Sabbath School Lesson for February 22-28, 2020
Overview
Daniel 8, which included Daniel’s second vision and its interpretation, brought these points to our attention…
- The ram and the goat represented the two empires following Babylon, that of Medo-Persia and Greece. (Sunday)
- The next empire, indicating the rise of a little horn, illustrated both pagan and papal Rome. (Monday)
- There were similarities between imperial Rome and the papacy, and their identification is clear from the descriptions we are given in this chapter. (Tuesday)
- One identifying mark of the little horn, that of attacking the sanctuary, requires the study of Christ’s intercessory function as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. (Wednesday)
- The cleansing of the sanctuary, specifically mentioned in the vision, reminds us of the Day of Atonement, when the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary occurred. (Thursday)
Introduction
Whereas the main thrust of the vision in chapter 7 was the judgment scene in God’s heavenly throne room, chapter 8 depicts a scene of purification, or cleansing, going on in the heavenly sanctuary.
The timing and depiction of these events tell us they are one and the same. Sometime after the 1,260 years of medieval, papal rule, a heavenly judgment would begin, which would mark the beginning of the last days.
Daniel was obviously troubled by the scenes brought to his attention. He had already witnessed a cruel attack on Jerusalem’s temple, carried out by Babylonian soldiers. Surely, God wouldn’t suggest that this horrific event would happen again to God’s people. He must have been particularly worried about when it would happen.
Memory Text: “And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.’ “ Daniel 8:14 NKJV
If Daniel at first thought this verse meant literally 2,300 days, which would only amount to a little more than six years, he would have been surprised, but probably joyous that God’s victory would so soon be won for His people.
But the fact that he fainted and was sick for days (Daniel 8:27) might instead tell us that he realized that the prophecy time period would stretch out for many centuries, 2, 300 prophetic years to be exact. The angel Gabriel even told him that “it refers to many days in the future” (Daniel 8:26).
Sunday: The Ram and the Goat
We wonder at the change of symbols representing the kingdoms of the world in these two visions of Daniel. Daniel 7 spoke of unclean beasts, but in Daniel 8 we see the symbols of a ram and a goat, clean animals used as sacrificial offerings.
This change was obviously to divert our attention to the sanctuary’s part in the cosmic problem of sin. Both of these animals were prominent in the sacrificial system, particularly the ritual that occurred on the annual Day of Atonement, otherwise known as the cleansing of the sanctuary. See Leviticus 16.
The details provided in the descriptions of these animals and their actions still definitely point to the Medo-Persian and Grecian Empires.
- The ram with two horns, one higher than the other, aptly fits Medo-Persia, with the Persians having the most strength (Daniel 8:20). It pushed ahead in three directions (Daniel 8:4). This most likely indicted the three major conquests of this world power (Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt, from last week’s study).
- The male goat that came from the west is clearly shown to be Greece (Daniel 8:21). This conquering power came across the earth “without touching the ground”, Daniel 8:5. This indicates the speed of its rise to power. In addition, the goat had a “notable horn between his eyes”, which historians have recognized as Alexander the Great, the leader of this powerful kingdom.
Discussion Questions:
Read Daniel 7:5 and 8:3, 4. How do both these animals fit a description of Medo-Persia? What similarities are there, and why do you think the two different kinds of animals are used–one unclean and the other clean?
Read Daniel 7:6 and 8:5. How do both these animals fit a description of Greece?
Read Daniel 8:21, 22. Why is it helpful to know precisely who these animals are symbolically?
Monday: The Rise of the Little Horn
After a fierce battle, the male goat trampled and cast down the ram. The next kingdom here, which would have been Rome, is not represented by an animal. See Daniel 8:7.
We are first told that the large horn on this goat, which obviously represented Alexander the Great, was replaced by four “notable ones” (the four generals who divided the Grecian Empire after Alexander’s death). See Daniel 8:8.
Out of one of these horns came a little horn, which represented the characteristics of both pagan or imperial Rome and papal Rome. Whereas one of the powers (pagan Rome) had a horizontal expansion, was civil in nature (Daniel 8:9), the papal powers described also in Daniel 7 was more vertical in nature, speaking pompous words (Daniel 7:8). In other words, it included a religious aspect to its dominance.
Let’s consider more fully the characteristics of this little horn from Daniel 7 and 8 and see that it is talking about the same power system, namely the papacy:
- Both horns are little in the beginning. (Daniel 7:8, 8:9)
- Both become great later on. (Daniel 7:20, 8:9)
- Both are persecuting powers. (Daniel 7:21, 25, 8:10, 24)
- Both are self-exalting and blasphemous. (Daniel 7:8, 25 8:10, 11, 25)
- Both target God’s people. (Daniel 7:25, 8:24)
- Both have aspects that are designated by prophetic time. (Daniel 7:25, 8:13, 14)
- Both extend until the end of time (Daniel 7:25, 26, 8:17, 19)
- Both face supernatural destruction (Daniel 7:11, 26, 8:25)
Discussion Questions:
Read Daniel 8:8, 9. How does this indicate a horizontal expansion of conquest, and how does imperial Rome match this description?
Read Daniel 8:10 and Revelation 12:4, 9. How does Satan come into the picture we are given of this little horn? Who is behind this kingdom?
Read Daniel 8:11, 12 and Isaiah 59:15. How did those who stood up for the truth become “prey” during the Middle Ages? What truths were cast down by the medieval church?
Tuesday: The Attack on the Sanctuary
Daniel 8:10 speaks of this little horn growing “up to the host of heaven”. It sounds similar to the objective of those building the Tower of Babel, “a tower whose top is in the heavens” (Genesis 11:4).
“Host” and “stars” are recognized terms in the Old Testament for God’s people. Therefore, casting them down and trampling them definitely point to a persecution of Christians by this little horn power.
Both pagan and papal Rome are guilty of such crimes, but since it is here speaking of a vertical expansion (it “grew up to the host of heaven”), this passage must refer mostly to the papal authorities in Rome and their work of exterminating those who dared to stand up for truth.
Other identifying marks in this passage are the self-exaltation (“as high as the Prince of the host”), taking away the daily sacrifices, and casting down the place of His sanctuary. And while he is casting down truth and doing all these things, he prospers. See Daniel 8:11, 12.
Some Bible scholars, in order to divert attention from the papacy, have adopted beliefs that this little horn (later referred to as the antichrist) was actually Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who reigned almost two centuries before Christ. Or, possibly it references a power that will appear some time in the future.
There is not nearly enough evidence for these two theories, and therefore, almost all the Protestant Reformers from the time of Tyndale identified this little horn as the papacy.
The worship practices of the Roman Catholic Church adopted during the Middle Ages contributed to their assessment. Their system of worship involved exchanging the intercession of Christ for the intercession of priests. This must be seen as a definite attack on the true sanctuary, the heavenly one.
Discussion Questions:
Read Daniel 8:10 and Genesis 11:4. What is wrong with these attempts to reach all the way to heaven? What is the underlying motive, and where does it lead?
Read Daniel 8:11, 9:25, and Ephesians 5:1. Who is the Prince referred to in this passage? What’s the difference between wanting to be equal with Christ and wanting to be like Him?
Read Daniel 8:12, John 8:44, and Isaiah 8:20. If truth is being cast down, who is behind it? How do we avoid lies about God?
Wednesday: The Cleansing of the Sanctuary
The earthly sanctuary tabernacle built by Moses, and the later versions of it seen in the temples in Jerusalem built by kings of Israel and Judah, contained much symbolism that was meant to teach the plan of salvation to God’s children.
Moses was told that the sanctuary was a pattern or copy of things in heaven where God was intervening on man’s behalf to eradicate sin from the universe (Exodus 25:40). Like many of the symbols in prophecy, we must turn to the Hebrew worship system, in order to appreciate what the symbols mean.
Jews would immediately be familiar with the ram and the goat and the phrase “cleansing of the sanctuary”. It marked the annual Day of Atonement that prescribed a massive cleansing to occur, of God’s people, its priests, and even the tabernacle itself. See Leviticus 16.
If previous time prophecies were true, this cleansing would begin in 1844, at the end of the 2,300 days/years given in the vision (Daniel 8:14). Some Adventists who came out of the Millerite Advent movement of the 1800s were convinced that the year 1844 marked the beginning of this heavenly judgment period, described in Daniel 7, that would precede Christ’s Second Coming.
Although we’ll never know the day or the hour when that Advent will be, we do know it is near and we are in the latter days. The signs Jesus foretold, when asked by his disciples about the event, clearly signify this to be true as well.
Discussion Questions:
Read Daniel 8:14 and Leviticus 16:30. What was the purpose of the Day of Atonement? Why would our atonement and cleansing be necessary before Christ could come to set up His Kingdom?
Read Hebrews 8:5 and Exodus 25:40. How do these verses tell us that there is a heavenly sanctuary, and why do you think God wants to share with us the work that goes on there?
Read Hebrews 9:23-28. How and why is God’s purification from sin more effectual than what took place in the earthly sanctuary on the Day of Atonement?
Thursday: The Prophetic Timetable
The heavenly being who came to Daniel with this vision understood that Daniel would be worried about the timing of the events that were described. The vision ended with a clue about time; but 2,300 days must have been very disheartening for Daniel to hear, as he would then realize that these predictions wouldn’t come to pass for many years in the future.
Although Daniel by then knew when the prophecy would end, he was not told yet when the time period would begin. That information would be filled in for Daniel in his next vision, recorded in Daniel 9.
Discussion Questions:
Read Daniel 8:14. Why do you think God provides us with some prophecies that include time information?
Read Matthew 24:36 and Acts 1:7. Why do you think God withholds from us the time of His Coming?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2 and 2 Peter 3:10. When is the day of the Lord?
Final Thoughts
Awareness that we are in the latter days should cause our thoughts to be directed toward God. But our actions play a part too. In a parable about this waiting time, a master told his ten servants to “Occupy (or do business) till I come” (Luke 19:13). Just what actions are appropriate and necessary as we wait for this event?
We all must view the time we have left on this earth as precious. As precious as one who receives a diagnosis of a terminal illness and is made aware that they have only a short time to live. There are many things that run through our minds when this happens.
- Uppermost would be our relationships, both with our loved ones and with the Lord. We must be sure we have repented of any wrongdoing and received forgiveness from all involved. We desire to share our love with family and friends, but also do all we can to know our Comforter more intimately and place our total trust in His care.
- There are also some practical things to do to prepare for the end of life. Creating a legacy for ourselves (how we will be remembered) should include sharing the gospel with everyone in our sphere of influence. Our enthusiasm for sharing our love and faith is usually never higher than when we know our time is short.
Yes, knowing that Jesus is doing a special work for us in heaven is comforting, but it should inspire us to do all we need to do, as we wait for His work to be finished and the Day of Atonement to arrive.
Next Week’s Lesson: From Confession to Consolation (Daniel 9)
To read the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly or see more resources for its study, go to https://www.absg.adventist.org/
Other Outlook blogposts by Teresa Thompson, are at http://outlookmag.org/author/teresathompson/
