YAHWEH’S PROPHETIC DETAILS FOR HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL
ARE FOUND IN DANIEL CHAPTERS 8-12
Part 6: Events Prophesied and Battles Over the Land of Israel During Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Antichrist Who Comes During Daniel’s 70th Week or the Time of the End.
Daniel 11:21-45
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. The Grecian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163 B.C.) causes specific problems and distressful times for the Jewish people (Daniel 11:21 -35).
A. The prophesied “contemptible person” or “despicable person” of verse 21 comes perfectly in Grecian history (given in Daniel 11:3-20 previously) as Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163 B.C.). He followed his brother Seleucus IV (187-176 B.C.) as one of the kings from the north of Israel who have been in control of the land of Palestine or Israel since around 200 B.C.
1. Antiochus IV was not in the line of royalty because his brother Seleucus IV had a son named Demetrious Soter who should have been the rightful ruler after Seleucus IV was assassinated by poisoning. However, Demetrious was still a hostage of Rome (as part of the 20 hostages sent by Antiochus III being conquered). Antiochus IV was supposed to be prince regent until Seleucus IV release but promised the government officials favors and bribes to allow him to remain as king (verse 21).
2. The book of Daniel has prophesied previously about this man in Daniel
8:9-14 specifically and then probably partially about this man and partially about the end time antichrist in Daniel 8:17 -26 (“time of the end” Daniel 8:17 , “later in the time of wrath” Daniel 8:19 , “the distant future” Daniel 8:26). Therefore, Daniel chapter 8 seems to start a correlation between Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the end time antichrist which becomes fully substantiated in Daniel chapter 11 (if the texts are exegeted literally, grammatically, and contextually).
B. He was a person who used deceit to his advantage. He would befriend people and nations offering them peace and then seek to destroy them by catching them off guard (verses 22-35).
1. The empowerment of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (north) and the battles against Egypt (verses 22 -30).
a. Verse 22 lays out in summary form the two important events describing Antiochus IV: 1) The defeating (for a time) of the Egyptian army, and 2) The destruction (for a time) of the Jewish High Priesthood. Ptolemy VI (181-145 B.C., south) waged a great war to try to take back Palestine ( Israel ) but was defeated and captured in 170 B.C. by Antiochus IV (north). About this same time, the Jewish High Priest office “the prince of the covenant” was corrupted due to bribery offered to Antiochus IV. This produced the ousting and killing of the rightful High Priest Onias III in 171 B.C.
b. Verses 23 and 24 lays out Antiochus IV mode of operation. He would deceitfully come to an agreement with Ptolemy VI and end up returning to his own country with great wealth to be distributed to buy future favors. In the process he will attain a limited success against the stronghold of Egypt .
c. Verses 25-30 give us Antiochus IV two campaigns against Egypt , his personal frustration of not accomplishing all of his goals and his growing hatred toward the Jewish people.
1. The first campaign of 170 B.C. against Egypt is found in verses 25-28. As Ptolemy VI (south) came up to try and conquer back Palestine (Israel), Antiochus IV (north) came against this large Egyptian army but the army and counselors of the Egyptian army betrayed their king (verses 25, 26). Antiochus IV and Ptolemy VI ended up striking an agreement, giving Antiochus IV great wealth and other political concessions but both kings had deceit in their hearts (verse 27). On his way back to Syria , Antiochus IV and his army desecrated the temple by looting it and killing many Jews (verse 28).
2. The second campaign of 168 B.C. against Egypt is found in verses 29 and 30. Antiochus IV took his large army retracing the territories he conquered in Egypt because of a revolt on the part of Egypt to their agreement. His intent was to take Egypt over completely on this campaign but Roman warships sailed from the island of Cyprus and met Antiochus IV in Alexandria . They informed him that if he didn’t turn back that they would consider this an act of war against Rome (verses 29, 30a). He and his army turned back but he decided to really vent his fury on the people of Israel this time and reward any Jew who would forsake their God in favor of worshipping the Greek god Zeus (verse 30b, c).
C. The three-plus years of extreme trouble which Antioch IV Epiphanes caused for the Jews in Israel during 167-164 B.C. (verses 31-35).
1. On December 16, 167 B.C. an alter to the Greek god Zeus was placed on the altar of burnt offering at the Hebrew temple and a pig was sacrificed on it. They were supposed to do this on the 25th of every month in honor of Antiochus IV birthday or risk death (verse 31).
2. The Jews who violated the covenant of Yahweh received special favors and privileges but a remnant resisted. A priest named Mattathias and his five sons formed a movement of resistance that became know as the Maccabean “hammer” revolt (verse 32).
3. According to the historical record over a hundred thousand Jews lost their lives during this time but it lasted a predetermined time of a little over three years (verses 33-35, I and II Maccabees, Josephus chapter 16).
Thought: Yahweh has faithfully chosen His servants to write down prophecy years, centuries, and millennia in advance. He did this so that we can be informed as to what He is doing and allowing. As we meditate on the Scriptures, we grow, are more informed, strengthened, and comforted in the process. Praise Yah! (I Timothy 3:13-16; II Tim. 3:14-16)
III. The future end time Antichrist who rises to power during Daniel’s 70th week and brings great distress to Israel for a predetermined span of 3.5 years (Dan. 11:36 -45).
A. There seems to be a switch that happens in verse 36 to a different person other than Antiochus IV Epiphanes who has some of the same characteristics but yet many differences.
1. The king is going to be attacked by a future king of the south and north (verse 40). Antiochus IV was the king of the north and was not attacked by another king of the north.
2. This king is either a self-worshipping egomaniac or/and an atheist (verses 36 and 37). Antiochus IV was a Zeus, Jupiter, and Greek god worshipper.
3. The amount of countries and extent of control this king has is much greater than Antiochus IV (verses 40-43).
4. This king seems to be in Israel between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at the time of a great battle and what appears to be his demise (verses 44, 45). Antiochus IV died insane in Persia in 163 B.C.
5. Right after the events of this king, the righteous are resurrected to inherit Daniel’s 5th and final kingdom. This kingdom is the everlasting kingdom of the Son of God, Yahweh Jesus, who will rule this earth and then the New Heaven and New Earth (Daniel 12:1-3, 11-13, 2:45, 4:34, 7:26,27, 9:24; Rev. 19:11-22:6). The death of Antiochus IV didn’t bring any of these things.
