Daniel 8.25-The Evil Bold Face King Will Oppose the Prince of Princes But Will Be Destroyed But Not By Human Agency
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday September 5, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 8:25-The Evil Bold-Face King Will Oppose the Prince of Princes But Will Be Destroyed But Not By Human Agency
Lesson # 252
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 so as to deliver 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. 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. 20 This ram which you saw possessing the two horns represents the kings ruling over Media as well as Persia. 21 Also, the male-goat, the shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece. In addition, the unusual horn which was between its eyes represents the first king. 22 Furthermore, the one which was broken and in whose place four took its position, represents four kings taking its position from his nation but not by means of its power. 23 Then, during the latter part of their dynasty, following those who rebel being brought to their end, a bold-face king will take another’s position because of being a master of intrigue. 24 In fact, his power will be mighty but not by means of his power so that he will destroy for his own benefit to an extraordinary degree. Indeed, he will execute, yes he will succeed. Furthermore, he will destroy the mighty, specifically the holy people.” (My translation)
Daniel 8:25 “And through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human agency.” (NASB95)
“Through his shrewdness” indicates that because of his cunning, the bold face king represented by the small horn of the male-goat in the vision will cause deceit to succeed by his influence.
“He will cause deceit to succeed” reveals that the bold king represented by the small horn in the vision will succeed in bringing about that which he desired, namely the deaths of faithful Jewish believers, as well as abolishing the daily sacrifice and destroying copies of the Old Testament Scriptures.
It describes the bold face king represented by the small horn of the male-goat as being dishonest in his dealings with people in the sense that he will deliberately mislead people to gain an advantage over them and power.
“By his influence” is indicating that Gabriel is telling Daniel that the bold face king represented by the small horn of the male-goat will cause deceit to succeed by means of or through his power or influence.
“And he will magnify himself in his heart” expresses the shock that the bold face king represented by the small horn of the male-goat would magnify himself in his heart when he in fact is a creature of God.
This statement teaches that the bold face king represented by the small horn of the male goat will be arrogant in his heart in the sense that he will have a distorted view of himself and think more highly of himself than he ought to think in light of the fact that he is a creature of God.
He will have an exaggerated view of his own worth and importance.
“And he will destroy many while they are at ease” denotes that this bold face king will cause many people to be killed when they are unaware of the danger.
“He will even oppose the Prince of princes” expresses the shock that the bold face king represented by the small horn of the male-goat would oppose God Himself.
This statement indicates that the bold face king will even stand against God.
“But he will be broken without human agency” stands in direct contrast to the previous statement that the bold face king represented by the small horn of the male-goat in Daniel’s vision will stand against God who is ruler over the kings of the earth.
This adversative clause teaches that the bold face king will be killed by no human power or agency.
Daniel 8:25 “Also, because of his cunning, he will thus cause deceit to succeed by means of his power. He will even be arrogant in his heart. Furthermore, he will cause many while unaware to be killed. He will even stand against the Ruler over the rulers. However, he will be destroyed by no human power.” (My translation)
History indicates that this bold face king depicted as a small horn originating from one of the four horns of the male-goat is Antiochus Epiphanes IV since this individual fulfilled the description of this bold face here in Daniel chapter eight.
Here in Daniel 8:25, Gabriel continues his description of the bold face king who is represented in the vision as the small horn of the male goat which emerged from one of its four conspicuous horns, which took the place of the broken horn.
The angel tells Daniel that because of his cunning, this bold face king will cause deceit to succeed by means of his power.
This means that this king will be deceitful in his dealings with other nations including Israel.
He will use his military and political power to spread lies and false information.
The reason why he does this is because, as to his character, he is cunning.
Gabriel then tells Daniel that this bold face king will even be arrogant in his heart meaning that he will have a distorted view of himself and his own importance and worth.
He will think more highly than he ought to think.
Then, the angel informs Daniel that this deceitful, bold face king will cause many to be killed as he takes them by surprise.
This refers to Antiochus Epiphanes IV killing many faithful Jews in Israel because they would not obey his orders to cease reading and obeying the Scriptures and worshipping the God of Israel in the temple.
This king will also do the unthinkable by even opposing God Himself who Gabriel describes as “the Ruler over the rulers” of the earth.
Antiochus Epiphanes was under God’s authority but yet was insubordinate to Him as demonstrated by his killing many faithful believers in Israel and attempting to destroy the Scriptures and the temple worship of Yahweh.
However, Gabriel says that this wicked king will meet his end but no human being will be the cause of his death.
History records that Antiochus Epiphanes IV died insane in Persia in 163 B.C.
Matthew Henry writes “The ruin that he shall be brought to at last: He shall be broken without hand, that is, without the hand of man. He shall not be slain in war, nor shall he be assassinated, as tyrants commonly were, but he shall fall into the hand of the living God and die by an immediate stroke of his vengeance. He, hearing that the Jews had cast the image of Jupiter Olympius out of the temple, where he had placed it, was so enraged at the Jews that he vowed he would make Jerusalem a common burial-place, and determined to march thither immediately; but no sooner had he spoken these proud words than he was struck with an incurable plague in his bowels; worms bred so fast in his body that whole flakes of flesh sometimes dropped from him; his torments were violent, and the stench of his disease such that none could endure to come near him. He continued in this misery very long. At first he persisted in his menaces against the Jews; but at length, despairing of his recovery, he called his friends together, and acknowledged all those miseries to have fallen upon him for the injuries he had done to the Jews and his profaning the temple at Jerusalem. Then he wrote courteous letters to the Jews, and vowed that if he recovered he would let them have the free exercise of their religion. But, finding his disease grow upon him, when he could no longer endure his own smell, he said, It is meet to submit to God, and for man who is mortal not to set himself in competition with God, and so died miserably in a strange land, on the mountains of Pacata near Babylon: so Ussher’s Annals, A.M. 3840, about 160 years before the birth of Christ.”
As we have noted many times, this prophetic vision recorded in Daniel chapter eight took place in the sixth century B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes and his persecution of the Jewish people did not appear on the pages of history until the second century B.C.
Therefore, in the sixth century B.C. God was forewarning the nation of Israel of this persecution.
He was encouraging the faithful Jewish remnant in Israel that this persecution will only last a certain amount of time and will end.
In fact, God will judge Antiochus Epiphanes and remove him from power.
The fact that God warns the faithful remnant in Israel in this prophetic vision centuries before the persecution led by Antiochus Epiphanes took place reveals that God warns His people before they face undeserved suffering and persecution.
In 2 Timothy 3:11, the apostle Paul forewarns Timothy and all church age believers that those who live godly lives in fellowship with Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
By God forewarning us of persecution, He is reminding us that He is sovereign and in control and not those who persecute us.
On his return from his campaign in Egypt, Antiochus came to Jerusalem to reinstate Menelaus.
He entered the Temple precincts to plunder the temple treasury, and to carry away valuable utensils, such as the golden candlestick upon the altar and the showbread table, as well as gold.
When the Romans caused him to abandon another expedition against Egypt, Antiochus attacked the Jews.
He ordered his officer Apollonius to go throughout Israel with an armed troop in order kill the Jews.
He first entered Jerusalem peaceably but then suddenly turning upon Jerusalem by murdering throughout the city.
The men were butchered, women and children sold into slavery.
The walls and houses of the city were ordered to torn down by Antiochus.
As a result of making Jerusalem his Greek colony, this king turned his attention to the destruction of the national religion in Israel.
He decreed the abolition of the Jewish mode of worship by abolishing the observance of the Sabbaths and the seven great feasts of Israel.
Circumcision was abolished.
The Scriptures were to be surrendered and the Jews were compelled to offer sacrifices to the idols that had been erected.
The Antiochus’ officers carried out his orders with great vigor.
Anyone in possession of a copy of the Old Testament Scriptures was executed.
The performance of the rite of circumcision was punished with capital punishment.
Many faithful Jews were killed for opposing Antiochus’ orders.
On Kislew (Nov.-Dec.) 25, 168, the “abomination of desolation” was set up on the altar of burnt offering in the Temple, and the Jews were ordered to worship it.
This was probably the Olympian Zeus, or Baal Shamem.
Antiochus Epiphanes’ actions foreshadow the actions of Antichrist who the book of Revelation 13, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 and Daniel 9:27 teach will abolish the sacrifices in the Jewish temple during Daniel’s Seventieth Week and proclaim himself as God and demand the world to worship him as God.
He like Antiochus Epiphanes before him, will set up an abomination of desolation in the temple standing during Daniel’s Seventieth Week, which will be a statue of himself which he will compel the Jews and the earth’s inhabitants to worship or be put to death for failing to obey his orders.
