What does Daniel 11:36 mean?

Prior segments of Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 10:1) associate well with historical events in Judea between the fourth and second centuries BC. From his perspective, everything being predicted was in the future. In the modern era, we see those fulfillments in the past. Starting here, however, the prophecy appears to shift to an even later stage. Some of what Daniel wrote implied dual fulfillment: an initial, partial realization that foreshadows complete fulfillment later. Much of the prior passage referred to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whose reign of terror previews the end times figure known as the Antichrist.

In this segment, Daniel abruptly mentions a "king" who brazenly defies God, apparently including words of blasphemy. Opinions vary about the identity of this end-times "king." Like Cyrus (Daniel 8:4), Alexander the Great (Daniel 11:3), and Antiochus the Great (Daniel 11:16), this figure is marked by his self-centered will: he does what he wants. Later verses will note that this king is attacked "at the time of the end" (Daniel 11:40), suggesting that this phase of prophecy involves the very last days.

Because this king makes much of himself, he resembles the little horn of Daniel's earlier vision (Daniel 8:9–11), whose depictions also suggest Antiochus. Because he blasphemes, the king resembles the little horn of another prophecy (Daniel 7:25) and the first beast of John's end-times visions (Revelation 13:1, 5). Those who hold this view believe the king mentioned here may be the "Antichrist" of the end times.

It is important to note that Scripture never directly attaches the name "Antichrist" to anyone. Some Bible teachers prefer to apply the title "the Antichrist" to the false prophet: the second beast of Revelation chapter 13. The description of the king that Daniel gives here could be applied to either the first (Revelation 13:1, 5) or second (Revelation 13:11–17) beast of Revelation.