Verse 1)Also in the first year of Da-ri’-us the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. This appears to be an Angel speaking. Possibly Gabriel who had given the prophecy of Daniel chapter 9 to Gods prophet Daniel.

Verse2-4) And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Gre’- ci-a. And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. This prophecy was written in 536 B.C. The three kings in Persia were Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius, and the fourth was Xerxes, the richest and most powerful of the Persian kings. He invaded Greece but was defeated at Salamis. These prophecy’s were written over 200 years before there was a Greek Empire. The Greek Empire was founded in 331 B.C. By Alexander the Great. At his death the Greek Empire was divided up between his four main Generals. They ruled from Egypt, Turkey, Syria, and Greece.”Not to his posterity’ refers to the fact that Alexander’s empire was not given to any of his relatives to take over, neither did he dictate who should rule after him.

Verse 5-20)These verses refer to the different kings and their different actions from the remains of Alexander’s empire until the anti-christ arises.

Verse 21) And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. The anit-christ is a vile person because he is possessed by the devil himself. The anti-christ will not be given the honour of the kingdom. Could this mean he will come to power by voter fraud, or by lies and false promises, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries?

Verse 22) And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the Covenant. The anti-christ will have great armies to take over those who oppose him and even the prince of the Covenant. This could be talking about the one who wrote the covenant that he confirmed in Daniel 9:27, which starts the last seven years.

Verse 23) And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He works his way in with deceit through minority’s.

Verse 24) He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil , and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. He will come in deceitfully even on the most wealthy country and countries, not like previous dictators who came in and took power by force. He shall use socialism and distribute the riches to the poor, and give out ultimatums for a time (a year?).
Verse 25) And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to do battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. There will be nations that war against the anti-christ and his armies. These devices could be spiritual such as witch craft, or electronic magnetic pulses (E.M.P’s) which will knock out electronics and computers, causing great confusion, and chaos, and collapse of whole nations and armies.

Verse 26) Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. This could be referring to betrayals which will take place by nations whom he supports and backs.

Verse 27) And both these kings hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. This sounds like the United Nations, speaking lies that do not prosper at one table. This verse also shows us how that ultimately God is in control, and has an appointed time for the end.

Verse 28)Then shall he return into his own land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. The anti-christ will do great exploits and conquer many, and in his heart he is against the covenant, because he wants to proclaim himself as God.

Verse 29-30)At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. For the ships of Chit’-tim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant; so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that  forsake the holy covenant. The ships of Chit’-tim refers to Britain who will send their ships, and possibly air ships also against the anti-christ. He will conspire and have intelligence with them that are against the covenant and the Jewish daily sacrifices. Possibly the Muslims.

Verse 31) And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. The anti-christ will have the force of his armies on his side and he will make the Jews stop their daily sacrifices and he will place the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION. This event will start the last three and one half years,The Great Tribulation period. (See our class on Matthew 24).

Verse 32) And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. He will lie and flatter and corrupt the people who are also against the covenant and the Jewish sacrifices in the Temple. The people who know Jesus will be doing mighty miracles and leading many to the Lord.

Verse 33) And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. For 1,260 days the Christians will be under heavy persecution while they witness to the world about what is going on.

Verse 34) Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. The Holy Spirit will help the saved through these times, and the Lord will raise up people to help us, and many will come to the saved believers for help, but be careful that they aren’t spy’s seeking a reward for turning you in.

Verse 35) And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. Many believers will be killed, to try, and to purge, and to prepare us to meet the Lord.

Verse 36)And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (II Thessalonians 2:3,4) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Verse 37) Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. He doesn’t regard any god but himself, nor have a desire for women, or care about their desires.

Verse 38,39) But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. The god of forces could be talking about nuclear power, which he will heavily invest into and use( see Revelation Chapter 8 & 9).He shall divide the land for gain, (spread the wealth around) to gain supporters.Sounds like Socialism  ?

Verse 40) And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. The anit-christ will be under many attacks.

Verse 41) He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even E’-dom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. The glorious land is Israel. These Arab countries and their leader will escape out of his hand. Possibly because of being on his side against the covenant and the Jewish daily sacrifice.

Verse 42-44) He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Lib’-yans and E-thi-o’-pi-ans shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. He will subdue Egypt and take power over their wealth. With great anger and fury will he go after all who oppose him. Woe unto the inhablitors of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath,because he knoweth, that he hath but a short time. ( Revelation 12:12b)

Verse 45) 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. He will place his palace between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea and sit in the Temple proclaiming himself god and no one will be able to help him when Jesus comes.