Daniel 11.28-The Prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV Taking Action Against the Holy Covenant Before Returning to His Homeland
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday June 5, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 11:28-The Prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV Taking Action Against the Holy Covenant Before Returning to His Homeland
Lesson # 345
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 11:28.
Daniel 11:28 “Then he will return to his land with much plunder; but his heart will be set against the holy covenant, and he will take action and then return to his own land.” (NASB95)
“Then he will return to his land with much plunder” is the next prophetic event that will take place immediately after the king of the north and the king of the south will trade lies with one another at the same table.
“But his heart will be set against the holy covenant” stands in contrast with the previous statement that the king of the north will return to his homeland after defeating the king of the south and trading lies with him at the same table.
Therefore, the contrast is between the king of the north returning directly back to his homeland after defeating the king of the south and trading lies with him at the same table and stopping in Israel to attack the Jews.
This adversative clause means that the king ruling the north will possess in his heart an exaggerated view of himself and importance in an overbearing manner.
“The holy covenant” refers to the Mosaic covenant meaning the Mosaic system of worshipping of Yahweh.
In other words, it refers to the instructions found in the Mosaic Law which pertain to the proper worship of Yahweh.
“And he will take action” presents the result of the previous prediction that the heart of the king ruling the north will become arrogant against the holy covenant.
This indicates that the heart of the king ruling the north will become arrogant against the holy covenant “so that” or “with the result that” he will take action against the Mosaic system of worship.
“Take action” refers to the king ruling the north taking military action against the Mosaic system for worshipping Yahweh as a direct result of his heart becoming arrogant against them.
“And then return to his own land” indicates that the king of the north will first take military action against Israel before returning to his own land.
Daniel 11:28 “Next, he will return to his own land with much logistical provision. However, his heart will become arrogant against the holy covenant so that he will take action. Then, he will return to his own land.” (My translation)
The angel continues to communicate to Daniel God’s prophetic program for the nation of Israel during the Times of the Gentiles.
Here in verse 28, he prophesies that the king ruling the north will return to his own land with much logistical provision after defeating the king ruling the south and trading lies with this king at the same table.
History tells us that these two kings were Antiochus Epiphanes IV (the despicable king ruling the north) and Ptolemy VI Philometer (king ruling the south).
The former defeated the latter which was according to the prophecies recorded in Daniel 11:25-26.
History also records that Antiochus Epiphanes IV fulfilled the prophecy in Daniel 11:28.
After defeating the army of Ptolemy Philometer VI and trading lies with him to deceive his nephew into thinking he was his benefactor, Antiochus Epiphanes returned to his own land with much plunder and logistical provision for his army.
However, he stopped in Israel along the way.
He became arrogant against the holy covenant, i.e the Mosaic system for the worship of Yahweh because of a problem with the Jewish high priesthood.
Roman, Greek and Jewish sources differ with regards to the details at this point. There is no question that on his return from Egypt, Antiochus raided the temple treasury, most likely to secure additional funds for his continuing military activities. The sources disagree about whether this incident took place after the First Egyptian War (September 169) or after the Second.
When Antiochus Epiphanes IV first came to power, he was approached by a member of the high priestly family named Jason who had promised the king that if he would remove from office Onias III the current high priest, he would pay the king a bribe which was for a substantial amount of money.
Antiochus of course accepted the offer.
Consequently, Onias was deposed and Jason installed as the new high priest in Israel.
However, still another brother named Menelaus approached Antiochus with even a larger bribe than the one he accepted from Jason.
As a result, Menelaus took the place of Jason in 172 B.C.
The new high priest proceeded to sell some of the votive offerings and golden utensils in the temple to come up with the bride for Antiochus.
Onias who was a godly man and feared God protested vehemently at this sacrilege and then was murdered by Menelaus.
This murder caused great anger among the population in Jerusalem who became enraged at Menelaus.
The people promptly sent representatives to Antiochus to bring charges against Menelaus and his brother Lysimachus.
Antiochus then put to death Andronicus who carried out the murder for Menelaus.
Then, not too long after this, someone who had bribed Menelaus coaxed Antiochus to take military action against the citizens of Jerusalem (2 Maccabees 4:30-50).
Then, later in 167 B.C., Antiochus encamped near Jerusalem after his bitter disappointment in Egypt.
He had come to deal with Jason who took the city of Jerusalem in the hopes of deposing Menelaus.
Acting upon a false report that Antiochus had died in battle in Egypt, Jason mustered a regiment of a thousand armed soldiers to execute a coup d’ état.
A large number of Jews were massacred and imprisoned Menelaus in the citadel in Jerusalem.
When Antiochus heard of this, he made the decision to do away with the Jewish religion and promised severe retribution for those who opposed his government.
He marched into Jerusalem with a large army and then released Menelaus.
He then murdered 80,000 men, women and children (2 Macc. 5:11-14).
He followed this despicable act by desecrating the temple while accompanied by Menelaus.
He robbed the golden vessels and other sacred objects in the temple which were valued at 1,800 talents (2 Macc. 5:15-21).
After desecrating the temple, he then returned to his own land in fulfillment of the prophecy recorded in Daniel 11:28.
Daniel 11:28 actually summarizes an entire series of events and actions taken by Antiochus Epiphanes IV in abolishing the Mosaic system for the worship of Yahweh and encompasses a period of 2,300 evenings and mornings which are mentioned in Daniel 8:14.
As we noted in our study of this verse, the 2,300 days refers to 2,300 literal days which began with Antiochus’ invasion of Jerusalem in 171 B.C. and ending with his death in 164 B.C.
Also, Daniel 11:28 summarizes the prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV abolishing the Mosaic system in the temple in Jerusalem in Daniel 8:9-14.