» Daniel 11:36-37 Biblical Perspectives On Narcissism

A previous post “The Most Narcissistic Person Ever” describes a person on his way whom the book of Daniel calls a despicable person and Jesus calls the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24. The person is described as a beast in Revelation and is also commonly known as the anti-christ. He is sometimes called the “man of sin”, although New Testament scholar Bruce M. Metzger argues that “man of lawlessness” is the original reading even though 94% of manuscripts have “man of sin”.^[1]

This person will be the embodiment of insolently proud rebellion against God and the ultimate seeker of dominance over man – having the ultimate goal of people worshiping him (as a proxy for Satan) instead of God. He will be far worse than any despot who has ever lived – including modern examples like Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, etc.. In ancient times there were many more. Daniel 9:27 describes him briefly this way,

and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate

What does this mean? He will come on the scene acting abominably in every way, leaving destruction in his wake. This sounds like how a narcissist rolls, and brings to mind one of our previous descriptions.

The scoffer [aka narcissist] is an abomination to men Proverbs 24:9

.

What other narcissistic traits and tactics does this despicable man show? He:

Is insolent (8:23)
Is skilled in intrigue (8:23)
He leverages other power bases, especially Satan (8:24)
Is shrewd and causes “deceit to succeed by his influence” (8:25)
Magnifies himself in his heart, (8:25)
Destroys many while they are at ease. (8:25)
Is a despicable person (11:21)
Takes control through manipulation (11:21)
Practices deception (11:23)
Speaks lies at the negotiating table (11:27)
Becomes disheartened at opposition (11:30)
Gets angry at opposition (11:30)
Recruits others against his opposition (11:30)
Uses smooth words to recruit others (11:32)
Magnifies himself above everything else (11:36)
Speaks monstrous things about and against God (11:36)
Honors those who acknowledge his position and greatness (11:39)
Gives high positions to his acolytes (11:39)
Turns part of his conquests into cash (11:39)
Lashes out against any possible challenge (11:44)

The good news is that even though man cannot defeat this guy, God can and will – suddenly and completely

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. Daniel 8:25

and

[He will destroy] even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” Daniel 9:27

and

but it will not succeed, for the end is still to come at the appointed time. Daniel 11:27

and

he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. Daniel 11:36

and

yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. Daniel 11:39

This insolently proud person, this narcissist of all narcissists will appear to succeed (as they all do), but God will step in with the last word, judge, and completely destroy him. As we see storm clouds rising, it is important to know what’s coming – but that, in the end, God and those who love Him, prevail.

Click here if you want to know the initial steps for how to know God personally.

This blog post is provocative, but true. The original Narcissist is Satan (see here). A person is coming who will be the human protege of Satan, and an obvious candidate for the most narcissistic person ever. When you consider all of the top N’s in the history of the world, that’s saying something. The book of Daniel calls him a despicable person, and goes on to describe him this way:

Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down. It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host;

“In the latter period of their rule,
When the transgressors have run their course,
A king will arise,
Insolent and skilled in intrigue…..

“….”And through his shrewdness
He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence;
And he will magnify himself in his heart,
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. Daniel 8:9-26

.

This description which the angel Gabriel (same angel who announced Jesus’ birth) gave to Daniel declares him full of insolent pride, the Biblical analog of the secular term narcissism. Self-exaltation will be at the core of everything he does. The book of Daniel also describes him this way:

“Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 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. Daniel 11:36-37

Paul describes him this way:

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10a

This is not someone you want to be around. But, the good news is that God will deal with him directly and suddenly – in the same way He will ultimately deal with all those who have unrepentant insolent pride.

See here for the first steps on how to know God personally.