THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The contemptible one shall ascend in place of the former, and he will not be accorded royal respect. Instead, he will stealthily gain control of the kingdom through deceit. The strength of those who engage in conflict will be vanquished and brought low by him, even above the leader of the alliance. Following a misleading friendship, he will act treacherously and achieve success among the lesser people. He will infiltrate wealthy and significant cities, executing actions that neither his forefathers nor the generations before him accomplished: he will plunder their riches and wealth, while scheming against the most secure thoughts, though only for a limited time. Until this point, the sequence aligns historically, without contention between Porphyry and our own understanding.
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The subsequent content, extending to the conclusion of the work, pertains to Antiochus, known as Epiphanes, the brother of Seleucus, son of Antiochus the Great. After Seleucus, Antiochus ruled Syria for eleven years and seized Judea, under whom the persecution of God's law and the Maccabean conflicts are said to have occurred. Our interpretation holds that this narrative is a prophecy concerning the Antichrist, to emerge in the latter days.
In response to the apparent objection on why the prophetic discourse omits various events from Seleucus to the end of the world, we assert that in the earlier accounts—particularly regarding the Persian monarchs—the scripture highlights only four kings after Cyrus, omitting many in-between, abruptly moving to Alexander, the Macedonian king. It is customary in Holy Scripture not to detail every aspect, but to focus on those of greater significance. Though much of what we will later interpret can be applied to Antiochus, he serves as a shadow or image of the Antichrist, with his experiences foreshadowing the ultimate fulfillment seen in the Antichrist. The scriptures often convey future truths through prior likenesses, as illustrated in Psalm 71, which is attributed to Solomon; however, not all aspects pertain to him. The text alludes to conditions unattainable by Solomon, such as ruling from sea to sea and receiving homage from all nations. Instead, he represents only a glimpse, a reflection of the perfection fulfilled in our Lord and Savior.
Thus, as the Savior took Solomon and other saints as representations of His coming, it is reasonable to believe that the Antichrist mirrors the vile king Antiochus who persecuted the saints and desecrated the temple. We shall now follow the order of exposition closely, summarizing the views of both adversaries and ourselves accordingly. It is noted that Seleucus is succeeded by his brother Antiochus Epiphanes, who initially received no royal regard from supporters of Ptolemy in Syria but later obtained the kingdom through feigned benevolence. The strength of Ptolemy, who fought and devastated regions, was defeated and crushed by Antiochus. Here, "muscles" refers to power, linking to the concept of a formidable army. Not only did he deceive Ptolemy, but he also cheated the leader of the alliance, Judas Maccabeus. Though he appeared to offer peace to Ptolemy, he was, in fact, plotting against him. This is not Ptolemy Epiphanes, who was the fifth king in Egypt, but rather Ptolemy Philometor, the child of Cleopatra, Antiochus’ sister.
Following Cleopatra’s death, the eunuch Euleus, the tutor to Philometor, alongside Lenaeus, governed Egypt, demanding the return of Syria which Antiochus had acquired deceitfully. A conflict arose between uncle and nephew. In the battle between Pelusium and the city of Casium, Ptolemy's leaders were bested. Consequently, due to his leniency toward the young king and pretended amicability, Antiochus took control of Memphis, adopting kingship according to Egyptian tradition by claiming stewardship over the young ruler. Thus, with only a small contingent, he subdued Egypt and penetrated its wealthy cities, achieving devastation unprecedented by his predecessors. None before him had ravaged Egypt or squandered its treasures to such an extent, and he cunningly thwarted the masterminds guiding the youth.
In summarizing this extended discourse, Porphyry aligns with Sutoris; however, our interpretation presents a clearer understanding in relation to the prophecies concerning the end of the age and the Antichrist, who will emerge from a modest nation—the Jewish people. He will be so lowly and despicable that he will not receive royal honor but will ascend to power through guile, defeating the strength of the warring Roman forces. Pretending to uphold the law and covenant of God, he will infiltrate the most affluent cities and accomplish what none of his ancestors achieved. For none of the Jews, other than the Antichrist, has ruled over the entirety of the earth, and he will set his designs against the firmest convictions of the saints, achieving his aims only until God’s sovereign will allows.