Forces
shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
Daniel 11:31
Daniel 11 [25.] He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him. Yes, they who eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain. As for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. Then he will return into his land with great substance; and his heart will be against the holy covenant; and he will take action, and return to his own land. At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former.
Daniel 11 [30.] For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall take action: he shall even return, and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and take action. Those who are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries.
Daniel 11 [35.] Some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed. The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers didn’t know shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whoever acknowledges him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.
Meaning:
Daniel 11 is one of the most detailed prophecies in the Bible. An angel describes to Daniel the long struggle between “the king of the north” and “the king of the south”, the Greek kingdoms of Syria and Egypt that arose after the empire of Alexander the Great was divided. From verse 21 the chapter focuses on one ruler, a “contemptible person”, whom history identifies as the Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC). Verse 31 describes his attack on the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus referred to this prophecy when he warned of “the abomination of desolation” (Mark 13:14).
- “For ships of Kittim shall come against him”
The verse before sets the scene (see the Context above). In 168 BC Antiochus invaded Egypt a second time. But a Roman envoy, arriving by ship from the west, ordered him to withdraw. According to ancient historians the envoy drew a circle in the sand around the king and demanded his answer before he stepped out of it. Humiliated, Antiochus turned back and took out his anger on “the holy covenant”, the Jewish people and their faith.
- “Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress”
Antiochus sent troops to Jerusalem. They attacked the city, killed many of its people and built a fortified citadel overlooking the temple. Some Jews who had adopted Greek ways supported him. The temple, which was both the holy place and the stronghold of the city, was profaned.
- “And shall take away the continual burnt offering”
The continual burnt offering was the sacrifice offered every morning and evening at the temple, the steady heartbeat of Israel’s worship. Antiochus banned it. He also forbade circumcision and the keeping of the Sabbath, and copies of the Law were destroyed. Those who refused to obey were put to death. The angel had foretold this: “Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and take action” (see the Context).
- “And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate”
In December 167 BC an altar to the Greek god Zeus was set up on top of the altar of burnt offering, and unclean animals were sacrificed on it. The Jewish history recorded in 1 Maccabees describes it in Daniel’s own terms. The temple was made desolate, emptied of true worship, until the Maccabees recaptured it three years later and cleansed it.
Jesus said that this pattern would be repeated: “when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not… then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Mark 13:14; compare Matthew 24:15). It happened again when Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70, and Daniel’s final chapter returns to the same event (Daniel 12:11).
The Significance of Daniel 11:31
- God rules over history
This prophecy was given long before the events it describes. It shows that the rise and fall of kings is known to God and under his control.
- Faithfulness under pressure
When worship was banned, “the people who know their God” stood firm. Knowing God personally is the source of courage in persecution.
- Guard what is holy
The abomination was an idol in God’s house. Believers, who are God’s temple, are called to keep idols out of their hearts.
Cross-References:
Daniel 12:11: "From the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up" The same event in Daniel’s last vision.
Daniel 9:26-27: "on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate" An earlier prophecy of desolation.
Matthew 24:15: "When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" Jesus cites Daniel.
Mark 13:14: "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains" Jesus’ warning to his disciples.
Conclusion: Daniel 11:31 foretold how a hostile king would send forces to profane the temple, stop the daily sacrifices and set up “the abomination that makes desolate”. Antiochus IV Epiphanes did exactly this in 167 BC, placing a pagan altar in God’s house. Jesus pointed back to Daniel’s words to warn of a similar desolation in his own generation. The prophecy reminds us that God knows and governs history, and that those who know their God can stand firm when faith is under attack.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible