The Book of Daniel Living in the Lion s Den without Getting Eaten Study ELEVEN: The Lion s Den - Daniel 8 Satan s MAN: The Final Dictator I Introduction Read Daniel 8. Read Esther 4:8-17; 8:14-18 and chapter 9. The form of this chapter, with all its symbolism, may hide from us the fact that this chapter is one of the most remarkable evidences of the supernatural nature of the Word of God! It was written in the year 551 B.C. but in precise detail, it records what was to happen down to the year 165 B.C. In fact, it is so precise that liberal scholars gleefully explain that because of the minute details, it could not have been written ahead of time! The writer had to have been living while this was happening because no one could know these details almost 400 years ahead of time! That is true of human beings but not of the living God who reveals Himself to His chosen person. Once again, consistent with His purposes in history, the Lord God gives Daniel a precise vision of the future. The best way to read for understanding in this chapter is to read the description followed by the explanation and application. II The RAM and the GOAT - Daniel 8:1-8 and 20-22 Check the map at the end of Study TEN to find Susa, the city on the Ulai canal (between the Choapses and Coprates rivers), 230 miles to the east of Babylon. Babylon is still the capital of the world Empire from which Daniel has moved. Shushan or Susa, soon to become one of the royal cities of Persian kings, is the city in which the story of Esther is set. See the book of Esther, particularly 1:2,5; 4:8, 16; 8:14-18 and chapter 9. A. What might Daniel s move to Susa imply about changes in the World Empire? Why is it important to know that this is rooted in history? Historical Implications: The dream of Nebuchadnezzar and the truths given to him by the God of heaven, have come true! This is evident in that PERSIA S (Iran s) center is Susa (Shushan). The essential importance of this in history is that when PROPHETS are given the REVEALED Word from God, the word they write or speak comes true. No prophecy fails: if God said it, it is true. The second metal on the Image has been fulfilled. The second beast (the Persian bear) of Daniel s vision has eaten up the Babylonian lion. Prophecy (eschatology, apocalyptic prophecy) of Scripture always comes through and is always rooted in History, not in subjective experience or fanciful wishes. See Peter s words about how prophets went about receiving and delivering God s revealed Word to them. He is saying an amazing thing: While the vision of the glory of Christ on the mount of transfiguration is sure, it is not more certain than the prophetic word we have from the Spirit in the written Scripture (see. V. 19) so we should pay attention to it. The fact that we hold IN OUR HANDS the certain and sure WORD
given by God, not made up by men (fallible) is our foundation! (Eph. 2) This is not man s impression on something; this is God s revealed truth given sovereignly so we will pay attention to Him. 2 Peter 1:16-21 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. A. Describe the vision of the animal Daniel sees in v. 3, 4. How does v. 20 explain this? Faced with yet more symbolic animals, it is important to observe them first as animals and then with symbolic explanation. 1.The animal is a RAM two horns, one higher than the other. V. 20 says these are the kings of Media and Persia. 2.The RAM came charging westward, northward, southward powerful (no beast could stand up to him or rescue from his power). 3.The RAM did as he pleased, became great. (until he was overtaken by the GOAT). Please remember that Daniel isn t describing a new thing so much as the same thing with new details and insights so we will not miss the point. In Daniel 2 and 7, we have a record OF the kings, kingdoms but now we have the HOW this happens. The Bible is its own best commentary. It is important to remember that God kept His warning to Belshazzar (you are found wanting and your kingdom will be taken away). Darius the Mede followed by Cyrus the Persian in fact, conquered! Historical Side-Bar In 559 B.C., Cyrus became the king of a small province called Anshan. He soon because powerful enough to conquer Persia. By 550 B.C., Cyrus had dethroned the king of Media and was now king of the Medes and Persians, hence the symbol of one horn growing longer than the other. Cyrus quickly marched across the world, conquering everything before him. He moved west and conquered Lydia (modern day Turkey), southward to Egypt and Babylon and then north, deep into areas now held by the former Soviet Union. His empire was the greatest the world had ever known. C. What insight does Daniel give us into the Persian Empire s power that lasts 200 years? The Persian Empire is depicted as strong, powerful in conquering W, N and S peoples. It is so strong, no other king(dom) (beast) can overtake it. He (Cyrus) was also free to do what whatever he wanted and his empire was strong; he did what he pleased and magnified himself! Its strength wide and deep, lasted 200 years.
D. Describe the vision Daniel sees of the next animal in v. 5-8. Notice its relationship to the first animal. What is implied by the fact that its feet don t touch the ground? The next animal on the scene is a goat. 1. The goat comes from the west across the whole earth without touching the ground: he is FAST! He had a conspicuous HORN between his eyes. 2. The goat came to the RAM and RAN at him in WRATH. 3. The goat came close to the RAM, ENRAGED against him, STRIKING the RAM and breaking his two horns! 4. The ram had no power to stand and the GOAT cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. No one could rescue the RAM from the GOAT S power. 5. The GOAT became exceedingly great; when he was strong, his GREAT HORN was broken. 6. FOUR horns came up instead of the one conspicuous one toward the four winds of heaven. Historical Side-Bar As a young boy, Alexander (the Great) was tutored by the great philosopher, Aristotle. He learned to love the idea of everything Greek - especially Greek unity. He also learned to hate the Persians for their treatment of the Greek people in Asia. In 334 B.C., Alexander crossed the Hellespont and routed the local Persian forces. The next year, he met the main Persian army at Issus and brilliantly tore the Persian army apart. Darius the King fled, leaving his wife and family behind. Alexander ripped through the Middle East, down through Phoenicia and Palestine into Egypt! He crossed the Euphrates and crushed the Persians in 331 B.C. and kept marching until he reached India in 326 B.C. whereupon he wept because he had no more worlds to conquer! His army had marched 3,000 miles in 7 years! When he died, a huge vacuum was filled quickly by four generals! E. What is said to come out of one of the goat s four horns? How is he identified in v. 21, 22? The GOAT is the king of GREECE. The GREAT HORN was broken and four horns (four kingdoms) arose but not as powerful as the great horn. III The Little Horn - Daniel 8:9 Before we relate the Little Horn to history, it is helpful for us to compare the little horn of Daniel 7 with this one in Daniel 8. Notice how v. 23-26 repeats this. Daniel 7 Daniel 8 Little horn arises from the Roman Empire. Little horn arises from Greek Empire. Little horn uproots 3 other horns and Little horn grows out of one of the four parts becomes leader of 10 states. of the Greek Empire. Little horn is destroyed by Christ. Little horn is broken without human agency. The period of time is 3½ years. The period of time is 2,300 days. A. What 6 things describe this little horn in Dan. 8:9-14 to help us relate its identity? v. 9a out of one of the four horns (four divisions of the Greek kingdom) came a little horn
v. 9b this little horn grew EXCEEDINGLY great in hostitlity toward the S,E and the GLORIOUS Land (Israel known as Palestine) v. 10 the little horn attacks the people of God, is thrown down and trampled on: the people of God are here symbolized as the stars of heaven v. 11 He became great claiming to be equal as God Himself and shows this by stopping the temple sacrifices which are taken away from him (the place of his sanctuary was overthrown) v. 12, 14 this little horn prospers for an appointed period of time (2300 days because of the sins of the Jews (transgression that makes desolate) B. What added information does vs. 23-26 state about this little horn? The added fact in these verses is that he will meet his death WITHOUT human agency and the description of his nature and behavior should chill our bones. This king of bold face who understands riddles - shall have great power from another source - cause fearful destruction and succeed in what he does - destroy mighty men and the saints - behave with cunning and make deceit prosper under his hands - IN HIS OWN MIND he shall become great - he will destroy many without warning - he shall rise up against the Prince of princes and BE BROKEN! Historical Side-Bar: The History of Antiochus In 175 B.C., a young man named Antiochus came to the throne of the Syrian division of the Greek empire (named the Selucid empire after a Greek general, Seleucus). Bitter hostility arose between the Syrian and Egyptian parts of the Roman empire. So, in 170 B.C., Antiochus marched into Egypt and capture young king Ptolemy VI. Two years later, Ptolemy rebelled and Antiochus marched to Egypt to destroy it once and for all. But a new power had risen in the Middle East: The Romans! They told him to leave Egypt and he turned his back on Egypt and left sullen and angry. On his way home, Antiochus stopped at Jerusalem and plundered the city and stripped the temple bare of its sacred vessels. He massacred a large number of Jews and carried of 10,000 captives. It is this man - Antiochus Epiphanes - who fulfills the words of Daniel 8. For 2,300 days - from 171 B.C. when the high priest was murdered, until 164 B.C., when he died of a mysterious illness, Antiochus Epiphanes trampled underfoot the Jewish people, until the Maccabees revolted. (That s ANOTHER story!) C. Why would it be normal for Daniel to react to Gabriel s closing words to him (see v. 26 and 27)? The vision of these evenings and mornings are true but will be sealed until many days from then would shock and scandalize Daniel s senses - a blasphemous villain challenging the sovereign God. Daniel rose from his sickness to continue to serve the King, doing his work in spite of the vision. Notice, he has NO answers about this vision that appalls him.
Lessons from History s DEN There is something we should notice from this text since Daniel doesn t understand what he is being told. Read Daniel 8:17-19 to hear what that is. First, Daniel was frightened and fell on his face. The man from the banks of the Ulai commanded Gabriel (fast forward to Luke and you remember other news this angel brought to earth!) to explain the meaning of the vision for Daniel. Daniel had fallen into a deep sleep but Gabriel s touch wakened him. Here is what we know Gabriel said: 1. The frightful meaning of this little horn will be at the LATTER end of the indignation (the judgment against Israel related to the desolation of the temple). 2. The appointed time of the end of this judgment is in the future. Antiochus Epiphanes fulfills this prophecy as the first installment of the near and distant future. He serves as a type of the final horrible figure who will come on the stage of human history at the time of the end. His hatred for God s people and the sacred things of God are similar to others in history whose names we recognize: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. He is a pre-cursor to the final great enemy of God s people, the Antichrist - that final great dictator whom we have met in Daniel 7as the little horn and whom we will meet in detail in Daniel 11. Paul has some words that help us learn the lessons of the timing of the coming of this man of sin. Comment on the description as given in 2 Thess. 2:1-12, which gives insight on when he will be revealed. This passage quiets us as we wait for Christ s coming! A. What do vs. 1,2 say is the problem? Paul says there is some misunderstanding regarding the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and our together to him (both phrases describe the same event). In fact, the believers in Thessalonica have been given information that has shaken them and he asks them NOT to be alarmed whether by a spirit or spoken word or a letter SEEMING to be from the saying this: The day of the Lord has already come! (the judgment is past). This is the PROBLEM and it is solvable. B. What do vs. 3-5 and 8-12 say about this final man of sin? Paul warns them not be deceived by those who say the day of the Lord are deceivers. In fact, that day will not come unless: 1. The rebellion comes first apostasy 2. The man of lawless is then revealed (the son of destruction) the son of destruction. - his character (v. 4a) - he opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or idol - his action (v. 4b) - he takes his seat in the temple of God (proclaiming himself to be God) - his inspiration (v. 9) this lawless one is inspired by the activity of Satan he shows power and false signs and wonders - his adherents (v. 10-12) the lawless one wickedly deceives those who are perishing because they refused (past tense) to love the truth and so be saved. - his destruction (v. 8) after the apostasy and our gathering together to the Lord Jesus, the lawless one is revealed and the Lord Jesus will kill him
A. What essential LESSON do believers in the Lord Jesus Christ learn from what v. 6,7 describes as to why the Anti-christ is not yet free to be revealed? Paul is sure they KNOW what is restraining the man of sin from being revealed and in fact, the mystery of lawlessness is ALREADY seen around us. Wickedness isn t even as bad as it could be because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. The restrainer can only be identified as the presence of God in the Holy Spirit in the Church of Jesus Christ. V. 7 identifies the Restrainer as HE who now restrains will do so until He is out the way. The unity of all members of the body of Christ is by the power of the Spirit of God as the promise of our inheritance! It is this good news that will keep the Thessalonians from being alarmed. They have NOT be left alone. The fact that they are still on earth is a certain reason that the Anti-Christ has not been allowed to come forward to begin his evil warfare. IV Satan s MAN: The Final Dictator and his Names in Context of Anti-christ A. We have specific information in Scripture about the final blasphemous dictator who enters history at the end, the latter times, or the last days. The names by which he goes help us understand who he is, since characteristics reveal who this person is by the way he behaves. The following comments are an excursus to show how well documented in Scripture this final enemy of God is. The spirit of anti-christ is not a person so much as it is an attitude. Types of the Anti-christ have been documented in history and recognized in Scripture. The individual called Anti-christ is given many names in Scripture. The story includes his name (shows character) and often his judgment. 1. Genesis 3:14 refers to God s enemy the SERPENT whose head the seed of the woman will crush. 2. In Daniel 7:8, he is referred to as the LITTLE HORN with eyes like a man; a mouth speaking great things! 3. Daniel 8:23ff calls him a king of BOLD FACE - a type of the Anti-christ whose hatred will soon come. NIV uses stern faced king ; NASB calls him insolent ; KJV says: King of Fierce Countenance. 4. Daniel 9:26, 27 call him by two names: The prince that shall come and make desolate. (Also known as the abomination of desolation ) 5. Daniel 11:36 expands on the wicked behavior of this king who shall do according to HIS WILL, (NASB and NIV says as he pleases (exalting, magnifying himself, speaking against the God of gods). 6. In 2 Th. 2:3-10, Paul refers to him as The MAN of SIN (lawlessness one), son of DESTRUCTION (perdition). Verses 5-7 explain that the Anti-christ and the Church will not co-exist. 7. In John s writings, he is called antichrist (1John 2:22 - LIAR) and DECEIVER (2 John 1:7), the BEAST (Rev. 11:7) and the FALSE PROPHET (Revelation 16:13). He will be given power but always as
restricted by the LORD until his ultimate destruction tales place. A brief summary is in Rev. 13:1-8; 18:11-18; and 19:17-21. B. What evidence from his names do we have of his character? Evil, wicked, deceptive, blasphemous and Satanically inspired and motivated. C. Why do you believe the Holy Spirit (who restrains evil in the Church Age through believers and is holding the Church together) must be taken up to meet the Lord before the anti-christ is revealed? The day of Pentecost established an age in which the Holy Spirit came to earth as Jesus prophesied and promised: He will come and be with you forever. The age of the church has been an age of the Spirit, uniting believing Jews and Gentiles and establishing Peter calls living stones that will be added until the completion of the body. Paul says the church is a temple built on the Apostles and Prophets and it would seem that the catching up and gathering to Him precedes the time of trouble on the whole world. B. What promise from these verses do we have of the hope of the anti-christ s demise? To be caught up and gathered to Him. V Prayer and Meditation The hope for the church is not the Anti-christ, nor any human earthly leader, nor is it the judgment of God on the nations and on Israel. The hope for the Church is to be ready for the call of the Lord Jesus for His own, as He comes to the air to catch us up to be forever with the Lord! Daniel wasn t given a description of this blessed hope. We have this hope in our hearts. Peter urges us with this: 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Paul teaches a young pastor to declare this, to rebuke those who do not believe it and to exhort those who hope in these things to live holy lives. Close by reading Titus 2:11-15 aloud together and resolve to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly right now - waiting for our blessed hope: the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-15 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.