Daniel Unlocked #81. Daniel’s Last Prophecy. (Part 1)
As the panoramic prophetic news bulletin has been verbally unfolded by Gabriel to Daniel there emerges three major conflicts between Western Christianity and Islam. The first one is explained in Verses 25 – 30. As Pagan Rome made no such invasion into the south after the death of Jesus, this must be detailing the papal-led Crusades against Islam initiated be Pope Urban II in 1095. Islam now controlled the area south of Palestine. The king of the south is now in its Islamic phase. There were 9 major crusades and many minor ones lasting almost 200 years. Armies were large and casualties high. There was lots of intrigue within the armies and both sides lied (v27) and broke agreements. V28 talks of the booty from the crusades that produced many ‘relics and artifacts’ being taken back to Western Europe. V29 talks of the ‘former’, which would have been the first conflict between Islam and Christianity including Islamic conquest and Crusades. This can be compared to the first woe of Revelation 9. (Be sure to follow the verse-by-verse exposition of Revelation that will follow this series.)
The current or “appointed time” is the second conflict between Islam and Christianity.
V30 talks about the ships of Kittim (Cyprus) and details the Islamic naval victories in the battle of Preveza in 1538 and Dierba in 1560. This led to decades of Islamic naval control until Pope Pius V organized the Holy League, which temporarily stopped Islam in one of the largest Medieval naval battles. This was the battle of Lepanto, (October 7, 1571). It was a naval engagement in the waters off southwestern Greece between the allied Christian forces of the Holy League and the Ottoman Turks during an Ottoman campaign to acquire the Venetian Island of Cyprus. It was the largest naval battle in Western history since classical antiquity, involving more than 450 warships. During this time Pope Pius V also reasserted the liturgical Mass, the Inquisition, and the decrees of the council of Trent. Notice that v31 has the same themes as Daniel 8:11-13, which was the religious phase of the little horn.
In vs 32 – 34 we read of the pre-Reformation and Protestant Reformation with many reformers being put to death and burned at the stake. V35 suggests that vs36 – 39 will be a summary of the evils of the 1260-year rule of the papacy during the Medieval period and a description of the counter-reformation.
Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 24:15 to understand the “abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet” is significant here. It is interesting that at least in reference to Daniel 11:29–39, Martin Luther and other reformers identified the abomination of desolation in Daniel 11:31 with the papacy and its doctrines and practices.
The greatest fault of Roman Christianity has been that it obscures the work of Christ’s intercession in the heavenly sanctuary and substitutes it with an earthly priesthood, which includes Mary. The truth is, Mary is dead, buried and awaiting the resurrection at the second coming just like the rest of God’s people. Thus, the correlation of Daniel 11 with Daniel 7 and 8 reinforces the view of Luther and many other Protestant commentators that the institution of the papacy and its teachings constitute the fulfillment of these prophecies in history. Satan can only attack Christ by attacking His truth and His people.
In this connection, no church within the limits of Romish jurisdiction was long left undisturbed in the enjoyment of freedom of conscience. No sooner had the papacy obtained power than she stretched out her arms to crush all that refused to acknowledge her sway, and one after another the churches of the past submitted to her dominion. Those that didn’t experienced Daniel 11:33.
If you are interested in reading the decrees of the council of Trent here is a link to my Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wo0g80znqjtoewu1qlfcl/The-Decrees-of-the-Council-of-Trent.docx?rlkey=rxd1nkkhoqpka70a1fou18mqb&dl=0