This is the twentieth in a series of expositions of the book of Daniel. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on the morning of February 3, 2013. This message deals with the antichrist and the tribulation period. This contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes and a study outline. Please note that the sermon notes are not a full transcript.
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SERMON NOTES:
Daniel 11:1-12:1 / The Antichrist and the Tribulation
The first 35 verses of Daniel 11 were prophecy in Daniel’s day, but are history now. They’ve already been fulfilled.
We’ve already covered these details in other chapters, So I’ll just give an outline of how it all breaks down.
- vv.1-2: Persia
- vv. 3-4: Greece
- vv. 5-20: Egypt and Syria
- vv. 21-35: Antiochus Epiphanes and Syria
11:36-45: Prophecy shifts to the Antichrist and the tribulation
This tribulation is in the last week of Daniel’s prophecy (weeks 1-69 have already occurred)
This event is triggered by the signing of a covenant with Israel by a powerful leader in the ten-nation confederacy in Europe. (This all happens after the rapture of the church)
The purpose of this covenant is to guarantee the safety of Israel.
The tribulation period will end with the return of Christ and the condemnation of the Antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire.
Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit.
Revelation 19:20
Revelation 20:1-3
11:36-39
The rise of the Antichrist
He begins in a very unassuming manner, he is the “little horn” that emerges from ten horns.
He is a man of “peace” who will “solve” the Arab/Israeli problem.
He will be a master politician.
Gradually his evil intents are revealed.
After 3-1/2 years, he will break the covenant, claim world control, and set himself up as god.
Daniel 9:27
2 Thessalonians 2
Revelation 13
V.37:
“God of his fathers” is a reference to the God of Israel
Deut. 26:7
1 Chron. 12:17
2 Chron. 20:6
Ezra 7:27
Acts 3:13
Acts 5:30
Acts 22:14
This would indicate that he would come from a national heritage that was once Christian.
The antichrist has not yet been revealed , so we don’t know who he is.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
One likely possibility is that the antichrist would be one of the future popes.
“desire of women”: Some say that this refers to homosexuality.
It is more likely that it refers to his disdain of the sacred covenant of marriage. (1 Timothy 4:1-3), and such intense hatred for Jesus, that he has no regard for the Jewish women who desire to bear the child of God.
He will regard no religion but the one he establishes.
His god is the god of might and military power.
When people worship him, they will actually be worshiping Satan.
vv. 40-43: military invasion.
“At that time” = during the time of the end.
This period of time is a time of great trouble for Israel. It will also lead to their deliverance.
His peace will fall apart and war will break out.
north = Russia; south = Egypt and a federation of Arab nations. (Eze. 38-39)
The antichrist will defeat them, this will give him significant control.
v.41:
The Armies of the antichrist will enter Israel, but his conquest will not be complete. Some will escape, and God will have already evacuated the Jews to a safe place, out of reach of the antichrist.
v.42:
Egypt will be overtaken, he will be on a mission of conquest.
v.43:
He will become very rich and will have great power, but still not total control.
vv.44-45:
despite his best efforts dissension mounts in the east and north, which leads to the battle of Armageddon, which will be far to the north of where Israel will be safely kept.
Revelation 16:12-16
Revelation 14 is an interlude in the book, and gives us an overview of the last half of the tribulation. God’s intervention at the battle of Armageddon will signal the end of the tribulation period.
Revelation 14:19-20
Revelation 19:11-15
This is what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:30
12:1:
“At that time” – This points back to 11: 36–45, the beginning of the final 3-½ years.
During that period, Michael the archangel ministers with special attention to protecting Israel.
Your people means Daniels Israelite people, who can have hope, even in the distress of a time such as the tribulation.
The ultimate end of this time of great trouble will be the glorious deliverance of God’s people. Even through the suffering yet to come, they already have a promise of hope.
We have an eternal promise of hope as well. Jesus has promised eternal life to those who call on Him. Regardless of what this world delivers, if you are a child of Christ, you will one day receive deliverance from Him.
It is a promise that we can count on. Though we may not know when our day of deliverance will come, we can rest assured that it will.
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on February 7, 2013
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