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A little horn… (3 things)
- 1st – The Ram and the Goat… vs. 1-8
- 1st – Back to Hebrew…
- From Daniel 2:4 – Daniel 7:28 the book was written in the Chaldean language…
- When Daniel was writing to the Gentiles – he used the gentile language of the day…
- As we pick up in Daniel chapter 8 – the language of the book switches back to Hebrew…
- Because the book changes focus – for the rest of the book Daniel will address the Jews…
- As God lays out some of the most incredible End Time prophesies in the Bible!
- Showing us that God is not done with Israel – His plan for them runs right up till the end!
- There is A VERY destructive doctrine commonly taught today in many churches…
- It states – God has rejected Israel – and been replaced by the church…
- Galatians 6:16 – “Peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
- The reason is – because Israel betrayed and crucified Jesus Christ…
- Matthew 27:25 – “All the people… said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
- This doctrine has led to intense persecution of the Jews by the church over the centuries!
- Yet in Romans 11:1 – Paul uses himself as an example God is not done with Israel…
- In fact all of the Apostles and everyone in the church up to Acts 10 were Jews!
- They are the proof that God has not rejected Israel – Jews were/are still being saved…
- Because God has not cast away Israel – He promised they would always be His people…
- Jeremiah 31:36 – “I am as likely to reject Israel as I am to do away with the laws of nature!”
- As long as the sun rises – waves crash on the seashore – Israel is Gods nation!
- Since God cannot break His Word – forsake Israel – that means God also cannot reject us…
- That should bring great comfort to our hearts – it means no matter how bad we get…
- Like the parable of the ‘Lost sheep’ – Matthew 18:12 – God never gives up on us…
- Like sheep we can be really dumb – we tend to follow the crowd rather than our shepherd…
- But Jesus is never ever farther away than turning around (repentance)…
- He is always right there looking for us when we wander – seeking His lost lamb!
- From Daniel 2:4 – Daniel 7:28 the book was written in the Chaldean language…
- 2nd – The 2nd vision of Daniel… vs. 1-2
- In the 3rd year of King Belshazzar – 547 B.C. – Daniel had his second vision from God…
- The first dream – from Daniel 7 – took place 3 years earlier in the 1st year of Belshazzar…
- Daniel at this point would have been an older man – around 65 years old…
- Yet even though he had faithfully served the Lord his entire life…
- This was only the 2nd time he had ever received a vision / dream from the Lord…
- Suggesting that Daniel may have gone years without hearing directly from God!
- As we read through the Bible – and see how God speaks to and directs His people…
- It can seem frustrating – because we wonder why the Lord does not do the same for us…
- But tend to forget it was often years / decades – in-between when they heard from God!
- As Christian we understand the importance of hearing from Jesus – Proverbs 3:5-6
- But the dilemma seems to arise when we have to wait for God to speak!
- Waiting for the Lord to speak can often leave us discouraged…
- We think that since the Lord has not spoken to us yet – means He never will…
- But we must not forget that God’s timing is not our timing – 2
- Following Jesus means being patient – willing to wait on the Lord for His timing!
- Psalm 27:14 – “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”
- In the 3rd year of King Belshazzar – 547 B.C. – Daniel had his second vision from God…
- 3rd – The Medo-Persian and Grecian Empires… vs. 3-8
- Daniel was in the city of Shushan – the modern city of Susa in Iran…
- It would later become the winter capitol of the Medo-Persian Empire (Esther / Nehemiah)…
- In his vision Daniel was by the River Ulai (Modern day Kerkhah River – runs through Susa)…
- Standing by the river was a ram with 2 horns – one bigger than the other…
- The Ram was the Medo-Persian Empire (bear from Daniel 7 / chest of silver – Daniel 2)…
- The 2-horned Ram is still found in Archeological discoveries as a symbol of Medo-Persia!
- The little/older horn represented the Medes – the bigger/newer horn the Persians
- They conquered to the North (Scythians-Russia) / West (Babylon) / and South (Egypt)!
- But as Daniel considered the meaning of the ram – a goat came from the west…
- It moved so fast it did not even seem to touch the ground – and it had one large horn…
- The goat was the Grecian Empire (the leopard from Daniel 7 / waist of bronze – Daniel 2)…
- The first king of Macedonia (Greece) made his capitol in the city of Aege – ‘the goat-city’…
- The horn was Alexander the great – whose agile army conquered the whole world!
- The goat was moved with rage against the ram…
- Darius III provoked Alexander by trying to bribe his soldiers into assassinating him…
- As a result in 330 B.C. Alexander burned Darius capitol of Persepolis to the ground!
- Leading to the complete fall of the Medo-Persian Empire to the Greeks!
- Yet when the goat grew very great – the large horn was broken…
- At the height of his power – no more worlds to conquer – Alexander died at the age of 33…
- His kingdom was divided to his four generals (4 notable horns)…
- Greece (west) went to Cassander / Asia Minor (north) to Lysimachus…
- Egypt (south) went to Ptolemy / while Babylon (east) went to Seleucus!
- This is the 3rd time we have been given the ‘history’ of Medo-Persia and Greece…
- You may have noticed that the Bible often repeats itself…
- The same message given in many ways – ‘the sovereignty of God over the nations’…
- The reason is because often we do not hear it – or do not understand – the first time…
- The Bible tells us over and over in the hope we will eventually get it…
- It is too important for us not to get / so we must repeat it as many times as needed!
- Philippians 3:1 – “To write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.”
- Daniel was in the city of Shushan – the modern city of Susa in Iran…
- 1st – Back to Hebrew…
- 2nd – Antiochus Epiphanes… vs. 9-14
- 1st – Daniel saw a little horn rise up out of one of the 4 notable horns of the goat (Greece)… vs. 9
- Not to be mistaken for THE little horn of the fourth kingdom in Daniel 7:8…
- The little horn in Daniel 7:8 comes as an eleventh horn from the 4th beast – Rome/Europe…
- This ‘little horn’ rises out of one of the 4 existing horns of Greece – Antiochus Epiphanes…
- He was the 8th ruler of the Seleucid Dynasty (east) – reined from 175-164 B.C.…
- He was not THE anti-christ – but he was certainly AN Old Testament antichrist…
- I John 2:18 – “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”
- The reference to Antiochus being the ‘little horn’ has confused many over the years…
- One of the roots of amillennialism is the belief that Antiochus was THE Antichrist…
- Satan does not know when the end will come – he does not see the future…
- So he continues to try to overthrow the plan / people of God (the nation of Israel)…
- Right up to the 20th Century – Adolf Hitler – we had AN antichrist empowered by satan…
- But the day is not far off when THE Antichrist will rise ushers in the Last Days!
- 2nd -The little horn grew exceedingly great… vs. 9-12
- Antiochus dominated in his eastern kingdom of Seleucia (Babylon)…
- He also was very successful in wars against Ptolemy in the south (Egypt)…
- He also took a keen interest in the land of Israel – the Glorious Land – opposing God…
- No previous ruler – Nebuchadnezzar / Cyrus / Artaxerxes opposed the Jews worship…
- But Antiochus cast down some of the hosts (mighty) and stars (holy people) to the ground…
- He was to the first coming of Jesus what the Antichrist will be to His second!
- And because of the transgression (of Israel) – an army (power) was given to him…
- Antiochus would rule in a time when many Jews adopted Hellenic customs…
- Erecting theaters (pleasure) / regarding all religions alike / sacrificing to God…
- But at the same time sending money for sacrifices to Hercules…
- Antiochus was allowed to come to power – because of the moral decline of Gods people!
- It is humbling to think the world / church today shares many of the same flaws…
- We live in a day when the pursuit of pleasure is supreme (entertainment generation)…
- Truth is relative (all roads lead to heaven) – and while people may say they believe in God…
- They also blend that with the twisted theology of the world (evolution)!
- Jesus warned this would also be one of the signs that He was coming – the end was near…
- Like the days of Lot– Luke 17:28 –people live immorally oblivious to the coming judgment!
- The little horn even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host…
- Antiochus title – Epiphanes – means ‘God manifest’ – he thought he was God!
- He was so obsessed with the idea he was called – Epimanes (maniac) – instead of Epiphanes!
- He stopped the worship of God – the daily sacrifices in the Temple…
- And then sacrificed a pig to Zeus in the Holiest of All – where the Ark had once stood!
- This was AN abomination of desolation – but not THE one spoken of by Jesus…
- Because Jesus spoke of it as an event that had yet to take place – Matthew 24:15
- Antiochus cast truth to the ground – and prospered in all he did!
- When we look at the evil world around us – it can be very upsetting…
- We see people living immoral lives – rejecting the truth of God…
- And the worst part is they seem to be getting away with it…
- They are not suffering – they may even prosper – and it seems unfair!
- Psalm 73:16-17 – “I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary… and thought about the destiny of the wicked.”
- Just because God has not judged yet – does not mean God will not judge…
- Many assume they are ‘ok’ because God does not immediately punish them…
- They make mistake of interpreting God’s ‘patience’ for God’s ‘acceptance’…
- Just because God has not judged yet – does not mean God will not judge – Numbers 32:23!
- Antiochus dominated in his eastern kingdom of Seleucia (Babylon)…
- 2nd – The Maccabean revolt… vs. 13-14
- Daniel heard a holy one (angel) ask another angel – how long will this be allowed…
- The answer was for 2300 days – then the sanctuary would be cleansed…
- There is a LOT of speculation about the 2300 DAYS – literally ‘evenings and mornings’…
- Williams Miller a minister in the 1800’s – taught the 2,300 days was actually 2,300 years…
- He took the day that the temple was profaned – and added to 2,300 years…
- Said Jesus was coming in 1844 – people sold everything to prepare – Jesus did not come!
- Mark 13:32 – “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen.”
- There was no reason to assume 2,300 days meant 2,300 years!
- This form of interpreting the Bible is called allegorization…
- The use of allegory in teachings is a common practice in many churches today…
- Unfortunately it can be a very dangerous way to interpret the Bible…
- Ignoring the plain interpretation of a passage – teachers seek a ‘deeper meaning’
- Abandoning boundaries – the passage is left to mean anything the teacher wants…
- This had led to many false teachings – heresies being taught in churches…
- One of the keys to proper Bible interpretation is to take the text literally!
- It tuned out – 2300 days after the Temple was desecrated – it was cleansed…
- After the pig sacrifice – a Jewish priest and his sons began a revolt against Antiochus…
- One of the sons – Judah – became know as ‘Yehuda HaMakabi’ – Judah the hammer…
- The revolt took on his name – and became known and the Maccabees revolt!
- The record of which is contained in the apocryphal books of I and II Maccabees!
- The Jews recaptured the Temple – and overthrew the idol of Zeus…
- They went to rededicate the Temple – but there was not enough oil for the Menorah…
- They only had enough for one day – and it took 7 days to make more…
- Miraculously the oil lasted eights days – and the celebration of Hanukkah was born!
- All Jews celebrate it to this day – they give gifts to each other for eight days…
- Each day lighting a candle on a special 8-branched Menorah…
- Jews do not celebrate Christmas – instead they have the celebration of Hanukkah!
- Daniel heard a holy one (angel) ask another angel – how long will this be allowed…
- 1st – Daniel saw a little horn rise up out of one of the 4 notable horns of the goat (Greece)… vs. 9
The whole earth will be cleansed – and God will establish His Kingdom forever!
3rd – Evenings and Mornings… vs. 15-27
1st – The Angel Gabriel … vs. 15-16
As Daniel was looking for the meaning of the vision – he saw a man by the river…
Then another voice (angel / or God) came from between the banks of the Ulai River…
It commanded Gabriel to explain the meaning of the vision to Daniel!
Gabriel – warrior of God – one of only two good angels given a name in the Bible…
He and Michael are believed to be Archangels – the chief of Angels…
Michael is always mentioned in relation to battling satan – Jude 1:9 / Revelation 12:7
Gabriel is mentioned in connection to the coming of Jesus…
Daniel 8:16 / 9:21 – prophesying the first and second advents of the Messiah…
Luke 1:19 – The announcement the birth of John the Baptist – forerunner of Jesus
Luke 1:26 – The announcement of the birth of Jesus to Mary
2nd – Interpreting the vision… vs. 17-27
When Daniel saw Gabriel he collapsed – like he was in a deep sleep… vs. 17-19
But Gabriel touched him – and had helped him stand back up…
Then he interpreted for Daniel what would happen in the time of the end (latter time)…
Likely referring to the time when the events in this vision would come to pass…
But also possible – because of the similarities – a dual fulfillment with THE Antichrist
Medo-Persia and Greece… vs. 20-22
Gabriel explained the Ram with two horns – was the Kingdom of Medo-Persia…
And the goat with one horn – was Greece under Alexander the Great…
The four horns that came after are lesser kingdoms that rose out of Greece…
The little horn… vs. 23-25
In A LATER TIME of their Kingdom – referring to the waning years of the Grecian Empire…
When the transgressors were full (sins of Israel) – a man would arise…
He would be hard (fierce features) and would be devious (understand sinister schemes)…
He would mighty – but his power would come from another (satan)…
He would destroy the mighty (hosts) and the holy people (stars)…
He would cause deceit to prosper – and exalt himself even against God (Prince of Princes)…
But he would be broken without human means – God would strike him down!
II Maccabees 9:5 – “The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, smote him with an incurable and invisible plague: or as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon him…”
Although God allowed Antiochus as a punishment for the rebellion / sin of Israel…
In the end God dealt severely with Antiochus because he hurt His kids!
Imagine what you would do if someone wanted to harm one of your children…
God does not play around when it comes to stumbling His children…
He is a VERY protective Father – and will deal with anyone who threatens His kids!
A sobering though – because our freedom in Christ – can be another mans undoing…
We need to be sensitive to each others weaknesses – protecting each other from sin!
If we stumble our brother – we are actually sinning against Jesus – I Corinthians 8:12
Gabriel told Daniel the vision of ‘Evenings and Mornings’ was true… vs. 26-27
Referring to the 2300 days that would pass between the desecration and cleansing…
But to seal up the vision because it referred to many days in the future…
Note – not the end – but after many days (Antiochus came to power 400 years later)…
The vision made Daniel sick for many days – because no one understood what it meant!
We have the advantage of looking back on history to see the fulfillment of this prophecy…
Which makes Daniel 8 unique in that it has already been fulfilled…
Psalm 119:160 – “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”
Giving us a clear warning of the dangers of living a compromised lifestyle…
And also a foreshadowing of things to come – with the rise of THE Antichrist…
Encouraging us that the end is sure – THE Antichrist will also be defeated…
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