Dg – The King of the South Will Engage Him in Battle Dani’el 11: 40-45a

At the Time of the End,
the King of the South Will Engage Him in Battle
Dani’el 11: 40-45a

At the time of the end, the king of the south will engage him in battle DIG: What fierce conflicts does the antichrist wage? Where does he set up his military command post? To what extent does he succeed? 

REFLECT: When have you stepped out in the flesh and tried to accomplish something, only to have it fall apart? What did you do about it? Why?

Whatever kind of peace may have existed between the antichrist and the ten kings ruling the ten kingdoms of the world will come to an end as the beast begins to take political control of the world. Thus, the second worldwide conflict begins when the antichrist declares war on the ten kings.²⁹¹ The time of the end is a reference to the Great Tribulation period.

In his war against the ten kings, the antichrist attacks in every direction. He is seen attacking the king of the south, who will engage him in battle (Dani’el 11:40). The word engage is literally to push. The king of the south will push like a goat (see Dani’el 8:5-7) at the antichrist, meaning to attack him, in an effort to hinder his plans to expand his control of the world. Egypt will not escape and will open the door for his conquest of Africa (11:42). He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with Libyans and Nubians in submission (11:43).

The king of the north will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships (Dani’el 11:40 and 44). The weapons listed here are the kind used in the time of Dani’el. They are best taken as representative of their counterparts of modern warfare; however, modern weapons could not have been listed in Dani’el’s day if the reader then was to understand it.

He will also invade the king of the east (Dani’el 11:44). The three kings that he will eventually end up killing (Dani’el 7:8, 20 24) will be the king of the south (or Egypt), the king of the north (or Syria), and the king of the king of the east (or Mesopotamia).

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Your power and wisdom! Nothing or no one is greater or more powerful than You. Kings make plans and fight battle; but You are the sovereign Ruler of the universe. You have already won the final battle of the ages (Revelation 21:7-9)! You will reign eternally! We love and worship You! In the holy name of Your Son and Hispower of resurrection. Amen

The king will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood (Dani’el 11:40). When the word flood is used symbolically in the Bible it is always used of a military invasion. Initially, he will be very successful militarily. He will also invade Isra’el, the Beautiful Land (also see 11:1-2), setting the stage for the Abomination of Desolation (to see link click Dr – The Abomination That Causes Desolation). Although the antichrist will eventually gain political control of the whole world, he will extend his power over many countries and many will fall, three countries will escape his domination, Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand (Dani’el 11:41). Today all three of these ancient countries lay in modern day Jordan, where the ancient city of Bozrah, now known as Petra, is located.

But the antichrist will hear reports from the east, and the north that will alarm him. He will be enraged at the reports that he will hear. And after dealing with Zion, he will purpose in his heart to set out against the other ten kings and destroy them (Dani’el 11:44).

First, however, he will set up his military command post in Jerusalem. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas, meaning the Mediterranean and Dead Sea. Ancient conquerors took tents with them for their official dwelling places when at war. At the center of the encampment a large main tent was pitched and around it small ones for personal attendants.

His command post will be at the beautiful holy mountain of Jerusalem, or Mount Zion (Dani’el 11:45a). According to Zechariah 14:2, the antichrist will bring complete destruction on Jerusalem, and this would make his setting up his headquarters on the temple mount possible. According to Zechariah 13:8-9 he will by this time have killed two-thirds of the Jews in the world. Before this, he will have brought Isra’el to a state of complete humiliation, with both their army and their government fully crushed.