Daniel 11:29-45

11:29-35 | After another attempted takeover of Egypt, Antiochus IV again unleashed his fury against the people of the holy covenant. Ships from Cyprus may refer to a Roman navy. Rome stepped in to curtail Antiochus’ activity, delivering a humiliating defeat.

11:31-32 | Antiochus Epiphanes IV returned to Jerusalem so angry that he slaughtered multitudes of children and raped and killed many women. Some of God’s people supported his actions (those who do wickedly against the covenant), but the true people of God opposed him.

11:33-35 | Those who understand were the godly leaders, perhaps a reference to the Maccabeans who reclaimed the temple.

11:35-38 | In a far-distant future, the king (Antichrist) will do as he pleases (7:25; Rev. 13:7): considering himself to be under no authority, setting himself above any and every god (2 Thess. 2:4), speaking blasphemies (Rev. 13:6), and demanding worship until Christ defeats him at the end of the Tribulation.

11:37-38 | This man will even despise the God of his fathers (the gods of his own religions) – an extreme demonstration of the Antichrist’s pride. The desire of women probably refers to a pagan god. The god of the fortresses refers to his pride in his own military might. The Antichrist will also worship gold and silver, obtained by oppressing other. He will make Antioch Epiphanes IV appear tame by comparison.

11:40-41 | These verses announce the arrival of the very end of the seventieth week. Major military confrontations will characterize the end of the age.

11:42-44 | The Antichrist’s victories and power will increase until he has control of the wealth of these nations. Yet his global empire will slowly begin disintegrating with the word coming out of the east and the north, forces that challenge his claim to global dominion. This will not be one battle but a campaign – a series of major skirmishes across the face of the earth. These will culminate in the forces of Satan, under the direction of the Antichrist, fighting the forces of Satan from the East and the North and marching to their destruction at the Battle of Armageddon.

11:45 | While these armies will be involved in destroying each other, the judgements of God contained in Revelation 6-19 will fall on the earth. Only the fact of the Antichrist’s end is stated here in Daniel, but the rest of the story is found in Revelation 19:11-21.