George W. Bush the ‘RAISER’ of Taxes in Daniel 11:20?

Daniel 11:20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

First some background on Daniel 11.

While the prophecy in Daniel 11 has been shown to be fulfilled by a progression of leaders before Jesus birth, his reference (Matthew 24:15) to the ‘abomination of desolation’ as spoken of in the book of Daniel, indicates a dual prophetic passage.  Jesus himself qualifies his citation of the passage in Daniel when he says, (whoso readeth, let him understand:), indicating a deeper understanding of His statement is needed. 

In 175 B.C. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (an archetype of the ANTICHRIST) forced the ‘abomination of desolation’ upon the Jews by dedicating the Jewish temple in Jerusalem to the god Zeus in an attempt to Hellenize them.  Antiochus IV Epiphanes had succeeded Heliodorus.  Heliodorus had been the ‘raiser of taxes’ as he attempted to enter the Temple in Jerusalem in order to take its treasure for taxes.  However, he was hindered by God and was unable to collect taxes.  He then returned to his king Seleucus IV (Antiochus IV older brother) and assassinated him and took power.  Sometime after Antiochus IV took power from Heliodorus, on or around the year 167 B.C. he set up alter to Zeus in the Second Temple and sacrificed swine to it.  Thus, the ‘abomination of desolation’ in Daniel 9, 11 and 12 has been once fulfilled.  Jesus would have known of this fulfillment in his time as general history, indicating that the ‘abomination of desolation’ coming in the ‘end of days’ would be typical of the previously fulfilled prophecy in Daniel.  This explains Jesus’ qualification (whoso readeth, let him understand). 

Defining ‘RAISER’ of ‘TAXES’

The English word ‘raiser’ is translated from the word (Strong's H5674) abar.  While the word ‘abar’ appears in the Bible 559 times, it is only interpreted ONCE as ‘raiser’.  In fact, this is the only occurrence of the word ‘raiser’ in the Bible.  174 times the word ‘abar’ is interpreted PASS OVER; 108 times PASS; 58 times PASS THROUGH; 27 times PASS BY; GO PAST 26 times; (PUT or PASS) AWAY 24 times; 19 times PASS ON and another 122 times misc. words pertaining to PASSING OVER. 

The English word ‘taxes’ is translated from the word (Strong's H5065) ‘nagas’.  This word is interpreted as ‘taxes’ only once in Scripture and it is in this instance.  It is a VERB meaning to PRESS, DRIVE or EXACT, as a tyrant or exactor of tribute.  IN other words ‘ENFORCMENT of TRIBUTE’.  The combination of the two words abar and nagas using their most common definition would literally mean ‘PASS OVER ENFORCEMENT of TAXES’.  This would describe what happened to Heliodorus who had to ‘PASS OVER the ENFORCEMENT of TAXES as he was hindered by GOD from sacking the Second Temple.    

 

Possible Conclusions?

Whoever the end-times ‘vile person’ in Daniel 11:21, he would seemingly have to be preceded by a ‘raiser of taxes’ or more specifically someone who ‘PASSES OVER the ENFORCEMENT of TAXES’.  If this is the correct interpretation, GEORGE W.. BUSH matches the description in Daniel exactly.  Bush II by-passed taxes, but increased spending (in the glory of the kingdom) which is in effect PASSING OVER THE ENFORCEMENT OF TAXES.  Bush II was then was destroyed (politically) after a few days (two terms) in neither anger nor in battle (term expired). 

Many have said that BARACK is the ‘raiser of taxes’.  However, technically Barack has yet to raise taxes.  In fact, he proposes to allow the Bush tax policies continue through their expiration in 2011.  Barack’s philosophy as stated in his campaign is to ‘SPREAD THE WEALTH AROUND’.  Daniel 11:24 describes BARACK exactly:   He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches (spread the wealth around).  In fact, you will notice that the person is described as performing an UNPRECIDENTED (fathers have not done) scattering of the riches upon the FATTEST PLACES of the PROVINCE (Wall Street BAILOUTS).  Incidentally, NEW YORK is referred to as a PROVINCE.

 

GEMATRIA Similarities between ANTIOCHUS IV, BARACK and the DEVIL.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes English Ordinal 1-1 = 234

BARACK (Standard-twice) = 234

Difference between 45-(MAN)-total of 450 and 36-(BARACK)-total of 216 of base triangular numbers, in the triangular number of 666 is 234.

2 Chronicles 9:13 and Revelation 13:18 (Two verses containing ‘six hundred threescore and six’) = 234 (2x9x13) and (13x18) = 234

Daniel 9:26 = 234 (9x26)

Antiochus IV Epiphanes English composite Sum and Difference = 387.

Devil- Greek Standard = 387

BARACK-Composite Sum = 387

Incidentally, the Standard English value of Heliodorus is 666.

 

In Christ,

Kevin Heckle