Moving
forward in our progressive series of Daniel’s prophesies we investigate the content
of chapter eight which we have entitled a vision leading to the end. As we move
forward through the book we find that additional details are provided to add to
those previous revelations. With the exception of chapter nine they are
increasingly bringing our focus to the end of the age and the consummation of
all things as they relate so this present world system.
As a
foundation to show that what is being revealed is the course of the kingdoms of
this world which are ultimately leading us to the eternal kingdom of Christ.
Daniel first saw in this vision “a ram
which had two horns and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the
other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram, pushing westward and
northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was
there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will
and became great. (Daniel 8:3-5).This beast then again is representing the
kingdom of the Medes and the Persians including the fall of Babylon. During
this dominion the Persian king Artaxerxes made a decree along with provisions
for the Jews who were so inclined to return to Jerusalem and the city and the
temple were restored. This we will focus in more detail when we reach chapter
nine. The Medio-Persian Empire prevailed for about two centuries.
“And as I was considering behold an
he goat came from the west on the face of the earth, and touched not the ground
(i.e. very swiftly): and the he goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And
he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the
river, and ran into him in the fury of his power……and smote the ram, and there
was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him to the ground and
stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his
hand. Therefore the he goat waxed great: and when he was strong the great horn
was broken: and fromr it came up four great ones toward the four winds of
heaven.” Historically we have revealed for us the vast kingdom
of Alexander the Great coming with his armies of Macedonians from the west
where Alexander was king and Greeks and they came conquering the vast region
all the way to India. Within a relative short time after his conquests
Alexander was smitten with a fever and he
died at a young age (332 BCE) and this kingdom was divided among
his four greatest conquering generals each one claiming a dominion to the
north, to the east, of the south and to the west of the vast empire. Israel was
within the realm of the Seleucid kings.
The
vision here moves forward dramatically to the developments of the end of the
age. “And out of one of them came forth a
“little horn”, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. And it waxed great even to the host of heaven;
and it cast down of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon
them. (Daniel 8:9-10). The geographic
reference here is to take us to a focus on the resurgent state of Israel at the
end of the age (“the pleasant land”). The references here of “the host” and
“the stars” are to identify the saints of the Lord. This is confirmed from both
Joseph’s dream at Genesis 37:9-10 and John’s vison recorded in at Revelation
12: 1-4 and following. Contrary to the popular evangelical doctrines of the day
it is a fact that the main body of the church will be subjected to the
tribulation (3 and ½ years) and not be delivered by a “pretribulational
rapture” of the entire church. A faithful remnant will be caught up to the
throne at that time. (See Rev.12:5).
Continuing
with the narrative of the text we read: Yea,
and he magnified himself (Antichrist) even
to the prince of the host (Jesus Christ).
And by him (Antichrist) the daily
sacrifice was taken away.” This has nothing to do with animal sacrifices
resumed in the temple as is supposed by dispensationalists; but note the word
sacrifice is in italics in the text and so was translated without a
corresponding Hebrew word. What this is
referring to is the abomination of desolation which we will cover later in more
detail in our study in Daniel. But this
portion of Daniel can be cross-referenced in the New Testament at II Thes.
2:1-12 where we see the revealing of Antichrist (“that Wicked be revealed”) and
the stance he takes which is requiring from all to receive worship.
Moving
forward with the text we read: “And an host
was given him (Antichrist) against
the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to
the ground: and it practiced and prospered.”(Daniel 8:12) This speaks of the
intense persecution and martyrdom of the saints during the period of the
tribulation and will be expanded upon in chapter eleven. Do you doubt this
truth? Compare for verification Rev. 11:1-12 and Rev. 6:9-12
which occurs under the opening of the fifth seal. These contexts are both
fulfilled during the tribulation.(3 and ½ years not seven).
“Then I heard one saint speaking, and
another saint said unto that certain saint which spoke. How long shall it be the vision concerning
the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the
sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two
thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel
8:13-14). Under the current theological paradigms of confusion virtually none
of the above is even remotely understood. It must come to be understood that
the Lord must purify his people, i.e. “then
shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” The sanctuary is the temple of God that
is to say his people. It must be a holy place for his indwelling! When these
prophesies are to be fulfilled at the end of the age and before the
resurrection he will most certainly undertake a period of subjecting his people to an intense trial and
persecution including martyrdom to effect the spiritual cleansing process. It
will begin before the onset of tribulation and will continue through to its
very end. The resurrection occurs after
the tribulation. (See Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation chapter seven and Rev.
11:11-12).
David Lance Dean See my books and blogs covering all of
end time prophecy as well as doctrine
authordavidlancedean.com
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