Daniel 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; .....
...... nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
Which is exactly what he accomplished.
Peter you have said many of the things I considered the other day when I first read Daniel 11 in an attempt to answer the initial question. I feel like some expounding may be needed to help people understand things here and so I wish to share some verses from the koran that show that Muhammad did indeed magnify himself above all.
For all of his admissions about being subservient to God Muhammad constantly equated obedience to him with that of obedience to his Allah.
"O you who believe, obey All'h and His Messenger ... " (8:20) "Say: obey All'h and obey the Messenger ... " (24:54) He says, "Obey All'h and the Messenger and perhaps you will be shown mercy." (3:132) "If you obey him, you will be guided ... " (24:54) "Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed All'h ... " (4:79) "That what the Messenger brings you and leave what he forbids you ... " (59:7) "Whoever obeys All'h and the Messenger is with those whom All'h has blessed." (4:68) "We did not send any Messenger but for him to be obeyed by the permission of All'h." (4:63)
It was a clever plan. Once he had everyone convinced of Allah's supremacy he cut himself in on the power and authority. Just like when he cut himself in on the booty. Which is ludicrous to think God wants gold and silver to start with. What would he do with it? Ah, but Muhammad had plenty he could do with it.
Also I believe at some point this chapter deals less with Muhammad specifically and deals with what he perpetuated. Islam. And here is why.
Dan 11:26 Yea, they that feed 398 of the portion of his meat 6598 shall destroy 7665 him, and his army 2428 shall overflow 7857 : and many 7227 shall fall 5307 down slain 2491.
That is exactly how Muhammad met his end. Notice that the death of this king did not stop the expansion of his army or its' killing.
Dan 11:30 For the ships 6716 of Chittim 3794 shall come 935 against him: therefore he shall be grieved 3512 , and return 7725 , and have indignation 2194 against the holy 6944 covenant 1285: so shall he do 6213 ; he shall even return 7725 , and have intelligence 995 with them that forsake 5800 the holy 6944 covenant 1285.
This is very interesting too. I looked up Chittim and this is what came up.
Chittim or Kittim = "bruisers"
1) a general term for all islanders of the Mediterranean Sea
2) the descendants of Javan, the son of Japheth and grandson of Noah
The europeans have traditionally been believed to be descendants of Japeth. This finally where Islam was halted for the first time. And it makes sense that it would include the use of ships given that europeans were a naval power and arabians were not. In fact this ability to control the mediterranean was what kept the crusaders supplied in desperate times. Also note that knowledge will be gained from them that forsook the holy covenant. We see the fruits of this today when passages from the koran are lifted from the bible, mishna, and gnostic gospels.
Dan 11:31 And arms 2220 shall stand 5975 on his part, and they shall pollute 2490 the sanctuary 4720 of strength 4581, and shall take away 5493 the daily 8548 [sacrifice], and they shall place 5414 the abomination 8251 that maketh desolate 8074 .
Given what we know about the abomination of desolation from the preceding chapters of Daniel we know Muhammad was not alive for this and so by this point the chapter is dealing with Islam in general.
Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly 7561 against the covenant 1285 shall he corrupt 2610 by flatteries 2514: but the people 5971 that do know 3045 their God 430 shall be strong 2388 , and do 6213 [exploits].
This is exactly how converts were created in the earliest days of Islam. The only Jew who would follow Muhammad is one that has forsaken the holy covenant. And lying for the cause of Islam is mandated by the koran.
Dan 11:33 And they that understand 7919 among the people 5971 shall instruct 995 many 7227: yet they shall fall 3782 by the sword 2719, and by flame 3852, by captivity 7628, and by spoil 961, [many] days 3117.
Which has been the fate of Jews in Islamic countries for 1400 years.
Dan 11:42 He shall stretch forth 7971 his hand 3027 also upon the countries 776: and the land 776 of Egypt 4714 shall not escape 6413.
Islam did conquer this country and it is still in its' grip today housing the leading Islamic university, Al-Azhar
Dan 11:43 But he shall have power 4910 over the treasures 4362 of gold 2091 and of silver 3701, and over all the precious 2532 things of Egypt 4714: and the Libyans 3864 and the Ethiopians 3569 [shall be] at his steps 4703.
Libya has given in to Islam and Ethiopia is right on its' heels. Islam is the second largest religion in Ethiopia and growing.
Dan 11:45 And he shall plant 5193 the tabernacles 168 of his palace 643 between the seas 3220 in the glorious 6643 holy 6944 mountain 2022; yet he shall come 935 to his end 7093, and none shall help 5826 him.
I believe this to be referencing the mosques that have been established on the Temple mount.
What is interesting is if you pay attention to the tenses Daniel used it reads as something that progresses over time. Not a single spot on the historical map. Daniel reiterates a few times that this has to happen before the end time to drive the point home that this is happening over time.Daniel 11:27...for yet the end 7093 [shall be] at the time appointed 4150. ,:35...because [it is] yet for a time appointed 4150.
