Is anyone really in Control Part 2

INTRODUCTION

The Veil of the Unknown

Human nature has always sought after knowledge of the future. Whether it’s consulting a psychic medium, a guru, a horoscope, or some other professed spiritual leader to give us insight into the veil of the unknown.

We have had literally 100’s of people and groups try to predict the end of the world or apocalyptic events.

*December 21, 2012 Marked the end of the Mayan Calendar, many interpreted this to mean and absolute end to the calendar, which tracked time continuously for 5,125 years.

*Harold Camping among modern predictors of end times, has predicted the end of the world as many as 12 times based on his biblical interpretations of numerology.

*Taiwanese religious leader Hon-Ming Chen established the “True Way,” a religious movement that blended Christianity, Buddhism, UFO conspiracy theories, and Taiwanese fold religion. Chen appeared on U.S. television channel 18 on March 25, 1988 proclaiming that Christ would descend to earth the following week in a physical form identical to Chen. The next year he predicted that devil spirits, together with massive flooding would result in mass extinction of the human population. Followers could be spared by buying their way aboard a spaceship, disguised as clouds, sent to rescue them.

*Halley’s comet passed by the Earth approximately every 76 years, but the nearness of its approach in 1910 created fear it would destroy the planet, either by celestial collision or through the poisonous gasses it was rumored to contain. A group of Oklahoma people tried to sacrifice a virgin to ward off the impending doom.

The list goes on and on with those who have tried to lift the veil from history, and foresee the course of our own lives and the coming of the end times. The desire to have such knowledge of the future has duped many men and women into falling for such imposters in all ages, from the ignorance of the unlettered Egyptian, up to the cleverness of modern professors.

With the exception of what God has carefully outlined for us in the revealed word of God the future is absolutely shut from the human eye; and as to the details which concern your life or mine, it is utterly impossible that we should ever know whether it be some horoscope, or soothsaying, or other means our future.

Note: Last week we unpacked Daniels dream of four different kingdoms of the earth referred to as “beasts”. Out of the fourth kingdom which was the great Roman Empire will rise the 11th horn the anti-Christ. The Ancient of Day’s comes riding on the clouds as the judge who ends the antichrists reign, then we ended with the son of man, Jesus Christ coming to rule and reign with us his people for all eternity in His everlasting kingdom. Yet Daniels thoughts still greatly alarmed him.

God is now going to expand Daniels vision and understanding of the historical nature of the vision.

Remember Daniel had seen himself the whole time in in exile from Jerusalem and an alien in Babylon. He had learned that their could be no negotiation between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world.

Daniels great hope this whole time had been for restoration and peace. Now some two years later Daniel receives another similar vision about the great kingdoms of the earth. Now Daniel had experienced great victories during his time in captivity. This must have been a very startling thing for him to possibly feel somewhat comfortable in his place within the kingdom of this world and then he receives such a horrific vision of the future.

Daniel 8:1–4 ESV

1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. 3 I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

Daniel 8:15–20 ESV

15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.” 18 And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia.

Notice: notice that at the end of the vision Daniel was so overcome by the vision that he lay sick for several days.

The illumination that Daniel is given is not merely the foreknowledge of events in history it is the nature of the working of evil and it’s destruction in this life and the way it apposes godliness with a focus on destroying the worship of the people of God.

Daniel 8:1-4 and Daniel 8:15-20

Daniel Standing at the Ulai Canal in Persia. (A man’s voice calling for Gabriel to come decode the dream)

The Ram identified in verse 20 as the kings of Media and Persia and the second higher horn represents the Persian Kingdom, perhaps representing the Bear raised up on one side from last weeks vision.

The Persian Empire spread to Babylonia, Syria, and Asia minor in the west and as far as Africa in the south.

Perhaps Daniel already had and idea of the fall of the Babylonian Empire after the writing on the wall.

Daniel 8:5–8 ESV

5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. 7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.

Daniel 8:21–22 ESV

21 And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power.

Daniel 8:5-8 and Daniel 8:21-22

The goat represents the kingdom of Greece with it’s fast moving dominion represented by the goat not even touching the ground.

With only thirty-five thousand men, Alexander’s forces plunged through the river attacking Darius’s one hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand horsemen, reportedly killing twenty thousand at a loss of only one hundred Greek troops.

The Large horn was broken and unexpectedly Alexanders empire was divided into four regions.

The little horn is that which turns toward’s the “glorious land,” that is, the land of God’s covenant people.

NOTE: The understanding of History focuses judgement of God on one issue: How did that nation respond to My chosen people? Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 25 that He is coming back to rule, reign, and judge the world according to what they have done with what He has given them. Alexander proved to be a confused and evil man, however the little horn here is singled out because of his evil that is directed against the people of God and all that they represent.

WHO IS THE LITTLE HORN?

Daniel 8:9–14 ESV

9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. 11 It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”

Daniel 8:23–27 ESV

23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. 26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.” 27 And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.

Note: The little horn that arose from the fourth beast in Chapter 7 and the little horn that emerges from the fragmented empire of the goat are not the same. The one in chapter 7 appears to represent the final anti-Christ however, the one in chapter eight appears to represent Antiochus Epiphanes.

Daniel 8:9-14 and Daniel 8:23-27

One of the four horns or divisions of Alexandrian Empire was Syria, which was governed by one of Alexanders generals, Selucas Nicantor, bringing about the Seleucid dynasty, out of this dynasty arose Antiochus Epiphanes bearing all of the characteristics of the demonic little horn of Daniel’s vision.

The final anti-Christ will not appear on the scene without predecessors.

The anti-Christ and his characteristics have long been shared by others who may be seen as the “many antichrists” who have already appeared.

Antiochus Epiphanes, means “The illustrious God” - although others called him Epimanes, meaning ‘the Madman.”

1 John 2:18 ESV

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

Later in Daniel it refers to the abomination and desolation of Antiochus Epiphanes.

He entered the Holy City and sacrificed a pic on the alter of burnt offering, establishing a traitor as his own high priest.

When attempts to take Egypt were foiled by the Romans he exacted his revenge on the Jews. More than 20,000 of his soldiers massacred the Jews assembled for worship on the Sabbath.

Daniel saw that the horn viciously attacked the glorious land.

BIG IDEA: Be careful that you are not lulled into a life of complacency.

God will be the one who ultimately destroys evil in this world.

The focus here is on the little horn, to which the roles of the greater empires of the ram and the goat are secondary, this should remind us of the biblical perspective, which sees not the great empires but God’s covenant people as the key to History.

HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THIS VISION TODAY?

We Have Eternal Vision

When we live in the light of eternity, we will make decisions differently because we see life from a different perspective. Instead of just going into the office to put in our time, we start our work every day knowing that we are glorifying God in some unique way.

1. We are lulled into complacency when we forget that God has the plan.

Note: The kingdom that is built on principles that are contrary to the kingdom of God will always fail. When you look at the pattern in Daniel from Nebuchadnezzar and how he set himself up as a God worth to be worshiped to the last king of acting king of Babylon Belshazzar.

The sin is always TRANSGRESSION.

It always involves overstepping the boundaries that God has set. It leads to our lives being broken by forces that we cannot control, being broken against the law’s of God.

Why do the Wicked Prosper

When we forget that God has “the plan” not just any plan or “a” plan but the plan we begin to doubt His plan when we see people who do not love the Lord or follow his plan seemingly proper.

Daniel 11:36 ESV

36 “And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.

*God’s plan includes Evil People.

Evil appears to prosper through Autonomy

Note: The false appearance of being able to do whatever e wants without any oversight or accountability for ones actions.

Autonomous: Having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs. Therefore, the autonomous person makes their own decisions rather than being influenced by someone else.

Prosper: marked by success in material terms; flourishing financially.

Sometimes the wicked Prosper

This was a problem that the Old Testament saints were all too familiar with and often wrestled. Psalm 73 King Asaph envied the seeming prosperity of the wicked. They seemed to sin and prosper contrary to what we know is right and true.

Yet he observed, “I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. Surely you set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.” This echoes God’s final words to King Belshazzar, “fool this night your soul will be required of you.” King Asaph realizes that the wicked eventually overstep themselves. Just when they think they have the world at their feet, everything is lost. They hear the words to Belshazzar, “fool tonight your soul will be required of you.”

Evil Appearing to Prosper in the New Testament

During Jesus Ministry

Satan’s Plot to Destroy Jesus: In the great sin it must have seemed as though Satan has won the day and evil was victorious. Jesus died in the hour of the power of darkness, but Satan had overstepped himself. Through the death he had sought to destroy Jesus but in reality it was through this sacrifice that Jesus was able to destroy the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their life subject to this bondage.

God used wicked and evil men to fulfill His plan: The work of the Sanhedrin and religious leaders of the day, King Harod, Pilot, Judas, the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross.

During Paul’s Ministry

Paul was frequently Imprisoned: the powers of darkness that he constantly wrestled believed that they had overcome him.

The Silencing of Christianity: Surely with the apostles martyrdom through the Roman world Christians would become discouraged and give up their faith.

Paul Feared those would loose heart: Ephesians 3:13 “I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you.” Evil appeared to be prospering, but Paul knew that it was overstepping itself. On day that would become clear.

Paul’s Imprisonment led to Greater Spread of the Gospel: What seemed like a defeated Paul actually resulted in Paul sharing the gospel with the entire prison guard, and his fellow believers had taken such heart from his example that they were witnessing with even greater boldness. Satan should have learned his lesson from the Damascus Road, when under his inspiration the young Saul had been breathing our fire of slaughter and persecution for the early Christians, only to discover one of the chief agents of Satan had been turned into one of the greatest servants of the Lord the world has ever known.

Why are we tempted to Envy the Wicked?

Perhaps the better question to follow up with is why are we upset when an evil person does well? Is it because that person has something we do not?

Remember that the wicked in this world may prosper however, we must not forget that their fortune will only endure for the short term. We have lost sight of our eternal reward and the ultimate fate of the wicked. We need this reminder!

It is natural to wonder why God is gracious and merciful to undeserving people who do not love Him or show Him the honor He is due. This is probably more about the human desire to appropriate consequences for bad behavior. Forgiving our enemies does not come easy.

Remember Jonah, Possibly one of the worst of the prophets was told to go tell the Ninevites, the sworn enemy of Israel that God was going to hold back his judgment on them to give an opportunity for them to turn and repent. Remember Jonah told God the reason he ran from giving the Lords message was that he knew that God was a merciful God abounding in love and patience towards his creation.

Perhaps the greater issue is that many of us forget that we were once hard-hearted and stubborn. We, too deserve God’s judgment. But God extended His grace and mercy towards us so that we too might receive His Salvation: “All of us have lived the same way, following the passions of this world and our flesh inclined towards our sinful nature. By the very nature of our sin we are subject to God’s anger and wrath, just like everyone else.

Ephesians 2:3–5 ESV

3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

EVEN THE WICKED HAVE A PURPOSE TO FULFILL GODS PLAN

Remember also, that it is through the nation of Israel that God will ultimately fulfill His plan to redeem mankind back to himself. All of the events that are taking place in the Old Testament are a part of this grand plan. God raised up the Babylonians, a “ruthless and impetuous people” for a reason. God raised up Persian King Cyrus in order to accomplish all that God had planned. God raised up the Egyptians and Assyrians in His righteous judgment of disobedient Judah.

*God’s plan is motivated by His love for sinners.

Why do wicked people prosper? Because God loves the sinners. He is compassionate, merciful, and patient with wicked people because He wants them to be saved.

We may want to see God immediately dispense His justice on the wicked, but God has a sovereign plan that needs to move forward. And in His love and grace, His plan includes Salvation even for those who are evil towards Him. God’s patience with the wicked is an opportunity for us to pray for them and witness to them so that they know God’s heart toward them. We are called to tell the world God’s plan of Salvation, this includes the wicked hearted and to warn them of the punishment that they can expect if the remain hardened towards God and do not turn from their evil ways.

There will be a time of judgment in the future, but until then, God graciously gives good things, even to those who hate Him. He gives the blessing of rain to the just and unjust alike. Wicked people, people who mock Him and even deny His existence still get to enjoy good weather, good food, the love of family, and a great many things. God does not withhold all blessings until a person comes to him in repentance and faith.

We all need to be reminded of our utter dependence upon God for all things. At times, we suffer because we won’t admit our need of him, relying instead on our own strength. God is patient with us, just as every parent is patient with their child who doesn’t know they aren’t strong enough or desperately wants to believe they are sufficient even when it’s obvious they aren’t.

Erik Raymond speaks to this idea when he reads in Psalm 103:13–14 that God knows our frame and remembers we are dust: “I tend to have a much higher, a more inflated opinion of myself than reality. I think I deserve to be treated better, think I’ve acted better, and believe that I will do better. I

’m the 4 year-old kid who thinks he can pick up the 50 lb. air conditioner out of the trunk of the car. But God is under no such illusion. He knows my frame. He knows how I was formed. He remembers that I am but dust. He knows this because he is my Creator! He has infinite knowledge of me and my weaknesses”

2. We are lulled into complacency when we forget where we are weak He is strong

NOTE: Daniels vision underlies the weakness of the strongest and greatest of men without God.

Alexander the Great was one of the paramount empire builders of his day; Antiochus exerted ruthless and unbelievable power against the Jews of his kingdom. Yet these ambitious men did not have any power that was not first given to them by God. They were not the masters of themselves; neither was able to control his fate.

*The Transgression of the Strong is a lack of self-discipline.

Transgression: means a presumptuous sin. To transgress is to disobey intentionally. Samson deliberately broke his Nazarite vow by touching the dead lion. When we realize that we have sinned we can either see it for what it is evil and repent. Or when we do see sin for what it is, we are to seek forgiveness and cleansing of God.

The other response which was the case for the majority of these ruthless leaders was to harden their hearts and go deeper into habitual sin. Human’s do not break the law just because. Instead, they do it because they find enjoyment in seeking pleasure outside of God, but later, when guilt and shame creep in, they have to deal with their consequences of their lawless behavior.

We are never more vulnerable then when we believe ourselves to be strong in our own strength apart from God. Uzziah, the eleventh king was an example of this: “When he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the alter of incense. When he was discovered he became angry he was afflicted with Leprosy. Sin and guilt render us incapable of self-control.

All of the kings we have mentioned thus far had the same problem. They all had a SELF PROBLEM.

Daniel stands in complete contrast. He confesses freely that he is nothing apart from God. With God’s power, however, his whole life is one of remarkable self-control under the most difficult of circumstances.

Why is this? It is because the Spirit of God that dwells in him is a spirit of self-discipline. Only those who are fully submitted to God’s spirit can ever ultimately be in control of their own lives.

*Lives that are committed to the Lord are motivated to grow in Self-Control.

Self-Discipline Motivated to Grow

When we are motivated by self-glory we will be prepared to make considerable sacrifices to certain aspects of lives. It is impressive to see the discipline of a great athlete or musician. The days and months of preparation that are involved in nurturing of a great athlete, the months of practice and training different parts of the body are not lightly spent.

Yet the development of such skills sometimes goes hand-in-hand with a debilitating life-style. Control of only part of life for the glory of self is not self-control at all. It is self-serving and ultimately becomes self-slavery.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Kingdom Power

All of the great kingdoms of the earth have sought to escape weakness, not power in weakness. Our culture today is no different strength is never associated with weakness.

Look at what Paul summarizes as weakness he spells out in four other words in verse 10: insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.

Now Daniel had already been through many of these definitions of weakness. the most reason was the night he spent with the lions in the lions den. He may have thought that his part in God’s plan was over, possibly this was what bothered him the most about these vision is that God still had a plan that included more suffering and struggle for the Israelites.

The other idea behind Paul’s writing is that if we are strong we might return the insult; if we are strong; we might take charge of our own fortune and turn back the hardship; if we were strong we might turn back the persecution; If we were strong we might use our resources to get out of the calamity we find ourselves in.

Note: Remember that God does not delight in your suffering. Satan does, and he must be resisted. Paul calls his thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan given to harass him. When Satan afflicts God’s people it is for the purpose of destruction. Remember though that Satan is not the only one who is at work here. God is at work. This thorn is not just the work of Satan to destroy. It is the work of God to save.

The same is true with Daniels vision of the things that are to come for the children of Israel.

THE WORK OF GOD TO SAVE

Paul tells us that the purpose in God’s part on Paul having this thorn in the flesh was to prevent pride. But Satan’s whole goal is to produce pride to prevent it. That’s how he kills: either with pride in what we have done, or despair over what we haven’t done.

Perhaps this is the reason for the visions that Daniel is receiving now, either it is to prevent pride in what he has already been given the power to do for Gods glory or to gain a bigger picture of what is left to accomplish before Christ comes to rule and judge this world.

Note: that the source of our weakness may sometimes be Satan and his destructive designs for us; but always our weaknesses are designed by God for our good. This is why the truth of God’s sovereign grace is so powerful and meaningful especially when we are going through difficult times and circumstances.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE

What is the purpose of such weakness? Why must the Israelites face all of these difficult times and circumstances. Remember that

1) Satan has the purpose of harassing and frustrating you.

Remember the fourth horn last weak made war and frustrated the believers.

2) God’s purpose is to Humble you.

Remember that God’s purpose through Satan’s harassment of us is our humility. This is a completely strange thing in our self-saturated society. God thinks humility is more important the comfort. He will give us a mountain top experience in paradise, and then bring us through anguish of the soul lest we think we have risen above the need for total reliance on His grace.

The ultimate purpose of God in our weakness is to glorify the kind of power that moved Christ to the cross and kept him there until the work of love was done.

1 Corinthians 1:23–24 ESV

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

We know that to all those who are perishing under the idea of strength through power view the cross as utter foolishness, however, to those who have experienced the power and wisdom of God we find our greatest strength when we decrease and increases in our lives.

Note: Remember that the deepest need that you and I have in our weakest and greatest hour of need is not necessarily relief, but the well-grounded confidence that what is happening to us is part of the greatest purpose of God in the universe - the glorification of the grace and power of his Son.

That is what God is building into your life and my life right now! Rejoice in your suffering know that it produces the Glory of God.

3. We are lulled into complacency when we forget where we get our understanding

The Means of Special Revelation

The Christian religion is not unlike those of the heathen religions in its appeal to revelation; even in the means of revelation a certain similarity can be seen. In general these can be reduced to three forms.

Theophanies - This is a visible manifestation of God i.e. the burning bush, Mt. Sinai where Moses received the 10 commandments. These are intense experiences of the presence of God.

Communications - God has brought us his revelation through the scripture, He has also revealed himself in Bible times through the prophets and Apostles. God still uses people today to communicate His word and message to the people.

Miracles - Jesus and the Apostles performed miracles and signs of God’s power. God is a God of miracles who has revealed His power to us causing us to glorify and praise him in response. Miracles had several purposes in the Old and New Testaments. They were given to authenticate God’s message and messengers. In the Old Testament Moses did miracles to demonstrate his authority as God’s mouthpiece to the nation of Israel. Where in the New Testament age miracles authenticated Christ. Jesus miracles revealed his divine identity. Jesus saving work inaugurates the kingdom of God, and delivers sinners from their sin which in turn He now provides the Holy Spirit.

GOD SENT GABRIEL WITH THE INTERPRETATION

We must never forget that God’s revelation to us in the Bible is a gift. God’s interpretation of his revelation is a double gift. Without God’s revelation of Himself in scripture one might draw a general revelation from nature and conscience that a supreme being exists (Romans 1:20). Beyond this general revelation we would be left in the dark.

Daniel already has a general revelation of the little horn of great depravity that will arise and make himself great, even claiming divine status for himself. He will defeat the saints, defile the sanctuary, and disregard God’s word. He will do so for 2,300 evenings and mornings a period of 6-7 years.

This is a lot to consider however, specifics are still wanting, though under no obligation for God to give them to Daniel, it is only b the grace of God that he gives understanding to Daniel.

*Understanding God’s word requires Divine Assistance

Gabriel - someone who appeared to be a man whose name means “strong Man of God.” Note: that only Daniel in the Old Testament are angels mentioned by their names.

God has sent him to “explain the vision” to Daniel. Without divine aid, Daniel would not be able to comprehend what he saw. Daniel is terrified as Gabriel approaches and falls flat of his face, Gabriel addresses him as “son of man” or “son of Adam.”

The gift of Understanding

When we think of Daniel receiving understanding from God, we should reflect on how he gives understanding to us in several ways.

1) God has Spoken

1 Thessalonians 1:13b “You received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God.”

We believe that God has now spoken in history, and that by inspiration, the Bible is the authoritative deposit of that word for all time in our lives. (Daniel recognized the revelation he was receiving as the understanding that only comes from God.)

2) His word comes to us in human words

Notice that in the middle of verse 13, Paul says, “you received the word of God, which you heard from us.” you heard God’s word from us. We are human. God is divine. We are speaking on his behalf. His word is heard in human words.

3) As we hear, God acts on our minds and hearts

The spirit now enabled the Thessalonians to hear the words Paul was speaking as the very words of God. Daniel’s eyes were now opened and he was hearing the revealed understanding that only comes from God. He opens our mind and our hearts to receive it for what it is, not mere human words, but God’s word. At the beginning of verse 13 Paul says, that they “thank God constantly for this.” For what? “That when they received the word of God, they accepted the understanding not from men but from God.

*Understanding God’s word prepares us for what is coming.

(vrs. 18-26)

The time has been determined and set b the sovereign Lord of history. God’s people will suffer for their sins, but their suffering will not be indefinite. God is in absolute control of all that is and all that will happen. This includes the trials and tribulations of his people. Human powers are merely instruments in the Lords hand.

The Word “he” and “his” (24-25)

(activities of the ruthless King)

His power will be great, but it will not be his own.

He will cause outrageous destruction and succeed in whatever he does.

He will cause deceit to prosper.

He will in his own mind exalt himself. (arrogance, pride, and self-deceit)

He will destroy many in a time of peace.

He will even sand against the prince of princes. (He stands apposed to God himself)

Yet He will be Broken - not by human hands. His reign will be short and his downfall devastating, all at the hands of the God he mocks and opposes.

As grotesque of an image as it is Daniel must write it down and seal it up, and preserve it for those in the days yet to come who will need it. Remember, what is in the past to us was in the future for Daniel. He must safeguard it for future generations.

So did the Bible get it right in Daniel 8? The answer is a resounding Yes!

*Understanding God’s word can be personally overpowering.

Note: there are certain text when I read them in scripture are overwhelming to me personally. Every time I read Isaiah’s vision of heave in Isaiah 6 it makes my hair stand on end, no pun intended, or when I read in Romans about the depravity of the human condition I am completely humbled and left overwhelmed by the GRACE of God.

What Daniel saw literally wiped him out. It was personally overpowering. He is so overcome that he lay sick for days. Daniel had been deeply distressed, even terrified at his vision.

He was comforted by the fact that God was in control and that the kingdom would eventually come, but to know that there would be so much evil and suffering in the world was almost more than he could bear. Daniel’s sickness passed and God’s grace was sufficient. After having his strength renewed Daniel got up and went back to work.

Key Principle: In view of evil days that are coming we must live Holy Lives.

Are there things about the world today that disturb you?

What do you do when you are disturbed? Where do you go?

CLOSING

How are you fulfilling God’s plan?

How are you living Humbly before the Lord?

Are you daily going to the God of the Universe for Understanding?

Note: God could have let Daniel figure out what he was doing when it happened, however, part of the Grace of God is that He gives understanding and makes His actions known to His creation.

God miraculously does the same thing for you and me today! Even with all of Divine Revelation about God and His plan we have been given man still chooses daily to walk away from His plan.