1. Jonathan Miller

5. Sign of the times –Daniel’s dream of the ram and the goat

6. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. Daniel 8v27
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12

7. UNDERSTAND THE GENRE

12. The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Revelations 1:1

13. Daniel 7,written in Aramaic, has a COSMIC theme.
Daniel 8, written in Hebrew, has a HISTORICAL theme.

15. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later.
3I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing by the canal, and the horn were long.
One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later.
20The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.

16. 5As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground.
21The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king

18. The 4 horns of Daniel the four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power
Kingdom of Ptolemy 1 Soter
Kingdom of Cassender
Kingdom of Lysimachus
Kingdom of Seleucus 1 Nicator
(Source: War of Alexander’s Successors, Wikepidia)

19. 23 In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

20. Antiochus IV
Self declared “Epiphanes” (God Manifest)
Nicknamed “Epimanes” (The mad one)

21. When these happenings were reported to the king, he thought that Judea was in revolt. Raging like a wild animal, he set out from Egypt and took Jerusalem by storm. He ordered his soldiers to cut down without mercy those whom they met and to slay those who took refuge in their houses. There was a massacre of young and old, a killing of women and children, a slaughter of virgins and infants. In the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost, forty thousand meeting a violent death, and the same number being sold into slavery. 2 Maccabees 5:11-14

23. Antiochus IV prefigures the Fourth Beast of Daniel 7.
..there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. Daniel 7:8
Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. Daniel 8:9

24. 1. During difficult times, consider how other Christians have suffered persecution and endured.
God’s people persecuted
(v 10,12,24a).
God’s house of worship desecrated (v11b).
God’s name is profaned (v11).
God’s enemies appear to prosper (v12b).
Evil values will prosper (v12b,25).

26. How prepared are we for persecution?
23In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior.24When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

27. A time for flight
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that cause desolation’, as spoken of through the prophet Daniel- let the reader understand- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:15-16

28. Siege of Jerusalem, 70 AD

29. 2. At all times, be conscious of an ongoing spiritual war.
23In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Daniel 10:13
The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. Revelation 13:2

31. Dr. Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs
“Nothing happened to me. Officer Starling. I happened. You can’t reduce me to a set of influences.”
Dr. Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs

33. Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matt 16:23
Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do their will. 2 Tim 2:25-26
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you Rev 2:10
The devil plants those that appear to be Christians among us but are not – Parable of the weeds and wheat, Matt 13:39
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers 2 Cor 4:4

34. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms.
Eph 6:12

35. 3. During discouraging times, trust in God’s timing.
13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled- the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people?”
14He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconstructed.”

37. Book of Revelation – 7 churches, 7 Spirits, 7 stars, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 vials, etc.
Book of Genesis- creation in 7 days, the flood came 7 days after Noah entered the ark (Gen 7:10).
Book of Leviticus – consecration by high priest 7 times (Lev 8:31-36), there are 7 feast days (Lev 23:1-44).
Book of Joshua – city of Jericho fell after marching around 7 times (Joshua 6:1-16).
Book of Daniel – captivity in Babylon 10 periods of 7 (Daniel 19:2), furnace heated up 7 times hotter (Daniel 3:19), Nebuchadnezzar restored after 7 times pass by (Daniel 4:16), prophecy of 70 weeks (Daniel 9:24).
Jesus – “forgive 70 x 7 times” (Matt 18:22).

38. 2300 days divided by 12 months of 30 days (Hebrew lunar calendar – 6 years of 360 days) and 140 days (4 months 20 days). Add approx. 11 day correction per year to match solar year -11x 6=66 more days (2 months 6 days).
Total : 6 years, 6 months, 26 days.
If those days had not been cut short, no one would have survived, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Matt24:22

39. “Give up.”