11:36–45 This section is the far fulfillment of God’s prophetic plan. It summarizes details of Daniel’s 70th week which are found nowhere else in Scripture. Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of Antichrist, is the perfect transition point to the actual Antichrist.
11:36 Then. This word points to the future “time of the end” mentioned in v. 35. Verses 36–45 discuss the career of the final Antichrist in the last 7 years before Christ’s millennial kingdom. This willful king is the final Antichrist (see notes on 7:8, 11, 12, 25; 9:27; cf. Rev. 13:4–7).
11:37 God of his fathers. The word for “God” is “Elohim,” a word that is plural, thus in this context probably refers to “gods.” Pagan Gentiles have had traditional gods passed down from their fathers, but this king has no regard for any of them. His only god is power (v. 38, “god of fortresses”). desire of women. This could mean that Antichrist will be a homosexual; but it surely means he has no normal desire for or, interest in, women, e.g., as one who is celibate.
11:38 god of fortresses. The term for fortress is used 5 other times in this chapter (vv. 7, 10, 19, 31, 39) and each time means “a strong place.” Power is to be his god, and he spends all his treasures to become powerful and to finance wars. With this power, he will attack every stronghold (v. 39).
11:40 king of…South…North. Here is the final N/S conflict. The S was Egypt in the earlier context. Here is the last great battle with the final army from the N retaliating against the attack of the final southern African power. Antichrist will not allow this without striking back and winning, defeating both as recorded in v. 41ff. The willful king, Antichrist, withstands onslaughts from both, and prevails, entering Israel (“the Glorious Land”) and, perhaps, committing at that time the abomination of desolation (9:23; Matt. 24:15). With this victory, he will be established in power for a time.
11:44 news from…east and…north. Military bulletins alert the willful king, in his victories, of other sectors of the world deploying troops to the Palestinian theater (cf. Rev. 9:16; 16:12).
11:45 his end. To face the latest threats, the willful king sets up his command post between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea (and/or Sea of Galilee) and the holy mountain of Jerusalem, his troops filling the land (cf. Zech. 12:2, 3; 14:2, 3; Rev. 19:17–21). No one is able to help him against God, who, by the return of Christ, brings him to his end (cf. Rev. 19:20).
Daniel 12
12:1 that time. This points back to 11:36–45, the time of the ascendancy of Antichrist during the final tribulation period. During that period, Michael the archangel (cf. Jude 9) of 10:13, 21 ministers with special attention to protecting Israel during that Gentile time (cf. Is. 26:20, 21; Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:21). “Your people” means Daniel’s Israelite people, who can have hope, even in the distress of an unprecedented kind set for the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21; cf. Rev. 12:12–17; 13:7). The book is the book of the saved (Mal. 3:16—4:3; Luke 10:20; Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27).
12:2 many…Some…Some. Two groups will arise from death constituting the “many” meaning all, as in John 5:29. Those of faith will rise to eternal life, the rest of the unsaved to eternal torment. The souls of OT saints are already with the Lord; at that time, they will receive glorified bodies (cf. Rev. 20:4–6).
12:3 wise. Those having true knowledge, by faith in God’s Word, not only leaders (as 11:33), but others (11:35; 12:10). To shine in glory is a privilege of all the saved (cf. the principle in 1 Thess. 2:12; 1 Pet. 5:10). Any who influence others for righteousness shine like stars in varying capacities of light as their reward (as in 1 Cor. 3:8). The faithfulness of the believer’s witness will determine one’s eternal capacity to reflect God’s glory.
12:4 the time of the end. Refers to the 70th week of tribulation (cf. 11:35, 40). run to and fro. This Heb. verb form always refers to the movement of a person searching for something. In the tribulation, people will search for answers to the devastation and discover increased knowledge through Daniel’s preserved book.
12:5 two others. Two angels.
12:6 man…in linen. Cf. 10:5.
12:7 a time, times, and half a time. This answers the question of v. 6. Adding these (one, two, and one-half) come to the final 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week (9:27), the time of trouble when the “little horn,” or willful king, persecutes the saints (7:25; cf. 11:36–39 and Rev. 12:14; the same span is described by other phrases in Rev. 11:2, 3; 13:5).
12:10 Many…purified. Salvation will come to many Jews during the Great Tribulation (cf. Zech. 13:8, 9, where the prophet speaks of one-third; Rom. 11:26; Rev. 11:13).The truly saved develop in godliness through trials. The unsaved pursue false values.
12:11 the daily sacrifice. This reference is to the end of daily temple sacrifice, previously allowed under a covenant which the Antichrist formed with Israel, which he later causes to cease in the middle of the final 7 years (9:27). Then, favorable relations give way to persecution. Even his abomination that desecrates the temple (as 9:27; Matt. 24:1; Mark. 13:14; 2 Thess. 2:3, 4) is accompanied with persecution. one thousand two hundred and ninety days. From the intrusion of the abomination, there follow 1,290 days, including 1,260 which make up the last 3½ years of the final 7 years (see note on v. 7), then 30 days more, possibly to allow for the judgment of the living subsequent to Christ’s return (cf. Matt. 24:29–31; 25:31–46), before millennial kingdom blessings begin.
12:12 Blessed. This is in the kingdom (2:35, 45; 7:13, 14, 27) that gives blessedness after the subjugation to Gentile empires in chaps. 2, 7, 8. one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. Forty-five more days, even beyond the 1,290 days, allows for transition between Israel’s time of being shattered (v. 7) and God’s setting up of His kingdom (cf. 7:13, 14, 27).
12:13 go. Daniel’s own career would soon involve death. will arise. In resurrection (cf. 12:2; John 5:28, 29). at the end of the days. The kingdom will ensue after the prophesied days of 9:24–27; 12:11, 12.
Daniel 1
1:1 a 2 Kin. 24:1, 2; 2 Chr. 36:5–7; Jer. 25:1; 52:12–30
1:2 b 2 Chr. 36:7; Jer. 27:19, 20; Dan. 5:2
1:2 c Gen. 10:10; 11:2; Is. 11:11; Zech. 5:11
1:2 d 2 Chr. 36:7
1:2 1 The temple
1:3 e 2 Kin. 20:17, 18; Is. 39:7
1:4 f Lev. 24:19, 20
1:4 g Acts 7:22
1:4 2 Lit. writing or book
1:5 h Gen. 41:46; 1 Sam. 16:22; 1 Kin. 10:8; Dan. 1:19
1:7 i Gen. 41:45; 2 Kin. 24:17
1:7 j Dan. 2:26; 4:8; 5:12
1:8 k Lev. 11:47; Deut. 32:38; Ezek. 4:13; Hos. 9:3
1:9 l Gen. 39:21; 1 Kin. 8:50; (Job 5:15, 16); Ps. 106:46; (Prov. 16:7); Acts 7:10; 27:3
1:9 3 kindness
1:11 4 Or Melzar
1:16 5 Or Melzar
1:17 m 1 Kin. 3:12, 28; 2 Chr. 1:10–12; (Luke 21:15; James 1:5–7)
1:17 n Acts 7:22
1:17 o Num. 12:6; 2 Chr. 26:5; Dan. 5:11, 12, 14; 10:1
1:19 p Gen. 41:46; (Prov. 22:29); Dan. 1:5
1:19 6 Lit. talked with them
1:20 q 1 Kin. 10:1
1:21 r Dan. 6:28; 10:1
Daniel 2
2:1 a Gen. 40:5–8; 41:1, 8; Job 33:15–17; Dan. 2:3; 4:5
2:1 b Esth. 6:1; Dan. 6:18
2:2 c Gen. 41:8; Ex. 7:11; Is. 47:12, 13; Dan. 1:20; 2:10, 27; 4:6; 5:7
2:3 1 Or understand
2:4 d 1 Kin. 1:31; Dan. 3:9; 5:10; 6:6, 21
2:4 2 The original language of Daniel 2:4b through 7:28 is Aramaic.
2:5 e 2 Kin. 10:27; Ezra 6:11; Dan. 3:29
2:5 3 The command
2:6 f Dan. 5:16
2:9 4 Situation
2:9 5 Or declare to me
2:11 g Gen. 41:39; Dan. 5:11
2:11 6 Or rare
2:13 h Dan. 1:19, 20
2:15 7 Or harsh
2:18 i (Dan. 9:9; Matt. 18:19)
2:19 j Num. 12:6; Job 33:15; (Prov. 3:32); Amos 3:7
2:20 k Ps. 113:2
2:20 l (1 Chr. 29:11,
12; Job 12:13; Ps. 147:5; Jer. 32:19; Matt. 6:13; Rom. 11:33)
2:21 m Ps. 31:15; Esth. 1:13; Dan. 2:9; 7:25
2:21 n Job 12:18; (Ps. 75:6, 7; Jer. 27:5; Dan. 4:35)
2:21 o 1 Kin. 3:9, 10; 4:29; (James 1:5)
2:22 p Job 12:22; Ps. 25:14; (Prov. 3:22)
2:22 q Job 26:6; Ps. 139:12; (Is. 45:7; Jer. 23:24; Heb. 4:13)
2:22 r (Ps. 36:9); Dan. 5:11, 14; (1 Tim. 6:16; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5)
2:23 s Ps. 21:2, 4; Dan. 2:18, 29, 30
2:23 8 Lit. word
2:25 9 Lit. sons of the captivity
2:28 t Gen. 40:8; Amos 4:13
2:28 u Gen. 49:1; Is. 2:2; Dan. 10:14; Mic. 4:1
2:29 v (Dan. 2:22, 28)
2:30 w Acts 3:12
2:30 x Dan. 2:47
2:30 10 Understand
2:32 y Dan. 2:38, 45
2:32 11 Or sides
2:33 12 Or baked clay, also vv. 34, 35, 42
2:34 z Dan. 8:25; (Zech. 4:6); 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 9:24
2:35 a Dan. 7:23–27; (Rev. 16:14)
2:35 b Ps. 1:4; Is. 17:13; 41:15, 16; Hos. 13:3
2:35 c Ps. 37:10, 36
2:35 d (Is. 2:2, 3); Mic. 4:1
2:35 e Ps. 80:9
2:37 f Ezra 7:12; Is. 47:5; Jer. 27:6, 7; Ezek. 26:7; Hos. 8:10
2:37 g Ezra 1:2
2:38 h Ps. 50:10, 11; Jer. 27:6; Dan. 4:21, 22
2:38 i Dan. 2:32
2:39 j Dan. 5:28, 31
2:39 k Dan. 2:32
2:40 l Dan. 7:7, 23
2:42 m Dan. 7:24
2:42 13 Or brittle
2:44 n Dan. 2:28, 37
2:44 o Is. 9:6, 7; Ezek. 37:25; Dan. 4:3, 34; 6:26; 7:14, 27; Mic. 4:7; (Luke 1:32, 33)
2:44 p Ps. 2:9; Is. 60:12; Dan. 2:34, 35; (1 Cor. 15:24)
2:44 14 Or crush
2:44 15 Lit. put an end to
2:45 q Dan. 2:35; Is. 28:16
2:46 r Dan. 3:5, 7; Acts 10:25; 14:13; Rev. 19:10; 22:8
2:46 s Lev. 26:31; Ezra 6:10
2:47 t Dan. 3:28, 29; 4:34–37
2:47 u (Deut. 10:17)
2:48 v (Prov. 14:35; 21:1)
2:48 w Dan. 2:6
2:48 x Dan. 4:9; 5:11
2:49 y Dan. 1:7; 3:12
2:49 z Esth. 2:19, 21, 3:2; Amos 5:15
2:49 16 The king’s court
Daniel 3
3:1 1 About 90 feet
3:4 a Dan. 4:1; 6:25
3:4 2 Lit. with strength
3:6 b Jer. 29:22; Ezek. 22:18–22; Matt. 13:42, 50; Rev. 9:2; 13:15; 14:11
3:8 c Ezra 4:12–16; Esth. 3:8, 9; Dan. 6:12, 13
3:9 d Dan. 2:4; 5:10; 6:6, 21
3:12 e Dan. 2:49
3:12 f Dan. 1:8; 6:12, 13
3:13 g Dan. 2:12; 3:19
3:15 h Ex. 32:32; Luke 13:9
3:15 i Ex. 5:2; 2 Kin. 18:35; Is. 36:18–20; Dan. 2:47
3:16 j (Matt. 10:19)
3:17 k Job 5:19; (Ps. 27:1, 2; Is. 26:3, 4); Jer. 1:8; 15:20, 21; Dan. 6:19–22
3:17 l 1 Sam. 17:37; Jer. 1:8; 15:20, 21; 42:11; Dan. 6:16, 19–22; Mic. 7:7; 2 Cor. 1:10
3:18 m Job 13:15
3:22 3 Or harsh
3:24 4 High officials
3:25 n (Ps. 91:3–9); Is. 43:2
3:25 o Job 1:6; 38:7; (Ps. 34:7); Dan. 3:28
3:25 5 Or a son of the gods
3:26 p (Dan. 4:2, 3, 17, 34, 35)
3:26 6 Lit. door
3:27 q (Is. 43:2); Heb. 11:34
3:28 r (Ps. 34:7, 8); Is. 37:36; (Jer. 17:7); Dan. 6:22, 23; Acts 5:19; 12:7
3:28 7 Or angel
3:29 s Dan. 6:26
3:29 t Dan. 2:46, 47; 4:34–37
3:29 u Ezra 6:11; Dan. 2:5
3:29 v Dan. 6:27
3:30 8 Lit. caused to prosper
Daniel 4
4:1 a Ezra 4:17; Dan. 3:4; 6:25
4:2 b Dan. 3:26
4:3 c 2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:35–37; Dan. 6:27; 7:13, 14; (Luke 1:31–33)
4:3 d (Dan. 2:44; 4:34; 6:26)
4:5 e Dan. 2:28, 29
4:5 f Dan. 2:1
4:7 g Dan. 2:2
4:8 h Dan. 1:7
4:8 i Is. 63:11; Dan. 2:11; 4:18; 5:11, 14
4:9 j Dan. 2:48; 5:11
4:10 k Ezek. 31:3; Dan. 4:20
4:12 l Jer. 27:6; Ezek. 17:23; 31:6; Lam. 4:20
4:13 m (Dan. 4:17, 23)
4:13 n Deut. 33:2; Ps. 89:7; Dan. 8:13; Zech. 14:5; Jude 14
4:14 o Ezek. 31:10–14; Dan. 4:23; (Matt. 3:10; 7:19; Luke 13:7–9)
4:14 p Ezek. 31:12, 13; Dan. 4:12
4:14 1 Lit. with strength
4:16 q Dan. 11:13; 12:7
4:16 2 Possibly years
4:17 r Ps. 9:16; 83:18
4:17 s Dan. 2:21; 4:25, 32; 5:21
4:17 t Jer. 27:5–7; Ezek. 29:18–20; Dan. 2:37; 5:18
4:17 u 1 Sam. 2:8; Dan. 11:21
4:18 v Gen. 41:8, 15; Dan. 5:8, 15
4:18 w Dan. 4:8, 9; 5:11, 14
4:19 x Dan. 4:8
4:19 y Jer. 4:19; Dan. 7:15, 28; 8:27
4:19 z 2 Sam. 18:32; Jer. 29:7; Dan. 4:24; 10:16
4:19 3 be for
4:19 4 for
4:20 a Dan. 4:10–12
4:22 b Dan. 2:37, 38
4:22 c Jer. 27:6–8
4:23 d Dan. 4:13–15
4:23 e Dan. 5:21
4:23 5 Possibly years
4:25 f Dan. 4:32; 5:21
4:25 g Ps. 106:20
4:25 h Ps. 83:18; Dan. 4:2, 17, 32
4:25 i Jer. 27:5
4:25 6 Possibly years
4:26 j Matt. 21:25; Luke 15:18
4:26 7 God
4:27 k (Prov. 28:13); Is. 55:7; Ezek. 18:21, 22; (Rom. 2:9–11; 1 Pet. 4:8)
4:27 l (Ps. 41:1–3); Is. 58:6, 7, 10
4:27 m 1 Kin. 21:29
4:27 8 prolonging
4:29 9 Or upon
4:30 n Prov. 16:18; Is. 13:19; Dan. 5:20
4:31 o Dan. 5:5; Luke 12:20
4:31 p Dan. 4:24
4:32 q (Dan. 4:25)
4:32 10 Possibly years
4:34 r Dan. 4:26
4:34 s Ps. 102:24–27; Dan. 6:26; 12:7; (Rev. 4:10)
4:34 t (Ps. 10:16); Dan. 2:44; 7:14; Mic. 4:7; (Luke 1:33)
4:34 11 Lit. days
4:35 u Ps. 39:5; Is. 40:15, 17
4:35 v Ps. 115:3; 135:6; Dan. 6:27
4:35 w Job 34:29; Is. 43:13
4:35 x Job 9:12; Is. 45:9; Jer. 18:6; Rom. 9:20; (1 Cor. 2:16)
4:36 y Dan. 4:26
4:36 z 2 Chr. 20:20
4:36 a Job 42:12; (Prov. 22:4; Matt. 6:33)
4:37 b Dan. 2:46, 47; 3:28, 29
4:37 c Deut. 32:4; (Ps. 33:4); Is. 5:16; (Rev. 15:3)
4:37 d Ex. 18:11; Job 40:11, 12; Dan. 5:20
Daniel 5
5:1 a Esth. 1:3; Is. 22:12–14
5:2 b 2 Kin. 24:13; 25:15; Ezra 1:7–11; Jer. 52:19; Dan. 1:2
5:2 1 Or ancestor
5:3 c 2 Chr. 36:10
5:4 d Is. 42:8; Dan. 5:23; Rev. 9:20
5:5 e Dan. 4:31
5:6 f Ezek. 7:17; 21:7
5:7 g Dan. 4:6, 7; 5:11, 15
5:7 h Is. 47:13
5:7 i Dan. 6:2, 3
5:7 2 Lit. with strength
5:8 j Gen. 41:8; Dan. 2:27; 4:7; 5:15
5:9 k Job 18:11; Is. 21:2–4; Jer. 6:24; Dan. 2:1; 5:6
5:9 3 perplexed
5:11 l Dan. 2:48; 4:8, 9, 18
5:11 4 Or ancestor
5:11 5 Or ancestor
5:12 m Dan. 1:7; 4:8
5:12 6 Lit. untying knots
5:13 7 Lit. who is of the sons of the captivity
5:13 8 Or ancestor
5:14 n Dan. 4:8, 9, 18; 5:11, 12
5:14 9 Or spirit of the gods
5:15 o Dan. 5:7, 8
5:16 p Dan. 5:7, 29
5:16 10 Lit. untie knots
5:18 q Jer. 27:5–7; Dan. 2:37, 38; 4:17, 22, 25
5:18 11 Or ancestor
5:19 r Jer. 27:7
5:19 s Dan. 2:12, 13; 3:6
&nb
sp; 5:20 t Ex. 9:17; Job 15:25; Is. 14:13–15; Dan. 4:30, 37
5:21 u Job 30:3–7; Dan. 4:32, 33
5:21 v Ex. 9:14–16; Ps. 83:17, 18; Ezek. 17:24; (Dan. 4:17, 34, 35)
5:21 12 Recognized
5:22 w Ex. 10:3; 2 Chr. 33:23; 36:12
5:23 x Dan. 5:3, 4
5:23 y Ex. 40:9; Num. 18:3; Is. 52:11; Heb. 9:21
5:23 z Ps. 115:5, 6; Is. 37:19; Hab. 2:18, 19; Acts 17:24–26; Rom. 1:21
5:23 a Ps. 139:3; Prov. 20:24; (Jer. 10:23)
5:23 13 Exalted
5:23 14 The temple
5:24 15 Lit. palm
5:25 16 Lit. a mina (50 shekels) from the verb “to number”
5:25 17 Lit. a shekel from the verb “to weigh”
5:25 18 Lit. and half-shekels from the verb “to divide”; pl. of Peres, v. 28
5:27 b Job 31:6; Ps. 62:9; Jer. 6:30
5:28 c Is. 21:2; Dan. 5:31; 9:1
5:28 d Dan. 6:28; Acts 2:9
5:28 19 Aram. Paras, consonant with Peres
5:29 e Dan. 5:7, 16
5:30 f Jer. 51:31, 39, 57
5:31 g Dan. 2:39; 9:1
Daniel 6
6:3 a Dan. 5:12
6:4 b Eccl. 4:4
6:6 c Neh. 2:3; Dan. 2:4; 6:21
6:7 d Ps. 59:3; 62:4; 64:2–6
6:8 e Esth. 1:19; 8:8; Dan. 6:12, 15
6:8 1 Lit. does not pass away
6:10 f 1 Kin. 8:29, 30, 46–48; Ps. 5:7; Jon. 2:4
6:10 g Ps. 55:17; Acts 2:1, 2, 15; (Phil. 4:6); 1 Thess. 5:17, 18
6:12 h Dan. 3:8–12; Acts 16:19–21
6:12 i Esth. 1:19; Dan. 6:8, 15
6:12 2 Lit. does not pass away
6:13 j Dan. 1:6; 5:13
6:13 k Esth. 3:8; Dan. 3:12; Acts 5:29
6:13 3 Lit. of the sons of the captivity
6:14 l Mark 6:26
6:14 4 strove
6:15 m Esth. 8:8; Ps. 94:20, 21; Dan. 6:8, 12
6:15 5 Lit. thronged before
6:17 n Lam. 3:53
6:17 o Matt. 27:66
6:18 p Esth. 6:1; Ps. 77:4; Dan. 2:1
6:18 6 Exact meaning unknown
6:18 7 Or fled
6:19 q Dan. 3:24
6:20 r Gen. 18:14; Num. 11:23; Jer. 32:17; Dan. 3:17; (Luke 1:37)
6:20 8 Or grieved
6:21 s Dan. 2:4; 6:6
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 412
