1 This book is also one of those that are not counted in the Hebrew Bibles. Although it keeps almost the same way with speeches and words, as other books of the holy scripture, and would not be unworthy to be included, because it is a very necessary and useful book to understand the prophet Daniel in the eleventh chapter. For that which Daniel prophesies in the said chapter, of the abomination and calamity of the people of Israel, which shall be in the future.
This book describes the fulfillment of this, namely Antiochum the Noble, and as Daniel speaks, the small help and great persecution of the Gentiles and false Jews, which happened in the time of the Maccabees. Therefore it is also useful for us Christians to read and know.
2. firstly, because the same Antiochus is considered to be a figure or image of the end Christ, who committed such abominations and destruction of God.
*) This preface is found in Walch, in the Leipzig edition, vol. XII, p. 52 and in the Erlanger, vol. 63, p. 103. ) This preface is found in Walch, in the Leipzig edition, vol. XII, p. 52 and in the Erlanger, vol. 63, p. 104.
If we learn from this that the end of the Christian service in Jerusalem and in the Jewish land, not far before the birth of Christ and the first future, was the real end of Christ, who before the other and last future of Christ should also destroy Christianity and destroy the service of God; So that we should not be frightened when we experience this and see it before our eyes, but receive the consolation and hold fast that we, together with Christianity, must nevertheless be preserved and finally saved, no matter how great the rage, and the devil as angry as he ever can.
For we also see the same help, however small and insignificant, that God Almighty has begun to show us. And the dear holy gospel is the sword, so that His own may nevertheless attack the present end-Christ in all honesty, and accomplish something, even though it costs much bloodshed and suffering, just as He also helped His people at that time by the sword of the Maccabees. Even though it was not without persecution and great heartache, they nevertheless cleansed the temple and restored worship, and brought the people back to the former regime, just as the gospel is now sweeping away idolatry, and as Christ says that his angels will clear away all evil from his kingdom, and gather the true Christians together again into the old, true Christian faith, and into righteous good works and worship.
004 Secondly, that we may also be comforted in that he helpeth them, not only against Antiochum and the Gentiles, but also against the traitors and apostate Jews, which have
The heathen have slain and persecuted their own people, their brethren, and have put on all their heartaches, that we may be sure, and remain undaunted, whether the false Christs and the spirits of the heathen, who have now also become our persecutors, shall rise up against us, and afflict us and do us harm as much, if not more, than our Antiochus or the end-Christ. For Daniel said this, and told us for our consolation, that it should be so, and that it should come to pass, that the children of our people should deal treacherously with us, and help to persecute us confidently. Therefore we will not have it much better than those pious children of Israel had it under their Antioch or end-Christ with their false brothers.
5. In the end, however, these same enemies and traitors will be punished by God, and their tyranny and treachery will not remain unscented, so that we may look upon our end-Christians, tyrants, and red spirits with joyful thoughts and good courage, and endure their defiance, We are sure that they will not last long, much less get to where they think they are going, but (like Antiochus and those traitors) will soon receive their deserved reward, as a good portion of such punishment is already in the offing and increases daily. Although they are obdurate and blinded, they do not turn away from it, we have no power over them; they want to know what they have done. May God Almighty grant that, since they do not want anything else, it may be done quickly and soon to sanctify His rains and promote His kingdom, and to comfort all sorrowful and captive hearts in the devil's and the end Christ's kingdom, amen.