11.1a- Discussion of Daniel 11, verses 21-23

>>> Verse 21:  The king of Syria mentioned in this verse was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, an evil man. He was king from 175 BC-163BC.

The verses 21 through 34 of Daniel 11 give a prefiguration of the “last Syrian King”. This last Syrian King is described hereafter in Daniel 11 verses 35 through 45, and is the same as the antichrist. We will find in this part of Daniel, - (the verses 21 through 34) - , many features that are characteristic of the antichrist.

Antiochus IV came unexpectedly and seized power by deceit.

He deceived his brother Demetrius who was in Rome as a hostage. At that moment Antiochus IV took the throne by trickery.

In history it is known that he flattered the people, and put them on his side that way.  He even sang street songs with the people of Syria…. This is also how the Antichrist, later on, will gain the sympathy of the people. See 2 Thessalonians 2 verses 9-11: “The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders, 10 and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. 11 And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false”.

>>> verse 22: With “God's High Priest” is meant the faithful priest Onias III who was removed from his post and his unfaithful brother, Jason, was put in his place.

>>> Verse 23: Antiochus also ruptures the alliance with Jason, because of the still worse Menelaus, who took his place.

Antiochus, who was in Rome at that time for paying taxes, had only a little amount of followers when he returned from Rome. This is what is meant by: “even though he rules only a small nation”, at the end of verse 23. However with the help of the king of Pergamum, he came back on the throne. ……. We can foresee that also the Antichrist will have in the beginning only a little amount of people following him. And, he also, will surely obtain more power by making various alliances and through trickery.