Daniel 11:36-12:2

Scripture says this and the King shall do as he Wills he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every God shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods he shall prosper till the indignation is com is accomplished for what is decreed shall be done he shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers or

To the one beloved by women he shall not pay attention to any other God for he shall magnify himself above he shall honor the God of fortresses instead of these a God whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver with precious stones and costly gifts he shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign God those who acknowledge Him He Shall load with honor he shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price at the time of the end the King of the South shall attack him but the King of the North shall Rush upon him like a whirlwind with chariots and Horsemen and with many ships and he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through he shall come into the Glorious land and tens of thousands shall fall but these shall be delivered out of his hand Edom and Moab in the main part of the ammonites he shall stretch out his hand against the countries and the land of Egypt shall not Escape he shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver and all the precious things of Egypt and the libyans and the kushites shall follow in his train but news from the east in the north shall alarm him and he shall go out with great Fury to destroy and devote many to destruction and he shall pitch his palatial tents between the Sea and the glorious holy mountain yet he shall come to his end with none to help him at that time shall arise Michael the great prince who has charge of your people and there shall be a time of trouble as has never been seen since there was a nation till that time but at that time your people shall be delivered everyone whose name shall be found

Written in the book and many of those who sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt and so God we do thank you for your word Lord we do pray that we would unify ourselves around what your word says Lord that we would find our peace Our Hope everything that we need pertaining to life and godliness Lord it's found written here so Lord help us to be wise and Discerning of the times and the seasons that we're in that we might glorify you totally fully completely Lord as we talk about this difficult topic help us to not be so curious about the Antichrist that it leads us to neglect Christ open up our hearts and our minds to understand your word in Jesus name amen well this king is the ruler that is yet to come and we can arrive this safely to this conclusion because up to this point we've been talking about Antiochus epiphanies and we had seen back in chapter 8 how Antiochus had died y'all remember he had fallen out of a chariot got a wound it became infected so much so that he himself couldn't stand the stench the meat and the flesh was literally falling off his bones exactly as it was prophesied and Daniel chapter 8 and so we know how Antiochus epiphanies passed away this is a different person because we see his end being at a completely ending in a different way and Christ himself anticipated a future leader that would rise up in Matthew chapter 24 we see in verses 15 through 21 so when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the Prophet Daniel that's kind of specific right

Standing in the Holy place let the reader understand then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains and mountains let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak and alas for women who are pregnant for those who are nursing infants in those days pray that your flight may not be in Winter or on a Sabbath for then there will be Great Tribulation such as it has not been from the beginning of the world until now no and never will be so remember that Christ at this point in time he was very familiar with Antiochus epiphanies we know that Christ celebrated Hanukkah that was the Festival of Lights he went which is directly tied to the events surrounding the maccabean revolution During the inter-testamental period if you've been with us through the Book of Daniel you know what I'm talking about and so he knew about Antiochus and he didn't point back to hey remember that guy he pointed forward and said that there is a coming guy and some people think that was Emperor Nero some people think that was you know a even more future person wherever you land on it we know that there was and is a future kind of antichrist and we've seen many antichrists in our world Paul he writes this in second Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 3 through 12. Let no one deceive you in any way there's a lot of deception in our world and that's why we have to be so grounded in truth we have to be relentlessly I hate to say unreasonably devoted to truth but it's true let no one deceive you in any way for that day will not come unless the Rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed the son of Destruction who opposes and exalts

Himself against every so-called God or object of worship do you see a parallel between this guy and the guy in Daniel so that he takes a seat in the temple of God proclaiming himself to be God do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way and then the Lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming the coming of the Lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders and with all Wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refuse to love the truth and so be safe therefore God sends them a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure and unrighteousness so we learn a bit more about this coming Antichrist that he is a man characterized as a man of lawlessness now we could look at that and say see he just doesn't respect laws no we're talking about in the Christian context a man that opposes himself to the law of God he is a man of lawlessness a son of Destruction it's what he lives for is to destroy a lot like his father the devil the Devil comes to steal and kill and destroy and he is also a blasphemer the first point if you're taking notes Here write this down we learn a little bit about the antichrist's personality his personality we see that he does whatever he Wills he is ruled by his own nature you know this leads to us kind

Of thinking about nature in general who what is our nature things be to God that he has saved us and he has given us a new nature amen we're no longer children of Wrath and Children Of Darkness we're no longer in that Kingdom or that camp or that family rather he has called us out of darkness and Into His Marvelous Light so now we are children of God Sons and Daughters of the king and we have a new nature thanks to God but this guy he is just ruled by his flesh he is ruled by his father the devil and so he gives himself over to the darkest desires that he has in Revelation this man is referred to as the Beast he desires like I've said to steal to kill to destroy and yet he'll do so really well and really wonderfully deceptive means he will use any means to fulfill his ungodly father's will in Revelation chapter 13 we see this in verses 6 through 8 it talking about the Beast opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God blaspheming his name and his dwelling that is those who dwell in heaven also it was allowed to make war on the Saints and to conquer them we don't talk about that very often do conquering of the Saints it's written therefore it will happen and Authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation and all who dwell on Earth will worship it everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain and so he talking about the Antichrist he desires worship he desires Glory he desires destruction he can't give life he can't offer life because he it's not who he is only God is the author of life and he wants to be God

Back to Daniel 11 we read that he exalts himself he magnifies himself as the Scripture says and so this is an egocentric self-absorbed thoughtless person who is a narcissist and yet he will deceive everyone many times the greatest philanthropists in our world are also some of the most self-serving so with one mouth you know they talk about how wonderful things are and giving them with the in the darkness of their hearts you know what they do is they seek to build up their own kingdom and their own wealth remember that anyone that is not of God is opposed to God and that's a hard thing for us to talk about in our culture but it's true he blasphemes God and so this tells us a lot about his nature if you're taking notes still in that blank his nature his nature is evil his nature is wicked he speaks against God and this Vision that communicates to us that the Antichrist he will prosper what he desires to do he will do in other words he is very successful in what he does and so he will be until the indignation is accomplished so what does that mean when we see it in that passage that the indignation it's the Hebrew word Zam which means righteous anger it shares the same root word as the Hebrew word curse until all of that's done in other words there is a Time coming wherein God in his righteous Fury he will pour His wrath out upon the Nations because of the curse because of rebellion against his law which will be led by this man of lawlessness and the curse that remains on those who willfully resist the Gospel of Jesus Christ so some people they view this as a seven year tribulation others they see it as

One day when the Christ returns in the clouds some think that this has already been fulfilled I'm inclined to believe that the Antichrist will set himself up and face judgment when Christ returns but I also think that's important to note this that even though Christ will do all that he pleases to do and he blasphemes and will be judged and he will judge that none of that happens outside of God's permission because what does the Scripture say here for what is decreed shall be done so we can have total confidence that no matter what happens that God is still on his throne that God he still rules with Justice and Authority and that we may not see that completely on this side of Eternity every single person wants Justice every single person wants peace and the only person that can truly offer that is the Lord what else do we see about his personality well what we see is pride we see his pride this is a man who will not pay attention to any gods I mean this is a guy that flat out rejects any kind of theism he believes himself to be the God of gods which is why and he has a lot of support we look at Revelation chapter 13 again and verses 12-14 we read about this false prophet that the Beast has the false prophet he exercises all author all the authority of the first beast in its presence it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first Beast whose mortal wound was healed it performs Great Signs even making Fire come down from Heaven to Earth in front of people by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the Beast it deceives those who dwell on Earth telling them to make an image for the Beast that was

Wounded By The Sword and yet lived you know that might be a little tempting for you if someone were to call down fire from heaven to say oh yeah that person's from God don't be deceived don't be deceived because you know it's only God that's God and I hate I hate to put it like just like that fine of a point on it and I know that I'm like a dichotomy guy I see things very black and white I get that don't be deceived when that time comes if it comes in our time so he deceives the world and the world will want to worship the Beast either out of fear or reverence but the temptation to worship this man will be very strong the signs and wonders that he performs will be extraordinary fire from heaven extreme political giftings makes alliances in second Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 11 through 12. Look at this you guys need to write these verses down and do your cross-referencing and studying but therefore God sends them a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness this is why the Antichrist is so able to deceive so many and they will be for the towards their Eternal destruction Daniel chapter 11 verse 37 it says this or to the one believed by women the best translation of that is probably found in the new King James when it says nor the desire of women what that translates to us is that this is a person that does not like being close to people he is not close he's not intimate he really distances himself from any form of

Closeness towards Humanity he exalts himself and his personality is driven by this Nature by this Pride why would I show affection to someone when I am the one that deserves to have all affection that's the attitude of the Antichrist secondly notice his politics if you're taking notes that's the next Point his politics he honors the God of fortresses instead of these remember that anything can be an idol in our lives anything it can be a job it can be family it can be whatever it is whatever your mind drifts to and wanders to and captures your heart affections that you want to invest in that's probably your God and so for the Antichrist you know what he loves he loves War you've heard the phrase follow your checkbook and you'll discover your God well look at what he spends his money on it says that he's spending gold silver spending the precious stones and costly gifts on his War campaign this is part of Satan's nature since the beginning he has been at War he's been at war with the Creator God in Isaiah chapter 14 we read this that you said in your heart I will Ascend to Heaven talking about Satan above the stars of God I will set my Throne on high I will sit on the Mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north I will Ascend above the heights of the clouds I will make myself like the most high everything that the Antichrist does reflects the nature of his father the devil Satan he led a Revolt in heaven as we've read about in Revelation chapter 12. Where there a third of the Angels were cast down to the Earth and now Satan he dwells here seeking to subvert and to destroy the Gospel

That's what Satan wants to do we also see one of the Antichrist policies is a hatred towards religions a hatred towards religions and we see this in Isaiah he wants to be worshiped above everything else he wants to be the ruler he wants to be the most Sovereign he wants to be the most powerful he wants to be like God and we see this in Satan's nature too when Christ was being tempted in Matthew chapter 4 what did Satan tempt him with again the devil took him up to a very high mountain and showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and he said to him all these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me remember that Satan he is the father of lies and he wants to deceive he wants to lead astray as many away from God as possible the Bible tells us that those who aren't Christians they are blinded to the Gospel in second Corinthians Chapter 4 verses 3 through 4 it says and if our Gospel is veiled it is veiled to those who were perishing in their case the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel the glory of God who is the image of God and so no we're not all children of God in the sense that we're all going to heaven there's children of Wrath and darkness who are lost and children of God and light who are saved and Satan he is the ruler of this world and he wants to be worshiped as God and he looks forward to extending his influence as far as he can into homes into politics into churches into businesses and on and on and in verse 39 it has a little bit of mystery here he shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign God it's kind of a mysterious verse isn't it there what foreign God I thought that he didn't work with Gods well here you see that he is totally willing to make Partnerships as long as it helps him

Fulfilling what he wants to accomplish he is okay manipulating lying deceiving doing whatever it takes and it may be an existing religion it may not I'm inclined to believe that it is but we learn that Antichrist he makes alliances with rulers not just any ruler so rulers that acknowledge Him look at what the passage says this means that the rulers who recognize the Antichrist as God they're followers they are disciples they are converts of this anti-Christianity and they are ready and willing to throw all of their country's economic and societal and military power behind the Antichrist and as a result of their offerings he will load them with honor that word load means to increase in and pour on lavishly in fact he shall make them rulers that's what the Scripture says you know there there are lots of churches that are opposed to the Gospel in right preaching and I use that pretty specifically because I mean we look in our world today we do see that churches Don't Preach a very strong Gospel you can grow a church pretty quickly you just tell everyone that they're great and they'll be okay and you will grow a church very quickly there's plenty of churches out there that want that but that's not what the Bible says and as a result those are not Gospel preaching churches the Bible says that there's one way to heaven and the reason why God made it was because he wants us to be saved he sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins it means that we're not okay we have sin we're not means that we're not great we're talking about that in our new

Members class this morning you know you've seen the picture of the guy drowning reaching up in the waves and the hand reaching down to heaven the Bible doesn't paint that picture for us the Bible doesn't say that we were drowning in sin it says that we were dead in our sin where the face down lifeless body in the water and God because of his great love toward us reached down picked us up out of the water Breathe new life into us and as a result of that we are saved that's it we're not okay we're not great we need Jesus and we need Jesus every day notice thirdly his power here in verse 40 we see a war once again between the North and the South and we see this Antichrist with all of his military might it goes on to list chariots and Horsemen and ships and he passes through these countries quickly I mean he moves compared to water just moving through anywhere that he can he moves quickly into what's called The Glorious land and that is of course Israel as it as it says in verse 41. Notice also that the Antichrist rules with strength I think I may have gotten those backed up didn't I yeah probably got those switched around he rules with strength look at verses 42 and 43 he shall stretch out his hand against the countries in the land of Egypt shall not Escape he shall become the ruler of the treasures of gold and silver and all the precious things of Egypt and the libyans and the kushites shall follow in his train to stretch out your hand means to take that's what it means in the ancient languages and what the Antichrist sets his sights on Is wealth and worship he will do anything it takes to be the most Supreme in this world

And he will do whatever it takes to expand his territory so much so that there's if there's a threat that's briefed against him he responds and he responds quickly he reacts to threats in the look at verse 44 it says but news from the east in the north shall alarm him he shall go out with great Fury to destroy and devote many to destruction so you start to get a sense of her how obsessive this guy is if there's even a whiff of trouble he is there to Snuff it out with his military and we could say that guys like Joseph Stalin were a type of antichrist Joseph Stalin he killed more than 20 million of his own people in the span of his terrible reign in Russia one of his most famous orders was order 447 and during that time you know he starved three to five million Ukrainian people apparently the conflict's been going on for hundreds of years at this point how much worse will the Antichrist be the good news is though is that the Antichrist power will end that's the good news you see the Antichrist he is not sovereign even though he wants to be he is not Supreme even you know for those who believe that these are past events and then look at emperor Nero and all of the destruction that he caused back in the ancient world as he opposed himself and set himself up as God and sought to subvert the Gospel even there in you know the late first century A.D even then his power ended and was limited because he is simply creation he is not the Creator and look at verse 45. Yet he shall come to his end with none to help him so the Antichrist His World System his philosophy his power his authority everything will be taken and destroyed in a moment you look at Revelation chapter 16 verses

13 through 16. The battle is called Armageddon and I saw out of the mouth of the dragon out of the mouth of the Beast now the mouth of the false prophets three unclean spirits like frogs for they are demonic spirits performing signs who go abroad remember guys Revelation it like you know there's a lot of symbology here that we are not getting into okay you cannot say like this is very literal here because you know it's not like there's frogs that are literally there but there are spirits that look like frogs so for they are demonic spirits performing signs who go abroad to the kings of the whole world who assemble themselves who assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty behold I am coming like a thief blessed is the one who stays awake keeping his garments on that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed and they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon so how does how does that look you know people think that there's a an epic struggle for the ages you've seen the picture on Facebook of Jesus arm wrestling Satan you know and they're opposed to each other almost this dualistic kind of God you know a lot of folks they think that's just going to be like nuclear war right there on that Valley and it's going to be just this battle for the ages it's not it won't be in fact second Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 8 we read this earlier it says then the Lawless one will be revealed and Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming all in a moment well everything that Satan has been working for Millennia be brought to an end just by the breath of Jesus Christ

That's the power that our Lord has he's not some dainty blonde-haired blue-eyed like pretty boy Jesus is a man he's a masculine dude who rides on a big white horse with flaming eyes and like if you see him you will be terrified he's a bad dude in the best way you understand what I'm saying and so we talked about the Antichrist and kind of a big picture kind of way everyone kind of wants to know what about me when is this going to happen if anyone says that like you know gives you a date just write them off block them never read anything that they have to say they're an apostate okay well what about us what about those who trust in Christ well we call them the saved okay and why do we call them saved it's because they are saved from the Wrath that is to come and you're not saved simply by praying a prayer you're not saved by joining a church you're not saved by being baptized you're not saved by doing good things you're not saved by because your parents were members of the church or because your parents were Christians or because you were born in the U.S of a you are saved by repenting of your sin and trusting in Christ's finished work for you on the cross it's the only way that you can be saved the fact that this is a common destruction should cause us to pause and consider our friends and our neighbors do we believe that in eternal hell really awaits those who don't know Christ do we believe that torment and suffering is really for those who have not repented of their sins the Scripture it says this in Revelation chapter 20 that if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life he was thrown into the Lake of Fire

Is that does that concern you for your friend for your neighbor what book is it that he's talking about well in Daniel it talks about it says that whoever will be delivered everyone's whose name was found written in the book The Book of Life Paul he writes in Philippians chapter 4 verse 3 talking about his fellow workers whose names are written in the Book of Life when you trust in Jesus Christ your name is there in Revelation chapter 3 verse 5 it says the one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments and I will never blot his name out of the book of life I will confess his name before my father and before his holy angels and the evidence of Salvation is your confession do you believe that Jesus Christ is who he says he is the evidence of Salvation is also growing in Christ you know simply praying a prayer doesn't say repentance Faith that's what saves and so the question is are you protected the Bible says that we shall be delivered if our faith is in Christ if you're right taking notes write that down protect it what about the same we are protected now here is a new teaching in the Old Testament because in the Old Testament we don't see too much about the resurrection we know that there was this Old Testament teaching of shale right the place of the Dead separated one those who did not know the Lord God and those who were the children of the promise but here we see a very explicit teaching in Daniel chapter 12. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth

Talking about the dead shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt did you know that the unrighteous dead will be resurrected as well not in the same way that the righteous dead will see those of us who know Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior we will be raised to eternal life and joy and peace with God and those who do not know Christ will be resurrected to an eternal terrible place of Destruction called hell that same word that's used to describe the eternality of Heaven is the same word that's used to describe the eternality of hell and so what does all this mean means that we've received a promise of Eternal resurrection and joy and peace with God when we trust in Christ it is a promise that he will save us and he will not blot our name out it means that as a result of that promise that now we go and we share and we Proclaim that Gospel message for many people we have to ask this question are we are we concerned about modern issues or are we more concerned about the Gospel are we funding the Gospel are we going to share are we sharing it are we making disciples next thing we need to consider is this Antichrist in all of his evil does have an end it does so we don't live in a yin yang kind of universe where there's a good and evil that have to coexist in harmony we live in God's Universe where he alone will reign supreme and in him is no Darkness at all so if you're a Christian I hope this message encourages your heart that God is God and he has you that God he is working toward a plan to have all evil destroyed and goodness restored

And God he is making all things new and speaking of Maine new maybe you're not saved maybe you know what I've said it kind of bothers you maybe you know that you're not saved and you know you can you can talk to me about it you know at the end of service I'm not going to make you stand up and hey this person received Christ we don't do that okay we need to talk about it and he seek the Lord together see if that work of repentance is happening in your life and we can talk about what God's doing in your heart speaking which head hand heart head I want I want you to know that many antichrists have come and God he is restraining that Spirit of the Antichrist until the time of the end which he picks and it is approaching we also believe that until the end there will be many more who come in who go but that God He reigns forever and ever and I want you to take time this week and maybe just study Revelation chapters 21 and 22. The end is written and it will encourage you Christian to live for eternity and heart I want you to believe that our hope is in Christ that's where it is it's not found in anything that this world has to offer you know if the sky were to melt away and the Earth were to fade to dust do you know who still has you God so we can take great comfort in that fact see we don't live for any Kingdom or purpose in this world or person it's only Jesus who has our hearts as believers if you would bow your head close your eyes with me so God we do thank you

For letting us see a bit more about about the one who is to come and Lord he is opposed to you and in many ways he's the complete opposite as we talked about doom and death and destruction and hate Lord help us to remember that you're the one who gives hope and peace in life Lord that's only found in you and we can search the whole world over but you're the only one that offers any of that so Lord help us to live like that's true not just on Sunday mornings but every day during the week to live for your glory and your honor as we stand together and we worship you God Lord let it be with Full Hearts glad of the Salvation that you've given to us but also with conviction that you have called us to go and share the good news with those who are around us we love you as we all stand together in Jesus name [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] life I once was lost in Darkest Night yet thought I knew the way the sin that promised joy in life had led me to the Grave I had no hope that you would oh own a rebel to your will and if you had not loved me first I would review [Music] but as I ran my Hellbound race in different to the cost you looked upon by helpless state and led me to the cross and I beheld God's love displayed you suffered in my place you bore the Wrath reserved for me now all I know is Grace

Hallelujah all I have is Christ Hallelujah [Music] Jesus Is My Life [Music] now Lord I would be yours alone and live so all might see the strength to follow your commands could never come from me O Father use this ransomed life in any way you choose and let my song forever be my only boast is you Hallelujah [Music] all I have is Christ Hallelujah yeah Jesus is my life Hallelujah all I have is Christ Hallelujah [Music] Jesus is my life father as we move into this week help us remember the words of that song that you are our life our life is in Christ father help us remember the words that were preached this morning from your word knowing father that we know the end and you're thinking about the Scripture passages that were encouraged to study this next week out of Revelations that we know the end for those of us who have trusted Christ as saviors with you for eternity father I pray that you would give us a heart to reach out to those who don't know Christ as their Savior father I pray if there's anyone here today that doesn't know you as Christ as Savior that they would come today and today would be the day of salvation

And we'll lift this to you in Jesus name amen foreign okay if everything