“And after The League made with Him [Eumenes II of Pergamon (197 B.C.E. – 159 B.C.E.)],

He [Mithradates, later Antiochus IV (175 B.C.E. – 164 B.C..E.)] shall work deceitfully;

For He [Antiochus IV (175 B.C.E. – 164 B.C.E.)] shall come up [To The Seleucid Throne];

And shall become strong with a small people [force].”

Mithradates, upon the assassination of His brother, Seleucus IV by Heliodorus, travelled from Athens through Asia Minor and reached Syria by November, 175 B.C.E..

(Mithradates had lived in Athens since 187 B.C.E. when his nephew, Demetrius, the son of Seleucus IV, had been exchanged as a hostage to The Roman Senate.)

With the assistance of King Eumenes II of Pergamon, Mithradates peacefully took the throne from The Usurper, Heliodorus, proclaiming Himself Co-Regent with another son of Seleucus, an infant named Antiochus.

Traditionally, the Kingdom of Pergamum was an enemy of The Seleucid Dynasty. In forming an alliance with Eumenes II, the King of Pergamon, Mithradates (soon to become Antiochus IV) revealed his brilliance as a political strategist. Pergamon was Rome’s principal ally in the region of Asia and Mithradates was a devoted admirer of The Roman Republic.

Although Antiochus IV entered the Seleucid Empire with a relatively small military force given to Him by Eumenes II of Pergamon, the alliance with Rome and Pergamon was sufficient to oust the usurper, Heliodorus, from the Seleucid regency, and for Mithradates (soon to become Antiochus IV) to become the ruler of The Seleucid Empire.

Mithradates’s political acumen and his awareness of the ever-burgeoning power of The Roman Republic enabled Him to ascend his father’s throne and become Antiochus IV.

Unhappily, His Ascent ultimately wrought tragedy for The Jewish People, although Antiochus IV’s cruel and irrational determination to impose Greek worship upon The Jewish People ultimately brought about their political independence.

Antiochus IV became the king of The Seleucid Empire because of his political cunning and awareness of The Roman Republic’s importance.

It is a wondrous truth which brings peace and joy and hope to the weary human soul that there is a greater king than Antiochus IV. JESUS OF NAZARETH ascended a higher throne on the basis of A Greater Righteousness – Perfect Submission to THE MOST HIGH AND HOLY GOD.

According to His Willing and Perfect Fulfilment of The Twelve Virtues enumerated in Psalm Fifteen, JESUS of Nazareth ascended to The HOLY HILL OF GOD.

PSALM FIFTEEN

“LORD,

• Who shall abide [sojourn] in THY Tabernacle
• Who shall dwell in Thy Holy Hill?

Stanza I.

• He That Walketh Uprightly, And
• He That Worketh Righteousness.

Stanza II.

• He That Speaketh The Truth in His Heart, And
• He That Backbiteth Not with His Tongue.

Stanza III.

• He That Doeth Not Evil To His Neighbour, Nor
• He That Taketh Up [Receiveth, or Endureth] A Reproach against His Neighbour.

Stanza IV.

• He That In Whose Eyes A Vile Person is condemned, But
• He Honoureth Them That Fear THE LORD.

Stanza V.

• He That Sweareth To His Own Hurt, And
• He That Changeth Not.

Stanza VI.

• He That Putteth Not Out His Money To Usury, Nor
• He That Taketh Reward Against The Innocent.

He That Doeth These Things Shall Never Be Moved.”

THE EVERLASTING KING WILL NEVER LOSE HIS THRONE.

The Perfect Righteousness of JESUS OF NAZARETH was offered as a propitiation for The Wrath of THE MOST HIGH AND HOLY GOD Against The Sins of the World.

No wonder that JESUS is worshipped as THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS!

Next Week: Daniel 11:24 The Continuing Reign of Antiochus IV