Daniel 8:23-25 “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.”
Scripture does not give us any detail as to just how it will come about that the Anti-Christ will stand in the temple. But it would be safe to say that this will not happen as a result of the armies of the Anti-Christ invading Israel. For if we refer back to the warning that our Lord has given His saints, it is only after they see the Anti-Christ standing in the temple that they are instructed to flee. If the Anti-Christ were to gain access to the temple by means of an invading army, then by the time his army had taken control of the temple area it would be too late for the saints in Jerusalem to flee, for they would already be under the control of those invading armies. But rather, it seems as if it will be by means of cunning and deceit that the Anti-Christ will gain access to the temple, for the above passage of scripture describes the Anti-Christ, as just such a person.
Michael E.B. Maher
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