Daniel 11:21-45

21“Then in his place will arise a despicable person, on whom royal honor has not been conferred. He will come in a time of tranquility, and seize the kingdom through intrigue.

22Armies will be utterly swept away from before him and will be broken, as well as the leader of the covenant.

23After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; he will rise to power with a small force.

24Without warning, he will invade the richest province and accomplish what his fathers or predecessors were unable to do. He will lavish on them plunder, loot and spoils. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, though only for a while.

25“He will summon his strength and courage against the king of the south with a great army. The king of the south will wage war with a very large and mighty army, but he will not succeed because of plots devised against him.

26Those who eat his delicacies will destroy him, and his army will be swept away; many will be slain in battle.

27These two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and speak lies, but to no avail, for the end will still come at the appointed time.

28The king of the north will return to his own land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action and then return to his own land.

29“At the appointed time he will invade the south again, only this time the outcome will not be as before.

30The ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his rage against the holy covenant. When he returns, he will favor those who forsake the holy covenant.

31“His forces will rise up and profane the fortified Temple; they will stop the daily offering and set up the abomination of desolation.

32With smooth words he will seduce those who act wickedly against the covenant, but the people who know their God will stand strong and prevail.

33Those who are wise among the people will instruct many, though for many days they will fall by the sword, or be burned, captured or pillaged.

34When they stumble, they will receive a little help, but many will join them deceitfully.

35Even some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end—for it will still come at the appointed time.

36“So the king will do as he pleases, exalting and magnifying himself above every god. He will even speak outrageous things against the God of gods. He will prosper until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decided will be done.

37He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or the one desired by women, nor will he show regard for any god, but will exalt himself above all.

38Instead of these, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not acknowledge he will honor with gold, silver, precious stones and costly things.

39He will attack strong fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will give them authority over many and will parcel out land for a price.

40“Now at the time of the end the king of the south will attack him, and the king of the north will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen and many ships. He will invade lands and pass through them like an overflowing river.

41He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many will be overthrown, but these will escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the chief of the sons of Ammon.

42He will extend his hand against other countries; the land of Egypt will not escape.

43He will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, as well as all of the riches of Egypt. The Libyans and the Cushites will also be under his feet.

44But reports from the east and north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many.

45He will pitch his royal tents between the seas and the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will meet his doom with no one to help him.’