Dan. 11:42-43

42 He shall stretch forth [shalach] his hand [yad] also upon the countries [erets]: and the land [erets] of Egypt [Mitsrayim] shall not escape [paleytah].

43 But he shall have power [mashal] over the treasures [mikman] of gold [zahab] and of silver [keceph], and over all the precious [chemdah] things of Egypt [Mitsrayim]: and the Libyans [Luwbiy] and the Ethiopians [Kuwshiy] shall be at his steps [mits`ad]. KJV-Interlinear

42 'Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. 43 'But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. NASB

The King of the North will be successful against the King of the South, as well as Israel. But now, all hell breaks loose throughout the world. The King of the North will unleash his power against the rest of the world. His presumption is that the other two powers will do nothing to save the Middle East, and that presumption is wrong.

The North will invade Israel and then continue in its advance against North Africa. Egypt will not escape. This is the description of the escape of a little critter just minding his own business, and then suddenly a predator pounces on him. He, the little critter, is shocked and amazed since he did not expect to become lunch for the predator, and because the attack was so sudden and accurate, there is no escape available for the little guy.

This is the response, or rather the reaction of Egypt, and the alliance of the South. The attack from the North was not expected. After all, they did have an agreement in this conspiracy. But its fury, its thoroughness, and its tenacity, were unexpected. Also, the continued advance into southern territory was not expected. The Southern alliance is totally overwhelmed, and of the four powers in reference in the Armageddon campaign, the South is the first to fall.

The North has success and it celebrates, but that is short lived. It launches its attack against the whole planet, 'he will stretch out his hand against other countries'. This is not a reference to the neighboring countries. These have already been overrun. This is a reference to distant coastal countries, and also comes to mean distant continents.

The fury of the attack is amplified in Rev. 16:19. The cities of the earth will be destroyed. Two thirds of the population of Israel will die, Zech. 13:8-9, and one third will believe in Christ during this horrible onslaught. They will miraculously survive the invasion, its reversal, (which we have not seen yet, but will in verse 44), and they will see their own deliverance by Christ, who will finish the war.

Rev. 16:19

19 And the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. NASB

Zech. 13:8

8 And it will come about in all the land, Declares the LORD, That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it. NASB

Eze. 39:7-8

7 'And My holy name I shall make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I shall not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 8 'Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,' declares the Lord GOD. 'That is the day of which I have spoken.'

Isaiah 24 describes the condition of the world in those days. It will be laid waste. Everyone will be treated the same. Many will die, and there will be no preference to ones position, title, or financial status. When the bombs and missiles fall, their destructive power will not play favorites.

Isa 24:1-3

1 Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants. 2 And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor. 3 The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the LORD has spoken this word.

But here, in Daniel we are just in the preliminary stages of the war. The South is no more. The North is enjoying its surprising victory. It has entered in the homes and businesses of its conquered territories, and has plundered and engorged itself with its newly won booty.

Eze. 38:13

13 'Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its villages, will say to you, 'Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?

The King of the North has seized all the wealth of Israel and North Africa, thinking that, that is a legitimate objective. It now thinks that is owns the center of the world. But, we already know that worldly wealth is temporary. We already know that anything of this world will fade just as quickly as it appears. Our spiritual state in life is far more important than all the wealth of the world. Our spiritual status will go with us into eternity, a place where we all are headed.

The nations of the earth, under the influence of Satan's leadership, are pursuing their own destruction, and this destruction is getting out of hand. Where wealth was an initial objective, now the destruction of Israel will become the objective, and the frustration of the nations. In tomorrow s study, the second power will meet its end and it will be totally destroyed.

Now is the time to post a prayer.