DANIEL 11
20 “Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. 21 In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. 23 And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. 24 Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. 26 Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. 27 And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed. 28 And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land. – Daniel 11:20-28
DANIEL 11 THE FORESHADOWING OF THE ANTICHRIST
According to Dr. Constable’s Expository note Seleucus IV succeeded his father Antiochus. He taxed his people and the Jews heavily in order to pay Rome. As a consequence of this, his Jewish tax collector Heliodorus poisoned him. This tax collector was the oppressor of the Israelites. This assassination began the terrible persecutions of the Jews. Seleucus IV did not die because of mob violence, as his father had, or in battle, but from poison, as verse 20 predicted. The younger son of Antiochus III succeeded Seleucus IV named Antiochus IV Epiphanes (“Illustrious One,” 175-164 B.C.). Antiochus IV honored himself by taking on the name “Epiphanes.” “Epiphanes” was linked with “Theos” on coins that he minted and so claimed to be “God manifest.” However, many people didn’t trust him and called him “Epimanes” (“Madman”). The throne rightly belonged to one of the sons of Seleucus IV, the former king and brother of Antiochus IV, but Antiochus IV seized it for himself and had himself proclaimed king. He persuaded the leaders of Syria to allow him to rule since Demetrius, the eldest son of Seleucus IV, was being held hostage in Rome. In this way, through scheming to gain power, he secured the throne for himself. The great persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes and his devastating influence on the Jews made him the antichrist mentioned in Daniel 8:9-12 and Daniel 8:23-25 making him the foreshadowing of the antichrist. During his tenure as king, Syria was in decline and Rome gained power. According to biblical archeological society, Antiochus Epiphanes claimed to be Zeus incarnate. He desecrated the temple by offering a pig for Zeus in it.
REFLECTION
· Which dictator in our times today do you compare to Antiochus IV Epiphanes? Why?
