Daniel 8 (5)

Introduction
Daniel receives the official word on the meaning of his vision, culminating in the vision of Antiochus and his desolations.

Review Daniel 8.1-14.

Read Daniel 8.15-24.

Think it Through
1.  What role did the angel Gabriel play in Daniel’s vision? Do you find it curious that God employed an angel to interpret the vision He sent to His prophet? How did Daniel respond to seeing this angel? Why? What should we make of Gabriel’s calling Daniel “son of man” (v. 17)? Meditate on Revelation 1.20, Revelation 14.6, 7, and Galatians 4.13, 14. Are angels involved in communicating God’s truth today? Explain. What is the responsibility of those who are charged with receiving, interpreting, and communicating God’s truth to His people?

2.  The “time of the end” (v. 17) here does not refer to the “end times”. It refers to the end of this particular vision, that is, the period of Antiochus’ rule in Jerusalem (cf. v. 23). Who are the “transgressors” of v. 23 (cf. Dan. 9.5-8)? Meditate on verse 24. If Antiochus’ great and evil power is not of himself, of whom is it? Is that power still active among rulers and nations today? Antiochus would destroy but prosper; he would destroy but thrive (v. 24). Why does it please God at times to allow the wicked to prosper at the expense of those who are at least nominally His people? Does He still do this? Why might He? Explain.

Meditate
“He beheld the vision by way of a picture or likeness, and he failed to understand it. Consequently, not everyone who sees comprehends what he has seen; it is just as if we read the holy Scripture with our eyes and do not understand it with our heart.” Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

And of the angels He says:
“Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”Hebrews 1.7

Lord, You have appointed me to live and proclaim Your truth, and you have assigned angels to assist me in this. Help me, therefore, to…

Pray Psalm 2.10-12.

Pray that God’s witnesses will proclaim His truth to all the nations, and that kings and judges and rulers will hear the Word and believe.

Psalm 2.9-12 (Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High!)
To Christ the Lord be given all
Who humbly embrace Him and on Him call.
Be wise, be warned: His judgment comes
To break the prideful, sinful ones.

Rejoice with fear in Jesus’ grace,
And worship before His exalted face!
Beware His anger and judgment grim:
How blessed are all who rest in Him!

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.