The Days of Antiochus & The Coming of Antichrist | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

The Days of Antiochus & The Coming of Antichrist | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

In today’s world, we see a post-Christian culture emerging, and history shows that this inevitably leads to an anti-Christian culture. An anti-Christian culture, in turn, paves the way for the Antichrist. What we are witnessing now aligns with biblical prophecy.

Antiochus and the First Religious Persecution

In ancient times, there was a king named Antiochus IV, a ruthless ruler over the Syrian Empire, which included Israel, Judea, and Judah. He sought to erase biblical faith by making it illegal to read Scripture. He burned the sacred scrolls, outlawed Sabbath observance, and decreed that anyone teaching God’s ways to their children would be put to death. This marked one of history’s first major religious persecutions.

Antiochus forced people to worship Greek gods, particularly Zeus, setting up altars across the land to enforce this idolatry. He desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem by slaughtering a pig on the altar and erecting an idol of Zeus, transforming God’s holy place into a pagan temple. It seemed like the faith would be wiped out.

But God had other plans.

The Maccabean Revolt: A Miracle of Deliverance

From the hill country, a faithful man named Mattathias and his sons, later known as the Maccabees (“The Hammers”), refused to bow to false gods. When they saw a fellow Jew being forced to worship a pagan deity, Mattathias declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” They fled to the hills, and despite overwhelming odds, they defeated the mighty Greek-Syrian armies through a series of miraculous victories.

Even when Antiochus sent half his empire’s army to annihilate them, they triumphed by God’s power. After reclaiming Jerusalem, they purified the Temple, removed the idols, and rekindled the sacred lamp, rededicating God’s house for eight days. This became the Feast of Dedication—Hanukkah.

If the Maccabees had not stood firm, the Bible and the faith would have been lost.

Modern-Day Persecution and the Erasure of Truth

History repeats itself. In a shocking development, parts of the Church of England have banned hymns such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” because it implies that other religions are outside God’s grace. Another hymn, “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending”, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth, was also banned because it proclaims Jesus as the true Messiah.

Does this church even understand the Gospel? Do they realize that “Christian” means follower of the Messiah?

A Prophetic Parallel: Hanukkah and the End Times

The Book of Maccabees, though not part of Scripture, records how God saved His people, preserved the faith, and ensured the survival of the Bible. The prophet Daniel foretold both Antiochus and the future Antichrist, showing how these events are intertwined.

Revelation 12:11 declares, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death.”

Just as God delivered His people during the time of Antiochus, He will strengthen His faithful ones in the last days. The call remains the same: Stand firm in faith, proclaim the truth, and never bow to the pressures of an anti-Christian world.

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