The Hidden Antiochus
There are three end-time types of the ancient Antiochus. Two of them are very easy to spot in the biblical book of Daniel, which is an end-time message (Daniel 12:4, 9). The other one is hidden yet has caused horrendous damage to America. God helps us understand who these men are and what they are doing today. This study will bring your Bible alive—perhaps more than anything ever has!
Satan has been cast down from heaven and confined to Earth in this end time. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). This verse should strike terror in our hearts! Millions of demons now infest the world—especially America! In this dangerous environment, end-time Antiochus-types prosper.
“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land” (Daniel 8:9). A number of commentaries reveal that this is a reference to the original Antiochus, Antiochus Epiphanes. History shows that he harbored extreme hatred for the Jews, massacring them and defiling their temple.
The First End-Time Antiochus
Let’s see how the role of Antiochus is fulfilled in this end time. “And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered” (Daniel 8:10-12). These “stars” are the angels who look after God’s obedient people. An evil power rejected the protection of these angels and “stamped upon” the rebellious people “by reason of transgression”—because they broke God’s law.
“Host” can refer to an army of angels, demons or men. In my booklet Daniel—Unsealed at Last, I write: “God has an army of angels and saints. Satan has an army of demons and men—in this case sinning saints.”
This part of Daniel 8 reveals the first Antiochus: a wicked man inside God’s own Church. He “cast down the truth to the ground.” It’s impossible to destroy God’s truth if you never possessed it in the first place. This man rejected every doctrine restored to the Church by the late Herbert W. Armstrong. Bequeathed with tremendous spiritual riches to preserve, he decided instead to ruin the legacy of Mr. Armstrong. (Request my book Malachi’s Message to God’s Church Today and my son’s book, Raising the Ruins, to expose the heinous attack on God’s Church within the past several decades. All of our literature is free.)
God’s Church is spiritual Israel. God’s plan is all about what He is doing through Israel, both physically and spiritually. One day, the whole world will become part of spiritual Israel through obedience. The first end-time Antiochus fights against God Himself! He’s trying to blot out the name of spiritual Israel.
The Second End-Time Antiochus
Daniel 8 also reveals the second end-time Antiochus: “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up” (verse 23). Just as with the Antiochus inside God’s Church, this Antiochus thrives because “the transgressors are come to the full”—everybody is sinning! These men are a curse upon the sinning people!
This second end-time Antiochus will lead the seventh and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people” (verse 24). The sixth head of the Holy Roman Empire was Adolf Hitler. Led by Germany once again, the seventh resurrection of this empire will destroy mightily.
“And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand” (verse 25). This Antiochus destroys through peace. He is crafty, appearing harmless while plotting violence. He is a traitor. Satan, himself a liar (John 8:44) and often disguised as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), empowers this man.
The second end-time Antiochus seeks to blot out the name of physical Israel—primarily America, Britain and the Jewish state. (The United States and Britain in Prophecy will prove the biblical identities of these nations to you.)
The good news is “he shall be broken without hand”! Christ Himself will stop this Antiochus and the Holy Roman Empire from ever again inflicting damage on the world!
The Hidden Antiochus
The first end-time Antiochus is still in power; the second has yet to take charge. The hidden Antiochus has already come and gone from office.
The hidden Antiochus can be found in a part of the Old Testament called the former prophets—Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. Many will say these books are merely history, but the writers are known as the former prophets for a reason! A third of your Bible is prophecy—90 percent of which is for this end time. Listen as God teaches the truth about end-time events.
Jesus Christ strongly rebuked those who relegate prophecy to mere history: “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). The prophets have spoken! It’s up to you to believe them.
Notice the language of this passage: “For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (2 Kings 14:26-27). Look closely: A man tried to blot out the name of Israel, but God stopped him! Who besides an Antiochus-type would try this?
It’s important to understand the prophetic principle of duality. Thousands of years ago, God did save the nation of Israel through King Jeroboam ii. Jeroboam was the remedy to an Antiochus-type within the nation! History is repeating itself today.
God keeps warning our nations to repent. He wants everyone to live a life of peace and joy. But eventually, warnings are followed by consequences for inaction: “And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more” (Amos 7:8). God is measuring Israel with a “plumbline.” He “will not again pass by them any more”—this is His final warning. After the Jeroboam resurgence comes the punishment.
God may be using a leader in America today to save the nation temporarily, but He will have to teach the end-time Jeroboam and his followers a lesson about their false religion. Anciently, Jeroboam’s major sin was rejecting the house and the throne of David!
“Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land. Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court” (verses 10-13). Amaziah is the spiritual leader who wrecked God’s Church. He is the first end-time Antiochus! He will speak to God’s prophet on behalf of Jeroboam. Jeroboam has his own “chapel” and “court,” meaning he does religion and government his own way. He doesn’t obey God!
The end-time Jeroboam replaced the hidden Antiochus in office over the greatest superpower the world has ever known, but he will soon align himself with the spiritual Antiochus. The good and the bad practically cancel out.
God’s man has the honor of delivering God’s warning to the end-time Jeroboam: “Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land” (verses 16-17).
This is a sobering message, but God trusts only a tiny loyal remnant to deliver it. Will you be a part of God’s spiritual elite?
To learn more about the hidden Antiochus and the end-time Jeroboam, study my booklets America Under Attack and Great Again.
