Antiochus Rises in Europe

The book of Daniel is for this end time (Daniel 12:4, 9). In the “last end” (Daniel 8:19), an Antiochus rises in Europe. Like the ancient Antiochus (also discussed in Daniel), the end-time Antiochus will get control of the entire Middle East. He will shock the world and change the course of history. Even more shocking: He and his supporters will fight Jesus Christ when He returns!

Antiochus is a sign of Christ’s imminent Second Coming.

“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land” (verse 9). Most commentaries will tell you this little horn is the ancient Antiochus.

“And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered” (verses 10-12). These verses apply to this end time. Antiochus will magnify himself against the Prince of the host—Jesus Christ. He has such gall that he actually challenges Christ Himself!

Look where all this is leading: “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand” (verses 23-25). Antiochus does an evil work, destroying many through fake promises of peace. But Christ will destroy him and ensure his empire never rises again! Christ will rule the world and bring the peace, joy and happiness we have always desired but never been able to achieve.

The Fourth World-Ruling Empire

Daniel 2 contains more information about the transition from man’s rule to the Kingdom of God. It recounts the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of five world-ruling empires. “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay” (verses 40-41). This fourth kingdom, now rising again in Europe, is strong but of lesser quality—like iron. It is brutal and destructive but morally degenerate. It is divided, as pictured by the iron being mixed with clay. The 10 toes picture 10 contemporaneous kings within the empire, ruling with God’s approval (Revelation 17:17). They will rule until the very end of their empire.

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44). The 10 kings that comprise the Holy Roman Empire will be toppled at Christ’s return! This will happen extremely soon.

Let’s examine the coming European Antiochus more closely. “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” (Daniel 11:21). How could this man take power through deceit and flatteries? In my free booklet Daniel—Unsealed at Last!, I wrote about how Antiochus Epiphanes gained control of Palestine while the Greco-Macedonian Empire was in decline. He was never voted into office. He acted like a Roman, pretending to be someone he wasn’t. He deceived people! He hated the Jews, and so will the end-time Antiochus. The Jews were driven to desperation by Antiochus’s relentless efforts to extinguish their faith.

The winner of the September 26 election in Germany was actually nobody. The Times of London reported: “Germans Face Months of Uncertainty After Knife-Edge Election.” In 2017, an inconclusive election led to six months of trying to form a government. This time, the election was even more indecisive! The German government is very weak and precarious.

This will produce a magnificent opportunity for Antiochus to rise in Europe and get control of what is very quickly going to become the Holy Roman Empire. As John Allen Jr. wrote for Crux, “Europe’s future is up for grabs”!

Even though Europeans vote in their leaders right now, there will be an opening where you could see the people agree to have one man rule over them all. Europe would immediately become a formidable nuclear power and shock the world!

Leadership in Europe will come from Germany. Only a German can lead the sudden European superpower. Today, Germany domineers Europe. It is the powerhouse.

The Afghanistan Disaster

Europeans are fearful after America’s shameful withdrawal from Afghanistan. European Union defense and foreign ministers and officials from North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations met in Slovenia on September 2 to discuss the need for a combined military force led by the EU. Common European defense has never been more necessary to them—because of events in Afghanistan. They can’t trust America!

“There are events that catalyze the history,” EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said. “Sometimes something happens that pushes the history. It creates a breakthrough, and I think the Afghanistan events of this summer are one of these cases.”

European Council President Charles Michel commented: “In my view, we do not need another such geopolitical event to grasp that the EU must strive for greater decision-making autonomy and greater capacity for action in the world.”

America has been protecting Europe for a long time. But it doesn’t believe our protection is reliable anymore. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized the American withdrawal and demanded more European involvement, asking, “You can have the most advanced forces in the world, but if you are never prepared to use them, of what use are they?”

British politician Nigel Farage believes that what happened in Afghanistan has removed America not just from the Middle East but from the world stage! I have to agree. What sort of debacle will this cause? What are the fruits going to be?

Remember Leviticus 26:19—God said He would break the pride of our power if we don’t repent and change our ways! We still have power, but we won’t use it.

The King of the North

“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” (Daniel 11:40). Europe led by Germany is the king of the north; radical Islam led by Iran is the king of the south.

Caught in the middle of this clash will be Jerusalem: “He shall enter also into the glorious land …” (verse 41).

“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” (verse 44). These tidings will come from the Communists—Russia and China and their allies. They will amass an unprecedented 200 million-man army! (Revelation 9:16). No one will be able to stop them from sweeping through Europe and totally devastating the area (Daniel 11:45). This will happen because your Bible says so! But it’s leading to the best news you could ever possibly hear.

“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” (verse 45). The European superpower will set up its headquarters in Jerusalem, but its dominance will end suddenly and badly.

There should be no chapter break between Daniel chapters 11 and 12. “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1). Can you imagine? World superpowers with nuclear weapons will fight each other. No trouble in human history can match this! And only those who deliver God’s warning message to the world today will be protected.

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (verse 2). God will hold each of us accountable for what we do. All mankind—past, present, future—will have a chance to know God and choose to be born into the God Family as His own sons!

But only the ones who obey God before Christ’s return will be Christ’s Bride, ruling from David’s throne over the Earth and universe for all eternity. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (verse 3). See how God feels about His tiny loyal remnant? We will shine like the stars forever! What a reward!