Latest / Journey Elgin / Journey Through Scripture- Daniel 7-12
Transcript
- Phillip Thomas: Hey, it's good to see you today. Welcome to our Journey Through Scripture podcast. ⁓ my name is Philip Thomas, pastor of Journey here in Elgin, and ⁓ looking forward to finishing out kind of the the last of the Old Testament and we'll be transitioning to the New Testament, but we're gonna finish out with Daniel ⁓ chapters seven through twelve. ⁓ this is a an interesting time period ⁓ historically. The Bible actually doesn't doesn't have much information on this. Now the Apocrypha, ⁓ if you're familiar with that, ⁓ does have more information on some of the things that happened ⁓ during this time. So basically we're looking at the ⁓ the people have returned to Jerusalem. The temple, second temple has been rebuilt. And then there's going to be a long time, about 400 years ⁓ before the birth of Christ. It's called the inter testamental period. ⁓ you know, things ⁓ kind of a a time of silence where there's not a whole lot of prophets going on, but there's certainly a lot going on historically. ⁓ so if you if you think about the ⁓ of of Jerusalem of Israel of the nation, ⁓ what you see is ⁓ they ⁓ form ⁓ the kingdom under King Saul, King David, King Solomon, then they split, northern, southern, then the southern gets ⁓ or the northern kingdom gets conquered, then the southern kingdom gets conquered by Babylon, and then Persia overtakes Babylon and then Persia allows the people to return back and to rebuild the temple. Well what's ⁓ that that happens ⁓ you know in the late five hundreds or it's ⁓ is when the temple would be begin to be rebuilt ⁓ into the four hundreds. ⁓ and then you you kinda have a lot of things starting to happen historically. ⁓ Persia fought with Greece quite a bit. ⁓ well ⁓ it would all finally come to an end when Alexander ⁓ would bring ⁓ Greece and they would come and overtake all of that area, overtake Egypt. Overtake, of course, ⁓ Persia, ⁓ and Alexander the Great was known as Alexander the Great for a reason. ⁓ he conquered most of the known world. ⁓ he actually died in Babylon. that's where he ended up dying. And when he died, his four generals kind of split up the area. The two that really matter to us and to ⁓ the people of Israel. ⁓ is the the Ptolemies, which were kind of in Egypt, ⁓ so south of ⁓ the Palestine area or Israel. ⁓ and then you had the Seleucids, which were north in Syria. And at first the the Ptolemies, Egypt, had control over Israel. ⁓ then there was a ⁓ a struggle in battle. And this is again this is like two hundred years later, so they're technically under Greece control at this time, ⁓ but under the Ptolemies. Then you have the Seleucids come from Syria ⁓ push out the Ptolemies. and during that time is when they just ⁓ they offered sacrifices of pigs ⁓ to Zeus in the temple. They desecrated the temple. It was horrific, lots of persecution ⁓ of ⁓ the Jewish people. You have a rebellion, ⁓ the Maccabees, ⁓ and they actually put push out the Seleucids. So then there's a time where they're kind of free, ⁓ and then Rome comes in. All right. So Rome comes in and ⁓ then the the n Israel is under Roman rule. So I I give that kind of just historical because all that's going on in this intertestamental period. And Daniel, the end of his ⁓ book here talks about it's it's definitely some ⁓ apocryphal writing, ⁓ but things that can kind of be put into this time frame. ⁓ and then it ends with one that, you know, it may may or may not have been fulfilled. ⁓ but we as you read this, ⁓ you you need to kind of understand that background of what's going on. And so as we look at Daniel chapter seven, it ⁓ it talks about the four beast. ⁓ those four ⁓ beast, some say it's ⁓ Babylon and then the Medes and then Persian and then Greece. Some say it it's ⁓ no Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome. ⁓ that that probably sounds a little more correct. but so it's talking about these four different kingdoms. ⁓ and remember Daniel is having this vision while he is still in Persia. ⁓ so this is ⁓ years before ⁓ these other kingdoms are going to come. ⁓ verse nine ⁓ talks about the ancient of days. So these visions are very difficult and ⁓ scary to Daniel, but then there's also comfort and and and hope that God is ⁓ eventually going to ⁓ make everything right and and all of these nations will be ⁓ held accountable. So ⁓ verse nine says, I watched till the thrones were put in place, and the ancient of days was seated. His garment was white as snow, his hair of his head was white like pure wool. You will definitely recognize some some of the imagery between Daniel and the book of Revelation. it says his throne was a fiery flame, its wheels of burning fire, a fi fiery stream ⁓ issued. And he came forth from before him, a thousand thousands ministered to him, ten thousands times ten thousand stood before him. ⁓ so basically the ancient of days will come and and ⁓ defeat the beast in this case. the ⁓ verse fourteen his dominion is everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. and then it it talks about ⁓ Daniel's vic Visions are interpreted. It says those great beasts which are are four or four kings which arise out of the earth, but the saints of the most high shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdoms forever and forever and forever, right? So these are things that we can safely attach to historical events, I believe. ⁓ you get into chapter eight, ⁓ it's the ram and the goat. ⁓ the ram would be ⁓ Persia, the goat would be Greece. ⁓ this is actually interpreted in Scripture. ⁓ and then it talks about the horn, ⁓ which is a a pretty obvious ⁓ to ⁓ you know reference to Alexander the Great. that it says verse five, and and 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. ⁓ and he came to the ram that had two horns. ⁓ and then ⁓ verse eight, 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 towards the four winds of heaven. So when Alexander the Great died, it split to four of his generals, right? So I mean it I I think again, i this is pointing to what's happening during this intertestamental ⁓ period. ⁓ verse twenty. ⁓ this is interpreting says, The ram which you saw having two horns, they are the kings of Media and Pers Persia. So the Pers Persians and the Medes, and the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. There was one ho horn on the male goat. Who would that be? Alexander the Great. ⁓ the large horn that is between the eyes is the first king, is for the broken horn, the four that stood up in its place, the four kingdoms shall arise out of the nation, but not with its power. Obviously that is true. The people ⁓ the the ⁓ Greece split into those four areas. You had the Ptolemy's ⁓ Ptolemies and the Seleucids ⁓ that came from that. They were not near as strong ⁓ as Alexander the Great. ⁓ Daniel chapter nine, ⁓ it's a I encourage you to read read that. It's it's his prayer for the people. He's repenting, he's repenting for the people. Verse eight, O Lord, to us belong shame of face, to our kings, our princes, our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him, we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants prop the servants, the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed your law and has departed so as not to obey your voice. Therefore the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses is The servant of God have been poured out on us because we have sinned against him. He has confirmed his words which he spoke against us and against ⁓ those who judged us by bringing upon us great disaster from to the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. And so it's a ⁓ a prayer of repentance that Daniel ⁓ has, and then it is also a reminder at the end that eventually things will be made right. Then we have the last vision ⁓ in Daniel ch ⁓ ten through twelve. and ⁓ it it it again is kind of gets pretty specific ⁓ talking about the southern kingdom and the northern kingdom. That appears to be talking about the Egypt who is ruled by Ptolemies and the Seleucids in the northern kingdom. ⁓ you know it it's it's very It's pretty exact. and so you see ⁓ kinda again, similarities ⁓ in Revelation. I love this 'cause he's ⁓ approached, ⁓ Daniel is is approached ⁓ and given this vision ⁓ by a ⁓ a ⁓ a human like figure. ⁓ it says his body was light lightning. This is verse six. ⁓ of chapter ten, his body was like barrel, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze, ⁓ and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. Says, I Daniel alone saw the vision, for the men were were with me, did not see the vision, but great terror fell upon them. Therefore I was left alone, and I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me. And so he basically was Very just completely ⁓ had no strength. ⁓ then a a a figure comes and gives him strength. ⁓ verse eighteen, then again the one having the likeness of man touched me and strengthened me and said, ⁓ man greatly beloved, fear not. Peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong. ⁓ is also telling Daniel not to fear. Verse twelve, do not fear. ⁓ kind of one of those similar things whenever people see a vision. ⁓ they have to be told not to fear. ⁓ Then you get into to chapter eleven, ⁓ it says, And now I'll tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them. By all his strength, through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will. And when he is arisen, the kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these. Again, so it's talking about there's going to be some Persian kings. They're going to kind of provoke Greece, which they did, and then Greece is going to have a strong leader, Alexander the Great. He's gonna come, he's gonna die, and it's gonna be split to the four winds, to his four generals. ⁓ it ⁓ continues and then it starts to get into the the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom, so the Seleucids and the Ptolemies. It says for the king of the north will return, this is verse thirteen, will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come to the end of some years with great army and much equipment. ⁓ and then it says ⁓ in Verse 16, but he who comes in against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the glorious land with destruction in his power. So that's talking about the the northern kingdom, the Seleucids. ⁓ As you continue on, verse thirty one, and forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress. Then they shall take away the daily sacrifices and place there the abomination of desolation. That is the term that is used for whenever they sacrificed pigs on the ⁓ in the Holy of Holies ⁓ in the temple. That is the abomination of desecration. The Seleucids or the Northern Syrian army ⁓ did that. ⁓ then you get to chapter twelve, and it's kind of the prophecy of the end times. You can make the case that this is talking about basically the time frame whenever Jesus comes. That that that is finally going to be ⁓ when the people are set free, the Seleucids are kicked out, the Romans are weakened. ⁓ but I think you can also say it's looking forward that there will to an eventual end time. Says ⁓ verse twelve or chapter twelve at that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people, and there shall be a time of trouble such as never never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book, and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. So I mean that's a hopeful look, except with with the the fact that there's it's going to be tough. Right, there's there's going to be ⁓ lots of persecution and and heartache, but God will restore. ⁓ and then it it continues, Daniel kind of looks and ⁓ it kind of closes things ⁓ out, says, Although I heard, I did not understand, it's verse eight, then I said, My Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed to the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. And from that from the time that day, from from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits to come to the one thousand three hundred and thirty five days, but you go your way till the end, for you shall rest. You will arise to your inheritance at the end of these days. this is ⁓ a good perspective for us to have. ⁓ we need to be wise and understand that the wicked are going to be wicked until God comes again. and we need to go our own way. That means do not live in fear of of the end, do not live in fear of what the wicked are doing, ⁓ but put our trust that God will make things right. ⁓ this doesn't mean that we don't push back against the wicked. Of course we do. ⁓ but but we should not live in fear or terror ⁓ of what may what may come. ⁓ we need to to live our life and and live the life that God has called us to live, just as he called Daniel to have these visions and to give these visions and I'm going to say there's times Daniel d didn't like the fact that he got those visions. It's pretty terrifying. ⁓ but yet ⁓ God used Daniel ⁓ in a mighty way. And you know what? He wants to use each one of us in a mighty way. ⁓ and we need to go our way the way that God is calling us ⁓ as we engage in a sadly a wicked world, but we know that he will come and make things right again. All right. So that ⁓ brings us to the New Testament. Let's read John chapter one, Luke one and two, and Matthew one and two. So John one, Luke one and two, Matthew one and two. All right, we'll see ya see ya then.