1. Beginning again with this chapter, the rest of the Book is written in Hebrew, indicating its special application to Israel.
2. Vs. 19 supplies the subject of this chapter. As Daniel wrote Israel was already under the indignation of God in fulfillment of Deuteronomy 29:28.
3. Vs. 1-2. This vision came two years after the one of Chapter 7, about 12 years before the fall of Babylon. Susan or Susa was 150 miles north
of the Persian Gulf.
THE RAM SYMBOL OF MEDIA PERSIA, vs. 3-4
A. The ram symbolized Media-Persia. It was the mythical guardian spirit of the Persian Kingdom. Their kings didn’t wear a crown, but a ram’s
head going before their army into battle. Aries, the ram, was the sign
of the zodiac assigned to their land by astronomical geography.
B. The kingdom is clearly identified by vs. 20. The higher horn was Persia.
C. This kingdom replaced the Babylonian, and is the bear of chapter 7, the arms and breast of silver in chapter 2.
THE HE GOAT SYMBOL OF GREECE & ALEXANDER THE GREAT,
vs. 5-8
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A. Capricorn, the goat, was the zodiac sign assigned to the land of Greece.
B. The kingdom is clearly identified by vs. 21 as Greece, which overthrew and replaced the Media-Persian Empire. Alexander defeated the
Persian army in Asia Minor at the Granicus River, 334 B.C. and gained total victory in 331 B.C. In chapter two the thighs of brass and in chapter seven the Leopard represented Greece.
C. Alexander the Great was the “notable horn” of the Grecian Empire.
Vs. 5-6 picture his fast and furious conquests. He died in 323 B.C.
“while he was strong, the great horn was broken,” vs. 8, after rapidly conquering Syria, Phonecia, Pyre, Gaza, Egypt, Babylonia, Persia, Bactria, and the Scythians in 12 years! He died drunk in Babylon.
D. The Grecian Kingdom was then divided into four parts to Alexander’s
generals, Vs. 8 & 22.
THE LITTLE HORN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE
INDIGNATION, vs. 9-14
A. Vs. 9. This is not the same little horn as in chapter 7:8 which refers to a different time and kingdom. This one arose in the Syrian dynasty,
born in 221 B.C., the infamous brother of Cleopatra, known as
Antiochus Epiphanies IV, he became the 8th king of the Seleucids. He
usurped the Syrian throne in 175 B.C. and ruled as an evil tyrant and
desolator of the Temple, Altar and Priesthoot at Jerusalem. He held Grecian games, making the priests completely naked, sprinkled the holy place with the sow’s broth, set up an idol of Jupiter in the Temple, and massacred 100,000 or more Jews.
B. He corrupted some of the priests and killed others. Vs. 10 refers to them as the hosts of heaven and as stars, and is the setting for the widely misinterpreted fourth verse of Revelation 12;, cf, Genesis 15:5,
22:17, Daniel 12:3. Vs. 11 identifies both the host and the prince of hosts with the Jewish sanctuary and daily sacrifice. Onias III, the High Priest, was killed with many of the priests, and the Jewish daily
sacrifices stopped in 171 B.C.
C. God allowed this to continue for 2300 morning and evening sacrifices,
“because of the transgressions”, of the Jews, vs. 12. Vs. 14 literally reads, “unto two thousand and three hundred evening
mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Days are not
in the Hebrew test at all, and it was sacrifices, not days that should have been supplied by the translators. Thus the 2300 sacrifices divided by 2 daily shows 1150 days of persecution were allowed. This
occurred during the 168-165 Maccabean tribulation, Exodus 29:38-43,
II Macabees 10:1-5. John 10:22 refers to the feast of Hanukkah or dedication which celebrates the victory of Israel and rededication of the Temple.
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D. The Seventh {Day} Adventist used the theory that one day is equal one prophetic year in misapplying this Scripture to predict the return of Christ in 1844. When their false prophecy failed, their Ellen White then theorized it meant instead that Christ then entered the Most Holy Place in Heaven and started their so-called investigative
judgement. Scripture never justifies the 1 day equals 1 year theory nor the false Adventist doctrines.
E. Antiochus no doubt foreshadows the two main persecutors of Israel in the coming great tribulation, especially the King of the North, Daniel
11:40-45, but also in a general way, the Anti-Christ, Daniel 8:26, II Thessalonians 2:1-8, Revelation 12:13-17. (Many prophecies have two
or more applications)
AN ANGELIC INTERPRETATION, Vs. 15-27
A. Daniel heard the voice of the Lord, and then he saw Gabriel and as the Lord drew near Daniel sank into such a deep sleep the Lord had to give
him strength to stand up, vs. 15-18.
B. Daniel was told first that the vision pertained to the time of the end in vs. 17, and then he was informed that he would learn what would occur at the final period of indignation in vs. 19. Vs. 19 implies that the time of the end would have at least an initial and a final period of indignation. The beginning of the indignation ahd already occurred with Israel’s defeat and exile to Babylon. A second dose of divine indignation was foretold in vs. 9-14 and subsequently fulfilled by the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanies. It was of a future, final period of indignation that Daniel was informed in vs. 23-26.
C. Next Daniel was told the ram with two horns represented the kings of Media and Persia; the goat the kingdom of Greece; the broken horn which was replaced by four which came up in its place represented four
kingdoms into which the Grecian Empire was divided after Alexander
the Great’s death, vs. 20-22.
D. The angelic explanation of the latter or final, period of indignation begins in vs. 23. Two features of this period are revealed. It will be the latter period of the rule of the kings of the divided Grecian Kingdom. Again the idea of a latter period implies a prior period or periods. The prior period surely included the rule of Antiochus Epiphanies. When the Roman Empire swallowed up the Grecian
kingdoms, those nations went out of existence, but they have
reappeared again as sovereign nations in recent history: Greece in 1830, Egypt 1922, Turkey 1924, Afghanistan 1921, Syria 1925, Iran 1925, Lebanon 1930, Jordan 1946, Pakistan 1947, and Israel in 1948.
This evidently fulfilled the sign of our Lord’s prophetic parable in Luke 21:29-30 of the nearness of His return.
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E. Vs. 23b-25 describe an end-time persecutor of Israel. He is of the old Grecian kingdoms in the latter period of their kingdom or rule. He is
not thus of the Roman Empire and can not be the Anti-Christ, man of
sin. He is the same end-time King of the North arising from the Grecian Kingdoms who is further described in Daniel 11:40-45.
1. Vs. 24 indicates his mighty power is not his own and implies the backing of a greater power who will evidently be Gog, the chief prince of Russia, Mesheck (Moscow) and Tubal (Tobolsk).
2. Ezekiel 38 describes the Russian backed Arab alliance behind the king of the North. Ezekiel 38:11-14 shows the attack will come when Israel is at peace, evidently following the middle east peace treaty which is foretold in Daniel 9:27.
3. This is the sequence of events foretold also in Revelation :1-4 where the white horse represents conquests made by peaceful means and
the red horse after it reflects the outbreak of war over a fourth of
the earth.
4. He will be the master of intrigue and deceit, insolent in the destruction of the people of Israel.
5. Other Scriptures evidently refer to him as the Assyrian (a final one who like Sennacherib of old is destroyed “without hand” by the Almighty). Read Micah 5:2-7, Isaiah 10:5-25; 8:7-8; 14:24-25; 30:30-33; Joel 2:1-20 and Ezekiel 38.
6. Note, Ezekiel 39 cannot refer to this event. Instead it tells of attack by a Russian led, multi-national force at the end of the 7 year tribulation called the battle of Armageddon. After Armageddon,
and not before, Ezekiel 39:7, 10, 22, and 29 can be fulfilled.
7. It is the Ezekiel 38 defeat of the Russian-Arab military machine early in the 7 year tribulation which clears the way for the AntiChrist of the revived Roman Empire to extend his power over Israel
and to a considerable extent over the entire world.
F. Vs. 26, referring back to the vision of the 2300 evenings and mornings when the Jewish sacrifices would not be permitted certainly had one fulfillment with Antiochus Epiphanies. It seems to have an additional
fulfillment during the last half of the tribulation by the Anti-Christ, in line with Daniel 9:27 and II Thessalonians 2:3-4, and Revelation 11
and 13 although the time may be longer, e.g., 1150 vs. 1260 days.
[Wilson]
Before we examine Daniel 8, there are four points…that need to be restated: 157
1. History confirms the identity of the fourth beast in Daniel 7 to be the empire of Rome.
2. History confirms the identity of the little horn that uprooted three of the ten horns to be the Roman Catholic Church.
3. The timing of the convocation in Heaven (Daniel 7:9) is linked to the wounding of the little horn power on Earth. (Daniel 7:21,22) The time, times and half a time (the 1,260 years of persecution) mentioned in Daniel 7:25 came to an end in February 1798, when French soldiers captured the
pope and put him in exile. The downfall of the papacy occurred because
the allotted time of 1,260 years ended, and the Ancient of Days pronounced a restraining order in favor of the saints. As a result, the persecution of God’s people ended. The linkage between the wounding of
the papacy in 1798 (on Earth) and the issuance of the restraining order (in Heaven) is a key point. Because the event on Earth is linked to an event in Heaven, we can determine when the convocation in Heaven began.
4. Daniel 7:11 (and Revelation 13:3) indicates the Roman Catholic Church will return to a position of world preeminence after 1798. Daniel heard boastful words from the little horn after he observed the courtroom scene in Heaven. (Compare Daniel 7:11 with Revelation 13:3.)
Now that these four points have been reviewed, consider the following points that will rise from this study on Daniel 8:
1. Babylon will fall and the Medo-Persian Empire will rise to power.
2. The Medo-Persian Empire will fall and the Grecian empire will rise to power.
3. The cleansing of Heaven’s temple begins after 2,300 years.
4. During the Great Tribulation, Lucifer, the Antichrist, will physically appear and masquerade as God. He will gain control over Earth for a short period of time and kill a large number of people.
[Garner]
VISION OF THE RAM AND HE-GOAT
Verses 1-14:
1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even
unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
Verse 1 begins the Hebrew part of the book, where the Hebrew was exclusively used, instead of the Aramaic. The visions and prophecies of chapters 8-12 relate to Jerusalem, 158
the Jews, and the covenant-people of Israel, as oppressed by the Gentiles and the antichrist, until the Messiah descends a second time to reign supreme over all the earth. This vision came to Daniel about 530 B.C., about three years after the first vision. It was in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, last of the Babylonian kings, Daniel 7:1.
This chapter relates matters concerning the second and third world-wide Gentile Empires, the silver and brass kingdoms of Daniel chapter 2, and the bear and leopard kingdoms of Medo-Persia and the Macedonian or Grecian kingdom, Daniel chapter 7. At the time of this vision, Daniel 8:1, the first Empire, head of Gold kingdom, presided over by Belshazzar, was nearing its end, Daniel 5:30.
2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the
palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river
of Ulai.
Verse 2 discloses that when this vision came to Daniel he was in the palace at Shushan, along the riverbank of the Ulai River. Though Shushan was then insignificant, it was to become the capital of Persia in the time of Cyrus. Daniel was not there in person beside the river, but transported there in the vision; Perhaps it was because synagogues were built near rivers, as they washed their hands before praying, Psalm 137:1; The province of Elam was south of Media, west of Persia proper, and east of Babylon. [Editor’s Note: You will also find Sushan in the books of Nehemiah and Esther.]
3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river 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.
Verse 3 states that there Daniel lifted his eyes and recognized along the riverbank a ram with two high horns, signifying two royal powers, or two different kingdoms near to each other, v. 20. One horn (royal power) was higher than the other, and it arose last. The kingdom of the Medes was the older, but that of Persia was the bolder, and ascended above that of Media, the more ancient kingdom. Darius was 62 years old when he began to reign and reigned only two years, as a weak king. The kingdom was almost completely in Cyrus' hands. The ram here corresponds to the bear of Daniel 7:5, symbolizing clumsy firmness, Jeremiah 51:11. The one horn (royal power), "higher than the other," here corresponds to the bear "raising itself on one side."
4 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.
Verse 4 describes Daniel's view of the ram, king of Medo-Persia, as he conquered provinces as he pushed out of the east from which he came, moving westward. There he subdued Babylon, Mesopotamia, Syria and Asia Manor. He then moved northward, conquering Colchis, Armenia, Iberia, and people about the Caspian Sea. Then he moved 159
southward, overrunning Judea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libyia, and India, under Cyrus. This ram did according to his own will, much as the antichrist will at his coming.
5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the
whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his
eyes.
Verse 5 relates that as Daniel was pondering the ram scene, an he-goat came bounding through the air, out of the west, touching not the ground, just above the surface of the earth. The goat had one notable (huge protruding horn) between his eyes. The great horn was Alexander the Great, the first king, v. 21. This he-goat "touched not the ground," in its swift movement, symbolizes the swift speed with which the Graeco-Macedonian armies conquered the world in less than 12 years. It corresponds to the leopard of Daniel 7:6.
6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the
river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
Verse 6 recounts that this he-goat came, by his own greedy will and choice, to attack the ram that had two horns that Daniel had seen standing by the river Ulai, v. 2. The he-goat with the notable horn between his two eyes attacked the ram with the intense fury of his power, to subdue and destroy him. It was at the river Granicas that Alexander fought his first successful battle against Darius, 334 B.C.
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him,
and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to
stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and
there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
Verse 7 further explains that Daniel saw this one horned he-goat approach the two horned ram, moved or incited with choler, or desire for vengeance against him. So vicious did the one horned he goat strike the two horned ram that the ram had both horns broken and his whole body bruised and mangled and trampled into the earth by the he-goat. The immense armed host of Persia could not resist the vengeance-bent Grecians who had been treacherously treated when the Persian army had invaded their land in 330, 331 B.C.
They of Persia were not able to resist the army of Alexander the Great, Psalm 33:16-18.
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was
broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Verse 8 adds that the he goat "waxed very great," increased very rapidly in power and dominion. And when he was strong, the height of his might, the "great horn" was broken; the great horn (royal ruler) was Alexander, v. 21. And for it in its place came up (arose) four notable ones, kingdoms toward the four winds of heaven, or four parts of the earth, v. 22.
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9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great,
toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Verse 9 asserts that out of these four notable kingdoms came forth a "little horn" that waxed or expanded exceeding great toward the: 1) South, Daniel 11:25, and 2) the east, Persia, and the pleasant land, Judea, the "glorious land," Daniel 11:16. From the then near historical point this alluded to the rise and spread of the power of Antiochus as he made his way from Egypt into Judea, about 175-164 B.C. See also concerning the four notable royal powers or horns the four kingdoms into which Alexander's Empire was divided upon his death, Daniel 8:21, 22; 7:6; 11:21-35.
[Wilson}
1. The Bible says the goat in Daniel 8 represents Grecia.
2. The Bible says the great horn represents the first king of Grecia, Alexander the Great.
3. The Bible says the four horns represent the four generals that gained control of Alexander’s empire.
4. One of the four generals was Seleucus. He was the first in a long line of succeeding kings.
5. Just before the Grecian empire fell to Rome, Antiochus IV came to power as the king of Syria (175-164 B.C.). After his father, Antiochus the Great, died, the Romans, who controlled the Middle East at this time, allowed Antiochus IV to become the eighth king in a line of kings whose lineage
dates back to Seleucus. Antiochus IV exalted himself by adding
"Epiphany" to his name. An epiphany is "a great manifestation of God."
The Romans mocked the pompous little king by calling him Antiochus Epimanes IV. Epimanes sounds similar to Epiphany, but it means "mad man."
6. About 168 B.C., Antiochus sent his army to Egypt to steal some wealth. He desperately needed to replenish his empty treasury. Antiochus had squandered the assets of his kingdom on foolish endeavors and Syria was
near the point of bankruptcy. He defeated the cowardly Ptolemee, king of Egypt, but Rome sent an envoy to inform Antiochus IV that he could not
rule over Egypt. Antiochus knew that any sign of rebellion against Rome
was fatal. Thwarted and humiliated, but happy with the loot he had stolen, he returned home.
7. Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, the high priest, Jason, had initiated a rebellion against the rigid control of conservative Jews. He wanted to adopt some of the more liberal Hellenistic ways of the Greeks and build a Greek gymnasium where nude body-building and sensual exercises could be conducted. While this conflict was unfolding, Menelaus, a wealthy Jew, offered Antiochus IV a large bribe if he would send soldiers to overthrow 161
Jerusalem’s leadership and appoint Menelaus as high priest. This bribe gave Antiochus a "golden" opportunity to quell Jason’s rebellion and plunder the Jewish temple of its gold and silver. Gold and silver from the Jewish temple would help replenish his ever-empty treasury.
8. Antiochus loved the decadent and sensual ways of the Greeks. When the king arrived in Jerusalem, he showed contempt for the conservative Jews
by erecting a statue of the Greek god, Zeus, on the Altar of Burnt Offering on Chislev 15, 167 B.C. Ten days later, on Chislev 25, Antiochus ended daily services (including the daily sacrifices) at the temple when he offered a pig (or some unclean animal) on the Altar of Burnt Offering. This abominable act led to a series of wars between Antiochus’ forces and conservative Jews. This series of wars became known as the Maccabean revolt because a conservative priest, Judas Maccabeus, led the Jews against the forces of Antiochus IV.
9. A year or so later, Antiochus ran out of money again. This time he decided to raid portions of Persia to finance his excessive spending habits. So he turned the management of his kingdom over to his friend, Lysais, instructing him to destroy the Jews and Jerusalem as quickly as possible.
However, Judas Maccabeus and the Jews eventually defeated Lysais and
his generals. The victory over Lysais did not end the wars between the Jews and their enemies. Three years after offering a pig on the altar, to the very day, on Chislev 25, 164 B.C., a new altar was installed and dedicated in the temple at Jerusalem and daily services resumed. The Jews have celebrated the restoration of temple services on this day ever since. (See John 10:22, 23.) It is called Hannukkah, which means "the dedication."
10. Meanwhile, in Persia, Antiochus IV experienced a number of sound defeats, and when he learned that the Jews had defeated Lysais and robbed him of his armament, Antiochus IV became heartsick. After a period of suffering from illness (perhaps from too much drinking), Antiochus uttered these words, "I perish through great grief in a strange land." (1 Maccabees 6:13) After giving his close friend, Philip, his crown, robe, and signet, he gave instructions that he was to raise his son, Antiochus V, to take his throne. Then, Antiochus IV died.
[Garner]
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host
and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Verse 10 relates that this "little horn", royal ruler, waxed great, even toward the host of heaven, of heavens appointed host, those Divinely charged in Jewish matters of worship, the holy people of God, v. 24. This one cast down some of the "host of heaven and the stars," their Divinely appointed leaders, to the ground and stamped upon them, demeaned or destroyed them, expressing the pride and arrogance of the antichrist of whom 162
Antiochus Epiphanes seems to be a symbol, with rebellion against God, as heathens have since the tower of Babel, Genesis 11:1-9. This one "little horn" exalts himself above all that is called God. [Editor’s Note: You will note that Dr. Garner calls Antiochus Epiphanes a symbol, not the actual “little horn.”]
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily
sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Verse 11 explains that this "little horn", tin-horn kingly ruler, magnified himself with pride, even to the prince or high priest of the host, to rule over God and His worship. And by him, his orders or mandate, the daily sacrifice was taken away (abolished) and the sanctuary of Jewish worship was dismantled or destroyed, with contempt, v. 25; Daniel 11:36. As Antiochus Epiphanes did it, though it was prescribed in the law, Exodus 29:38, 39; so shall the antichrist, Daniel 9:26, 27; 2 Thessalonians 2:4-8.
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression,
and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Verse 12 discloses that this "little horn," royal person, was given "the host," control over the sanctuary and morning and evening sacrifices of the Jewish worship of the holy people. This holy people was given into the hands of the "little horn," to do with them as he pleased, which was to destroy them and their worship, v. 10, 13; Daniel 11:6. He cast down the truth, trampled it under foot, upon the ground. He practiced and prospered for a time in suppressing the order of Jewish worship, v. 4; Daniel 11:28, 36.
[Wilson]
These twelve verses focus on three symbols: a ram, a goat and a horn power.
Because the Bible is its own interpreter, it provides the meaning of these symbols. The ram represents the kingdom of Medo-Persia. (Daniel 5:28; 8:20).
The two horns of the ram represent the co-regent reign of two kings, the king of the Medes and the king of the Persians. The higher horn (the greater king) represents the Persian side of this kingdom. The higher horn of the ram in Daniel 8:3 also aligns with the "higher shoulder" of the bear in Daniel 7:5. (See Chart 4.1.)
Prophetic Matrix Including Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 11
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The Book of Daniel
Chart 4.1
The second symbol, the goat, represents the kingdom of Grecia. (Daniel 8:21) The great horn represents the first prominent king of the Grecian empire. History reveals this king was Alexander the Great, who died in the prime of his life. The four horns that replaced the great horn represent four generals that eventually gained control of Alexander’s empire. Historians identify these generals as Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy and Seleucus.
We know the identity of the ram and goat, but what does the third symbol, the horn power, represent? Until the twentieth century, a majority of Protestants claimed the little horn in Daniel 7 and the horn power in Daniel 8 represented the papacy. True, both horns have important similarities, but they are not the same entity. We will see that the horn power in Daniel 8 is many times more powerful than the Roman Catholic Church.
Beasts Are Kingdoms – Horns Are Kings
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In Daniel 8, the two beasts represent empires, but the horns of the ram and of the goat represent kings. This distinction is important, because the horn power in this vision is not attached to a beast (a world empire). Further, the Bible says this horn power is a king. (Daniel 8:23) Daniel was told this king will exalt himself to be as great as the Prince of the host, Jesus Christ! (Daniel 8:11) The horn power in Daniel 8 is a stern-faced king that will rule over Earth during the Great Tribulation. (Daniel 11:36) This coming king is the Antichrist, Lucifer, who will dazzle the world with his power, authority and ability to perform incredible miracles. He will gain control of Earth and do more evil than Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot combined. In short, the dreaded Antichrist will not be a mere man. The coming Antichrist will be Lucifer, appearing in the flesh, masquerading as an angel of light, and claiming to be Almighty God. (2 Corinthians 11:14; Daniel 11:36; Revelation 9; Revelation 13:11-18) [Editor’s Note: I do not believe that Satan will be the Antichrist. To me, the Scriptures are clear that he will be a man empowered by Satan.]
Timing Is Everything
The vision in Daniel 8 almost covers the same 2,600 years described in Daniel 2
and 7. The only difference is that the Daniel 8 vision starts with the Medo-Persian Empire (538 B.C.) instead of the Babylonian Empire (605 B.C.). The sequence in this vision ends when Jesus destroys "the stern-faced king" at the Second Coming. Daniel 8:25 indicates the horn power will be destroyed by God:
". . . he will be destroyed, but not by human power." (See Daniel 2:44, Daniel 7:11 and Revelation 19:11-21.) This is an important specification. Men will not be able to destroy the Antichrist. Lucifer will do whatever he wants and no one will be able to stop him. Jesus does not lay hands on His enemies at the Second Coming; He simply commands the wicked to die. The sharp sword that comes out of His mouth represents His ability to speak the command and people drop dead. (See Revelation 19:15-21.) It is interesting to note that the voice that calls the righteous dead to life (1 Thessalonians 4:16) is the same voice that commands the wicked to die. (Revelation 19:21)
[Garner]
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint
which spake, How long shall 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? 14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall
the sanctuary be cleansed.
Verses 13, 14 state that Daniel heard one saint (true Jewish worshiper) speaking, and another saint (Jewish worshiper), inquired of him just how long the sanctuary of Jewish worship and those who administered the worship services and sacrifices would be given 165
over to suppression by this "little horn" despot and his people. These two Jewish saints of the vision seem to represent angels in this vision who are giving information to answer questions in the mind of Daniel regarding his people and their worship under this "little horn" despot. The question asked by one saint (angel) overseeing, watching the desecration or desolation of Jewish worship, was answered by direct explanation to Daniel, that the time would be 2300 days, after which the defiled or desolated sanctuary should be cleansed, from Antiochus Epiphanes' desecration, a foreview of the same by the man of Sin, Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:4-9.
[Wilson]
Look up! The Event Is Not on Earth
The 2,300 days is placed in Daniel 8 for a very good reason, if you are aware of two prerequisites. First, you need to know about the historical matrix which the four rules produce. Second, you have to understand the essential doctrine that explains God’s use of parallel temple services. When these two prerequisites are combined, we can determine when Jesus began to cleanse Heaven’s temple and why it must be cleansed. God connected the cleansing of Heaven’s temple with the ram (the kingdom of the Medes and Persians). The connection between the ram and the cleansing of Heaven’s temple is precisely 2,300 years in length. The countdown of 2,300 years began when the Persian, King Artaxerxes, issued a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem in 457 B.C. (Ezra 7) Because God tied the decree of Artaxerxes to a yardstick that was 2,300 years in length, we can easily calculate the date when the cleansing of God’s temple began in Heaven. Even though we cannot see the event taking place in Heaven, we know it began in 1844. We will also see, when we examine the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 and the seven seals in Revelation, that the dates of 1798 and 1844 are highly important dates in Heaven’s sequence of events.
1,150 Days?
Some people have tried to divide the 2,300 evenings and mornings so that this time-period is 1,150 literal days (1,150 evenings + 1,150 mornings = 2,300
evenings and mornings), but, this timing scheme does not work for several reasons. First, the Hebrew words ‘erab and boqer go together to form one unit of time. They literally mean "evening and morning," as in one day. Notice how ‘erab and boger are used on the first page of the Bible: "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening [‘erab] and the morning
[boqer] were the first day." (Genesis 1:5, KJV) According to God’s method for measuring time, a "day" has an evening and a morning. A day begins at sundown (evening) and the midway point through the day is sunrise (morning).
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(Leviticus 23:32) Translators of the King James Version recognized this fact and they translated the 2,300 evenings and mornings of Daniel 8:14 as 2,300 days.
Unfortunately, most Christians do not understand the doctrine of God’s use of parallel temples. If a person does not understand the cleansing of Earth’s temple, he cannot understand the cleansing of Heaven’s temple. If a person does not understand God’s purpose in cleansing Heaven’s temple, then the timing of this event is of no value. If God’s use of parallel temples was better understood, Christians could understand that the temple to be cleansed is not on Earth, but in Heaven! Bible students tend to interpret Bible prophecy as though Earth was the center of prophecy, but this is not the case. Daniel was directed to view a great convocation in Heaven. He saw a service when the Ancient of Days took His seat and billions of angels were in attendance. This heavenly meeting is profoundly important because it marks the beginning of services in Heaven’s temple that lead up to the end of the world. The services in Heaven’s temple are directly linked to the final events that occur on Earth. Remember the Heaven-Earth-Linkage-Law?
Five clues in the Bible indicate the temple to be cleansed in Daniel 8:14 is in Heaven:
First, the doctrine of parallel temples teaches there were two temples. The one on Earth was a shadow of the real temple in Heaven where our Jesus serves as our High Priest. (Hebrews 8:1-5) We know the earthly temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. The only temple remaining is in Heaven.
Second, the cleansing of the earthly temple occurred at an appointed time every year – on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), but the heavenly temple is cleansed only once – at the appointed time of the end! (Hebrews 9:24-26) Third, the 2,300 evenings and mornings must be translated as 2,300 years because God uses the Jubilee Calendar to translate a day into a year. (This point and the Jubilee Calendar will be discussed at length when we examine the seventy weeks of Daniel 9.) The 2,300 years began in the Spring of 457 B.C. and they ended in the Spring of 1844.
Fourth, the cleansing of Heaven’s temple began in 1844. This date aligns with 1798 which marks the year the great convocation in Heaven’s temple began. In fact, the timing of the great convocation in Daniel 7 (1798) and the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8 (1844), aligns with the seventy weeks in Daniel 9 (457
B.C.), and these three events align with the opening of the third seal in Revelation 6.
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Fifth, the remarks that follow do not begin to cover the scope and breadth of the subject of parallel temples (Hebrews 8:1-5), but a few words may be necessary about the annual service of cleansing the earthly temple, so you can understand the marvelous parallel that exists between the earthly temple and the heavenly temple. Again, the doctrine of parallel temples is a prerequisite doctrine for understanding Daniel 8.
The angel said, ". . .Unto two thousand three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Daniel 8:14, KJV) Why does the sanctuary in Heaven need cleansing? The answer to this question is found in the cleansing of the earthly temple. The cleansing of the earthly temple was an annual event that occurred on the tenth day of the seventh month. This day was called the Day of Atonement. Jews today call it Yom Kippur, which means Day of Judgment. The cleansing of the earthly temple was necessary because it was defiled by sinners bringing sin offerings to the temple. The sinner, standing at the Altar of Burnt Offering, confessed his sins over the head of his sacrifice. Then, he cut the jugular vein of the sacrificial animal with his own hands. The priest then captured some of the lamb’s blood and sprinkled this blood on the horns of the altar. This procedure shadows a divine truth. The sinner’s guilt was transferred away from himself and his family to the Altar of Burnt Offering by the blood of the Lamb.
This earthly process was a shadow or pantomime of a reality that was coming.
The guilt of sinners could be transferred to Heaven’s temple through the death of Jesus (the Lamb of God). When the blood was applied to the horns of the altar, the altar became defiled because the guilt of the sinner had been transferred to it.
The process of setting sinners free of the guilt of sin defiles the temple because the sinner’s guilt is transferred to the altar. Because the altars of the temple were depositories of guilt, the earthly temple was defiled until the Day for Cleansing (the Day of Atonement) arrived. For a single day, the earthly temple was restored to an undefiled state. (Leviticus 16) Then, on the following day, sacrifices resumed and the temple was defiled because the annual cycle started over.
How Jesus Cleanses the Temple in Heaven
Unlike the earthly temple, which was cleansed annually, Heaven’s temple is cleansed once, at the end of the age. (Hebrews 9:24-26) This cleansing began in 1844, which is 2,300 years after the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem given by Artaxerxes in 457 B.C. (457 B.C. also marks the beginning of the seventy weeks in Daniel 9.) The Day of Atonement service in the earthly temple was a shadow of the plan of salvation. Notice what the shadow reveals:
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Two animals, a bull and a goat, were sacrificed in this service. (Leviticus 16) The service began right after day break with the slaying of a bull that belonged to the high priest. This bull (a very expensive sacrifice) represents the sacrifice which the Father made in order to redeem mankind. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . ." (John 3:16, KJV) The Father gave up the most valuable asset He could provide so fallen man could have the offer of salvation. After the bull was slain, the high priest carried some of the bull’s blood behind the veil into the Most Holy Place where he met with God. The high priest had to be found worthy to cleanse the temple before he could conduct the service. The slaying of the bull and the worthiness of the high priest shadows the sacrifice which the Father made and the qualifying process which Jesus our High Priest underwent before He could conclude the sin problem. (See Revelation 4
and 5.)
The next event on the Day of Atonement was the casting of lots to determine which goat should die. After the lots were cast, the Lord’s goat was slayed. The Lord’s goat represents the death which Jesus was willing to experience in order to save man. A goat was used for this sacrifice because a goat has a free spirit.
Jesus freely gave up His life for sinners. After the Lord’s goat was slain, its blood was mixed with the bull’s blood. Then, the high priest went behind the veil a second time to begin the cleansing of the temple. The first item to be cleansed was the Ark of the Covenant. The second item was the Altar of Incense and the last item to be cleansed was the Altar of Burnt Offering. These items were cleansed in this order and they became free of sin (cleansed, reconsecrated, restored) when the mixed blood of the bull and goat was sprinkled on them.
The last event in this service was the laying of hands on the head of the scapegoat. The scapegoat represents Lucifer, the author of sin, who freely exercised his power of choice to commit sin. After the temple furniture had been made holy with the sprinkling of blood, the high priest placed his hands on the head of the scapegoat. Through the placement of hands on the scapegoat, the sins of the people (which had been stored on the temple’s altars) were transferred onto the head of the scapegoat. Then, the scapegoat was led out into the wilderness to slowly starve to death.
This may come as a shock, but in God’s economy, sin is never forgiven because someone other than God is responsible for sin. The beauty of salvation is that sinners can escape the penalty of sin through faith. If a sinner makes restitution for his sin and confesses his sin to God, he transfers his guilt to Heaven’s temple.
At the end of the 1,000 years in Revelation 20, Lucifer, the scapegoat, will receive all of the guilt transferred into Heaven’s temple because he is responsible for the presence of sin. On the other hand, if a sinner does not transfer his sin to the temple, his sins remain upon his own head and in God’s economy, the wages of 169
sin is eternal death. (Romans 6:23) At the end of the 1,000 years, God will execute justice on the scapegoat and the wicked and they will suffer in proportion to their guilt.... This is the meaning of divine justice.
The Temple to be Cleansed Is in Heaven
The cleansing of the earthly temple shadows a process that began in Heaven in 1844. It is interesting to notice that 1844 is exactly forty-six years after 1798. When Jesus began His ministry on Earth, His first action after returning from fasting in the desert was the cleansing of a temple that took forty-six years to restore! (John 2:13-21) The parallel is that Jesus began cleansing the heavenly temple forty-six years after the twenty-five thrones had been arranged and the convocation in Heaven began!
Before the cleansing of Heaven’s temple could begin, someone had to be found worthy to conduct the process. Jesus was found worthy to cleanse Heaven’s temple. After Jesus was found worthy, both Daniel (Daniel 7:13, 14) and John (Revelation 4 and 5) saw Jesus highly exalted. Daniel 7 and Revelation 4 and 5
describe the same scene from slightly different angles. After Jesus was found worthy to cleanse Heaven’s temple, He began passing judgment on the records of the dead. Since the Spring of 1844, Jesus has been going through the books of record – one sinner at a time. Standing before the hosts of Heaven, Jesus has been deciding who will be a part of His eternal kingdom and who will not. When Jesus determines a person will be saved, Jesus removes the record of sin from Heaven’s book and He transfers the guilt of the sinner to the head of Lucifer.
When Jesus determines a person cannot be saved, Jesus places the guilt of that sinner on the sinner’s head. The point is that the temple in Heaven is cleansed as the guilt of sin is removed and placed on the appropriate party. (Leviticus 20; Ezekiel 11:21; 22:31; 18:1-24) [Editor’s Note: I am not sure if I understand just what Wilson is saying here. Is he saying that Jesus is determining who is saved and who is not saved at this point? Is he saying that our choice doesn’t make a difference?]
When the time comes for the destruction of sinners at the end of the 1,000 years, every wicked person will suffer the appropriate penalty for his sins. God will see that every condemned sinner gets their due reward: "For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
(Hebrews 10:30, 31)
Jesus will complete the task of judging mankind during the Great Tribulation.
People living during the Great Tribulation will not be judged in the same way as those who have died. The faith of people living at that time will be tested with persecution. In this way, they will choose and determine their eternal destiny. At the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15-19) the cleansing of 170
Heaven’s temple will be finished and the temple will at last, be free of sin.
(Revelation 15:1-8) The book of Revelation reveals much more about this process, but this synopsis is intended to give you a general overview of the judgment process. Consider these comments by Bible writers:
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring
every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14, italics mine)
"Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him." (John 5:22,23, italics mine)
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthains 5:10)
"For he [the Father] has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31, insertion and italics mine)
"As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’" (Acts 24:25, italics mine)
"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." (Revelation 22:12)
Remember that the 2,300 days in Daniel 8:14 have been a great mystery for most Bible students. The reason for the mystery is quite simple. The event to which this prophecy points is not on Earth, but in Heaven. God uses the Heaven-Earth-Linkage-Law again to inform us of the timing of something we cannot see. God put the kingdoms of Medo-Persia and Grecia in Daniel 8 because the 2,300 days began during the time of Medo-Persia. Then, God linked the decree of a Persian king (Artaxerxes, Ezra 7) with the cleansing of Heaven’s temple in 1844 by inserting a 2,300 year time-period in the prophecy of Daniel 8.
A starting date for the 2,300 years is not mentioned in Daniel 8 because the starting date is given in Daniel 9. To make matters more mysterious, the cleansing of the temple is in Heaven and not on Earth! No wonder this time-period has been a great mystery for nearly twenty-six centuries! Fortunately, God has revealed the architecture of Daniel and we can determine when the 171
2,300 evenings and mornings began. We will find in our study on Daniel 9 that the seventy weeks and 2,300 days start together and we will find that Daniel 7, Daniel 8, Daniel 9 and Revelation 4 and 5 perfectly align.
The Antichrist Will Take the Daily Away from Jesus
The wording of Daniel 8:13 is difficult to understand at first: "Then I heard a holy one [angel] speaking, and another holy one [angel] said to him, ‘How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled – the vision concerning the [cessation of the] daily sacrifice, the [vision concerning a great] rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host [of saints] that will be trampled underfoot?’ " (Insertions mine) To help you understand this question better, here is a paraphrase of Daniel 8:13: "Daniel heard one angel speak to another angel. The first angel said, ‘How long will it take for this vision of the ram, the goat, and the horn power to be fulfilled?" When the question is phrased this way, the answer that follows makes sense. Daniel writes, "And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai [canal] calling, ‘Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.’ As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. ‘Son of man,’ he said to me, ‘understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.’ " (Daniel 8:16,17, insertion and italics mine) It is clear that the question in verse 13 is finally answered in verses 16 and 17.
You may wonder why the actual question in verse 13 is worded in such a complex way. God is both deliberate and purposeful in everything He does.
With one question and one answer God informs us that the appointed time of the end involves four great issues:
1. The termination of the daily
2. A rebellion that causes desolation
3. The surrender of Heaven’s sanctuary
4. God’s people will be trampled underfoot
We have examined Daniel 8:11 within the context of Antiochus IV. Let us examine it again, this time within the context of the Antichrist and the appointed time of the end. This approach will yield a much better fulfillment of Scripture.
Gabriel said, "It [the horn power will] set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host [Jesus]; it took away the daily sacrifice from him [Jesus], and the place of his [Jesus’] sanctuary was brought low." (Daniel 8:11, insertions mine) The word "daily" is a term that describes the daily cycle of services that occurred in the earthly temple. Every day, evening and morning, a lamb was slain on the Altar of Burnt Offering and its blood was sprinkled on the Altar of Incense.
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Every day, sinners presented their sacrifices at the Altar of Burnt Offering. These rituals, and many other services became known as the "daily" or the "continual."
They shadowed the intercession that Jesus began making on behalf of humanity the day sin occurred as well as His death on Calvary. The immediate intercession of Jesus spared Adam and Eve from sudden death the day they sinned. (Genesis 2:17) The Father allowed Adam and Eve (and their offspring) to live because of Christ’s intercession on their behalf. (Genesis 2:17; Hebrews 7:25) Gabriel indicates the coming Antichrist will take away Jesus’ daily intercession in Heaven’s temple. Christ’s intercession for man is terminated in one of four ways.
Notice how two ways concern the individual and two ways concern corporate bodies of people:
1. When a person dies, life terminates. The dead know
nothing. There is no need for further intercession.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6)
2. If a person commits the unpardonable sin, intercession for
that person ends because there is nothing more that God can
do to bring a person to repentance. There is no forgiveness
for the unpardonable sin. (Hebrews 10:26, Matthew 12:31,
32)
3. When a decadent nation exhausts the limits of God’s
patience, corporate intercession ends and that nation is
destroyed. (Genesis 15:16; Leviticus 4:13, 14; 18:24-28;
Jeremiah 25)
4. When God’s patience with the decadence of the world
reaches its limit, He sends destruction. (Genesis 6; Matthew
24:37)
Corporate and Personal Intercession Ends
You may wonder how the Antichrist can take away the daily intercession from Jesus during the appointed time of the end. The termination of the daily happens twice because daily services in Heaven’s temple involves atonement at two altars.
The corporate altar is called the Altar of Incense and its services will be concluded first. (Daniel 12:11; Revelation 8:2-5) The individual altar is called the Altar of Burnt Offering and its services will be terminated at the seventh trumpet. (Daniel 8:11-13; Revelation 11:15-19). The corporate daily ends when the majority of the world stands in rebellion against the authority of God. As it was in the days of Noah; God’s patience will come to an end. We know His patience can come to an end with a city of people (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah) or with the whole 173
world as it did in Noah’s day. When this happens, He sends a series of judgments to destroy those who have exhausted His grace. (Genesis 6; Revelation 7:1-4 and 8:2-13) On the individual level, the termination of the daily is similar: When the devil leads a person to finally commit the unpardonable sin (persistently rejecting the demands of the Holy Spirit) God’s patience with that person comes to an end and God turns that person over to be subject to the devil. (Matthew 12:31, 32; Hebrews 10:26) When a person, a nation, or the whole world refuses to surrender to the clearest evidences of God’s will, Jesus will no longer offer intercession for them. Why should He? For this reason, Jesus’ corporate intercession for Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome ended and the kingdoms fell. (See Daniel 5.)
We see a parallel on the individual level as well. During the Great Tribulation, God will empower His servants, the 144,000, to proclaim the terms and conditions of salvation to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. The Antichrist will lead the wicked of Earth into committing the unpardonable sin.
He will lead them to rebel against the authority of God and despise the generous offer of salvation from Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12; Romans 1:18-32; Hebrews 10:29) Thus, the daily intercession of Jesus on behalf of the world and individuals will be taken away.
Some people will not voluntarily go along with the devil’s schemes. God knows this and He empowers the Antichrist to bring an end to Christ’s intercession by forcing people to make a hard choice. There will be no middle ground. The devil will require worship (obedience) and all who refuse to submit to his assumed authority are to be killed. (Revelation 13:15) The "salvation" which the Antichrist offers will be the temporal privilege of obtaining the necessities of life during the final days of the Great Tribulation. In other words, if a person chooses to join forces with the devil and receive the mark of the beast, that person will be able to buy and sell so that he can survive. If a person refuses the mark of the beast, that person will be shut off from all earthly means of survival to starve or be killed.
When every decision for or against salvation has been made, the daily intercession of Jesus ends.
Gabriel also said, ". . . and the place of his [Jesus’] sanctuary was brought low."
The exalted ministry of man’s Savior in Heaven’s temple will become a matter of mockery (brought low through contempt). During the Great Tribulation, a majority of people will be convinced the devil is God! (2 Thessalonians 2) In other words, the unseen ministry and temple of Jesus in Heaven will not be able to compete with the dazzling show of miracles which the Antichrist conducts.
However, the heavenly temple will be physically displayed to everyone living on Earth after the daily has ended. (Revelation 11:19)
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Rebellion Will Overtake the World
Consider this next verse: "Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it [the Antichrist]. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground." (Daniel 8:12) This verse aligns with many details in Revelation. The following is a short scenario of this verse: When the Great Tribulation begins, the Holy Spirit will be poured out on all nations and people. The purpose of the Spirit’s influence is to pry open every heart to receive the gospel message that God’s servants, the 144,000, will present.
Jesus will send the Holy Spirit for one purpose, to save as many people as possible. Sadly, billions of people will refuse to submit to the demands of the Holy Spirit, and they will choose rebellion (lawlessness) against God. When the advance of the gospel stalls, God allows "the stern-face king," the destroyer, to physically appear. The mission of the Antichrist is to deceive and destroy. As the devil’s popularity grows (it starts out small), the wicked people of Earth will be divided into two camps. One camp will be the "religious wicked" and the other camp will consist of wicked people who want nothing to do with the devil. They just want him to go away and leave them alone. The "religious wicked" will be people like the Pharisees in Christ’s day who stubbornly hang on to false religion. These people would rather believe that Lucifer is God than to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ. These people appear to be religious, but they do not love truth. They do not even love God. These are people who chase miraculous signs instead of searching for truth. The other camp, the "non-religious wicked,"
consists of people like Hitler and Stalin who have no use for God and they detest Lucifer’s heavy handed ways. They will not accept the authority and dominion of the Antichrist. The "non-religious wicked" are represented in Daniel 11:36-12:3
as the kingdom of the South. In other words, the kingdom of the South is poles apart from the kingdom of the North. The Antichrist will use their rebellion against his authority to justify their destruction. Of course, the devil will destroy many saints for the same reason. The war described in the sixth trumpet (Revelation 9) is conducted to establish Lucifer’s undisputed dominion over Earth. (Revelation 9:13-21) Revelation says the devil and his angels will kill one-third of mankind (the non-religious wicked). When he has gained control of Earth, the devil will divide up the spoils of Earth and he will appoint ten kings to rule over ten sectors. His puppet kings will control Earth. The surviving saints will run for their lives and hide in the desolate places of Earth. God will feed and sustain them just as He did Elijah. (1 Kings 17:6) With this setting in mind, consider Daniel’s words again. I have inserted phrases that complete the ideas already presented: " [At the time of the end] It [the horn power, the Antichrist will] set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host [Jesus]; it took away the
[need for the] daily sacrifice from him, and the [exalted purpose or] place of his
[intercession for sinners in Heaven’s] sanctuary was brought low [ridiculed].
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Because of [extensive] rebellion, the host of the saints [*were defeated] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it [brought to an end]. It [the Antichrist]
prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground [because truth was despised]." (Daniel 8:11, 12, insertions mine.)
Arrogance and Blasphemy
"He [the Antichrist] will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior [above the gods of all religions]. When they [his followers] feel secure
[in his lies], he will destroy many [the non-religious-wicked] and take his stand against the Prince of princes [Jesus]. Yet he will be destroyed [by the sword that comes out of the mouth of Jesus], but not by human power." (Daniel 8:25, insertions mine) The following specification about the horn power cannot be overlooked: "The king [of the North] will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been [pre-]determined must take place. . . . He [the Antichrist] will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him." (Daniel 11:36, 45) Four elements stand out in these verses.
1. Jesus Himself destroys the horn power in Daniel 8. (Daniel
8:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:8)
2. The horn power of Daniel 8 will lead the whole world into
a great deception. (Daniel 8:25; Revelation 13:14)
3. The horn power of Daniel 8 will exalt himself above all of
the gods that people worship. (Daniel 8:25, 11:36; 2
Thessalonians 2:4)
4. The Antichrist will pitch his royal tents "between the seas
at the beautiful holy mountain."
Daniel indicates the devil will establish a throne in Jerusalem. What better way to stop the controversies between Christians, Arabs and Jews? The term "holy mountain" is used several times in the Old Testament as a reference to Jerusalem (the city of God, Mount Zion, Mount Moriah, etc.). It is well known that Jews, Muslims and Christians have roots in this ancient city. Perhaps the best reason for interpreting this specification just as it reads is that at the end, two kings will take their stand against each other. The stern-faced king of Daniel 8 establishes his kingdom and rules from ancient Jerusalem. The King of kings, however, will 176
rule from His city, New Jerusalem. This is good news! The stern-faced king will come to his end and no one among the wicked will be left to help him!
[Garner]
THE RAM AND HE-GOAT VISION EXPLAINED
Verses 15-27:
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the
meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Verse 15 explains that when Daniel had personally observed and pondered the vision and its meaning, when he yearned for a Divine disclosure of its meaning; a heavenly messenger appeared as a man before him. This was either a theophany of the Son of God or one of His angelic messenger helpers, sent to Daniel as certified Hebrews 1:14.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said,
Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Verse 16 states that Daniel then heard clearly a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai River, where the vision was seen. It appears that the man-voice was from one standing on the surface of the waters, in the middle of the river, as in Daniel 12:6. This person with the man voice had charge over the angel Gabriel and directed him to make "this man"
Daniel "to understand" or comprehend the vision. He is that angel who directs a host of angelic messengers in informing or causing God's people to understand His will and words, Hebrews 1:14.
17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my
face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall
be the vision. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face
toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 19 And he said, Behold, I
will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time
appointed the end shall be.
Verses 17-19 declare that the angel Gabriel approached Daniel. Daniel, in fear, and awe-stricken, fell upon his face before Gabriel who said to him, "The fulfilling of this vision,"
or ultimate fulfillment, is to occur at the time of the end, the end of the Gentile dispensation and the final state of Israel's restoration and judgment. Daniel was so gripped by the vision that he described himself as in a deep sleep, upon his face toward the ground, when Gabriel touched him, set him upright, and explained to him that he 177
would make him to know what would exist in the last (latter) or final end of the indignation upon his holy people and their worship; For at the appointed, fixed, or decreed time the end would be. This alludes first to the end of the third or Grecian Empire and second to the end of the times of the Gentiles, v. 20.
[Wilson]
The Time of Wrath
Gabriel said the appointed time of the end will be a time of wrath. A time of wrath means that everyone will suffer wrath during the appointed time of the end. The wicked will receive God’s wrath for their rebellion and insolence (Colossians 3:5, 6; Revelation 16), and the saints will receive the wrath of their governments when they refuse to obey the dictates of Babylon and the Antichrist! (Revelation 13:7-10) Everyone will suffer wrath.
How does the horn power in Daniel 8 connect to the appointed time of the end?
The connection is quite simple because the ram and the goat are not end-time players. History says these world empires disappeared more than two thousand years ago. However, the horn power, or "the stern-faced king," has not yet appeared. He is the only item left in this vision that relates to the appointed time of the end. As we will see, the horn power in Daniel 8 is the coming Antichrist. He will appear "out of nowhere" during the Great Tribulation. He does not rise out of a nation or a kingdom like the little horn of Daniel 7. Lucifer will suddenly appear in clouds of light with his angels, and through counterfeit miracles, signs, wonders, deceit and lies, he will deceive the whole world. He will gain control of Earth during the appointed time of the end.
First Question
After hearing that the horn power is the only part of this vision that applies to the time of the end, one of the first questions people ask is this: "Why did God put two ancient kingdoms in this vision if they have nothing to do with the end-time?" There are at least three reasons for placing these ancient kingdoms in a prophecy that points to the appointed time of the end:
1. God placed the ram and goat in the vision of Daniel 8 so that we could identify by name the two empires that followed Babylon. The Bible says the ram and the goat represent the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians and
the Grecians, respectively. (Daniel 8:20,21) By stating their names, God eliminated any wiggle room about the identity of the first three empires in Daniel’s historical matrix, namely, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Grecia.
Furthermore, the identity of these three kingdoms leaves no question 178
about the identity of the fourth beast in Daniel 7 (Rome) nor the identity of the little horn power in Daniel 7 that rose out of Rome (the Roman Catholic Church).
2. The second reason God put two ancient kingdoms in this end-time vision is linkage. The ram is connected by the 2,300 days to an event that occurs in Heaven. Because we cannot see into Heaven with the naked eye, God
has linked events in Heaven with well known events on Earth. The result
is simple. Students of apocalyptic prophecy can determine the timing of several heavenly events which no one can see.
3. Last, God put two ancient kingdoms in this end-time vision because God wants everyone to know the horn power in Daniel 8 does not rise out of an ancient empire like the little horn of Daniel 7. The horn power in Daniel 8
is not an extension of the Roman Empire or any world empire. The point
here is separation. The horn power in Daniel 8 is separate and isolated from earthly kingdoms. This was not the case in Daniel 7. We know the little horn in Daniel 7 rose out of the fourth beast and it derived its name from its powerful host. For seventeen centuries, the little horn of Daniel 7 has been called the Roman Catholic Church. To keep us from misidentifying the horn power of Daniel 8, God inserted more than 2,000 years between
the ancient kingdoms and the appearing of the horn power. God wants the world to understand that the horn power in Daniel 8 does not have an earthly origin. Instead, he will have a supernatural one. Revelation 9
indicates that Lucifer will come down out of the sky attended by millions of angels.
[Garner]
20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Verse 20 asserts that the two-horned ram Daniel saw in the vision was the Medo-Persian Empire and her two kings or royal rulers, Cyrus of Persia and Darius of the Medes, v. 3, 4.
21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his
eyes is the first king.
Verse 21 explains that the rough he-goat, with one hideous horn between his two eyes, was the king of Greece, and the horn was her first king, Alexander the Great, v. 5.
22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up
out of the nation, but not in his power.
Verse 22 declares that "that being broken," that "horn-king," between the eyes of the he-goat, being destroyed; that first kinghorn was Alexander, v. 21; When he was fallen four provincal kingdoms were to rise, be carved, or formed out of his world-wide Empire, the 179
third of the four. But they were not to be dynamic or hold the type of subjective power that Alexander had exerted.
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full,
a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Verse 23 contains a prophecy of Gabriel that in "the latter time of the kingdom," not merely the Grecian, but Gentile governments, succeeding both the former Grecian and Roman Empires, "when the transgressors are come to the full," their full fruition of enmity and rebellion against the God of heaven, another king will rise up. He will be a king of fierce, callused countenance, mentally alert and astute. He will arise, comprehending dark sentences, sparing neither old nor young who do not abjectly bow to his mandates. The cruelty of Antiochus against the Jews was only symbolic of what the anti-christ of the later days will do, 2 Thessalonians 3:18.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy
people.
Verse 24 continues to foretell that this coming king (royal ruler) of fierce countenance, this bloody despot, shall have mighty power--world wide power, but not by his own power. It will be by the sovereign permission of the living God, Daniel 5:18, 19, and 22.
His demon directed mission shall be to destroy the holy people of God, mercilessly, viciously, repeatedly, as a prospering practice, as a Satan empowered despot, an antichrist reeking final judgment on desolated Israel, for 42 months, Daniel 9:27; Revelation 12:6-14.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall
magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up
against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Verse 25 explains that this "king of fierce countenance," also called "little prince" to come, Daniel 9:26, 27, will appear with a policy of peace and prosperity in his administrative hand, as a deceiver for a time of (half-week), 3 1/2 years of the 7 year covenant he will make with the Jews. During the first half of his covenant peace pact of 7
years he will magnify his heart with pride and destroy many with his peace agreement, which is as counterfeit as Satan's promise to Eve. He will also stand up against the Prince of Princes, the "Prince of Peace," the coming Messiah, asserting that he is himself "the Messiah," Isaiah 9:6, and the Jews will receive or embrace him, until he takes away their restored order of morning and evening sanctuaries, declaring that he is God, revealing his true character to them.
The antichrist makes his appearance as a prince of peace some 42 months, before he turns to demand worship of himself, a thing that reveals who he really is! This has its parallel in the truth of the: 1) Appearance of Christ, in the air to resurrect the righteous and translate the church; It is about the same time, in the midst of the broken covenant week, 180
when the antichrist declares that he is God, 2) The revelation of Christ in power and great glory comes some 42 months later, after the antichrist shall have wrought demonic powers of supernatural judgment on Israel, a thing to be ended with the coming of the Lord to the earth, Revelation 15:8; 19:11-20; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.
26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore
shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was
sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was
astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Verses 26, 27 conclude that the vision of the evening and the morning was true, but the vision was to be shut up, simply recorded for future generations, to be fulfilled many days later. Daniel explains that he was astonished, fainted, and sick for many days after the vision. Then he arose and did the kings business, astonished at the vision which none could then understand, though explained by Gabriel.
[Wilson]
Gabriel’s Final Words
"The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future." (Daniel 8:26) With these words, Gabriel left Daniel. It is interesting that Gabriel gave this vision a title.
While the prophetic sequence concerns a ram, a goat, the appointed time of the end and a stern-faced king, Gabriel called it "The vision of the [2,300] evenings and mornings." Evidently, Gabriel used this title to highlight the critical element within this vision. The most important element in Daniel 8 is the daily services in Heaven’s temple. The daily intercession of Jesus is the only thing that protects mankind from God’s wrath and the wrath of the destroyer! Even the words, 2,300 evenings and mornings reflect the time of day when daily temple services were conducted. The date for cleansing Heaven’s temple was given in temple language! The bottom line in Daniel 8 is that a time is coming when the stern-faced king (the Antichrist) will cause Jesus’ daily intercession to cease. This is the worst possible thing that can happen to Earth’s inhabitants, because when Jesus terminates His intercession on behalf of sinners, the seven bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out without mercy. (Revelation 15 and 16)
Daniel was deeply distressed and very disturbed after seeing this vision. He did not understand what he had seen, but he did recognize enough to know the world would continue to spiral downward until Lucifer himself would be released upon humanity. The thought of this must have made him sick. Daniel writes, " I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and 181
went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding." (Daniel 8:27)
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DANIEL - CHAPTER 9
Daniel 9:1-27 KJV 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the
Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 2 In the first year of
his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of
the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in
the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer
and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the
LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful
God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his
commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done
wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy
judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake
in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this
day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that
are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them,
because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 8 O Lord, to us
belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because
we have sinned against thee. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses,
though we have rebelled against him; 10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the
LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the
prophets. 11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they
might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is
written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12
And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges
that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not
been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses,
all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God,
that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 14 Therefore hath
the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is
righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 15 And now, O
Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty
hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done
wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger
and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for
our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a
reproach to all that are about us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy
servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is
desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine
eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do
not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great
mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for
thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. 20 And
whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people
Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain
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of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had
seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the
time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O
Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning
of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for
thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the
transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and
to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to
anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of
the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall
be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the
wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be
cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy
the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end
of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with
many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the
oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,
even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
DANIEL AND EZEKIEL'S VISION OF THE 70 WEEKS
[Garner]
Verses 1, 2:
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was
made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel
understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to
Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of
Jerusalem.
Verse 1 fixes the time of this event as occurring in the first year of Darius, who was the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made to be king over the Chaldeans. This was 537 B.C., one year after Cyrus took Babylon 538 B.C. It was 69
years after Daniel had been carried captive to Babylon 606 B.C.
Verse 2 adds that in or during the first year of the reign of Darius, Daniel understood by books or scrolls (of Jeremiah) the number of years the Lord had told Jeremiah that his people, the Jews, would be kept captive while Jerusalem and the temple were desolated.
The time was definitively given to be seventy (70) years, as alluded to Jeremiah 25:11, 12; 29:8-10; 2 Chronicles 36:21-23 KJV 21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the
mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay
desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 22 Now in the first year of
Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah
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might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he
made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of
heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which
is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with
him, and let him go up.
The closing verses of Second Chronicles form a transition from the end of the kingdom to the return of the captivity. Verse 20 showed that those whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away, and their descendants, were servants to the Babylonian (or Chadean) kings until the advent of the Persian Empire. This is said to be in keeping with the word of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah that the exile would continue until the land observed its Sabbaths. These were denied in the long centuries of apostasy and failure to adhere to the Law of Moses in regard to the land. So the land lay untilled for the seventy years of captivity to atone for four hundred ninety years in which no sabbath of the land had been observed (Jeremiah 25:8-14; 27:6-8; 29:10).
Verses 22-23 furnish the close of the Chronicles and kingdom period and introduction to the post-exile period. They are repeated almost verbatim in Ezra 1:1-3. The fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy was not delayed, for its enactment began in the very first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, when he had overcome Babylon and made it a part of his own empire. Jewish tradition relates that Cyrus heard of the prophecies of Isaiah (see Isaiah 44:24-45:4) and Jeremiah and was so flattered by them that he sought at once to bring them to pass. Whether this is true or not, the Scriptures make it plain that his decision was by the will of the Lord, who "stirred up the spirit of Cyrus," and he made the proclamation. He published it throughout his empire and put it into writing. In it he is very flattering of himself, stating that God had made him ruler of all kingdoms of the earth. Though this was certainly not literally true he did control all the well-known nations of his time. His decree was that all among the people of his empire who would, should go up to Jerusalem in Judah and these erect a house for the Lord, who had commanded Cyrus so to do. This is one of the most emphatic examples of fulfilled prophecy in the Scriptures and is assurance that all shall be fulfilled in their proper time.
The 70 years were completed with the commandment to rebuild the temple, Daniel 9:25.
[Culley]
GOD’S ANSWER TO DANIEL’S PRAYER; HIS SEVENTY WEEK PLAN
FOR ISRAEL: Vs. 20-27
A. Vs. 24, Seventy “weeks” (Literally 70-7’s) meaning sevens of years for Daniel was already thinking in terms of the time unit of years, Daniel
9:2. The Jews had weeks of days, of weeks, of months, of years, of 7-
year periods, and evidently even of 1000 year periods (cf. Hosea 6:1-2,
II Peter 3:8) Genesis 29:27. This period was decreed, determined, or literally, “cut off” or marked off on God’s calendar with regard to His 185
dealing with Israel. At its end, six things were to be fulfilled which have by no means yet occurred, vs. 24.
B. Vs. 25, from the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah for Whom Israel looked woujld be 69 weeks or 483 years.
From 445 B.C. (our March 14), per Nehemiah 2:1-8, unto the day of Christ’s triumphal entry to Jerusalem was exactly 483 years, Luke 19:11; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:28-48 (note especially vs. 42) & Matthew 21:10. (Sir Robert Anderson’s calculations using 360 days per Bible Prophecy year, cf Genesis 7:11 & 8:4 give the day of April 6, 32 A.D.
which significantly was the first day of the week, 10th of Nissan when
the Jews selected their Passover Lamb without blemish!)
C. Vs. 26 revealed that after the 69 weeks, the Messiah woujld be cut off, but not for Himself, and the people (e.g. Romans) of a Prince (AntiChrist who shall come later) would destroy the city and sanctuary.
This destruction of Jerusalem was also foretold by Jesus, Luke 21:20-
24; Matthew 24:2, and it was fulfilled by the Roman army under Titus
in A.D. 70 with about 1 million killed, 10,000 killed in the Temple, and about 97,000 carried captives. The latter part of vs. 26 foretold desolations and wars to follow the Jews on through an unspecified time, the gap between the 69th and the final or 70th week.
D. Vs. 27 focuses upon the final or 70th week determined upon the Jews
indicating that the end-time Roman prince (that shall come per vs. 26)
would confirm a covenant (peace treaty) with many (nations) for one week (7 years). God’s Word tells how long the Prince will be around to
confirm his treaty; no doubt the treaty terms will be indefinite, not merely for 7 years. But Anti-Christ will break this treaty with the Jews after three and one half years by making their sacrifices cease (an event forshadowed by Antiochus Epiphanies, Daniel 8:8-14). This
is the abomination of desolation, Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15; II Thessalonians 2:8. The Covenant Israel makes in unbelief is aptly described by Isaiah 28:14-22.
E. Upon completion of the 70th week, God’s judgement falls upon the desolators, and His blessings are received by His remnant nation Israel, vs. 25; Romans 11:25-26; Zechariah 12:10; 13:1; Isaiah 59:20-21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:31-34.
[Wilson]
Consider some of the concerns and concepts that must have been in Daniel’s mind before he began to pray:
1. Daniel knew that God had set the descendants of Abraham apart from other nations for a glorious purpose. (Exodus 19:4-6; Isaiah 42:6)
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2. Daniel knew why his people were captives in Babylon.
3. Daniel knew that Israel’s deliverance would have to be "an Act of God."
4. Daniel knew that God kept vigil, and He would not forget His promise to free His people from captivity . (Exodus 12:42)
5. Daniel knew that God had set a date for the release of His people and "the Friday year" of 536/5 B.C. was the seventieth year of captivity.
6. Daniel believed he had been placed in a high administrative position to somehow facilitate the release of his people, but he did not know what to do.
DANIEL'S PRAYER AND CONFESSION
Verses 3-19:
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with
fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made
my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant
and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have
sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even
by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened
unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and
our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto
thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off,
through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that
they have trespassed against thee. 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our
kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 9 To the
Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which
he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy
law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured
upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because
we have sinned against him. 12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake
against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for
under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As
it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our
prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and
understand thy truth. 14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and
brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he
doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy
people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown,
as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all thy
righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city
Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our
fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 17
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Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and
cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O
my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and
the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before
thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord,
forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city
and thy people are called by thy name.
[Garner]
Verse 3 is a testimony of Daniel, that when he had read and understood from the writings of the prophet Jeremiah, that the time of the desolation of Jerusalem and 70 years of captivity of his people was nearly finished, he was deeply moved to prayer to God. As a man of God who had experienced answered prayer from the den of lions, and through 69
years of captivity, he approached the living God, as one in old age. He set or fixed his face toward the Lord God with faith, making prayerful supplications, intercessions, with deepest humility of fasting, with sackcloth and ashes.
Verse 4 recounts Daniel's continuing intercession and entreaty to God for mercy. He relates that he 1) made his confession directly to the great and dreadful (just judging) God; 2) he acknowledged that God was fair or just to keep His covenant and show mercy to those who loved and obeyed Him. God has promised to guard and deliver His own through mercy, not because of their merit.
Verse 5 acknowledges that the people of Israel had sinned by lawless deeds, engaging in willful wickedness, and rebelled against the moral principles and ethical practices He had given for them to follow. They too had 'turned aside from His precepts and judgments, so willfully and obstinately, that the integrity of His Holy name could be vindicated only through sending captivity judgment on Israel, for a period of 70 years. Daniel understood this; and like Moses and Paul he stood in the gap, acknowledging their sins, and pleading God's mercies for them.
Verse 6 further confessed that they had not listened to the prophetic judgment warnings of their holy prophets who had faithfully, without respect, spoken to the kings and princes (rulers), and to their religious fathers, the priests and elders, and all the people of their land, as described.
Verse 7 continues a confession that Daniel offered concerning his people. He confessed (agreed) that the Lord was righteous and the men of Judah, Jerusalem, Israel and all who were suffering, in their own land, wherever dispersed, were suffering a just and righteous sentence for their own chosen ways of guilt and anarchy against God and His commandments given to them.
Verse 8 reiterates that all classes of the people of Judah and Israel, princes, kings, their ruling fathers, faced confusion because they had sinned against God by choice, by their 188
own volition, without excuse. For such they had been, in shared guilt, driven from Jerusalem, the city of peace, and her temple, for seventy years, verse 2.
Verses 9-12 acknowledge that to the Lord God of Daniel and His people Israel belonged mercies and forgiveness, though they had sinned against Him; For he is the "God of all mercies,' and "forgiver of sins," Isaiah 55:6, 7; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 1 John 1:9, even after men have rebelled against Him.
Verse 13 further confirms that what happened in Israel's captivity judgment had come because of their own chosen evil ways and their neglect of prayer and repentance as a means of restoration from the evil judgments that had befallen them.
Verses 14, 15 note that God had been beholding their sins and brought the evil judgment upon them righteously, on account of their obstinate disobedience. That the Lord watched over, cared for, and brought His covenant people of Abraham out of Egyptian bondage is here given as evidence that God is a God of integrity, before the world. In His past mercies He may yet receive honor from the once disobedient.
Verse 16 is a direct intercession of Daniel to the righteous God to turn away His anger and fury of extended judgment from the city of Jerusalem, His holy mountain. The appeal was made, not on Israel's merit, but on God's righteousness and faithfulness to keep and show mercy to those who would trust in Him. He acknowledged that both their sins and judgment had caused them to become objects of shame and a reproach among the heathen. He asked mercy for them and another chance.
Verses 17-19 conclude this emotional, earnest intercession of an aged saint, long faithful through Babylon's captivity, and into that of Medo Persia, near 70 years. Daniel was motivated through faith in the inspired word of God, the law of Moses, and the writings of Jeremiah, of more recent date especially, verses 1, 2; Jeremiah 25:11, 12; 29:8-10. The Lord is called upon to cause His face to shine upon His now desolate sanctuary (to restore it) for His name: Verse 18 appeals to the Lord to incline His ear (listen intently) to their prayers of confession and open His eyes to observe their utter desolation and the desolation of the city of Jerusalem that once bare (supported) His honorable name. Daniel again concedes that his prayer is not because of any righteous merit in Israel at all, but because of the great mercies He recognized in the character of their God. Verse 19
concludes the prayer of intercession with strong, sobbing, emotional tones of a penitent child appealing to a pitying father for mercy and help. The short phrase "defer not"
indicates that he expects God to act right away, as the 70 years of Jeremiah's prophecy of the length of their captivity is now almost complete. So God can forgive in truth and integrity now, and he believes He will.
[Wilson]
Daniel’s fasting and prayer must have been motivated by three factors. First, fasting is something we can do when we want God to consider the intensity of 189
our heart’s desire. Second, Daniel humiliated (embarrassed) himself with sackcloth and ashes to show God that he was willing to do anything God wanted him to do to facilitate the release of his people. Third, Daniel knew about Solomon’s prayer (found in 2 Chronicles 6:36-39), which the Lord confirmed by sending fire from Heaven when Solomon dedicated the temple in Jerusalem.
Daniel’s prayer indicates that he well understood the terms and conditions of the covenant between Israel and God. Daniel acknowledged that God had afflicted Israel with a curse as the covenant stipulated. Daniel knew that Israel deserved captivity because of rebellion. Daniel justified God’s righteous actions and he openly confessed that Israel had insulted God.
Bilateral Covenant
The curse which God placed on Israel is difficult for some people to understand, so some background information may prove helpful. God made a unilateral covenant (a one-sided unconditional covenant) with Abraham. God promised Abraham that a) all nations would be blessed through him, b) his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, and c) they would inherit a specific parcel of land. At the Exodus, God made a bilateral (a two-sided or mutually agreed upon) conditional covenant with Israel and it may be summarized with these words: "If you will be my people, I will be your God." (Leviticus 26:12) However,
"if you choose to love other gods and rebel against my laws, I will destroy you."
(Leviticus 26:14-39) Bible history indicates that God destroyed Israel several times. The Bible indicates that God began destroying Israel with the first generation that came out of Egypt. The first generation was put to death in the wilderness because of rebellion!
The nation of Israel could uphold their end of the bilateral covenant only if a majority in Israel loved and obeyed the Lord. Moses knew this was a crucial point. In his farewell address to the second generation of Israel – the generation that entered the Promised Land – he said, " And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
(Deuteronomy 6:5) He also wrote, " Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:18) According to Jesus, these two commandments were the greatest commandments spoken by Moses. (Matthew
22:36-40 KJV 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.)
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It has been said in this book that God’s treatment of Israel is a mirror reflecting how He deals with all nations. The inverse of this statement is also true. Israel’s treatment of God is a mirror reflecting how the human race treats God. The carnal nature of individual Jews made Israel’s corporate behavior rebellious and ungrateful. A grateful company of slaves was willing and eager to enter into a covenant with God at the base of Mt. Sinai. However, forty days later, they were dancing around a golden calf. After two years, this same group of people became so rebellious that God refused to allow them to enter the Promised Land.
(Numbers 14) God confined that generation to the wilderness for forty years so that all of the adults (except Caleb and Joshua) would die without receiving what had been promised to them. (Hebrews 3:10, 11) This is a crucial point. Many people have wondered, "Why did God deal so harshly with Israel? Would it have been easier for Him to abandon Israel and start over with another nation? This almost happened. God almost destroyed Israel when they bowed down and worshiped the golden calf in the shadow of Mt. Sinai, but Moses interceded.
(Exodus 32:10) Consider God’s love. From the beginning, God foreknew the offspring of Abraham would fail, so why did He enter into a covenant with them? This is a profound point: God does not treat us on the basis of what He knows the outcome will be. Instead, God deals with His subjects on the basis of love. God loved Abraham and He did everything a heart of love could do to accomplish His plans through Abraham’s children. God wisely put "a destruction clause" into His bilateral (two-sided) conditional covenant with the offspring of Abraham because God had made a unilateral covenant (one-sided non-conditional) with Abraham. In other words, God unconditionally promised the patriarch Abraham that his descendants would inherit a specific parcel of land. God foreknew that Abraham’s offspring would rebel against Him time after time, and the only way He could fulfill everything He promised to Abraham was through a provision in the covenant that would provide for rebels to be destroyed! Every time God destroyed Israel, He started over with a remnant. When Israel rejected Messiah, God did not abandon Israel and turn to the Gentiles. God redefined Israel by making Gentile believers in Christ the heirs of Abraham! (Galatians 3:28, 29; Ephesians 2) By doing this, God will be able to fulfill the unconditional covenant He gave to Abraham!
Blessings and Curses
God’s bilateral covenant with Israel was conditional. The covenant began with " If you will be my people, I will be your God." To motivate Israel to be faithful to the covenant between them, God put an important balance between blessings and curses in the covenant. This balance mirrors the two options from which mankind can choose. Our first option is to love God, submit to His laws and enjoy His presence, favor and blessings. Our second option is to rebel against God and experience the pleasures of sin for a short season and suffer the 191
consequences of sin and destruction. (Leviticus 25; Deuteronomy 28; Ezekiel 18; Romans 8) These are the only options available to mankind, because everything in the universe belongs to God. People who wish to live forever in God’s kingdom cannot live in rebellion against God because God will not tolerate rebellion in His house. God cast Lucifer and a third of the angels out of Heaven because of rebellion, and God cast Israel out of His favor for the same reason.
(Ezekiel 28:17; Revelation 12:7-9; Matthew 23:38) Consider God’s words to Israel: Leviticus 25:18 KJV 18 Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. Leviticus 26:27-28 KJV 27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
God has demonstrated through Israel’s long history that perfect laws cannot change a rebellious heart. (Romans 8:7) God blessed Israel with His magnificent laws and promised them every material benefit if they would follow Him, but unfortunately, God’s generosity did not cure their rebellion. Instead of becoming a conduit through which God’s blessings could flow to all the nations around them, Israel selfishly appropriated God’s blessings to them. However, we should not condemn Israel too harshly because every nation has followed the same path!
Remember, Israel’s treatment of God is a mirror reflecting how mankind treats God. A carnal heart can change. The carnal heart can even do "a good deed"
every now and then, but good deeds do not transform the carnal heart into the type of heart that God wants. The root problem with the carnal heart is that it cannot love God and others as much as it loves itself. Believe it or not, selfishness and rebellion against God are genetic! Human beings are born with a carnal nature.
This is why everyone who wants to be a part of God’s kingdom must be born again. All sinners can receive a new heart if they surrender to God’s will. The carnal heart is self-seeking; therefore, we cannot joyfully submit to God’s will until we surrender to His will. If we surrender daily to go, to be and to do all as God directs, He will do something within us that we cannot do for ourselves.
God will transform our selfish hearts into selfless hearts through the power of His Spirit. A loving heart does not think less of itself; it thinks more of others than itself. The born-again experience does not occur in groups of people; it occurs within the heart of one individual at a time. Because most people in Israel did not experience the new birth, the nation of Israel corporately failed to reach the glorious potential which God offered. Israel’s history indicates that most people in Israel were constantly rebellious toward God at any given time. Israel destroyed the prophets God sent, and ultimately, God destroyed His temple and His city along with two-thirds of His people. Then He put the survivors in Babylonian exile for seventy years. (Ezekiel 5:11, 12)
This Land Is My Land
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Few Christians today understand this point: Leviticus 25:23 KJV 23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. Many people believe that God’s promise to Abraham is still binding, and they believe that modern Israel is entitled to the land that was inhabited by the Palestinians for the past few centuries. This is not true! God did not grant Canaan to Israel without conditions. (Leviticus 18; Deuteronomy 28) In fact, the same requirements hold true for all nations. God owns all of Earth. He created the continents, and through the blood of Christ, He purchased humanity back to Himself. (Romans 5:18) God allows nations to occupy a parcel of land for as long as that nation upholds principles of righteousness. (Acts 17:26) When rebellion within a nation becomes so great that there is no recovery, God cauterizes the malignancy of sin by sending destruction to that nation. He overthrows offending governments and slows the degenerate process of sin by killing off most, if not all, of its inhabitants. God turns the land over to another nation and the process starts over. King Nebuchadnezzar thought Babylon was an invincible city, but Babylon became decadent and rebellious, so God opened the city gates giving the city and the land to the Medes and Persians in a single night. (Daniel 5)
Daniel’s prayer and Jesus’ prayer recorded in John 17 are the best examples of intercessory prayer in the Bible. Prayer coming from a contrite heart always gains an audience with God. (Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:2) Proverbs 15:8 KJV 8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The Bible indicates that God answers the prayers of a humble petitioner in one of three ways: "Yes, No or Wait." (Psalm 66:18; 1 John 1:9; Hebrews 5:7) If, in His omniscient wisdom, God says "No" or "Wait," He knows the consternation His decision will bring, so God sends peace in the middle of the storm if we are willing to receive it. Jesus said, John 14:27 KJV 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
At best, this world offers a peace that is temporal and fleeting. The carnal nature is at peace when everything is going according to its will, but a new disturbance can rise out of nowhere and ruin its peace in a heartbeat. Jesus offers a different type of peace than the world can give. His peace transcends the anxieties of life.
(Isaiah 26:3) When God’s peace rests on us, we have joy and we cease worrying –
knowing that He is in control. Of course, this does not mean that God’s decisions will necessarily be what we think is best; rather, God’s peace comes from knowing that He will make the best of the situation. Daniel went peacefully to the lions’ den and his three friends went peacefully to the fiery furnace. They were concerned, but they had peace about their decision. We find and receive 193
God’s peace "which passes all understanding" when we submit to the wisdom and plans of a sovereign God. Faith in God is not easy to maintain. Israel’s history proves this. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
[Garner]
GABRIEL EXPLAINS MEANING OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS
Verses 20-27:
20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my
people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy
mountain of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel,
whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me
about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me,
and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At
the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to
shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider
the vision. 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to
finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for
iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and
prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from
the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the
Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall
be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two
weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that
shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a
flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall
confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall
cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of
abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that
determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Verse 20, 21 relate that as Daniel was speaking, before he had stopped praying, confessing his sins, the sins of his people, then interceding to the holy God for mercy on His people, Jerusalem, the holy mountain and sanctuary, the angel Gabriel came directly to him. The angel Gabriel came swiftly upon him, as on a former occasion, to give him help and information for his people then and in all following ages. He came as a messenger of help to minister to him and deliver him from deathly grief. He arrived in swift flight and touched Daniel at the end of a day of fervent prayer, about the time of the evening oblation or sacrifice, at the ninth hour, three o'clock in the afternoon.
Verse 22 asserts that the angel Gabriel, chief of God's informing angelic band, talked with Daniel and certified that he had come forth (from the throne of God) to give or dole out to him skill and understanding for writing, speaking, and relating the will and purpose 194
of God in him and his people Israel, as well as certain judgments upon their Gentile enemies. This indicates that the symbolic vision of chapter 8:16 had not yet been shut up, concluded or cut off, Daniel 8:26.
Verse 23 relates that Gabriel established his own identity as a watching, listening, guarding angel, who looked on from the throne of God. He told Daniel that at the very beginning of his prayer the mandate (from God) came to him to come down to Daniel and make known to him that he was "greatly beloved" of God. In response God sent Gabriel to Daniel to cause him to understand more fully the meaning of the vision.
Verse 24 asserts that 70 weeks (more accurately years) seventy weeks of seven years each had been determined, in the purpose of God, upon the holy city and the people of Israel for six things, beginning with Artaxerxes:
1) To finish the transgression, to shut up or restrain it, to abolish it, Psalm 51:9.
2) To make an end of sins, to hide it out of sight, to end, finish or complete its judgment, Job 9:7.
3) To make reconciliation for iniquity, to make an atonement (Heb kaphar) for iniquity of His people, Exodus 29:33; to cover or overlay lawlessness, as a payment, Genesis 6:14; Psalm 32:1.
4) To bring in everlasting righteousness, or to restore reconciliation between God and man forever, Jeremiah 23:5, 6; Hebrews 9:12; Revelation 14:6.
5) To seal up the vision and prophecy. To give time for the prophecy to be fulfilled, as a confirmation of its trustworthiness, 1 Peter 1:20, 21; Psalm 119:160.
6) And to anoint the most Holy One, or to consecrate the most Holy One, John 1:41; and holy place; See Luke 4:1-44; 18:1-43 fulfilling Isaiah 62:1.
Verse 25 explains to Daniel that he and we are to know (recognize) and understand that from the going forth of the commandment (by the king of Persia, Ezra 6:14) to restore (refurbish) or reconstruct the city of Jerusalem, to the coming of the Messiah, the Prince of peace, would be: 1) seven weeks (of years) or 49 years, based on the scriptural prophetic measure; Ezekiel 4:6; and 2) sixty two weeks (of years) 434 years; and 3) one week of years. It was added, as an immediate hope for Israel, after 70 years that they had languished in Babylon and Persia, that they should rebuild the streets and walls of the Holy city, even in troublous times, under many hardships, as told by both Ezra and Nehemiah.
Verse 26 certifies that after the added 62 weeks of 434 more years the Messiah would be cut off, rejected, and crucified, Isaiah 53:8; Hosea 2:23; But His being cut off will not be for, or in, His own behalf, to gain any earthly profit for himself. It is added that thereafter the prince or ruler of the people who should come (the Roman Emperor's armed 195
destroyers) would "destroy the sanctuary" that the Lord had cleansed, in which He had taught, Luke 19:43, 44; Matthew 24:2. This seems to have been fulfilled in the destruction of the city, temple, and holy place in A.D. 70, under Titus of Thespacia, the Roman General; After which the Jews were, by our Lord's prophecy, dispersed among all nations, while the city should be and has been, trodden down of the Gentiles, "till the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled," Luke 21:24.
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DANIEL - CHAPTER 10
THE GLORY OF THE LORD AND ANGELIC CONFLICT OVER THE
NATIONS
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose
name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long:
and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I
Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh
nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were
fulfilled. 4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of
the great river, which is Hiddekel; 5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold
a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: 6 His
body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes
as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the
voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision:
for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them,
so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great
vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into
corruption, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I
heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward
the ground. 10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and
upon the palms of my hands.
[Garner]
Verses 1-10:
Verse 1 declares that in the 3rd year of Cyrus, two years after the decree had gone forth to restore the Jews to their homeland, in response to Daniel's prayer, ch. 9, this vision came to Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar, Daniel 1:7. And the vision,
"the thing" revealed, was true, and Daniel was caused by the angel Gabriel to understand it, though not at the first, as in Daniel 1:1-12:13; 8:26. Daniel, now grown very old, was perhaps no longer in the office of the court, as 1:21 states that he "continued (in office) unto the first year of Cyrus." And this vision is in the third year. It is then added that though the thing revealed was true, the "appointed time," was long or great, or as added v. 14, "for many days," an extended, yet definite time in the future, to be ultimately and definitely fulfilled.
THE VISION OF THE GLORY OF GOD
As a summary review let it be recalled that the last half of Daniel, chapters 7-12, relate four visions and their interpretations, as given to Daniel:
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1) First, the vision of four beasts (empires), ch. 7.
2) Second, the vision of two beasts (kingdoms), ch. 8.
3) Third, the vision of prophecy of 70 weeks (of years), ch. 9.
4) Fourth, as follows, the conflict of kings, ch. 10-12.
A VIEW OF ANGELS OF THE NATIONS
This fourth vision of Daniel, ch. 10-12, came two years after the return of the Jewish remnant to Palestine, 534 B.C., Daniel was given of the Lord a vision of angelic intervention in conflicts of the coming ages. These angelic creatures of Supernatural intelligence were some good and some evil. Some sought to protect and some to harm God's people. Michael is the chief protecting angel of God over Israel, as presented in the Book of Daniel 10:13, 21; Daniel 12:1, and of the church, as presented in the Book of Revelation, Revelation 12:7-9. While Greece had her angel, Daniel 10:20, and Persia had hers, v. 13, 20; Then in Ephesians 6:12 powers of the unseen world are the chief enemy motivators against which children of God and the church have to fight. Revelation 12:7-9
describes how Satan and his angels shall make war against Michael and his angels. Satan shall then be cast out of heaven, and access to it, for the last time, having but a "little time," a "times and half time," 42 months, an half-week, or 31/2 years, the last half of the 70th week, or The Tribulation The Great, to obsess the Son of Perdition and finish his work on earth, before being bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.
Verses 2, 3 relate that though aged, Daniel was in a state of mourning for three full weeks, 21 days. During that period he ate "no pleasant bread," though hungry; neither did he take any kind of flesh or wine into his mouth to strengthen or excite him; nor did he anoint or bathe himself at all till three whole weeks of deep mourning were fulfilled regarding his people Israel and their future. This deep mourning was a sign of his sorrow, as he separated himself to prayer and intercession to God.
Verses 4, 5 state that on the 24th day of the first month, April, of the third year, v. 1, of Cyrus king of Persia, Daniel was by the Great River Hiddekel, or the Tigris River. There he lifted up his eyes from 21 days of prayer, mourning, and fasting. And his eyes fell on a man clothed in linen, and girded with fine gold, the raiment of priests, a symbol of purity and sanctity. Exodus 28:42; Jeremiah 13:1; Revelation 15:6 indicate it was also the raiment of prophets and angels. This was evidently the informing angel Gabriel, as in Daniel 8:16; 9:21; 12:6, 7; Joshua 5:13; Hebrews 1:14.
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Verse 6 describes him bodily, as like the Tarshish stone, chrysolite or topaz. The description of his face as lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, with arms and feet like polished brass, and his words were similar in melody to the merging voice of a multitude.
This description seems to apply, or be applicable to, none other than the uncreated, self-existent angel of the covenant, the Divine Son of God, similar to that described by John the revelator, Revelation 1:13-15.
Verse 7 states that Daniel alone saw or comprehended the vision. Because upon its appearance the men who were with him were so overwhelmed with quaking fear for their lives; They sought to hide themselves to escape some imagined imminent judgment, as they were terrified at the presence of the angelic being.
Verse 8 witnesses that Daniel was left alone to see this vision, which left him with no strength in him, sapped of physical stamina. He was himself so affected physically and emotionally that his vigor of strength was gone in a moment, and he was turned into corruption or a death-like paleness, with sticky sweat. Such was the norm for one to whom a heavenly manifestation came in creature form.
Verse 9 adds that in spite of this emotional shock at the appearance of the brilliantly clothed heavenly personage, Daniel never lost use of his senses. He asserts that though he fell prostrate before him upon his face upon the ground; yet he affirmed that he heard or comprehended the words of his voice, to relate them later.
Verse 10 adds that as Daniel lay face down upon the ground, listening to the voice of the heavenly personage that had appeared, a hand touched him. It lifted him to his knees and then upon the palm of his hands, upon his all-fours. This was likely the hands of Gabriel who interpreted other dreams for Daniel, though he represented the Son of God.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I
speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had
spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
Verse 11 further explains that this heavenly, angelic person, believed to be Gabriel, addressed Daniel as a man "greatly beloved," as also certified Daniel 9:23, much like David who was called a "man after God's own heart," 1 Samuel 13:14. The angel ordered him to stand up upon his feet, upright, at attention, and understand the words that were spoken to him. For the angelic person asserted "I am sent, commissioned or mandated to bring to you this message." Daniel adds that when this was said to him he stood trembling, with an humble mind and willing heart, to do heaven's bidding.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set
thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard,
and I am come for thy words.
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Verse 12 states also that the angelic person said, "Fear not, Daniel," at my presence. The angel added that from the very first day that Daniel set his heart to understand the word and will of the Lord, at the last day, v. 14, and chastened or humbled himself and his people Israel, v. 2, 3, his words had been heard in heaven. It was much as those prayers of Cornelius' were in Acts 10:4; and they caused God to dispatch Gabriel as an angelic messenger, to bring and explain to him this vision, Daniel 9:17-19.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo,
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the
kings of Persia.
Verse 13 explains that this heavenly angelic informer that was sent to Daniel was delayed for 120 days by the prince (demon controlled angel, or Lucifer himself), until Michael commander and chief of heavens defensive, protectorate angelic band came to the rescue of this angel Gabriel. [Editor’s Note: Dr. Garner states it was 120 days. I believe this is stated wrong or is an error made in the transfer from the printed version of his work on Daniel to the electronic version. The time should be 21 days. The normal way of stating it is “one and twenty days” which means that you add 20 days to the 1, making it 21 days.]
As a patron defender of Israel before God he helped to influence Persia, the Persian kings, to permit the Jews to return to Jerusalem. This angel Gabriel concludes that he refused to leave the Persian kings until he received help from Michael to achieve the release of the remnant Jews to return to their homeland and their city Jerusalem, v. 21.
[Editor]
I have to state here that I cannot agree with Dr. Garner’s assessment of the meaning of this verse. Many years ago I did an intensive study relating to angels, demons, witchcraft, spiritual warfare and Satan. This has caused my understanding of the Scriptures to be quite different for this verse. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and the powers of this world. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12 KJV) The
“Prince of Persia” is one of those mentioned in this verse. I believe that Gabriel was intentional hindered by the demons that were active against God’s plan for the Jews at that time. Gabriel was purposely sent by God to Daniel just as soon as he began to make his petition. For Gabriel to intentionly remain to influence the Persian kings as Dr. Garner proposes, he would have been in disobedience to God’s command for him to go to Daniel.
The vision that Daniel had been given was fortelling end-time events and Satan did not want Daniel to understand them. Gabriel was then hindered by these demons to prevent him from getting to Daniel to reveal the meaning of the vision to Daniel. He was thus hindered for 21 days and apparently would have continued so if Michael had not come and intervened for Gabriel.
Consider the following quote concerning this verse and verse 20 from the British Family Bible as found on the PowerBible CD produced by the Blessed Hope Foundation, Lakeland, Florida.
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-- the prince of Persia: -- the prince of Grecia There is some doubt who are the persons here intended by "the princes of Persia and of Grecia." But since they fight with Michael, to those who are conversant with the prophetic style, and have observed the uniformity of its images, it will seem highly probable, that the angels which fight with Michael in the book of Daniel, are of the same sort with those who fight with Michael under the banners of the devil, in the 12th chapter of Revelation. "There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels." The vision of the war in heaven, in the Apocalypse, represents the vehement struggles between Christianity and the old idolatry in the first ages of the Gospel. The angels of the two opposite armies represent two opposite parties in the Roman state, at the time the vision more particularly regards. Michael's angels are the party which espoused the side of the Christian religion…. The dragon's angels are the part which endeavored to support the old idolatry. And in conformity with this imagery of the Apocalypse, "the princes of Persia," in the book of Daniel, are to be understood, I think, of a part in the Persian state, which opposed the return of the captive Jews, first after the death of Cyrus, and again after the death of Darius Hystaspes. And "the prince of Grecia" is to be understood of a party in the Greek empire, which persecuted the Jewish religion after the death of Alexander the Great, particularly in the Greek kingdom of Syria. Bp. Horsley.
[Garner]
14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter
days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Verse 14 states that this angel explained to Daniel that he had come "to make" him understand or comprehend "what shall befall thy people (the Jews) in the latter days,"
even to the end of time. Then the angel (Gabriel) added "for yet the vision is (exists) for many days," or an extended period of time, into the far future, the 70th week of which is not yet fulfilled 2,600 years later. But it will be! The day is dawning, even now.
15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and
I became dumb.
Verse 15 adds that when the angel had concluded those words to Daniel he set his face toward the ground and became dumb, or literally speechless, in awe, dumbfounded at what he had seen and heard as he fell again in humility, with his face upon the ground.
16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I
opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by
the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Verse 16 explains that at this point "one like the sons of men" touched Daniel's lips, to give him spiritual utterance. Then Daniel explains that he opened his mouth and said to the heavenly messenger, who had brought him the message and vision, "O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows have burdened or submerged me, as a woman in travail, so that I have no strength," am helpless of myself, in my flesh and old age.
17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me,
straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
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Verse 17 recounts that Daniel asked the majestic angel of strength just how he could, in his weakness or feebleness, even talk with a heavenly person of his holy angelic character. But he could. Good angels are friends, colleagues, or sentinel helpers of children of God, Psalm 34:7.
18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he
strengthened me,
19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be
strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord
speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
Verses 18, 19 relate that again there came one with the appearance of a man and touched Daniel, and gave him strength, that he might hear and learn from the angel, with composure. The angel then said to Daniel, you are "greatly beloved," so "fear not, be at peace, be strong, even exceedingly strong." Then Daniel certified that he was strengthened and asked the Lordly messenger to "speak on" or continue his message for he was not able to hear and fully receive it.
20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to
fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall
come.
Verse 20 advised Daniel that since now he knew why the angel's Lord had come to him, he must now leave Daniel to have another encounter with the prince or evil angel that was motivating the Persian ruler. He added that after he was gone, the prince of Grecia or evil angel that motivated the Grecian Empire army would swoop down under Alexander to conquer Persia and the Jewish people. This was the third beast, Gentile, heathen, one-world Empire that was then soon to come, Daniel 2:39; 7:6; 8:20-22; 11:2-4. [Editor’s Note: See my comments under verse 13.]
21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none
that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Verse 21 concludes by the angel Gabriel's declaration that he would show or disclose to Daniel, in this extended vision, chapters 11, 12 "that which is noted (certified) in the scripture of truth," Psalm 119:60; John 17:17. He concluded that there was none that continually held with him in this truth, no other angel, order or help, except "Michael your prince," sentry angel, guardian of Israel, Daniel 12:3; and the church, Revelation 12:7-9.
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DANIEL - CHAPTER 11
[Culley]
