Daniel 11:36–45—The Willful King

In this episode, I examine one of the main prophecies about the coming Antichrist found in Daniel 11:36–45, where he’s called “the king who does as he pleases” or the “willful king.” This passage provides a comprehensive overview of the Antichrist’s career from beginning to end, culminating with the simple but profound statement: “he will come to his end and no one will help him.” I explain the transition in Daniel chapter 11 from the historical figure of Antiochus Epiphanes (who serves as a prototype of the Antichrist) to the future end-times ruler beginning in verse 36. This willful king will be totally self-absorbed, exalting himself above every god and speaking unheard-of blasphemies against the God of gods. He’ll show no regard for any deity—neither the gods of his ancestors nor “the one desired by women” (likely referring to the Messiah). Instead, he’ll worship Satan, “a god of fortresses” unknown to his ancestors. The passage describes his military campaigns during the time of the end, including what I believe is his response to the Gog-Magog invasion described in Ezekiel chapters 38–39. When the King of the South and King of the North attack (likely the nations that invade Israel), the Antichrist will use this power vacuum to sweep through many countries like a flood. He’ll invade Egypt and North Africa, then return to Israel when alarmed by reports from the east and north, setting up his headquarters between the seas and the Holy Mountain in Jerusalem. The passage then abruptly jumps to his final destruction, reminding us that God will easily overcome the greatest concentration of evil in human history. This should encourage us that if God can defeat the ultimate evil of the future, He can certainly handle the challenges we face today. Support Tipping Point Ministries To help us produce more content like this please consider supporting Tipping Point! All income from subscriptions goes back into this ministry to cover production of this site, articles, videos, our annual conference and other resources. Please subscribe and give gift subscriptions. Thank you for buying our books. We are also grateful for one-time donations to our ministry. We appreciate your support! The Persian Storm: Bible Prophecy and Iran’s Last Threat to Israel In The Persian Storm, biblical prophecy expert Dr. Mark Hitchcock shows you exactly why Iran will continue to be dangerous, tracing the striking link between today’s volatility and ancient Scripture. With a Scripture-first approach—without hype or sensationalism—Hitchcock helps you explore the prophecies involving Persia (modern-day Iran) and its long, defiant posture toward Israel, giving you a grounded way to understand what matters and why. You’ll learn how to: * Understand key Bible prophecies with greater clarity and confidence, and the role of the United States and Israel * Evaluate current events through a steady biblical lens (without chasing headlines) * Live with greater peace and readiness instead of fear and confusion * Stay spiritually alert as you anticipate the return of Jesus As you explore the biblical books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, where the Bible records many predictions about the region known as Mesopotamia or Persia, you’ll dig deeper into ancient prophecies that will shed light on important questions for the present day, like: * Do these interpretations still hold true today? * What about a possible invasion of Israel? * Does Iran still plan to wipe Israel off the map? * And what about the role of the United States in Bible prophecy? The Persian Storm is a sober, hope-filled guide to help you discern prophetic truth and face the future with confidence—because prophecy is meant to prepare you, not scare you. Personal Reflection & Group Discussion For our paid subscribers, we’ll provide a set of personal reflection and group discussion questions. These are designed to help you dig deeper into the content of the show, whether you’re watching alone, with a spouse, with a friend, or as part of a small group. Personal Reflection * How does understanding that the Antichrist will be a “willful king” who “does as he pleases” challenge me to examine areas where I might be living self-willed rather than surrendered to God’s will? * When I consider that the Antichrist will “exalt himself above every god,” what does this teach me about the ultimate danger of pride and self-exaltation in my own spiritual life? * How should knowing that God has predetermined the Antichrist’s end (“he will come to his end and no one will help him”) affect my confidence in God’s sovereignty over current world events that trouble me? * What does the Antichrist’s worship of “a god of fortresses” (Satan) reveal about the spiritual battle between dependence on military might versus trust in the true God? * If God can easily defeat the greatest concentration of evil in history, how should this truth change my perspective on the challenges and evil I encounter in my daily life? Small Group Discussion Questions * Discuss the transition from Antiochus Epiphanes (historical) to the Antichrist (future) in Daniel 11:36—what characteristics make the Antichrist the ultimate fulfillment of this “willful king” pattern? * Examine Pastor Mark’s interpretation that the “King of the South” and “King of the North” refer to the Gog-Magog invasion—how does this connect Daniel’s prophecy with Ezekiel chapters 38–39? * Compare the Antichrist’s self-worship and blasphemy against God with the subtle forms of self-exaltation we see in our culture today—what are the warning signs? * The Antichrist will have “no regard for the one desired by women”—discuss the different interpretations of this phrase and what they reveal about his character. * How should the abrupt ending “he will come to his end and no one will help him” encourage believers facing overwhelming evil in our current world? Study Notes Feature I’m making a resource available: a downloadable PDF with study notes for each episode. My prayer is that these notes will help you go deeper in your understanding of Bible prophecy and strengthen your walk with the Lord. I hope it’s a blessing to you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit endtimes.substack.com/subscribe