DANIEL LESSON 9


     We will begin this lesson in Daniel 8:1 "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."

     This is another vision. It is not the same as the vision in
chapter 7. The last vision was of the end times. This vision deals
with Media, Persia, and Greece leading up to the end times.

     Daniel 8:2 "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."

     Shushan was one of the capitals of the Persian Empire. It was the
capitol of the land of Elam. Elam was named for the first son of Shem.
There is very little known about the river Ulai.

     Daniel 8:3 "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 20 of this chapter tells us the two horns are the kings of
Media and Persia. It appears, that Persia was the more prominent of
the two. The fact there was just one animal, shows the unity of Media,
and Persia. The two horns show they were of two peoples.

     Daniel 8:4 "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."

     We do know from history, there was a great conquest of nations
who surrounded them. They were so powerful, they had conquered even
the Babylonians.

     Daniel 8:5 "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."

     This is speaking of Greece, and the horn {symbolizing power} is
speaking of Alexander the great.

     Daniel 8:6 "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."

     This is just explaining that Alexander the great fought against
the Medes and the Persians.

     Daniel 8:7 "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."

     This powerful ruler {Alexander the Great} fought with the Medes
and Persians, and defeated them in battle. "Choler" means bitter. The
Medes and the Persians were no match for Alexander.

     Daniel 8:8 "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."

     Alexander was thought of as great. When he died, 4 of his
generals took over in his place. Macedonia and Greece were under the
rule of Cassander; Asia Minor under the rule of Lysimachus;
Syria and the east ruled by Seleucus; and Cyrene under Ptolemy.

     Daniel 8:9 "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]."

     This is, possibly, speaking of Antiochus. This is all leading up
to the persecution of the Jews by Epiphanes. The "pleasant land" was,
probably, Palestine.

     Daniel 8:10 "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."

     Revelation 6:13 "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth,
even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a
mighty wind." The fig tree symbolizes the house of Israel. The "host
of heaven" could be speaking of Israel.  The "stars" could be speaking
of their leaders.  We do know that the Jews were persecuted. This
particular Scripture could have two messages. One would be to the time
very near to when Daniel lived, and the other could reach to the end
of time.

     Daniel 8:11 "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."

     The "Prince of the host" would have been the Lord. In 70 A.D.,
the temple was destroyed and the sacrifice stopped. I believe this has
to do with the similar Scriptures following. Daniel 11:31 "And arms
shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of
strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall
place the abomination that maketh desolate." Daniel 12:11 "And from
the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the
abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand
two hundred and ninety days." These last two Scriptures have to do
with the time of the antichrist.

     Daniel 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."

     The transgressions would have made the sacrifice unacceptable to
God. There was no truth prevailing. They seemed to prosper, even
though they were evil.

     Daniel 8:13  "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?"

     Mark 13:14  "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him
that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the
mountains:" There is something sitting, even today, where the temple
of God should sit. The city will be trodden down of the Gentiles,
until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

     Daniel 8:14 "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three
hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."

     These 2300 days would figure out to 6 years and 110 days,
figuring a 365 day year. It is interesting to note that Judas
Maccabaeus cleansed the temple on December 25th 165 B.C. I will leave
you to decide when this cleansing took place, mentioned here.

     Daniel 8:15  "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."

     Notice, this was not a man. He appeared to be a man. Daniel was
seeking an interpretation of this dream, or vision, from God.

     Daniel 8:16 "And I heard a man's voice between [the banks of]
Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand
the vision."

     The word "Ulai" is speaking of a river in Persia, possibly the
Eulaeus. The man's voice was the voice of God. Gabriel is under direct
orders of the Father. Gabriel in an archangel. He is to explain the
vision to Daniel.

     Daniel 8:17 "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."

     This vision, even though it had near fulfillments, also was set
for the end times. This would be a frightening experience, to be this
close to Gabriel. The worst fear would be the fact that God sent him,
and told him what to say. He opens Daniel's understanding to the
vision. The name "Gabriel" means hero of God.
     Daniel 8:18 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.

     This is very similar to being overcome by the Spirit. Being in
the presence of heavenly beings, brings this type of reaction. At the
mount of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John went into a deep
sleep. This is a special privilege to be in the presence of heavenly
beings.

     Daniel 8:19 "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]."

     The time for the end of the world has been set since the
foundation of the earth. This is speaking, however, of a nearer time,
as well. The end of the indignation could be speaking of the end of
the indignation for those specific people. The near meaning speaks of
the Jews struggle against Epiphanes.

     Daniel 8:20 "The ram which thou sawest having [two] horns [are]
the kings of Media and Persia." Daniel 8:21 "And the rough goat [is]
the king of Grecia: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is]
the first king."

     These are both discussed earlier in the lesson. The two horns are
because Media and Persia are two. The rough goat is Alexander the
great of Greece.

     Daniel 8:22 "Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it,
four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power."

     The four that stood up were 4 generals.

     Daniel 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."

     This has jumped to an entirely different time element. Notice, it
does not say in their later time, it says in the latter day of their
kingdom. It is the kingdom's latter day. This king is evil. He is
using things of Satan to make him understand. Dark sentences have no
light of God in them.

     Daniel 8:24 "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."

     His strength is not his own. He is operating under the influence
of Satan. He is totally opposed to God's people. God has allowed this,
because of the unfaithfulness of His people.

     Daniel 8:25 "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."

     The Prince of princes is speaking of Jesus. Destroying by peace
is a trick of the antichrist. If this is not speaking of him, it is
certainly speaking of a type of antichrist. This is speaking of a
spiritual battle. Jesus does defeat Satan and all of his fellows.

     Daniel 8:26 "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."

     This appears to be real days, because it uses the expression
evening and morning, which is generally speaking of a 24 hour period
of time. We must remember that God's time and our time are not the
same. He lives in one eternal day. Just as 70 weeks is speaking of 70
years, this could be speaking of months or years. In 24 hour days
{figuring the 365 day year, this would be 6 years and 110 days. This
could be a hidden indication of how long the earth will remain before
the 1000 year day of Sabbath begins. There is no proof of this, just
speculation. It could, also, symbolize the 7 years of tribulation. God
could have used a different number of days for a year. Anything we
might say about this is pure speculation. Gods knows.

     Daniel 8:27 "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]."

     I believe God does not reveal this to man, because it is His
secret. There are some things not intended to be understood.

























                          Daniel 9 Questions


1.  Where was Daniel in this vision?
2.  Who was Elam named for?
3.  How many horns did the ram have?
4.  What did they symbolize?
5.  Which was the most prominent?
6.  The horn symbolizes __________.
7.  Who is this horn speaking of?
8.  What does "choler" mean?
9.  Macedonia and Greece were under which of the 4 Generals?
10. Asia Minor was under whose rule?
11. Who ruled Syria?
12. Cyrene was ruled by __________.
13. What was the "pleasant land" speaking of?
14. Quote Revelation chapter 6 verse 13.
15. Who does the "fig tree" symbolize?
16. Who is the "host of heaven", possibly?
17. Who is the Prince of the host?
18. In _____ A.D., the temple was destroyed and the sacrifice stopped.
19. Daniel chapter 11 verse 31 and Daniel chapter 12 verse 11 have to
    do with the time of the ____________.
20. What would have made the sacrifices unacceptable to God?
21. Quote Mark chapter 13 verse 14.
22. How long will the city be trodden down of the Gentiles?
23. What is interesting to note about Judas Maccabaeus?
24. The man's voice, in verse 16, was whose?
25. Who had God sent with the message to Daniel?
26. When is this vision for?
27. What does the name "Gabriel" mean?
28. The sleep, in verse 18, is very similar to what?
29. How long has the time for the end of the world been set?
30. Dark sentences have no _______ of ______ in them.
31. Why has God allowed this evil one to destroy?
32. This evil one is operating under the influence of _________.
33. The Prince of princes is speaking of ___________.
34. Destroying by peace is a trick of _____________.
35. What are some of the things the vision of evening ad morning could
    be?
36. Who understood Daniel's vision?