²⁰ Then one will arise in his place who will send an oppressive tax collector for the glory of his kingdom. However, in a few days he will be broken, but not in anger or battle.

Antiochus IV

²¹ A despicable person will arise in his place, but they will not confer the royal majesty upon him. He will come when the kingdom is at ease and seize it through smooth, slippery talk. ²² A powerful force will be overpowered by him and broken, together with a leader of the covenant. ²³ After an alliance is made with the leader of the covenant, the despicable person will act deceitfully. He will rise up and become powerful with a small nation. ²⁴ He will come to the richest parts of the province when it is at ease, and he will do what his fathers and his fathers’ fathers did not do. He will distribute plunder and property to them. He will come up with plans against strongholds, but only for a time.

²⁵ He will awaken his power and his courage against the King of the South with a great army. The King of the South will stir himself up for battle with a very great and powerful army, but he will not succeed because schemes will be plotted against him. ²⁶ Those who eat his special royal food will try to break him, and his army will be swept away. Many will fall, struck down in battle.

²⁷ The two kings, whose hearts are bent to evil, will sit at one table and lie to each other, but this scheming will not succeed, because the end is still set for an appointed time. ²⁸ The King of the North will return to his land with a lot of captured possessions and with his heart set against the holy covenant. He will take action and then return to his own land.

²⁹ At the appointed time he will return and come into the South again, but this later invasion will not turn out like the first invasion. ³⁰ Ships from Kittim will come against him, and he will be humbled.^[a]

Then he will turn and become furious against the holy covenant and take action. He will return and show favor to those who abandon the holy covenant. ³¹ His forces will arise, profane the temple fortress, abolish the continual daily sacrifice, and set up the abominable thing that causes desolation. ³² So he will corrupt wicked men of the covenant with smooth talk, but a people who know their God will be strong and take action.

³³ Those of the people who have insight will make many understand, but they will fall by the sword, and to flames, captivity, and plunder for some time. ³⁴ However, when they stumble, they will be aided by a little help, and many will join them insincerely. ³⁵ Some of those who have insight will stumble so that they may be refined, purified, and made white until the time of the end, for it is still set for an appointed time.

The Antichrist and the Time of the End^[b]

³⁶ The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt himself and magnify himself over every god, and he will speak amazing things against the God of Gods. He will prosper until furious anger is completed, because what has been determined shall be done. ³⁷ He will not favor the God of his fathers. He also will not favor the desire of women or any god, because he will exalt himself above all of them. ³⁸ He will honor a god of fortresses in their place. He will honor a god whom his fathers did not know with gold, silver, precious stones, and very valuable things. ³⁹ He will deal with strong fortresses with the help of a foreign god. To all who acknowledge him, he will give great honor and make them rulers over many people. What is more, he will parcel out land for a price.