Scripture Reading : Daniel 11
Theme : Antichrist Foreshadowed
Antichrist foreshadowed (1-35). God describes what will happen after Alexander the Great dies. His four generals (not his posterity v. 4) will divide his kingdom into four kingdoms. Daniel’s prophecy was written about 200 years before Alexander. The focus of the vision is on a king from the kingdom of the north (Seleucid kingdom, modern day Turkey to Pakistan) who battles against the kingdom of the south (Ptolemy kingdom, modern day Egypt). This king of the north is the historical person Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who is a pattern or foreshadow of the future antichrist (also described in 8:9-14). The prophecy amazingly predicts the actual historical events of Antiochus accurately and in detail. God ends the description of Antiochus in v. 35 with the words “for it still awaits the appointed time.”
Antichrist Described (36-45). God begins to describe the character and actions of the end times antichrist in detail. He will exalt himself above every god and blaspheme the true, living God. He will be successful for a short time but then will be destroyed. The antichrist will forsake his father’s religion. He will disregard “the one beloved by women,” which most likely is referring to the Messiah, whom all Jewish women desired to give birth to (Luke 1:48). The antichrist will make war against the three countries in the south: Egypt, Libya, and Cush (modern day Sudan) and also against the glorious land (Israel). But he will be destroyed in Israel. This prophecy agrees with numerous other prophecies about how the surrounding nations of Israel, led by the antichrist, will attack Israel and succeed for a short time. But then Jesus will return and deliver Israel.
Praying the Scripture
- The antichrist is very cunning. This cunning spirit is already at work in the world. There are already so many false Christianity in the world, especially prosperity gospel and Catholicism. This is predicted by Jesus (Matt. 24:24). Pray that you will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord so that you will be stable spiritually, and not be deceived by the cunning of the devil. Also, grow so that you can make the gospel clear to unbelievers and refute those who contradict it. Pray to God to take away the blinders of unbelievers and open their heart to see the true gospel as revealed in the Bible.
- Daniel 12:1 says the devastation that the antichrist will bring to Israel and the world is so terrible that it will exceed everything that we have seen so far in history. It will be even worse than the holocaust. Our hearts should be grieved by such atrocity that will occur in the future because of the sins of Israel. We should be motivated to evangelize the Jews, their neighbours and our neighbours so that they will agree with God’s righteous judgment and be delivered from the wrath to come. May God have mercy and save them.
经文：但以理书11
主题：预示敌基督的到来
对敌基督者的预示（1-35）。神形容了亚历山大大帝离世后将发生的事：他的四个将军（不是他的后裔，4节）将使国家一分为四。但以理的预言是在亚历山大诞生前的两百年写的。异象之焦点是与南方王（即托勒密王国，现代的埃及）争战的北方王（即塞琉古帝国，现代的土耳其至巴基斯坦）。北方王就是历史中的安条克四世，而他是未来敌基督者的样式或预示（8:9-14亦叙述）。这个预言竟微妙地把安条克的实际历史事件描述得精确、仔细。神在35节用这句话结束对安条克的叙述：因为到了定期，事就了结。
对敌基督者的描述（36-45）。神开始详细描述敌基督者末日时的性格和行为。他将抬举自己，胜过众神，并亵渎永活真神。他在短时间内会很成功，但最终将被消灭。敌基督者将舍弃他列祖的神，也“不顾妇女所羡慕的神”；这大有可能指的是弥赛亚，因为所有犹太妇女都渴望能生下祂（路1:48）。敌基督的将与南方的三国争战：埃及、利比亚和古实（现代的苏丹），以及那荣耀之地（以色列）。但是，他会在以色列被消灭。这个预言与其他关乎由敌基督的带领以色列邻国攻击以色列，并成功一时的预言是一致的。然而，耶稣将归来搭救以色列。
用经文祷告
- 敌基督的非常狡猾。这个狡猾的灵已经在世间运行了。世上已出现那么多虚假基督的信仰，尤其是致富福音和天主教。耶稣已预测这事（太24:24）。祈求你能在我们主的恩典和知识上长进，叫你能有稳当的灵性，不会被魔鬼的诡计受骗。另外，你要长进的原因是要叫你能向非信徒清楚传讲福音，并为福音作辩护。祈求神能使瞎眼的非信徒得看见，并敞开他们的心认识圣经所启示的真实福音。
- 但以理12:1说，敌基督的将给以色列和全世界所带来的毁坏会非常大，是前所未见的。它将比纳粹大屠杀更残酷。眼看以色列末日时将因着自己的罪遭受如此恶劣的暴行，我们的心当甚忧愁。我们当充满热情地向犹太人、他们的邻舍和我们的邻舍传福音，叫他们能承认神的审判是公义的，并免受神未来的愤怒。愿神能怜悯，拯救他们。
