Is The Book Of Daniel fact or fiction?
Creative ghost-writing by some later unknown or pure truth written by Daniel?
Does The Bible tell us?
WHAT does Jesus say about Daniel?
FORTUNATELY OUR JESUS knew the critics WOULD come; HE SAW IT thousands of years in advance, & so HE takes away ALL DOUBT on the matter. He tells us that IT WAS Daniel who wrote the book of Daniel: “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet.” (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14)
But what FEW CRITICS ASK IS THIS: WHY such a strong attack AGAINST the Book of Daniel?
WHY has the lost world & satan SOUGHT to DISMISS & ERASE the words of Daniel?
Simply because Daniel contains MORE fulfilled prophecies than ANY other book in the Bible.
In New Testament prophecy, Daniel is referred to MORE than ANY other Old Testament book.
At times, Communist governments EVEN prohibited preaching from the Book of Daniel because it reveals God’s knowledge of the future, and it shows that in the end the Lord God and His people WIN.
It BEARS repeating…JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF CONFIRMS DANIEL TO BE THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH….I BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST, THAT SETTLES IT FOR ME, Amen?
Turn with me now to DANIEL 8...
Daniel 8 - Antiochus and Antichrist
In the ancient manuscripts, the Book of Daniel here resumes using the Hebrew language. The section from Daniel 2:4 to 7:28 WAS written in Aramaic.
Verses 1-2 Introduce this next vision of Daniel.
“In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me; to me, Daniel; after the one that appeared to me the first time. I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.”
This vision happened while Babylon was securely IN power. Though the vision will deal with the emergence and destiny of the Greek Empire, the Greek Empire was NOT much of anything at the time THIS prophecy from God came to Daniel…they were basically nothing more than goat herders.
Daniel is telling us that he was in Shushan on the king's business (Daniel 8:27).
Verses 3-4 tell us about a mighty ram pushing in different directions.
“Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.”
In Daniel 8:20 this ram is clearly identified as the Medo-Persian Empire, which succeeded the Babylonian Empire.
In fact Marcellinus, a 4th century historian, tells us that the Persian ruler WORE the HEAD OF A RAM as he stood at the head of his army. AND the ram was the national emblem of Persia, a ram being stamped on Persian coins as well as on the headdress of Persian emperors.
The ram is noted for the proportion of its two horns - one WAS higher than the other. This was an accurate prediction of the partnership between the Medes and the Persians, because the Persians WERE larger and stronger in the partnership. They also emerged after the Medes (the higher one came up last).
“Pushing westward, northward, and southward”…history tells us The Medo-Persian Empire exerted its power to the north, south, and west. It assumed territory but made NO MAJOR conquests towards the east.
Verses 5-8 tells us a male goat challenges and conquers the ram.
“And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand. Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.”
Daniel is telling us this male goat IS identified with Greece and its horns with the rulers of the Greek Empire.
From ancient history we know THE GOAT was a common representation of the Greek Empire. Additionally, two hundred years BEFORE the time of Daniel, the Greeks, who had NO EMPIRE to speak of, they were SIMPLY called, “the goats' people.”
“Across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground”… this prophetic description of the male goat SOUNDED IMPOSSIBLE, but was proved to be TRUE regarding the Greek Empire.
WHY?
1. The Greek Empire rose from the WEST of previous empires
2. The Greek Empire rose with GREAT SPEED
3. The Greek Empire HAD a notable ruler, Alexander the Great (a notable horn)
4. The Greek Empire had a famous war with the Medo-Persian Empire (I saw him confronting the ram)
5. The Greek Empire and the Medo-Persian Empire HATED each other (with furious power . . . moved with rage). Some of the greatest/fiercest battles of ancient history were fought between the Greeks and the Persians.
6. The Greek Empire conquered the Medo-Persian Empire (no one that could deliver the ram from his hand).
7. The reign of the notable leader of the Greek Empire was suddenly cut short (the large horn was broken).
8. After the end of Alexander the Great's reign, the Greek Empire was divided among FOUR OF ALEXANDERS MILITARY GENERALS (in place of it four notable ones came up).
9. The four rulers of the Greek Empire after Alexander ruled ONLY THEIR OWN dominions, NOT the ENTIRE empire together (came up toward the four winds of heaven).
10. Alexander did NOT DIVIDE the empire among his four generals himself. His four leading generals SEIZED IT & DIVIDED it among themselves by FORCE after Alexander’s death.
Cassander, ruling over Greece and its region
Lysimachus, ruling over Asia Minor
Seleucus, ruling over Syria and Israel's land
Ptolemy, ruling over Egypt
The greatness of Alexander's Empire was not ONLY in its vast dominion, but also in its cultural power. Alexander the Great was determined to spread Greek civilization, culture, and language across every land he conquered. And he did.
As God guided history, He USED Alexander's passion to spread Greek culture to prepare the world for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
HOW?
Because of Alexander's influence koine=(common) Greek became the COMMON language of the civilized world - AND the language of the New Testament. How cool is that?
Verses 9-12 tells us the strong horn that arises from the four horns of the male goat.
“And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.”
This “little horn” was fulfilled in one of the four successors to Alexander the Great. Since the dominion of this horn was extended toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land (ISRAEL), we can identify the historical fulfillment of this little horn in Antiochus IV Epiphanes who ruled over Syria and Israel's land under the Seleucid dynasty.
History tells us Israel's land was fought over between the dynasties of Seleucid and Ptolemy, but the Seleucids gained power over the region in the days of Antiochus III (198 b.c.).
AND Antiochus IV gained the throne by MURDERING his brother, the former king Seleucus Philopator. The son of Philopator was the RIGHTFUL heir to the throne, but Antiochus IV had him held hostage in Rome. Antiochus IV legitimized his rule mainly through flattery and bribery.
Talk about being FULL of HIMSELF, Antiochus IV assumed the title "Epiphanes" meaning, "illustrious" and alluding to HIS OWN deity. The Jews turned it into "Epimanes" meaning, "MADMAN."
“The Glorious Land” refers to Israel and is called this in Ezekiel 20:6 (the glory of all lands), Ezekiel 25:9 (the glory of the country), and in Daniel 11:16 & 11:41 & Psalm 48:2.
DO YOU NOTICE the Glorious Land AS the center of the world?
Why?
It is the NERVE center of civilization since the days of Abraham
It is the TRUTH center from which flowed God's revelation to man
It is the STORM center of warring nations since the days of Joshua
It will be the PEACE center of the earth during the millennial reign of Jesus
It will be the HOME center for the Jewish people forever more
Antiochus Epiphanes is an accurate and dramatic fulfillment of this prophecy in history - so much so that critics insist that the Book of Daniel must have been written AFTER his time.
Why?
Antiochus Epiphanes EXERTED his dominion toward the south, toward the east, and toward the land of Israel
Antiochus Epiphanes MURDERED other rulers and persecuted the people of Israel (cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them)
Antiochus Epiphanes BLASPHEMED God and commanded idolatrous worship directed towards himself (exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host)
Antiochus Epiphanes STOPPED temple sacrifices in Jerusalem (by him the daily sacrifices were taken away)
Antiochus Epiphanes DESECRATED the temple (the place of His sanctuary was cast down)
Antiochus Epiphanes OPPOSED God and seemed to prosper (he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered)
“It cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground”… These are SYMBOLS used in the Old Testament for angels, kings and leaders, or the people of God at large. Here it is fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes and his attacks against rulers and God's people in general.
The terms “stars of heaven” found in Genesis 12:3; 15:5 and “the hosts of the Lord” found in Exodus 12:41 are used to describe God's people “ISRAEL” in general.
“And trampled them”… Antiochus was an UNSPEAKABLY EVIL MADMAN persecutor of the Jewish people. He wanted them to submit to Greek culture and customs and was more than willing to use torture, murder, and bring violence to INSURE IT.
Antiochus's suppression of the Jews came to a head in December of 168 b.c. when he returned in defeat from Alexandria. He ordered his generals to seize Jerusalem on a Sabbath. There he erected an idol of Zeus and desecrated the altar by an offering of swine and sprinkling the PIG’S BLOOD, URINE, & FECES ON/IN the sanctuary. Sacrifice was ceased because the temple WAS VILELY desecrated.
1 Maccabees 1:29-32 and 1:52-61 describe how Antiochus persecuted the Jews. 1 Maccabees 1:41-50 describes his blasphemies. By some estimates he is responsible for the murder of more than 100,000 Jews.
“Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices”…This WAS fulfilled in the terrors of Antiochus Epiphanes. The Jews, especially their leaders INVITED God's judgment upon them through Antiochus because of THEIR sin.
The FIRST attack of Antiochus against the Jews was to settle a rivalry for the high priesthood. A pious Jewish high priest, Onias III, was removed from office and replaced with his brother Jason because Jason BRIBED Antiochus.
Then in 172b.c., another brother (Menelaus) gave Antiochus an even BIGGER bribe and replaced Jason.
A year later Menelaus started SELLING many of the temple's gold utensils to raise money to pay off the bribe. Onias III rebuked him, and Menelaus had him murdered.
IT IS PRETTY CLEAR WHY ALMIGHTY GOD WAS ANGRY WITH ISRAEL, RIGHT?
Meanwhile, Jason gathered armies and fought against Menelaus to regain the office of Jewish High Priest. Antiochus Epiphanes came in to Jerusalem in 171b.c. to DEFEND the JEWISH man who paid him a bigger bribe to be the High Priest.
WHY did God ALLOW this?
God set over Israel such a breathing devil, as was Antiochus, as punishment of their open impiety and formal apostasy of Him and His Temple.
Verses 13-14 tells us how long the sanctuary's desecration lasted: 2,300 days.
“Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?" And he said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
HOLY ONE SPEAKING…is another name of Jesus Christ, so Jesus Christ APPEARS AGAIN PERSONALLY to speak to Daniel.
Daniel did NOT need to ASK how long. The angels with Jesus ASKED. They WANTED to know how long the sacrifices would be suspended and how long the sanctuary would be desecrated.
Literally, Daniel heard Jesus Christ say "two thousand three hundred mornings and evenings." Bible scholars DEBATE if this means 2,300 days or 1,150 days, because 2,300 days is ALMOST seven years.
History CONFIRMS that this means 2,300 days. The date when the temple was cleansed is well established as December 25, 165 b.c. If we count back 2,300 days from then, we come to the year when Antiochus Epiphanes BEGAN his persecution in earnest (171 b.c.).
ALMIGHTY GOD SAYS IT…& HISTORY CONFIRMS OUR AMAZING GOD’S WORDS…EXACTLY AS FORETOLD.
This SCRIPTURE has been a CONSTANT springboard for elaborate and fanciful prophetic interpretations.
ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC of these misinterpretations of this passage by WILLIAM MILLER, took one year for every day, and William Miller used 2,300 "year-days" to calculate that Jesus would return in 1844 (2,300 years after Cyrus issued the decree to rebuild the temple). His UNFOUNDED & UN-BIBLICAL interpretations WAS proven FALSE, & his ERROR so derailed his faith that his later teachings BIRTHED the movements that CREATED the Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and several other movements.
The Bible clearly shows us that we CAN KNOW that other "year-day" theories ARE WRONG because this passage WAS fulfilled BEFORE the time of Jesus.
WHY?
John 10:22 TELLS us Jesus recognized that the temple was properly cleansed and rededicated when He attended the Feast of Lights, commemorating the cleansing and re-dedication of the temple AFTER the desecration brought by Antiochus Epiphanes.
The ENTIRE foundational belief in this by Miller, 7th Day Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, and others are NOT Biblical NOR Historically factual.
WHY?
IF we date these years from the vision of the he-goat, (Alexander's invading Asia), this was 3670, b.c. 334; and two thousand three hundred years from that time will reach to 1966 a.d. was when MILLER & these groups BELIEVED Jesus would return, or one hundred and forty-one years from the present a.d. 1825 is when Jesus would have returned. Jesus Christ did NOT return!
But what IS amazing is that this prophecy of Daniel’s WAS written some 350 years BEFORE the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. Great prophetic fulfillment like this demonstrates that Jesus Christ not only KNOWS the future, but He also GUIDES the future.
WHAT JESUS SAYS WILL HAPPEN…DOES….ALWAYS…AND EXACTLY AS HE FORETELLS IT.
Verses 15-19 tells us Gabriel appears to Daniel.
“Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision." So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end." Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. And he said, "Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.”
“Between the banks of the Ulai”…Daniel is STILL in the midst of his vision, where he saw himself on the shores of the Persian river. He heard SOMEONE INSTRUCT Gabriel to explain the vision to Daniel.
“The vision refers to the time of the end”… Gabriel assures Daniel that this vision has to do with end times, with the LATTER time of the indignation.
This is a problem for some, because we see that the prophecy of Daniel 8:1-14 was fulfilled in the days of the Medo-Persian and Greek Empires, especially in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes.
They dismiss/overlook terms “time of the end” and “latter time of the indignation” which DO REFER TO “the end times,” NOT events fulfilled more than a 100 years BEFORE the birth of Jesus.
THE BEST/EASIEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND this is that though this prophecy is fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes it also has a LATTER fulfillment in the Antichrist, referring to the time of the end. Antiochus Epiphanes is sometimes called the "antichrist of the Old Testament." He prefigures the Antichrist, THE LAST KING…THE LAST KINGDOM of the END TIMES.
Just like Antiochus Epiphanes rose to power with force and intrigue, so WILL the Antichrist.
As he persecuted the Jews, so WILL the Antichrist.
As he stopped sacrifice and desecrated the temple, so WILL the Antichrist.
As he seemed to be a complete success, so WILL the Antichrist.
From what Antiochus did to Jews in his day, therefore, one may know the general pattern of what the Antichrist WILL do to ISRAEL in the future & to Gentiles/Jews MORE SO who become Christians during the 7 year tribulation. And as EVIL/VIOLENT AS Antiochus WAS, he is NOTHING compared to what the AntiChrist will be/do.
Verses 20-22 tells us the specific identification of the ram and the male goat of Daniel's vision.
“The ram which you saw, having the two horns; they are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.”
“The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king”…This WAS fulfilled in history by Alexander the Great.
“Four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power”…This WAS fulfilled in history by the four generals who divided Alexander's Empire between them.
Verses 23-26 tells us the rise and fall of the strong LITTLE HORN.
“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means. And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.”
NOTICE AGAIN “LATTER TIME…END OF TIME”… it makes a HUGE difference, biblically & prophetically. That is WHY all these NEW TRANSLATIONS OF THE HOLY BIBLE are causing CONFUSION/ERROR…because they do NOT mark the difference between times, LATTER days, & END OF TIMES. Their NEW AGE language makes them out to be THE SAME…and they are NOT.
“In the latter time of their kingdom”…The prophecy in this passage reads equally true of both Antiochus and Antichrist. This is an example of a prophetic passage that has both a NEAR and FAR fulfillment.
“Having fierce features”…Antiochus Epiphanes was known for his cruel brutality; this will ALSO become the legacy of the coming Antichrist.
“Who understands sinister schemes . . . through his cunning”… Antiochus was known for his flattery and smooth tongue. The coming Antichrist will strike a covenant with Israel using the same in Daniel 9:27.
“His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power”…Antiochus Epiphanes was empowered by Satan and allowed by God. The same will be true of the coming Antichrist.
“Shall prosper and thrive”…Antiochus Epiphanes LOOKED like a total success. The coming Antichrist will LOOK like a complete winner until God topples his reign.
“He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people”…Antiochus Epiphanes not only destroyed his enemies, but also harshly PERSECUTED “ISRAEL” the people of God. The coming Antichrist will ALSO destroy and persecute.
“He shall cause deceit to prosper”…Both the rule of Antiochus Epiphanes in the past and the Antichrist in the future are marked by deceit.
Nooooo surprise to us, since satan is called the father of lies, right?
Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, “The coming of the LAWLESS ONE is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
“He shall magnify himself in his heart”…The coins of Antiochus Epiphanes were inscribed with this title: theos epiphanies meaning, "God manifest."
Again, Paul confirms this in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 which says, “The coming Antichrist will also exalt himself: So that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
Just so we UNDERSTAND and CAN SEE the difference, Paul and the disciples of the New Testament who PROPHESIED The Antichrist, the lawless ones coming, did so HUNDREDS OF YEARS AFTER ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES HAD DIED & HIS REIGN ENDED…HE WAS LONG GONE BEFORE JESUS WAS EVER BORN IN BETHLEHEM. SO THE ANTICHRIST IS FUTURE, IS AFTER THE TIME OF JESUS, PAUL, JOHN, AND OTHERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT….
“He shall even rise against the Prince of princes”…Though Antiochus Epiphanes hated and fought against the people of God, it was because he really hated God. The same will be true of the coming Antichrist, who will hate the Jews=GOD’S WIFE because he hates ALMIGHTY GOD & JESUS CHRIST & ALL THOSE WHO LOVE OUR TRIUNE GOD.
ALL THOSE WHO ONCE AGAIN “CHOOSE” THE TRIUNE GOD OVER SATAN AND HIS SON THE ANTI-CHRIST.
“Broken without human hand”…History tells us that Antiochus Epiphanes died of disease, NOT by the hand of man. In a similar way, though The Antichrist will be struck down for a moment, NO MAN will DEFEAT/DESTROY the coming Antichrist, but the hand of Jesus who WILL strike him down in Revelation 19:20.
“Therefore seal up the vision”…Daniel must do this because in his day the vision referred to a period far distant in its ultimate fulfillment. For us, the time IS near says Revelation 1:3, and the book IS unsealed in Revelation 22:10.
Verse 27 tells us Daniel reacts to the vision with physical shock and astonishment.
“And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king's business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.”
Daniel probably couldn't understand why God would allow such a mighty persecutor of His people “ISRAEL” to rise up.
BUT Daniel didn't let either spiritual mysteries or physical weakness keep him from doing his duty. This shows us that our interest in prophecy should make us MORE about JESUS’ business, not FEARFUL, but to continue DOING for Jesus.
“No one understood it”…It wasn't because God never wanted this prophecy to be understood. There is no reason for God to reveal something to man that can never be understood. The reason why no one understood it was because the vision was sealed up in light of its ultimate fulfillment in Daniel's distant future.
Brothers and sisters it IS WORTH REPEATING.
DANIEL LIVED ALMOST 500 years BEFORE JESUS BIRTH.
He did NOT have The New Testament, nor know of John’s Book of Revelation, given to you and I by JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.
The time is NOT distant for us in light of Revelation 1:3 and the book of prophecy is NO LONGER sealed in light of Revelation 22:10.
Get busy FOR Jesus.
DO NOT WORRY NOR FEAR WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND US.
KEEP WATCH ON the Eastern Skies by night and day, because the EAST is where Jesus WILL APPEAR in the clouds when we ARE “caught up, snatched away…”
Get READY…
Get BUSY for JESUS!
SHINE AND SHOW AND SHARE JESUS WHILE WE STILL CAN.
BECAUSE….Jesus IS coming soon!