The Raging End of the Despicable One

Well, let me invite you to turn in your Bibles this morning to Daniel chapter 11. Daniel, chapter 11, for those of you that are doing a, are, are visiting with us, we're doing a verse by verse study through the book of Daniel and as we continue in our study of this book this morning, we come to Daniel chapter 11. verse 36 and my goal this morning is to cover verses 36 through the end of the chapter and the title of the message is The Raging End of the Despicable One. The raging end of the despicable one. And this is a powerful passage that we'll be looking at today. for those of you that have been with us, you'll recall that we have spent two weeks, studying, Daniel chapter 11 verses 2 through 35. And pretty much everyone who studies These 34 verses I believe would say that the 135 prophecies that are found in these verses ended up being fulfilled with remarkable precision over a period of 400 years from the days of the Persian kingdom. All the way down to the ruthless reign of Antiochus the 4th, Epiphanes, who is described as the despicable one who arises in verse 21 of this chapter. Of those 135 prophecies, I think we can say that 3 of them are found in verse 31 where the angel is clearly speaking of Antiochus the 4th, and he says, Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice, and they will set up the abomination of desolation. And we saw 2 weeks ago, when we were looking at this verse, how these things specifically happened with chilling precision. During the days of Antiochus the 4th, around 167 BC, he did away with the morning and evening sacrifices in the temple. He installed an altar or a statue of Zeus in the Holy of Holies, and shortly thereafter he had a pig offered on the temple altar. And had the blood of that swine sprinkled throughout the temple, and his actions were clearly the abomination of desolation about which the angel is speaking to Daniel here in Daniel 11:31. However, Almost 200 years later. Almost 200 years after this prophecy of Daniel 11:31 was fulfilled, we see Jesus speaking in Matthew chapter 24, verses 15 through 21. Saying, and this is a part of what he says beginning in verse 15, therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, and then verse 16, then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, verse 21, for there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. So that's interesting. Right? The statement by Jesus serves as our first clue that there is more than one layer to what is being predicted in Daniel chapter 11. Yes, the actions of Antiochus the 4th are being predicted. But evidently Antiochus the 4th, Epiphanes is a foreshadowing of yet another ruler who will come and do the same thing that Antiochus did, but on a grander, More evil scale. And then we come to another clue in verse 35. Look at verse 35 of Daniel 11, where the angel speaks of the awful days of oppression under Antiochus the Fourth, and he says in verse 35, some of those who have insight will fall in order to refine, purge, and make them pure until the end time. Because it is still to come at the appointed time. That's interesting language there. And this language reveals that the angel is not merely talking about the events of Antiochus's day, but also about events that lie still further into the future as well when God has an appointment. For another time of suffering still to come at the end time. And then we come to our passage for today, verses 36 through 45. Where we began to see a cluster of additional prophecies that transcend anything that was fulfilled. During the days of Antiochus the 4th, and you're gonna see this as we go. And yet, the prophecies that we do see in our passage for today, some of them are very consistent with other prophecies in Daniel and elsewhere in the Bible regarding the Antichrist. Who will arise at the end of history before the second coming of Christ and the establishing of his kingdom on earth. These considerations caused many interpreters to conclude that our passage today is speaking primarily of the anti-Christ. And interpreters have thought this way all the way back deep into church history. In fact, in his commentary on the book of Daniel, written in 407 AD. Jerome, the church father, speaks of our text today and he says, and I quote, those of our persuasion believe all these things are spoken prophetically of the anti-Christ. Who is to arise in the end time, unquote. And so this morning, we're gonna join Jerome and many others in taking the verses of our text today to be pointing us to the reign of the anti-Christ. Antiochus the 4th was indeed a despicable man. But we're going to see that the anti-Christ is the ultimately despicable one who will come to a pathetic end. So there are a number of prophecies that are in our passage today, but let's break them down this way into 3 overarching prophecies, and you'll see that on the hard copy of the notes that you have 3 overarching prophecies regarding the anti-Christ. Who is to come. And the first of these prophecies is number one, you can fill in the blank that he will magnify himself above every god and prosper for a time in his arrogance. He will magnify himself above every god and prosper for a time in his arrogance. In verse 36, the angel continues speaking to Daniel. And says, look at the verse, then the king. He will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods, and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. Notice that this king will do as he pleases. I think all of us on some level would love the freedom to just, if I could just do whatever I please, I would be happy. Yet I personally, as a 60 year old man, am deeply grateful that God has not allowed me to do whatever I please. Because I know that had I done so, I would have been a danger to myself and to others. The worst thing that God can do to any person is to hand them over to do as they please. And this is what God will do to the anti-Christ, allowing him to do as he pleases and to largely get his way on the world stage. As for how the anti-Christ will be pleased to act, the angel says that he will exalt and magnify himself above every god. How's that for an ego? We know from history. That as arrogant as Antiochus the 4th was, he never did exalt and magnify himself above every god. In fact, he remained a devoted follower of Zeus until his death, and he did everything he could to get the Jews to worship. The Greek gods. But this antichrist to come. will claim to be greater than every other god. Even worse, the angel says that he will speak monstrous, in other words, shocking, astonishing things against the God of gods, blaspheming God openly and mocking him. You might think that God would never let such a blasphemous man prosper at all, but the angel says that this one, look at the text, will be successful until the indignation is finished. In other words, until God's ordained time for His wrath to be finished. Evidently, the successfulness of the anti-Christ is in part an expression of God's wrath upon the anti-Christ and upon the world. We learn here that sometimes God shows His wrath against the wicked by allowing them to do as they please. And to actually be successful in their wicked endeavors. Handing them over to the lust of their hearts and letting them succeed in doing whatever it is that they want to do. And we are learning here that it will also be a manifestation of God's wrath upon the world that he here is giving to the world, the ruler that it wants. And the arrogant person. Of the anti-Christ. Explaining why the anti-Christ will be successful until the indignation is finished. Look at the text, the angel says, because that which is decreed will be done. And I would encourage you to underline that word decreed. This language reminds us that everything that happens in history is within God's sovereign plan, including the actions of wicked rulers like Antiochus and the antichrist. Earlier in this chapter in verse 27 and 35, we saw the language of appointment and we commented on that two weeks ago as the angel speaks of the events that he foretells as not merely being allowed by God, but appointed by him. And now here, the angel reinforces this very idea by saying that the anti-Christ will merely act on God's decreed timetable. And serve to bring about outcomes decreed by a sovereign God. As for the God-defying antics of the anti-Christ, you can write down a couple of references. Paul uses similar language in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verses 3 and 4, when he calls the anti-Christ to come, the man of sin, and then describes him as one and now I'm quoting, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called God or object of worship so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself to be God. Antiochus the 4th set up an altar or a statue of Zeus in the temple. But the anti-Christ will set himself up in the temple as being God himself. You can write down Revelation chapter 13, verse 5 and 6, where the apostle John describes the coming anti-Christ and says there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies and authority to act for 42 months. Which is 3.5 years, was given to him, and he opened his mouth and blasphemies against God to blaspheme his name. Looking back at Daniel 11. The angel continues speaking about the anti-Christ in verse 37, saying, look at the text, he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other God, for he will magnify himself above them all. Again, this prophecy is something that transcends anything that Antiochus the 4th fulfilled, for he was very much devoted to the Greek gods of his father's. But the angel says here that the Antichrist will show no regard for the gods of his fathers. The Hebrew word that is translated God's here in the new American Standard is the word Elohim, which could be understood as speaking of the one true God. And if this is the meaning, then it might indicate that the anti-Christ will be a Jew, at least by way of background. But this word Elohim could also be translated as God's plural. Either way, what is clear is that the anti-Christ will show no regard for any God at all. Be it the true God or any pagan gods that his fathers may have worshiped. Here in verse 37, the angel also goes on to say that the anti-Christ will show no regard for the desire of women. And this expression could be understood in a handful of ways. It could speak of the fact that the anti-Christ will not have the normal desire for women that a man typically has. Making him a homosexual or asexual. Some commentators would argue that this phrase could be translated as saying that the anti-Christ will show no regard for the one who is the desire of women. Back in this day, it was the desire of every faithful Jewish woman to be the mother of the Messiah. So some writers suggest that the angel is telling Daniel here that the anti-Christ will show no regard for the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. Another honest conjecture is that this expression reveals that the anti-Christ will not favor normal marital relations because his arrogance renders him incapable of the loving devotion that is required in marriage. Being a full-on narcissist and psychopath, the Antichrist will be without natural affection. His love will have grown cold. He will only be a lover of himself, and with such a man. Being the most powerful ruler on earth during these awful days, his rule will make these days the most difficult days that the world has ever known. Whatever the angel means when he says that the anti-Christ will show no regard for the desire of women, I'm sure of this, that when the anti-Christ comes and begins to manifest himself on the world stage. God's people will look at this very text. And say, now we know exactly why the angel described. The anti-Christ. In this way The angel continues in verse 37 saying that the anti-Christ will show no regard for any other God. Meaning that he will detach himself from all gods worshiped all over the world. And look at the reason for this at the end of verse 37, for he will magnify himself above them all. Yet strangely, In verse 38, the angel, having said what he has just said in the previous verses, the angel turns right around and immediately says, but instead, he will honor a God of fortresses. A God whom his fathers did not know. He will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones, and treasures. As you guys know, a fortress is a strong place of protection, and we're told here that the anti-Christ will find his significance, his security. And the fortresses that he builds for himself to protect his kingdom from any attackers. And he will make the conquering of fortresses his personal idol. In other words, his God will be the god of war. So thus far we've learned that the anti-Christ shows no regard for any God at all. Yet here we learned that his God will be the God of fortresses, the God of war. And my question to you is, is that a contradiction? It's not And we shouldn't view it as such, as the commentator Dale Ralph Davis says. The anti-Christ worship of this god of fortresses. It is not a contradiction to his self-deification, but is only a further expression of it. Right? That should make sense to us when you place yourself at the center. Of the universe and you place yourself above God. You then idolize yourself, your own desires, and as James says in James 4, you inevitably make war against anyone who stands in the way of you getting what you want. This is the way it will be with the Antichrist. Only he will have the means. To make war And get what he wants. As for the anti-Christ, we learned in verse 38 that he will honor this God of fortresses with gold, silver, costly stones, and treasures. In other words, he will take all of the wealth that he is amassing and invest that wealth in building fortresses and expanding his kingdom by conquering the fortresses of other nations. Speaking of which, the angel continues describing the anti-Christ in verse 39, saying, look at the text, he will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign God. Now we know from elsewhere in scripture that the foreign God that he's being helped by is none other than Satan or the devil himself. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 92 Thessalonians 2:9, we are told that the anti-Christ coming is in accord with the activity of Satan. And in Revelation chapter 13 2, we are told that it is Satan who gives to the beast or the anti-Christ, his power and his throne and his great authority. So with the help of Satan, whom 2 Corinthians 4:4 describes as the God of this world, the anti-Christ will be fearless and believe that he can overcome any fortress that would stand in his way of doing as he pleases and getting whatever he wants. In the process of the anti-Christ seeking after conquest, the angel continues in verse 39, saying that he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many and will parcel out land for a price. Now we have learned over the past few weeks that History tells us that Antiochus the 4th did exactly this in a variety of ways, but here we learned that the Antichrist will do the same thing. We've already learned that the anti-Christ will magnify himself above all gods and even above the true God, which means that the acknowledgement that he's going to want from people will be that they worship him as God. We learn in the book of Revelation that the antichrist will have a false prophet sidekick. Who will require everyone to worship the anti-Christ. And here in verse 39, we're learning that for those who do worship Him. And acknowledge him as he desires, he will repay them for their loyalty and give them positions of power throughout his expanding kingdom, and he will parcel out land to them in exchange for their worship of him. On the negative side and revelation. Chapter 13 verses 16 and 17, we learned that the antichrist will not even allow people to buy and to sell. Unless they have either the name of the beast or the number of his name on their right hand. Or on their forehead. So he will reward those who do worship him and punish those who do not. It should be obvious right now that the anti-Christ will be a powerful man with the biggest ego. In human history If he believes that he himself is God, then his one prayer. Every day will be, may my name. Be hallowed May my kingdom come. And may my will be done on earth, for mine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. The problem is if you're going to make that your prayer, you got to get everyone to cooperate. With it And not everyone on the planet is immediately going to want to cooperate with the anti-Christ agenda. In fact, some will dare to come against him in war, which will leave him with battles to fight, which he's very much up for. Which brings us to the second prophecy regarding the anti-Christ that we see in this passage. You can fill in the blank. Number 2, he will engage in warfare and experience much success. He will engage in warfare and experience much success. In verse 40, the angel continues saying, at the end time. The king of the South will collide with him. We'll stop right there for a moment. The words at the end time serve as Another indication that we're at the end of history during the reign of the Antichrist. Throughout chapter 11, the king of the South has always referred to the king of Egypt. So this is very likely the meaning here though it might end up now speaking of Egypt as the leader of a confederacy of Arab nations that are now coming against the anti-Christ in battle. But observe what the angel says next in verse 40. And the king of the north will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships. Now the language of verse 40. leaves commentators with different opinions about what is being said here. One view is that the angel is saying that the king of the South will collide with the anti-Christ and that some other king of the North will also storm against the anti-Christ, meaning that the anti-Christ will experience attacks from both the south and from the north, with the north perhaps being Russia. This meaning is very possible, but I would lean toward the view that the king of the North is the anti-Christ himself, who is responding to this attack from the king of the South by storming back against him in battle with chariots and with horsemen or with the modern equivalent of such things and with many ships. As the text says. And it seems that the anti-Christ will be successful in his response. For starters, the angel says at the end of verse 40, and he will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through. We learn in Revelation chapter 13 verse 4 that the anti-Christ will be so successful in war that people around the world will say, who is like the beast and who is able to wage war against him? And here in verse 40, we can see why people would talk this way. Because the anti-Christ doesn't just enter countries to attack them, he overflows them and then passes through them on his way to the next country that he wishes to conquer. This language depicts his stunning success in conquering on the world stage, country after country. Speaking of countries that he invades in this way, in verse 41, the angel speaks to Daniel about the anti-Christ, and he says this, look at verse 41, he will also enter the beautiful land, and many countries will fall, but these will be rescued out of his hand. Edom. Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. The expression, the beautiful land is used in Daniel 11:16 and in Ezekiel 20:6 to refer to the land of promise, the land of Israel. And the land of promise is called beautiful or glorious because it is central to God's plan for the ages. It is the land from which his Messiah came. It is the land to which his Messiah came and his first coming. It is the location where his Messiah will return to Earth at his second coming and make Jerusalem the capital city of his global kingdom. This is the beautiful land. The focal point of God's dealings on Earth for the ages. And in connection with the anti-Christ invading the beautiful land, the angel says that many countries will fall as he makes the land of Israel his base of operations. Israel falls under his power and so do other surrounding countries in the Middle East. Yet we learn in verse 41. That the Antichrist won't conquer everything. The angel foretells here in verse 41 that the land of Edom, Moab, and the foremost of the sons of Ammon will be rescued out of his hand. As you can see on the map behind me, these territories were to the east and the southeast of Israel in the region of modern day Jordan, and the angel is indicating that they will be spared from the clutches of the anti-Christ. That could either be because they're successful in resisting him or it could be because he has little interest in conquering these lands for the moment because his interests lie elsewhere. I should say, by way of speculation that there is likely a providential reason why these regions are left unconquered by the anti-Christ at this time, and that is because God has designated them. To be a place of refuge for the faithful Jews who have fled from Israel to the wilderness to hide from the anti-Christ. You will recall that in Matthew 24, Jesus told the Jews to flee to the mountains when they see the abomination of desolation set up, and many interpreters believe that the mountains that they will flee to are in these regions of Edom, Moab, and Ammon, at least in part. Let me give you a couple of references from Revelation. In Revelation chapter 12 verse 6, the apostle John represents Israel as a woman, and he says, then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1260 days. 3.5 years. A few verses later in Revelation chapter 12 verse 14, the apostle John says, but the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, this is Israel, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time from the presence of the serpent. As for where the wilderness is that the Jews might be fleeing to for safety, we might have a whisper of an indication in Isaiah chapter 63 verses 1 and 2. Where the prophet speaks of the coming of the Messiah. And he says, Who is this who comes from Edom with garments of glowing colors from Basra, this one who is majestic in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength. It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. So putting the pieces together, it seems possible that while the anti-Christ will succeed in conquering Israel, many Jews will take Jesus' advice in Matthew 24 and will head for these wilderness areas where God will protect them for a period of 3.5 years. By keeping these areas from being conquered by the anti-Christ. And to help keep them protected. The Lord will see to it that the anti-Christ attentions are focused elsewhere. Like to the southwest. Rather than the southeast where they are. In verses 42 and 43, the angel continues describing the anti-Christ, and he says, then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape, but he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt, and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. It seems that A part of what will cause the anti-Christ to want the land of Egypt so much. is the treasures that it will hold. And we can be sure that among the precious things that the anti-Christ will crave will be the oil resources of the Middle East, which he will need to power his ambitions. Beyond these treasures of Egypt, it seems that the Antichrist will pass right through Egypt on his way. To other countries further west and south, for the angel tells Daniel that Libya and Ethiopia will follow at his heels. Libya, as you can see on the map, was west of Egypt. And it's still called Libya today. And Ethiopia or Kush was to the south of Egypt. And the region being spoken of here is largely where Ethiopia and Sudan are today, which are directly south of Egypt. This is what the anti-Christ is going to be giving his attentions to rolling through Egypt and these other countries in his invasions. But while the anti-Christ is pursuing conquest down in North Africa. Something will happen that gets his attention directed back in a northeastward direction, which will lead him back to Israel where he will experience his ultimate demise. And this brings us to the 3rd prophecy regarding the anti-Christ. Number 3, he will be drawn. Back to the land of Israel and come to his pathetic end. He will be drawn back to the land of Israel and come to his pathetic end. In verse 44, the angel says to Daniel, but rumors from the east and from the north will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. So the anti-Christ will be down in northern Africa, it seems, conquering and prevailing, but while he's there, he will hear rumors from the east. Likely rumors of armies coming against him from the east of Israel. He will also hear rumors of advancing armies from the north, perhaps from Russia that are coming toward him. These rumors are going to disturb him and leave him filled with great wrath, so he will turn his attentions from Africa and will go forth northward from there with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. And the question is, where will he be going forth to? Verse 45 answers that question. In verse 45, the angel says he will pitch or establish the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful mountain. The beautiful holy mountain. As you see in verse 45, there are 3 points of reference here, at least the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea, and the beautiful holy mountain, which represents either Jerusalem or the Temple Mount. So you can essentially take a map of the Holy Land and figure out the general location where the anti-Christ is going to be setting up his temporary headquarters to fight this looming battle as these armies approach from the east and from the north. When the angel says that he will pitch or establish the tents of his royal pavilion, this means that this is where he's going to plant himself to assert his dominion over Israel. And to establish his headquarters where he can manage his response. To the armies that are advancing against him from the north and from the east. And we know from scripture that the place where all of this will come to a head will be in the valley of Megiddo. What the anti-Christ does not realize is that he is being led by the nose to his slaughter. And so are the armies coming from the east and from the north. In Revelation 16, write that reference down. Revelation 16:13 and following, the apostle John speaks of this particular moment and says beginning in verse 13 of Revelation 16, and I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits. Spirits like frogs, for they are spirits of demons performing signs which go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. And they, verse 16, these demonic spirits gathered them together. To the place which in Hebrew is called Har Magedon. Which we pronounce Armageddon. The Anti-Christ will not realize this at the moment, but this is where he has a scheduled appointment with Jesus. And it's not gonna go well for him at all. For at the end of verse 45, the angel says, yet he will come to his end, and no one. will help him. This And very few words speaks of the destruction of the anti-Christ in the land of Israel where he will experience his crushing defeat in the valley of Megeddo at the hand of Jesus Christ when Jesus returns at his second coming. This is the moment that the apostle Paul speaks about in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 8, when he talks about how the lawless one, the anti-Christ will be slain with the breath of the Lord's mouth and be brought to an end. There's that language, he will be brought to an end by the appearance of his coming. This is the moment the apostle John sees in his vision in Revelation chapter 19, when he says beginning in verse 11, let me read some of this to you. John says, and I saw heaven open, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and wages war. Verse 15, from his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it he may strike down the nations, and he treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. Verse 19, and I saw the beast, that's the anti-Christ, and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army. The initial intentions of all of these armies converging on this location was initially to fight against each other, but now that they see Jesus, they all turn in unity against him. But it doesn't go well for them at all. Because they are cut to pieces by the sword that comes out of Jesus' mouth. In Revelation 19:20 and 21, the apostle John goes on to say, and the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet, these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of him who sat on the horse and all the birds were filled with their flesh. What we see here is that when Jesus Christ returns, And comes after the Antichrist. In this moment at the end of history as we know it, it won't even be a fight. Normally when we watch a movie. In which there's a great conflict between the main characters. There's often a protracted fight scene at the end. where it sometimes almost looks like the bad guy might end up winning. But there will be no protracted fight scene here. In fact, it can hardly be called a fight at all. Jesus will come, he will cut the armies of the anti-Christ to pieces, he will seize the anti-Christ and throw him like a rag doll. Into the lake of fire. In fact, it's almost anticlimactic how the anti-Christ reign will end. With such a whimper on this occasion. But in the final analysis, the anti-Christ, look at the end of verse 45, will come to his end. That's putting it very politely. He will come to his end, and no one will help him. Not even Satan, who has been helping him. All along The most powerful king ever to rule, so powerful that he thought of himself as the one true God and demanded that everyone on earth worship him. This one that people around the globe worshiped as God, this one meets his end, and no one will be there to help him escape the wrath of the Lord Jesus at his coming. Earlier, In his reign, everyone was saying, who is like the beast, who is able to wage war against him. In the end, everyone learns. That Jesus is the one who can wage war against him. And defeat him With ease. And this is where we will stop. For today. Some, reflections as we wrap up this morning. By the way, congratulations. You have made it through Daniel 11. There's a lot for us to ponder from this passage that we've looked at today. For starters, I do want to remind you that The 135 prophecies uttered up through verse 35 have already come to pass with remarkable precision. So we have every reason to believe that everything prophesized beginning in verse 36 to 45 will come to pass with the same precision, right? The word of the Lord is sure. And as Pastor Mike said last Sunday, it is not a matter of if but when these things will come to pass, for they will surely come to pass. On another front, it is interesting to me. That the final ruler in human history will magnify himself above God. He will speak monstrous things against God and actually claim to be God. This takes us, does it not, all the way back. To the monstrous lie of the serpent to Eve in the garden. When he impugned the character of God and then invited Eve to partake of the fruit, promising her that she will become like God. As Sinclair Ferguson. Beautifully says the tempting words, you will be like God echo through the ages from a whisper in the Garden of Eden to a clamor at the end of time. And we see that sensibility in full fruition. In the anti-Christ. Our passage today shows that the anti-Christ will be the personal embodiment of the satanic desire to be like the Most High, and God will let him prosper in his arrogance for a time before he is struck down in a moment. By the Lord Jesus and then cast into the lake of fire. However, unlike the Antichrist. Those of us Whom God is teaching to humble ourselves before the Most High. God will lift us up. To unimaginable glory in heaven. And we will enjoy a glory. And a splendor higher than the Antichrist could have ever dreamed. In his wildest imaginations. You see, guys, if your prayer, though we would never say this out loud, but By our lives, we indicate that this is our prayer. If your prayer is, may my name be hallowed, may my kingdom come, may my will be done. Then you will end up with nothing and you will come to your end with no one to help you. But if you come to God, And say, may your name be hallowed. May your kingdom come. May your will be done. You will find that God hallows His name by lifting you up to the highest heaven. You will find that God's kingdom will come, and he will give to you a position of rule to reign with Christ in His kingdom forever and ever. And you will discover that God's will for you is far grander and sweeter than anything you could have ever wanted for yourself. So there is truly no better thing for you and me to do than to daily come before God and say, hallowed be your name. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and we can say those words knowing of all the good that is in that, even for us by His grace. That's how good God is. That's why we sometimes sing, to our God be the glory, to our God be praised. He alone, the name above all names. I will boast ever only in the Lord, my God, for I know His glory is my good. Amen. As we talked about two weeks ago, we learned once again in our passage today that God does not just allow things to happen, he appoints them. In our passage today, we learned that he even decrees them. He decrees when the anti-Christ arises, and he decrees how the anti-Christ will come to his pathetic end. We know from scripture again that God is not the author of sin, and we know that evil rulers will be held to account for their sinful choices. Yet we see in scripture that God is so much in control. Of the anti-Christ that he virtually leads him and his armies by the nose to the valley of Megeddo where they will run into the buzz saw that is Jesus. There is profound mystery here, but we can rest in the security of knowing that our sovereign God is in full control of every detail of human history. All the way up through the madness of our own times. And the coming madness of the anti-Christ all the way through to the time when Jesus returns to Earth at his second coming. We've spent a good part of our time this morning learning about this despicable one. Called the anti-Christ. Let's, let's take a bath for a couple of minutes and consider Jesus Christ who is the desirable one. The anti-Christ will be arrogant. He will be proud, but Jesus was gentle and lowly. Jesus didn't kill. Instead, he laid down his life for others. He didn't conquer through war, he conquered hearts through Amazing love. He didn't pretend he was God. In fact, he is God. Yet he who is God did not regard equality with God as something to be clutched onto, but was willing to come into this world to lower himself to becoming a man and to humble himself unto death, even the death of the cross. And then he just simply let himself be exalted. By his father The anti-Christ will speak astonishing blasphemies against the God of heaven and seek to exalt himself, yet be cast down to the lake of fire. Yet Jesus only spoke words that glorified His Father in heaven, and he humbled himself, and in the end, Jesus was exalted by his father to the highest heaven and given a name that is above every other name. Guys, this is our Messiah. And what is not to love about a Messiah like Jesus? Why would you not believe And a Messiah Like him. Don't get me wrong. Though Jesus' first coming was in peace. To seek and to save the lost. To show mercy to those who are willing to humble themselves before Him and to cry out to Him for salvation. But in his second coming, Jesus will be coming. In judgment to make war against the wicked. And to establish his kingdom on the earth where righteousness will rule. And the best way that you can prepare for the Jesus of the second coming is to believe in the Jesus of the first coming. When he gave himself over in death upon a cross and shed his blood to provide atonement for sinners like you and me. For it is only through believing in Christ. That you can be saved from Christ. And his wrath at his second coming. So if you have never believed in Jesus, Yet I urge you to call upon his name and to believe in him today, even right now where you are seated. As the psalmist says in Psalm 2:12, pay homage to the sun. Lest he be angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath may soon be kindled. And blessed are all who find refuge. In him Let's pray together Lord, on one level, I can't believe we've spent 3 weeks in Daniel 11. And I I can't believe we made it through this chapter. And yet, I am, I am so grateful for all that is revealed. In The revelation of Daniel 11 and in the passage that we've looked at today. Lord, we know how this whole thing is gonna end. We know that Jesus. wins And we know that. Only those who believe in him will find themselves on the right side of history. Let the world say what it wants to say. Let people talk about the direction they think history is heading and telling us to get on board. And help us to care only about what you reveal to us in your word. Some of these themes that we've covered in this chapter, including today, they're not topics that I Probably would have chosen to talk about on the Sundays. If we're just doing topical messages, but we're studying through Daniel and here's the passages that you put in front of us. Because you want us to know these things. There is great good for us to see these things and to believe these things and to know these things so that as we go out and to This world we can walk in courage and in strength because we know where things are heading and we know how this whole thing is going to end. And so make us a bold and courageous people. Who delight to trust in you, Lord Jesus, and who delight to tell others about you and to call them to faith in one so beautiful and loving and full of grace as you are, Lord Jesus, and that you have provided a way through your cross. That the world might escape from the wrath to come, and there is a wrath to come. We thank you, Lord, for all these things that you teach us. So that they can give shape to how. We walk. Lord Jesus, you came from heaven to earth and you humbled yourself, and we look at that and say, wow, that's awesome. What a savior we have. But then you, Lord Jesus, say, let this same attitude be in you. Which was also in me. Because in walking in humility, in condescension, and trusting my Father alone to be the one who exalts me, I was not only providing a way for you to be saved, I was showing you how to live. The spirit of the anti-Christ is already in the world. Lord, help us to resist that spirit and to walk in humility before you. Because we know of your goodness. And how you will exalt those. Who lower themselves before you because you are that good. I ask these things for myself and for all my brothers and sisters here in the Cornerstone family, Lord. In the name, the mighty name of Jesus, and all God's people said,