Daniel 11:21–35

²¹“A contemptible person will take his place. He will not be given royal splendor. He will invade when people are feeling secure, and he will seize the kingdom using false promises. ²²He will overwhelm large forces and defeat them, including the prince of the promise.^c23After an alliance has been made with him, he will act deceitfully and rise to power with only a few people. ²⁴When people feel secure, he will invade the richest parts of the provinces and do something that none of his predecessors ever did. He will distribute loot and wealth to his followers. He will invent new ways of attacking fortifications. But this will last only for a little while. 

²⁵“With a large army he will summon his power and courage against the southern king, who will prepare for war with a large, strong army. But the southern king won’t be able to withstand him because of the schemes devised against him. ²⁶People who eat the king’s rich food will ruin him. His army will be overwhelmed, and many will die in battle. ²⁷The two kings will both plan to do evil. They will sit at the same table and tell lies. But they will not succeed, because the end must wait until the appointed time. ²⁸The northern king will return to his country with a lot of wealth. He will be determined to fight against the holy promise. He will take action and return to his own country. 

²⁹“At the appointed time he will again invade the south, but this time will be different from the first. ³⁰Ships will come from the west to attack him, and he will be discouraged and turn back. Angry at the holy promise, he will return, take action, and favor those who abandon the holy promise. ³¹His forces will dishonor the holy place (the fortress), take away the daily burnt offering, and set up the disgusting thing that causes destruction. ³²With flattery he will corrupt those who abandon the promise. But the people who know their God will be strong and take action. 

³³“People who are wise will help many to understand. But for some time they will be defeated by swords and flames. They will be captured and looted. ³⁴As they are being defeated, they will get a little help, but many who are not sincere will join them. ³⁵Some of the wise people will be defeated in order to refine, purify, and make them white until the end times. But the appointed time is still to come.