In the book of Daniel we have several accounts of coming world history in relation to Israel. The account in Daniel is from his time to the end of the age. Daniel is shown an image that represented Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the revised Roman Empire consisting of ten kings. (Dan. 2:37-43).
These same kingdoms are shown again, except they are represented as animals. (8:5-9). The third kingdom in Daniel 2, the breast and arms of silver, is the he goat in Daniel 8. One should note that the he goat, Alexander the Great, conquers the Medes and Persians, and from the head of the he goat comes four horns. These four horns represent the four kingdoms formed in his empire by his four Generals. These four, we know today are Greece, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt. In verse 9, a “little horn” comes out of one of the four horns. The task is to find out from which of the four the “little horn” comes.
In Daniel 11:40, we read, “at the time of the end (the end of this age) shall the king of the south (Egypt) push at him: and the king of the north (Syria) shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships.” See (Dan. 11:40; 8:19; 9:27; 11:35,45; 12:1,7-13).
- Dake’s Reference Bible: The vision concerns the very end of the Gentile world powers symbolized by the image of Dan. 2 and the beasts of Dan. 7 and Dan. 8; Rev. 13; 17:8-17. At the time of the end of this age in which we live, “shall the king of the south (Egypt) push at him (that is, the king of the north); and the king of the north (Syria) shall come against him (that is, the king of the south) like a whirlwind” with his armies and navies and conquer many countries (Dan. 11:40).
- Dake: the little horn or Antichrist comes from Syria, one of the 4 divisions of the Grecian empire… He thus revives the old Grecian empire, which is symbolized by a leopard (Dan. 7:6; rev. 13:1-2). The other 6 kingdoms of the old Roman Empire submit to him, making him their leader in a war with the north and east (dan. 11:44; rev. 17:12-17). If the wars of dan. 11:5-34 are only between Syria and Egypt, and if the last-day war of dan. 11:40-43 is between Syria and Egypt, ending with the overthrow of Egypt (the king of the south) by Syria (the king of the north), then it settles the question as to where antichrist comes from. He arises from Syria and will fulfill dan. 7:8,19-27; 8:9-14,22-25; 9:27; 11:40-45; 12:1-7; rev. 6:1-8; 13:1-18; 16:13-16; 17:8-17; 19:19-21.
We have quoted extensively from Dake, since we believe he has the best argument for Antichrist coming from Syria. Also, most commentators agree that this is the area he will come from. We are living in exciting days. Christians should be able to see the “unthawing” of the old Roman Empire, and the stage that is being set for new leaders, and a military genius who will be able, with the help of Satan, to conquer and lead his armies against the surrounding nations.
Israel will not only be in the path of the Antichrist and his armies, they will be under his heel. Some believe Israel will make a covenant with the Antichrist. However, he will decide to conquer all the Jews, and establish his headquarters in Jerusalem. “And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” Daniel 11:45. “The Antichrist, or king of the north (Syria), will make his capital the Jewish temple in Jerusalem between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea in the glorious holy mountain, Mount Moriah; yet he shall come to an end at Armageddon (Dan. 7:11,26-27; 8:25; 9:27; 2Th. 2:8; Rev. 19:19-21).” Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible. This is where he meets his “waterloo.” Christ will come with His armies, and Antichrist and all his followers will be destroyed. Many nations will acknowledge Jesus Christ as KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
I believe Christians should be expecting the rapture at any time, and also watching world events as they concern Israel. My hope is that the United States will remain a dependable friend to Israel. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3.
Christians must understand that most of the Bible is not about the Church. Most of the Bible is about God’s Kingdom that was forfeited by Adam, and has been ruled by Satan ever since. God created the nation of Israel to be the one through which Jesus would come as King to reclaim the lost kingdom. This explains why Israel has been Satan’s number one nation to destroy down through the centuries, and that is his number one goal today. But, as we have shown from above, he will not succeed. He and all his followers, led by the king of Syria, will be destroyed at the coming of the KING OF KINGS! The Bible is about that King and His Kingdom. The only doctrinal portion to the church is Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.