Chapter
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Verse

Daniel 8:25

ESV By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.
NIV He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
NASB And through his shrewdness He will make deceit a success by his influence; And he will make himself great in his own mind, And he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken without human agency.
CSB He will cause deceit to prosper through his cunning and by his influence, and in his own mind he will exalt himself. He will destroy many in a time of peace; he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken--not by human hands.
NLT He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.
KJV And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

What does Daniel 8:25 mean?

Some prophecies are associated with double fulfillment: having both a "near" and "far" fulfillment. This part of Daniel's vision (Daniel 8:1–2) predicted the rise of a terribly evil ruler who would persecute God's people and be suddenly destroyed by God's power (Daniel 8:9–12, 23–24).

The near fulfillment seems to be Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This Greek figure terribly persecuted the Jewish people. Beyond death and mayhem, he also imposed religious restrictions and defiled the temple with unclean blood. His life ended suddenly around 164 BC, but there is debate over the manner of his death. Accounts include anything from being crushed by an elephant to an intestinal disease.

The far fulfillment points to the end times, and the rise of a figure known as "the Antichrist" (Revelation 13:1–4). Like Epiphanes, this wicked ruler will blaspheme God and persecute the church. His end will come when Christ returns in judgment (Revelation 19:11–16).
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