There are numerous reasons why Antiochus is
not the person so many Christians believe him to be. He is
not the little horn of
Daniel 7 or 8. I can offer sound biblical reasons if you are interested ...
Indeed.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes did not wax “exceeding great”, by any known historically comparable standards, in any direction [in the south/Egypt, any territory he might have gained was immediately given up to Rome for fear of their entering into Battle against him, in Judaea, there were some temporary victories, but short-lived if at all, and ultimately humiliated by being utterly defeated by a band of rebellious Jews, and he ends up dying alone in great sadness in the east [at least in one book of Maccabees]], let alone do so in the proper course and order in which the “little horn” would do in [1] the south, [2] the east and [3] the pleasant land as the scripture [KJB] gives in Daniel 8:9. Instead, we read, even from the apocryphal [non-scriptural] source [Maccabees, as elsewhere], that he [Antiochus IV Epiphanes] attempted to gain territory in the [1] south, [2] pleasant land, [3] east, not being the order given in scripture [KJB]. For instance:
[1] south [according to 1 Maccabees, Bishop's Bible]:
1 Maccabees 1:17 Bishop's Bible 1568 - So when Antiochus began to be mightie in his kingdome,
he went about to obtayne the lande of Egypt also, that he might haue the dominion of two realmes.
[2] pleasant land [according to 1 Maccabees, Bishop's Bible]:
1 Maccabees 1:21 Bishop's Bible 1568 - And
after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he turned againe in the hundred fourtie and three yere,
and went toward Israel,
[3] east [according to 1 Maccabees, Bishop's Bible]:
1 Maccabees 3:31 Bishop's Bible 1568 -
Wherfore he was heauy in his minde, and thought to go into Persides for to take tributes of the lande, and so to gather much money.
1 Maccabees 6:1 Bishop's Bible 1568 - Now when king Antiochus trauailed thorough ye hie countries, he heard that Elymas in Persia was a noble and plenteous citie in siluer and golde,
1 Maccabees 6:2 Bishop's Bible 1568 - And that there was in it a very rich temple, where as were clothes, coate armours, and shieldes of golde, which Alexander the sonne of Philip king of Macedonia that raigned first in Grecia had left behinde him.
1 Maccabees 6:3 Bishop's Bible 1568 - Wherefore he went about to take the citie & to spoyle it, but he was not able: for the citezins were warned of it, and fought with him:
1 Maccabees 6:4 Bishop's Bible 1568 - And
so he fled, and departed with great heauinesse, and came againe into Babylon.
1 Maccabees 6:5 Bishop's Bible 1568 -
Moreouer, there came one which brought him tidinges in Persia, that his hoastes which were in the lande of Iuda were driuen away,
Thus, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, fails in fulfilling the prophecy [Daniel 8:9 KJB] in its specific and plainly given order [one may also consider 2 Maccabees 5:2,5,11, 9:1-28], as well as any claim to “exceeding great”, in any direction, or by any standards.
Looking further, in Daniel 8:23 KJB, we read of further identification, which cannot possibly be fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes IV:
Daniel 8:23 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.
For [1], Antiochus IV Epiphanes, was not in the “latter time”, but in the very early midst of it, being about the 7th King [175-164 BC], among many more [unto Antiochus XIII Asiaticus, 69-64 BC, some 100 years later],
see “The House of Seleucus” image: Bible - Daniel 08 - The Seleucid (Greek) King List : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Just looking at the discrepancies of Maccabees, the apocryphal [non-Scriptural KJB] materials in regards Antiochus IV Epiphanes:
The Three Deaths of Antiochus Epiphanes in three locations in as many ways
First death - 1 Maccabees 6:1-16. According to this report he is in Persia and dies while in his own bed due to grief over military losses.
a) Location: Persia - 6:5
b) Place: in bed - 6:8
c) Cause: dies from a broken spirit due to military
reversals - 6:8, 9
d) People involved: friends - 6:10, Philip - 6:14
e) Dies: 6:16
f) Text: 1 Mac. 6:14 - 16
14 Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, whom he made ruler over 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 died there in the hundred forty and ninth year.
Second death - 2 Maccabees 1:14-17. In this passage he is also in Persia, but is supposed to be assassinated in the temple of a false goddess Nanea …
a) Location: Persia - 1:13
b) Place: the temple of the goddess Nanea during his
wedding - 1:13 - 15
c) Cause: crushed to death by stones hurled down from the ceiling and then dismembered - 1:16
d) People involved: Antiochus' attendants & the priests
of Nanea who kill him - 1:15
e) Dies: 1:16
f) Text: 2 Mac. 1:14 - 16
14 For Antiochus, as though he would marry her, came into the place …
15 … and he was entered … they (priests of Nanea) shut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in:
16 and opening a privy door of the roof, they threw stones like thunderbolts, and struck down the captain … smote off their heads …
Third death - 2 Maccabees 9:1-29. On his way to Jerusalem to wage war on the Jews, God curses him and he is eaten by worms, but before he dies he repents …
a) Location: the road to Jerusalem - 9:3 - 7
b) Place: on a mountain road - 9:8, 28
c) Cause:
1. God's curse on him - 9:5
2. He falls from his chariot - 9:7
3. worms eat him & his skin rots off - 9:9, 10
d) People involved: his chariot driver, his army - 9:4, 9
e) Dies: 9:28
f) In this account he repents and becomes a Jew and
then writes a letter of peace to the Jews.
g) Text: 2 Mac. 9:28
28 Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously … died in a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains. ..." - Sam Gipp's 24 Hour Seminar Notes, pages 78-80, reformatted.
We haven't even gotten to 3 and 4 Maccabees yet …