Dan 8:1-2
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. 2 And I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
Summary
Third year of Belshazzar - last king of Babylon
prob 551-550BC
11-12 years before Babylon is invaded by the Medes and Persians
Daniel's 2nd recorded vision
In vision he was in Shushan the palace
Shushan is also known as Susa or Shush. In the province of Elam. Modern day Iran
Google Earth - Shush Iran & Ancient Babylon
Kings of Persia had their summer residence there
Daniel is on the banks of the river Ulai (Persian River)
Show "30 Photos"
The river's water was seen as wholesome and sweet.
Remember Persia was stronger than the Medes
Dan 8:3-4
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. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no beasts could stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.
Summary
Ram with two horns standing in front of the river Ulai
It's horns were high
One was higher than the other
The higher came up last
Any guesses who the ram represent? Why?
(Interpretation)
Dan 8:20
The ram which thou sawest, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.
Media/Persians
in Dan 2, the arms and breast of silver
In Dan 7, the bear that was raised up on one side with 3 ribs btw it's teeth.
Date of Daniel's dream was approx 551-550BC.
Show 'Babylon Media and Lydia.jpg'
Rise of Cyrus
At the time, there was a general alliance/agreement between Babylon, Media and Lydia.
Within Media, the Persians were vassel state (subservient) to the Medes.
Cyrus' grandfather was king Medes.
Cyrus' was a king in the Persian area of Media who rebelled against the Median King. Captures Persian king.
Cyrus' captured the Median King in approx 550-549BC
Creates a united Mede/Persian empire
Daniel had to know about this! The neighboring nation that they were at peace with was overthrown by a minor King within the Medio Kingdom.
Cyrus' (Mede/Persians) conquers Lydia by 547BC - this is the ram pushing westward and northward
The 'handwriting' has been on the wall for quite some time. What might that handwriting say? "Watch out for the Medes/Persians/Cyrus"
In Sept or 539BC, there is a battle upriver (Euphrates) where Cyrus defeats the Babylonians in town named Opis, late Sept/early Oct.
This seems to be the ram turning southward
His army walks into Babylon down river of the Euphrates after diverting it off into swamps or canals
The southern area includes Egypt, Ethiopia and some smaller nations
This is the fulfillment of Dan 8:4.
Dan 8:5-6
5 And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran upon him in the fury of his power.
Summary
He-goat from the west, over the whole earth, didn't touch the ground, and had notable horn btw his eyes
Who might this be?
(Interpretation)
Dan 8:21
And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king (Alexander the great).
Greece & Alexander the great
-In Dan 2, Greece was the belly and thighs of brass
-in Dan 7, Greece was a leopard with four wings of a bird and four heads.
-Why did he not touch the ground? Because he had four wings of a bird in Dan 7:6
The He-goat comes to the ram that is standing before the river (where Daniel is) and runs into it violently in the strength of his power.
***Daniel is witnessing the destruction of the kingdom that destroys Babylon before Babylon is even destroyed yet***
***This dream is in 550BC-ish and the Greeks w Alexander the Great defeat the Medes/Persians in 331BC.***
***The He-goat violently strikes the ram btw 334-331BC***
Dan 8:7-8
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with anger 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 trampled upon him; and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8 And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Summary
He-goat (Greece) smote the ram w two horns (Medes/Persians)
Rams horns are broken and cast to ground and trampled (Medes/Persians)
He-goat magnifies himself (Greece)
Great horn of the He-goat was broken while he was still strong (death of Alexander the great at age 32)
Four notable horns (notable ones) arise:
(Interpretation)
Dan 8:22
And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.
(Alexander had no heirs, so 4 generals split his territories)
Show '4 Greek generals.jpg'
Lysimachus - who took Thrace and much of Asia Minor.
Cassander - controlled Macedonia and Greece.
Ptolemy I - ruled Egypt, Palestine, Cilicia, Petra and Cyprus. He founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty which lasted until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BCE.
Seleucus I Nicator - ruled the remainder of Asia and founded the Seleucid Empire which was comprised of Mesopotamia, the Levant, Persia, and part of India.
Dan 8:9-10
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 glorious land. 10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them.
Summary
A little horn arises from one of these four horns (notable ones) of the He-goat (Greece's four generals)
Where was the little horn from in Chapter 7? (Romans empire or iron/clay feet) Is this another little horn?
Which general might this horn arise from?
Show 'Babylon Media and Lydia.jpg'
then
Show '4 Greek generals.jpg'
From a Christian website:
"After Alexander died, his empire was divided into four parts, each ruled by one of his generals. For the next century and a half, the Seleucids (in present-day Syria) and the Ptolemies (in Egypt) fought each other and in the process fought for control over Palestine – the land between them."
Show the two generals territory nearest Israel/Palestine.
Dan 8:9 say the little horn waxed great "toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land" from the perspective of Greece?
Glorious land?
Dan 8:10 "(The little horn waxed great) even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them"
Thoughts?
History suggests that this little horn comes from the Seleucus kingdom.
Dan 8:11-12
11 Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.
Summary
Who is this?
(Interpretation)
Dan 8:23
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.
****Show '4 Greek generals.jpg again'***
Antiochus Epiphanes, 176-164 BC
He was the 8th ruler from Seleucus territory which was established in 312BC. It's capital was in Antioch, Syria.
Vs 11 says "...he took away from him the continual burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down"
Where might this be? The temple in Jerusalem
Vs 12 says "a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground"
A HOST is given over to it? War or army
Burnt offerings are stopped because of rebellion?
Truth is thrown to the ground? Whose truth?
From Barnes commentary regarding Antiochus Epiphanes:
The sacrifice that was offered daily in the temple, morning and evening, was suspended. A full account of this may be found in 1 Macc. In the execution of the purposes of Antiochus, he “entered the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick, and all the vessels thereof; and the table of showbread, the pouring vessels, etc., and stripped the temple of all the ornaments of gold.” After two years he again visited the city, and “smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel, and when he had taken the spoils of the city he set it on fire, and pulled down the walls thereof on every side.” Everything in Jerusalem was made desolate. Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honor into contempt.” Subsequently, by a solemn edict, and by more decisive acts, he put a period to the worship of God in the temple, and polluted and defiled every part of it.
Dan 8:13-14
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that maketh desolate, 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 evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Summary
Vs Daniel hears a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long shall the vision (last) concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?”
Why the the holy One ask this question?
-i guess he wants Daniel and the reader to know?
Damage done for 2300 days, then the sanctuary will be cleansed
-6 yrs, 3 months, 18 days
Or
-6 yrs (2190 days), 110 days
Or..
Does 1 day = 1 year? And it is 2300 years?
Evening/morning - one day
Gen 1:5,8,13,19,23,31
Dan 8:15-
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with 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 latter time of the indignation; for it belongeth to the appointed time of the end. 20 The ram which thou sawest, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power. 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. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. 25 And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth to many days to come. 27 And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.
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