The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

Daniel 11:32-45  Learn about the vile Syrian king named Antiochus Epiphanes, who committed an abomination of desolation in Israel, on her Temple and God's Holy of Holies in the Second Century B.C., and how that event led to the rise of the Maccabees and the Maccabean Revolt (and, subsequently, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah).

The reason Scripture presents so much about Antiochus Epiphanes is because he served as a prophetic type of the future Antichrist.  Because so much of the Book of Daniel either foreshadows or reveals the Antichrist of the last days, it has often been called "The Revelation of the Antichrist".

Verses 36 to 39 contain prophecies about the final "fighting king," who is the most vicious king of any in history.  In this lesson, we discuss his character, his conquests, and his conclusion (meaning his "end" - how he will die).  Will the Antichrist be Jewish?  Gentile?  Islamic?  Roman?  Homosexual?  Listen and hear what Scripture says.

The Babylonian Captivity of Israel in the days of the Prophet Daniel was only the beginning of Israel's chastening process.  As a nation, even after 70 years in captivity, she had not genuinely repented of her continual disobedience of God.  It would be a long time before her ultimate "Time of Restoration" in the Millennial Kingdom would occur.  In Daniel chapter 11, Daniel receives a very long and detailed prophecy about a "parade of fighting kings" (Persian kings, Greek kings, Seleucid and ptolemaic kings, and a horribly vile king name Antiochus Epiphanes, who is a type of the final Antichrist).

Daniel chapter 11 is one of the most extensive prophetic sections of the Bible.  In just the first 35 verses of the chapter, there are over 135 prophecies given!  Every single one of them we now know came to pass precisely as predicted!  Fulfilled prophecy is one of the greatest proofs of the divine inspiration of Scripture, which is why Daniel chapter 11 is at the heart of the attacks against the entire book.  

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This important lesson, from Daniel 10:1 to 11:1 presents the prelude to Daniel's final vision, which sweeps over the time in history from Daniel's day to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation.  

Daniel received a special visit from the pre-incarnate Christ, which tells us that the prophetic vision Daniel would receive is of great importance.  The appearance of the Lord caused Daniel to be so stunned, he had no strength in him and collapsed in a faint.  The hand that reached down to lift him up belonged to an angel (possibly Gabriel), who then proceeded to tell Daniel about the 21 days of spiritual warfare he had in the heavenlies with "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" until "Michael, one of the chief princes" came to help him (10:10-13).

This is a very interesting lesson on the warfare that takes place in the atmospheric heavens, where Satan is "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), between the fallen angels and the holy angels.  Learn about the hierarchy that exists among the angelic host (i.e. principalities, powers, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities) and why Ephesians 6:12 is definitely true, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".

The saddest tragedy to ever occur for Israel was when she missed the prophetically foretold day of her long awaited Messiah's arrival.  It was not the day of His birth in Bethlehem.  It was not the day of His baptism in the Jordan.  It was not even the day He officially began His public ministry by suddenly appearing in Jerusalem, going straight to the Temple, and single-handedly cleansing it (another clear fulfillment of Messianic prophecy).  None of those events were specifically predicted to the very day of their occurrence by God through one of His prophets.  No, the super-tragic day for Israel was when she failed to "do the math" with Daniel's "Great 70 Weeks' Prophecy" and, therefore, missed the proof of His Identity as "Messiah the Prince" which He presented to her on Palm Sunday.  Because of her failure to receive Him as her spiritual King on Palm Sunday, she ended up crucifying Him on Passover Thursday (see our podcast on why Christ died on Passion week Thursday).

Not only does this great prophecy predict Messiah's arrival, but also His death, and Jerusalem's coming destruction following His death (which did, indeed, occur in A.D. 70).  Furthermore, we discuss the one remaining "week" of seven years for God's overall redemptive program for Israel.  That last "week" is the seven-year Tribulation Period (Revelation 6 to 19)!  Daniel's prophecy, given in the Fifth Century B.C., also predicted the horrific covenant agreement Israel will make with the Antichrist, the abomination of desolation he will commit in the Tribulation Temple, and, also, the destruction of the Antichrist (yeah!). 

This is the most important Old Testament prophecy for you to know - not only to strengthen your confidence concerning Christ's identity as we look back in history, but to strengthen your confidence concerning His plan for the future, which He will fulfill as assuredly and as literally as He assuredly and literally fulfilled all the prophecies relative to His First Coming.  Amen.

Did you know Jewish rabbis do not want their people reading "The Great 70 Weeks' Prophecy" of Daniel 9:24-27?  Listen to the words of an ancient rabbinic curse (Talmudic Law p. 987, Section 2, Line 28; also Talmud Sanhedrin 97b, Soncino ed, p. 659), "May the bones of the hands and the bones of the fingers decay and decompose, of him who turns the pages of the book of Daniel, to find out the time of Daniel 9:24-27, and may his memory rot from off the face of the earth forever".  Pretty harsh words of warning NOT to study this passage of Scripture!  Why?  Because "The Great 70 Weeks' Prophecy" is the GREATEST PROPHETIC PROOF that JESUS IS THE PROMISED MESSIAH of Israel . . . and Saviour of mankind.

In this lesson, we set the stage for this amazing prophecy.  Hang in there and listen attentively (and then procede to listen to Lesson #34).  This prophecy is so very crucial to a proper comprehension of eschatology (a study of end times).  A person should always "have a handle" on this prophecy before studying the Book of Revelation! A proper understanding of this all-important prophecy refutes the prevalent teaching of Replacement Theology (that God has replaced Israel with the Church; also called "Supersessionism")!  A proper understanding of this fantastic prophecy gives STRONG evidence for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church!  Furthermore, as stated above, this marvelous prophecy, given to one of the godliest prophets who ever lived (Daniel), provides irrefutable evidence as to the identity of the True Messiah, and He is the One Who presented Himself to Israel on Palm Sunday, which was the very day predicted in this INCREDIBLE PROPHECY (see also our 3 lessons on "The King's Triumphant Entry" on this podcast).

This study is from our "Caldwell Commentary" series.  "Daniel; An Extra-ordinary Servant of God in Extra-Ordinary Times, Extra-ordinary Prophecies" (available at www.scripturetruth.com).

Prayer is the believer's amazing privilege to get involved in God's program for man and history.  In Daniel's powerful prayer of chapter 9, he teaches by his example great truths about effectual, fervent prayer.  Learn how Daniel's entire prayer - his confessions, his praises, and his petitions - were all in complete harmony with Who God is.  He did not express any opinions or bring up any issues or needs that contradicted God's Person or purposes.

God's messenger angel, Gabriel, told Daniel he was "greatly beloved".  It is well worth the time to study the man Daniel - his person, passion, purposed-heart, and prayer life - for who among us would not love to hear the Lord call us His "greatly beloved"?

One of the greatest men of prayer in Biblical history was Daniel.  We can learn much about fervent, effectual prayer - as well as being a righteous "man" - from him.  He prayed faithfully three times daily, even when doing so meant a lions' den!  Daniel studied Scripture (e.g. the scrolls of Jeremiah) to align his prayers with the Lord's revealed will.  An interesting fact about the super-powerful prayer of Daniel (9:1-19) is 72% of it was confessional. In contrast, we spend about 72% of our prayers in making requests! 

Daniel knew he and his people had no one to blame but themselves for their shameful state as captives in Babylon.  He repeatedly acknowledged Israel at fault for turning from God and ignoring His many warnings of impending judgment if she didn't repent and turn from her wicked ways.  Her sins were worse because she knew better!  

Learn why Daniel's prayer received immediate results, though God's messenger was delayed by a spiritual battle in the heavenlies!  The amazing answer to Daniel's prayer was the most extensive prophetic prophecy in the Old Testament - one you must study: "The Great Seventy Weeks' Prophecy" (see this podcast for Daniel lessons 33 and 34 on that amazing prophecy).

This lesson on Daniel 8:15-27.  

IMPORTANT LESSON on the last fierce king of the last Gentile Kingdom, the Antichrist.

Learn what Hanukkah is all about - very fascinating!  

Who is the "Little Horn"?  Find out.

This lesson is on Daniel 8:11-14.  

This lesson is on Daniel 8:1-10.  With chapter 8, we begin to look at the third section of Daniel which we have entitled, "Daniel Prophetic History of Israel".  The prophetic vision of Daniel 8 begins with the conflict of the two world powers that would sequentially follow Babylon (Medo-Persia and Greece), but the focus then narrows down to the specific persecution to occur in a small place on the map called Judah.  In Daniel 7, we learn about the coming "little horn" of the last days - the Antichrist, who will arise from a revived form of Ancient Rome.  In Daniel 8, we learn much about another "little horn" who came out of the Greek Empire to serve as a prophetic type of evil character and actions of the end-times' Antichrist.