Prophecy - 17

A ram with two high horns, one horn higher than the other, the higher coming up last.
Media and Persia.


A he goat, a notable horn between his eyes.
Grecia.


Four horns from broken notable horn.
Four generals of Alexander.


Little horn.
Rome Pagan and Papal.


This is all history. We're recapping it again because it warrants recapping. Re-read Daniel 8 and while you're reading it take a moment or two to realize that this prophecy that was given to Daniel to write down and then given to us- preserved by the holy spirit's power, was given for a reason! To think that anything our Lord has given us to read is invaluable is to do a great disservice to our God, and to put ourselves at risk of losing out on the messages He has given us in His word.


Personally I don't know many people who love the Lord that don't receive personal messages through the Lord's holy word. What do I mean? I mean that opening God's word to read it hoping to gain wisdom we are rewarded by the infinite wisdom present in the most holy word of God, all by the grace of our Lord. The wisdom, the messages written were written for all of mankind since the moment they were given. The holy word could NOT remain hidden, could NOT remain in seclusion. Scribes expounded on the written word and Jesus Himself rose up in the synagogue to read from the scriptures given- opening God's word to all who had an ear to hear. Then men of God inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote down all they could about Jesus and the message He brought to them, to US.


Part of that holy word is PROPHECY. The very prophecy we are undertaking to understand. We have to believe that God will give us understanding, and bless us as we read His word.


Let's reread Daniel 8 in its entirety, with a heart filled with love for our Savior, with hope for understanding, for wisdom, for the Holy Spirit's guidance in all truth.


Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.


Dan 8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.


Dan 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.


Dan 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.


Dan 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.


Dan 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.


Dan 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.


Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.


Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.


Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.


Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.


Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.


Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?


Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.


Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.


Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.


Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.


Dan 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.


Dan 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.


Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.


Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.


Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.


Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.


Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.


Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.


Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.


Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

*

Isn't that amazing. Really amazing. Daniel fainted. Daniel was sick for a number of days. After those sick days Daniel rose up and went about the king's business. Daniel was astonished at the vision he'd been given and even with the interpretation-- he did NOT understand it.


This was a POWERFUL vision! Powerful. And WE have to understand how powerful because this vision was shut up so that not even Daniel fully understood it and no one would understand it until the vision was opened up. If it was shut, then there would have to come a time for it to be open.


We've gone to another book in the Bible to help us in understanding Daniel before and that book was Revelation. These are two prophecy books that go hand in hand in many ways. Let's look at these verses for a moment--


Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth
Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.


These verses are incredibly enlightening. Daniel is a 'little book' of prophecy. Think about it! Daniel wrote a little book of prophecy and that book was 'shut up'. Revelation talks of a little book that had to be taken and eaten, a book that would taste sweet and then make the belly bitter.


There is NO other book that is shut up in the Bible, not a one.


The book of Daniel was meant to be open at the time of the end, it was sealed until God wanted it to be understood.


Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.


Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.


We are MEANT to understand and understanding is coming to us through the Holy Spirit.


We know that the pieces are falling into place perfectly. We might not want to admit how perfectly if we are stubborn but I pray to God that we set aside all preconceived notions and let the Holy Spirit lead us. I've said it before and I'm going to say it again- the Little Horn power is the papacy- yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That Little Horn power is controlled by the dragon. This means the papacy is controlled by the dragon. The papacy is controlled by Satan.


Some may grow outraged at this point and refuse to read anything further, not willing to even consider this could be true. They don't believe Jesus. Turning away from truth is denying the words of our Savior and our Savior said this…


Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.


God says this…


2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.


People don't want to hear truth they want fables.


This is truth.


People look at the Papacy today and they wonder at it in awe, they extol its virtues, they praise its marvelous good works. People find it hard to ever imagine that anything that LOOKS so wondrous, anything that APPEARS so marvelous could ever be controlled by evil.


There is much more to study on this, much more and it is all amazing how the Bible explains so much to us, so much!


By the grace of God may we open our hearts to our Savior's truth, all truth!


By His love and His forgiveness! In His mercy and grace!


Amen