There are a great many people (mostly Dispensationalists) who truly believe the "Willful King" of Daniel Chapter 11 can only be their own "AntiChrist", and all of this is "still future". They say "Of course he is the willful king". It fits all their other assumptions about Prophecy, they say. But to declare oneself "god" was a common Humanistic paganistic declaration. The pagan Roman Emperors also did so.
Furthermore, has there been far too much attention paid to this "future AntiChrist", ignoring the plain facts of ancient history? Is there some odd fascination with this "boogeyman-type" "AntiChrist" character to include "him" where the prophecies have already been accounted for?
Before we get to the passages concerning "the wilfull king", let us look at what this Prophecy is meant to do.
DANIEL 11
The ARCHANGEL GABRIEL appears to Daniel to announce future events in "the time of the end". The "time of the end" is approaching which will focus on the Revelation of the Messiah of Israel. We believe there is a chronological presentation by Gabriel.
Beginning in Chapter 11 of Daniel we may see the Greek Empire and its breakup into the Seleucid Empire ("the four winds") after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.
In verses 21-35 we may see Antiochus IV (Epiphanes; died 165 B.C.) and the rise of the Maccabees. Then, in verse 36, we may see another historical series of events. There are three kings then mentioned.
Let us take up there at verse 36 and follow along to see if the identity of the "willful king" is revealed.
The statement, "And the king shall do according to his will", is the "Willful King".
THE PROPHECY OF THREE KINGS
Daniel 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
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.
38 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.
39 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.
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.
41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
44 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.
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.
WHO IS "THE WILLFUL KING" IN VERSES 36-39?
Some insist is is Antiochus Epiphanes.[1] But for one thing, Antiochus never was called "King of Israel" by the Jewish people.
Dispensationalists and others bent on establishing "their AntiChrist" here in Daniel 11, say this is all yet future. That these things have not happened, nor been fulfilled. They say "the willful king" could only be their "future AntiChrist" who will "Rule the world". We respectully disagree.
This interpretation disagrees with Matthew 28:18 of course (Jesus Christ has All Power in Heaven and in Earth, Now and Forever).
Their "future prophecies about AntiChrist" routinely rest on these verses of Daniel 11 and also Daniel 12 and "the wilfull king" which they say have never yet come to pass. They say "Who else could this 'willful king' be but the future AntiChrist?"
Have these verses already been completely fulfilled though? If so, by whom, and when? Let us take a closer look at the verses and ancient history.
Were there any events in B.C. times that involved three kings and matched these things? Where in ancient history do we find three kings which match the Prophecies of Daniel 11? We mean The Willful King, The King of the North and the King of the South?
Have there been events and three kings that correspond to what we find here in Daniel 11? Verse 40 gives us a good starting point to interpret the Prophecy and the three kings. Look at Daniel 11:40 where we do have a battle and geographical references.
As stated, here are three separate "kings" in this Prophecy: The Willful King, The King of the North and the King of the South. They all act in reference to each other and exist at the same time. Let us look at what the King of the North and King of the South do first, because it has a reference to great land and sea battles that should have been mentioned in ancient history:
THE KING OF THE NORTH VS. THE KING OF THE SOUTH
Daniel 11:40 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.
We see the reference to "chariots and horsemen" and land invasion, "and with many ships" as well. That would mean a land invasion and a great naval action involving a large fleet of ships.
The next verse about the land invasion:
Daniel 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
The "king of the north" would enter "the glorious land", Judea. Yet not be completely successful there, and certain ones connected with "Edom" would escape. Now the next verse:
Daniel 11:42 and 43: 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
So there would be the land and sea battles by "the king of the north". It suggests a great sea battle against Egypt. Then a land invasion, not complete success in Judea, but eventually total victory over Egypt. Where do we find the greatest sea battle in ancient history with regard to Egypt, in which Egypt, representing "the king of the south" was deciseively defeated and all their treasures became the spoil of the "king of the north"?
There was just such a sea and land battle. Commencing with the Battle of Actium, which began September 2, 31 B.C.
THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM: SEPTEMBER 2, 31 B.C.
The battle of Actium was a great naval battle which also involved a land battle with Egypt in conjunction with "many ships". This battle was so great, in fact, that it determined who would rule the world at that time, and has effected the course of Western Civilization. It was between Octavian and Marc Antony who was allied with Cleopatra VII. Octavian as "King of the North", and Marc Antony being "King of the South". Either Rome would win and rule the world, or Egypt would win and Rome would be conquered.
Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt had a large fleet of ships. They engaged the Roman fleet in a great sea battle off the western coast of Greece. The battle appeared to be going against them, and Cleopatra decided to retreat. Marc Antony tried to follow her, and in that decision, lost most of his fleet. They were all defeated at the Battle of Actium by Octavians' fleet and Marc Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt.
Octavian invaded Judea by land and pursued them. He was a good General and tried set up a rear guard there. But they could not hold, so he was not completely successful there, which the Prophecy said would be so regarding this "king of the north". This did not stop him with regard to the main attack; Egypt, however, the main center of the rebellion. After the suicides of Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII, Egypt was invaded and all the treasures of Egypt went to Octavian, who would later ascend to the Imperial Throne as Emperor Caesar Augustus.[2] Just as the Prophecy predicts.
So that part does fit exactly. But what about the third king? The Willful King? Who was he?
THE WILLFUL KING WOULD DO THESE THINGS
2. He worships the "god of forces".
4. He would "have not regard for women". (v. 37)
5. He would build a palace in Jesusalem. (v. 45)
There is one King who was a contemporary with Octavian (as King of the North) and Marc Antony (as King of the South), who fulfills all the things of the "Willful King" stated above. That person also had himself made "King of the Jews":
HEROD THE GREAT
Here are the Prophecies all historically Fulfilled by Herod the Great:
2. Herod worshipped the "god of forces". He was an extremely cruel king who relied on military-style enforcement, torture and "death squads".
3. Herod heard "tidings out of the East and out of the North which troubled him". The Wise Men, of course, came from the East told him the Christ child would be born and that He was a King. This was "troubling" to him. The place of Messiahs' birth would be Bethlehem. The Prophecy of Micah 5:2 concerning the King Messiah born in Bethlehem were very "troubling" indeed to wicked, willful King Herod. Herod then "went forth with great fury to destroy".
The "tidings out of the north" were that Marc Antony was being influenced by Cleopatra against Herod. Also Herods' son was causing trouble in Rome.
4. Herod "had not regard for women". He ordered the massacre of Jewish male infants in Bethlehem, and left "Rachel weeping for her children because they are not". He destroyed the hope of every young Jewish mother in Bethlehem who had a male child.
5. Herod would build a palace in Jerusalem. Herod built the most magnificent palace in Jerusalem and rebuilt the Temple to restore it to the former size of the 1st Temple, and also the Western Wall which still stands today as an engineering marvel. The Wall was built by the Willful King who murdered the Jewish infants in Bethlehem.
Daniel Chapter 12
There are no "Chapter Divisions" in the Original Hebrew texts, and the story told by Michael is chronological. Note in 12:1 that it says, "And at that time..." After these three Kings do what was Prophesied.
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.[3]
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
"For the last fifty years, who has been the centerpiece of more novels and films, secular and evangelical? Christ? or the Antichrist?" (Uttinger)
The Prophecies of Daniel 11 and 12 point to the Messiah and the events of 70 A.D. ("to scatter the power of the holy people and all of these things shall be finished") in 12:7; which is "the end", not beyond.[4]
Translations: 
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