“And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.” (Daniel 11:31, NKJV)

The chronicles of the kings of the north and the south given to Daniel by the angel climax with “a vile person”. He would not be given the honor of royalty but would come in peaceably and seize the kingdom by intrigue. His name was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and he reigned as the king of Syria from 175 to 163 BC. He foreshadows the coming world leader known as the Antichrist or the Beast of Revelation 13. He deposed the high priest and garnered support from the Jews by redistributing wealth, taking from the rich and giving to those who aided him.

After Antiochus failed in taking Egypt, he defiled the temple in Jerusalem, abolished daily sacrifices, and killed many Jews. Three years later, he prohibited Jews from following their religious practices and commanded that copies of the Law be burned. On December 16, 167 BC, he erected an altar to Zeus on the altar of burnt offering outside the temple and offered a pig on it. This was the abomination of desolation.

“Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.” (Daniel 11:32–33, NKJV)

While many in Israel compromised and were corrupted, a small remnant of Jews remained faithful to God. According to the apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Maccabees, the priest Mattathias refused to submit to this false religious system. He and his five sons fled from Jerusalem to the mountains and opposed Antiochus. Mattathias’ son, Judas Maccabeus, went against the Syrian forces and began to defeat them. As the movement became popular, others joined them and it became known as the Maccabean revolt.

“And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:35, NKJV)

The Maccabean revolt would successfully drive out Antiochus Epiphanes and cleanse and rededicate the temple. (This is the origin of Hanukkah.) Many of the faithful fell in battle, but the conflict refined and purified the people.

We must never forget that we are in a spiritual battle against our enemy the devil. He has many ways to entice, flatter and deceive. Many people compromise and are corrupted. Those who resist often suffer for it. But we must continue to be faithful and fight the good fight, knowing that God will refine and purify us through it all. And in the end, we will overcome!