Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Key verses
Jude 24-25 - To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Daniel

Let me say a brief word about the abomination of desolation mentioned in Daniel.  Many people believe that this desolation is yet to happen, but I believe they are mistaken.  The abomination has already occurred.  In fact, it happened a couple thousand years ago with the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.  His name, Epiphanes (Antiochus was the name of a series of kings in the Seleucid dynasty), means manifestation, and he claimed to be the god Zeus in human form.  He was so set against Judaism that he conquered Jerusalem and offered unclean sacrifices in the temple, thereby desecrating the holy place and bringing about the abomination of desolation.

Antichrists

Who is the antichrist, or antichrists, that John is talking about?  It's not one specific person, or group of people, per se, but rather, as Clarke's commentary suggests: "Every man who opposes the spirit of the Gospel, and every teacher and writer who endeavors to lower the Gospel standard to the spirit and taste of the world, is a genuine antichrist, no matter where or among whom he is found."  As long as we stick to the word of God, we will be able to discern the antichrists of our day.