THE ANTICHRIST IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL A. The two most detailed prophecies about the Antichrist in the OT are in Daniel 8:9-26 and Daniel 11:21-36. They parallel Revelation 13 (most detailed NT prophecy about the Antichrist). B. Daniel 8 emphasizes the Antichrist’s cruelty towards people. Daniel 11 emphasizes his lust for power and preeminence, as seen in his military aggression and self-exaltation. C. In Daniel 8 and 11, the actions of King Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria (Seleucid Kingdom) during his 12-year reign (175-164 BC) give us a prophetic picture of the Antichrist. D. The relationship between Antiochus and the Antichrist is that of type and antitype; thus, the Antichrist may be from the same territory that Antiochus IV ruled (Syria or Babylon). Some commentators seek to dismiss these prophecies by saying that they were all fulfilled in the rule of Antiochus Epiphanes, yet less than half of the prophetic details in Daniel 8 and 11 were fulfilled in Antiochus’ life. They will be completely fulfilled only in the Antichrist’s rule. E. Some see Antiochus IV as the king in Daniel 11:36-45. However, the historical facts of his life and military career do not fit this passage. He did not exalt himself above every god (11:36-37), nor did he reject “the gods of his fathers,” nor worship “a god unknown to his fathers” (11:38). Rather, he worshiped the Greek pantheon that his fathers did, and built an altar to Zeus in the Jerusalem temple. Antiochus did not die (“come to his end)” in Israel (11:45), but in Persia.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 01:40:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015