Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. © Copyright 2010 - 2026  All rights reserved. Daniel 11 Explained (condensed ‘one page’ commentary) ‘Matthew 24’ Explained (must match Revelation) The ‘Seals’ Explained (Revelation timeline revealed) Seven Churches Explained (Past & Present Church Prophecy) Note: ‘Sitemap’ gives a complete list of all pages (by category). Related page: Salvation to Maturity (a simply guide) Updated: 03-14-2026 Rapture 2026 (Why I Think the Rapture is Very Close)  Reasons the rapture could be very close: (Each one explained below, plus more.)  1. War with Iran makes the abomination in Daniel 11:31 much more likely. 2. Prophecies from two Jewish Kabbalists, Kaduri and Shoshani, seem to point to 2026. 3. Daniel’s 70^th Seven, which contains the abomination, has likely already passed.  Introduction   To make a long story short, the rapture comes immediately after the ‘abomination that causes desolation’, which is exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 24:15-31. That is evident when Jesus tells Judea to flee to the mountains without stopping for anything because “there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again.” (Matt 24:21)  From there, Jesus describes two different groups, which is the same two groups as in Revelation 7, the 144,000 Israelites (Jews) who are ‘sealed’ but stay on earth through the Trumpets plagues, and the Christians who are taken immediately to Heaven for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  To repeat for emphasis, the fact that there are two groups in Revelation 7 proves that there are two groups in Matthew 24:15-31, not just one group as the post-tribs try to say. (see homepage for full explanation)  Plus, the fact that people are in the mountains, during the 6^th Seal, who see Jesus (the Lamb) in the sky and mourn because they didn’t believe (Rev 6:15-17) proves that the 6^th Seal rapture happens when the abomination is set up, since Jesus told Judea to flee to the mountains.    Thus, Jesus is saying that the final sign before the rapture is the abomination that causes desolation from the Book of Daniel, which is actually mentioned four times (chapters 8, 9, 11, 12), but two of those (8 and 12) concern the ‘post-rapture’ (Trumpet and Bowl plagues).  I discuss all four verses on the abomination page, but this page is mainly for current events leading to the abomination.  I emphasize ‘leading’ because a person cannot procrastinate until they actually ‘see’ the abomination to be saved because the rapture will happen very fast.  In other words, by the time a person sees the abomination on the news, it will be too late.  Post-trib false prophets deceive people into believing that they can wait, but that’s just not true. (see homepage)  Plus, contrary to popular belief, there is no second chance for gentiles during the post-rapture tribulation.  The only second chance is for the 144,000 Israelites (Jews), due to God’s promise to David. (2 Samuel 7:16)  They become priests during Jesus’ 1000-year reign on earth. (Rev 20:4-6)  The misconception about a second chance for gentiles comes from the old-school pre-tribs who mistakenly put the rapture in Rev 4 (before the crucifixion), which is wrong.  I explain everything fully on the homepage.  The bottom line is: The time to be saved is now, don’t wait. 1.  War with Iran   On Saturday morning, February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched a full scale attack upon Iran to facilitate a regime change, and Iran launched a full scale retaliation.  This website is not meant to provide up-to-the-minute details on the war; TV and other news sources are much better for that.  This website is meant for Biblical analysis of such events.    I first started this website to explain the correct interpretation of Daniel 11 because previous interpretations are obviously wrong.  When I started, over a decade ago, we were only on verse 22, but now, all the verses through verse 30 have been fulfilled or satisfied. In other words, only Daniel 11:31 needs to be fulfilled for the rapture to happen.   Daniel 11:31 (NIV) “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.”   As I indicated above, the events in this verse could happen very fast because I think the “temple fortress” is the ‘Western Wall’ and the “daily sacrifice” is simply ‘prayer at the Wall’. If someone’s armed forces could somehow rise up to desecrate the Western Wall, it could in turn abolish the daily prayer, at least temporarily, until they could clean the Wall, which would be difficult during an uprising.  During the upheaval, someone could then set up an “abomination,” which is simply something hated by God.  The Bible never says exactly what the abomination will be, but it’s not really important because, like I said, the rapture will happen very quickly.  Thus, the most important things to watch for are events leading to the uprising in the same verse, which precedes the abomination, not the abomination itself.   Of course, uprisings are usually planned in secret, or happen spontaneously, but the war with Iran makes the uprising much more likely.  For one, if anyone attacked and desecrated the Temple Mount and Western Wall, it would most certainly cause an all out war with Israel, which no one really wants, but since Israel has already attacked, there is less to lose.  Plus, desecrating the Western Wall would be the ultimate act of religious revenge, which seems appropriate after Israel has assassinated the ayatollah, the top religious figure in Iran.    It’s not surprising that many are describing the war with Iran as having religious overtones.  A recent article by Al Jazeera points out that Marco Rubio called Iran “religious fanatic lunatics,” and Pete Hegseth said, “Crazy regimes like Iran, hell-bent on prophetic Islamic delusions, cannot have nuclear weapons.”  The most surprising example was from a non- commissioned officer who wrote an email to MRFF (Military Religious Freedom Foundation) who claimed a commander had urged officers to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’, specifically referencing numerous citations from the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.  He claimed that the commander had told the unit that Trump “has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth”.  For one thing, the Rapture and Armageddon are approximately 2300-days apart, but regardless, I’m not sure if the war with Iran should be justified in such religious terms to troops.  In the article, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the rhetoric as “dangerous” and “anti- Muslim”.  CAIR said that Hegseth’s reference to “prophetic Islamic delusions” apparently comes from “Shia beliefs about religious figures arising near the end times.”  I should point out that CAIR and Al Jazeera are both Sunni, so it’s not surprising that they would be against any reference to ‘Shia’ end time beliefs.  However, I think religious hardliners in Iran would be blind not to consider this attack by the US and Israel as a sign of end times.    Iran is the only country where Twelver Shiite is the official state religion, which it has been since 1501.  Twelver Shiite means they believe that the 12^th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, did not die, but rather went into occultation, which means he was ‘taken or hidden’, but will “re-emerge during end times to establish peace and justice and redeem Islam.” Furthermore, God will “grant him permission to manifest himself again when the Earth is filled with tyranny.”  Well, Iran refers to the US as the ‘great Satan’ and Israel as the ‘little Satan’, so in their point of view, I don’t know what could be a greater tyranny than being attacked by the great Satan and little Satan at the same time.  It’s different from the 12-day war in June-2025 because it’s not just about nuclear sites; the US and Israel are obviously trying to bring down the regime.  Yet, in Iran, the government and religion are synonymous, so it’s natural for them to see the war as an attack on their religion.  That’s probably why Iran is vowing not to surrender.    Jesus said, “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.” (Luke 21:20)  Of course, we know it’s talking about the ‘abomination that causes desolation’ because the next verse talks about ‘fleeing to the mountains’, which matches Matt 24:15-16.  On day-3 of the war, Hezbollah announced that they were entering the war, by firing rockets, and now they are sending ground troops. When asked why a weakened Hezbollah would do such a thing, I saw an analysis in Lebanon answer, ‘Hezbollah might not tilt the scales much, but Iran is throwing everything they have at Israel, and Hebollah is just another weapon that Iran has’. (Al Jazeera TV - Youtube video) With that rationale, I wouldn’t be surprised to see missiles from the Houthis because they would be a weapon from the South.  Plus, the ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza is being broken almost every day.  Israel is on the brink of going back in to disarm Hamas by force because they have refused to do so voluntarily. Trump is the only thing holding them back because he wants to give his 20-Point Peace Plan some more time.  Israel is already fighting on many fronts, as prophesied by Jesus.  Yet, I really believe the uprising that sets up the abomination must come from the West Bank because of its proximity to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.    So, how could someone from the West Bank attack?  I recently read an article that explained how the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has emerged as a sizeable force in the West Bank.  According to analysts, the PIJ is likely getting financing from Iran and recruitment has increased due to high unemployment caused by Israeli policy limiting work visas following the Oct 7, 2023 attack.  Historically, they are closer to Iran than Hamas because they sided with Assad, in the Syrian civil war, and Hamas sided with the rebels.  Analysts say the PIJ is better suited for Iran’s purpose because they are focused strictly on “chaos and resistance” rather than trying to hold political office like Hamas.  The most shocking part of the article was that the PIJ has a ‘gang’ from Jenin called “Brigade 313,”  established and backed by Iran since 2021, who derives its name from the number of people set to accompany the second coming of Imam Mahdi, during end times.  What better way for Imam Mahdi to arrive than during an uprising on the Temple Mount?   The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) are known for rejecting a two-state solution because they don’t believe the Jews should have a state at all.  As such, they recognize that their mission can only be successful through military means.  The commander of the Jenin Brigade previously said, in Dec-2014, that their purpose was a “patriotic and religious duty toward our nation.”  Of course, he was speaking of a ‘Palestinian nation’, which Israel’s far-right government is trying to assure never happens.  For example, on February 8, 2026, Isreal’s far-right government passed a set of changes concerning the West Bank that many are saying equate to de facto annexation.  Following the announcement, Hamas called for “rebellion across the West Bank and Jerusalem” and “escalation by all available means.”  Prior to that, in Dec-2025, Israel announced 11 new settlements in the West Bank, and legalized 8 illegal outposts.  At the time, Smotrich said bluntly that the announcement was aimed at blocking a Palestinian state.  My point is: If the purpose of the PIJ is to ‘serve their nation’, they might better do something pretty quick because Israel’s far-right government is taking away all hope of them ever having a nation.  As such, this war with Iran might be their best chance to seek patriotic revenge like desecrating the Western Wall.    Jesus said, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”  (Luke 12:37)   Praise Jesus.   Related page: Daniel 11 Explained (condensed ‘one page’ commentary) Related page:  ‘Matthew 24’ Explained (must match Revelation) Updated: 03-14-2026 - Other factors that might narrow the timing a little more: Full Moons in the Bible   Personally, I think there’s a really good chance that the abomination and rapture will happen ‘on or near’ a full moon (+/- 2 days) because almost all the biggest events in the Bible happened near a full moon.  [Note: A full moon occurs on the 14^th or 15^th of the lunar month because a lunar month averages 29.5 days and starts on a ‘new moon’ (dark).]    For example, the Biblical Flood started on the 17^th of the 2^nd month (Gen 7:11) and the ark landed on Mt. Ararat on the 17^th of the 7^th month (Gen 8:4), which means that the Biblical Flood started and stopped ‘near’ full moons.    Secondly, God defined the original Passover as being on the 15^th of the 1^st month (Exodus 12:6), which started their journey from Egypt.  The Israelites reached Mt. Sinai on the 15^th of the 4^th month (Exodus 19:1), so their journey to visit God both started and stopped on full moons, just like the flood.  Then, God descended on Mt. Sinai with fire and thunder on the 3rd day, which was the 17^th of the 4^th month, still ‘near’ the full moon.    Of course, Jesus was crucified on the morning of Passover, which was the 15^th of the 1^st month, and raised on the 3^rd day, which was the 17^th, very similar to God’s appearance on Mt. Sinai.    Another example is when the Israelites began marching around Jericho, on the 15^th of the 1^st month (Josh 5:10), which essentially ended their journey and began their conquest of the Promised Land.  That means, the 40-year Exodus began and ended on full moons.    Additionally, Purim is near a full moon because the war that it commemorates was on the 14^th and 15^th of the 12^th month. (Esther 9:21)    Plus, God also defined the Feast of Tabernacles as starting on the 15^th of the 7^th month, which is a full moon. (Lev 23:34)  The Feast of Tabernacles is the only feast that is specifically mentioned as being celebrated during Jesus’ 1000-year reign on earth. (Zech 14:16-19)   Plus, if the 6^th Seal rapture happens near a full moon, then the Seals would also start and stop near full moons, since Seal 1 was the resurrection (17^th), and Seals 6 and 7 happen on the same day.    Plus, if the 6^th Seal rapture happens ‘on or near’ a full moon, then the Seals would also start and stop near full moons, since Seal 1 was the resurrection (17^th), and Seals 6 and 7 happen on the same day.  Consequently, If that happens, the 2300-day ‘post-rapture tribulation’ would also start and stop ‘on or near’ full moons because 2300-days is almost exactly 78-lunar months (within 1-day).  Therefore, based on Bible history, there’s a very good chance that the abomination and rapture could happen ‘on or near’ a full moon, which would continue the trend.  I mean, it makes sense to me because God used full moons for the Flood and Exodus, in the beginning, so why not the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls, at the end? So How Could God Turn the Sun Dark during a Full Moon?   The prophet Joel said, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” (Joel 2:31)  For several years, there’s been a lot of talk about lunar eclipses being called ‘blood moons’, but God could make the moon red without a lunar eclipse (although I’m not sure how).  He could also darken the sun without a solar eclipse.  In fact, a solar eclipse is always during a ‘new moon’, and I just got through saying that the rapture is more likely during a full moon.  So how could that be?   I’ve always considered one way that God could darken the sun during a full moon is with a dust storm.  In fact, I recently saw an article where that exact thing happened in Israel.  Starting around 3 AM on February 14, 2026, strong winds brought clouds of dust from North Africa and the Sahara, which lasted until noon or later.  They have a photo in the article showing how dark it was from the haze.  The winds were 35-40 mph, causing 8-foot waves, which could also account for Jesus’ prophecy concerning “the roaring and tossing of the sea.”  (Luke 21:25)  Imagine the dust and waves if the winds were even higher.  One interesting aspect of a dust storm is that the Health Ministry warned those with heart or lung conditions, the elderly, children, and pregnant women to avoid strenuous outdoor activity (such as fleeing to the mountains).  Therefore, a dust storm would not only turn the sun dark but would also account for Jesus’ prophecy: “How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!” (Matt 24:19)  Jewish Holidays or Feasts   No one can predict the exact time or day of the rapture with 100% accuracy.  Yet, with each prophecy that has a chance to be fulfilled, the odds are a little higher.  For example, I think the odds are a little higher each month as the full moon rolls around.  Yet, I would never say any day was 100%, just as I would never say that any day was 0%.  Some days just have better odds than others, in my opinion.  Having said that, one prophecy in Amos mentions ‘Jewish feasts are turned to mourning’ in association with the 6^th Seal Rapture.  Like I’ve always cautioned, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the rapture absolutely has to be on a Jewish holiday, because they would still be mourning when the next holiday came around, but it raises the odds.  Amos 8: 8-10 8 "Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn?  The whole land will rise like the Nile; it will be stirred up and then sink like the river of Egypt. 9 "In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.  10 I will turn your religious feasts into mourning and all your singing into weeping.   This prophecy is particularly interesting because the “land trembling” confirms the earthquake of the 6^th Seal, and then it describes a flood of water rising and falling like a tsunami, which agrees with Jesus’ prophecy: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” (Luke 21:25)  Plus, if the earthquake of the 6^th Seal produced a tsunami, it would cause people to flee to higher ground (the mountains) whether their understood what the abomination was or not, thus fulfilling Jesus’ other prophecy in Matt 24:16.  The 6^th Seal could actually be multiple earthquakes, but I think at least one will produce a tsunami to fulfill Amos 8:8.    As for the rapture, it puts better odds on the upcoming Passover, which also starts on a full moon, but like always, I can’t guarantee anything.  Only God knows for sure.   Peace and Safety   Of course, the war with Iran raises the odds a little, like I explained before.  Yet, even if the war ends, the rapture could still come afterwards because there’s another prophecy from Paul.  1 Thessalonians 5:3 “While people are saying ‘peace and safety’, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”    So, will the rapture be during war or peace?  In my opinion, it could go either way because there’s a chance that the attack on Oct 7, 2023 fulfilled that prophecy from Paul because Israel was in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia when Hamas attacked.  Then again, it could be talking about the rapture and uprising on the Temple Mount.  I’m just saying that the uprising and abomination could happen during the current war with Iran, but don’t be discouraged if the war ends without a rapture; it could still come during ‘peace and safety’.  3.  The 70^th Seven   Daniel 9:27 is the 70^th Seven, which is a prophecy about the Abomination being within a seven-year period that starts with a “confirmation of a covenant with many.”  By the way, the 70^th Seven is not connected to the other 69 Sevens because Daniel 9:26 jumps to the ‘end’ when it says, “The end will come like a flood.” (other 69 Sevens explained on popup) Daniel 9:27 - The 70^th Seven (NIV) “He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”   Briefly, the word ‘confirm’ implies that the ‘covenant’ (agreement or promise) already existed because it doesn’t say ‘make a covenant’ or ‘establish a covenant’.  Plus, Israel is not mentioned in this covenant because the same entity that confirms the covenant also sets up the Abomination and the “end that is decreed is poured out on him.”  I’m confident that the covenant was the JCPOA (Iranian nuclear agreement) and the confirmation was between Iran and the E3 (UK, France, and Germany) after Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the agreement in May-2018.  Iran’s confirmation with the E3 lasted from May-2018 to Oct-2025, when the E3 chose to invoke the snapback sanctions, thus ending the JCPOA for good.  Thus, the duration of the confirmation with the E3 was almost exactly 7-years.  Plus, those same 7-years spanned from the 70^th to the 77^th anniversaries of Israel.  Yes, that’s because Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in the same month as the 70^th anniversary of Israel.  Granted, the abomination didn’t happen within those seven years, like the verse implies, but I still think the JCPOA was the ‘covenant with many’.  I just don’t think there will ever be another agreement that matches like that, especially when Iran is the leader of the final empire, starting in Daniel 11:21, who eventually sets up the abomination  in Daniel 11:31.    Of course, I could be wrong because I’m just human, but I figure God just decided to extend the 70^th Seven a little bit, which He is allowed to do because He is God.  Jesus said, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.” (Luke 12:38)  Could Jesus have been indicating that the 70^th Seven would be extended?  I don’t know, but He was definitely saying to keep watching even if His arrival was not when you first thought.  For the record, I don’t think the 70^th Seven will be extended much.  2.  Israel’s Far-right Government and Jewish Kabbalists prophecies   Several years ago, some Jewish prophecies became popular because they at least partially proved true.  I don’t generally pay attention to Jewish prophecies because how much could they know if they don’t believe Jesus was their Messiah?  Yet, as Moses once said, ‘You can tell if a prophecy is from God or not by waiting to see if it comes true.’ (Deut 18:22 - paraphrased)  Like I said, two of the prophecies partially came true, at the time, and could now point to 2026, so they deserve another look.  Prophecy #1 – Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri [1898(?) - 2006] "On the eve of the year 5780, the year of corrections, there will not be a government in Israel for an extended period and the various camps will quarrel much without a decision on either side, and then, on Rosh Hashanah [the Jewish new year] itself, they will fight in heaven, the holy side against the side of evil, and G-d and His entourage will decide between them."  Prophecy #2 – Rabbi Sasson Hai Shoshani (1867–1953) "There will come on the day that two ministers win the government in the land of Israel. Both their names will be Benjamin and neither of them will succeed in establishing their government or kingship.  On that day, know and understand that the King Messiah already stands at the doorway and on the Sabbath afterwards he will come and be revealed.  Understand this and remember it."   #1 - Kaduri had the correct year for Israel’s extended period with no government because the Hebrew year of 5780 corresponded to Sept 30, 2019 – Sept 18, 2020.  Elections were scheduled for Nov-2019, but the government fell early due to disagreements about ultra- orthodox military service and Netanyahu’s corruption charges.  Therefore, snap elections were held April 9, 2019, which was literally on the “eve of 5780.”  Yet, neither party could form a government.  They went to a second election, and then a third, but neither side could find a majority to form a government, which was unprecedented in Israeli history.   #2 - Shoshani had the names correct because the main candidates in the three consecutive elections were Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, which were “two Benjamins.”  The elections were held April 9, 2019; Sept 17, 2019; and March 2, 2020, with no majority.  Finally, due to the covid emergency, they tried a unity government, but that only lasted from May-2020 to Dec-2020.  Another election was held on March 23, 2021, but again neither side could form a majority, so they tried a second unity government with Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, which only lasted from June-2021 to June 2022.  Thus, Israel had over three years where there was no lasting government because there was no majority coalition.    After that, the next election was Nov 1, 2022, but it was different because Netanyahu formed a majority by bringing in the most far-right parties led by Smotrich and Ben Gvir.  Even then, I knew it was going to be a gamechanger because it was the most far-right government in Israeli history.  Things started slow because a new government must pass a budget and assign cabinet positions, which required some changes for such a far-right group.  Then, disputes started between the government and judicial branch.  Therefore, the new government was just getting their footing when Hamas attacked on Oct 7, 2023, which made the Gaza War and hostages their main priority for the next two years.  Now, with Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan, which started a ceasefire and brought the hostages home, the far-right government is trying to make up for lost time, such as approving new settlements and passing land registration changes for the West Bank that amount to “de facto annexation.”  I think Israel’s far-right government, which broke the correctly prophesied stalemate, was especially chosen by God to make changes in the West Bank and Temple Mount like they have.  Yet, they are running out of time because the next election must come by Oct 27, 2026, or sooner, and current polls show that neither side would get a majority, again.    Getting back to the Jewish prophecies, Rabbi Shoshani, who had the names correct also wrote, “On that day, know and understand that the King Messiah already stands at the doorway and on the Sabbath afterwards he will come and be revealed.”  Well, the “Sabbath afterwards” could be interpreted as a 7-year period or the 7^th year.  So, in addition to this government running out of time in 2026, the 7^th year since the prophecies began, in April-2019, also points to Spring-2026.    Of course, some people are bound to notice that Kaduri mentions Rosh Hashanah, but that is in context of “God deciding between them,” which could have been one of the elections or something.  People always predict the rapture on Rosh Hashanah, every year, because it’s the Feast of Trumpets, but that’s not the same as the “trumpet call of God.” (1 Thess 4:16)  Personally, I always have an issue with Rosh Hashanah because it naturally falls on a ‘new moon’, which can’t be seen because it’s black.  To me, if the rapture was going to be during the High Holidays, in the fall, it would be more likely on the Feast of Tabernacles, two weeks later, which is a ‘full moon’ and mentioned in Zech 14:16-19.  I just had to mention Rosh Hashanah because it was in Kaduri’s prophecy.  I still think Spring-2026 is more likely, but no one really knows for sure, so all we can do is wait and see. Updated below: Final Events Before the Uprising – Daniel 11:29-30   I have said multiple times that all the verses through Daniel 11:30 are either “fulfilled or satisfied,” which is correct.  However, I’m careful to use the word “satisfied” because I’m aware that more events can happen to satisfy a verse even more.  I’m not too proud to make an adjustment when that happens because Daniel 11 is a difficult chapter to interpret.    I previously said that events involving the Houthis and the Red Sea, particularly in 2025, satisfied the verses below because they were allies of Iran, but events in the Middle East, now, could satisfy the verses even better because events involve Iran directly. Daniel 11:29-31 [Events before the Rapture] 29 "At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. [Rapture] 31 "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.   As I’ve always said, Iran is the North, and Saudi Arabia and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is the South.  When Iran was attacked by the US and Israel, it was not surprising that they retaliated by firing at the US bases along the Persian Gulf, which were naturally located within Gulf countries.  However, Iran went farther and attacked oil infrastructure, which was “invading the South,” as verse 29 predicts.  Perhaps the “outcome is different” because Iran successfully closed the Strait of Hormuz to foreign traffic, which I don’t think they have ever done before.    As I’ve always said, “ships of the western coastlands” are generally the West, which in this case is mainly the United States.  Of course, they have been opposing Iran since the start of the war, but Iran is not showing signs of “losing heart,” as of yet, because they appointed a new Supreme Leader and he announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed.     So, what happens now?  The Middle East is hard to predict, but I’m thinking of a scenario where “ships of the western coastlands” go in and forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz, which has already been talked about.    Update 3-14-2026, the US has bombed military targets on Kharg Island, where 90% of Iran’s oil passes before being loaded onto ships.  The oil infrastructure was not hit, but Trump has threatened to do just that if Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz.   It remains to be seen if that will cause Iran to “lose heart” and allow shipping to resume.      Of course, that will not be the end of it.  As I’ve always said, the “holy covenant” is Israel, or Israel’s possession of Palestine.  Perhaps Iran ‘losing heart’ only concerns their closure of the Strait of Hormuz.  Perhaps ‘western ship opposition’ causes them to ‘lose heart’ there, but they turn their attention back to Israel and “vent their fury against the holy covenant.”    Notice that the last sentence in verse 30, before the uprising and abomination in verse 31, involves a third party because he “shows favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.”  Clearly, the word “those” implies a ‘different group’ who ‘forsake the holy covenant’.  Since the pronouns are known to change from verse to verse, perhaps it is the “armed forces” of that ‘different group’ who “rise up to desecrate the temple fortress” and “set up the abomination” in verse 31.  Perhaps that ‘different group’ is the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), whom I mentioned in the previous section.  They are the perfect candidate because they are an ally or supported by Iran, don’t believe that Israel should have a state in Palestine at all, and are located in the West Bank for easier access to the Temple Mount.    Of course, this scenario is my own opinion of how things could go to fulfill Daniel 11.  It is not the only way things could happen to fulfill the prophecy, but it is a legitimate, plausible and practical scenario based on current events.  Only time will tell if this is correct or not.  Related page: The 70th Seven