Week 3

Let’s look at the word made simple for this week.

Topic: The Interpretation of Gabriel

DANIEL 8:19–26

History

Gabriel. He was an angel that God had appointed to carry messages. He told Zechariah about the birth of John the Baptist and told Mary about the birth of Jesus. He was sent to Daniel in our book to explain his visions. Persia and The Media. Daniel saw the Medo-Persian Empire symbolized by a ram. Darius and Cyrus are symbolized by the two horns on it. Cyrus led the Persians in the overthrow of Media in 558 B.C., and unlike past conquests, the Medes were given high-ranking positions of authority. The two countries resembled one another.

Observation:

Daniel sees another after seeing the four animals in his last vision. A ram, a goat, and a tiny horn are all mentioned in this vision. The ram was standing by the river and had two horns on his head, one of which was taller than the other. No other animal could stop him as he advanced to the north, south, and west. A goat with one horn emerged from the West and charged the ram while Daniel was pondering the vision of the ram. He destroyed the ram by tearing off both of its horns, rendering it helpless. The goat's one horn vanished, and four new ones sprouted in its place. One of the four sprouted a tiny horn toward heaven, which struck down some of the angelic army. God sent Gabriel the angel to Daniel to explain the vision since Daniel was perplexed by it.

Take a Peek

1. God provides Daniel with the assistance he needs (Daniel 8:19–22)

2. Dreams Can and Are Interpreted by God (vv. 23–26)

Please open your Bible

1. God provides Daniel with the assistance he needs (Daniel 8:19–22)

As Gabriel arrived, Daniel stumbled and thought his life was over. Gabriel, however, helped him stand up and revealed that Daniel's vision had predicted what will occur during the end of the world. Daniel was able to understand the vision with Gabriel's assistance. It was meant to bring comfort to individuals who are experiencing difficult circumstances and know that they would eventually come to an end. The princes of Media and Persia are represented by the ram's two horns, according to Gabriel. The first horn to appear was smaller than the second. The second and longest horn stood in for the last to rise and more important than Media kingdom of Persia. The ram rushed with its horns westward, northward, and southerly, toward Lydians, Armenians, and Scythians, Syria, Greece, and Asia (toward Arabia, Ethiopia, and Egypt). To increase their dominion, the Persians attacked each of these countries. As the ram had in the vision, the Persian Empire grew to such a size that no one could stand against it.

The horn between its eyes was Alexander the Great, and the goat Daniel saw approaching from the West is a representation of Greece. The goat did not touch the earth in the vision, and Gabriel explained that this was because Alexander the Great walked so lightly and encountered little to no opposition. He actually set out to dominate the world. It is stated that Alexander the Great advanced his conquests with such speed and ferocity that no one had the guts to resist him. In three tremendous engagements, he launched an assault on Persia, killing more than 600,000 soldiers and seizing complete control of the Persian Empire. In the dream, the goat crushed the ram and snapped both of its horns.

The goat's horn split and sprouted into four more horns as soon as it had grown large. The kingdom of Alexander was divided into the kingdoms of Syria, Egypt, Asia, and Greece. But from the four, a little horn emerged who started to persecute the believers and the church.

2. Dreams Can and Are Interpreted by God (vv. 23–26)

In verses 23–25, Antiochus Epiphanes, the "little horn," is described along with his personality. Given that he "was in his original contemptible; there were others between him and the kingdom... and (he) had been for some time a hostage and prisoner at Rome, from which he made his escape, and... got the kingdom," Matthew Henry claims that Antiochus was viewed as a minor figure (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. IV—Isaiah to Malachi, 1079). He invaded Armenia, Persia, and Egypt, but trampled on the Jews. The vision claims that Antiochus turned his back on God, heaven, and God's people. He prohibited the daily offerings and erected his own statue inside the temple. He would allegedly be destroyed, but not by human hands. He would surrender to the real God rather than perish in battle or be killed. Thus it turned out. Antiochus swore to turn Jerusalem into a cemetery after the Jews removed his image from the temple. As soon as he finished speaking, he developed an untreatable illness. He initially kept threatening the Jews. Yet as his condition worsened, he made an effort to persuade God to grant the Jews freedom of worship. He finally gave up just before he passed away.

For the benefit of those of us who live in the final days, Daniel was urged to seal the vision.

Know your Bible summary

When there is so much evil around, it can be difficult to see clearly. Gabriel provided Daniel with assistance and encouragement to further his understanding. Who can we turn to when things look hopeless?

When people make poor judgments or don't make any decisions at all, communities get worse. Those who are passive forfeit the chance to secure a better future for themselves and their families. Gabriel clarified Daniel's confusion about the vision he had for him. What can we take away from today's lesson and what can we do to guarantee that the people who live in our communities have a better future?

God interprets dreams and sends assistance.

Time to have a self-discussion

Do you typically seek assistance from others or try to solve problems on your own? The individual who refuses to ask for assistance is either self-centered, has low self-esteem, is terrified of being rejected, or is a glutton for punishment. Asking for aid does not indicate weakness, but rather strength. Asking for assistance with an issue you've been battling for too long is a challenge you should set for yourself. Think about asking your pastor, parents, financial advisor, friend, or a certified counselor for advice