The King of the North will arise
Artist’s portrayal of the beasts of Daniel 7, the last will also be the final King of the North
The 11th chapter of the Book of Daniel frequently discusses a leader called the “King of the North.” Most theologians believe that certain leaders throughout history fulfilled various prophecies about him in that chapter. Yet, others also realize that there will arise a final King of the North.
Related to this, the late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote the following:
In Daniel 11:21, referring in original, typical fulfillment to Antiochus Epiphanes, there shall stand up a vile person…So once again before the second coming of Christ, a vile leader will stop the daily sacrifices being offered…This same prophecy spoken by Jesus is also reported by Luke…21:20-24 (Armstrong HW. Personal, Plain Truth magazine, June 1967).
So, Herbert W. Armstrong clearly taught that starting at least from verse 21, that Daniel 11 had a dual/future fulfillment. We are getting very close to the fulfillment of Daniel 11:21.
This same vile leader, who appears at the “appointed time” of “the end” is described without that title in Daniel 8:
19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be…23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. 24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 25 “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means. 26 “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.” (Daniel 8:19,23-26)
This King is also the “Beast” that the ten kings give their power to in Revelation 17:12-13.
But notice the portion of Daniel 8:23 that I bolded above. This King rises up when the trangressors have reached their fullness, which suggests that this is about when God has had enough of the increasing immorality in nations like the U.S.A. Immorality is increasing in the Anglo-lands, and will get to the point that the King will rise up.
Where does this King clearly appear in the sequence of Daniel 11?
While it is possible, and even likely, that verses 21-26 of Daniel 11 (and verse 20 may start the final fulfillment and verse 24 shows that this leader will after first seem to be promoting peace; see Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013?) may show and/or parallel later portions of that chapter, it is clear that the future and final King of the North is the king mentioned who will come to his end at the “appointed time”. This “appointed time” (Strong’s word #4150) is first mentioned in Daniel 11:27 which suggest it is in the future and as well in vss. 29 and 35 which appear to be the specific time.
Perhaps it may be of historical interest to note that even though some modern Catholic scholars believe that all of Daniel 11 was fulfilled (e.g. Kurz, W. What Does the Bible Say About the End Times? A Catholic View. Servant Books, Cincinnati. Nihil Obstat: Kistner H., Schehr T.P. Imprimi Potest: Link F., Paul J.M. Imprimatur: Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxillary Bishop, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 19, 2004, p. 68), that this is not consistent with the teachings of many earlier Catholic teachers.
For one example, even though he confused the Antichrist and the King of the North, the late 4th century Catholic Jerome felt that from at least verse 24 on, that a future fulfillment involving a King of the North would occur as Jerome wrote:
Verse 24. “And there shall stand up in his place one despised, and the kingly honor shall not be given him; and he shall come privately and shall obtain the kingdom by fraud. And the arms of the fighter shall be overcome before his face and shall be broken, and the prince of the covenant as well. And after friendly advances he shall deal deceitfully with him, and shall go up and shall overcome with a small people. And he shall enter into rich and prosperous cities, and shall do things which his fathers never did, nor his fathers’ fathers. He shall scatter their spoil and their booty and their wealth, and shall undertake plots against the best fortified cities, and shall continue thus for a time.” Up to this point the historical order has been followed…But those of our persuasion believe all these things are spoken prophetically of the Antichrist who is to arise in the end time…Verses 40, 41…the king of the North…(Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 12/20/08).
And Jerome also specifically believed that the deal in Daniel 11:27 would have future fulfillment as it was not fully fulfilled in ancient times:
Verses 27—-30. “And the heart of the two kings shall be to do evil, and they speak falsehood at one table, and they shall not prosper, because as yet the end is unto another time. And he shall return into his land with much riches.” There is no doubt but what Antiochus did conclude a peace with Ptolemy and ate at the same table with him and devised plots against him, and yet without attaining any success thereby, since he did not obtain his kingdom but was driven out by Ptolemy’s soldiers. But it cannot be proved from this set of facts that the statement of this Scripture was ever fulfilled by past history, namely that there were two kings whose hearts were deceitful and who inflicted evil upon each other. Actually, Ptolemy was a mere child of tender years and was taken in by Antiochus’ fraud; how then could he have plotted evil against him? And so our party insist that all these things refer to the Antichrist and to the king of Egypt whom he has for the first time overcome…(Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 12/20/08).
The specific word translated as ‘the end’ (Strong’s 4150) in vs. 27 is the same as in vs. 45 where the king of the North comes to his final end. It is also in vs. 40 when the king of the North invades the king of the South (which is the last time the term ‘king of the South’ is mentioned as this leads to his end). Thus there is a future King of the North as these scriptures have not been fulfilled in their entirety.
However, prior to being referred to as “the King of the North” he initially appears to be referred to as a “prince” in Daniel 9:26-27. Hence while this leader somehow is a “prince,” he apparently will have some role in making some type of treaty with Israel (and probably including the United States as the covenant is “with many”) approximately 3 1/2 years before the Great Tribulation begins (one is normally a “prince” before one becomes a “king”). As this deal has still not been made, this would suggest that contrary to claims of various false prophets (Ronald Weinland of CGPFK comes to mind) the great tribulation will not begin prior to 2017 (more details on this are included in the articles Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2013 or 2014?).
The Great Tribulation will also not start before there is an actual King of the South and an actual King of the North–and while the “prince” will apparently help make a deal with Israel, Daniel 11:27 requires two kings, which suggests that the “prince” will gain more and more importance after the deal in Daniel 9:27. Daniel 9:26-27 shows that this prince comes from the people of the old Roman Empire. This prince rules the final Beast power of Revelation 13:1, the beast of the sea. The Bible is clear that the “Great Sea” (a term used in the Old Testament, but not as specified as such in the New Testament) where the Beasts of Daniel 7 come from, is the Mediterranean Sea (e.g. Joshua 9:1, 23:4; Ezekiel 47:15). The Beast power is not a nation like Russia, which does not border the Mediterranean Sea, but Europe which does.
The Book of Daniel specifically shows that the King of the South (a Muslim confederation) will make a deal with the King of the North, but that neither side is trustworthy:
27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time (Daniel 11:27, NKJV for remaining verses unless otherwise specified).
Various events in Europe and the Middle East show that the stage is set to fulfill these and other Bible prophecies. Since Islamists have utilized terrorism as a major weapon in the past and the Bible teaches that terror will be one of the curses that the descendants of Jacob will face for disobedience (Leviticus 26:16; Jeremiah 15:8), this deal may include the King of the South agreeing to utilize terrorism as part of his contribution to eliminate the Anglo-nations (which are those with the “strongest fortresses” in verse 39 who are destroyed).
Somewhat oddly, something upsets the King of the North even though he feels that he made a very good deal:
28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land (Daniel 11:28).
This verse about his heart being “moved against the holy covenant” may be referring to the fact that some of God’s people are warning against what the deal in verse 27 means. Notice verse 28 from a different translation:
28 Then the king of the north will return to his country with great treasures. But on the way, he will attack the religion of God’s people and do whatever else he pleases (Daniel 11:28, CEV–Contemporary English Version).
Since it is the Church of God religion that historically is the “religion of God’s people” and its members are the ones who fulfill the new covenant by having the law written into their hearts, it seems likely that the literal expression “holy covenant” refers to the most faithful of the true Christians (cf. Luke 1:72-75; Hebrews 8:8-12; Daniel 12:7). It appears that God’s people are teaching something publicly that the King of the North does not want taught–otherwise he would have little reason to bother to attack such a “little flock” (Luke 12:32). This is about the time that the “one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days” days (1335 days) mentioned in Daniel 12:12 begin–although it may not be until the next verse or two.
While I believe that the “religion of God’s people” in Daniel 11:28 specifically includes the remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God, it may or may not include others like the Sardis remnant as it has a name that it is alive while it is dead, or the Laodiceans as their work will most likely be too lukewarm to wish to truly and powerfully warn against these events by the King of the North (or if the Laodiceans begin to do that, I believe that they will pull back). But, consistent with Daniel 12:7, Daniel 11:28 seems to be referring the beginning of the scattering of God’s people.
Also, notice that the Bible states:
6 “Flee from the land of the north”, says the LORD…7 Up Zion! Escape you that dwell with the daughter of Babylon (Zechariah 2:6,7).
Hence, it may be that prior to going to a place of protection (please see There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra), some Christians will flee out of the European lands dominated by the rising King of the North prior to him moving into Jerusalem–probably during verses 28-30 of Daniel 11 as this is when the King of the North begins his anger against God’s most faithful (and I believe that since God’s faithful will understand these passages in Daniel 11 by then, some will not wait until verses 30 or 31 to flee from the north–and will most likely go to Judea).
Now at “the appointed time,” something will trigger the King of the North going towards the south:
29 At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. 30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant (Daniel 11:29-30).
30 For warships from western coastlands will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant. (Daniel 11:30 New Living Translation 1996 Greg Laurie).
Note: the Hebrew term translated as “Cyprus” in the NKJV is somewhat of a mistranslation. The KJV uses the term Chittim which means “Western lands.” Hence the King of the North will apparently be temporarily stopped by a Western naval power. A similar passage is in Numbers 24:24, which according to Numbers 24:14, is for the latter times–and in it the Western naval power troubles descendants of Asshur/Assyria (many of whom now seem to be residing in Europe, see Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History, see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel for more of a discussion of Numbers 24:24). Warning the world that the King of the North is fulfilling Bible prophecy when he does this is likely to be part of the “short work” of Romans 9:28 that God will accomplish through His most faithful.
Here is a Catholic writing related to this passage in Daniel 11 and what follows:
It seems he will probably be defeated by by certain people of the Western nations, who will give him a naval battle…(11:30). But he will soon recover from this defeat. (Huchedé P. History of Antichrist. Imprimatur Edward Charles Fabre, Bishop of Montreal, First English edition 1884. 1976 reprint from TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 22)
Despite some claims, notice that a major battle is not shown to have occurred in verse 30; it may only involve a show of naval force. Thus, that verse may possibly indicate that this is when the European Beast power may temporarily make a deceptive deal with a major Western power (probably the United States) which will ultimately allow it to destroy the USA and its English-speaking allies (see also verse 39).
Why does the Western naval power seem to be the United States?
First, the United States is west of Jerusalem.
Second, the United States is a major naval power, and often uses its naval power as a threat.
Third, although Latin America is also west of Jerusalem, it (even when all the nations that compose it are combined) would not seem to have enough of a naval force to stop the European king’s approach (plus, since Latin America shares culture, languages, and religion with Europe, it will most likely be allied with the King of the North either at this time or shortly thereafter).
Fourth, the Bible shows that the problems from the kings that are north and east of the King of the North do not occur until verse 44 of Daniel 11, hence once they are eliminated as possibilities, this pretty much only leaves that United States and its English-speaking allies as the only possible naval power that could deter the King of the North at this stage.
But getting back to verse 30 itself, notice that the King of the North will be even further enraged by the people of the “holy covenant” and most likely try to stop the supporters of it from proclaiming the truth about his intentions and the gospel of the kingdom (c.f. Matthew 24:14). The King of the North will probably attempt to learn more about how to eliminate them by being nice to apostate members (those who “forsake the holy covenant”)–apparently he attempts to get them to betray true Christians (Matthew 24:10). It strikes me as important that although a naval power stops the King of the North momentarily, the King of the North becomes apparently more enraged with the people of the holy covenant than the naval power.
Why would this be?
Most likely this occurs because the people of the holy covenant are proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14, as that immediately precedes “the end”) and teaching that the King of the North is fulfilling prophecies in Daniel 11. It is my belief that after the peace deal in Daniel 9:27/11:23 has been made and/or confirmed by “the prince to come,” that the group that best represents the “sect of the Nazarenes” (the remnant of the Philadelphia era of the church per Revelation 3:7–11) in the 21st century will begin to publicly identify the person who confirmed the deal (“the prince”) as the one who fulfilled Daniel 9:27/11:23-24. This apparently enrages the King of the North so much that he initially tries to eliminate these people through political pressure and selected persecution.
Even the Catholic Jerome indirectly understood some of this concerning these passages in Daniel 11 as he wrote:
Verses 27—-30…”And his heart shall be against the holy covenant, and he shall succeed and return into his own land. At the time appointed he shall return and shall come to the South; but the latter time shall not be like the former. And the galleys shall come upon him…But these events were typically prefigured under Antiochus Epiphanes, so that this abominable king who persecuted God’s people foreshadows the Antichrist, who is to persecute the people of Christ (Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 12/20/08).
Jesus clearly taught that persecution would affect His people just prior to the Great Tribulation beginning:
7 And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (Matthew 24:7-10).
21 For then there will be great tribulation (Matthew 24:21).
So notice that after “the beginning of sorrows”, the true Christians will be delivered up and many killed and many will be betrayed by those pretending to be Christians. And then the Great Tribulation will come shortly thereafter. This clearly ties in with the events of Daniel 11.
Notice that after the King of the North returns home, he decides to come back to the Jerusalem area, but this time with a much stronger military presence:
31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation (Daniel 11:31).
The above event, which apparently will involve the King of the North sending in forces into Jerusalem, was spoken of by Jesus (Matthew 24:15) as a warning of the final end time. So after the gospel has been preached enough to the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14), Jewish sacrifices are stopped (Daniel 9:27), the abomination is set up (Daniel 9:27; 11:31), and a decree is issued (Zephaniah 2:1), the most faithful Philadelphians will flee per Jesus’ statements in Matthew 24:15-16.
All the world will be affected by the coming King of the North, and the Anglo-nations will be taken over because of him (Daniel 11:39).
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Using the Tower of Babel and “Beast” images suggests it is not concerned about its role as being part of the future Babylon of Bible prophecy.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? What MUST happen BEFORE the Great Tribulation?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? Who confirms the “peace deal of Daniel 9:27? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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