Part 10 of 12
Tribulation Prophecy
(Daniel 10–11:31)
By the time we reach Daniel chapter 10, Daniel is an old man—nearly 90 years old. He had been taken captive as a teenager when Babylon conquered Jerusalem. The seventy years of captivity had been fulfilled, yet Daniel himself would never return home.
We are now in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia.
After Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, Daniel continued serving in high government. He moved from Babylon to Shushan and remain... morePart 10 of 12
Tribulation Prophecy
(Daniel 10–11:31)
By the time we reach Daniel chapter 10, Daniel is an old man—nearly 90 years old. He had been taken captive as a teenager when Babylon conquered Jerusalem. The seventy years of captivity had been fulfilled, yet Daniel himself would never return home.
We are now in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia.
After Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, Daniel continued serving in high government. He moved from Babylon to Shushan and remained influential under successive rulers of the Medo-Persian Empire.
Cyrus and God’s Sovereign Plan
Cyrus was the ruler whom God used to issue the decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem (cf. Book of Ezra 1).
Remarkably, in Book of Isaiah 45, God even calls Cyrus “My shepherd” and “My anointed,” showing that God raises rulers for His purposes—even pagan kings.
Daniel 10:1 tells us:
“In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel…”
Daniel had endured decades in exile. Though the decree had been given, Jerusalem was still largely desolate. He mourned and fasted for three full weeks.
The Vision by the Tigris River
Daniel was standing by the great river Hiddekel (the Tigris) when he saw a glorious figure:
• Clothed in linen
• Girded with fine gold
• Face like lightning
• Eyes like lamps of fire
• Feet like polished brass
• Voice like a multitude
The description closely parallels Christ’s appearance in Book of Revelation 1.
Compare:
• Eyes as a flame of fire
• Feet like fine brass
• Voice like many waters
This strongly suggests Daniel saw a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ — a theophany.
Later in the chapter, an angelic being (likely Gabriel) continues speaking with Daniel, explaining that spiritual warfare had delayed the message for 21 days. The “prince of Persia” had resisted him until Michael intervened.
This passage reveals something profound:
Behind earthly empires operate spiritual forces.
The Rise of Grecia – Alexander the Great
Daniel 10:20 foretells:
“The prince of Grecia shall come.”
This refers to Alexander the Great, who would overthrow the Persian Empire and establish the Greek Empire — just as Daniel had earlier prophesied in chapter 8.
After Alexander’s death at age 33, his empire was divided among four generals.
One of those divisions eventually produced Antiochus Epiphanes.
Antiochus Epiphanes – Prototype of the Antichrist
Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled over Syria and controlled Israel. He desecrated the Temple by:
• Stopping the daily sacrifices
• Sacrificing a pig on the altar
• Setting up a pagan idol in the Holy of Holies
This act foreshadowed what Daniel calls “the abomination of desolation.”
Antiochus becomes a prophetic prototype of the future Antichrist.
The Coming Antichrist (Daniel 11:21–31)
Daniel 11 shifts from historical fulfillment under Antiochus to the final world ruler.
He is described as:
• A vile person
• Rising to power by flatteries
• Gaining influence through deceit
• Exercising military dominance
• Breaking covenant agreements
This aligns with Paul’s description in Second Epistle to the Thessalonians 2:
He will exalt himself above all that is called God.
He will eventually:
• Stop Temple sacrifices
• Set up the abomination
• Begin the Great Tribulation
This links directly back to Daniel 9:27 — the midpoint of the seven-year period.
The Final Seven Years (Daniel 11:32–45)
From verse 32 onward, Daniel previews the Tribulation in clearer language.
Some will stand firm in faith, but many will suffer martyrdom.
This period is described elsewhere as:
• “The time of Jacob’s trouble” (Book of Jeremiah 30:7)
• A refining fire for Israel (Book of Zechariah 13:8–9)
Two-thirds in the land will perish; one-third will survive and call upon the Lord.
The Self-Exalting World Ruler
Daniel 11:36 describes the Antichrist in unmistakable terms:
• He will do according to his will
• Exalt himself above every god
• Speak blasphemies
• Prosper for a set time
Paul confirms this in 2 Thessalonians 2:
He will sit in the temple of God, claiming to be God.
This period is precisely timed by God — just as Christ came “in the fullness of time” (Epistle to the Galatians 4:4).
Global Conflict and the Glorious Land
Daniel 11:40–45 describes military campaigns involving:
• The king of the south (Egypt)
• The king of the north
• Invasions across the Middle East
He ultimately plants his headquarters in “the glorious holy mountain” — Jerusalem.
This parallels Book of Revelation 13, where the Beast receives power from Satan and rules forty-two months (3½ years).
The final half of the Tribulation is Satan’s most intense period of activity.
The Time of Unprecedented Trouble (Daniel 12)
Daniel 12 opens:
“There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was…”
Jesus quoted this directly in Gospel of Matthew 24:21:
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world…”
The parallel is exact.
The Resurrection Foretold
Daniel 12:2 provides one of the clearest Old Testament statements on resurrection:
“Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Jesus affirms this in Gospel of John 5:28–29:
• Resurrection of life
• Resurrection of judgment
Physical death is described as “sleep” because the body will awaken. The soul remains conscious; it does not cease to exist.
God’s Timetable
Throughout Daniel, one theme remains constant:
Everything unfolds according to God’s appointed time.
Empires rise and fall.
Rulers gain power.
Nations rage.
But the prophetic clock moves exactly as God decreed.
The final seven years will not begin early or late — only when His sovereign plan requires it.
✠SGT Dinah Scivoletti✠
✠Joan of Arc Priory✠
✠✠Act and God will Act (Actus et Deus Act)✠✠
