Background and Historical Context:

Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Hellenistic Greek king of the Seleucid Empire, reigned from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. He was a son of King Antiochus III the Great and ascended to the throne following the murder of his brother, Seleucus IV Philopator. Antiochus is often remembered for his aggressive Hellenization policies and his persecution of the Jewish people, which played a significant role in the Maccabean Revolt.

Antiochus in the Bible:

Antiochus Epiphanes is not mentioned by name in the Bible, but his actions are prophesied in the Book of Daniel. Daniel 8:9-14 describes a "little horn" that emerges from one of the four notable horns of a goat, which many conservative scholars interpret as a reference to Antiochus. This passage details his rise to power and his desecration of the Jewish temple:

"Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew as high as the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, where it trampled them. It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of rebellion, the host, together with the daily sacrifice, will be given over to the horn. And it will hurl truth to the ground and will prosper in whatever it does." (Daniel 8:9-12)

Daniel 11:21-35 provides a more detailed account of Antiochus's reign, describing him as a contemptible person who seizes the kingdom through intrigue. His actions against the Jewish people and the temple are seen as a foreshadowing of the abomination of desolation:

"His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination of desolation." (Daniel 11:31)

Persecution of the Jews:

Antiochus's reign is marked by his attempts to impose Greek culture and religion upon the Jewish people. He outlawed Jewish religious practices, including circumcision and Sabbath observance, and ordered the worship of Greek gods. The most egregious act was the desecration of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where he erected an altar to Zeus and sacrificed pigs, an unclean animal according to Jewish law.

This persecution led to the Maccabean Revolt, a significant uprising led by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers. The revolt is celebrated in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the temple and the miracle of the oil.

Legacy and Prophetic Significance:

Antiochus Epiphanes is often viewed as a type of antichrist figure, prefiguring future persecution and desecration that will occur before the coming of the Messiah. His actions serve as a warning and a reminder of the trials faced by God's people throughout history. The prophecies in Daniel concerning Antiochus are seen by many as having both a historical fulfillment and a future application, pointing to the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over evil.Antiochus Epiphanes

ANTIOCHUS IV; ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES

(Epiphanes, e-pif'-a-naz, "Illustrious"): Son of Antiochus III who became king after his brother, Seleucus IV, had been murdered by Heliodorus. As a boy Antiochus lived at Rome as a hostage. The Pergamene monarchs, Eumenes and Attalus, succeeded in placing upon the throne the brother of Seleucus, although Heliodorus had wished to ascend the throne himself. The young king was even more enterprising than his father. He was called in to settle a quarrel between Onias III and his brother, Jason, the leader of the Hellenizing faction in Jerusalem, and Onias was driven out (2 Maccabees 4:4-6). Jason became high priest in his stead (2 Maccabees 4:9-16; 1 Maccabees 1:10-15; Ant, XII, v, 1). Antiochus himself afterward visited Jerusalem and was signally honored (2 Maccabees 4:22). On the death of Ptolemy VI in 173, Antiochus laid claim to Coelesyria, Palestine and Phoenicia; whereupon war broke out between Syria and Egypt. In this war Antiochus was victorious. Ptolemy Philometor was taken prisoner, and Antiochus had himself crowned king of Egypt (171-167 B.C.) at Memphis; whereupon Alexandria revolted and chose Ptolemy's brother as their king. The Roman ambassador, Popilius Laenas, demanded the surrender of Egypt and the immediate withdrawal of its self-constituted king. Antiochus yielded; gave up Pelusium and withdrew his fleet from Cyprus, but retained Coelesyria, Palestine and Phoenicia.

While Antiochus was on a second campaign in Egypt, he heard of the siege of Jerusalem. He returned immediately, slew many thousands of the inhabitants and robbed the temple of its treasures (1 Maccabees 1:20-24; 2 Maccabees 5:11-21). By his prohibition of the Jewish worship and his introduction or substitution of the worship of the Olympian Zeus (1 Maccabees 1:54; 2 Maccabees 6:2; Ant, XII, v, 4) he brought about the insurrection of the Jews, under the Maccabees, upon whom he made an unsuccessful war in 167-164 B.C. After this war Antiochus retired to the eastern provinces and died, after having failed in an attack on the temple of the Sun in Elymais, in Persia. See also ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION; ANTIOCHIANS.

J. E. Harry

How the City Jerusalem was Taken, and the Temple Pillaged [By ...
... CHAPTER 1. How The City Jerusalem Was Taken, And The Temple Pillaged [By
Antiochus Epiphanes]. As Also Concerning The Actions Of ...
/.../chapter 1 how the city.htm

How the Jews were Crucified Before the Walls of the City ...
... How The Jews Were Crucified Before The Walls Of The City Concerning Antiochus Epiphanes;
And How The Jews Overthrew The Banks That Had Been Raised By The Romans ...
/.../chapter 11 how the jews.htm

Introduction
... The first school of interpreters referred to above, have lighted upon Antiochus
Epiphanes as the one who fulfills the prophecies respecting the Antichrist. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/introduction.htm

Daniel
... which corresponds, point for point, with the history of the third and second centuries
BC, and in particular with the career of Antiochus Epiphanes (xi.21-45). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/daniel.htm

The History of the Prophetic Sermons, Epistles, and Apocalypses
... the book of Daniel in the light of the great crisis that came to the Jews as a result
of the relentless persecutions of Antiochus Epiphanes, between the years ...
/.../the origin and permanent value of the old testament/vii the history of the.htm

How Upon the Quarrel Between Antiochus Grypus and Antiochus ...
... to lay down the high priesthood, the other replied, "We have heard it from old men,
that thy mother had been a captive under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 how upon the.htm

Concerning the Calamity that Befell Antiochus, King of Commagene. ...
... was the real motive was never thoroughly discovered,] sent an epistle to Caesar,
and therein told him that Antiochus, with his son Epiphanes, had resolved to ...
/.../chapter 7 concerning the calamity.htm

The Syrian Persecution.
... Antioch crowned with roses, and pelting with stones those who followed him, so that
the Greeks laughed at him for calling himself Antiochus Epiphanes, or the ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvii the syrian persecution.htm

Hyrcanus Receives the High Priesthood, and Ejects Ptolemy Out of ...
... brought them, and led them to the temple, Antiochus the mean while feasting his
army, which was a quite different conduct from Antiochus Epiphanes, who, when ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 hyrcanus receives the.htm

Book 13 Footnotes
... From Fadus The Procurator To Florus. BOOK 13 FOOTNOTES. [1] This Alexander Bala,
who certainly pretended to be the son of Antiochus Epiphanes, and was owned for ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 13 footnotes.htm

What are the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees? | GotQuestions.org

What is the abomination of desolation? | GotQuestions.org

What happened in the Maccabean Revolt? | GotQuestions.org

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