Les Feldick identifies the king of fierce countenance as Antiochus Epiphanes, a Syrian ruler and a type of the coming Antichrist.
In Daniel 8:23, the prophecy describes a king who rises in the latter time of the Greek Empire. Les teaches that this refers to Antiochus Epiphanes, a 'little Syrian dictator' who was not significant in secular history but is a big deal in Scripture because he defiled the temple by sacrificing a sow on the altar. Antiochus, Les says, is a type of the final Antichrist who will do the same thing in the future.
Daniel 8:23 — This is the verse that explicitly mentions the 'king of fierce countenance,' and it is the passage Les applies to Antiochus Epiphanes.
In Daniel 8:23, the angel tells Daniel that in the latter time of the Greek Empire, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. Daniel 8:24-25 goes on to describe this king's mighty power, his destruction of the mighty and the holy people, his crafty policy, and his standing up against the Prince of princes before being broken without hand. The passage does not name the king explicitly, leaving the historical identification to the light of later prophecy and history.
Les Feldick identifies the king of fierce countenance as Antiochus Epiphanes, the 'little Syrian dictator' from the Greek era. While Antiochus was a 'pipsqueak' in secular history, he is a big deal in Scripture because he overran the nation of Israel and defiled the temple by sacrificing a sow, a hog, on the altar. Les teaches that Antiochus is a type of the Antichrist, and that the coming 'man of sin' will do the same thing at the midpoint of the Tribulation, making the temple desolate.
Les says Antiochus overran the little nation of Israel around 200–300 B.C. and decimated and defiled the temple by sacrificing a sow, a hog, on the altar. This act of abomination was a horror to the Jews, and Les says it is the historical pattern for what the Antichrist will do in the rebuilt temple.
Les says Antiochus was a type of the Antichrist because of his historical action against Israel and the temple. The Antichrist will likewise enter the temple at the midpoint of the Tribulation, defile it, and make it desolate. Les connects the prophecy of Daniel to this future abomination of desolation.
According to Les, the abomination of desolation is the defilement of the temple by sacrificing a hog on the altar. Antiochus performed this act historically, and Les teaches the future Antichrist will perform it again on the temple altar, making the temple desolate until the consummation.
What the Bible Really Says About the Antichrist — Daniel 8 & 11
on the face of the whole earth and touched not the ground, and this goat had a notable horn, one. Now, what was Alexander the Great? Well, he was a conqueror of one. He wasn't a consortium like the Medes and the Persians were. He alone raised up out of the Grecian Empire. So this is the goat, and he had a notable horn between his eyes. Now, verse six, and he came to the ram.
Identifying Antiochus as a Type
Les names Antiochus Epiphanes as the little Syrian dictator in Daniel's prophecy and says he is a type of the Antichrist because he defiled the temple by sacrificing a hog on the altar.
Antiochus as the Historical Fulfillment
Les points to Antiochus Epiphanes as the literal, historical little king in Daniel's prophecy who will be followed by a future desolator.
Antiochus's Significance in Scripture
Although not great in world history, Antiochus is significant in Scripture because he overran Israel and defiled the temple with a hog sacrifice; the Antichrist will do the same.
The Scroll in God's Hand That No One Could Open — Revelation 5
He comes on the scene, and everything that has been seemingly completed, he brings it to the finish. And he even is the eighth. He's out of the seven, but what's his end? He goes into perdition. And, of course, we'll see that later on when we study the book of Revelation in detail. This is not intended to be a study of the book of Revelation. I think you all know that.
Daniel's Four Beasts and the Revived Roman Empire Explained
A government rise up out of the mass of humanity, and it has seven heads and what? Ten horns. See how that fits with Daniel? Seven heads, ten horns. Now, this isn't some seven-headed creature or anything like that. It's a consortium of nations. It's an empire. And upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy and the beast, this government.
Daniel's Vision of 4 Beasts & the Antichrist Explained
A government rise up out of the mass of humanity, and it has seven heads and what? Ten horns. See how that fits with Daniel? Seven heads, ten horns. Now, this isn't some seven-headed creature or anything like that. It's a consortium of nations. It's an empire. And upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy and the beast, this government.
The Future Antichrist's Abomination
Les applies the pattern of Antiochus to the future Antichrist, who will sacrifice a hog on the rebuilt temple altar at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
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.
This is the central prophecy naming the king of fierce countenance.
Daniel 8:24: And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
This expands the description of the fierce king's power and destructive work against the holy people.
Daniel 8:25: And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
This completes the prophecy of his craftiness, pride, and ultimate end without human hand.
Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Les connects the temple desolation to this verse, applying the historical pattern of Antiochus to the future Antichrist.
According to Les Feldick, it is Antiochus Epiphanes, a little Syrian dictator who defiled the temple by sacrificing a sow on the altar. He was a type of the coming Antichrist.
No. Les teaches that Antiochus was a type of the Antichrist, not the Antichrist himself. The future Antichrist will perform a similar abomination at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
He sacrificed a hog, a sow, on the altar, defiling and decimating the temple. This act of abomination made him significant in Scripture.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Antichrist — Daniel 8 & 11