Prophecies Fulfilled in the Apocrypha

This is what the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt,

• [PROPHECY] Against Edom → 1 Maccabees 5:3; 1 Maccabees 5:65

therefore this is what the Lord Yahweh says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.

I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord Yahweh.’

From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land.

• [PROPHECY] Out of one of them (the four Greek divisions) came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land → Fulfilled in Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Seleucid king)

It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth and trampled them.

• [PROPHECY] It grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them → Fulfilled in Antiochus's murder of faithful Jews

It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary.

• [PROPHECY] He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down → Fulfilled 15 Chislev 167 BC

And in the rebellion, the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did.

Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?”

• [PROPHECY] How long shall the vision be? → 1 Maccabees 4:36-59; JN 10:22

He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”

In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne.

• [PROPHECY] A king shall arise having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes... he shall destroy the mighty and the holy people; through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper → Fulfilled in Antiochus IV Epiphanes

His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people.

Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own heart he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands.

• [PROPHECY] He shall be broken without human hand → 1 Maccabees 6:8-16; 2 Maccabees 9:5-28

In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle.

• [PROPHECY] The next king would send a tax collector through the land, then die soon but not in battle → 2 Maccabees 3:7-40

In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue.

• [PROPHECY] In his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigues → Fulfilled in Antiochus IV who seized the Seleucid throne through political intrigue after Seleucus IV's death

Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant.

• [PROPHECY] With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him... he shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places; and he shall do what his fathers have not done: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches → Fulfilled in Antiochus's early campaigns and lavish plundering of Jerusalem

After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; for he will rise to power with only a few people.

In a time of peace, he will invade the richest provinces and do what his fathers and forefathers never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will plot against the strongholds—but only for a time.

And with a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South, who will mobilize a very large and powerful army but will not withstand the plots devised against him.

• [PROPHECY] He shall stir up his power and courage against the king of the South with a great army... they shall speak lies at the same table → Fulfilled in Antiochus's wars against Ptolemy VI of Egypt

Those who eat from his provisions will seek to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain.

And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.

The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; so he will do damage and return to his own land.

• [PROPHECY] Then he shall return to his land with great riches, and his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land → Fulfilled in Antiochus's return from Egypt in 169 BC

At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time will not be like the first.

• [PROPHECY] At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. For ships from Cyprus (Kittim) shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant → Fulfilled 168 BC

Ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.

• [PROPHECY] Forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation → Fulfilled 15 Chislev 167 BC

With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and do exploits.

• [PROPHECY] With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant → Fulfilled in the Hellenizing Jews who abandoned the covenant
• [PROPHECY] But the people who know their God will be strong and do exploits → Fulfilled in Mattathias and his sons the Maccabees

Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered.

• [PROPHECY] Those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering → Fulfilled in the Jewish martyrs of the Maccabean era

Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help, but many will join them insincerely.

• [PROPHECY] When they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue → Fulfilled in the mixed coalition around the Maccabees MEDIUM

Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

• [PROPHECY] Some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end → Fulfilled progressively in the Maccabean martyrdoms and purification of Israel

Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble— Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.” For Yahweh has spoken.

• [PROPHECY] The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Esau for stubble; there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau → 1 Maccabees 5:3; 1 Maccabees 5:65

For I will bend Judah as My bow and fit it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against the sons of Greece. I will make you like the sword of a mighty man.

• [PROPHECY] For I have bent Judah, My bow, fitted the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece → 1 Maccabees 3:10-24; 1 Maccabees 4:6-25 MEDIUM

Then Yahweh will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord Yahweh will sound the ram’s horn and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.

• [PROPHECY] The Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning... the Lord of hosts will defend them → 2 Maccabees 10:29-30; 2 Maccabees 11:8 MEDIUM

Yahweh of Hosts will shield them. They will destroy and conquer with slingstones; they will drink and roar as with wine. And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls, drenched like the corners of the altar.

On that day Yahweh their God will save them as the flock of His people; for like jewels in a crown they will sparkle over His land.

• [PROPHECY] The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people; for they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land → 1 Maccabees 14:4-15 MEDIUM