31 "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 . 32 "By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant , but the people who know their God will display strength and take action . 33 " Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many ; yet they will fall by sword and by flame , by captivity and by plunder for many days . 34 "Now when they fall they will be granted a little help , and many will join with them in hypocrisy . 35 "Some of those who have insight will fall , in order to refine , purge and make them pure until the end time ; because it is still to come at the appointed time . 36 "Then the king will do as he pleases , and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods ; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished , for that which is decreed will be done . 37 "He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women , nor will he show regard for any other god ; for he will magnify himself above them all . 38 "But instead he will honor a god of fortresses , a god whom his fathers did not know ; he will honor him with gold , silver , costly stones and treasures . 39 "He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god ; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many , and will parcel out land for a price . 40 "At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots , with horsemen and with many ships ; and he will enter countries , overflow them and pass through . 41 "He will also enter the Beautiful Land , and many countries will fall ; but these will be rescued out of his hand : Edom , Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon . 42 "Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries , and the land of Egypt will not escape . 43 "But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt ; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels . 44 "But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many . 45 "He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain ; yet he will come to his end , and no one will help him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 11:31-45
Commentary on Daniel 11:31-45
(Read Daniel 11:31-45)
The remainder of this prophecy is very difficult, and commentators differ much respecting it. From Antiochus the account seems to pass to antichrist. Reference seems to be made to the Roman empire, the fourth monarchy, in its pagan, early Christian, and papal states. The end of the Lord's anger against his people approaches, as well as the end of his patience towards his enemies. If we would escape the ruin of the infidel, the idolater, the superstitious and cruel persecutor, as well as that of the profane, let us make the oracles of God our standard of truth and of duty, the foundation of our hope, and the light of our paths through this dark world, to the glorious inheritance above.