Details about the Anti-christ
Daniel 8:1-27
In this lesson we are going to be looking at Daniel’s vision found in Daniel chapter 8. This vision is a prophecy that is fulfilled through the kings of Media and Persia who conquer Babylon and reign until they are conquered by the empire of Greece under the leadership of Alexander the Great. This prophesy also details how Alexander the Great’s rule ends with his kingdom being divided up among his four Generals into four kingdoms.
Daniels vision goes beyond this time period and gives us some details regarding the anti-christ and his reign over the world. This is where will focus our attention and see characteristic of the anit-christ and how he rules during the Tribulation. From these characteristics we can see gain some understanding reasons for the events and leaders of our modern times. As John told us in the last days there are many anti-christ (1 John 2:18).
The Interpretation of Daniels Vision (Daniel 8:15-27)
1) The vision is for the time of the end (verse 17-19)
- Even though part of the vision is fulfilled through Cyrus, Darius (Kings of Media Persia), and Alexander the great along with his generals, the vision is an end times vision.
2) The ram with the two horns is the Kings of Media and Persia (verse 20)
3) The rough he goat is the King of Grecia, and the great horn between his eyes is the King of Grecia (verse 21).
4) The horn of the rough he goat is broken and four kingdoms come up from the horn (verse 22)
- When Alexander the great died, his empire was divided among his four Generals. These 4 divisions can be represented by Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt.
5) The little horn that comes from one of the four horns will be the antichrist (verses 23-25)
- It is by this part of Daniels vision (verses 9-12) and the interpretation (verses 23-35) that we see characteristics of the anti-christ.
- We will list these out below.
Characteristics of the Anti-chirst and his Rule:
1) King of fierce countenance which understands dark sentences (verse 23)
- The anti-christ will be wise most likely with a supernatural wisdom from Satan.
- He will probably have all the answers to man’s great questions.
2) His power is mighty but not by his own power (verse 24)
- In Revelation 13:2 the beast is given his power, seat, and great authority by the dragon (Satan)
3) He destroys wonderfully both the mighty and the holy people, he is prosperous and his policy causes craft to prosper in his hand (verses 24-25).
- It is interesting that this is the only time the word “policy” is used in a KJB.
- He will be political and economically industrious.
- Note he destroys with peace.
4) Magnifies himself in his heart so much as to go against the host of heaven and the Prince of princes (verse 25).
- This is the exact thing that destroyed Satan.
5) Connected with a host of heaven who cast truth to the ground (verses 10-12)
- This is why in the days of the anti-christ people will believe the strong delusion sent by God (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) because even today no one speaks the truth or even seems to know what it is.
How can we use this information today?
John said that in the last days there would be many anti-christ (1 John 2:18) for the spirit of anti-christ is already at work (1 John 4;3). So it should not surprise us to see people that are types of the anti-christ.
- Leaders and people who are prosperous and can make craft prosper in their hand.
- Those who magnify themselves in their heart and seek to be worshipped or put themselves in the place of God.
- Those that are obsessed with outer space and aliens.
- Those who claim to be all about peace or obsessed with peace.
Now John gives us something that Daniel could not regarding the spirit and characteristics of the anti-chirst. Note that one of the main things regarding the anti-christ that John shows us is that he denies Jesus is the son of God or that he is come in the flesh (1 John 2:22 ; 4:3 ; 2 John 1;7). Therefore it should not surprise us to see even in the religious crowd those saying Jesus and God are not the same or deny that Jesus has come in the flesh.