Daniel 11.21-The Prophecy of Antiochus IV Epiphanes Seizing the Throne Through Intrigue
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday May 14, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 11:21-The Prophecy of Antiochus IV Epiphanes Seizing the Throne Through Intrigue
Lesson # 338
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 11:2.
Daniel 11:2 “Now, at this present time, I must reveal to you the truth. Behold, three future kings will ascend to power for Persia. Then, the fourth will cause greater riches to make him wealthier than each and every one of these in comparison. However, when he amasses power through his wealth, the entire nation will stir up the Greek kingdom. 3 Next, a powerful king will ascend to power so that he will rule with great authority with the result that he will do according to his desire. 4 However, after he ascends to power, his kingdom will be broken up. Then, it will be divided towards the heaven’s four winds but not for the benefit of his posterity and in addition, not according to his sovereign will which he sovereignly exercised. For his kingdom will be uprooted specifically, for the benefit of others, to the separation and exclusion of these. 5 Then, the king ruling the south as well as one of his subordinate commanders will be strong. In fact, he will become stronger than him because he will exercise authority over a dominion greater than his dominion. 6 Next, at the end of an unspecified number of years, they will form an alliance as the daughter of the king ruling the south will enter into marriage with the king ruling the north in order to secure a peaceful arrangement. However, she will by no means retain her powerful position likewise he will by no means endure, namely his power. For she will be delivered over as well as he who caused her to enter into marriage, as well as her child and in addition, her benefactor during those times. 7 But one of the branches from her roots will ascend to power in his place. Then, he will wage an attack against their army so that he will enter the fortress of the king ruling the north. Indeed, he will take action against them so that he will be victorious. 8 Consequently, he will also cause their gods to be transported into captivity to Egypt along with their cast images, as well as their valuable silver and gold articles. Furthermore, for some years he will withdraw from the king ruling the north. 9 Then, he will wage an attack against the king ruling the south but will return to his land. 10 Following this, his sons will initiate hostile military action. Specifically, they will muster a multitude of great military forces. Then, he will as a certainty wage a massive attack so that he will overflow, yes, pass through like a flood with the result that he will turn him back. Indeed, he will engage in hostile military action up to his fortress. 11 Then, the king ruling the south will cause himself to be enraged so that he will march out in order to wage war against him, against the king ruling the north. Consequently, he will cause a great multitude to be assembled. However, despite this, this multitude will be delivered into his power. 12 When this multitude will be defeated, his heart will become arrogant. Even though, he will cause ten thousand to fall in combat, he will by no means continue to prevail. 13 For he will return again since he will muster a multitude larger than the first in order to wage a massive attack with a great army as well as enormous logistical provision at the end of an interval of some years. 14 In fact, during those days, certain great ones will oppose the king ruling the south. Even violent persons belonging to your people will for their own benefit, rebel in order to fulfill the revelation but they will be overthrown. 15 And so, the king ruling the north will wage an attack. Specifically, he will construct a siege mound in order to capture a fortified city. However, the south’s armed forces will by no means stand their ground, not even their elite unit because there will be no strength. 16 Consequently, the one who waged the attack will do according to his desire because there will be absolutely no one standing against him. Furthermore, he will occupy the beautiful land so that it will be completely in his power. 17 Then, with the power of his entire kingdom, he will devise a plan to enter into an agreement. Indeed, equitable terms to injure him. Consequently, he will accomplish it. Namely, he will give in marriage a daughter from his harem for the purpose of destroying it. However, she will never remain loyal because she will never stay united for the benefit of him. 18 Then, he will turn his attention against the inhabitants of the coastal regions so that he will capture many. However, a military commander will, to his dismay, cause his shameful conduct to come to a stop. Furthermore, he will cause his shameful conduct to be turned back against him. 19 Consequently, he will turn his attention toward the fortifications of his own land. However, he will be overthrown, yes he will fall in combat so that he will never be encountered again. 20 Then, in his place, will ascend to power one who will dispatch one who will exact tribute from the kingdom’s ornament. However, within a brief period of time, he will be killed though not in anger or in war.” (My translation)
Daniel 11:21 “In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue.” (NASB95)
“In his place a despicable person will arise” refers to the ascension to power of a despicable person as taking place immediately after the death of the successor to the king of the north.
“On whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred” is a concessive clause indicating that a despicable person will ascend to power even though he was not the next in line to become king.
“But he will come in a time of tranquility” is also a concessive clause indicating that even though for his benefit authority over the kingdom had never been conferred, “nevertheless” this despicable person will come on the scene and then seize the kingdom by intrigue.
This despicable person will seize authority over the kingdom by intrigue during a time when the people and the leaders in the kingdom possess a false sense of security.
“And seize the kingdom by intrigue” is a temporal clause indicating that this despicable person will appear on the scene during a time of apparent security “when” he seizes the kingdom by intrigue.
Daniel 11:21 “Next, in his place, a despicable person will ascend to power even though for his benefit sovereign authority over the kingdom will have never been conferred. Nevertheless, he will appear on the scene during a time of false security when he seizes the kingdom by flatteries.” (My translation)
Beginning in Daniel 11:21 we have an extensive prophecy concerning Antiochus IV Epiphanes, which ends in Daniel 11:35.
He is given more attention than the previous kings prophesied about in Daniel 11:2-20.
The reason for this is that Antiochus IV Epiphanes will be a great persecutor of the Jewish people and adversary of the God of Israel.
He is the Antichrist of the Old Testament and foreshadows the Antichrist.
History reveals that this despicable person was none other than Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes assumed power over the Seleucid kingdom even though the throne rightly belonged to the son of Seleucus IV Philopator who was Demetrius Soter.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes seized power for himself and proclaimed himself as king.
He accomplished this by persuading the leaders of the Seleucid kingdom by flattering and making empty promises to them.
He assumed power during a tranquil time in the kingdom when people had a false sense of security.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes had been in Rome as a political hostage and was returning when he received news of the assassination of his brother.
He was in Athens when he received this news.
Heliodorus was not able to secure the throne for himself by assassinating Seleucus IV Philopator and thus disappeared from the pages of history.
Eumenes, the king of Pergamum and his brother, Attalus prevented Heliodorus’ conspiracy from being successful.
The next in line to the throne was Demetrius Soter but Antiochus IV Epiphanes with his powers of persuasion and the help of the king of Pergamum, convinced the leaders of the Seleucid kingdom to have him assume power instead of his brother.
The reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes was one of military conquest and struggle for power in the Middle East with Rome and Egypt.
It was also marked by one of the worst persecutions of the Jewish people in their history.
Antiochus Epiphanes IV was the eighth king of the Seleucid dynasty in Syria reigning from 175-164 B.C.
In Daniel chapter 8:9-12, the angel Gabriel prophesied about Antiochus Epiphanes IV.
Daniel 8:9 Next, from one of them, a small horn in comparison emerged which grew excessively large toward the south as well as the east and in addition the beautiful land. 10 Specifically, it grew larger than the heaven’s host. Indeed, it caused some of this host, yes some of these stars to fall to the earth. Also, it trampled on them. 11 It even presented itself as great as the host’s Commander while taking away the daily sacrifice from Him so that His holy place was abandoned. 12 Consequently the host along with the daily sacrifice were delivered over to it through transgression. Also, it caused the truth to be thrown to the ground. Indeed, it executed, yes it succeeded. (Author’s translation)
In Daniel 8:23, Gabriel proceeds to give Daniel the interpretation of the small horn which is described in verses 9-12.
Daniel 8:23 “Then, during the latter part of their dynasty, following those who rebel being brought to their end, a bold-face king will take another’s position because of being a master of intrigue. 24 In fact, his power will be mighty but not by means of his power so that he will destroy for his own benefit to an extraordinary degree. Indeed, he will execute, yes he will succeed. Furthermore, he will destroy the mighty, specifically the holy people. 25 Also, because of his cunning, he will thus cause deceit to succeed by means of his power. He will even be arrogant in his heart. Furthermore, he will cause many while unaware to be killed. He will even stand against the Ruler over the rulers. However, he will be destroyed by no human power.” (Author’s translation)