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". . . . . a little horn which waxed exceeding great, towards the south, and towards the east
and towards the pleasant land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven, and it cast
down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them. Yea, he
magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken
away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down" (Dan. 8: 9-11, A.V.).
Our studies so far in Joel allow us to appreciate, but not savour, those words in
Daniel 8: and 11:, but let us be thankful that we stopped in the middle of a sentence in
Dan. 11: 36.
". . . . . and shall prosper TILL the indignation be accomplished:
for that that is
determined shall be done."
He shall prosper for a time but then he shall be defeated and Joel reveals the extent of
that defeat.
". . . . . I will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea
(that is the Dead Sea) and his hinder parts towards the utmost sea (that is the
Mediterranean Sea), and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up . . . . ."
(Joel 2: 20, A.V.).
How will this defeat of the king of the north, this `little horn' who is backed by Satan
(Dan. 11: 38, 39; Rev. 13: 4) be accomplished? It is interesting to note that just as
Satan has many names (e.g. The dragon, the serpent, the devil, etc.) so too has this puppet
of his. Paul describes him as:
"The man of sin, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all
that is worshipped: so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that
he is God" (II Thess. 2: 3, 4, A.V.).
So this army of Joel 2: 2-10 manages to overrun the land of Israel, take Jerusalem
and occupy the Temple! Satan manages to acquire, via this being of his, the worship he
so badly wants.
". . . . . and they worshipped the dragon (Satan) which gave power unto the beast (another
name for this king of the north) and they worshipped the beast" (Rev. 13: 4, A.V.).
The extent of that worship is "all them that dwell on the earth shall worship him"
(Rev. 13: 8) and this is accomplished with the help of another being, "another beast"
(Rev. 13: 11) who is usually termed the "false prophet". His exploits are fully described
in Rev. 13: 11-18 and he "deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those
miracles he had power to do" (Rev. 13: 14).
Will God tolerate this for long? Thankfully not. For at most 3½ years Satan, his beast
and his false prophet will enjoy success but then . . . . .:
"Then shall the wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of
His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming; even him, whose coming
is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (II Thess. 2: 8,
9, A.V.).