Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Lira,

> You are correct in pointing out that most
> modern commentators would agree with Eduard's view, since Antiochus's
> activities are considered the historical fulfillment of this prophecy. This
> is based, I believe, mainly on the interpretation of Josephus and of the
> book of Maccabees itself. In my opinion, however, commentators became so
> fixed on this interpretation that they lost track of Jesus'own
> interpretation to the prophecy (Matt. 24:15; Luke 21:20).

HH: It is possible that Matt 24:15 is referring 
to Dan 8:14, but it is it clearly referring to 
Dan 11-12.

Dan. 11:31 ¶  "His armed forces will rise up to 
desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish 
the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the 
abomination that causes desolation.
Dan. 12:11 ¶  "From the time that the daily 
sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that 
causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 
days.

HH: Can this refer to Antiochus Epiphanes? The 
prophetic narrative in Daniel 11 suggests that 
Dan 11:31 does. But Dan 12:11 refers to the 
earlier events of Dan 12:1, which surpass what 
happened in the time of Antiochus. Keil wrote 
about the seeming change in subject at Dan 
11:36ff.:

This is only so far right, that that which is 
said regarding this king, vers. 36-39, partly 
goes far beyond what Antiochus did, partly does 
not harmonize with what is known of Antiochus, 
and finally, partly is referred in the N.T. 
expressly to the Antichrist; cf. v. 36 with 2 
Thess, 2:4, and ch. 12:1 with Matt 24:21. These 
circumstances are not satisfactorily explained by 
the remark that the prophecy regarding Antiochus 
glances forward to the Antichrist, or that the 
image of the type (Antiochus) hovers in the image 
of the antitype (Antichrist) ; they much rather 
show that in the prophetic contemplation there is 
comprehended in the image of ONE king what has 
been historically fulfilled in its beginnings by 
Antiochus Epiphanes, but shall only meet it 
complete fulfillment by the Antichrist in the 
time of the end.

                                        Yours,
                                        Harold Holmyard