重申末期最重要的事（但11章）

王必任意而行、自高自大、超過所有的神、又用奇異的話攻擊萬　神之神．他必行事亨通、直到主的忿怒完畢、因為所定的事、必然成就。（但 11：36）

本章預言但以理之後三、四百年內所要發生的事，至今多已完全應驗。但以理書的預言，目的都是在告訴我們一件事：世界的運轉，都是神早已預定，按照神的救贖計劃正在進行。就好像天使對但以理說的時候，天使就言明這一切是按照「真確書」來預言的：

但我要將那錄在真確書上的事告訴你．除了你們的大君米迦勒之外、沒有幫助我抵擋這兩魔君的。（但 10：21）

因此，讀聖經可以約略知道未來世界局勢，好比現在對照馬太福音中，主耶穌的預言，我們正處在「末日第一階段」中：災難的起頭。也就是說，從今以後，災難將越來越大、越來越嚴重。今天已經常看到匪夷所思的大災難，但是將來只有更大、更誇張。就好像：地震將來都是規模七、八以上、洪水動不動就是淹好幾層樓以上、超大規模的森林大火、全球性大饑荒經濟蕭條、遍地開花般的大戰爭等等。

你們也要聽見打仗和打仗的風聲、總不要驚慌．因為這些事是必須有的。只是末期還沒有到。民要攻打民、國要攻打國．多處必有饑荒、地震。這都是災難的起頭。〔災難原文作生產之難〕（太 24：6-8）

再來還會進入「末日第二階段」，就是「末期來到」，時間點是在於「福音傳遍天下」。

這天國的福音、要傳遍天下、對萬民作見證、然後末期纔來到。（太 24：14）

末期，就是但以理書裡提到的「一七之半」，也是啟示錄二十章中，基督作王一千年「結束後」，撒但從無底坑被釋放上來。這時期也是「日出之地的天使蓋神的印，已經蓋完了」的時間點，意思是進入末期時，將再沒有機會信主、也沒有機會受聖靈，是進入空前的大災難期。感謝主，這時間極短，因為主說：

因為那時、必有大災難、從世界的起頭、直到如今、沒有這樣的災難、後來也必沒有。若不減少那日子、凡有血氣的、總沒有一個得救的．只是為選民、那日子必減少了。（太 24：21-22）

所以但以理書中的歷史預言，其實不是真正的重點，真正的重點是：防備末期「敵基督」的出現。正如本章中，40-45節目前歷史中還無法找到對應的應驗部分。這段應該就是關乎末日敵基督者的預言，也是但以理書中重複出現的重要訊息。

作惡違背聖約的人、他必用巧言勾引．惟獨認識神的子民、必剛強行事。民間的智慧人、必訓誨多人、然而他們多日必倒在刀下、或被火燒、或被擄掠搶奪。（但 11：32-33）

雖然敵基督者會出現，「智慧人」也就是堅守聖經真理的人還會遭受殺害，但是「神在人的國中掌權」也是但以理書中的重要訊息之一，所以我們不用害怕，因為神掌權。且這些都已經記載在「確認書」中，是計畫好的。主耶穌也告訴我們「總不要驚慌，因為這是必須有的」。那我們該如何因應？那就是照著主在馬太福音廿四章所說的，要「預備」自己，成為「忠心」且有「見識」的僕人。

所以你們也要預備．因為你們想不到的時候、人子就來了。誰是忠心有見識的僕人、為主人所派、管理家裏的人、按時分糧給他們呢？（太 24：44-45）

忠心，就是完全順服，能使命必達，謹守遵行神的命令的人。不是驕傲自大、無法順服的人。或是總是意見一大堆、甚至帶頭離道反教的人。

見識，就是聰明有智慧，能專心考究並學習真理的人。而不是總是似懂非懂，半瓶水就一直想要發表自己無知的理論，甚至變成在傳異端的人。因為：

智慧人必發光、如同天上的光．那使多人歸義的、必發光如星、直到永永遠遠。（傳 12：3）

By Isaiah Kao

Reaffirming the Most Important Thing in the End Times (Dan. 11)

October 20, 2026 

“The king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.” (Dan. 11:36, NASB)

This chapter prophesies events that would take place within three or four hundred years after Daniel’s time. Most of these prophecies have now been completely fulfilled. The purpose of the prophecies in the Book of Daniel is to tell us one thing: the course of world events has already been determined by God and is unfolding according to His plan of salvation. When the angel spoke to Daniel, he made it clear that all these things had been prophesied according to the “writing of truth”:

“However, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.” (Dan. 10:21, NASB 2020)

Therefore, by reading the Bible, we can gain a general understanding of future world events. For example, when we compare the present situation with the Lord Jesus’ prophecies in the Book of Matthew, we can see that we are now in "the first stage of the end times" : the beginning of pains. This means that from now on, disasters will become increasingly severe and devastating. Today, we already frequently witness disasters that seem  unimaginable.Yet even greater and more extraordinary disasters lie ahead. For example, earthquakes may reach magnitudes of seven or eight and above; floods may rise high enough to submerge several floors of buildings; enormous wildfires may spread across vast forest areas; global famines and economic depressions may occur; and wars may break out in many places around the 

world.

“And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.” (Matt. 24:6–8, NASB 2020)

Next, we will enter "the second stage of the end times", when the end comes. The key point in time is when the gospel has been preached throughout the world.

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14, NASB 2020)

The end refers to "the middle of the week” mentioned in the Book of Daniel. It also corresponds to the period after Christ’s thousand-year reign described in Revelation 20, when Satan is released from the abyss. This is also the point when "the angel from the east has finished sealing God’s people".

In other words, once this final period begins, there will no longer be an opportunity to believe in the Lord or receive the Holy Spirit. It will be a time of all time tribulation. Thank the Lord that this period will be very short, for the Lord says:

“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” (Matt. 24:21–22, NASB 2020)

Therefore, the historical prophecies in the Book of Daniel are not the main point. The real emphasis is on being prepared for the appearance of the "Antichrist" in the end times. As we see in this chapter, the events described in verses 40–45 have not yet been clearly identified with any historical fulfillment. This passage should therefore be understood as a prophecy concerning the Antichrist in the end times. It is also an important message repeated throughout the Book of Daniel.

“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action. And 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.” (Dan. 11:32–33, NASB 2020)

Although the Antichrist will appear, and the “people who have insight”—those who hold firmly to the truth of the Bible—will suffer persecution and even be killed, one of the important messages of the Book of Daniel is that God rules over the kingdoms of men. Therefore, we do not need to be afraid, because God is in control. All these things have already been recorded in the “the writing of truth ” and are part of His predetermined plan.

The Lord Jesus also tells us, “See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place.” How, then, should we respond? We should prepare ourselves, as the Lord teaches in Matthew 24, to become servants who are both "faithful" and "sensible".

“For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household, to give them their food at the proper time?” (Matt. 24:44–45, NASB 2020)

Faithful means being fully obedient, carrying out the mission entrusted to us, and carefully keeping and obeying God’s commandments. It does not describe someone who is proud and arrogant and refuses to submit, or someone who constantly raises objections and opinions, or even takes the lead in departing from the truth and opposing the faith.

Sensible means being intelligent and discerning, diligently studying and learning the truth. It does not describe someone who only has a superficial understanding yet constantly promotes ignorant theories, eventually becoming a person of heresy. For:

“Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Dan. 12:3, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao