Daniel 8:3-26 is a key passage, in which Daniel experiences a vision, and the angel Gabriel interprets the vision for Daniel (KJV):

This prophecy is one of the most difficult to understand in the book of Daniel, yet it is EXTREMELY interesting. If you dissect it carefully, there is much to be discovered.

• Notice the three sections above in bold type. These are the words of Gabriel interpreting the vision. Three times within 9 verses the angel tells Daniel the vision is for the end times in the far distant future. Why do you think the angel was so emphatic about this? Why was it necessary to repeat it three times? Because there would be a dual fulfillment of this vision, but the angel wanted to make sure Daniel, and future readers, would understand that the vision's ultimate fulfillment would be in the end of time.
• The easy part of the vision: the ram with two horns is the Medo-Persian empire. The goat with the large horn was the Grecian empire, and the large horn was Alexander the Great. The four horns that replaced him were Ptolemy, Cassander, Seleucus, and Lysimachus, Alexander the Great's four generals.
• Note verse 9 says "out of one of them" comes the little horn. The "them" of verse 9 refers to the four generals of Alexander the Great. From history, we know that this little horn was Antiochus Epiphanes. This man was a Syrian king which rose out of the Seleucid empire, one of the four generals. This is the king we are concerned about, because he is a "type" of antichrist...a foreshadowing of what the antichrist in the end of time will be.
• The facts of verses 9-12 fit Antiochus Epiphanes reign perfectly if you read historical accounts. These facts, however, are in Daniel's version of the vision. Note that in the angel's interpretation, most these facts are not repeated. In fact, several points are ADDED by the angel that are not in Daniel's rendition;

1. "a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." (v.23)
2. "his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power." (v.24)
3. "and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many." (v.25)
4. "he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." (v.25)

• Verse 26 is very interesting, because with it, the angel confirms what Daniel saw in his vision about the temple sacrifices, but he also tells him that the vision's ultimate fulfillment will be in the end of time. In verses 11-14, Daniel describes that the little horn defiles the temple and causes the sacrifice therein to cease. But the angel does not go into this detail in the interpretation: its simply says "the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true" in summing up verses 11-14. Then, the angel makes sure Daniel understands, for the third time, that the vision pertains to the end of time. If I were interpreting this verse with hindsight, I might translate it as "Yes, the vision concerning the temple desecration will be fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes in the near future, which is a foreshadowing of what is coming. The ultimate fulfillment of your vision, however, will happen in the end of time."
• Therefore, Daniel's version of the vision is a more literal representation of near future prophecy about Antiochus Epiphanes, whereas the angel's interpretation is a combination of both near future fulfillment concerning Antiochus Epiphanes and distant future fulfillment about the antichrist. Again, don't forget that three times in the space of nine verses the angel told Daniel that the vision pertains to the end of time.

Of importance in understanding the origin of the antichrist is verse 9, which states that the little horn will emerge out territory of one of Alexander the Great's four generals. From history, we know that Antiochus Epiphanes came from the Seleucid empire. Where was the Seleucid empire located? None other than modern day Syria, Lebanon and Iraq - ANCIENT BABYLON. Since this vision will have DUAL FULFILLMENT, as explained above, it is no stretch to surmise that the antichrist will also emerge out of one of these countries in the future, perhaps a revived Babylonian empire.

 Above is a map of the ancient Babylonian empire. Notice it spans MODERN-DAY Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and parts of eastern Turkey

Let's review the territories of the four generals of the Grecian empire:

1. Cassander - Greece and Macedonia
2. Lysimchus - Asia Minor
3. Antigonus (later Seleucus) - Syria and Babylon
4. Ptolemy - Egypt

Above is a map of the Grecian empire. Notice that it also encompasses MODERN-DAY Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and parts of Turkey.

Even if we didn't know that Antiochus Epiphanes came from the area of Syria and Babylon, tipping us off to where the future antichrist could ALSO emerge, what other evidences in the scripture are there that the antichrist will come from this area? First, let's try to eliminate the other three:

1. Asia Minor - we know from Daniel chapter 11 that the "king of the north" will attack the antichrists kingdom, so we can eliminate the region of Turkey and Asia Minor.
2. Egypt - we know from Daniel chapter 11 that the antichrist will attack Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia and conquer them, so we can eliminate the region of Egypt/Africa.

That leaves either the Syria/Lebanon/Iraq area, or Greece. Although we can't rule out Greece, there is really no other scriptural evidence to support Greece. But there is plenty of scriptural evidence that the antichrist will come from the ancient Babylon area:

1. Isaiah chapter 13: This chapter has many parallels to the book of Revelation, and in that respect, what we key in on is verses 19-22, a prophetic word against Babylon. If these are parallel to passages in Revelation, then we are talking about a future Babylonian empire, and we already know the antichrist and his kingdom are the ones who are destroyed in Revelation. Therefore, it follows that the antichrist will rise out of ancient Babylon: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq.
2. Isaiah chapter 14: Chapter 13 contains a prophecy about the end times, cosmic signs, and the tribulation period. Then chapter 14 blends in with a prophecy against "the king of Babylon". However, if you read this closely, the prophecy was against the earthly king of Babylon in Isaiah's time, the spiritual king of Babylon: Satan, and the future king of Babylon: the antichrist. This is, therefore, a TRIAD prophecy against those three entities, where the one part against the historic king of Babylon has been fulfilled, but the other two entities will be fulfilled in the future.
3. "The Assyrian" - There are several references in the Old Testament to a man called the Assyrian, who would be a vicious person toward God's chosen people. There are many parallels to the beast of Revelation and Daniel, such that there is no real doubt that "the Assyrian" is referring to the future antichrist. See Isaiah 10:24, 14:25, Micah 5:5-6. The Assyrian doesn't necessarily mean the antichrist will be Syrian, but will emerge from the general area encompassing the old Assyrian empire: Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
4. Ezekiel chapter 27-28: These chapters contain a prophecy against the "prince of Tyre". This city was in the Assyrian empire, as well as the Babylonian empire, and they still exist today in modern day Lebanon. When reading chapter 28, however, you will notice a transition in that the "king of Tyre" is most definitely Satan or Lucifer, very easy spot especially in light of Isaiah chapter 14. This is also a TRIAD prophecy against three entities: the historical ruler of Tyre in Ezekiel's time: Ittiobalus, the spiritual king of Tyre: Satan, and the future king of Tyre: the antichrist.
5. Zechariah 5:5-15: this is an interesting prophecy about a woman called "wickedness" that is carried in a basket into the land of Shinar, which is ancient Babylon, in the area where the tower of Babel was built. Zechariah was written just after the Babylonian captivity, so this had to be referring to a future event.
6. Revelation 17:8-11: see the entire discussion in section "The Beast of Revelation".

Babylon is the entire rift of the ancient Mesopatamia, and is considered Satan's command center, and where Israel's enemies are located and where the radical Muslims are located. This is taking place RIGHT NOW! There is a consensus among Jewish professors and rabbis in Israel that believe the reason why Ytizak Rabin wanted to make peace with Yasser Arafat was because he feared what would happen when Syria, Lebanon and Iraq were united against Israel. It is believed there will be a leader who unites these three countries to reform ancient Babylon. This is parallel to what the Bible teaches.

Some arguments by those who question how Babylon can come back:

1. They say that all the prophecies about Babylon have already been fulfilled - NO! The Bible says Babylon will be destroyed in the manner Sodom and Gomorrah was, by fire, which has not yet happened (Isaiah 13:19). Ancient Babylon simply deteriorated over several centuries...it was never destroyed by fire. If we believe the Bible, Babylon will again exist in the future and this prophecy will be fulfilled.
2. A nation of Babylon doesn't even exist - Well, neither did the nation of Israel until 1948 in ONE DAY. The Bible says that ten kings will give their power over to the beast in "one hour". This ancient Babylon could be restored in one day just as Israel was.
3. Ancient Babylon is lying in ruins...there is nothing there - Incorrect. Sadam Hussein is currently rebuilding the city. Back in 1990, over 60 million bricks were laid. Sadam feels he is a reincarnation of king Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar left instructions for future leaders to rebuild the city. Sadam was trying to rebuild the amazing hanging gardens and the tower of Babel.

Interestingly, in the war of Ezekiel 38-39 (Gog and Magog), the country of Persia, currently Iran, will be defeated. The present headquarters of the Shiite muslims is in Tehran, Iran, and when they are destroyed, they will almost assuredly merge with Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, the radical Islamic element, and that is where ancient Babylon will begin again.