How is your faith & love for God being impacted by the book of Daniel? Our faith is strengthened by: & Sufferings Difficult , such as “The End Times.” Read I Peter 1:3-9 The Setting: Daniel 8:1-2 o The third year of Belshazzar was about 551 B.C., two years after the vision in Ch. 7 and about 12 years before the “writing on the wall” of chapter 5. o Susa would soon be the capital of the Persian Empire; Esther’s home 80 years later; The city Nehemiah would depart from when returning home! The Vision: Daniel 8:3-14 o The Lopsided Horned Ram is the Medo-Persian Empire, connecting to the lopsided bear (Ch.7), and the chest and arms of silver (Ch.2). o During this era, the exiles were permitted to return home; Jews rebuilt the Temple, Jerusalem, and the wall; See Ezra, Esther, & Nehemiah (under Artaxerxes). o The Goat with a Notable horn is the Grecian Empire led by Alexander the Great, connecting to the 4 Headed Leopard (Ch. 7), and the torso of bronze (Ch.2). o Following his death at age 32, the empire was divided to Cassandra, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, & Seleucus (4 horns). o The little horn represents Antiochus IV who rose to power and brutally attacked Jews and desolated the temple until the Maccabean Revolt recaptured the city and rededicated the temple in 164 BC! o The Feast of Hanukkah was instituted in remembrance of this event (John 10:22-23)! The Truth for Us to See: Evil beasts God! Faithful servants can trust & love God beyond what we control! o Never be surprised when experiencing hate b/c you follow Jesus. o Ask God to use the present trials of today to strengthen your faith for more severe trials in the future (II Timothy 3:12). o God remains sovereignly in control over every hardship! The Interpretation: Daniel 8:15-27 o Gabriel tells us this vision refers to the time of the end. o In the near future, we see Antiochus IV empowered by evil. o In the time of the end, we see the characteristics of the Antichrist being foreshadowed. See Revelation 13. o “But he shall be broken without human means.” Also see II Thess. 2:1-12 o Jesus is the Stone (Ch.2) who destroys the statue, The Son of Man (Ch.7) who destroys the beast, and The Prince of princes who annihilates the Antichrist! The Truth for Us to See: Evil beasts wage against God! Faithful servants can trust & love God Christ has won! o As your faith grows, your fear of the unknown details surrounding the end times events will shrink! o Because of the power of the Gospel, you and I are winners no matter how much of this world’s evil we encounter! o Scripture does not teach us Christ will one day win, it teaches He has already won! The future is sure! o Rise, and do The King’s business! Daniel 8:27