Daniel 8

 Adult/Teen Bible Study                                         Lesson 9, Dec.7, 2014

The disciples asked Jesus “Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt. 24:3).   Jesus’ answer included these words “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. ….  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many  shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:7,8,12). 

The sign of Jesus coming and the end of the world; the indication of scripture is that things are going to get worse and worse before the Lord returns.  In your opinion, is the world getting better or worse?  Are we more moral and godlier as a nation than in the past?  As a whole, does our culture seek to please God or to please self?   When you take in the nightly news, does it encourage or discourage you?  Is it mostly good news or bad news? 

In our study, Daniel is given another vision from God.  This vision speaks about “the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full.”  Daniel was looking to a future time when evil seemed to triumph.  Jesus was also talking about a future time when it appeared that evil was triumphing.   How do we process these perspectives? How should we respond when it appears that things are getting worse and evil seems to be winning?  

In this lesson we will process the content of the vision, seek to understand its meaning and make application to our own lives.

Read Daniel 8.

I.            The Animals – Daniel 8:1 – 12

1.      When and where did Daniel’s vision occur? ( 8:1-2)  

2.       How is the first animal described in Daniel’s vision? What is this taking place in the vision?  (8:3, 4)

3.      What animal appears second in the vision?  How is it described? What action is this animal taking? (8:5 – 7)

4.      What happened to the goat at the height of his power? (8:8)

5.      From one of the four notable ones comes a little horn.  What does this little horn do? (8:9 – 12)

II.            The Answers – Dan. 8:13 - 27

6.       “The pleasant land” mentioned in 8:9 is Israel.  The destructive action taken against God’s people and the sanctuary is described in verse 10 – 12.  How long was “the transgression of desolation” to last? (8:13 – 14) 

7.      What was Gabriel sent to do? (8:15 – 16)

8.      How did Daniel respond to the heavenly messenger?   What was Daniel to understand about the vision? (8:17 – 19)

9.      Who was represented in the fight between the two-horned ram and the goat? (8:20 – 22)

Historical Note: The “little horn” that becomes a great leader, is believed to be Antiochus Epiphanes, the ruler of Syria from 175 to 163 B.C. and was known as one of the cruelest tyrants in history.  He attacked Jerusalem and plundered the temple.  In 168 he sent 20,000 men to level Jerusalem.  He prohibited the Jews from honoring the Sabbath, practicing circumcision, and obeying the Levitical dietary laws, and he climaxed his campaign on Dec. 14, 168 by replacing the Jewish altar with an altar to Zeus – and sacrificing a pig on it!   Jerusalem was eventually delivered by the courageous exploits of Judas Maccabeus and his followers, on December 14, 165, the temple was purified, the altar of burnt offering restored.  It is this event that  the Jewish people celebrate as “The Feast of Lights” or Hanakkuh.  (Historic facts from W. Wiersbe’s commentary on Daniel)

10.    Antiochus was a type of the coming Antichrist.  What will happen when“the transgressors are come to the full”? (8:23) 

11.  The Antichrist’s power will come from Satan.  What evil things are described as taking place in this future time? (8:24 – 25)

III.            The Application

12.   Evil is destructive and deceptive.  How would many be destroyed? (8:25)  See 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 12. 

13.   What will be the ultimate end of this evil?  (8:25)  See 2 Thess. 2:7 – 8. 

14.  How did Daniel respond to the interpretation of the vision?  (8:27)

Conclusion:    When evil seems to triumph it is good to remember that God is still in control.  Jesus said “In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).  Like Daniel we need to seek understanding from God and then continue to live by faith.  See 1 John 5:4 & 5.