But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.” Daniel 11:38

The papacy was weak on its own. It exerted power by convincing state powers to cooperate. It placed its hope in the support of the state "god of fortresses". This sort of approach was not done by the early Christians "whom his fathers knew not" who placed their hope in Jesus Christ. Kings and popes would collect images and costly relics. Popes would find relics and send costly gifts to various rulers "honour with gold, and silver". Indulgences were sold to build extravagant cathedrals. The papacy was enabled to accomplish all these things via state political powers.

So, the Papacy not only exalted itself in the religious sphere, but also in the political sphere. It convinced state powers to persecute its citizens and enforce religious laws for the1260 years during its ecclesiastically dominant phase. But it especially exalted itself in the political arena from 752AD to 1299AD, during its politically dominant phase.

The papacy reached the apex of its power during the reign of Pope Innocent III. He exercised influence over Christian states and claimed supremacy over all the realm's kings. He is known for increased involvement in imperial elections and for calling a council (the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215AD) to modify the law in furthering his power as the universal authority in the realm. Innocent issued the "Papal Decree on the choice of a German King, 1201," which he used to force the acceptance of his choice of the three men contesting to become emperor. In it he said:

"It is the business of the pope to look after the interests of the Roman empire, since the empire derives its origin and its final authority from the papacy; its origin, because it was originally transferred from Greece by and for the sake of the papacy...its final authority, because the emperor is raised to his position by the pope who blesses him, crowns him, and invests him with the empire" (Medieval Sourcebook: Innocent III (r.1198-1216): Letters on Papal Polices, Fordham.edu, http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/innIII-policies.asp.).

“Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many and shall divide the land for gain.” Daniel 11:39

During the Middle Ages, feudalism developed as the Franks expanded territory under the Carolingian dynasty. The relationship between lord and vassal evolved. This type of system forms a pyramid of power, where loyalty at each level ensures its strength. At the top of the pyramid was the king who ruled by divine rights, followed by the nobles, knights, and freeman. The pope had the right to intervene in the case of an unjust king and impose sanctions, forfeit his kingdom or depose a king. This system was especially prevalent from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The church became integrated into this system as an organization and as individual clergymen. By 1200AD, during Pope Innocent III's reign, the papacy had more vassals than the other temporal rulers. Papal fiefs included England, Poland, Sicily, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal and Aragon. Pope Innocent III was known to drive out existing feudal lords and threaten with excommunication anyone who refused to acknowledge his supremacy. Thus, the papacy not only used the state "strange god" and gave legitimacy to its rulers "cause them to rule over many" but also controlled much land and would parcel out land for a price or distribute land as a reward "shall divide the land for gain". Feudalism gradually faded over the next several hundred years. France officially abolished it during the French Revolution in 1789.

We now proceed to the time of the end, which is the emphasis of the angel's explanation. "I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days" (Dan. 10:14). The angel now unfolds to Daniel what would happen to Daniel's people "thy people", the Jewish nation, during the time of the end (1798 to the Second Coming).

1798AD to Second Coming

Verse 40 now transitions to a new time period, the "time of the end", which is from 1798AD to the Second Coming of Jesus

First, we need to determine the eligible entities to be the King of the North (KON) and King of the South (KOS). In following the precedent established early on in Daniel 11 (when Greece divided), the KON and KOS are the two main political powers rising out of a single realm when it divides, that war against each other, generally positioned north and south of each other. We know from other prophecies that the realm in power during the time of the end is the realm of Rome. Once Rome divided in 486AD, it was no longer centrally ruled, so there rose again a KON and KOS as we saw earlier in verses 25. Rome then remains divided until the Second Coming, however 3 of the 10 divisions/tribes disappeared due to the influence of a political-religious power (the little horn, Papacy), leaving 7 divisions plus the little horn to remain during the time of the end. So, the eligible entities who can be the KON and KOS are English, French, Germans, Italians, Portuguese, Spanish, Swiss, and the Papacy.

Next, we need to determine the two main opposing political forces within that realm of Rome during the "time of the end" who fit the description of the verses. According to Daniel 11:40-45, we can expect two major European powers (2 of the 8 remaining entities that make up the Roman realm) to engage in a history-making war against each other and that it will involve significant battles in the Middle East.

Because of the plain and non-symbolic language used in Daniel 11, we can look at history to see when or if these events happened just as they are described in the Bible. As the upcoming Verse-By-Verse section will expound, history has already unfolded to fulfill this prophecy with precision and exactness in every detail. It shows that in the "time of the end" the two main powers (tribes) within the Roman realm that fought each other AND were involved in battles in the Middle East, were the British - United Kingdom/British Empire (English tribe) and Germany - German Empire (German tribe) in World War I and II. Not surprisingly, Daniel here again predicts the most significant wars of the era, just like each of the other wars described throughout Daniel 11 (examples include the second invasion of Greece (480 BC) during the Greco-Persian War (Dan. 11:2), the 6 Syrian Wars (274-168 BC) (Dan. 11:6-16), Mithridatic Wars (88-63 BC) (Dan. 11:18), Battle of the Teutoburg (9 AD) (Dan. 11:22), Battle of Vouille (507 AD) (Dan. 11:25-28) and now World War I and II (1914-1945 AD).

"The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecies of the eleventh of Daniel have almost reached their final fulfillment" (EGW, The Review and Herald, 1904).

The above quote from 1904 predicts a pending world war "the world is stirred" that is related to the final fulfillment of Daniel 11. It also specifies that these pending struggles between nations will not cease and will increase until Jesus comes (The Review and Herald, 1904, Art. B, par. 7-8). Indeed, the World Wars that began in 1914 produced a continuing struggle that only grows more volatile as the end approaches.

Finally, we need to determine who is north and who is south. During the time of Greece, the king located generally more north of the other king was called the KON. The reference point is the realm itself, which at that time was focused in the Middle East. Now that we are looking at the realm of Rome, we must shift our focus away from the Middle East and to the territory of the realm of Rome. This precedent was established in Daniel's vision in chapter 8. He saw the ram (Medo-Persia) pushing west (toward Babylon), north (toward Lydia) and south (toward Egypt) in relation to its location in the east. He also saw the little horn (Rome), from its location in the west, waxing great toward the south, the east and toward the pleasant land. Rome's territory, after dividing, was mostly in western Europe, but it expanded dramatically during the 1700s as the seven tribes settled in the new world. The American colonies were considered an extension of the Europeans' homeland. The Roman realm now includes much of Europe, USA, Canada, South America, Australia, and more. When looking at a map near the time of the World Wars, Britain (United Kingdom) is more north of Germany, and Germany is more south of Britain.

King of the North = The English Tribe

King of the South = The German Tribe

“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.” Daniel 11:40

The King of the South pushes at the King of the North:

On July 28, 1914, World War I (1914-1918) broke out. Germany, under Kaiser Wilhelm II, had the largest army and was the primary leader of the Central Powers, which included Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. Wilhelm had been building up the German navy for some time to gain diplomatic power over Britain. His policies are said to be largely responsible for causing World War I. The Central Powers advanced west, invading Luxembourg, France and Belgium, and engaged the Russians in the east. Thus, the two main warring horns of divided Rome clashed; Germany (German tribe/horn) and its allies attacked Britain (English tribe/horn) and its allies "king of the south push at him".

At the same time, the Ottomans decided to take action to save their decaying empire and joined forces with Germany and the Central Powers. Germany and Turkey concluded a secret military alliance on August 2, 1914, and Turkey attacked Russian ports in the Black Sea on October 29, 1914. Russia, France, Montenegro, Serbia and Britain all declared war against the Ottomans between November 2 and 5. On November 14, the highest religious authority of the caliphate in Constantinople, on behalf of the Ottoman government, declared Jihad against the Allied Powers, calling Muslims across the world and promising them the status of martyr if they fell in battle. The war eventually drew in all the world's economic great powers, including the Russian Empire, the French Third Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Italy, Japan and the United States.

The King of the North comes against him:

The provocative actions of the Central Powers, led by Germany (German tribe/horn) "king of the south push at him", resulted in the Allied Powers, led by Britain (English tribe/horn) under King George V (1910-1936), responding like a fearful storm "king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind". Britain declared war on Germany on August 4 and over the next four years there were many battles involving many countries and massive carnage. In the end, the Allied Powers were decisively victorious. They engaged militarily in various countries "enter into the countries", completely covering the areas and sweeping through like a flood "overflow and pass over".

As a result of the war, radical changes were made to the European and Middle Eastern maps. Germany was forced to give up its overseas colonies and some of its territories in Europe, and the German Empire ceased to exist. The Austro-Hungarian Empire also ceased to exist as it was broken up into separate nations. New nations were created, and many regained their former independence. Dynasties fell, countries were badly damaged, and Europe was shaken to the core. The Ottoman Empire was also dismembered (1922) and its countries swept through by the Allies.

Chariots, horsemen and ships:

Bible stories often refer to chariots and horsemen in association with the power of an army. Horses were used extensively in World War I. All the major combatants began the conflict with cavalry forces "horsemen" and horses would pull carts "chariots" of heavy artillery, supplies and people. As the war progressed, technology advanced, and there was a transition to more reliance on new weapons. This was the first war to use modern weapons, such as heavy artillery, machine guns, airplanes, barbed wire and armored tanks. The western front was where the modern methods were mainly used, while the eastern front and especially the Middle East continued to rely on horses.

The naval arms race between Britain and Germany was a major cause of World War I. The British had been dominant on the seas for years, but the Germans had worked hard to develop an impressive navy by the time the war began. Technology was advancing before and during the war to produce and improve equipment for sea warfare such as dreadnought battleships, battle cruisers, torpedo boats, destroyers, submarines and aircraft carriers. Dominance by Britain's navy "many ships" was critical to the Allies' ultimate success and final victory.

"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." Daniel 11:41

From this text, we see the glorious land as Israel or Palestine. And Edom, Moab, and Ammon as the modern country of Jordan. The Bible defines the Promised Land as the large section of land promised to the descendants of Abraham, located in the Middle East and centered in the region of Palestine. 

"In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" Genesis 15:18

The king of the north would also enter "He shall enter also", along with the other countries, into the Promised Land "glorious land". In 1917, the British defeated the Ottoman forces as part of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign during World War I. They captured Jerusalem in December and occupied Palestine.

Many countries will be overthrown:

When the Ottomans declared Jihad, the British and its allies immediately engaged the Ottomans militarily in the Middle East. The French and British also sent agents to foment revolution in Ottoman domains. The allied armies entered the Middle Eastern countries and within four years destroyed the Ottoman armies "many countries shall be overthrown".

Behind the scenes, the British and French concluded a secret treaty in 1916 (Sykes-Picot Agreement) to partition the Middle East between them. Northern Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and southeastern Turkey became French protectorates. Jordan, Southern Iraq, Kuwait and Palestine became British controlled territories.

These shall escape:

During the 1800s, a movement called Zionism emerged. The movement was formalized in 1897 and expanded rapidly. In 1914, the British promised support to the Zionist movement to recreate a Jewish homeland. On November 2, 1917, the British issued a letter (the Balfour Declaration) to Lord Rothschild for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, officially stating its support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. The British captured Palestine and took Jerusalem on December 9, 1917. In 1920, the League of Nations established the British mandate of Palestine, which included the territory to the west of the river Jordan and the territory to the east of the river Jordan. The entire area was at first allotted for establishing a Jewish National Home.

However, in 1922, Britain released the area east of the Jordan River from involvement in the Jewish settlement. The east area is where the people of Edom, Moab and Ammon were located in Bible times "Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon". These areas escaped from being part of the Jewish settlement "these shall escape out of his hand". The Mandate territory was formalized into two administrative areas:

(a) Palestine, under direct British rule.

(b) Transjordan, under rule of the Hashemite family from the Kingdom of Hejaz in present-day Saudi Arabia.

After 1922, the area east of the Jordan River was exempt from the Mandate provisions relating to the Jewish National homeland.

"He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape."  Daniel 11:42

Egypt:

Egypt was in the hands of the British from 1882 - 1956. Though Britain had occupied Egypt prior to the war, it was only after the Ottoman Empire declared war in 1914, that Egypt formally ceased to be Ottoman territory. The British declared Egypt to be a protectorate on December 18, 1914 "the land of Egypt shall not escape". The oil, trade routes and riches associated with the Suez Canal and other resources were controlled by Britain "the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt".

The passage draws special attention to Egypt, which was especially important and extensively under the hand of the King of the North. The British had become heavily involved in Egyptian affairs in 1875 when they purchased a 44% share in the Suez Canal Company. The control of "the precious things of Egypt," such as oil, was at stake. After riots in 1882, the British decided direct control of Egypt was needed and began to occupy Egypt. Lord Cromer became the British agent in Egypt in 1883 and ruled the country for the next 24 years. British advisers were placed in all areas of government. British forces were permanently stationed in Egypt and the Egyptian army was disbanded and recreated under British officers. In 1906, the Ottoman-British agreement gave Britain complete control over both Red Sea gulfs (Suez and Aqaba), including the Straits of Tiran. In response to German threats in 1914, military reinforcements were sent to Egypt, and it was declared a protectorate. Between 1914 and 1922, Egypt was formally part of the British Empire. The United States recognized the British protection of Egypt in 1919. Britain declared Egyptian Independence in 1922 and created the Kingdom of Egypt. It was only nominally independent. The British kept control of foreign relations, communications and the military. The British occupied Egypt during World War II (1939 to 1945). In 1956, the British and French finally withdrew troops from the Suez.

Here the prophecy moves into North Africa as Egypt enters the prophecy.

"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."  Daniel 11:43

Continuing its venture into North Africa, the prophecy then introduces Libya and Ethiopia. Here, Ethiopia refers to the modern country of Sudan, thus the prophecy reveals the country bordering Egypt’s western border (Libya) and the country bordering Egypt’s southern border (Sudan). 

Libyans:

The Libyans, in Bible times, were located to the west of Egypt, which basically corresponds to modern day Libya. In 1911, Libya was taken from the Ottomans and colonized by the Italians. The Senussi (a Muslim political-religious Sufi order and clan in Libya and Sudan) sided with the Ottoman Empire and fought against the Allies in World War I. The British forces defeated the Ottomans in 1917 in Libya, and on April 12 the Senussi accepted the terms of the British "Libyans... shall be at his steps".

Ethiopians:

The Ethiopians, in Bible times, occupied the area south of Egypt on the Nile, also known as Cush. This corresponds generally to the country now known as Sudan. Before World War I, Sudan was united with the Kingdom of Egypt, but just like Egypt, it wasn't until 1914 that Sudan officially ceased to be Ottoman territory and formally became part of the British Empire "Ethiopians shall be at his steps". Britain administered control in Sudan between 1899 and 1956, even redrawing its borders in 1908. In 1954, Egypt and Britain agreed that Sudan should be granted independence in 1956.

"But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore, he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many."  Daniel 11:44

The east and the north refer to the same territories of Alexander’s divided kingdom. The north was called Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey. The East represented all the Middle Eastern countries from Syria to Pakistan. 

Tidings out of North and East:

World War I had a very destabilizing effect on the world. Its unresolved issues culminated in conditions that fueled World War II (1939 - 1945). The Empire of Japan had imperialist aims of dominating Asia and the Pacific and went to war with China in 1937 "tidings out of the east". Also, during the late 1930s, Nazi Germany began making aggressive territorial demands in northern Europe (annexing Austria in March 1938 and invading Czechoslovakia in March 1939) and on August 24, 1939, made an agreement with the Soviet Union that included secret protocols to overrun the countries that lay between them "tidings... out of the north". In December of 1941, Japan (Emperor Hirohito) attacked the United States and European colonies in the Pacific Ocean, conquering much of the Western Pacific. By 1942, Nazi Germany, its occupied territories and allies controlled the majority of continental Europe, Southeast Asia and North Africa.

King of North goes out with fury:

The activities of Japan, Germany and Russia disturbed and alarmed the English-led Allied powers "trouble him" and caused them to rise up against the Axis powers. Britain (George VI reigned 1936 - 1952) and the United States (English tribe) led the effort (they were later joined by Russia). The war eventually involved most of the world's countries and was the deadliest war in human history.

The Allied powers steadily took back the territories lost, as hundreds of thousands died along the way "go forth with great fury to destroy". In 1942, the progress of the Axis powers was halted, and the next 3 years saw repeated Axis defeats. In 1945, Berlin was captured, Hitler committed suicide, and the Germans surrendered on May 8. The newly invented atomic bombs were dropped, in August, on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in which 129,000 people died instantly. Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945. The total casualties of the war are estimated at 50 - 85 million people "utterly to make away many".

“And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” Daniel 11:45

Holy Mountain:

Daniel uses the term "holy mountain" to refer to Jerusalem. Here again, the Hebrew word "tsbiy" "glorious" is used in association with the Promised Land. Jerusalem "glorious holy mountain" is located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea "between the seas". This last verse reveals that the King of the North would establish a royal home or place of rule "tabernacles of his palace" in Jerusalem.

In 1945, after World War II, to prevent another such conflict, the United Nations was founded. In 1947 the British attempted to put the future of western Palestine into the hands of the United Nations, the successor organization to the League of Nations, which had established the Mandate for Palestine. The United Nations adopted a Partition Plan for Palestine. This plan would end the British Mandate over Palestine and create an independent Arab and independent Jewish state and an International Regime for the city of Jerusalem. The idea was to solve the conflict between the Palestinian nationalists and the Jewish nationalists. However, the plan was rejected by the Arabs.

The British decided to end the Mandate on May 14, 1948, and withdraw its troops by August 1, 1948. On May 14, 1948, the World Zionist Organization formally declared the establishment of the State of Israel. The USA (part of the English tribe/horn with Britain) recognized the new nation that same day, which was now critical to Israel's success as the balance of power had tilted from Europe to the USA as a global superpower. On May 15, 1948, the Arab Israeli War began. Combined forces of Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia fought against the Israeli forces. After 10 months of fighting, Israel took control of the area originally assigned to it in the Partition Plan, as well as almost 60% of the area assigned to the Arab state. It also took control of West Jerusalem (in 1967 it also took East Jerusalem).

Israel was admitted to membership in the United Nations on May 11, 1949 (the United Nations, which started out with 51 member states, now has 193). The internationalization of Jerusalem never materialized as the UN declared in 1947, and the UN still refers to Israel as the Occupying Power in Jerusalem. The conflict continues to this day, with Israel resolutely holding its ground in its capital, Jerusalem.

So today, we find ourselves in this situation, where the King of the North, the English tribe now led by the USA "he", has established and fixed "shall plant" a dwelling place "the tabernacles" or an outpost in Israel, specifically a place of rule or capital "of his palace" between the Mediterranean Sea and Dead Sea "between the seas" in Jerusalem "in the glorious holy mountain". Amidst all the controversy surrounding the Arab Israeli conflict, verse 45 indicates that the King of the North will remain planted in Jerusalem until his power ends "come to his end" because no one will help "none shall help him".

The King of the North's loss of power appears to coincide with Michael standing up Dan. 12:1 and the 7 last plagues "time of trouble". Other prophecies reveal that not only the KON comes to its end during that time, but all earthly powers and nations. Though the end is sure, any individual within these nations may choose to stand on the side of Jesus and be saved from the pending disasters.

Since the book of Revelation reveals that the USA is the primary end-time power (Rev. 13, 17), it is not unexpected to see the USA portrayed as the final KON in Daniel. The USA plays an increasing role in the English tribe's (KON) activities during World War I and II, becomes a global superpower and leads the English tribe by verse 45. Since World War II, the USA has undoubtedly been the main power that ensures Israel's continuance through massive economic, military and political support.

From this account at the end of Daniel 11, we can somewhat create a map of the territory of the world that will be in the final conflict. Although we cannot say which kingdoms the Ten Kings will arise from, we can be assured that they will come from the regions mentioned at the end of Daniel 11. The King of the North's end is the only event left in Daniel chapter 11 before Jesus puts an end to all the fighting. Amazing promises will be fulfilled to God's people at that time, including the reward of everlasting life!