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The Final Battle

This morning we want to continue our series on Bible prophecy and future world events that lie ahead of us. As we were closing last week, the armies of the nations had surrounded the city of Jerusalem and we watched with amazement as Jesus the Messiah was descending in great glory with His saints to do battle with the Antichrist and bring the time of the Gentiles to an end. We want to take a look at that battle, but before we do, let's take a few minutes to answer a few questions that arose after last week's message.

I think I mentioned before that Daniel was written in two languages. Chapters 2-7 are in Aramaic - probably because Daniel knew that events there were of particular interest to his Gentiles readers. All the other chapters are written in Hebrew – probably because they deal with Jewish affairs.

The Coming Antichrist

Chapter 2 and Chapter 7 talk about four world empires that will control the nation of Israel during the time of the Gentiles. If you remember, it will be in the latter days of the fourth empire, (which we said was Rome), that ten kingdoms will emerge, and out of those ten rulers, an evil tyrant, referred to as the “little horn” will come onto the scene. This is the false Messiah or Antichrist.

We know that this person hasn't appeared yet, because until now, no ten nation confederation has ever existed within the territory of the old Roman Empire. And since Christ's second coming is to coincide with the existence of those ten rulers, we have to conclude that the coming of Christ and His Kingdom are still future events.

Different Opinions

Not all believers agree on this point. Some believe the tribulation happened 2000 years ago, that the Antichrist has already come, and some hold that Christ's Kingdom has already come; not a literal 1000 year kingdom, but a figurative or spiritual one. Some believe, for example, that the church fulfills all the prophecy of a future kingdom. I don't, but that's another sermon for another day.

Let's assume that the tribulation and the Antichrist have already come and gone. For that to be true, you would have to first have evidence in history of an evil person, who made a treaty with the Jews and then broke it, who desecrated their temple, and who set himself as a god. In addition, he would have had to be removed by an act of God and the Kingdom promised to Israel would have been set up.

Historical Evidence?

There is evidence in history of a man who fulfilled many of those prophecies. In fact, some see the life of an evil Greek King, described in Chapter 8, to be an historical fulfillment of that prophecy. So, the question is: Has the Antichrist already come, and if so, was he that king? Please turn with me to Daniel Chapter 8.

To answer the question, there are a few things we need to keep in mind. First, the future ruler or “little horn” in Daniel 7 comes out of the fourth empire or Rome. That's crucial information. Daniel 9:27 says that this man “will confirm a covenant with many for one seven” (seven years), but in the middle of those seven years, “he will end sacrifice and offering, and set up an 'abomination of desolation.'” And, this will go on “until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

Verse 26 tells us where this man will come from. It talks about “the people of the ruler that will come” and destroy Jerusalem. The “people” have to be the Romans, because it was their army that destroyed the city, along with the temple in 70 A.D. - something that Jesus himself predicted would happen in Matthew 24:15.

Now where the confusion comes, is that there is another ruler in Chapter 8 who is also called the “little horn,” and he does many of the same things that the little horn in Daniel 7 does. Are they one and the same, or are we talking about two different people?

Again, Daniel 2 and 7 talk about four world empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, but the vision in Chapter 8 is confined to the second and third empires (Medo-Persia and Greece). We know that's the case because 8:20-21 mention them by name.

Daniel's vision in Chapter 8 took place about 551 B.C. - about two years before the end of the Babylonian Empire. He was looking about three hundred eighty five years into the future. The amazing thing about Daniel's prophecies is that everything happens just as predicted. You don't have to look for figurative interpretations. It always happens the way Daniel says it will.

The Ram

Daniel saw two animals – a ram and a goat. The ram had two horns and it charged toward the west, north and south. The two horns represent Medo-Persia as a double monarchy. In fact, the guardian spirit of the Medo-Persian Empire was the ram. The empire did spread westward to the borders of Greece, north into modern day Russia, and south into Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya.

The Goat

Chapter 8:5-8 describes the third empire. A goat appears with a prominent horn between his eyes and moves from the West at tremendous speed. The prominent horn is the first king of that Empire, which was Alexander the Great. Alexander came from the area of Macedonia to the west. His Greek empire encompassed 1.5 million square miles, stretching from Greece to the borders of India.

Alexander the Great

In verse 8, when the goat reached the pinnacle of it's strength, the prominent horn was broken off. History tells us that Alexander conquered the then known world in ten short years, but he died suddenly and left no heir. The text says that “four prominent horns grew up towards the four winds of heaven.” That's also an historical fact. To prevent the empire from falling into chaos, four of Alexander's generals divided his Greek empire into four kingdoms.

Antiochus Epiphanes

A century later, the 8th Seleucid king came to power. His name was Antiochus Epiphanes. He ruled from 175 to 164 B.C., but in that time, he became one of the greatest persecutors that Israel has ever known. Verse 9 tells about his reign. It says he “grew in power to the south, to the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.” That's exactly what happened. He came to power in what is modern day Syria and he extended his control over Egypt to the south, encompassing the land of Palestine or “the Beautiful Land,” as well as Armenia to the east.

Persecution of the Jews

Antiochus had an intense hatred for the Jews. 1 Maccabees in the Apocrypha gives us a full account of what he did. In 169 B.C. he entered the temple, and removed the golden altar and the lamp stand and dedicated them to Jupiter. He substituted the Jewish feasts with drunken feasts, sacrificed a sow on the altar and sprinkled her blood all over the inner sanctuary and the sacred vessels.

He built altars and shrines to Bacchus, the god of pleasure and wine, and to Saturn. He forced the Jewish people to celebrate Saturnalia. He had the books of the Law torn to pieces and burned. And, if anyone was found with a copy of the Scriptures in his possession, he was immediately put to death. It was so bad, that Judas Maccabeus and his followers had to completely renovate the temple interior and replace the altar. The temple was rededicated in 164 B.C.

2,300 Days

Now notice in verse 14 that it would take 2,300 evenings and mornings from the time of the desecration until the temple could be reconsecrated again. If you figure backwards 2,300 days or six years and four months from the day the temple was rededicated, it falls exactly into the period when Antiochus began his persecution.

The details in Chapter 8 sound amazingly similar to the details about the Antichrist in Daniel 7 and 9. But we know it couldn't be the same person. Here's why. Antiochus lived about 160 years before Jesus' birth. Yet, Jesus warned his disciples in Matthew 24:15 of a future abomination of desolation in the temple; the one predicted by Daniel. Jesus indicated it was still future, so we know, despite all the amazing similarities, that Antiochus cannot be the Antichrist. He came out of the third empire; the Antichrist comes out of the fourth. Both men do similar things, but one belongs to the past, while the other is yet in the future. Here's how we know that.

Two Sections of Chapter 8

Chapter 8 is divided into two different, yet related sections. Verses 3-14 describe events that took place in the 500 plus years between the time of Daniel and the life of Christ. Verses 17-26 however, build on the atrocities committed by Antiochus and they point ahead to an even more sinister man – the Antichrist - who will repeat many of the same atrocities. That last section concerns “the appointed time of the end.” That's an expression used elsewhere in Daniel for the time that immediately precedes the establishment of the Kingdom.

The Death of Antiochus

There's one more detail to note. Verse 25 says that the future man of sin “will be destroyed, but not by human power.” In other words, he will meet his end through a supernatural act by God. History tells us that Antiochus Epiphanes died of a combination of intestinal worms and what was probably cancer. So, the person in the latter part of Chapter 8 is both different and future, which means the prophecies concerning the tribulation and the Kingdom have yet to be fulfilled.

The Judgment of the Antichrist

Let's go back to where we left off last week. Daniel 7:26 describes the final judgment. God deals with the Antichrist first, and then come a series of judgments that lead up to the establishment of the millennial Kingdom. The judgment of the Antichrist takes place in two phases. Just before the end of the tribulation, God will pour out the seven bowls of wrath or seven mega-plagues as judgment against the Antichrist and the nations of the world. They are described in detail in Revelation Chapter 15-16. The inhabitants of the earth will be in great pain, but it won't motivate them to repent or humble themselves before God. Instead, they will curse Him.

In judgment, God will destroy the capital city and economic center of the world. We don't know where that is, but it will cause the Antichrist to strike back. He will turn his anger on the believing Jews and Gentiles who are waiting for the true Messiah to come.

Final Assault of Jerusalem

The Antichrist will marshal his forces and believers will be hunted down and executed. But, a large number of believers will seek shelter in Jerusalem. Revelation 16:13-16 tells us that the Antichrist will bring his forces against the city to destroy it. They will assemble in the valley of Armageddon and there await their orders to invade.

The prophet Zechariah tells us in 12:3 that soldiers from many nations will respond to his call. But, just when things are looking pretty bleak, Jesus will return to earth. It will be without warning. The million man army will fall into confusion. There will be a terrible battle in the valley of Armageddon in which more people will die than in any other battle in human history. Revelation 14:19-20 describes the horrific dimensions.

The Valley of Armageddon

The area affected will be nearly 180 miles long, the blood will flow as high as a horses bridle. Imagine driving a car at 60 mph from one end of the valley to another. It would take 3 hours to reach the other end, and during those entire three hours, there would be pools of blood as high as a horse's bridle. It is unimaginable!

Zechariah 14:12 tells us that the soldiers who do survive the battle will be struck by a plague, “so that their flesh will rot while they are standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.” The Antichrist and his false prophet will be thrown alive in the Lake of Fire. Those who die in battle will stand judgment at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ.

According to Revelation 20, those who die without Christ today, those who follow the Antichrist during the Tribulation and those who rebel against His rule during the Kingdom era, will appear at the Great White Throne judgment. It will be horrible and sobering. The books will be opened. Everyone without Christ will be judged according to their deeds, and if their name isn't found in the book of life, they will be thrown into the lake of fire forever.

Where is Your Name?

Philippians 4:3 tells us that God writes the name of every true believer in the book of life. So, the question that naturally follows is this: Is your name written in that book? If you haven't accepted Christ as your personal Savior, and Jesus would return today, you would be left behind to endure the horrors of the tribulation period.

Our Hope

Most of us already know Jesus. We are waiting for the shout of the archangel and the trumpet to sound. We look forward to being caught up with believers from all over the world, to join loved ones who have passed away in the clouds, and to be with the Lord forever. That's our hope and we are to encourage one another with that hope.

A Concern

But what concerns me is how little we think about those we know and love, who will be left behind. Shouldn't that be a motivation to share our hope and our faith with others? When we leave this earth, everything we own will be left behind. The only thing you can take with you in the clouds that day, will be the souls of people – those with whom you shared the message of hope in Christ.

Conclusion

Jesus could come at any moment. When He comes, you'll be leaving this earth to be with him. But how will you go? Empty-handed because everything you worked for in this life will be left behind? Or will others join you – the ones you shared Christ with? How many of those you know will be going with you? You think about that!