SERMON NOTES

Subject: “Prophetic Proof”

Speaker: Dr. A. Burge Troxel

Date: February 25, 2007

Scripture: Daniel 8:1-27

Introduction:

The Bible Is Trustworthy

The Bible is Under Attack all the Time

US News & World Report

Not one author did I recognize?? – Why, not one author is know to be a believer in the Bible!

Daniel – P. 37 – There is every reason

Chapter 11

I. Trust the Bible and Jesus not the Skeptics

A. Skeptics say Daniel is too Inaccurate to be Authentic. But, the “Nabonidus Chronicle” confirms Daniel’s Accuracy

B. Skeptics say Daniel is too Accurate to be Authentic. But, the Dead Sea Scrolls show that Daniel is Authentic. Dan 8:1-27

Daniel 8:1-2

1In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal.

Daniel 8:3

“I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long.”

Daniel 8:20

“The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.”

Daniel 8:3

“I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later.”

Daniel 8:4

“I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.”

Daniel 8:5

“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.”

Daniel 8:21

“The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.”

Daniel 8:6

“He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage.”

Daniel 8:7

“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.”

Daniel 8:8

“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 toward the four winds of heaven.”

Daniel 8:22

“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.”

Four Kingdoms

Ptolemy – Egypt & Asia Minor

Cassander – Macedonia and Greece

Lysimachus – Thrace & Asia Minor

Seleucus – Syria, Israel and Mesopotamia

Daniel 8:9

“Out of one of them (the 4 Kingdoms) came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.”

Daniel 8:23

“In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.”

US News & World Report

Chapter 11, which describes so accurately . .

Antiochus IV (Epiphanes)

Eighth king of the Seleucid dynasty

Ruled Syria from 175-164BC

Like the Future Antichrist

Daniel 8:24

“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.”

Daniel 8:25

“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. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.”

Main Point

God through Daniel described the future exactly more than 300 years before it happened!!!!

C. Jesus believed Daniel was Authentic and Accurate – Matt 24:15

Matthew 24:15

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel — let the reader understand—”

II. Trust the Bible and Jesus not the Cults

A. The Story of a “Cult” – Dan 8:14

How “Cults” Arise

Daniel 8:14

“He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored.”

William Miller

Daniel 8 – Occurred in 451BC

Daniel 8:14 – 2,300 days until sanctuary “cleansed”

2,300 days = 2,300 years

So, Christ will come in 1842-43AD

Matthew 24:36

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”

Proper Interpretation

2,300 evenings and mornings = 1,150 Days = 3.2 Years

Solution

– Antiochus desecrates the Temple – 167BC

– Cleansing of Temple by Judas Maccabeus – 164-163BC

B. All Cults:

1. Twist Scripture

2. Have Secret “Revelations” usually from an “Angel”

3. Proclaim They are the Only True “Church”

4. Deny the Final Authority of the Bible

Conclusion:

Don’t Trust the Skeptics or the Cults

True Followers of Jesus trust Him and His Word, the Bible – John 14:6

Daniel 10 Fulfilled Prophecy Notes

Daniel 8:1-2

1In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal.

Daniel 8:3

“I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long.”

Daniel 8:20

“The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.”

Daniel 8:3

“I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later.”

Daniel 8:4

“I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.”

Daniel 8:5

“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.”

Daniel 8:21

“The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.”

Daniel 8:6

“He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage.”

Daniel 8:7

“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.”

Daniel 8:8

“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 toward the four winds of heaven.”

Daniel 8:22

“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.”

Four Kingdoms

Ptolemy – Egypt & Asia Minor

Cassander – Macedonia and Greece

Lysimachus – Thrace & Asia Minor

Seleucus – Syria, Israel and Mesopotamia

Daniel 8:9

“Out of one of them (the 4 Kingdoms) came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.”

Daniel 8:23

“In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.”

Antiochus IV (Epiphanes)

Eighth king of the Seleucid dynasty

Ruled Syria from 175-164BC

Like the Future Antichrist

Daniel 8:24

“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.”

Daniel 8:25

“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. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.”

Main Point

God through Daniel described the future exactly more than 300 years before it happened!!!!

Matthew 24:15

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel — let the reader understand—”

How “Cults” Arise

Daniel 8:14

“He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored.”

William Miller

Daniel 8 – Occurred in 451BC

Daniel 8:14 – 2,300 days until sanctuary “cleansed”

2,300 days = 2,300 years

So, Christ will come in 1842-43AD

Matthew 24:36

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”

Proper Interpretation

2,300 evenings and mornings = 1,150 Days = 3.2 Years

Solution

– Antiochus desecrates the Temple – 167BC

– Cleansing of Temple by Judas Maccabeus – 164-163BC

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”