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ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES
In verses 19 to 24 of the
eighth chapter of Daniel the coming of a wicked leader, to spring out of one of
the divisions of the Macedonian Empire and the vile work he was to do, is
predicted. He was to work great havoc in the pleasant land, that is,
History does not leave us
in doubt about the identity of this wicked king. He is the eighth king of the
Seleucid dynasty, who took the Syrian throne and is known by the name of
Antiochus Epiphanes, and bore also the name of Epimanes, i.e., "the Madman.” He
was the tyrant and oppressor of the Jews. His wicked deeds of oppression,
blasphemy and sacrilege are fully described in the Book of the Maccabees. Long
before he ever appeared Daniel saw him and his wicked work in his vision. And
all this has been fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes. When he had conquered
Menelaus had bribed Antiochus to make him high priest, robbed the temple and instituted the murder of the high priest Onias III. The most wicked deeds in the defilement of the temple were perpetrated by the leading general of Antiochus, Apollonius, in the year 168 B.C. We believe these 2,300 days are therefore literal days and have found their literal fulfillment in the dreadful days of this wicked king from the North. There is no other meaning attached to these days and the foolish speculations that these days are years, etc., lack Scriptural foundation altogether.
THE GREATEST OF ALL
The greatest prophecy in the Book of Daniel is contained in the ninth chapter, the prophecy concerning the 70 weeks, transmitted from heaven through Gabriel. (Daniel 9:24-27). To many readers of the Book of Daniel it is not quite clear what the expression "seventy weeks” means, and when it is stated that each week represents a period of seven years, many Christians do not know why such is the case. A brief word of explanation may therefore be in order. The literal translation of the term "seventy weeks” is "seventy sevens.” Now this word "sevens” translated "weeks” may mean "days” and it may mean "years.” What then is meant here, seventy times seven days or seventy times seven years? It is evident that the "sevens” mean year weeks, seven years to each prophetic week. Daniel was occupied in reading the books and in prayer with the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity. And now Gabriel is going to reveal to him something which will take place in "seventy sevens,” which means seventy times seven years. The proof that such is the case is furnished by the fulfillment of the prophecy itself.
First we notice in the
prophecy that these 70 year-weeks are divided in three parts. Seven times seven
(49 years) are to go by till the commanded rebuilding and restoration of
THE WARS OF THE PTOLEMIES
AND SELEUCIDAE
The greater part of the eleventh chapter in Daniel has been historically fulfilled. It is an interesting study. So accurate are the predictions that the enemies of the Bible have tried their very best to show that Daniel did not write these prophecies several hundred years before they occurred. But they have failed in their miserable attempts. We place the startling evidence before our readers.
PROPHECY GIVEN B.C. 534 |
FULFILLMENT |
"And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand
up yet three kings in (Verse 2.) |
See Ezra 4. 5-24. The three kings were: Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes and Darius,
known in history as Cambyses, Pseudo Smerdis, and Darius Hystaspis (not
Darius the Mede). The fourth one was Xerxes, who, as history tells us, was
immensely rich. The invasion of |
"And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will." (Verse 3.) |
The successors of Xerxes are not mentioned. The mighty king in this verse is the notable horn seen by Daniel on the hegoat in chapter 8, Alexander the Great, 335 B.C. |
"And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and
shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity,
nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be
plucked up even for others besides those." (Verse 4.) |
B.C. 323. Alexander died young. The notable horn was broken: His kingdom was divided into four parts (four winds) after the battle of Ipsus 301 B.C. His posterity did not receive the kingdom, but his four generals, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, Seleucus Nicator and Cassander. Not one of these divisions reached to the glory of Alexander's dominion. |
"And the king of the South shall be strong, and one of his
princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion
shall be a great dominion." (Verse 5.) |
Asia and |
"And in the end of years they shall join themselves together;
for the king's daughter of the South shall come to the King of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times." (Verse 6.) |
Here is another gap. This verse takes us to 250 B.C. The two who make
an alliance are the Kings of the North (Syrian division of the Grecian
Empire) and of the South ( |
"But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the King of the North, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail." (Verse 7.) |
The one out of her roots (Berenice, who had been murdered) was her
own brother, Ptolemy Euergetes, who avenged her death. He conquered |
"And shall also carry captives into |
Ptolemy Euergetes did exactly as predicted. He returned with 4,000
talents of gold and 40,000 talents of silver and 2,500 idols and idolatrous
vessels. Many of these Cambyses had taken to
|
"So the King of the South shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land." (Verse 9.) |
In 240 B.C. Seleucus Callinicus the King of the North invaded
|
(Literal translation): "and the same [King of the North] shall
come into the realm of the King of the South, but shall return into his own
land."
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The sons of Seleucus Callinicus were Seleucus III and Antiochus the
Great. Seleueus (Ceraunos) III began war against Egyptian Provinces in |
"But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress." (Verse 10.) |
In 217 B.C. Ptolemy aroused himself and fought Antiochus the Great
with an immense army. He defeated Antiochus. The multitude was given into the
hands of Ptolemy Philopater.
|
"And the King of the South shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the King of the North: and he shall set forth a great multitude but the multitude shall be given into his hand." (Verse 11.) |
The people of |
"And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be
lifted up, and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be
strengthened by it." (Verse 12.) (Literal: "And the multitude shall rise up and his courage increase.") |
About 14 years later, 203 B.C., Antiochus assembled a great army,
greater than the army which was defeated at Raphia, and turned against |
"For the King of the North shall return, and shall set forth a
multitude greater than the former and shall certainly come after certain
years with a great army and with much riches." (Verse 13.)
|
Antiochus had for his ally Philip, King of Macedon. Also in |
"And in those times there shall many stand up against the King of the South: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall." (Verse 14.) |
All this was fulfilled in the severe struggles, which followed.
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"So the King of the North shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the South shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand." (Verse 15.) |
The invasion of the glorious land by Antiochus followed. He subjected
the whole land unto himself. He also was well disposed towards the Jews
because they sided with Antiochus the Great against Ptolemy Epiphanes.
|
"But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed." (Verse 16.) |
This brings us to the years 198-195 B.C. Antiochus aimed to get full
possession of |
"He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and an agreement shall be made with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him." (Verse 17.) |
A few years later Antiochus conquered isles on the coast of
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"After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince [literally: Captain] for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him." (Verse 18.) |
The captain predicted is Scipio Asiaticus. Antiochus had reproached the Romans by his acts and he was defeated. This defeat took place at Magnesia 190 B.C. |
"Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found." (Verse 19.) |
Antiochus returns to his own land. He came to a miserable end trying
to plunder the
|
"Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle." (Verse 20.) |
This is Seleucus Philopater B.C. 187-176. He was known as a raiser of taxes. He had an evil reputation with the Jews because he was such an exactor among them. His tax collector Heliodorus poisoned him and so he was slain "neither in anger, nor in battle." |
"And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." (Verse21.) |
This vile person is none other than Antiochus Epiphanes. He had no claim on royal dignities, being only a younger son of Antiochus the Great. He seized royal honors by trickery and with flatteries. He is the little horn of chapter 8. |
"And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince cf the covenant." (Verse 22.) |
He was successful in defeating his enemies. The prince of the covenant may mean his nephew Ptolemy Philometor. He also vanquished Philometor's generals. |
"And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people." (Verse 23.) |
He reigned friendship to young Ptolemy but worked deceitfully. To
allay suspicion he came against |
"He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the
province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his
father's father; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches:
yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strongholds, even for a
time." (Verse 24.) |
He took possession of the fertile places in
|
"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." (Verse 25.) |
This King of the South is Ptolemy Physcon, who was made king after
Philometor had fallen into the hands of Antiochus. He had a great army but
did not succeed, because treason had broken out in his own camp.
|
"Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain." (Verse 26.) |
Additional actions of Antiochus and warfare, in which he was successful, followed. |
"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." (Verse 27.) |
The two kings are Antiochus Epiphanes and his associate Philometor. They made an alliance against Ptolemy Euergetes II, also called Physcon. But they spoke lies against each other and did not succeed in their plans. |
"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." (Verse 28.)
|
In 168 B.C. he returned from his expedition, and had great riches.
Then he marched, through In the first and second book of the Maccabees we read of his atrocities. Then he retired to |
"At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the South; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter." (Verse 29.) |
He made still another attempt against the South. However, he had not
the former success.
|
"For the ships of Chittim 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." (Verse 30.)
|
The ships of Chittim are the Roman fleet. When within a few miles of Jews sided with him. |
"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." (Verse 31.) |
This brings us to the climax of the horrors under Antiochus
Epiphanes. The previous record of it is contained in chapter 8. He sent
Apollonius with over 20,000 men to destroy The temple was polluted by the sacrifices of swine's flesh. The temple was dedicated to Jupiter Olympius. Thus the prediction was fulfilled. |
"And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt
by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do
exploits, "And they that understand among the people shall instruct
many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by
spoil, many days. "Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a
little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries." (Verses 32- 34.). |
These verses describe the condition among the Jewish people. There were two classes. Those who did wickedly against the covenant, the apostate, and those who knew God, a faithful remnant. The apostates sided with the enemy, and the people who knew God were strong. This has reference to the noble Maccabees. There was also suffering and persecution |
MANY MORE FULFILLED PROPHECIES
Many other fulfilled
prophecies might be quoted. In the last chapter of Daniel an interesting
prediction is made concerning the time of the end. "Many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall be increased.” Sir Isaac Newton, the discoverer of the law
of gravitation, wrote on Daniel and expressed his belief that some day people
would travel at the rate of fifty miles an hour. The French infidel Voltaire
many years later laughed at
UNFULFILLED PROPHECY