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Today, we'll just focus on Daniel 8, because there's just too much information within this section of the book of Daniel for us to digest.
In my opinion, this chapter is a preacher's nightmare! Even noted scholars hesitate to be dogmatic in their interpretation of this chapter. In fact, Daniel is confused by it himself. In spite of the fact that He's been given the gift of interpreting dreams, he is literally baffled by the whole thing. In fact, it was so disturbing to Daniel that he says he was exhausted and sick for days. Even Gabriel, one of God's archangels, was invited to expose the meaning of the dream, but it was too much for Daniel to handle.
This site of this dream located along the banks of the Ulai River running near the king's palace in the city of Susa. Today, the ancient center of Susa is unoccupied, with the population living in the adjacent modern Iranian town of Shush located to the west and north of the historic ruins. Shush is the administrative capital of Shush County in Iran's Khuzestan province. It had a population of 64,960 in 2005.
Within this particular vision, God has decided to let Daniel in on a HUGE secret. In my opinion, this dream foretells of the major events that will take place just before Jesus comes to reign for a thousand years on Earth from His throne in Jerusalem (Revelation 20). In this remarkable vision, God reveals the coming Great Tribulation Period that will destroy most of mankind and the terrible rise of the Anti-Christ who forms a army whose sole purpose is to destroy Israel (God holy land and His people) once and for all.
In Daniel's dream, he sees a ram with two long horns. In verse 20, we learn that this two-horned ram represents the Medo-Persian empire - a combination of two empires ruling the world together. He noticed that the ram butted everything in its way and in every direction. In other words, they had at that time conquered the world for the most part.
I find it interesting that God uses a ram as a symbol. To Daniel, it was clear who the ram represented. At that time, the ram was actually the empire's symbol. In fact, Ammianus Marcellinus, a fourth century historian states the the Persian ruler would put on a ram's head as he stood at the head of his army. The ram was the national emblem of Persia and part of the headdress of Persian kings.
But suddenly, in verse 8, Daniel speaks of a very powerful goat that appeared before him which had a large horn that was broken off and in its place he saw 4 prominent horns grow out of it pointing in the four directions of the earth. The goat (according to verses 20 and 21) represents the Greek empire under the leadership of Alexander the Great.
The notable horn that was broken on the goat represents Alexander the Great who ruled the Greek empire at the time and conquered the Medo-Persians. The little four horns that grew out of the large horn, I believe, represent the 4 generals who were left to divide the kingdom unto themselves (vs.22). A brief review of history will show this.
Eventually, this Greek empire (the goat) will spawn new kings and leaders who will defy the God of Israel and offer horrible sacrifices within God's Temple. History reveals that about 175 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes offer pigs (an unclean animal to the Jews) on the altar as a sacrifice to God. And later, Titus of Rome, will conquer the city of Jerusalem and destroy God's Temple.
For example, in Daniel's dream these leaders is so wicked and powerful that "his power reached to the heavens where it attacked the heavenly armies, throwing some of the heavenly beings and stars (angels) to the ground and trampling on them."
I believe, obviously, all of these leaders are Satan-filled men! Look at what they attempted to do:
8:10 - "His power reached to the heaves where it attacked the heavenly armies, throwing some of the heavenly beings an stars to the ground and trampling them."
8:11 - "He even challenged the Commander of heaven's armies by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple."
8:14 - "It will take twenty three hundred evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be restored." This comes out to 6 1/2 years. Remember, the Tribulation period is 7 years in length.
8:17 - "You must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end." This are the words of Gabriel, the archangel, as he makes an attempt to help Daniel understand the vision. These are not events yet to come within the next few hundred years. These are specifically names at events related to "the time of the end."
Coming after these ruthless leaders will come a "master of intrigue." I believe this is the Anti-christ spoken of in Revelation. This Anti-christ will cause a shocking amount of destruction throughout the earth, destroying powerful leaders and devastating God's people.
No wonder Daniel was sick and disturbed for days. He was given the privilege (if you call it that) to see how horrible the world will treat Israel and the God of Heaven.
I'll stop for now, but read Daniel 9 before we get into it tomorrow.
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