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Session #6 - The Personality & Power of the Antichrist - Bible Verse Hand Book

Session #6: The Personality & Power of the Antichrist
By Mike Bickle

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Session 6 The Personality & Power of the Antichrist (Dan. 8:15-27)

I. REVIEW: OUTLINE OF DANIEL 8

A. Daniel’s vision (Dan. 8:1-14)

B. Gabriel appeared to Daniel to explain and expand the vision (8:15-25)

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING GOD’S VIEW OF THE ANTICHRIST

15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…21then there will be great tribulation.”
(Mt. 24:15-16, 21)

The Lord knows that many will be deceived by the Antichrist and offended at God when He allows the Antichrist to persecute His people, and that this will lead to many falling away.

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (2 Thes. 2:3)

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. (1 Tim. 4:1-2)

3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Tim. 3:1-7)

3 and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (2 Pet. 2:1-3)

The issue that Jesus most emphasized in Matthew 24 was not about persecution but the need to avoid deception

4“Take heed that no one deceives you…5Many will come in My name…and will deceive many...11Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many…
24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 24)

There is a spirit of stupor and unbelief related to the four visions that Daniel saw of the Antichrist.

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.
26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” (Dan. 7:15-28)

27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. (Dan. 9:27)

21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.
25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
33 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. (Dan. 11:21-35)

III. GABRIEL APPEARED TO DANIEL (DAN. 8:15-19)

God sent Gabriel to give Daniel understanding of the vision.

15When I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning…suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” (Dan. 8:15-16)

Gabriel is mentioned four times in the Scriptures:

Twice in Daniel

16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.” (Dan. 8:16)

21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. (Dan. 9:21)

Twice in Luke

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (Lk. 1:11-20, 26-28)

Gabriel’s message was about the end times

17He said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end”…
19And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.”…26“And the vision of the evenings and mornings…refers to many days in the future.” (Dan. 8:17-19, 26)

The indignation:

5 “Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger,
in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
25 Very soon my anger against you will end
and my wrath will be directed to their destruction.” (Isa. 10:5, 25)

6 He has laid waste his dwelling like a garden;
he has destroyed his place of meeting.
The LORD has made Zion forget
her appointed festivals and her Sabbaths;
in his fierce anger he has spurned
both king and priest. (Lam. 2:6)

The term “the” indignation refers to God’s discipline of Israel specifically during the Great Tribulation

1“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying,
“It will be for a time, times and half a time.When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” (Dan. 12:1, 7)

IV. GABRIEL’S EXPLANATION OF THE SYMBOLS (DAN. 8:20-22)

20“The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. 21And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king [Alexander the Great]. 22As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.” (Dan. 8:20-22)

The two horns of the ram are the kings of Media and Persia;

3 I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great. (Dan. 8:3-4)

The goat speaks of the kingdom of Greece.

5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. (Dan. 8:5)

The broken horn speaks of Alexander the Great, who died IN 323 BC.

8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven. (Dan. 8:8)

The four horns here parallel the four heads of Daniel 7:6.

V. THE ANTICHRIST’S PERSONALITY AND POWER (DAN. 8:23-25)

23“In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king [Antichrist] shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. 24His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power [by demonic power]; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 25Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes [Jesus]; but he shall be broken without human means [by God’s power].” (Dan. 8:23-25)

The composite beast will express the evil, geography, and ethnicity of Greece.

11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (Daniel 7:11)

Fullness of transgressors:

12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. (Dan. 12:10)

30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” (Mt. 13:30)

16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. (1 Thes. 2:16)

20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Rev. 9:20-21)

18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” (Rev. 14:18)

4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. (Rev. 17:4)

5The earth is defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed… (Isa. 24:5)

A king shall arise: The Antichrist shall arise as a king when sin “reaches its fullness”

23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. (Dan. 8:23)

Mighty power:

The Antichrist’s source of power will be satanic

2The dragon [Satan] gave him [Antichrist] his power, his throne, and authority. (Rev. 13:2)

9The coming of the lawless one [Antichrist] is…with signs, and lying wonders. (2 Thes. 2:9)

He will ascend from the bottomless pit

7The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war. (Rev. 11:7)

8The beast…will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. (Rev. 17:8)

Destroy fearfully:

23“…fourth beast shall… devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces.” (Dan.7:23)

Destroy the holy people: He will kill Jewish people as well as members of the Body of Christ

21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,
25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. (Dan. 7:21, 25)

33 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. (Dan. 11:33-35)

7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”

10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
(Dan. 12:7, 10)

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,were killed just as they had been. (Rev. 6:9-11)

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. 7:9, 14)

21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Rev. 9:21)

7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. (Rev. 11:7)

7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
(Rev. 13:7, 15)

5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One,
you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
7 And I heard the altar respond:
“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are your judgments.” (Rev. 16:5-7)

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. (Rev. 17:6)

24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,
of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.” (Rev. 18:24)

“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” (Rev. 19:1b-2)

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4)

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt. 10:21-22, 28)

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (Mt. 24:9)

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
(Lk. 12:4-7)

16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life. (Lk. 21:16-19)

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason. (Jn. 15:18-25)

7It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. (Rev. 13:7)

He shall destroy many in their prosperity: The Antichrist shall destroy many rich people

16…the ten horns…on the beast…hate the harlot…and burn her with fire. (Rev. 17:16)

Cunning:

24“He shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive…25Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity.” (Dan. 8:24-25)

9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thes. 2:9-10)

Prosper and thrive:

4They worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:4)

He shall exalt himself:

4The man of sin [the Antichrist]…exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
(2 Thes. 2:4)

Rise against Jesus:

25“He shall even rise against the Prince of princes [Jesus].” (Dan. 8:25)

11He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host. (Dan. 8:11)

36“The king shall…speak blasphemies against the God of gods.” (Dan. 11:36)

6Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name.
(Rev. 13:6)

Broken:

25“…but he shall be broken without human means.” (Dan. 8:25)

His army will be destroyed by the sword from the mouth of Jesus

20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (Rev. 19:20-21)

11I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. (Dan. 7:11)

26They shall take away his [Antichrist’s] dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.
(Dan. 7:26)

45…yet he [Antichrist] shall come to his end, and no one will help him. (Dan 11:45)

8The lawless one [Antichrist] will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (2 Thes. 2:8)

20The beast was captured…cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
(Rev. 19:20)

Summary: The Antichrist will be the most powerful political leader in history:

• Military genius (tactics/strategy)

24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. (Dan. 8:24, 25)

38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price. (Dan. 11:38-39)

2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (Rev. 6:2)

2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, (Rev. 13:2,16)

• Oratorical genius (moves masses of people)

32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. (Dan. 11:32, 36)

23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. (Dan. 8:23)

• Political genius (diplomacy)

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. (Dan. 7:23)

4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thes. 2:4)

8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world
12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. (Rev. 13:8, 12)

11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. (Rev. 17:11-12)

• Commercial genius (prosperity)

9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.
24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. (Dan. 8:9, 24)

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.
43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. (Dan. 11:36, 43)

16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. (Rev. 13:16-17)

• Religious genius (doctrines and history of world religions)

4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. (Rev. 13:4, 8, 12)

• Intellectual genius (science, math, technology, languages, etc.)

25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. (Dan. 7:25)

23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. (Dan. 8:23)

• Occult genius (demonology, miracles, human sacrifice)

39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price. (Dan. 11:39)

VI. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VISION (DAN. 8:26-27)

26“The vision of the evenings and mornings…is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.”27I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I…went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it. (Dan. 8:26-27)

11…by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12…an army was given over to the horn [Antichrist] to oppose the daily sacrifices…13I heard a holy one [angel] speaking…“How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” 14He said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” (Dan. 8:11-14)

It is true:

7He [the angel]…swore…that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time [3½ years]; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. (Dan. 12:7)

Seal the vision:

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” (Dan. 7:28)

9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. (Dan. 12:9)

Daniel was astonished:

33“Those of the people who understand shall instruct many…35Some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end.” (Dan. 11:33-35)

10Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. (Dan. 12:10)