This astonishing chapter falls into three parts: first, detailed prophecy of events up to 175BC (all fulfilled and here summarised); then the tyranny of Antiochus toward Palestine; then the end-times acts of Antichrist, now being fulfilled before our eyes in church and state.

How the prophet's prayers, longing for knowledge, and self-abasement before God, are rewarded by the most detailed prophecy of future events in the Bible. Here also is insight into the unseen spiritual warfare involving a principal demon and the victorious Saviour.

The Lord's purity cannot allow the shameful hypocrisy of Temple conduct, and by an act of divine power He casts out the commerce, and prophesies His own death and resurrection (as well as the fall of the Temple), providing lessons for spiritual living today.

A final appeal of Moses to men and women about their need of God, which describes the human struggle for independence from Him - and the cost. Moses sets out the things that God bestows now and eternally, and pleads to us all to consider. 

Here is Daniel's prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem, and the vision of seventy 'sevens' and how, by the traditional evangelical view, the prophet's eyes are lifted to Calvary and Christ's six accomplishments there.