Daniel chapter 8 focuses on the two empires of Persia and Greece. During the Persian control of the Middle East, the Israelites/Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city, homes and temple. During the Greek dominion (particularly during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes) the city of Jerusalem and the temple were once again destroyed. The vision that Daniel records in chapter 8 actually took place during the reign of the Babylonian king Belshazzar making the events completely future or prophetic to Daniel at that time. We have the benefit of history and are able to see the fulfillment of much of these events during the course of historical Persian and Greek rule. There is a rather intriguing character (an insolent or brazen king) that Daniel sees in his vision who is probably fulfilled through the historical figure named Antiochus IV. This character actually has some unique and interesting parallels or foreshadowing to the “boastful one” that the Apostle John speaks of in Revelation 13 and who the Apostle Paul speaks of in II Thessalonians 2. Once again Daniel provides us with a clear understanding of God’s Prophetic Timetable and how that relates to you and I even today.

I will be continuing this series on Daniel at Valley View Church beginning after the New Year (2013) begins. For more information feel free to contact me at mikesouthwick@gmail.com and if you are interested check out the tabs at the top of the home page (http://goodnewsbiblestudies.com) and click on Old Testament Studies for the full slide presentations and answers to the fill ins.

Lesson 8 – The Vision of the Ram and the Goat – Daniel 8 (Student Copy)

Lesson 8 – The Vision of the Ram and the Goat – Daniel 8 (Teacher Copy)

Lesson 8 – The Vision of the Ram and the Goat – Daniel 8 (PPT)

Daniel begins chapter 7 by describing a new dream that he received during the reign of Belshazzar the king of Babylon. It is important to note that although chapter 6 records the fall of Babylon and the beginning of the Medo-Persian Empire, the dream that Daniel records for us in chapter 7 actually occurred prior to the events of chapter 6. The dream that Daniel describes in chapter 7 according to John Walvoord in his Commentary on Daniel, “is the most comprehensive and detailed prophesy of future events to be found anywhere in the Old Testament”.

Contained throughout this chapter is a record of future world events that occur in both the immediate future to Daniel as well as unfulfilled future events that will occur at the Time of the End which some refer to as the Tribulation. It will be during the Tribulation in which the one known as the son of destruction or the man of lawlessness (II Thessalonians 2:1-4) will be a fulfillment of this one that Daniel speaks of who will speak boastful, prideful and blasphemous against the Most High. This “little horn” as Daniel calls him will also set out to persecute and wage war against the saints of the Most High during the Time of Jacob’s Trouble as defined by Jeremiah the Prophet (Jeremiah 30:7), with the hopes of overthrowing the Lord Himself. This of course will not happen and judgment will come to all evil forces and the Lord will establish an eternal kingdom that will be ruled by Jesus Christ.

This dream that Daniel has is so compelling that it causes him great alarm and distress because much of what he sees impacts his brethren and those who will come after him. In the same way we should equally be concerned as the days that lie ahead appear to be moving in a direction where this final fulfillment of what Daniel describes will become a reality – are you ready?

One things is clear and that is that the Lord will triumph and evil will be destroyed and everyone will submit to the Lord one way or the other (Philippians 2:9-11). My prayer for you who read this is that you will choose to believe, trust and follow Jesus Christ who is the Only Way (John 14:6). I will be continuing this series on Daniel at Valley View Church beginning after the New Year (2013) begins. For more information feel free to contact me at mikesouthwick@gmail.com and if you are interested check out the tabs at the top of the home page (http://goodnewsbiblestudies.com) and click on Old Testament Studies for the full slide presentations and answers to the fill ins.

Lesson 7 – A Panorama of Future World History – Daniel 7 (Student Copy)

Lesson 7 – A Panorama of Future World History – Daniel 7 (Teacher)

Lesson 7 – A Panorama of Future World History – Daniel 7 (PPT)