NOTES ON TRUMP’S CLAIM TO RULE ISRAEL: DARK PRETENSIONS TOWARD THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (WITH VIDEO)

1. THEOLOGY

SCRIPTURE.“Armed forces of his [Antiochus Epiphanes IV] will arise [in Jerusalem] and defile and desecrate the sanctuary, the [spiritual] stronghold, and will do away with the regular sacrifice [that is, the daily burnt offering]; and they will set up [a pagan altar in the sanctuary which is] the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION. With smooth words [of flattery and praise] he will turn to godlessness those who [are willing to] disregard the [Mosaic] Covenant, but the people who [are spiritually mature and] know their God will display strength and take action [to resist] …

[Jesus warns]: ‘So when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION [the appalling sacrilege that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge]. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time]. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 

And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel]. For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened’ …

[Therefore] Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [THE ANTICHRIST], the one who is destined to be destroyed], who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly PROCLAIMING HIMSELF TO BE GOD.” – DANIEL 11:31-32; MATTHEW 24:15-22; 2 THESSALONIANS 2:3-4, AMP

KEY WORDS:

• “THE ABOMINATION (Hebrew).” ‘Shiqquts’ [הַשִּׁקּ֥וּץ]: “The Detestable Thing (that causes horror); disgusting, filthy, idolatrous; or that which constitutes an idol.” NOTE: “שִׁקּוּץ appears about twenty-eight times, always describing something detestable because it offends the Holiness of the Covenant God. ‘Whether the word points to lifeless idols, corrupt cultic objects, or the climactic “Abomination of Desolation,” every instance exposes the heart of sin as Spiritual Treason and summons the people of God to Undivided Loyalty.’”

• “THE ABOMINATION” (Greek). ‘Bdelugma’ [Βδέλυγμα]: “From a base word meaning, ‘To stink as with a foul odor.’ Also: ‘To turn away from utter loathing or disgust or abhorrence; extreme licentiousness, idol worship, impure, or unclean.’” NOTE: “‘Strong’s Greek 946 names that which God utterly loathes—acts, objects, and systems that stand in direct opposition to His holiness.’ Scripture presents such Abominations not as neutral mistakes but as deliberate affronts to the Creator, eliciting Judgment unless there is ‘Repentance.’”

• “PROCLAIMING THAT HE IS GOD” (Greek). ‘Apodeiknumi’ [ἀποδεικνύντα]: “To show off, to exhibit or accredit [as if in a boast]; to prove, set [oneself] forth.” NOTE: “Strong’s Greek 584 portrays an intentional, public ‘showing forth.’ Whether God authenticates His Son, leaders are set forth as spectacles – ‘An Antichrist figure claims worship, or prosecutors attempt to prove an accusation, the term always carries the idea of open, unmistakable demonstration.’”

• THE UNHOLY PRECEDENT. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O LUCIFER, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, l WILL ascend into heaven, I WILL exalt my throne above the stars of God: I WILL sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I WILL ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” – ISAIAH 14:12-15, KJV

QUOTATION. “I’m right now at 99% in Israel. I can run for Prime Minister, so maybe after I do this, I’ll go to Israel and run for Prime Minister. I had a poll this morning, I’m 99%.” – PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, To reporters before boarding Air Force One, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 20, 2026; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘A Falling Away.’  —  That ‘Falling Away’ must undoubtedly imply that the persons so ‘Apostatising’ had formerly held (or, perhaps, still professed to hold) the Christian Faith: ‘Men cannot fall from ground which they never occupied!’ This vast and dreadful Apostasy (see Luke 18:8), so clearly and prominently taught of to the Ancient Church, and so mysterious to us, is further defined by the following words, as the Apocalypse or Manifestation of the Man of Sin. Of this Revelation of Antichrist the same word (‘apocalypsis’) is used which is often used of Christ, as, e.g., 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Luke 17:30; and thrice in St. Peter. ‘So that we may expect to Recognise him when he comes as clearly as we shall recognise Christ. The conception of the Antichrist is not merely that of an Opponent of the Christ, but of a RIVAL CHRIST: there is a hideous Parallelism between the two.’

‘That Man of Sin.’ — ‘It is not absolutely certain from the Greek, but the context makes it tolerably clear that the “Man of Sin’”is the Head and Centre of the Apostasy itself, and does not form a separate movement from it. The “Man of Sin,” then, will have at one time formed (or will still profess to form) part of the Christian Church, and the Apostasy will culminate in him.’ Thus, for instance, the requirements of the passage would not be fulfilled by (with Hammond) interpreting the Apostasy to mean the early Gnostic Movement, followed up by the independent appearance of Nero as the Man of Sin.

Thus, the phrase, ‘the Man of Sin’ … is a man so wicked that, bad as other men are, Wickedness should be his Mark by which he is distinguished from all others; ‘a man who BELONGS to sin,’ in whom the ‘Ideal of Sin’ has become realised and incarnate. What kind of sin will be most prominent in him is not expressed in the word itself; but the context points clearly to that which is, in fact: ‘THE CROWNING SIN—Spiritual Pride and Rebellious Arrogancy (Ephesians 6:12).’” – CHARLES ELLICOTT,Old and New Testament Commentary for English Readers, 1878-1897; edited

1. TEACHING

“But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty].” – 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27, AMP

ANTIOCHUS VS. ANTICHRIST. Theologians have for generations now, centuries actually, debated whether or not the historical figure of Antiochus Epiphanes IV fulfilled the Prophecy of Antichrist, or was merely a Harbinger of the realthing.

As is my practice, I sorted through several Biblical treatments of this important issue, rejecting one after the other until there was only one left. The content was superb, theologically sound, extremely well organized and a straightforward reverence for the majesty of God’s Word.

His name is Andries van Niekerk. His Bio is very different from the heavily credentialed ones I usually consider for penetrating insight. A glance at his Résumé largely explains the reason for selecting him – and why I dare to write these Commentaries as well.

“[My] Website does not reflect the views of any specific Denomination or Church. I do not have any formal theological qualifications, and I do not attend any church. One reason is that I find social contact a bit stressful. But I have always had a love and deep respect for the Bible. Being an analytical person, I like to do these in-depth studies. But I also tend to be very independent, and some conclusions infuriate some people. This year (2025), I will turn 73.

But should a person with no theological training attempt to teach others? Although I have no formal Bible training, I have studied the Bible for many decades and continue to do so daily. I listen to recordings of sermons and discussions whenever I can, download material from the Internet, read books and articles, and try to organize the thoughts carefully.

‘Perhaps my greatest asset is my lack of formal theological training.’ After many years of listening to many views, I have concluded that very few people study their Bibles to form their own opinions. In my view, most Christians are indoctrinated from childhood into a particular view of the Bible. True education teaches people HOW to think for themselves, but the Enemy has successfully converted our institutions of higher learning into places of indoctrination, teaching people WHAT to think.”

THEOLOGICAL DISTINCTIONS.  The title of his essay is, “Antiochus IV Does Not Fit Daniel’s Description of the Antichrist,” published in his online Blog, From Daniel to Revelation (June 9, 2024; edited). AUTHOR FOOTNOTE: “The Main Purpose of this independent Website is to explain the Mark of the Beast.”’

• OPEN. “The Evil Horns of Daniel 7 and 8, and the ‘VILE PERSON’ in Daniel 11 … refer in the Liberal View to the same Antichrist. In the that view they symbolize Antiochus IV, a Greek king from the 2^nd Century BC. However, this article identifies several DIFFERENCES between Daniel’s Antichrist and Antiochus. Antiochus was only a ‘TYPE’ of a later and much ‘Greater Antichrist.’”

• THE ANTICHRIST IS ROMAN. “Daniel explicitly identifies the Two Beasts in Daniel 8 as Medo-Persia and Greece (Dan 8:20-21). By comparing the Beasts of Daniel 7 and 8, another article shows that the Two Beasts in Daniel 8 are parallel to the Second and Third Beasts in Daniel 7. Therefore, the 4th BEAST in Daniel 7 must be the Roman Empire. It follows that the Antichrist, symbolized as the 11th Horn coming out of that 4th beast, comes out of the Roman Empire. Therefore, it cannot be a Greek king.”

• HE DID NOT RULE BY DECEIT. “The Antichrist will‘seize the kingdom by intrigue’ (Daniel 11:21). This Antiochus did not do. After the previous king (his brother) was killed, He became king with the help of the Pergamene monarch. The Antichrist will also ‘cause deceit to succeed’ (Daniel 8:25). Antiochus did not use deceit more than any other Greek king.”

• HE DID NOT DISTRIBUTE PLUNDER. “The predicted evil king‘Will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them’ (Daniel 11:24). This was not true of Antiochus IV. On the contrary, he owed huge sums of war debt to Rome following his father’s defeats against the Romans and needed all the money he could lay his hands on.”

• HE DID NOT START SMALL. “The Vile Person of Daniel starts small [in political terms. A “Little Horn”] (Dan 7:8; 8:9) and weak (Dan 11:23; supported by “a few”), but later becomes “Exceedingly great” (Daniel 8:9) … Antiochus IV did not start small. He was a Seleucid Prince and the brother of the murdered king. After his brother’s murderer seized the throne, he was made king with the support of a neighboring king.”

• HE WAS NOT GREATER THAN OTHERS. “[The Liberal View] does not fit Antiochus IV. He cannot be described as greater than Alexander the Great. Antiochus IV was not greater than the Seleucid kings who preceded him. Seleucus I Nicator was the first king of the Seleucid branch of the Greek Empire after Alexander’s Empire split up. He had significant military successes. A few generations later, Antiochus III was called ‘the Great’ because he expanded the domain of the Seleucid Kingdom to close to its original size. His military successes are described in Daniel 11:15, but later the Romans defeated him and left his empire, particularly in the west, subject to Rome’s growing power. Because of these defeats, Antiochus IV, as a boy, grew up a hostage in Rome. Antiochus IV was weak compared to Alexander the Great.”

• HE DID NOT EXPAND  HIS KINGDOM. “The Antichrist will expand his kingdom ‘Toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land (Judea)’ (Daniel 8:9). Antiochus IV did not    expand his kingdom to Judea. It was already part of his kingdom when he became king. And, by the time Daniel was written, according to Liberals, the Romans already ordered Antiochus to leave Egypt.” 

• HE DID NOT OPPOSE GOD. “The Antichrist will be ‘Set against the holy covenant’ (Daniel 11:28, 30) and ‘speak monstrous things against the God of gods’ (Daniel 11:36). Antiochus IV was not principally opposed to the God of the Bible. What he did for Judea, he did for all nations within his empire. Antiochus IV’s objective was merely to maintain control over his empire. He ordered all peoples of his empire to abandon their particular customs, not only the Jews.”

• HE DID NOT SERVE A STRANGE GOD. “‘The king … will exalt and magnify himself above every god and … He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers … nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all’ (Daniel 11:36-37).‘But instead, he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know’ (Daniel 11:38). This Antiochus did not do. His aim was rather the opposite, namely that all people should serve the gods of his fathers. It was a Statue of Zeus that he set up in the Temple in Jerusalem.”

• HE DID NOT KILL THE PRINCE. “The Antichrist ‘shattered … the prince of the covenant’ (Daniel 11:22). [Liberal theological] critics claim that ‘the prince of the covenant’ refers to the high priest Oniasand that Antiochus killed him … Antiochus replaced Onias III as high priest with Onias’s brother Jason, and a few years later, he also replaced Jason with Menelaus. Menelaus resented Onias’ criticism and had him killed in 171 BC. It would therefore not be valid to claim that Antiochus broke or shattered Onias … Based on word links, [several conventional articles] show that ‘the prince of the covenant’ (Daniel 11:22) is the same as the ‘prince who confirms the covenant with many for one week’ (Daniel 9:27), namely, [The Antichrist]. Antiochus also did not kill Jesus either. Antiochus died 180 years before Jesus. Thus, the “Prince of the Covenant” [in Daniel 11] actually refers to Jesus Christ.’” 

• CONCLUSION. “‘There are many similarities between Antiochus IV and the predicted Evil King. But ANTIOCHUS IV by no means exhausts the passage. He was only a TYPE of the later and “much GREATER ANTICHRIST” [that was yet to come].

DK NOTE. All of the Debate resolves in its most basic form to one’s BIBLICAL HERMENEUTIC (Interpretive Framework): ‘Futurism;’ ‘Historicism;’ ‘Idealism;’ or ‘Preterism’ (the most destructive of all). For those wishing to deep dive into the definitions of each perspective, and the reasons for my selection of FUTURISM as the only orthodox prism through which to read Scripture, consult my book, The Sixth Seal II (2024, pp. 27-36).

1. LAST THOUGHTS: “THE ABOMINATION”

In the final analysis then, what we need to know as the Biblical History records it, are the DIFFERENCES between the ‘Lesser Abomination’ of Antiochus and the much ‘Greater Abomination’ of the Antichrist. And more impotantly, what the IMPLICATIONS that holds for today’s Christian in order to avoid at all costs, particpating in Antichrist’s Desolations.

• THE ABOMINATION OF ANTIOCHUS. Antiochus IV (c. 215–164 BC) was a Hellenistic Greek king of the Seleucid Empire who styled himself as “Epiphanes” (“God Manifest”). In 167 BC, after returning from a failed military campaign in Egypt, he sent an army to suppress Judaism in Judea. ‘He banned Jewish sacrifices, outlawed the Torah, and converted the Second Temple into a Pagan Sanctuary. The “Abomination” refers to placing a detestable Pagan Idol (believed to be a statue of Zeus) inside the Holy of Holies, while “Desolation” refers to the spiritual ruin and abandonment of the sacred worship space by the alleged slaughter of a pig in that space, the very “Holy of Holies.”

• THE ABOMINATION OF ANTICHRIST. Most Futurist scholars view the “Abomination of Desolation” as an event that will take place during The Tribulation. The Antichrist will make a Seven-Year Peace Treaty with Israel [quite possibly “The Abraham Accords”) and allow the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt. At the MIDPOINT of this Treaty (the 3.5-year mark): He will Break the Covenant [“with many,” DANIEL 9:27], stop the daily sacrifices, and Desecrate the Temple. He will place AN IDOL—often called the “Image of the Beast”—inside the Holy of Holies and demand that the entire world WORSHIP HIM AS GOD.’

THE CONSEQUENCES. In Orthodox (Futurist) Christian Theology and Biblical Eschatology: ‘A Professed Christian who follows or pledges allegiance to the Antichrist faces severe spiritual consequences.

• SPIRITUAL DELUSION. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, those who Reject the Truth of the Gospel face a “Strong Delusion” that causes them to embrace a False Messiah. It is not clear if one can return from such Divinely sent Delusion or not. Selah.

• MARK OF THE BEAST. Followers of the Antichrist are often prophesied to take ‘A Mark’ on their right hand or forehead. The Book of Revelation 14:9-11 states that ‘ANYONE’ who worships the Beast and receives its Mark will face the direct, unmitigated Wrath of God. Once The Mark has been accepted, then there is no further possibility of absolution. None.

• ETERNAL CONDEMNATION. ‘Professed Christians who ABANDON their Faith to follow a Counterfeit Savior face Eternal Damnation.’ The Bible warns of “Eternal Separation” from God for those who align with the forces of evil. For the Futurist-Literalist scholars, this “Separation” translates into the “Lake of Fire,” also called “The Second Death.” NOTE: Both Death Hades are cast into the Lake of Fire – and “All those whose names were [no longer] written in the Book of Life” (cf. Revelation 21:7-9, 14-15).

• THE ULTIMATE DEFEAT. Following the Antichrist means aligning with a figure who is ultimately doomed. According to Revelation 19:19-21, the Antichrist will be defeated and cast into that same Lake of Fire, along with ALL his followers, along with Satan, the False Prophet, and all the fallen angel-demons

THE QUESTION. Beloved, there hangs before every single human being in America and the entire World just One Question that must be fearfully addressed and answered:

‘IS President Donald John Trump the Biblical Antichrist, the spiritual legacy of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, or not?’

If the Answer is “No,” then you may or not face God’s Eternal Wrath, depending. But if it’s “Yes,” and you still choose to follow him in even the slightest allegiance:

‘You shall burn in Fiery Hell for all of your Eternal Existence.’

PASCAL’S WAGER. Since I have been only marginally effective on my very best days  as a Polemicist, arguing hard for Trump supporting Christians to “Come out of her!” (that is, Babylon the Great), I close with an Appeal from a brilliant Catholic philosopher, named BLAISE PASCAL (1623-1662).  

In attempting to persuade his own contemporaries of the foolishness of not believing the Scriptures, he proposed his famous WAGER in that ran something like this. This Summary is taken from the Editors of Got Questions (ret. May 22, 2026; edited).

“‘The Gist of the Wager is that, according to Pascal, one cannot come to the knowledge of God’s existence through Reason alone, so the Wise thing to do is to live your life as if God does exist because such a life has everything to gain and nothing to lose.’

If we live as though God exists, and He does indeed exist, we have gained Heaven. If He doesn’t exist, we have lost nothing. If, on the other hand, we live as though God does not exist and He really does exist, we have gained Hell and Punishment and lost Heaven and Bliss. If one weighs the options, clearly the Rational Choice to live as if God exists is the better of the possible choices. Pascal even suggested that some may not, at the time, have the ability to believe in God. In such a case, one should live as if he had Faith anyway. Perhaps living as if one had Faith may lead one to actually come to faith. – Pensées, 1670; edited

CLOSING ARGUMENT. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.’” – MATTHEW 16:24-27, NKJV

What indeed, beloved, what indeed?  Selah. Selah.

MEDIA

YOUTUBE:  https://youtu.be/Y4QQeQ0fFS0