The Bible provides a prophecy concerning the establishment of a world empire out of which Antiochus Epiphanes would come to be (Stortz, 2016). In this apparent instance of Biblical typology, God gives us an example of the emergence of the Antichrist and what he will do in the middle of the Great Tribulation (Rhodes, 2016). The Antichrist, together with the False Prophet, who will become the leader of the entire heretical pagan world religions, will put an image of the Antichrist in the rebuilt Jewish Temple (The Holy Bible, 2011). Due to the Antichrist typology, it can be assumed that it will be placed in the Holy of Holies where it will become alive (Rhodes, 2016).. The Lord Jesus Christ prophesied the Abomination of Desolation, according to Matthew 24:15, and He stated that it would be carried out by the False Prophet and the Antichrist (Revelation 13:14). Jesus Christ wants His followers to realize and understand what will come during the end times (The Holy Bible, 2011). A real instance is when Jesus told His inner circle of disciples about the future and the events that will take place during the end times in His Olivet Discourse (Stortz, 2016). Jesus is quoted telling His disciples to take heed that no man should deceive them. The Lord also wants to strengthen people’s belief by foretelling the future events.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the eighth king in a succession of the 26 kings who ruled over the Syrian section of Alexander’s Empire from 175-164 B.C. (Rhodes, 2016). The book of Daniel 8:9 calls Epiphanes the “little horn.” The name Epiphanes means the “Illustrious One” despite his contemporaries giving him an alias of Epimanes, meaning a “madman.” Epiphanes IV is very different from the “little horn” of the book of Daniel seeing that the “little horn” appears in the setting of the fourth Roman kingdom, while the “little horn” of chapter 8 of the same book appears in the context of the third Greek kingdom (Rhodes, 2016).. However, taken as a whole Antiochus IV is indisputably one of the utmost Antichrist prototypes in all of God’s Word (Stortz, 2016).
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Daniel’s prophecies of Antiochus IV Epiphanes have both a future and historical fulfillment. This is because these prophecies reveal that Epiphanes and also the future Antichrist of the New Testament (Rhodes, 2016). As such, most Christian scholars refer to it as a second reference prophecy. Nevertheless, there are liberal commentators, for instance, D.S. Russell, who view these verses as merely being a historical fulfillment because of their late dating of the book of Daniel, which was done in 165 B.C. (Rhodes, 2016).On the other hand, conservative scholars point to both an Antiochus’historical and future prophecies fulfillment (The Holy Bible, 2011). Also, distinctions in opinions exist among the fundamental Biblical scholars as to where exactly the prophecies concerning Antiochus and those regarding the Antichrist commence (Rhodes, 2016).. Therefore, to understand this, it is important to focus on the contrasts between Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who ruthlessly persecuted the Old Testament saints and the coming of the Antichrist in the New Testament (Rhodes, 2016)..
When it comes to the larger picture, both accounts involve two end-time eras. These two periods of persecutions leading up to the initial and the second coming of Jesus Christ is depicted in both the exploits of Epiphanes and also those of the coming Antichrist (Rhodes, 2016).. It can also be noted that both periods experience the wrath of God being extended to Israel (The Holy Bible, 2011). The first era of wrath began with the Babylonian captivity of the chosen people and ended with the persecutions of Antiochus IV after which there was deliverance (Stortz, 2016). The future is illustrated by the second of these periods, which will begin with the advent of the seventieth week according to Daniel 9:24-27. This period will end with the atrocities that will be committed by the Antichrist, after which deliverance will be delivered (Rhodes, 2016). Hence, there is a typical relationship between the two personas of Antiochus IV and the coming Antichrist, and also there is a relationship between the two periods of time that lead up to the end times (Rhodes, 2016).
In the book of Daniel 7:8 and 8:9, both Antiochus and the Antichrist begin as a “little horn.” This implies that both the Antichrist and Antiochus IV Epiphanes grow to great power from a slight beginning (Rhodes, 2016). Daniel’s reference of Antiochus IV Epiphanes as a “little horn” is also right of the Antichrist’s beginning (The Holy Bible, 2011). The Antichrist, as noted, will begin as a less relevant political figure in the world and will gain global power by the midst of the tribulation hour and exert influence all over the world’s nations (Revelations 13:7). Both Antiochus IV and the Antichrist persecute God’s saints (Rhodes, 2016). The ruthless and ferocious persecutions done by Antiochus Epiphanes are well recorded in annals and histories for every person to see. From the histories, the Syrian king’s armies arrived near Alexandria in 168 B.C. to force the pharaohs to capitulate (The Holy Bible, 2011). However, with the help of Romans, the pharaoh’s compelled Antiochus to depart (Rhodes, 2016)..
After the humiliation he received in Egypt, Antiochus turned his vengeance and anger to Jerusalem (Rhodes, 2016). He managed to persecute about eighty thousand Israelites and further sold forty thousand more into slavery (Stortz, 2016). Additionally, the Syrian king robbed Jerusalem of its treasures and dedicated the temple to Jupiter Olympus (Rhodes, 2016). This act defiled God’s temple, and he also forced the Jews to worship Bacchus, the god of wine and pleasure (Stortz, 2016). Antiochus committed unimaginable atrocities to the Jews, the outcome being the massacre of thousands of God’s chosen people (The Holy Bible, 2011). However, these atrocities were only a foretaste of what awaited those who will be swept away during the Great Tribulation (Rhodes, 2016). In this light, the suffering and persecution of God’s saints under the Antichrist will be more intense and widespread during Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Rhodes, 2016).
Both the Antichrist and Antiochus blaspheme God. Antiochus Epiphanes, according to Daniel 8:11, exalted himself even to the prince of the host. The king’s arrogance and pride were similar to that of the future Antichrist (Rhodes, 2016). His blasphemy also typifies that of the future Antichrist. “And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things” (Daniel 7:8). In the book of Revelation, John witnesses the approaching Antichrist rising from the sea, and he writes: “and upon his heads the name of blasphemy” (Revelations 13:1). Furthermore, Apostle John reiterates his future impertinence: “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that live in heaven” (Revelations 13:6).
Both the Antichrist and Antiochus IV Epiphanes will use peace to attain their objectives. Concerning the Syrian king, Antiochus, it is said that he will annihilate many using peace (The Holy Bible, 2011). He will do this by pretending to be on a peaceful mission, where he will then steal and plunder, and he will liberally give out the lots and treasures to his followers (Stortz, 2016). Similarly, the Antichrist will use deceit in the upcoming conflagration to satisfy his desires (The Holy Bible, 2011). The Beast is portrayed as the rider of the “white horse” who carries a bow without a narrow, showing that he shall come in peace and obtain the kingdom by adulations (Rhodes, 2016). He will also ascend to power through the deliberate alliance of ten western European countries uniting under one global government (The Holy Bible, 2011). The Antichrist, according to Daniel, will lead the chosen people of God into signing a covenant that is described by Isaiah as a covenant with hell and death (The Holy Bible, 2011). Moreover, this covenant will commence Daniel’s seventieth week, which is a seven years period that guarantees Israel a time for security, peace, and most importantly a chance to rebuild the Jerusalem temple (The Holy Bible, 2011). The white house is quickly followed by the red horse that signifies war. After that, the world will be plunged into complete devastation that finally leads to Armageddon and Jesus Christ’s Second Coming (The Holy Bible, 2011).
It can be concluded that Daniel’s prophecy goes beyond what was fulfilled historically by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. It should also be noted that Antiochus is used as a model for the future and upcoming world leader, the Antichrist (Stortz, 2016). There are numerous other comparisons that can be used to show the relationship between Antiochus and the Antichrist (The Holy Bible, 2011). However, the various associations that have been discussed above should serve for one to recognize the incredible details that God’s word has cast upon the upcoming time of darkness that will engulf the world in the unknown futureday (The Holy Bible, 2011). Therefore, people should watch out and pray that the Second Coming will find us prepared as the signs end times are quickly approaching.
References
Rhodes, R. (2016). 40 days through Daniel . Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers
Stortz, R. D. (2016). Daniel: The Triumph of god's kingdom . Wheaton: Crossway Books.
The Holy Bible . (2011). Colorado Springs, CO: Biblica.
