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THE KING OF FIERCE COUNTENANCE

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WHO IS THE KING OF DANIEL 11:36?


Daniel 8 and 11 are the same in their sequence of world empires after Babylon had passed off the scene of prophecy. Daniel 8 is the last symbolic prophecy where beasts and horns and such like are used. Daniel 11 is a detailed representation of Daniel 8. Let us look at Daniel 8 and correlate this with Daniel 11 to see if there are pointers in the prophecy itself which will result in the answer to the above question.


The Vision of Daniel 8 is given in verses 1-14.

The Explanation of the vision is given in verses 15-27.



THE VISION OF DANIEL 8 - VERSES 1-14


  1. The Ram having two horns - verses 3 & 4

  2. The He-Goat with its great horn - verses 5 - 8

  3. The Little Horn which became exceeding great - verses 9-13

  4. The 2300 days - verse 14


THE EXPLANATION OF THE VISION - VERSES 15-27



Important to note that the Little Horn which is Rome in Daniel 8 is described as a KING of Fierce countenance understanding dark sentences. Moses prophesied of this power that was to come against Israel in Deuteronomy 28:49,50 using some of the very words of Daniel 8:23


Deut 28:49 & 50


This nation spoke a language which was foreign to Israel, one which they did not understand. Israel understood Greek but not the Latin of Rome.


The Little Horn of Daniel 8 represents both Pagan and Papal Rome hence, the King of fierce countenance must represent both Pagan and Papal Rome.

The word translated "fierce" in Daniel 8:23 is "az" and is used in Scripture to mean: strong (12x), fierce (4x), mighty (3x), power (1x), greedy (1x), roughly (1x), stronger (1x). see Strongs Concordance on Daniel 11:36


Recall that the Little Horn was described as exceeding great in Daniel 8:9 meaning very strong hence it is consistent with the King of fierce countenance being described as "fierce" meaning strong.


THE SEQUENCE OF THE VISION IN DANIEL 8


  1. MEDO-PERSIAN KINGDOM

  2. GRECIAN KINGDOM

  3. DIVISION OF THE GRECIAN KINGDOM

  4. THE KING OF FIERCE COUNTENANCE - PAGAN ROME

  5. THE KING OF FIERCE COUNTENANCE - PAPAL ROME

  6. 2300 DAYS - THE JUDGMENT SITS IN "THE TIME OF THE END"



THE SEQUENCE IN DANIEL 11 FOLLOWS THE SAME PATTERN


  1. MEDES & PERSIANS - VS 1,2

  2. GRECIAN KINGDOM OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT - VS 3,4

  3. DIVISIONS AND BATTLES OF THE GRECIAN KINGDOM - VS 5-15

  4. PAGAN ROME CONQUERS THE GRECIAN KINGDOM OF THE NORTH - V 16

  5. PAGAN ROME CONQUERS THE GRECIAN KING OF THE SOUTH - V 25

  6. PAGAN ROME TRANSITIONS TO PAPAL ROME - VS 30-31

  7. PAPAL ROME PERSECUTES CHRISTIANS UNTIL 1798 - VS 33-35

  8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PAPAL ROME - THE KING OF VERSES 36-39

  9. PAPAL ROME'S FINAL WORK & FALL - VS 40-45

  10. THE JUDGMENT ENDS - DANIEL 12:1 (BIBLE NOT WRITTEN IN CHAPTERS)


No pun intended but there is NO TURKEY (TURKIYE) in all this.


When Rome conquered the King of the North in v 16, it became the King of the North. In keeping with the battles between the Kings of the North and South (vs 5-15), Rome, the King of the North battles and conquers Egypt the King of the South in v 25

With this victory Rome finally ends the GRECIAN kingdom's place in Bible prophecy.


Hence in the interpretation and expansion of Daniel 8 by Daniel 11, the King of fierce countenance of Daniel 8:23 is THE King of Daniel 11:36

The Little Horn is interpreted as the King of fierce countenance in Daniel 8

The Little Horn is Rome in Daniel 8

Hence Rome is the King of fierce countenance in Daniel 8

Therefore Daniel 11's King of verse 36 is Rome as well, Daniel 11 being a further detailed outline of Daniel 8.




Daniel 11:36: "And THE king...."

The original Hebrew of Daniel 11:36 has the definite article "THE" before the word King implying this king had been spoken of previously in verse 30 and that power according to the sequence of kingdoms in the prophecies of Daniel 8 and 11 is Rome. (Remember "king" and "kingdom" are used interchangeably in prophecy - Daniel 7:17,23)


The power described in verses 30-35  is also the power here described in verse 36. Some folk try to inject France or Napoleon Bonaparte into verse 36. Clearly France is NOT the power spoken of in verse 30


“...in the original Hebrew the definite article precedes the word ‘king.’ This would seem to imply that the ruler brought to view has already been referred to.” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, p 875.

In the commentary on Daniel 11 in Letter 103, 1904 E G White quotes Daniel 11:30-36 inclusive. We will revisit this quote as there is only one power intended in the quote - Rome. Therefore, the King of verse 36 is Rome which was the power mentioned previously in verse 30


DANIEL 11:30-36

"We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfilment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfilment of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that “shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 

“And 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 shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.” [Verses 30-36.] Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place. We see evidence that Satan is fast obtaining the control of human minds, who have not the fear of God before them. Let all read and understand the prophecies of this book, for we are now entering upon the time of trouble spoken of:19LtMs, Lt 103, 1904, par. 17 - 20


MUCH OF WHAT HISTORY IS TO BE REPEATED?

The history that is to be repeated is the history spoken of in verses 30-36 and not the whole of Daniel 11. This is reinforced when it is stated that scenes similar [not exactly but similar] to those described in the words of verses 30-36 will take place, "Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place." 

The history and scenes similar those described in verses 30-36 is the history of Papal Rome.


HISTORY OF PAPAL ROME

  1. Papal Rome is helped to power by armies aiding her - King Clovis' France

  2. Papal Rome persecutes Christians - vs 32-35

  3. Papal Rome receives a deadly wound - vs 35,40


THE FUTURE OF PAPAL ROME AS HISTORY IS REPEATED

  1. Papal Rome is helped to power again by the power of Protestant America

  2. Papal Rome will presecute Christians again through her harlot daughters

  3. Papal Rome will receive another deadly wound from which there is no recovery


Hence according to the sequence in the prophecy of Daniel 8 and the explanation of the vision of Daniel 8 in verse 23, the King fierce Countenance in Daniel 8 is the King of verse 36 in Daniel 11 and that King is Papal Rome. ... AND NOT FRANCE!



Daniel 11:36: "... shall do according to his will;..."

This King, Kingdom or power would exercise total control. 


The phrase “According to his will” is only used in reference to successive world powers which had the power of life & death over all and especially God’s people and these powers included:


  1. Medo Persia - Daniel 8:4

  2. Grecia - Daniel 11:3

  3. Pagan Rome - Daniel 11:16.

  4. Papal Rome - Daniel 11:32-35, cf Daniel 7:25


After Pagan Rome the next power to have such supremacy was Papal Rome. “... compromise between Paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of the "man of sin" foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power - a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth ACCORDING TO HIS WILL...Satan worked ACCORDING TO HIS WILL" Great Controversy p 50, 51

Rome was given her power, seat and great authority (Revelation 13:2) by the Dragon (Revelation 12:9)



In order to arrive at the right conclusion we must allow the Scriptures to come to our aid. The words "exalt", "magnify" and "speak" have been used previously in in connection with Papal Rome. France does not figure at all in any previous mention or reference with these words and the principle of first mention is important in interpreting prophecy. For example, how could anyone know what the beasts of Daniel 7 stood for except for the fact that Daniel 7:23 stated: "The fourth beast shall be the fourth KINGDOM" First mention principles takes us back to Daniel chapter 2 where KINGDOMS were first mentioned, hence we interpret the fourth beast to mean the fourth kingdom of the Daniel 2 image.


Likewise the words "exalt" "speak" and "magnify" would take us back to when they were first mentioned and in reference to what or whom. These words have been used in Scripture in connection with the power interpreted in prophecy as Rome.


"EXALT HIMSELF"

Paul referred to this power as the “man of sin”... “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God.” 2Thess 2:4.



This power is also the Little Horn of Daniel 8:11, 25 which did “magnify [himself] in his heart.” This power exalted itself by changing God's law - Daniel 7:25


"It is by the establishment of Sunday instead of the Sabbath of the Lord that the Papacy has thought to change the law of God. In thus changing the law of God, the Papacy has virtually declared independence of the Most High. In thus presuming to put away an institution—the Sabbath—which rests upon the authority of Jehovah, and putting in place of it an institution—the Sunday—which rests solely on its own authority, the Papacy has exalted itself above God." SITI Dec 23 1886, p 776.1


"MAGNIFY HIMSELF"


Daniel 8

The Little horn represents both pagan Rome and papal Rome in Daniel 8

This little Horn is identified as a KING of fierce countenance in verse 23

Note how the little horn magnifies itself in Daniel 8.



True to the prophecy of Daniel 8, Daniel 11:36 says: "..and magnify himself above every god,.." 



"SPEAK MARVELLOUS THINGS AGAINST GOD"


Daniel 7





Hence, the King of Daniel 11:36 shall "exalt", "speak" and "magnify" itself against the true God and this power is none other than Papal Rome already identified in Daniel 7 as the Little horn, in Daniel 8 as the Little horn and in Daniel 11 as the King of the North. And we haven't come to Revelation 13 yet.


REVELATION 13:1-10

The beast with the wounded head represents Papal Rome. Just as in Daniel 7, 8 and 11 we find the following:


a). verse 1: "... and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." and that includes the head with the deadly wound. Therefore, Papal Rome, the wounded head has the name of blasphemy written upon its head as well.






Strong's Concordance

The word translated as indignation in verse 36 is "za'am".

This is translated: indignation (20x), anger (1x), rage (1x).


זַעַם zaʻam, zah'-am; from H2194; strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin):—angry, indignation, rage.


This King / Kingdom will practise and prosper until God's indignation (wrath or anger) is poured out in the judgment of the great whore (Revelation 17:1)

Compare this prospering in Daniel 11:36 with that of the Little horn / King of fierce countenance of Daniel 8:24,25. They are one and the same power - Papal Rome:


  • The power spoken of in Daniel 11 verses 30 is Rome

  • Rome transitions to papal Rome in verse 31

  • Papal Rome persecutes God's people in vs 32-35 unto the "time of the end"

  • Papal Rome receives a deadly wound in the "time of the end" in verse 40

  • The wound is healed as Rome comes against the king of the South in verse 40

  • Papal Rome's last work of persecution & economic control in vs 41-44

  • Papal Rome attacks God's people but comes to its end in verse 45


THE KING OF DANIEL 11:36 IS THE KING OF FIERCE COUNTENANCE OF DANIEL 8:23 WHICH IS NONE OTHER THAN THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 8:9.

THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 7 AND 8 IS PAPAL ROME


May God bless you as you study into these things.

Elias








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1 Comment


Hi brother


You

"When Rome conquered the King of the North in v 16, it became the King of the North. In keeping with the battles between the Kings of the North and South (vs 5-15), Rome, the King of the North battles and conquers Egypt the King of the South in v 25

With this victory Rome finally ends the GRECIAN kingdom's place in Bible prophecy."


Me


For the second time I ask you the question:


you say that Rome by conquering the King of the North 👉he becomes the King of the North....


If you followed your logic to the end

Rome by conquering the King of the South👉 SHOULD also become the King of the South.


So…


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