MONDAY, JUNE 25
Daniel 11:40-43
Ezekiel 8:8-13

“… for they say, The LORD
seeth us not …”

THE MID-TRIBULATION CRISIS

This is another difficult and controversial passage, but Whitcomb’s interpretation sheds much light. “‘The time of the end’ is a clear eschatological reference in the book of Daniel (cf. 11:35; 12:4, 9). The king of the south must therefore be a yet future Egyptian monarch … Presumably in alliance with a king of the north … the eschatological Egyptian ruler will launch a diversionary thrust … (Dan 11:36).”

“It is important to note that the antecedent of ‘him’ (used twice in this verse) must be the Antichrist, whose location at this time will be somewhere between the ‘north’ and the ‘south,’ presumably Palestine.”

“How does the Antichrist finally attain global authority? The clue comes from Revelation 13 and 17: ‘his deadly wound was healed’ (Rev 13:3, 12, 14; cf. 17:8, 11). This thrice repeated statement may presuppose an interpretation of Daniel 11:40-45 that sees the Antichrist … killed by the irresistible king of the north, sweeping through countries in his southward thrust into ‘the glorious land.’”

“The entire passage (Dan 11:40-45) describing the king of the north thus constitutes a parenthetical background explanation of the stupendous rise of the Antichrist to world supremacy after both king of the north and the king of the south are removed as threats to his demonic and blasphemous ambitions … But then, a totally unexpected and electrifying event occurs that eventuates in his complete destruction.”

The above is one interpretation. Whatever the interpretation, we may rest confident that none is given more power than is permitted by our God. Men’s desperate struggles for power all contribute toward the fulfilment of God’s ultimate and eternal purpose.

THOUGHT: What country might Antichrist come from?
PRAYER: Thy Kingdom come!