Fulfilled Prophecy a Potent Argument for the Bible 83
PROPHECY GIVEN B. C. 534
FULFILLMENT
“And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” (Verse 21.) “And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from be fore him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the cove nant.” (Verse 22.) “And after the league made with him he shall work deceit fully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.” (Verse 23.) “He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the prov ince; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his ’ father s father; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall fore cast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.” (Verse 24.) “And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the King of the South with a great army; and the King of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great ' and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.” (Verse 25.)
This vile person is none other than Antiochus Epiphanes. He had no claim on royal dignities, being only a younger son of Antiochus the Great. He seized royal honors by trickery and with flatteries. He is the little horn of chapter 8. He was successful in defeating his enemies. The prince of the covenant may mean his nephew Ptolemy Philometor. He also van quished Philometor’s generals. He feigned friendship to young Ptolemy but worked deceitfully. To allay suspicion he came against Egypt with a small force but took Egypt as far as Memphis. He took possession of the fertile places in Egypt under the pretense of peace. He took Pelusium and laid seige to the fortified places Naucratis and Alexandria.
This King of the South is Ptol emy Physcon, who was made king after Philometor had fallen into the hands of Antiochus. He had a great army but did not succeed, because treason had broken out in his own camp.
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