Antiochus Epiphanes – The Little Horn
“And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.”
Daniel 8:9
Some Bible commentators claim that Antiochus Epiphanes was the little horn of Daniel 8. But the following reasons show that he was not:
1-Daniel 8:9 says, that the rule of this king grew “toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.” King Antiochus’s rule did not extend to the surrounding nations like Egypt and Macedonia.
2-Daniel 8:9 says, the little horn “grew exceedingly great.” History reveals that king Antiochus did not fulfill this prophecy during his rule by becoming a great leader.
3-Daniel 8:17 says, “the vision refers to the time of the end.” History clearly shows that Antiochus was not an end time king.
4-Some commentators say, that the 2,300 period (a little more than six years) is a literal period that applies to Antiochus. But Bible students know that the 2,300 period is a prophetic period which takes the day for a year principle as taught in Numbers 13:34.
5-Daniel 8: 23 says, “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise.” Antiochus did not arise at the end of the Seleucid kingdom.
6-Daniel 8:11 says, “and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.” And Daniel 9:26 says, “Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” But King Antiochus did not destroy the temple. Christ applied these two passages to the future (Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:20-24) and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, whereas Antiochus died in 164 BC.
The little horn represents Rome in two stages: pagan and papal. Daniel saw Rome first in its pagan stage, persecuting the Jewish people and the early Christians. And then he saw it in its papal stage, persecuting God’s children during the Dark Ages and continuing to our day and into the future, where the persecution will by climaxed.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
