Quest. 31. Of the time when Antiochus Epiphanes should rise vp: in the latter ende of their kingdome.
1. Some doe thus expound the word, beacharith, procedente tempore, during the time of these kingdomes, Iun. annot. Polan. but the same word, v. 19. they interpret extremi∣tatem, the extremitie of wrath, or the last wrath: therefore it is not fit in this place to giue it an other interpretation.
2. Some reade in the ende of their kingdome, Genevens. that is toward the ende of the kingdome of the Macedonians, or Greekes, Vatab. So also readeth the Latine, post regnum illorum, after their kingdome: But this cannot be vnderstood of the ende of the kingdome of the Grecians, or Seleucians: for when Anciochus Epiphanes rose vp, there were more which succeeded in that familie after him, then went before him: for in all there were 18. kings of Seleucus posteritie, in the which number Antiochus Epiphanes was the 8. king of that familie, so that tenne succeeded him: Antioch us Eupator, Demetrius Soter, Alex∣ander Epiphanes, Demetrius Nicanor, Antiochus Sedetes, Antiochus Gryphus, Antiochus Cyzicenus, Seleucus the sonne of Gryphus, Antiochus Pius, whom Tigranes expelled, An∣tiochus Asiaticus, whom Pompey depriued. And further whereas the kingdome of the Se∣leucians continued 270. yeares, as Appianus, and Antiochus beganne to raigne in the 137. yeare, and died in the 149. yeare, 1. Macchab. 6. 16. there remained yet after Antiochus death an 120. yeares of the raigne of the Seleucians: Antiochus Epiphanes then could not come in the ende of that kingdome.
3. Lyranus making Antiochus a type of Antichrist, vnderstandeth the finall end and disso∣lution of the Greeke Empire, when the fourth Monarchie of the Romanes beganne: for the kingdome of Antichrist, quodam modo pertinet ad regnum Romanum, belongeth after a sort to the kingdome of the Romanes: But seeing it is confessed of all, that historically this vision and prophesie was first fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes, though typically it be referred vn∣to Antichrist: then first this must historically be applyed to the time of the rising vp of An∣tiochus.
4. Bullinger here vnderstandeth the ende of the Macedonian kingdome, for so Antio∣chus Epiphanes, beganne to raigne in the 4. yeare of Perses the last king, who raigned a 11. yeares, in the last whereof he was ouercome and taken by P. Aemilius, and Macedonia was brought to be a Prouince: But this interpretation agreeth not with the text, which saith, that in the ende of their kingdome, &c. a king of fierce countenance shall stand vp: it is euident then that he meaneth that kingdome out of which this fierce king should come, which was the kingdome of the Seleucians.
5. Calvin thus interpreteth, in the ende of their kingdome, that is, vbi ad summum per∣uenerint, when they are come to the height, and begin to decline: for after Antiochus Epi∣phanes, the glorie and power of that kingdome begunne to decay: But that is not said pro∣perly to be the end of a kingdome, when the power thereof is somewhat altered onely, the regall authoritie still remayning.
6. Therefore the best reading is, posteris temporibus, in the latter times of this kingdom, so is the word acharith taken, Gen. 49. 1. c. 2. 28. see before c. 2. quest. 31. cum regna illa aliquantum temporis constiterint, when those kingdomes haue continued some while: and the better part of the time of their continuance was past: for Antiochus came in the 137. yeare, which was toward both the latter, and the decaying times of that kingdome: for there remayned an 120. yeares of that kingdome, not so much time, as was alreadie fulfilled, Iun. commentar.