Daniel 8.19-The Vision Foreshadows Events During the Righteous Indignation Related to the End Because It Extends to the Appointed Time Related to the End
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday August 22, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 8:19-The Vision Foreshadows Events During the Righteous Indignation Related to the End Because It Extends to an Appointed Time Related to the End
Lesson # 246
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 8:1.
Daniel 8:1 During the third year of Belshazzar’s reign, the king, a vision appeared to me, I, Daniel after the one appearing to me previously. 2 Indeed, I was staring because of this vision. Specifically, I myself was in a trance like state staring as I myself was in Susa, the citadel, which was in the province of Elam. Furthermore, I was staring because of this vision as I myself was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 Then, I lifted up my eyes and then I was staring as behold a ram was standing in front of the canal with it possessing two horns. Furthermore, the two horns were long. However, one was longer than the other with the longer one growing up last. 4 I saw this ram continually butting westward as well as northward and in addition southward as all the beasts could by no means stand in front of it. Furthermore, none could deliver out from its power so that it acted according to its desire. Indeed, it became great. 5 Then, I myself was in a trance like state as behold a male-goat who is ruler over the goats, was traveling from the west over the earth’s surface. In fact, it was not touching the earth’s surface. Also, this male-goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. 6 Next, it traveled up to the ram possessing two horns which I saw standing in front of the canal. In fact, it charged against it in a powerful rage. 7 Consequently, I saw it wage an attack opposing this ram while causing itself to become enraged against it. Indeed, it repeatedly struck this ram so as to shatter its two horns. Also, there was no ability in the ram to stand in front of it. Then, it drove it to the ground as well as trampled on it repeatedly. Indeed, to the detriment of the ram, there was none who could deliver from its power. 8 So the male-goat who is the ruler over the goats was very great. However, as soon as it became powerful, the unusual horn was broken. Then, in its place, four conspicuous ones arose towards the heaven’s four winds. 9 Next, from one of them, a small horn in comparison emerged which grew excessively large toward the south as well as the east and in addition the beautiful land. 10 Specifically, it grew larger than the heaven’s host. Indeed, it caused some of this host, yes some of these stars to fall to the earth. Also, it trampled on them. 11 It even presented itself as great as the host’s Commander while taking away the daily sacrifice from Him so that His holy place was abandoned. 12 Consequently the host along with the daily sacrifice were delivered over to it through transgression. Also, it caused the truth to be thrown to the ground. Indeed, it executed, yes it succeeded. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking and a holy one said to this particular one who was speaking, “How long is the vision, the daily sacrifice, specifically the transgression making desolate resulting in delivering over both the sanctuary as well as the host to be trampled?” 14 Consequently he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings, and mornings. Then, the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.” 15 Now, I was in a trance like state staring at this vision, which I, Daniel desired to understand as behold one like a man in appearance was standing directly in front of me. 16 Then, I heard a human being’s voice between the banks of the Ulai. Indeed, it ordered and said “Gabriel, enable this one to understand the vision.” 17 Therefore, he approached my location. Indeed, when he approached, I was terrified so that I fell upon my face. Then, he said to me, “Please, understand descendant of Adam that the vision extends to the end time.” 18 Now while he was speaking with me for my benefit, I was caused to enter the state of being in a deep sleep with my face to the ground. However, he touched me so that he caused me to stand upon my feet. (My translation)
Daniel 8:19 He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end. (NASB95)
“Behold” is the interjection hin·nē(h) (הִנֵּה) (hin-nay´), which draws the attention of the reader to this statement made by the elect angel Gabriel and marks it out as impressive and astounding to Daniel.
“I am going to let you know” is indicating that Gabriel is telling Daniel that he is about to cause him to know what will occur during the final period of wrath because the vision extends to the appointed end time.
“At the final period of the indignation” is composed of the preposition bĕ (בְּ) (beh), “at” and its object is the noun ʾǎ·ḥǎrîṯ (אַחֲרִית) (akh-ar-eeth´), “the period of” and then we have the noun zǎ·ʿǎm (זַעַם) (zah´-am), “the indignation.”
The noun ʾǎ·ḥǎrîṯ means “the end, the latter time, the latter end, later in the time” since it refers to the last point of a period of time.
The noun zǎ·ʿǎm means “wrath, righteous indignation” since it refers to a curse that expresses extreme indignation.
The articular construction of this noun indicates that this later period of wrath is a unique period of history.
The construct state of the noun ʾǎ·ḥǎrîṯ means that it is governing zǎ·ʿǎm and is expressing a genitive relation between these two words, which is possession indicating that this wrath or righteous indignation that is unique “belongs” or is “related to” the latter time or the end.
The construct state signifies a relationship between the end and this wrath or righteous indignation.
The noun ʾǎ·ḥǎrîṯ is also the object of the preposition bĕ, which means “during” since it is a marker of an extent of time within a larger unit indicating that Gabriel is telling Daniel that he is about to cause him to know what will take place “during” the righteous indignation or wrath of the end.
This prepositional phrase indicates that the events symbolically portrayed in the vision will take place “during” the righteous indignation of the end.
“For it pertains to the appointed time of the end” is presenting the reason why or the basis for which the events symbolically portrayed in the vision will take place during the righteous indignation belonging to the end.
Daniel 8:19 Then, he said, “Behold, I am about to cause you to know what will take place during the righteous indignation related to the end because the vision extends to an appointed period of time related to the end.” (My translation)
Once he is revived, Daniel stands up on his feet and the elect angel Gabriel tells him that he is about to cause him to know what will take during the righteous indignation related to the end.
He then proceeds to give him the reason as to why these events symbolically portrayed in the vision will take place during the righteous indignation related to the end.
They will take place at that time because the vision extends or covers an appointed period of time related to the end.
The phrase “the end time” in Daniel 8:17 as well as “the end” and “appointed period of time related to the end” here in Daniel 8:19 are a reference to the end of Israel’s history prior to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ and His subsequent millennial reign, namely Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
These phrases are all a reference to the last seven years of Israel’s prophetic history which Bible scholars call “Daniel’s Seventieth Week.”
Thus, the events symbolically portrayed in the vision in Daniel chapter eight are foreshadowing symbolically what will take during Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
Now, the ram in Daniel 8:3-4 was fulfilled in history by the Medo-Persian Empire.
History teaches that the male goat in Daniel 8:5-8 was fulfilled by the Greek Empire and the conspicuous horn represented Alexander the Great.
The four conspicuous horns represent his four generals and the ruler represented by the small horn which emerges from one of the four represents Antiochus Epiphanes.
So the vision has been literally fulfilled in history.
However, in Daniel 8:17, Gabriel informs Daniel that the vision extends up to the end time, which refers to Daniel’s Seventieth Week, which is the last seven years of Israel’s 490 prophetic years referred in the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27.
Therefore, this indicates the vision was not only literally fulfilled in history by Medo-Persia, Greece, Alexander, his four generals and Antiochus Epiphanes IV but it also foreshadows the character and actions of Antichrist during Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
This is indicated by the fact that Rome and in particular the final form of the Roman Empire and not Greece and Medo-Persia is the empire that will exist during the Seventieth Week of Daniel.
Also, furthering indicating this is Gabriel’s statement in Daniel 8:19 in which he tells Daniel that he will let him know what will occur at the latter time of wrath, for the vision pertains to the time of the end.
Thus, Gabriel is telling us here in the church age and those living during Daniel’s Seventieth Week that the character and actions of the small horn here in this vision in chapter eight not only were fulfilled in history by Antiochus Epiphanes IV in the second century B.C. but also foreshadow the character and actions of Antichrist during Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
Thus, Gabriel is telling the church age believer and the believer living during Daniel’s Seventieth Week that the vision in Daniel chapter eight foreshadows the events which will take place during the righteous indignation related to the end because it extends to an appointed time related to the end.
The end and the appointed time related to the end are all speaking of Daniel’s Seventieth Week in which God will discipline Israel by exercising His righteous indignation towards Israel.
So the small horn in chapter eight represents Antiochus Epiphanes IV but foreshadows in many respects Antichrist.
The “righteous indignation” mentioned in Daniel 8:19 is a reference to God’s wrath or righteous indignation toward the nation of Israel for rejecting Her Messiah Jesus Christ.
Righteousness indignation speaks of God’s wrath, which is an expression of His holiness referring to God’s response to any thought, word, or action of His moral rational creatures, whether mankind and angels, that is opposed to His holiness and manifests itself in actions that judge and punish the guilty.
The difference between righteous indignation and anger is that the former is based upon concern for the holiness of God whereas the latter is emotional, selfish, self-centered, vindictive and intent on harming another.
God’s righteous indignation is the legitimate anger towards evil and sin since both are contrary to His holiness or perfect character and nature.
In fact, God’s righteous indignation expresses His holiness.
