Eric C.You wrote:A number of years ago I was sharing privately with Brother Joe Hoyle that I felt the confirming of the covenant was a spiritual one. In other words, the antichrist appears as a great man of peace during a time of unprecedented turmoil. Somehow managing to bring things under control with a display of great "miracles" for a brief period of time, he therefore "confirms the covenant" with the many -- meaning that each world religion sees him as the fulfilment of their utopian ideologies, and accepts him as the "messiah".
The more I think about it, the less I believe in the idea of a political covenant.
My answerIt could be that or during the great tribulation those who go against GODS covenant and acknowledge the antichrist will he the (AC) increase with glory. If you dont worship him during this time he will kill you. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for not worshiping the 60, 6 image of gold he set up. They had knowledge and understanding not to do so.
In a sense worshiping the antichrist could be like aform of a covenant that he the (AC) could make.
Daniel 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].Daniel 11:39 And he will practise in the strongholds of fortresses with a strange god: whoso acknowledgeth him will he increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over the many, and shall divide the land [to them] for a reward.
J.N.Darby Translation 1890 InfoDaniel SpeakingDaniel 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandmentsBlessingsCY