The Prince of Princes

March 17, 2013

Lesson: Daniel 8:1–8, 19–26

Key Verse: Daniel 8:25

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Introduction

The kingdoms of the world worship idols rather than the true God. Daniel, along with his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, were persecuted because of their faith in the true God. The glory of the Lord is seen in how he protects his elect children, and how he has brought judgment down upon the wicked. We know that the Lord not only brings down the kings of this world, but that he brings down kingdoms. This is what the incarnate Son of God spoke to the Pharisees, words which could be spoken to the kings of this world: “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). If the Lord speaks thus to those, who claim they belong to him, how much more shall he speak thus to the wicked of this world.

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The Folly of the World’s Kingdoms—Daniel 8:1–8

The vision of chapter eight was given to Daniel in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar. (The last chapter’s vision took place in the first year of this king of Babylon.) This time, Daniel is in the province of Elam by the river Ulai. He lifts up his eyes and, there, “standing by 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.” We see here a comparison between the Persians and Medes, the higher horn representing King Cyrus of the Persian Empire.

Daniel sees the ram “pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him.” Cyrus and Darius, and the kings that followed, “obtained a dominion so far and wide, their ambition and pride always inflamed them, and there was no end to their warfare till they had subdued the distant boundaries of the world” [Calvin].

The male goat came from the west, “across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground”; having a “notable horn between his eyes.” Here we see the power of the Grecian Empire. The conquest and terror of Alexander are described in 1 Macc. 1:3: “He went through the ends of the earth and took spoils of a multitude of nations; and the earth was quiet before him.” Alexander came against “the ram that had two horns . . . and ran at him with furious power.”

The extent of the power and destruction of the Persian Empire is seen in verse seven. In history, we see Alexander coming against king Darius, who was greatly fortified. However, Alexander, in a rage, maddened with power, kept coming against the Persian king until he was conquered. In verse eight, we see the destruction of Alexander: “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.”

Alexander “grew very great” or “acted exceedingly greatly,” which tells us that he was acted arrogantly and presumptuously. Calvin comments that he “wandered as it were in sport through almost the whole east, and at the same time subdued it.” For some fifteen years Alexander enjoyed power.

God’s reign over the kingdoms of this world brings judgment upon the wicked for the welfare of His Church. John Calvin speaks also to His Church and the kingdoms of this world today, saying, “There is nothing which more torments the minds of men than their becoming bewildered in false imaginations, and thinking the world the sport of chance, while they never ponder over the providence of God nor reflect upon his judgments. Hence, with this design, God wished to teach the prophet and all the pious the nature of how events never happen by chance, but all these scourges proceed from God; for the same God both determines and executes his decrees, as he also predicts future events.”

Discussion: What is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of the world?

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The Prince of Princes—Daniel 8:19–26

We must remember that the vision of Daniel’s is more than a dream, to be awakened from in the morning, but a true interaction between the Almighty God and his servant Daniel. God sends a messenger to Daniel. This messenger, or angel, appears before Daniel in the form of a man, and was given the name Gabriel. This reveals to us the reality of God’s angels that, though they are spirits, they receive from the Lord an appearance of a man, that his servants may be calmed of soul to receive the message. The name Gabriel also reveals that, though God’s angels are most powerful, they possess attributes of personality. Where do they receive such a power or authority to speak? It is in the truth that the Second Person of the Godhead is truly present as the only Mediator between God and man.

Daniel was compelled, by the presence of the angel, to “feel the force and power” of God (Calvin). This is truly the beginning of our being made ready to hear the word of God, and to know his presence. When we bow down in awe and fear, even to faint before the Lord, it is then that he lifts us up to hear what he has to say. Gabriel touches Daniel, and stands him upright before him.

This “time of the end” does not refer to the end of the world, nor to the coming of the Messiah, but, as interpreted by Scripture, by God’s Gabriel, “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.” God was revealing to Daniel, and to his people, Israel, that their time of afflictions, or indignation, will come to an end. The time, or length of affliction from the hand of God, is fixed in the counsel and wisdom of God.

The nature of the time of indignation is revealed in Isa. 20:24–25, where the Assyrians are used as an instrument in the hand of God to punish his people for their disobedience. God is saying to Israel: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall strike you with a rod and lift up his staff against you, in the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will my anger in their destruction.” The wrath of God and his punishment will come to an end, evidenced at the time of abominations under Antiochus.

Gabriel continues his teaching of the vision, saying that the ram that Daniel saw, having two horns, represented “the kings of Media and Persia.” The male goat represents “the kingdom of Greece. The large horn between its eyes is the first king.” The first king is Alexander the Great (356–323 B.C), who first ruled over Greece. We see “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.” Four nations will follow Alexander, but not with the strength of Alexander. Next we see the entrance of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 B.C.). “In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understand 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 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.”

There are four characteristics of this wicked king that should be pointed out: One is that his sinister schemes affected his outward appearance, thus his “fierce features.” Second, that he highly exalted himself in his own heart. Third, having exalted himself, he would, in his desire to destroy, rise up against the “Prince of princes.” Fourth, his strength was not by his own power, nor would he be broken by human means. Sound familiar to the tyrants of today?

To a remarkable and wonderful degree, this king would destroy many, but still under the providence of the Almighty God, and not of his own authority or strength. His vanity and pompous thoughts of himself would be used by God in his downfall. God would be the means of his destruction. This is most comforting to us, as people of God, when we see the tyrants waging wars around us, seeking to destroy the church, waging war against Christ the King. God is providentially bringing his wrath upon those who wage this war, to his glory and the building of his kingdom on this earth.

“He (Antiochus) has risen against God and by God he will be overthrown. These words are for the comfort of the saints who, being the meek, cannot in themselves contend with enemies such as Antiochus. Because of our sins, God permits such tyrants to arise and harass His church. ‘It is therefore no matter of surprise, if, instead of one Antiochus, God should raise up many who are hardened and invincible in their obstinacy, and in their cruelty make many attempts with clandestine arts, and plot for the destruction of the Church’ (Calvin). But when such things occur, let us trust in God. The battle is His, and the overthrow of the enemy will often be without hand. Tyrants like Antiochus cannot halt the working of the efficacious grace of God” (E.J. Young, Comm.).

Our hope of victory today is in Christ alone who in reality and truth reigns over all nations, its governments and leaders. Christ is “the prince of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).

Discussion: How does Scripture teach us that we will have victory?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.