Confirmation of God’s Will

July 24, 2016Daniel 8

Background to the Chapter

•“Third year of the reign of Belshazzar”

–551 BC

–Occurs chronologically between chapters 4 and 5 of Daniel

•Citadel of Susa…beside the Ulai Canal”

–Daniel, like other prophets, was in spirit, able to see a location where he was not living

–Susa later became the capital of the Persian empire, where the book of Esther occurs

Vision of the Ram and GoatDaniel 8:1-8

•Ram

–Had two horns, one which was larger than the other

–He moved West, North, and South

–He was exceedingly strong

•Goat

–Had one horn

–Was very swift in movement

–Defeated the Ram quickly

–Its horn broke and was replaced by 4 other horns

Ram & Goat InterpretedDaniel 8:9-22

•Ram = Kingdom of Medes & Persians

–One horn longer than the other, indicating the Persian portion was stronger than then Medes

–The kingdom spread to the West, North and South

•Goat = Kingdom of Greece

–Single horn = Alexander the Great

–He conquered the world with incredible speed for his day

–He died young after the conquests at age 32 or 33

–His kingdom was divided into 4 parts, ruled by his 4 generals

•This vision was given to Daniel

–12 years before the rise of the Medes & Persians

–221 years before the rise of the Grecian Kingdom

–228 years before Alexander died

The Little HornDaniel 8:21-27

•“A king will arise, insolent & skilled in intrigue”

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

–He conquered Egypt & Israel

–The Temple was desecrated

–The people were enslaved

–Idols were set up

–The people were forbidden to obey the Law of God

•The desecration of the Temple was to last 2,300 days

•Represents dual fulfillment in Scripture

–Initially fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes

–This is a foreshadowing of the Antichrist who is yet to come

The Antichrist

•He will dominate Israel’s history at the end (v. 23)

•He will be empowered by Satan (v.24)

•He will oppose Israel (v. 24-25)

•He will oppose God (Prince of princes” (v. 25)

•He will exhibit extraordinary leadership (v. 23, 25)

•God will break his rule and authority (v. 25b)

What does this mean for me?

•When God repeats a message for us, He is teaching us to
pay attention

–Daniel 2, 7 & 8 contain very similar messages

•Understanding God’s will for us often occurs through His Word

–It is the best & most reliable way to know His will

–When we see a message repeated for us, God is telling us, “Pay attention!”

Confirmation of God’s Will

July 24, 2016Daniel 8

Background to the Chapter

•“Third year of the reign of Belshazzar”

–551 BC

–Occurs chronologically between chapters 4 and 5 of Daniel

•Citadel of Susa…beside the Ulai Canal”

–Daniel, like other prophets, was in spirit, able to see a location where he was not living

–Susa later became the capital of the Persian empire, where the book of Esther occurs

Vision of the Ram and GoatDaniel 8:1-8

•Ram

–Had two horns, one which was larger than the other

–He moved West, North, and South

–He was exceedingly strong

•Goat

–Had one horn

–Was very swift in movement

–Defeated the Ram quickly

–Its horn broke and was replaced by 4 other horns

Ram & Goat InterpretedDaniel 8:9-22

•Ram = Kingdom of ______

–One horn longer than the other, indicating the Persian portion was stronger than then Medes

–The kingdom spread to the West, North and South

•Goat = ______

–Single horn = ______

–He conquered the world with incredible speed for his day

–He died young after the conquests at age 32 or 33

–His kingdom was divided into 4 parts, ruled by his ______

Confirmation of God’s Will

July 24, 2016Daniel 8

Background to the Chapter

•“Third year of the reign of Belshazzar”

–551 BC

–Occurs chronologically between chapters 4 and 5 of Daniel

•Citadel of Susa…beside the Ulai Canal”

–Daniel, like other prophets, was in spirit, able to see a location where he was not living

–Susa later became the capital of the Persian empire, where the book of Esther occurs

Vision of the Ram and GoatDaniel 8:1-8

•Ram

–Had two horns, one which was larger than the other

–He moved West, North, and South

–He was exceedingly strong

•Goat

–Had one horn

–Was very swift in movement

–Defeated the Ram quickly

–Its horn broke and was replaced by 4 other horns

Ram & Goat InterpretedDaniel 8:9-22

•Ram = Kingdom of ______

–One horn longer than the other, indicating the Persian portion was stronger than then Medes

–The kingdom spread to the West, North and South

•Goat = ______

–Single horn = ______

–He conquered the world with incredible speed for his day

–He died young after the conquests at age 32 or 33

–His kingdom was divided into 4 parts, ruled by his ______

•This vision was given to Daniel

–12 years before the rise of the Medes & Persians

–221 years before the rise of the Grecian Kingdom

–228 years before Alexander died

The Little HornDaniel 8:21-27

•“A king will arise, insolent & skilled in intrigue”

–______

–He conquered Egypt & Israel

–The Temple was desecrated

–The people were enslaved

–Idols were set up

–The people were forbidden to obey the Law of God

•The desecration of the Temple was to last 2,300 days

•Represents ______in Scripture

–Initially fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes

–This is a foreshadowing of the Antichrist who is yet to come

The Antichrist

•He will dominate Israel’s history at the end (v. 23)

•He will be empowered by ______ (v.24)

•He will oppose Israel (v. 24-25)

•He will oppose God (Prince of princes” (v. 25)

•He will exhibit ______(v. 23, 25)

•God will break his rule and authority (v. 25b)

What does this mean for me?

•When God repeats a message for us, He is teaching us to
______

–Daniel 2, 7 & 8 contain very similar messages

•Understanding God’s will for us often occurs through ______

–It is the best & most reliable way to know His will

–When we see a message repeated for us, God is telling us, “Pay attention!”

•This vision was given to Daniel

–12 years before the rise of the Medes & Persians

–221 years before the rise of the Grecian Kingdom

–228 years before Alexander died

The Little HornDaniel 8:21-27

•“A king will arise, insolent & skilled in intrigue”

–______

–He conquered Egypt & Israel

–The Temple was desecrated

–The people were enslaved

–Idols were set up

–The people were forbidden to obey the Law of God

•The desecration of the Temple was to last 2,300 days

•Represents ______in Scripture

–Initially fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes

–This is a foreshadowing of the Antichrist who is yet to come

The Antichrist

•He will dominate Israel’s history at the end (v. 23)

•He will be empowered by ______ (v.24)

•He will oppose Israel (v. 24-25)

•He will oppose God (Prince of princes” (v. 25)

•He will exhibit ______(v. 23, 25)

•God will break his rule and authority (v. 25b)

What does this mean for me?

•When God repeats a message for us, He is teaching us to
______

–Daniel 2, 7 & 8 contain very similar messages

•Understanding God’s will for us often occurs through ______

–It is the best & most reliable way to know His will

–When we see a message repeated for us, God is telling us, “Pay attention!”