The books of Revelation and Daniel have received much speculation over the years. Their prophesy of the things which will befall the earth in the latter days have brought more skepticism and research than any other predictions made.
I have tried to take the summation of those predictions and lay them out here.
First, a little history of the peace process in the Middle East. Multiple peace resolutions have been drafted and negotiated between Israel and the countries that surround it:
- The Camp David Accords were for peace between Egypt and Israel. They were first signed in 1978.
- The May 17th agreement was for peace between Lebanon and Israel. It was signed in 1983, but was annulled when Muslims took over Beirut.
- The Oslo Accords were for peace between the Palestinian State and Israel. They were first signed in 1993.
- The Wadi Arab Treaty was for peace between Jordan and Israel. It was signed in 1994.
- The UNSCR 1701 was a call for a cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel. It was approved in 2006, but has yet to see any resolution.
- The Abraham Accords is the latest peace treaty to be arranged between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, along with Egypt and Jordan, and Israel. It was signed in 2020.
These are important to note because somewhere at the beginning of the tribulation an agreement of some sort is reached, and this agreement is broken during the middle of the tribulation.
In Daniel 11, we see a detailed account of the last days of Israel before the Tribulation period happens and during it. Those who are up-to-date on the history and politics of Israel may be able to decipher the meaning of the first 19 verses; I do not possess that knowledge.
The King of the North and the King of the South, mentioned in Daniel 11, will battle throughout the end of the church age and into the tribulation. I believe that the King of the North is the nation of Israel, which will eventually be led by the Antichrist (the vile person mentioned in verse 21).
The King of the South is the only one that I cannot identify. I would have guessed that it was Egypt, which is South of Israel and has been fighting with the Israeli's since the 1940's. The only problem is that Egypt has signed peace agreements with Israel both in 1978, and then again in 2020. In fact, almost all of the countries around Israel have at one time or another signed peace treaties with Israel, except Iraq, Syria, and Iran (none of them South of Israel).
From my understanding this is what follows in Daniel, with correlating verses from other parts of the Bible.
The earlier verses talk about the war between the Kings of the North and South. As previously stated, I believe these are countries. The Man of Sin and the Antichrist, in my opinion, does show up until verse 20, which is where I begin.
The Man of Sin will obtain the kingdom by flatteries. He comes in peaceably; possibly hailed as the Jewish Messiah and the Muslim Madhi. He's a smooth talking statesman that will usher in what people believe will be a great time of peace.
Daniel 11:20-21- Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
The current king of the North (Naftali Bennett?) will be followed by a raiser of taxes, whom I believe will be the man of sin, and then after his assassination will become the Antichrist. "Within few days" appears to be the first half of the tribulation period- three and a half years.
When the Antichrist appears he will be a powerful, knowledgeable foe. He will not be alone, but will be joined by a false prophet and ten half-human, half-angelic beings (aliens?) mentioned in Daniel 2.
Daniel 8:23-24- And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 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.
Daniel 2:43- And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Daniel 7:24-25- And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The Bible foretells that the Man of Sin will be assassinated and then resurrected again as the Antichrist (Revelation 13:2-3) but with damage to his right hand and eye (Zechariah 11:16-17).
Revelation 13:2-3- And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Zechariah 11:16-17- For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
Daniel 7:23- Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
This Antichrist (king of the north) will make and break an agreement between Israel and another country in Daniel 11:23-24. During this time he will continue fighting the king of the south (whichever country this is will have had continual war with Israel) as well as a country in the east in Daniel 8:9-10 and Revelation 16:12. This is obviously a reference to the Antichrist because it speaks of angels falling.
Another thing to note is that peace agreements generally don't have a time frame associated with them.
Daniel 11:23-24- And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
Daniel 8:9-10- And 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. 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.
Revelation 16:12- And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
The king of the south will have an impressive army, but the Antichrist of the North will have devices (technological advances or advanced weaponry) that he uses to defeat them.
Daniel 11:27-28- And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
Daniel 9:27 mentions an agreement that is broken in the middle of the week. Again, since the former peace treaties never had a time frame associated with them, I'm going to assume this is something different; possibly an agreement having to do with the use of the temple and the offering of sacrifices?Daniel 9:27- And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
These two kings will come to some sort of agreement, but neither will abide by it. This agreement is said to be broken in the middle of the week. I believe this is actually giving us the timeframe of the tribulation with the first part of the week (3.5 years) being the tribulation under the Man of Sin and the last part of the week (3.5 years) being the great tribulation under the Antichrist, also known as the Son of Perdition.
II Thessalonians 2:3-4- Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The Antichrist of the North will then start persecuting the Jews in fervor (this may be when he first introduces the Mark of the Beast). The timing of this is unclear. This could be at the same time as when he stops the sacrifices and declares himself god or it could be shortly before then.
Daniel 11:28- Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
Revelation 13:16-18- And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
He's going to have a naval battle (Daniel 11:30) that sends him into a fury. This may be when he gets kicked out of heaven after the resurrection of the 144,000 (Revelation 12) when he steps up the persecution of the people of Israel.
Daniel 11:30- For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
Revelation 12:7-9, 13- And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
He'll destroy the sanctity of the temple and sit down on the Mercy Seat declaring himself as god (Daniel 11:31). As previously stated, I'm not certain how much time will pass between the Mark mandate and his declaration of himself as god (could be at the same time), but that's when things really amp up. That is when the Israelites are told by Jesus in Matthew 24 to flee the land (also mentioned in Revelation 12:14); this is considered the Great Tribulation.
Daniel 11:31- 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.
It may be around this time, though it could be the same time the Mark of the Beast shows up, that he calls for the sacrifices of the temple to cease (Daniel 8:11-12).
Daniel 8:11-12- 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 an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Revelation 12:14- And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Matthew 24:15-16,20-21- When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Zechariah 14:2- For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
(Notice the warning about the Sabbath- that's because they are back under a faith and works setup. They have to ask Jesus to save their souls while also keeping the commandments of God; these people can lose their salvation by breaking the commandments (which they will need to ask for salvation again and again each time) or by taking the mark of the beast (unless the can cut the mark off themselves there is no remedy; no hope of being saved again).
I Timothy 6:9- But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
The temptation to take the Mark will be great! Only those who have it will be able to buy or sell- that's why there are so many verses in the New Testament against the rich. Those who are "rich" in the tribulation have accepted the Mark of the Beast.
Many people will oppose this regime (Daniel 11:32) and will lose their lives in the process (Daniel 11:33). Revelation says it's a great multitude which no man could number and they are from every country and race around the globe.
Daniel 11:32-33- 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.
Revelation 6:11- And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Revelation 7:9,13,14- After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The Antichrist of the North will go beyond anything anyone has seen or done before, creating a new religion that demands worship or death (Daniel 11:36-39). Probably simultaneous with the declaration and the Mark of the Beast being required or the Antichrist sitting down on the ark of the covenant and declaring that he is god. However it happens, the AntiChrist and his false prophet will be able to work miracles, which will deceive many people into accepting his claim that he is god.
Daniel 11:36-39- And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that 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. 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. 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.
Matthew 24:24- For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Again the King of the South will come against him (Daniel 11:40) and this will begin a battle on both land and sea that overthrows and decimates many countries, some are even named as though they were hoping to stay out of it? (Daniel 11:41-43)
Daniel 11:41-43- 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. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 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.
Then he'll get news from both the East and the North that trouble him and cause him to turn his attack in those directions (Daniel 11:44) It's possible that parts of Europe and Asia begin to rebel and wage war against him.
Daniel 11:44-45- 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. 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 7:26- But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
None shall help him- That's when the Lord gets his army ready (Daniel 12:1)
Daniel 12:1- And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Christ will come back with the armies of heaven and wipe out all the armies of the Antichrist along with all who follow him.
Revelation 19:11,14,19- And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Revelation 16:14- For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Zechariah 12:9- And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
It's interesting to see that the Antichrist thinks he can win against the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes. It's not even going to a long battle. Christ with the Word of His mouth will destroy his enemies with a power above that of a nuclear bomb!
Zechariah 14:12,15- And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
Revelation 19:20- And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 11:18- And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
It's hard to believe that during all the natural disasters, mutant beasts, and other horrors that God unleashes on the world spoken of in the book of Revelation during this time that there's still national wars happening! But, the prophecy is clear that this will be a time like as has never been, and thankfully never will be again!
Jeremiah 30:7- Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Joel 2:2- A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
This may be an exhausting study, but it is in no way an exhaustive study of what all will happen during the tribulation. This has been added to the blog in hopes that people will be warned and cry out to God for salvation before these events occur. But it is my hope that those who find themselves in the midst of the times mentioned may learn from this and be better able to endure what is coming.
