Learning from Daniel's Second Vision
Date 06 01 02 01 Text Daniel 8 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
We’ve begun to study the Book of Daniel. As I’ve said before, one of the problems with it is that while the first six chapters are fairly straightforward the second six are much more difficult to follow. That is because the first half of the book is all about Daniel and his friends and what happened to them in far away Babylon, while the second half mainly features a series of visions that are quite difficult to follow in some places and sometimes hard to understand. Rather than keeping all that material to the end I’m following my father-in-law’s lead in his little book Daniel – Servant of God under four kings. There he groups the material from Daniel in respect to the four different kings who were reigning when the visions or events occurred. The first four chapters of Daniel, which we have looked at, relate events that all took place during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. When we come to Chapter 5 we find that a new king is in the palace – Belshazzar. We know from elsewhere that he was the son of Nabonidus, the king who succeeded Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar reigned c 605-562 and Nabonidus 556-539, the last six years involving a co-regency. For the last ten years of his reign Nabonidus was away fighting in central Arabia. It would seem that Belshazzar, the crown prince, reigned in that period. Much of the power was with the Queen Mother who is mentioned in Chapter 5.
Chapter 5 concerns the final hours of Belshazzar’s reign and the fall of Babylon. Chapter 7 relates a vision given to Daniel In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon. We have looked at that chapter. Chapter 8 begins similarly In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. So, chronologically, Chapters 7 and 8 come before Chapter 5. That’s why we are following this order. The vision of Chapter 8 overlaps with the previous two – the one in Chapter 7 and the one back in Chapter 2 that Nebuchadnezzar received. This one focuses in on part of what is covered in the others. Verse 1 gives the time of Daniel’s vision (In the third year of King Belshazzar). Daniel would have been in his sixties by this time. Babylon is still standing but its days are clearly numbered. Three things seem to emphasise this.
1. Unlike the other visions this one is described in Hebrew not Aramaic, the language of God’s people not that of their oppressors.
2. Also, unlike the previous night visions, this dream took place during the daytime. The day was coming.
3. In verse 2 we are told where the vision took place - In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. After Babylon’s collapse, this city was to become the capital of the Persian Empire that succeeded it. The Ulai was an artificially constructed canal some 900 feet wide linking two great rivers.
Let’s consider the vision then
1. Learn from Daniel’s vision that history is the unfolding of God’s plan and purpose
There are four features in particular that we need to note.
1. Ram. In verses 3 and 4 Daniel describes a two-horned ram charging about and doing as he pleased. One horn is longer than the other though it grows up later. This is a clear reference to the Medo-Persian Empire that would in just a few years overthrow the Babylonians. They were led by Darius the Mede at first but then Cyrus the Persian came to power. One of their symbols was a ram. See verse 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. As predicted here the Medes and Persians made gains towards the west and the north and the south though not the east. As verse 4 puts it No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
2. Goat. Then in verses 5-7 a one-horned goat appears flying in from the west. See verse 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. He defeats the ram by knocking him down and trampling him. This is a very vivid way of describing what happened in BC 336-323 following the death of Philip of Macedon and the rise of his son, Alexander the Great. First he defeated the Persians. See verses 6 and 7 He came towards the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage. I saw him attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him, and none could rescue the ram from his power. Before his early death at the age of 32 Alexander also rapidly carved out an empire stretching from Greece to India. See verse 5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. Verse 8 The goat became very great ….
3. Four horns. Verse 8 goes on to tell how after the goat became great its long horn was broken off only to be replaced by four others. The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up towards the four winds of heaven. This refers to the way, after Alexander’s death, his empire was shared out among four generals – Cassander (Macedonia), Lysimachus (Asia Minor, Thrace), Seleucius (Syria) and Ptolemy (Egypt). See verse 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power. As quickly as they come so they go – the powers of this world.
4. Little horn. Then we come to the real focus of this chapter. From one of these horns another grows and in verses 9-12 his activities are described. He starts small but grew in power to the south and to the east and towards the Beautiful Land, that is Canaan. There can be no doubt that this is a reference to the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes IV. In fact, this is so clear that there have been people who wanted unfairly to deny that Daniel is prophecy at all. Antiochus arose out of humble obscurity in the Seleucid quarter. His single minded ruthlessness brought him to power in 175 BC. He saw victories over Egypt to the south and Armenia to the east before turning his attention to the Promised Land. Verse 10 says It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. This refers to how Antiochus persecuted not angels but God’s people (cf Exodus 7:4, 12:41). In verse 11 we are told that It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; (ie God himself) it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. This refers to the Temple in Jerusalem which he desecrated. Verse 12 Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. What dark, dark days those were. He banned the Sabbath and circumcision, replaced Temple sacrifice with pagan prostitution and bitterly persecuted the Jews. God’s people suffered every kind of humiliation and brutality.
In verses 13 and 14 a holy one (an angel) appears and Daniel asks how long it would be until that part of the vision was fulfilled. How long would Antiochus go on with his persecution and blasphemy? Daniel is told It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated. If we take a year as being 360 days (probably the length of a biblical year) that adds up to six years and four months, just about the length of time that Antiochus’s outrages continued, ie 171-165 BC. When he went as far as replacing the Temple altar with a pagan one he precipitated the Maccabaean revolt that led to the recapture of the Temple. The sudden death of the stern-faced king and master of intrigue followed shortly after.
5. Applications. A number of lessons come to mind.
1 God knows the end from the beginning. What a comfort it was in the days of Antiochus for God’s people to have this prophecy. It’s a comfort to us today to know the future is in God’s hands. He knows all about it
2 He is in control. Not only does he know the future but he controls it too. Yes, he does allow evil men to grow in strength at times but he is also able to stop them just when he chooses.
3 He raises up tyrants and brings them down. It is important to remember that when an Antiochus, a Hitler, a Saddam rises to power then it is God who allows it. He also brings such people down. Ossamer bin Laden appears still to be at liberty but in the time of God’s choosing, not man’s, he will be brought to justice. [As has happened since this sermon was preached]
4. Some tyrants are worse than others. Antiochus was clearly far worse than any Babylonian or Persian ruler. There are some tyrants like that – evil men like Hitler and Stalin, Pol Pot and Mao Tse Tung who go very far indeed in their evil. We must recognise that fact.
5. When God allows his servants to suffer it is always for a limited time. This is one other word of comfort for all believers. The suffering does not go on incessantly.
2. Learn from the explanation of Daniel’s vision to look to God for revelation and victory
In verses 15-25 the vision is explained to Daniel. We’ve already drawn on some of these verses to confirm what we’ve said.
1. Look to God for revelation though you are weak and sinful
Daniel tells us that While he was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before him stood one who looked like a man. This was Gabriel, an angel or heavenly messenger. He and Michael, named later in the book, are the only angels whose names we know. In verse 16 Daniel says And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision. Calvin is right when he suggests that this can be none other than the Second Person of the Trinity, the pre-incarnate Christ. So in obedience to Christ, Gabriel comes near to Daniel. Daniel says (17a) As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. This is what it is like when an angel draws near. What does Gabriel say? 17b Son of man, he said to me, understand that the vision concerns the time of the end – not the end of the world but the end of the troubles prophesied here. The presence of the angel is too much for Daniel and he becomes unconscious (18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.) Gabriel then says (19) I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. Or the end will be at the appointed time. Again we are thinking of the end of this present period of suffering for the Jews.
Daniel is clearly a weak and sinful man just like us but God speaks to him. Through this message he speaks to us this morning as well. Listen to the message.
2. Wicked men can do much harm but God will destroy them
In verses 20-22 follow the identifications we have already mentioned of the ram, goat and horns. Verses 23-35 concentrate on Antiochus, In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. This well describes what we know from elsewhere about this evil and deceitful man. It seems that he would befriend influential and unscrupulous men to gain power and then drop them when he had achieved his aims. He was like a gangster with no redeeming features. It says He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes - God himself. In his victories over others and his persecution of the holy people of God, in his blasphemies, deceit and pride, Antiochus did all this. His very title Epiphanes was a claim to be a manifestation of God himself.
But then note the end of verse 25 Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power (Lit human hand). Remember how in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision it was without hands that the little rock that struck the statue was formed. In 5:5 it is fingers without a hand that write Belshazzar’s doom. So the hand of God would destroy even this wicked antichrist Antiochus Epiphanes. And he did die – suddenly from an unknown disease. Yes, we must expect antichrists. Many evil men have arisen and will arise, as hard as it is for us to imagine sometimes. However, as easily as they come so they also go. God removes them. We must believe both that evil men arise and that God removes them. We must be wise and cautious but we must also rejoice for God reigns.
3. God cares for his people and even the strongest foe is as nothing before him
I’m sure you’ve heard of Alexander and perhaps the Persian Empire but may be not Antiochus. That is partly because in terms of world history he usually merits few comments. However, there is a good deal about him here precisely because of the effect he had on God’s own people. This gives us a clue to how God looks at history. He sees it all in terms of his kingdom and his unfolding purposes. This should give us who believe encouragement and stands as a warning to those who dare to oppose him and his people.
To God Antiochus is just a little horn. What is the Persian Empire? A lopsided ram! As for Alexander the Great – just a goat charging about! This puts it all in perspective. A Hitler, a Stalin, an Osama Bin Laden, what can they do before God? Nothing!
3. Learn from the circumstances of Daniel’s vision about revelation and life
In verses 26 and 27 the vision is concluded and Daniel tells us what followed. There are lessons here too.
1. See that what God reveals is true. 26a The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true. This is not some story but history given before its time. Daniel was assured that it was true and so it proved. One of the reasons such prophecies are given in Scripture is to assure us that this Word is absolutely true and reliable. Believe every word.
2. See the need to safeguard revelation. 26b but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future. The Word had to be kept safe until the needed time. There is evidence that it was taken care of and other Scriptures similarly. Down the years God’s people have taken great care to preserve the Scriptures and to keep them separate and distinct from other literature. We also must have the same attitude to the Bible. Are you giving it pride of place in your life?
3. Recognise the overwhelming nature of such revelations. 27a I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Receiving such a revelation was no picnic. Daniel was severely debilitated by the whole experience. He didn’t come from it jumping and joking. This is typical of what happens when people experience a genuine encounter with God. It is important for us to realise the affect such encounters are likely to produce.
4. The need to go on living faithfully. But note verse 27b Then I got up and went about the king’s business. Daniel did not give up his job or spend his days anxiously waiting for another such experience. He got on with the work in hand. Again, he is an example to us of how to live. He saw no immediate unfolding of the vision but he waited for God’s time.
5. The mysterious nature of God’s revelations. Finally we read, verse 27c, I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. Daniel did not think ‘Ah now I know everything’. Even with this revelation, he still remained ignorant of many things. It was also clear that times of persecution were ahead for God’s people – he himself had not faced his biggest test in the lions’ den. We too know only in part. Many mysteries remain and who knows what lies ahead for us as individuals. Let’s be sober minded and serious.
4. One final lesson
We think of Gabriel mostly in connection with the birth of Jesus and John the Baptist. He is the one who announced that these births were to take place. Interestingly, as Stuart Olyott points out in his Welwyn commentary, when John was born his father Zechariah spoke these words – Luke 1:68, 69 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. There are several horns in Daniel 8. They stand for various princely powers. It is good that we remember, as we close, that God has his horn of power too. In the rest of the New Testament he is described not as a charging ram or a shaggy goat but the Lamb of God. When all the rams and goats of history are gone, the Lamb will remain. See Revelation 5:12, 13 In a loud voice they sang: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise! Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever! All other power is passing. In everything look only and always to him.
