Questions for thought:
1. How does the fulfilment of visions like Daniel had and prophecies we read from the prophets encourage us in knowing God is in control?
2. What should our attitude be when we go to God in prayer?
3. While there is disagreement among Bible scholars concerning the meaning of the number of days in Daniel’s dream, what can we know for certain concerning the outcome of the vision?
Last time we looked at a vision Daniel had and saw the main lesson for us is to realize no matter what happens in the kingdoms of man, God is in charge of His spiritual kingdom of which all Christians are a part. In this blog we will begin in chapter 8 and look at a second vision of Daniel which also occurred before the events of chapter 5 and while Belshazzar was still in power. Then we will see how Daniel interceded for the people in prayer and God’s response in sending Gabriel to clarify more for Daniel.
In this vision, Daniel saw a ram with two horns, one of which was higher than the other. This ram was pushing toward the west, north, and south and no other powers could come against him. But a goat with a horn between his eyes came from the west and ran into the ram and smote the ram casting him to the ground where the goat stomped him. Then the goat grew very powerful and when he was strong his horn was broken and in its place came up four notable ones. Out of one of those notable ones came a little horn which grew great and began to do evil toward the sanctuary and the daily sacrifices by causing the sacrifices to cease and he cast down the temple. A saint was questioning how long till this occurred and another saint responded it would be 2,300 days and the sanctuary would be cleansed.
Daniel wanted to know the meaning of this vision and Gabriel came to explain. He said it would be at the time of the end. The ram with two horns represented the kings of Media and Persia. The goat was the king of Grecia which would have been Alexander the Great and the great horn between his eyes was the first king. Once that king was broken, four kingdoms would arise. Those four kingdoms are now known as Egypt, Syria, Macedonia, and Thrace/Asia Minor. In the later days, when evil was prevailing, another king would stand up who would destroy the holy people. He would stand against the Prince of princes, but he would be broken without human means. Many Bible scholars believe this to have been Antiochus Epiphanes who ruled Syria from 175-163. He is the one who sacrificed a pig on the altar as desecration of the temple. Daniel was told to shut up the vision because it was for the future or the time when the Jewish age would be over and the Christian age would be in place. In the lack of understanding of this vision, Daniel fainted and was sick for several days, but he continued to do the king’s work. I find it so interesting how after the fact, bible scholars are able to match the rulers to the visions of the prophets and show just as God has said, He is in control. If He says it will happen, it will happen. Like we have seen in other places, no matter what, God is still in control.
In chapter 9, Daniel recorded a prayer to God and another vision. Again, according to history, the events of this chapter would have taken place around 538-536 which would be before the events of chapter 8. Daniel says these events were in the first year of Darius. Daniel understood from the books the 70-year captivity was about to end. Jeremiah had prophesied about the 70-year captivity and Daniel would have been aware there were only a few years left until the 70 years would be over. He prayed to God making confession for his people saying they had sinned and had not hearkened to the prophets which came before. Daniel was very clear in expressing how sinful the people had been. Daniel 9:3-19 is a record of his very humble and beseeching prayer for mercy from the Lord. When we pray to God, we too should have an humble attitude and be willing to confess our sins. God knows our sins even before we confess, but we read in 1 John 1:9 if we will confess our sins, He will forgive us.
Once again while Daniel was praying, Gabriel came to give Daniel skill and understanding. He told Daniel in verse 23 how he was greatly beloved. Then Gabriel explained the 70 weeks to Daniel. These 70 weeks have many interpretations and I am not comfortable with supporting any of them. But the message of what was to happen during this time period is very clear. Gabriel said six things would happen. In verse 24 Gabriel said 70 weeks were determined upon the Jews to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. All six of these things were fulfilled in Christ.
Then Gabriel went on in verses 25-27 to explain Jerusalem would be rebuilt, the Messiah would be cut off, and sacrifices would cease. Jerusalem was rebuilt as we can read in Ezra and Nehemiah. The Messiah did come and was cut off. And the sacrifices did cease when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. Once more, we can look at the prophecy and its fulfillment and know God is in control.
Throughout this book, we continue to see God is in control. It has been very evident in Daniel’s visions and even if we do not agree on the meaning of certain numbers, the end result is clear: God’s plan will be fulfilled.
Next time, we will finish up chapters 10-12 of the book of Daniel.
Christian Women's Responsibility in Sharing God's Word 