Daniel 11:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.

NIV: "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

NASB: Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.

CSB: His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the regular sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.

NLT: His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

This passage records predictions given to Daniel in the year 536 BC (Daniel 10:1). Included are the atrocities of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the second century BC (Daniel 11:21–29). In response to Jewish unrest, Antiochus brought brutal persecution and death (Daniel 11:30). He outlawed many important religious practices. Among these were dietary laws, ritual sacrifice, observing of the Sabbath, and circumcision. Antiochus's troops—his "forces"—slaughtered tens of thousands of Jews. Those who agreed to abandon the Lord to worship idols were spared (Daniel 11:32).

Perhaps the most spiteful act commanded by Antiochus is identified as "the abomination that makes desolate," or "the abomination of desolation." This is mentioned elsewhere in Daniel's visions (Daniel 8:13; 12:11). In 167 BC, Antiochus replaced the altar of God in the temple (Exodus 40:6) with one dedicated to Zeus. There, he sacrificed a pig (Leviticus 11:7–8). This was a calculated act, meant to be as profane and offensive as possible under Old Testament law.

Bible scholars suggest that Antiochus IV Epiphanes's actions were only a partial fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy. Antiochus's example appears to foreshadow another infamous biblical figure: the Antichrist of the end times. Jesus spoke about this very prophecy (Matthew 24:15), but He was looking to the future, even two centuries after Antiochus's death. This seems to correspond to a restoration of temple worship in the end times (Daniel 12:11), followed by a world dictator demanding worship (Revelation 13:14–15).

Daniel 11:21–35 continues from a series of prophecies about many rulers over many decades. In contrast, this segment's predictions focus on a single ruler and his hateful actions against Egypt and Israel. History knows this figure as Antiochus IV Epiphanes: one of the Jewish people's most vicious and hated persecutors.

This chapter is most easily understood in terms of the historical events which it predicts. These include the conflicts between Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid Empire up through the second century BC. This mentions the infamous Antiochus IV Epiphanes and what eventually became the Maccabean Revolt. The last portion of prophecy looks to the end times: blasphemous rulers, an invasion from the north, and a major defeat.

Daniel is receiving a prophecy, in an encounter which began in chapter 10. The substance of that prophecy is mostly given in chapter 11. This predicts the major events relating to Judea leading up to the conquest of the Roman Empire. It also begins to speak of end-times events. This leads to chapter 12 and the final prophetic remarks given to Daniel. Chapter 11 connects to other prophetic segments of Scripture such as Ezekiel 38 and Joel 2. Occurrences recorded here are also used by Jesus to depict end times events (Matthew 24:15).

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.