*Matthew 24:15*
YESHUA said _“Therefore *when* you see the abomination of desolation which was *spoken of through Daniel* the prophet, standing in the holy place— let the reader understand.”_
*THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION*
Daniel was around 350 to 400 years before the events that led to Hanukkah.
_And he prophesied events which were fulfilled by the Syrian-Greek Emperor Antiochus IV Epiphanes_, *namely the desecration of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem*, which Antiochus did when he sacrificed a pig on the Holy Altar and then smeared the pig's blood all over the Temple. He also set up a mammoth statue of the Greek god Zeus in the Holy of Holies and forced Jewish people to bow down to it in worship at the threat of death.
*This was the abomination of the Temple that caused Jerusalem to become desolate*.
Antiochus was a terror! His intention was to wipe out the worship of the true living GOD (YEHOVAH). The name *Epiphanes* means _God in the flesh_, which is a title that Antiochus IV gave to himself.
_He was literally saying that he stood in place of God and that he is to be worshipped._
That is what *Antichrist* means - _someone who is a *substitute* of CHRIST_ (like Antiochus tried to be).
At that time hundreds of thousands of Jewish people suffered and many were killed because they stood faithful to the GOD of the Bible! _This was a foreshadow of the Great Tribulation_.
In *Matthew 24, YESHUA speaks about the events preceding HIS return to Earth*.
And in *verse 15*, HE speaks about the same events concerning Antiochus Epiphanes, _*not just as an event of the past*_, but also as *an event of the future*!
YESHUA was saying that what Antiochus Epiphanes did with Israel is what will *happen again*, but this time it will be done by the *Antichrist* and will involve *all* of the followers of the true GOD.
_Therefore, we can say that Antiochus Epiphanes was like a foreshadow of the Antichrist!_
*Just like Antiochus did, the Antichrist will rise to power* as a globally accepted charismatic leader. Perhaps he will show himself to be the one who will solve the Arab-Israeli issue, and many more issues Globally too! Perhaps he will by charm, power and authority cause a lot of people to follow him.
*_Eventually he will forcefully stand in the future Temple at Jerusalem and proclaim himself to be above the GOD of the Bible._* Remember *Antichrist* _means *substitute* of the real_ CHRIST.
*Rabbi Sha'ul (Apostle Paul) tells us the same thing in II Thessalonians 2:1 to 4*. In this passage he tells us that the final "End Times" will only get completed when the *man of lawlessness is revealed* (verse 3) and *he shows himself to be above GOD and _forcefully enters the Holy Temple_ (verse 4)*.
Well, this is exactly what Antiochus did during the events that led to Hanukkah.
And this is what our holy MESSIAH YESHUA tells us will happen *prior to HIS return to Earth*. But this time it will be done by the Antichrist.
*_It is therefore important to note that understanding Hanukkah is absolutely important to understanding the End Times_*.
World events are cyclical. What happened earlier will happen again. *Ecclesiastes 1:9* tells us that there is nothing new under the Sun.
This is why YESHUA tells us to watch out for the *abomination of desolation* prior to HIS return.
As the Festival of Hanukkah gives us a template/ *a foreshadow of the Last Days*, then surely we must _learn from the people of that time_ as well. Some of them got fooled by Antiochus and became like the people of the World. Some out of fear accepted the diktats of Antiochus, but *a small remnant stood true to ADONAI*.
_They faced struggle_, *but the GOD of Israel protected them and they eventually saw victory*. They experienced the miracles of GOD even during difficult times. _They experienced the protection of GOD even during times of intense persecution_.
*Similarly, the true believer and follower of YESHUA will experience the miracles of GOD not only today but also during the times of trouble of the Last Days*. But like the Maccabees, we need to be ready to face persecution. And *when we take the right step forward* _by faith in our GOD_, surely *we will experience the miracles and victory of GOD* as well, _through YESHUA_.
*_If our holy MESSIAH YESHUA pointed towards the events of Hanukkah to help us prepare for the Last Days, then surely Hanukkah is pretty much worthy of the time of us believers to learn about and teach to our children and Churches._*
Shalom! - Pastor Nicky Chandra
Published on: 2026-01-14 11:25:16