The Syrian Civil War and the Rise of the Antichrist
November 17, 2015
“The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king. The four horns that took the place of the shattered horn represent four kingdoms. They will rise from that nation, but without its power. Near the end of their kingdoms, when the rebels have reached the full measure of their sin, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne.” (Daniel 8:21–23, HCSB)
This brief video from Vox below explains the history of the Syrian Civil war. Watching it may help you understand the connection between the civil war and the prophecy in Daniel 8.
Many people have tried to understand who the Antichrist would be and where he would come from in order to determine a future leader who would fit that description. The prophet Daniel was given a word from God about the Antichrist. In Daniel 8:21, we see that God shared with him the future of the Medo-Persian empire (the ram), then the Greek Empire (the goat). Greece will be shattered and four groups will emerge (Macedon, Ptolemy, Seleucid, and Pergamos) (Daniel 8:22).
Then there is a break in the text, as well as a break in time. Daniel 8:23 contains a separate prophecy about a special person who will take charge in the distant future. The key point to remember is that although time has moved forward over two thousand years, the same four kingdoms will continue to exist. They may exist as different political entities. Yet, they still exist. This is why Daniel 8:23 states: “near the end of their kingdoms.” Then Daniel 8:23-26 declares eight characteristics of a future Antichrist, known as an “insolent king”. Daniel 8:23 clearly describes a set of events that has not yet happened. So the kingdoms have not yet ended. They may have changed hands, but in the end, they exhibit the same behaviors.
The Antichrist will rise from one of the four kingdoms that were split after Greece ended. When one looks at the political map today, those four kingdoms contain the following countries: Ptolemy is Egypt, Pergamos is Turkey, Macedon is in the Balkans in Europe, and Seleucid is in Syria, extending east to Iran. It is significant that each empire in its later form is involved in the Syrian conflict. These include Egypt and the Arab States, Turkey, Russia in support of Assad Bashar, ISIS which proclaims itself as the true Islamic State. The Antichrist will come to power from one of these four groups. “An insolent king” will emerge.
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