How is Antiochus a type of the Antichrist?
Antiochus serves as a type because the biblical descriptors attached to him—fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences—also fit the coming man of sin. Though a minor figure in secular history, he persecuted Israel severely, and Scripture uses him as a prophetic picture of the Antichrist.
Les teaches that Antiochus is a picture and a type of the last man of fierce countenance, the Antichrist. In Daniel’s prophecy, this king stands up in the latter time of the four divided kingdoms, when transgressors are come to the full. He is described as having a fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences. Secular history gives him only a paragraph, but he went down to Jerusalem and utterly persecuted and put tremendous pressure on the people of Israel. In God’s plan, he becomes a prime player. Les explains that the very same descriptive words connected to Antiochus are also descriptive of the man of sin, the coming world ruler. Thus Antiochus foreshadows the Antichrist by sharing those prophetic characteristics.
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.