Personality of the Antichrist

In the eleventh chapter of Daniel, there are prophecies concerning the history of the world. Since I'm not a great history buff like some, I can't explain most of what goes before verse 21. (However, I'll look into history in the meantime.) But, here is where the Antichrist appears in Daniel 11:

21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

In other scripture, the Antichrist is described as coming in "peaceably". (His is also vile. Yikes.)

22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.

He shall work deceitfully. Don't believe a word this guy says! He is the opposite of Jesus Christ and we know that Jesus is "The Truth". What would "a small people" mean? Are the people short? Or, are they a country that's not recognized internationally as being very important?

24 He shall enter peaceably (there's that word again) 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: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.

He's going to spoil the fattest places and share it! Like a Robbin Hood or something. And he's going to predict his own future and tell people how he's going to conquer.

25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.

Who is the king of the south? (My guess is that this is talking about Israel. But there are other verses in the Bible to explain this. Right now we're concentrating on the personality of the Antichrist.)

26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.

27 And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

There's going to be a lot of lying going on. We need to have a lot of discernment these days.

28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits and return to his own land.

The holy covenant is the agreement that has been confirmed "with many" by the Antichrist himself. But, it seems like the covenant is cramping his style and he wants to break it.

29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.

30 For the ships of Chittim (Cyprus and possibly also other islands in the Mediterranean Sea) shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

So, the Antichrist will take away the "daily sacrifice" which I assume is the sacrifice that the Jews will be making in their newly built temple in Jerusalem. And he will place the "abomination that maketh desolate". That sounds pretty bad. Of course, we Christians will not be bowing down to worship this idol and that's where all the trouble comes in.