The little horns from
Daniel 7 and
Daniel 8 could both refer to Antiochus E IV, seeing as now it appears he was now a Roman, but I'll have to do a lot more reading. However,
Daniel 7 does have ties to the second coming of Christ. I'm going to keep an open mind. (I probably won't be alive then anyway, so I'll never
see for myself.)
EVERY professing Christian should at least read all of
1 Maccabees ch. 1, for the details of what Jesus was referencing to as the AoD, and how much of a violent mad man "the little horn" Antiochus Epiphanes lV really was.
.
Yes, above all, we should keep an open mind, and to not allow denominational doctrines to box us in.
.
Here are some quotes on AE4, and the AoD, of which Jesus referenced, as being the
type to Himself, who was the
anti-type, both in the
destruction (desolation) of the
temple of His body, and the
resurrection (restoration) of it.
John 2:18-22.
For
indeed, that was the
ultimate abomination to God His Father!
.
1 Maccabees 1[
7] So
Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died.
[
8] And his servants bare rule every one in his place.
[
9] And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.
[
10] And there came out of them a wicked root
Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king,
who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the
hundred and thirty and seventh year of
the kingdom of the Greeks.
1 Mac. 1[
41] Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,
[
42] And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.
[
43] Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.
[
44] For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,
[
45] And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:
[
46] And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:
[
47] Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts:
[
48] That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:
[
49] To the end they might
forget the law, and
change all the ordinances.
[
50] And
whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he
should die.
1 Mac. 1[54] Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the
hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;
[55] And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.
[56] And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.
[57] And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death.
.
1 Mac. 6[
12] But now I remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of gold and silver that were therein, and sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judea without a cause.
[
13] I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land.
[
14] Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his realm,
[
15] And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end he should bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish him up for the kingdom.
[
16]
So king Antiochus [Epiphanes] died there in the hundred forty and ninth year.
