Daniel Chapter 11 Vs. 21

 The Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:21 "And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries."

in his estate... This refers to Antiochus IV, called Epiphanes, the Illustrious, who reigned 175-163 B.C. All of Dan. 11:21-34 refers to him. Several details are given concerning things which the last Syrian king, the Antichrist, will also do, and that more completely.

to whom they... The true heir, Demetrius, another son of Seleucus IV, was being held in Rome as a hostage. This gave Antiochus Epiphanes the opportunity of seizing the throne.

How Antiochus Epiphanes Became King

but he shall... Antiochus Epiphanes was on his way from Rome when his father, Seleucus IV, died. Heliodorus who poisoned the king had already declared himself king, as had several others, but Antiochus came home peaceably (not in war) and obtained the kingdom with flattery. He flattered Eumenes, king of Pergamos, and Attalus his brother, and got their assistance. He flattered the Romans, and sent ambassadors to court their favor, paying them tribute which was in arrears. He flattered the Syrians, gained their favor, and took the throne with their backing. Here Antiochus Epiphanes is called a "vile person" because he was every man’s companion. He resorted to the common shops and taverns, drank with the lowest characters, and sang debauched songs with them. For this he was called by some Epimanes, the Madman.

(In verses 21-35), the cruelest king of the North was Seleucid, the Syrian persecutor of Israel named Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He came to the throne when his brother Seleucus was murdered and a son of the dead king who might succeed him, Demetrius I Soter, was held hostage in Rome. In the vacuum, Antiochus seized power in Syria.

Invasion by Antiochus IV Epiphanes

These verses describe Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a son of Antiochus III the Great. This one Seleucid who ruled from 175-163 b.c. is given as much attention as all the others before him combined. He is the little horn of Dan. 8:9-12, 8:23-25. A long section (Dan. 11:21-35) is devoted to him not only because of the effects of his invasion on the land of Israel, but more so because he foreshadows the little horn (king) of Dan. 7:8 who in a future day will desecrate and destroy the land of Israel.

Ten Proofs Antiochus Epiphanes Was Not Antichrist

1. The expression "in his estate" is used in Dan. 11:7, 11:20, 11:21, 11:38 of immediate succession, without a time break of over 2,000 years as would be the case if Antichrist had been referred to in Dan. 11:21-34.

2. There is no break mentioned in Dan. 11:21 as would be the case if there was to be a long period between Seleucus IV of Dan. 11:20 and the future Antichrist of Dan. 11:35-45. There is such a break at the end of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, Dan. 11:34, and the beginning of the prophecy of the future Antichrist in Dan. 11:35 where it is clear that the reference is to the end time.

3. The kingdom was not given to Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan. 11:21), but in the case of Antichrist, he is given a crown (Rev. 6:1-2) and power to rule (Rev. 13:1-5).

4. Antiochus Epiphanes was forced to go back into his own land by the Romans (Dan. 11:28-30), but Antichrist is not to be so forced by the Romans or anyone else until Christ comes. He will do according to his own will (Dan. 11:36).

5. Antiochus Epiphanes made 2 invasions of Egypt (Dan. 11:25-31), while Antichrist will make only one (Dan. 11:40-45).

6. In the 2nd invasion of Egypt Rome forced Antiochus Epiphanes to return to Syria (Dan. 11:29-30), but when Antichrist takes Egypt (Dan. 11:40-45) the Romans will surrender to him (Dan. 7:23-24; Rev. 17:12-17).

7. Antiochus Epiphanes was deeply grieved at the Roman opposition but finally yielded to their demand to liberate Egypt (Dan. 11:30-31), while Antichrist will have no such opposition nor will he yield to Rome or any other power desiring to liberate Egypt (Dan. 11:40-45; Rev. 17:12-17).

8. The exploits of the Maccabees are definitely referred to in Dan. 11:32-33, as proved in the books of 1Macc. and 2Macc. of the Apocrypha (1Macc. 1:10-24,54; 2Macc. 4:4-22; 2Macc. 5:11-21; 2Macc. 6:2).

9. The spoiling of Israel many days by the sword, flame, and captivity could not apply to Israel in the days of Antichrist, for the woman representing Israel at that time reaches the wilderness safely, without destruction or captivity (Rev. 12:6, 12:14-17).

10. The whole passage (Dan. 11:21-34) was too literally fulfilled concerning Antiochus Epiphanes, not to refer to him as we shall see in the comments on this passage. It seems very clear that prophecy of the future Antichrist begins in Dan. 11:35.