Lessons from Antiochus Epiphanes (Daniel 8)
This sermon was preached on 5/2/2012
Lessons from Antiochus Epiphanes (Daniel 8)
Daniel received this vision during the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, when the Babylonian Empire was in seemingly total control. It is not clear if he was given the vision when he was away from Babylon in Susa, the capital of the province of Elam, or whether it was only in the vision that he found himself in Susa. The vision is interpreted for Daniel by an angel, Gabriel. It concerns the rise of two empires and focuses on an individual ruler that would come from the second empire. This is the first mention of this angel, although he appears again in Daniel 9 and also in Luke’s Gospel (1:19; 1:26) in connection with the birth of Jesus.
The ruler who would come out of one of those divisions is called Antiochus Epiphanes (born in 215 BC) and he reigned from 175 to 163 BC. We can read about him in more detail in two books found in the Apocrypha called 1 and 2 Maccabees. He is known as Epiphanes because there were thirteen kings called Antiochus in that division of the Grecian Empire – he was actually Antiochus IV. The name was chosen by himself because he believed that he was a visible manifestation of God.
The centre of his kingdom was in Antioch in Syria. Daniel’s vision says that he will move south and east (v. 9). History tells us that he moved south and in two campaigns conquered much of Egypt before being stopped by a Roman consul who warned him that Rome would interfere if he did not leave Egypt immediately. Antiochus did, which is a reminder why he was a little horn despite his claims to greatness (he was also little in that he only ruled for fourteen years). He also had various attempts towards the east (Armenia and Persia) as he tried to increase his kingdom.
The focus of the prophecy is not on what Antiochus did in Egypt or towards the east; instead it is concerned with what Antiochus did in the glorious land, which is another name for Israel. Israel was part of his empire, so he was concerned about some political changes that had happened there during his campaign in Egypt. Therefore he besieged the city of Jerusalem and killed many of the saints (about the year 168). In his own thinking he would also elevate himself above God (v. 25) and in 167 he set up an image of himself in the temple (by this time he imagined that he was the head of the gods, which is why he is called by the name Epiphanes). This was extreme sacrilege, a direct challenge to God.
The final feature of this prophecy about Antiochus is that his end will not be caused by another human (v. 25). Following on from his campaign against Jerusalem, Antiochus moved east in 165 to put down rebellions in Armenia and Persia. His two-year campaign did not go well and while he was brooding over his failures he received news that Jews in Jerusalem had removed his statue from the temple. This seemed to drive him insane and he took to his bed and died in the year 163.
It is important for us to know about fulfilled prophecy because it gives us increased confidence in God. Think about these words from Isaiah 46:8-10: ‘Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.”’ So while some of the details in Daniel’s vision may seem a bit confusing, once we realise that they have been fulfilled, we will become more confident about other prophecies yet to be fulfilled.
The prophecies here are concerned with human kingdoms. But we know that there are many more prophecies about Jesus and his kingdom. Some of these prophecies are connected to who he is (his person) and others are connected to what he did on the cross and what he has done since then. Further, there are many prophecies about future aspects of his kingdom in the new heavens and new earth. We should take seriously the message of these predictions.
There are several other applications from this brief reference to Antiochus Epiphanes (he is mentioned later in the prophecy of Daniel as well, in chapter 11, so this chapter is not all that God wants us to know about this ancient enemy of his kingdom).
Secondly, the story of Antiochus reminds us of the folly of earthly-minded rulers. He lived his life seeking to obtain what this world could provide. In this, he imitated more important leaders than himself. He did not appreciate the principle that Jesus stated when he asked what profit a man would obtain if he gained the world but lost his soul. Antiochus sought for prestige, pleasure and power; he discovered that those worldly things could not satisfy his inner longings, but sadly he lost his soul. He is a warning to greater and to lesser humans that none of us should live only for this world. We cannot have both: it is either Jesus and his kingdom or it is the world and its toys.
Thirdly, Antiochus speaks to us of another aspect of human life, which is the futility of fighting against God. We noted how he fought against God’s people, even setting himself up as the chief of the gods. He was a brazen opponent of God, much more than many others. Yet his strength was similar to an infant getting into a boxing match with a champion. With all his earthly resources, Antiochus was no match for God.
Strangely, Antiochus realised the futility of fighting against the Romans. We are familiar with the statement of drawing a line in the sand. That statement comes from the occasion when the Romans intervened in Antiochus’ attempt to conquer Alexandria. The Roman delegate demanded that Antiochus withdraw his troops. When Antiochus requested more time, the Roman representative took his sword and drew a circle in the sand around Antiochus and demanded that he reply before he stepped out of the circle. Antiochus knew his limits against greater earthly power and submitted to it and withdrew. Yet he persisted in fighting against God, a most futile activity.
Fourthly, in Antiochus we something more sinister yet, and that is his determination to be an enemy of the Jews. From a human point of view, the people of Israel were a small nation, already part of Antiochus’ empire. True, some of them were a troublesome lot, always trying to be free. Yet as a nation they were never to be fully free again. So why was there this determination to crush the Jews? His tactics are alluded to in verses 24 and 25; he decided to attack Jerusalem on a Sabbath without warning and massacred many thousands. There has been an ongoing attempt to destroy the Jewish people throughout history at different times. It is not hard to see behind this determination the malice of Satan as he works to prevent the Messiah being born. And the devil knows that great spiritual blessing is connected to the future conversion of the Jews, so it is not surprising that he still attempts to destroy them.
At the same time we must remember a fifth detail, which is that the sins of God’s people can cause them problems. In verse 23 the vision refers to ‘transgressors who have reached their limit’. Who are these transgressors? They could be the army of Antiochus. Yet an argument can be made that they are the Israelites in Jerusalem who did not live according to God’s Word and therefore he allowed judgement to fall on them. Divine chastisement can take many forms, but it is always a response to sin in his people.
The sixth detail to observe is that faithfulness to God may require a heavy price. In verse 24 we are told that Antiochus will destroy the people who are the saints. His policy was to get rid of the worship of God. He banned Sabbath-keeping and the practice of circumcision, and outlawed sacrifices at the temple, introducing prostitution instead. And he treated God’s people in a brutal manner. As usual, there were those who wanted to adopt Antiochus’ Hellenistic practices and there were those who refused to give up their faith. Many of the latter suffered greatly.
It is generally believed that Hebrews 11:35, which says, ‘Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life,’ refers to martyrs from this time and we can read about some of them in 2 Maccabees 7. On trial before Antiochus were a mother and her seven sons. They were asked to eat swine’s flesh but they refused. Antiochus’s response was to command that the oldest brother’s tongue would be cut out, that his head be scalped, that his hands and his legs be cut off, and his trunk thrown into a heated pan on a roasting fire – he was still alive when thrown on to the fire. The second brother was taken and the same done to him. With his dying breath he stated to Antiochus, ‘You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws.’ The third brother, when it was his turn, put out his tongue and stretched forth his hands and said, ‘I got these from Heaven, and because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them back again.’ The fourth brother, when he was near death, declared: ‘One cannot but choose to die at the hands of mortals and to cherish the hope God gives of being raised again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!’
What about their mother? She lost her seven sons in one day. Yet she encouraged them in these words: ‘I do not know how you came into being in my womb. It was not I who gave you life and breath, nor I who set in order the elements within each of you. Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of humankind and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws.’
Why were they so loyal to God? The reason is that they loved him and were not willing to break even one of his laws, but they were sustained by the hope of future resurrection. We face the same reality. It is only love for Jesus that will keep us loyal to him. And there is every reason to love him. After all, he died to save us and now he lives to help us. His grace is freely given to us in every situation of life. He has assured us that he will be with all those who trust in him, which brings us to our seventh detail, which is that faith in God is required in times of trouble.
How would such faith show itself? Daniel tells us how. First, he accepts all the passages of God’s Word, even the more difficult ones. Faith in Christ exercises itself through the promises and instructions of the Bible. Second, Daniel asks God for help in understanding the vision. Faith in Christ involves talking to him about his Word primarily. It is in his Word that we get guidance and comfort.
How did Daniel react?
Daniel preserved the Word of God. We see this detail in his response to the divine command to (v. 26) seal up the vision. Although he did not understand some of the details in the chapter, he was responsible for the Word being preserved for future generations. Obviously he had to preserve it because he was the only one who had received this particular vision. And here we are thinking about it.
Daniel became ill as he thought about what he had been told. In the vision he had seen dominant world empires in conflict and several features affected him. What did he see? He saw the incredible sovereignty of God, and it overwhelmed him. He saw the awful cruelty of war, and it distressed him. He saw further sufferings of God’s people and that caused him grief. He saw the determination of some to fight against God and that shocked him.
Finally, Daniel, after receiving this divine communication, carried on with his daily work. He did not allow his interest in divine things as a reason for becoming lazy. Instead his possession of divine revelation led him to work at his everyday employment. And that is one effect the Bible should have on us as well.
Verse 26 is a good description of those who understand the Bible’s message: ‘I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.’ We can understand it in a measure because we read it as fulfilled prophecy. In fact, we know there are several lessons from the sad life of Antiochus Epiphanes.
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