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DANIEL Chapter 8 "The Vision of the Two Beasts." This Bible Study
is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's transcription is provided
with written permission by http://www.theseason.org When we pass form Daniel 7 to Daniel 8, the language that Daniel wrote goes back to the pure Hebrew, and departs from the Chaldee [Aramaic], or Gentile tongue. The Chaldee is the language of the captivity, the common tongue used in the Babylonian world kingdom, while the pure Hebrew language is the language of freedom. Daniel was eighty seven years old when he wrote this chapter. It was about 425 B.C., and this truly was the year of freedom. In this year the foundations of the temple were laid, and this is the year that Nehemiah took his second trip to Jerusalem. King Cyrus, the son of King Asteiages and Queen Esther had just issued their decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. When King Cyrus' father issued the first decree to rebuild the temple in 454 B.C., this was Nehemiah's first visit. However, when the temple work was left for the building of their own personal homes, and the fighting with their neighbors and Kenites, the work on the temple was stopped. In the previous chapters we read about what would happen to the enemies of God's children. Now, in this chapter eight we will study what God's children will be doing when the two beasts arrive and are here. This chapter is talking about you and I today, and what we can see around about us, and what we will see in the near future, as it is developing today. Daniel 8:1 "In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first." This chapter is written to, and concerning the generation of the "parable of the fig tree". That generation is the generation that will be living at the end of this present earth age, and we are living in that generation. Keep in mind that "Belshazzar" mean "prince of Bel, and Satan the Devil is the "prince of Bel". The thin that appeared to Daniel is not a dream, nor an actual thing happening, but a vision. What appeared to Daniel "at the first"? Remember from Daniel 7, it was the vision of the four beasts, and the ten horns. Daniel 8:2 "And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was a Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai." Though this vision is historical, it is also an example of what will be in the final generation. Let's take a look at the meanings of three words: Shushan, Elam, and Ulai. "Shushan" means "lily of beauty"; "Elam" means "eternity", and "Ulai" is "pure water". Is there a hidden meaning here? This gives a different thought to the verse when the meanings are substituted. The entire meaning of the vision then changes from the historical to the prophetical. Daniel 8:3 "Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last." Horns always signify power. Daniel's vision saw this ram [male sheep] with two horns. It was an odd looking ram, because one of the horns was larger than the other. When these two horns came out of the river, the smallest came first, with the greater following. The "House of Israel" has been referred to in Scripture as "The lost sheep of Israel" in Matthew 10:6; 15:24, by Jesus in instructing His disciples to carry the gospel message. So these ram nation would have to tie into the sheep of Israel [The House of Israel]. In that this is prophecy for the end times, our generation, we would then be looking first to find the "House of Israel", then the two horns, or powers, that control the rest of the ten tribes comprising the ancient "House of Israel". In the book "The Great Deception", the migration of these ten tribes followed by ancient historians, led us to the United States, and Great Britain. The whole House of Israel includes the Christian nations mostly in Western Europe and the Americas. In Genesis 48:13-15 there can be no doubt who the blessed tribes were. They were the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh. If you miss this point, and follow the belief that it was Judah [Jews] that received the blessing of God's promise to Abraham, then your outcome of Bible prophecy has to be mottled and confusing. Which, more than likely, disregards the position of the Kenites, and their role in Bible prophecy also. The "river" is the people that these "two horns of power" rise our of, and the "great river is the Christian nations of the world today. We know it was Great Britain [England] that the United States was born out of. However, over the course of several centuries, it has been the United States that has set the standard of power, control, and wealth for the world. Yes, I believe these two rams represent England, the smallest horn; and the United States as the latter and biggest horn of power. Daniel 8:4 "I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great." Remember, this chapter is written to the generation of the fig tree. When did this generation start? May 15, 1948, when the tiny nation of Israel [the Jews] returned to Palestine and received the status of "nation". In 1994, that generation which saw Israel become a nation, is known as the fifties generation. Daniel 8:5 "And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes." Now, historically we know this man to be "Alexander the Great", however, we are considering prophecy that will take place in the last days. In the 1990's much of the prophecies written to the latter days are viewed from our generation as history. The two horns of power were in movement, pushing westward, and to the north and south. Does it give an accurate description of the growth of the United States? Could any nation stop the will of the United States? Definitely not. As Teddy Roosevelt said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". Daniel 8:6 "And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power." Daniel 8:7 And I was him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand." "Choler" means "violent". So, let's look at this verse and try to understand it as prophecy, yet because the vision covered the time from 1948, then much of this can be viewed as history. So, let us apply this to the United States {Manasseh] and see how it fits. In 1974 a "move with choler" [violence came against the power of the ram [President Nixon] to break his power. Did any stop the authority of the President? No. He was forced out of office. The ram, or power of authority, was "out of his hand". President Nixon withdrew, politically wounded. There was a lot of programming by the "New World Order, which led to the outcome. Most of the violence, or choler, such as Waco, and elsewhere in the past few years, as well as various assassinations here and around the world, are designed in the political sewers of the One World System, called the United Nations. Daniel 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven." As we listen to our leaders, the President, and the rest f the puppets of the "One Word System", it reminds us of cowards running from a battle. Most of them got their practice, like President Clinton, in the 1960's on the peace marches, and in the streets of Moscow. As hundreds of thousands of souls are slaughtered in Rwanda [Africa], we can't lift a finger to stop the killing, because all the thugs from around the world [the United Nations Security Council] simply can't make up their minds as to how they will benefit through their actions. It is sad to see the world's greatest defense forces that we call the "Armed Forces of the United States", being turned over to a pack of Satanic wolves. I've been watching the news for a general grade officer with the guts to stand for something, however, I think they have all retired. Notice how the United Nations' forces are not even equal to a poorly run city police force, when it isn't under the control of United States forces. Even a band of women in Bosnia can turn them around. The United Nations is becoming a joke, and an embarrassment, and the sad thing is that the media is starting to believe their own lies. Now lets look at the "four winds of heaven". These are divine winds, and only God can cause those four winds to blow upon the earth. It means the winds blow from all directions and come to one point. Now. lets relate this spiritually. The wind being the "Ruach" [Spirit] moving in all directions to finally focus on one point of reference. As the news comes in from local to international sources, keep alert, and watch how the Spirit of God is starting to move in many areas, and from many directions. Groups that would never speak to one another are now finding a common bond. Daniel 8:9 "And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land." This little horn that came into being is Jerusalem. The figs [people], they are both the good and the bad figs, that came from all directions, and the authority and power that will shortly rule there is known world wide. We will know that authority in a future sense at the Antichrist. Our last four presidents, and most all of their advisors, are tied directly to the New World Order, that is set on dissolving the United States as a great nation, and reducing it to a puppet state under a few international banking and industrial families, who seek to dominate the world. It is through the efforts of these presidents that the Antichrist will have a platform to rise to power from. As this is done, America sleeps, and this peace movement that started with Carter at the Camp David talks, will sweep us under the One World System. Daniel 8:10 "And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them." You are talking of angelic beings when you are talking of "stars" and "hosts of the heavens". This verse is also discussing supernatural entities, and that is exactly what the Antichrist, Satan, is. Daniel 8:11 "Yea, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifices was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down." The sanctuary of "the prince of the host" is in Jerusalem. It has been and it will also be in the millennium, and even in eternity. When the Antichrist "magnified himself", he will take away the "daily sacrifice". The daily sacrifice is the oblation, or the offering from the people, both by day and night, to Almighty God. This is discussed in Numbers 28:3; I Chronicles 29:7. These are the burnt offerings for sin. There was only one thing that took away the need for two daily offerings, and that was the sacrifice of God's only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The requirement of these two burnt offerings, the daily sacrifice, ended when Jesus Christ went to the cross and shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary. This sacrifice paid the price once, and that covering is for all times. Hebrews 10 discusses this in detail, and then in verses twelve through fourteen we read; Hebrews 10:12-14; "But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." The term, "the volume of the book" is the completion of the sacrifice required through the scriptures, and Jesus Christ paid that price. We read on in verses fifteen through eighteen; Hebrews 10:15-18; "Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." When those oblations were taken away, in its place we have the Holy Communion. In Luke 22:19-20 it is recorded that the command of Jesus to His disciples was to continue taking the cup in remembrance of Jesus Christ, and the blood He shed on the cross for their sins. This we are commanded to do until He comes back at the second advent [coming]. If you can understand this, it is understandable why all Christians in the world will stop taking the Communion [the daily sacrifices]; for all the world is going to worship the first Christ on the scene. It will be through the "rapture theory", and other false doctrines, as well as the "miracle" promoters, that Satan will make them believe that he is the Christ. When you do not know what is written in God's Word, you will accept the counterfeit Christ that will come first, for the Antichrist comes with all the supernatural powers necessary to convince you that he is the Christ. Daniel 8:12 "And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered." This "host" is an army of pastors, teachers, and others who will deceive their flocks [congregations] into believing that Satan is the Christ. They will do this in ignorance, for their seminaries have taught them to do so, and they take the word of man's traditions over the "Word of God". The world that follows the Antichrist will find peace and prosperity for a five month period, for Satan, the Antichrist, will be given the authority by God to supply the world with a false sense of peace and prosperity. Jesus told John to write, in Revelation 9:5, 10, and reveal the exact period of time of the Antichrist's rule on earth. We see that that time is five months. Daniel 8:13 "Then I heard one Saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?" This statement is in two parts, and the answer is found in the next verse. Daniel 8:14 "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." In Joshua 23:13, Joshua sought the Lord to know how long it would be until the children of Israel would possess the land that God promised to Abraham for his children. When we read verses nine through sixteen, we see that God gave him the instruction to stay in His word, and obey His instructions. This cleansing of the sanctuary, is the time of the allotment of inheritance to all the tribes of Israel, and it will come at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ at the seventh trumpet. Daniel 8:15 "And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man." Daniel could not understand this. Though it looked like a man, it was an angel, a spiritual being. God and the angels have the same form we have, for we are all created in the image of God. Daniel 8:16 "And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision." "Gabriel" in the Hebrew means "man of God". So we see that this great angel, or man of God, is going to help Daniel understand his vision. Daniel 8:17 "So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision." This verse should turn on the light of understanding to those who hold fast that this vision was directed to some ancient time in history. Though the vision is similar to an ancient event; the angel Gabriel lets Daniel know that the vision is prophecy for the "time of the end". That time is the time that we are living in today, and it is the time of the end of this earth age. There are only three persons that were ever called the "son of man", they were Jesus, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Daniel 8:18 "Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright." Daniel 8:19 "And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be." Daniel is now going to be shown specifically what will happen in that five month period of the Antichrist, which is called "the last end of the indignation". Gabriel lets Daniel know these times are set by God, and will come to pass. Not maybe, but shall be. So we can now depend on these prophecies as coming directly from God. Daniel 8:20 "The ram which thou sawest having tow horns are the kings of Media and Persia." This is history, but remember Gabriel said it is a vision to be happening for "the time of the end" [verse 17], and the "end od indignation" of Christ's return, as we read in verse ninteen. Media and Persia did rule, as history will verify. Daniel 8:21 "And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king." "The king of Grecia" was Alexander the Great, where the first king is a type of rulership with world wide control. Some believe this, as I do, to be Satan's offspring, the Kenites. We know that the Kenites took over the duties of scribes from I Chronicles 2:55, and the priests duties as outlined in Ezra and Nehemiah. Jesus addressed this fact in Matthew 23:2, when He said; "Saying, the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:". So we can see why Jesus Christ could never get along with those riligious leaders. they were the offspring not of Judah, but of their father, Satan. They try to manipulate times and events to fit their agenda, or you could say, their father Satan's agenda. Daniel 8:22 "Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Four kingdoms will stand up out of the nation, which is the one world system. Though historically it is Greece that was split into four kingdoms, however, Gabriel is talking of the "time of the end, that will arise out of the two horned nations. Remember that the two horned nations are to United States and Britian, so this four powers of control will rise to control all parts of your life. These four powers of control are set up to control those who live in the two horned nation in the end times, and friend that is you and I. Those powers are live and active now, and in most cases, have taken control for the past forty years. These powers are the four hidden dynasties, and they do control all parts of your life today. These dynasties are education, economic [banking and industry, etc.], political, and religious, and "they are not of his power". These powers are under the control of the United States government, and the dynasties that are hidden and control the government are in the hands of the Kenites, who are the owners and founders of the New World Order [the United Nations]. Notice also that just as the "end times" prophecy is being julfilled, so also was the historical events of that ancient Grecian kingdom of Alexander the Great. God kept His word that He gave Daniel through His messenger Gabriel. God has His controls on all matters, including each of our needs. Daniel 8:23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and under standing dark sentences, shall stand up." Why were we told by Jesus and Paul to put on the "gospel armor"? We were told that "we do not war against the power of the arm, but against the power of dark sentences". Our fight is against the "king of fierce countenances"; and friend, that king is Satan, the Antichrist. It may be next week, next month, or next year, but you will face him in battle. If you lose that battle, which is for your soul, you will be disposed of as he will. This next war is a spiritual war, to be fought with weapons of words, half-truths, concepts and precepts. If all you know is John 3:16, and the rapture theory, then your in trouble. If your in God's Word and understand how Satan and his offspring, the Kenites, work, and use those "dark sentences" to trick you, you will be okay. They are not to be feared, but understood. That armour that we are to use is the Word of God, and the "gospel armor" is spelled out in Ephesians 6:10-20. Daniel 8:24 "And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy People." This king is Satan, and he will "destroy", which means "deceive" many. How will this deception come? "Wonderfully", which is even deceiving. Strong's Hebrew dictionary # 6381; "Pala; a prime root; distinguished, great, marvelous, miracles, wonderfully." Friend that is how Satan, the Antichrist will come to earth. Satan will have his bag of tricks, and supply your every need, and all he expects from you is your worship, and your soul. Though Satan's power will be mighty, he gets his power through the craftiness of the "One World" governmental system. This is nothing new, for even my grandchildren in the grade school years are taught to respect this filthy system, and all its attributes of ungodliness. If you bow to this new system when the Antichrist is sitting at the top, you will probably prosper, as long as you continue to do it the new religious order's way. It will be the political beast arriving first; and this system is here and in control now. This political system of "one worldism" will fall, for Revelation 13:3 tells us; "And I saw one of the heads [of the beast] as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." When a governmental system receives a mortal wound, it no longer exists as an operating political system. The political beast will and has arrived first, and it will fall, Then Satan will come to earth with his fallen angels, and revive this beast, only then it will be the religious part of the beast that will be in power. It is religious because Satan is portrayed as the True Christ. "It shall come to pass!" Most religious leaders of today are part of this new order now being set up. Daniel is an overlay of the Book of Revelation. As Daniel and John wrote, their vision fit like a perfect glove. As time passes, God's people will not gain their freedoms back, for it is written as such. You are going to be bound and limited more and more, as God, and our Lord Jesus Christ will be removed from all forms of our lived. Daniel 8:25 "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." The policy of an organization or government sets the limits of the operation of that body. Nothing is allowed to occur outside the policy. Satan's policy is to promise you whatever your price is to worship him. To most Christians today the price is so low and cheep that it simply doesn't exist. Why? Because the Kenites and their religious leaders will lead them right into Satan's camp. It may be with a government wage, a pension, or some are low enough to sell out for a medical plan. Have you given any thought as to what your price of selling your soul will be worth. If you are not sealed in your mind at the arrival of the Antichrist, you will sell out. because God's Word says that you will sell out. Remember, you will not see our Lord Jesus Christ in your physical body, as Paul records in his book I Corinthians 15:50-52; "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." "The last trump" is the seventh trumpet, and that follows the fifth trumpet when the Antichrist arrives. Friends, the first four trumpets are with us today, and most Christians have no idea what they even are. When the seventh trumpet sounds, "all flesh" will be changed into their spiritual bodies, and the "Kingdom of God, our Lord Jesus Christ" will be on earth. This change is instant, thus there will be no time to worship any Christ in your flesh body. You must keep this in your mind, or you will worship Satan. The magnification of Satan in his own heart is what we call pride. It is this pride that caused his fall in that first earth age, and his pride will convince him that he is God, as he commits the abominations of Daniel 9:27, and Matthew 24:15. This is when Satan stands in the temple in Jerusalem and declares himself to be God. When Satan commits this abominable act, it will be the "prince of princes" who will destroy Satan, and not any man. This act will sound the seventh trumpet, and Jesus Christ will return to earth to end the Antichrist's reign. Revelation 19:19-20 describes for us how Satan and his army, and those who bowed to worship the image [Satan] are destroyed. Revelation 19:19, 20; "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him That sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." Daniel 8:26 "And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true; wherefore shut thou up the vision: for it shall be for many days." Gabriel told Daniel that his visions are true and will come to pass. However, it is not for his time, but the understanding is for our generation, as it is now time that we must learn and prepare ourselves. Daniel 8:27 "And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it." Daniel was an elderly man at the age of eighty seven, and was still in the service of the king's business. Following the vision, the thought of what would come in our generation made him sick. Even today many Christians say they believe in a rapture, and they think God will fly them away, so their lack of preparation for the coming spiritual warfare makes them sick with fear, as they listen to their false prophets and teachers tell them of monsters, and deaths by the billions. It is the apprehension that will cause them to run to the first Christ who, in turn will take their souls to death with him, the Antichrist. The Antichrist is not to be feared when you know how he will come, and his methods of winning you over to him. Matthew 10:16 tells us to be "wise as the serpent, and harmless as a dove". The truth of God's word frees us from fear. We don't even need to prepare ourselves for what to say when called to give answer in the "synagogues of Satan" [the church houses], for Mark 13:11 tells us it will be the Holy Spirit of God that will form the words spoken at the time that we are delivered up.
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