Doves,
Contrary to popular belief, Daniel 11:37 does not imply
in anyway that the antichrist will be homosexual.
Niether does it imply he will have no regard for babies
(desired by some women). He will only regard human
safety (fortresses). In fact, the next two verses
desribes our America (the "strongest of fortresses")
Here is the passage:
[37] "He will show no regard for the gods
of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he
show regard for any other god; for he
will magnify himself above them all. [38] "But instead he
will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did
not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly
stones and treasures. [39] "He will take action against
the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign
god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him
and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel
out land for a price. - Dan 11:37-39 NASB
Daniel describes someone who will regard NO god; not the
gods of his fathers, the desire of women (HOUSEHOLD IDOLS)
or any other god. He will be a
classic NARCISSIST - "he will magnify himself
above them all."
The term "desire of women" has to be read in context of
the sentence, which lists the various TYPES of gods
disregarded by the evil leader. Logically, why would
Daniel in a paragraph about the "gods" disregarded by
the evil leader, include his sexual orientation?
The term "desire of women" has also been interpreted as
referring to the Messiah or babies in general.
Again, this would be completely out of context as the
passage is listing the TYPES of gods not regarded.
The Bible gives a perfect example of the type of god
"desired by women" in Genesis 31:19-35. In fact,
Rachel desired the household gods (small idols) so much
that she stole them from her father's
house, deceived her husband by not telling him she'd stolen
them, concealed them and then lied to her father just so she
could keep the household idols she desired(passage
below). So the antichrist will not regard
the gods of his fathers, he will not regard the small
household idols desired by women, nor ANY other god
including THE Lord.
So then the only thing the evil narcissistic person will
regard is himself and the means of human safety
like government safety nets for every aspect of life ("what
the government should do on our behalf" according to one law
professor). The antichrist will spend great amounts of
treasure on this means of human safety "he will honor
him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures", yet
he will also take action AGAINST the strongest means of
human safety; "He will take action against the strongest
of fortresses with the help of a foreign
god". The Hebrew (or Aramaic) doubles the word
ma-owz which is interpreted as "strongest fortress" implying
the twofold nature of his country as a military and social
fortress (IMHO).
What is the strongest fortress in the world today? The evil ruler will take action
though, seemingly against his own country with the help
of a foreign god by means
of indebting his own people "will cause them to rule
over the many, and will parcel out land for a price."
I find it amazing that the Bible depicts the narcissistic
leader of a superpower who wholeheartedy believes in
government provided human protection (denying dependence on
God), enough so that he expends great amounts of treasure to
fund it, yet also acts to deminish that
fortress by indebting and enslaving his own countrymen
to any foreign "god" (other fortresses of safety
in this context) which acknowledges him and willing to
purchase his country's equity. Daniel 11:24 also
says that this world leader will distribute plunder in the
richest parts of the realm (bailouts?) yet also scheme
against the strongholds.
Does any of this sound familiar?
YBIC,
Kevin H.
The Desire of Women
Gen 31:19-35 NASB - When Laban had
gone to shear his flock, then Rachel
stole the household idols that were her father's.
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not
telling him that he was fleeing. So he fled with all that
he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and
set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. When it
was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, then
he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of
seven days' journey, and he overtook him in the hill
country of Gilead. God came to Laban the Aramean in a
dream of the night and said to him, " Be careful that you
do not speak to Jacob either good or bad." Laban caught up
with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill
country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill
country of Gilead. Then Laban said to Jacob, "What have
you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters
like captives of the sword? "Why did you flee secretly and
deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent
you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with
lyre; and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my
daughters? Now you have done foolishly. "It is in my power
to do you harm, but the God of your father
spoke to me last night, saying, ' Be careful not to speak
either good or bad to Jacob.' "Now
you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly
for your father's house; but why did you
steal my gods?" Then Jacob
replied to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought
that you would take your daughters from me by force. "The
one with whom you find your gods shall not live;
in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours
among my belongings and take it for yourself." For Jacob
did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent and
into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them.
Then he went out of Leah's tent and entered Rachel's tent.
Now Rachel had taken the household idols
and put them in the camel's saddle, and she sat on
them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not
find them. She said to her father, "Let
not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for
the manner of women is upon me." So he searched but did
not find the household idols.