Rumble
Studies in Daniel, Revealing Todays Secrets
This is my overview about this much-debated topic from our 3-year study of Daniel’s prophesies at Focus on the End Times.
Europe or Middle East?
For quite some time, it was believed and taught that Antichrist would emerge from a revived Roman Empire. I was taught this view in seminary and had no reason to doubt it until I dug deeper into the prophesies of Daniel.
One of the main reasons for accepting the ‘revived Roman Empire’ theory is because Rome follows Greece in the historical sequence of empires. This leads to the false assumption that the 4th empire in Daniel chapters two and seven must be Rome.
But that assumption is not accurate based on the details in the text and over the last few decades, the revived Roman Empire theory has been reconsidered and is increasingly rejected by Bible scholars.
The rise to prominence of the Islamic countries like Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia in the middle of the 20th century, along with Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948, has cast increasing doubt on the “European Antichrist” theory.
Daniel Chapter 8, which prophesies the rise and fall of the Greek Empire (330-63 B.C.) is crucial.
Which Empire?
Much of Daniel’s prophecy in chapters two and seven is taken up with the sequence of the three Gentile Empires relevant to Israel who are Babylon (lion), Persia (bear) and Greece (leopard).
So here’s a quick question. In all of Daniel’s prophecies, which of these three empires would you think is the most prophetically important in the book of Daniel?
By far, the most frequent empire discussed in Daniel is the Grecian Empire where it appears in chapters 2, 7, 8, and 11. Following the death of Alexander the Great, who had no legitimate heir, his empire was divided among his four generals.
The largest of the four regions which covered Turkey, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran and to the border of India was given to General Seleucus. Many years later this region came under the Seleucid king and tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes IV (175-164 B.C.) who became one of Israel’s greatest persecutors.
Alexander’s empire was divided into four territories. The above map shows the largest territory, the Seleucid Empire which gave rise to the forerunner of Antichrist, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The geographical territory of the Seleucid Empire was a composite of the Grecian Empire plus the Persian and Babylonian Empires.
Below is the same territory as we see it today that is described in Revelation 13:2 as the “Beast” which will give rise to Antichrist.
Antiochus, Forerunner of Antichrist
Antiochus’ oppression of Israel is laid out in Daniel 8:9-14 and 23-25 and again in Daniel 11:21-35. Among his atrocities, Antiochus blasphemed God, forbid the Jews from worshipping God, outlawed Judaism and circumcision, proclaimed himself God (“Epiphanes” means “God Manifest” or “God is Present”), desecrated Israel’s Temple and murdered multitudes of Jews.
In essence, Antiochus committed atrocities against the Jews that are stunningly parallel to the actions of Antichrist. Bible scholars agree that Antiochus Epiphanes is a forerunner, a foreshadow, or a “type” of Antichrist. To make sure we get that message God refers to both men as the “little horn” (Dan. 7:8; 8:9). Not because their statures are little but to highlight that one is a template for the other.
And in another clue for the location of Antichrist’s empire, Daniel 11 refers to both men as the “King of the North” (11:15, 40). Notice the geographical description does not say he’s the “King of the West” which would be necessary if it was pointing to Europe and a revived Roman Empire. Since the land of Israel is central in biblical geography, the north means north of Israel. The north of Israel is the greater Middle East not Italy or the Vatican!
Follow God’s Template
Antiochus Epiphanes rose from the Middle East, not Europe. If God designed Antiochus to purposely be the template for Antichrist in Scripture, the pattern dictates that Antichrist will follow in Antiochus’ footsteps and emerge from the same region of the world. And that’s precisely what Revelation 13 shows us.
If this is the case, (and for many other reasons space won’t allow for here), Antichrist will be a native of the Middle East not Europe. And since the entire Middle East is an Islamic stronghold today we can conclude Antichrist must be a religious Muslim, not a Catholic or any other type of Christian.
Three Empires Become One
Daniel 7 provides more support for the Middle Eastern, Islamic empire of Antichrist. In Daniel Chapter 7 the three great Gentile empires of Babylon, Persia and Greece are described as beasts and their sequence is given as follows.
Babylon (“Lion” – 7:4) first came and conquered and captured Israel. Persia (“Bear” – 7:5) then captured the Babylonian Empire and the Grecian Empire (“Leopard” – 7:6), under Alexander the Great, conquered the Persian Empire. Very clearly, these historic empires are three separate, Middle Eastern empires with each successive empire capturing the one before it.
When Antichrist’s Empire is presented in Revelation 13 as the “beast,” the passage tells us precisely where Antichrist’s Empire will be located. Whereas we saw them as three empires in Daniel 7, the same 3 Middle Eastern empires now combine their territories to form one empire in Revelation 13. This means that the composite geographic boundaries of the Babylonian, Persian and Grecian empires is what will make up the boundary for Antichrist’s empire.
Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard (Greece), his feet were like the feet of a bear (Persia), and his mouth like the mouth of a lion (Babylonian). The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
Revelation 13:2
Since this passage puts Antichrist’s empire fully in the Muslim controlled Middle East, how can Bible teachers say it’s a Roman Empire with Antichrist emerging from Europe?
Scripture cannot be in conflict with itself because God is the author.
The evidence for Antichrist coming from the Middle East and therefore being an Islamic leader is not based on an isolated passage but comes from the wealth of four different chapters in Daniel in concert with Revelation 13 which overwhelmingly show that Antichrist and his final empire of ten kings rises from the Middle East not Europe, America or anywhere else!
Conclusion
In summary, God provides a forerunner that’s as good as the best military intelligence available, in order for Israel to have clarity for where to look for the enemy during the Tribulation period.
Getting the location right and that Antichrist will rise from the north of Israel (Middle East) and not to the west of Israel (Europe) will be crucial to saving many lives.
There are clear indications that Antichrist will arise from the Middle East, from a country to the north of Israel. Some of his titles point in this direction, the Assyrian ( Isa. 10:12-14) and the King of the North (Dan. 11:36-45) and the Northern army (Joel 2:20).
How will the Jewish people living in the Tribulation recognize Antichrist? They will recognize him when an Islamic leader rises in the Middle East, north of Israel, and takes control of the newly formed Islamic Caliphate and then confirms a 7-Year peace agreement with Israel.
When that occurs, alert watchers in Israel will recognize Antichrist for who he is and realize they have entered Daniel’s 70th week, the final seven years, and many will come to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Messiah.
