03.04.21 164 B.C. Greek Persecution Ends, Limited Jewish Independence Begins

Following their incredible victory, localized fighting continued for another twenty years to remove the remaining loyalists.  Essentially, the Jews were free.  As word of the new freedom spread throughout the world, some chose to return to the land God had promised them.  While this gave credence to the prophecies of Ezekiel and Isaiah, many others had become wealthy in foreign lands and chose not to return.

Finally, the Jewish people now had the opportunity to read the prophetic book of Daniel and realize that some of his prophecies were literally fulfilled.^[1] Antiochus IV Epiphanes came and went, just as predicted.  So likewise, Daniel’s words of a coming Messiah would be literally fulfilled.

[1]. For further study, see McFall, Leslie. “Do the Sixty-nine Weeks of Daniel Date the Messianic Mission of Nehemiah or Jesus?” 673-718.