Daniel 8:9. Where must the final world ruler before Jesus originate?
One of the four divisions of Alexander’s domain. Syria, Egypt, Greece, Thrace (small portion of Europe). Delving deeper into Daniel it becomes clear that the choice is narrowed to Syria (with different boundaries than the current nation).
Daniel 8:13. Will there be a Temple in the last days? Will it be trampled, then restored yet again?
Verse 17 is the key here. Daniel, who scratches his head throughout the visions, is given some light here, and we can grab it with him. He is told that the visions he is seeing right now all have to do with the “time of the end.”
Hence, verse 13, the holy place – the Tribulation/Millennial Temple – will indeed be there, be defiled, but (verse 14) then be restored, in time, it seems, for the coming of Messiah, and His entry through the Eastern Gate, as per Ezekiel.
Daniel 8:25. How will antichrist oppose Jesus at His return?
He will have gained great backing from the armies of the world. He will have inside information about Jesus’ coming in terms of location and time. Actually all the clues needed are in the present Scriptures! He will have deceived himself into thinking he actually has the power to win against the Lord of Heaven. The battle will last only minutes, or so it seems. (See Revelation 19:19-20.)
Daniel 9:26. What has stopped the 490 year clock of the 70 week prophecy? What will start it?
Though it is not totally clear to me, the common thread I have found seems to be the idea of the “covenant.” The Old Covenant ended at the death of Jesus. And the clock stopped there, at only 483 years. Seven years missing. At that moment, the Spirit-covenant, the “New Testament” we call it, began. Jewish dealings were suspended, as it were, and God’s emphasis for these 2,000 years has been bringing in Gentiles.
But a third covenant seems to be the beginning of the end for the Jewish people and history. Antichrist makes a covenant with the Jews that is to last seven years. Half way through the seven years, the covenant is broken, chaos ensues on the earth, but within less than 4 years, all prophecy is fulfilled.
Daniel 11:5-35. What does this series of stories prophesy?
In short, these are the Syrian Wars. They took place in the period between the Testaments, and were fought between Egypt and (old) Syria. These two strongholds were divisions of Alexander’s Greek Empire, which split upon his death. Every bit of the prophetic material in this passage has come to pass perfectly.
Daniel 11:5-35. Generally speaking, who is the “king of the North”, and who is the “king of the South”?
The leaders of the North, with names like Seleucus and Antiochus, were the Syrian Kings. In the South, Egypt was ruled by a line of “Ptolemy” dictators, who got their name from the General of Alexander that took over Egypt, and their power from the ancient tradition of the Pharaoh’s. The people of that nation delighted to have a strong man ruling once again in the name of the gods.
Daniel 11:29-35. Will history repeat itself?
I ask this question because this intermediate passage did indeed happen in history, but also sounds like things that are yet to come. For example:
Antiochus/antichrist hates the people who want to keep the holy covenant.
The sacrifice will be taken away, an action that is supposed to take place at the very end.
The abomination of desolation is set up. Jesus pointed to this as the sign of the very end.
Godly people will die en masse during this time.
Godly people still living will be made holy and pure “until the end time…”
All of this points to the end of all things. Yet historians will tell you, and they are correct, that this section of the prophecy was also fulfilled perfectly by Antiochus Epiphanes 200 years before Jesus came!