Daniel 8:1-4 -- In the third year of Belshazzar's reign, I,
Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. In my vision I
saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was
beside the Ulai Canal.
I Iooked up, and there before me was a ram with two
horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was
longer than the other but grew up later.
I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and
the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue
from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
First of all we need to know at what time in earth's history this prophecy is speaking
of. In this prophecy, God is revealing to Daniel the empires of Daniel's day and
those that succeeded them, but these were only the type of the fulfillment which would be
happening during the appointed time of the end.
Nations, in the type, may be used to represent nations in our day that have developed
to world prominence in only the past few hundred years. In some cases the nations
present in the time of the type are no longer
even represented as present day nations.
I want to note the emphasizing of the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy as
related to Daniel by Gabriel:
Daniel 8:17 -- As he came near the place where I was
standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me,
"understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."
This can only mean that the fulfillment of this prophecy is starting to unfold as the
ram-like beast, of verses three and four, comes on the stage of action during the coming
appointed time of the end.
Vs. 19 -- He [Gabriel] said: "I am going to tell you
what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed
time of the end."
This vision is not concerned about the kingdoms of the ancient Medes and Persians and
Greece with its first great king -- Alexander the Great etc., except as symbols
of the future nations which meet their fulfillment at the appointed time of the end.
This is the 1335 days that precedes Christ's second coming."
"I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath."
This time of wrath at the appointed time of the end is represented by the wrath of Satan
which begins with the angel from the heavenly sanctuary hurling the golden censer onto the
earth. This symbolically begins Satan's time to rule the earth for his allotted time
of 1260 days.
This is ended by Christ's inauguration to rule this earth and His wrath is poured out
on the wicked of the earth during the first seventy-five days of His reign. Christ's
wrath is manifested in the form of the seven last plagues. Christ comes in power and
great glory during the time of the seventh and last plague.
Rev. 15:1 -- I saw in heaven another great and marvelous
sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues -- Last, because with them God's
wrath is completed.
Daniel 8:5-7 (continuing) -- As I was thinking about this,
suddenly, a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the
whole earth without touching the ground.
He "came from the west." Alexander the Great, as the type, came from
the west, but notice how inadequately he could fill the shoes of the fulfillment.
"crossing the whole earth without touching the ground."
This can only be fulfilled by a superpower (as Alexander was in his day) who could
cross the whole earth without touching the ground. This would be fulfilled by a
mighty air force of some superpower from the Western part of the earth in relation to the
Medes (Iraq) and Persians (Iran). I believe this nation at this time can only be
speaking of the United States of America.
Vss. 6,7 -- He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen
standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage. I saw him attack the ram
furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand
against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him, and none could rescue
the ram from his power.
This event must take place during the time of wrath-the appointed time of the
end. Any previous events cannot be considered to fulfill this prophecy. Yes,
even the Gulf war when the Medes (Iraqis) were humbled by this western power for a
while. I believe this was only a preliminary skirmish to show the bad blood between
them and that we might be better able to see the connection when the real battle
occurs. Also, that it will only occur after the Great Tribulation is underway.
Vs. 8 -- The goat became very great, but at the height of
his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up
toward the four winds of heaven.
Some time following this encounter this great superpower will undergo
reorganizing. This unifying head of this military super-power will be divided into
four lesser powers -- four horns. This perhaps to fit into the rearranging
of the world powers of Satan as he manipulates his powers to best fulfill his desires for
his One World Order wicked conglomerate. The ultimate power would be transferred to
his leadership and purposes.
Vs. 9 -- Out of one of them (one of the four horns) came
another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and
toward the Beautiful Land.
This would indicate that one of the four powers that this goat beast is
subdivided into, will be the power where the little horn of Daniel seven -- the
Antichrist -- will come from. We can only speculate which four nations that
these horns represent, on the basis of our present information.
Vs. 10 -- It grew until it reached the host of the heavens,
and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them.
This little horn grew rapidly in power until it reached the host of the heavens.
Only Satan could do that, and the only starry hosts that he had control of was his own
evil angels. Remember when Satan (the enormous red dragon) was hurled down to
earth. This also will be during the Great Tribulation:
Rev. 12;3,4 -- Then another sign appeared in heaven: an
enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten
horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky
and flung them to the earth.
"and it threw some of the starry hosts down to the earth and trampled
them." (Dan. 8:10)
Dan. 8:11 (continuing) -- It set itself up to be as great
as the Prince of the host; (Christ) it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the
place of his sanctuary was brought low.
"it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary
was brought low." Satan took over the reign of this earth when the censer was
hurled to this earth by the angel at the altar of incense in the heavenly sanctuary.
This was a symbolic hurling to signify that this transfer had taken place and the signs
that were visible on earth to announce this was not a golden censer found somewhere, but
note the account:
Rev. 8:3-5 -- "Another angel, who had a golden censer,
came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all
the saints, on the golden altar before the throne...
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire
from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings,
flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
These are the signs that we should recognize on the earth to let us know when
this transfer has taken place and that the Great Tribulation is set in motion.
Dan. 8:12 (continuing) -- Because of rebellion, the host of
the saints, and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it
did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
"Because of rebellion." This is referring to the rebellion of the
nation of Israel in their rejection of Christ as God, and their only Savior. This we
know is to continue until the last Gentile is called in. Rom. 11:25.
Because of this rebellion, God brings punishment on the surviving one-third of the
nation of Israel, living in the holy land following the destruction of their country by
the Antichrist and his legions. This punishment will be in fulfillment of all that
has been written. (Luke
21:22).
Isaiah 1:5,6 -- Why should you be beaten any more? Why do
you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted.
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness, only
wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil.
"The host of the saints were given over to it." The host of the saints
refers to this remnant surviving one-third of the nation of Israel after the destruction
by the armies of the Antichrist. Notice that in each case it states that God
arranges for this punishment to purify them from their guilt and their sins.
Isaiah 27: 8,9 -- By warfare and exile you contend with her
-- with his fierce blast he drives her out, as on a day the east wind blows.
By this, then, will Jacob's guilt be atoned for, and
this will be the full fruitage of the removal of his sin:
Zech. 14:2 -- I (God) will gather all the armies to
Jerusalem to fight against it. (notice God doing the orchestrating)
Daniel 7:25 -- "He (the little horn) will speak
against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the
laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a
time."
Ezek. 38:17 -- (God speaking to Gog, the Anti-christ, at
the time of Armageddon) "This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
"Are you not the one I spoke of in former days
by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I
would bring you against them."
Notice that in every case this punishment and trampling, that the remnant Israelites go
through, is the method God arranges to purify them from their sins and impurities.
This is to bring them to see their lost condition and accept His repentance that He
offers them. This to make it possible for them to be saved as a small remnant of the
descendants of Jacob, to fulfill the promise God made with Abraham.
Daniel 8:12 (continuing) -- and the daily sacrifice
were given over to it.
This is referring to the daily sacrifices of a lamb -- one in the
morning and the other in the evening. Notice God's instructions to Moses.
Num. 28:1-4 -- The Lord said to Moses, "Give this
command to the Israelites and say to them:
'See that you present to me at the appointed time the
food for my offerings made with fire, as an aroma pleasing to me.'
Say to them: 'This is the offering made by fire that
you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old, without defect, as a regular burnt
offering each day.
Prepare one lamb in the morning and the other at
twilight...
Vs. 8 -- Prepare the second lamb
at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering that you prepare in the morning.
This is an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
This service in the earthly sanctuary was symbolic of a heavenly service that
restricted the activities of Satan on the earth. Because of the universal disbelief
in Christ as being God and our only Savior -- particularly to the nation of
Israel who, as His chosen nation, has held firmly to this rebellious unbelief --
the daily sacrifice was handed over to Satan. Within restricted limits this allowed
him to take over and rule the earth for his three and a half years of allotted time.
Daniel 8:12 (Berkeley Version) -- It was granted power in
opposition to the daily sacrifice; it cast truth to the earth and whatever it did
succeeded.
The daily opposed his power. But when this service was turned over to him, this
granted him the power to proceed with his evil plans.
2 Thess. 2:3-7 (NEB) -- Let
no one deceive you in any way whatever. That day cannot come before the final
rebellion against God, when wickedness will be revealed in human form, the man doomed to
perdition.
He is the enemy. He rises in his pride against
every god, so called, every object of men's worship, and even takes his seat in the temple
of God claiming to be a god himself.
You cannot but remember that I told you this while I
was still with you; you must now be aware of the restraining hand which ensures that he
shall be revealed only at the proper time.
For already the secret power of wickedness is at
work, secret only for the present until the Restrainer disappears from the scene.
This restraining hand is the service of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary that was
symbolized in the earthly sanctuary by the " Daily" or the "evening
morning" sacrifices.
Daniel 8:13 (continuing) -- Then I heard a holy one
speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to
be fulfilled -- the vision concerning the daily sacrifices, the rebellion that
causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be
trampled under foot?"
There are four items in this question that are waiting for the answer as to when each
of these will be fulfilled.
(1.) How long will the daily sacrifices be abolished?
(2.) How long will the rebellion that causes desolation continue?
(3.) How long will the sanctuary be defiled by this evil little horn?
(4.) How long will the host be trampled underfoot?
First let us note the partial answer to this question in verse 14.
Vs. 14 -- He said to me, "It will take 2300 evenings
and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."
"The daily;" "The continual;" "The evening morning," are
all designations in the Bible referring to these daily sacrifices of a lamb in the evening
and the morning of every day. This would indicate that when the daily was abolished
with the throwing down of the golden censer to the earth -- it would be 2300
evening and morning sacrifices or 1150 days.
Now we should have all the answers to the above questions. The other questions we
already have the answers from other passages of Scripture, but this question has nowhere
else been addressed.
(1.) How long will the daily sacrifice be abolished?
And the answer is, for 1150 days.
(2.) How long will the rebellion that causes desolation continue? Answer:
We know that this rebellion of the remnant Israelites continues until the last Gentile is
called in; and this happens when the 144,000 are martyred and three days later
resurrected and called up to heaven. (Rev. 11:7-11)
We know that the 144,000 begin their 1260 days of prophesying just before the censer is
cast down to announce the beginning of the Great Tribulation. It's apparently a week
preceding it, as we will see. Satan's reign begins when the censer is cast down and
it continues for 42 months. (Rev.13:5) The 144,000 witnesses finish their
testimony after their 1260 days of prophesying. This is when the last Gentile is
called in. This brings an end to the witness of Christ and the Holy Spirit to the
Gentiles. Every individual on the earth has heard the everlasting gospel which will
have been made known to everyone.
This gospel will be given by the words of Christ transmitted by the Holy Spirit to His
servant prophets, who in turn will communicate them to the inhabitants of the earth.
The week that follows is when the 144,000 witnesses are attacked by the Antichrist and
his conglomerate, and they are martyred during the middle of this week. He does not
martyr Christ and the Holy Spirit (the two witnesses). For three and a half days
they remain dead and unburied -- the second half of this week.
Then they are resurrected and called up into heaven. (Rev. 11:7-11). It is during
this week that Christ and the Holy Spirit turn their attention to the rebellious but
humbled remnant Israelites. And during this week they become born again
Christians. This is the 70th week of the 70 week prophecy as given in Daniel 9:24.
For more details and Bible substantiation, see my booklets #4A and #4B, "The
Seventy Weeks of Daniel Nine."
So, the answer to this question -- how long will the rebellion that causes
desolation continue? The answer is: during the week preceding the end of the
Antichrist's reign -- which occurs on day 1260.
(3.) How long will the sanctuary be defiled by the evil little horn?
Answer: We know Satan's reign ends on day 1260 of this 1335 day time frame. However
he continues to hold the captive Israelites, and tramples them until day 1335 when they
are set free by Christ and His army.
We know this subjugation and trampling of the Israelites lasts for 42 months-three and
a half years -- or 1260 days. Then it must start that same amount of time
prior to Christ's second coming. That would be seventy-five days after the onset of
the Great Tribulation. This onset of the period of punishment and trampling is best
described by Zechariah:
Zech. 13:8,9 - 14:1,2
-- "In the whole land," declares the Lord,
"two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.
This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like
gold.
They will call on my name and I will answer them; I
will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.' "
A day of the Lord is coming when your plunder will be
divided among you. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it;
the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the
city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.
This is the time when the nation of Israel is destroyed by the Antichrist and his
armies, and the surviving one-third of the population are spared by God's design to
undergo the punishment to be administered by this cruel power.
(4.) How long will these remnant Israelites continue to be trampled underfoot by
the Antichrist? Answer: It begins on day seventy five of this 1335 day time period,
known as the Day of the Lord. The punishment continues for 1260 days and concludes
at Christ's second coming, at which time they are set free.
Interpretation of The Vision
Dan. 8:15-17 -- While I, Daniel. was watching the vision
and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.
And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling,
"Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision."
Vs. 17 -- As he came near the
place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of
man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the
end."
Remember that this vision is not speaking of ancient kingdoms, except as symbols of
what is to happen at the time of the end. These are future events. Why does
Gabriel have to stress this so repeatedly? It has to be, because God knew how
difficult it was going to be for many of us to accept this in our day.
Vs. 18 -- While he was
speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched
me and raised me to my feet.
Vs. 19 -- He said: "I am
going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns
the appointed time of the end.
Here Gabriel re-emphasizes the time these events will happen. We know the reason
for this, don't we? They occur during the time of wrath.
The Great Tribulation is divided into two sections of wrath. The first 1260 days
represents the wrath of Satan, as announced by the first six trumpets of Revelation 8 and
9. The last seventy-five days represents the wrath of God, as manifested by the
seven last plagues. These are poured out on the wicked of the earth. These
plagues are terminated by Christ's second coming which takes place at the time of the
seventh plague -- day 1335.
Vss. 20-22 -- The two-horned ram that you saw represents the
kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn
between his eyes is the first king.
The four horns that replaced the one that was broken
off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same
power.
I believe my earlier commentary on this part of the vision is sufficient. This
does point out that this large, powerful central horn was broken off. This would
seem to me to mean some type of imposed break-up of this power into four lesser kingdoms
and not on the basis of a vote or a friendly handshake.
Vs. 23 -- In the latter part of their reign, when rebels
have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.
This can only be speaking of the little horn -- the Antichrist. This
indicates that the Antichrist will arise to take control after this goat-like beast with
the prominent central horn has had his horn broken off and his kingdom re-organized into
four lesser kingdoms.
Vs. 24 -- He will become very strong, but not by his own
power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does.
He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people.
"He will become very strong but not by his own power." Let us note
where all this authority and power will come from.
Notice the first beast that comes up out of the water and that precedes the Antichrist
beast. This is the beast that has the dragon's logo (Satan's) -- the seven
heads and ten horns. These ten horns are the nations of the earth who have pledged
their authority and power to carry out their common agenda.
Rev. 13:1,2 -- And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He
had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a
blasphemous name.
The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet
like those of a bear, and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon (Satan) gave the
beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Now note the second beast which is the little horn -- the Antichrist.
Vss. 11,12 -- Then I saw another beast, coming out of the
earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.
He exercised all the authority of the first beast on
his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.
So all the power and authority of both these beasts comes down the line from Satan, who
is masterminding these human elements and associates from day one of his reign.
"He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people." The mighty men are
speaking of the 144,000 witnesses. Note some of the powers that God gives them as
they reveal Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue and
people.
Rev. 11:5,6 -- If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes
from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm
them must die.
These men have power to shut up the sky so that it
will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to strike the
earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
Rev. 11:7 -- Now when they have finished their testimony,
the beast that comes up from the abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.
This is how the Antichrist will kill the mighty men.
"He will destroy the holy people." Go back a few pages and re-read
Zech. 13:8,9 - 14:1,2 which
makes this answer clear.
Dan. 8:25 (continuing) -- He will cause deceit to prosper,
and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many
and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not
by human power.
"He will consider himself superior" This is certainly an
understatement. Notice some of the evidence for this:
Dan. 11:36,37 -- "The king will do as he pleases. (he
is successful in everything he does) He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and
will say unheard of things against the God of gods.
He will be successful until the time of wrath is
completed for what has been determined must take place."
In spite of his reign coming to an end on day 1260-the day that Christ's reign begins --
he will continue on until the time of wrath is completed, and this we know is at Christ's
second coming.
This extension of his activities is to allow him to carry out his acts that God has
determined must take place. This would include the punishment of the remnant Israelites,
which is scheduled to come to an end at Christ's second coming. It is also to allow
the test that he will bring to every inhabitant of the earth. This test comes on day
1290 of this 1335 day time frame, when he commands everyone to worship and give allegiance
to the image of the beast or to be killed.
Dan. 12:11 -- From the time that the daily sacrifice is
abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days.
(This is 45 days prior to Christ's coming)
Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end
of the 1335 days. (These are the ones that survive the Great Tribulation and witness
Christ coming in all His power and glory.)
This verse of Daniel 12:11 is the infallible key to God's time clock to let us know the
timing of these events that are to take place in the appointed time of the end. This
key is indispensable in understanding the timing of the events in Daniel and Revelation,
as well as the other
prophetic books.
God has so precisely presented the duration of the events, but this is the key which
shows where the event is located in the Day of the Lord -- the appointed time of
the end. It lets us know the beginning and the ending in most cases.
First of all this verse notifies us when this period starts. "From the time that
the daily sacrifice is abolished."
We know that this symbolic casting down the golden censer is the precise beginning of
the Great Tribulation -- the appointed time of the end, and the global earthquake
with its associated rumblings, thunder and
flashes of lightning will be the visual spectacle to let everyone who is expecting this
event know its exact start.
This verse tells us that 1290 days are measured on this clock when the abomination that
causes desolation will be set up. This is when the image to the beast is set up and
everyone on earth is commanded by the Antichrist to worship the image or to be
killed. (Rev. 13:15).
This verse also tells us the termination of this time: "Blessed is the one who
waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 days." This has to be the termination
of this appointed time of the end because it is so stated.
From this infallible key -- the time clock, we can see that this universal death
decree on day 1290 comes exactly forty-five days before the coming of Christ --
day 1335.
Here is another example of how we can benefit from this heavenly time clock: We know
that the trampled and brutalized remnant Israelites are all set free at Christ's second
coming. There are many passages of Scripture to verify this.
By knowing that; and with this clock we can count backward in time from 1335 for the
1260 days -- 42 months-or 3 1/2 years that this punishment lasts, and
we find that it begins on day 75 of this time table.
This enables us to see that when this One World Order beast surrounds Jerusalem and
destroys it, as described in Zechariah 13:8,9 -
14:1,2, this punishment begins for the remnant one-third of their nation
that survive.
Another example is the answer in Daniel 8:14 to the question in verse 13 of:
"How long will the daily sacrifice be abolished?
The answer in verse 14 is: "It will take 2300 evenings and mornings, then the
sanctuary will be re-consecrated." A total of 2300 sacrifices with each day
having a morning and evening lamb sacrificed would require 1150 days to reach this number
of sacrifices. When we check our official time clock we find that this
re-consecrating of the sanctuary comes at the height of the reign of Satan. It comes
on day 1150, and his reign ends on day 1260.
Could this mean that this sanctuary is re-consecrated to the Antichrist -- wickedness
in human form -- Satan personified as a man? Certainly the
Israelites, as a nation at this time, will be in the middle of their period of being
brutalized and in no condition to be in charge of this.
Is this the time when the Antichrist institutes the daily morning and evening
sacrifices, perhaps with sacrificing pigs or some such offense -- in-your-face
type of gesture to God and the Israelites?
Is this what it means when it states, "And the place of his sanctuary will be
brought low?" "He (The man of lawlessness) will oppose and will exalt
himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in
God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thess. 2:4)."
Could it represent the service in heaven, that the daily symbolized, be re- instituted
due to Satan's program getting out of hand and the need to hold it in check a little
tighter to cut short his evil schemes? The words of Jesus in describing this very
time may have alluded to this:
Matt. 24:21,22 -- For then there will be great distress,
unequaled from the beginning of the world until now -- and never to be
equaled again. If thosedays had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for
the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.
There is evidence that either or both of these interpretations may be the meaning of
this question, but from the weight of the evidence, I believe there is too much evidence
to substantiate the former that it must be the prime answer for this question.
We are left for room to speculate on just how this sanctuary will be re-consecrated and
the daily re-instituted, but one thing that we can count on is that it will occur on day
1150 of this 1335 day time frame. The events that are taking place at that time will
give us the benefit of seeing these things more clearly when we realize the time they are
scheduled to happen.
Dan. 8:25 (continuing) -- "He will take his stand
against the Prince of princes."
See Rev. 17:12-14 -- "The ten horns you saw are ten
kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as
kings along with the beast.
They have one purpose (to eradicate the Israelites)
and will give their power and authority to the beast.
They will make war against the Lamb (he will take his
stand against the Prince of princes) but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of
lords and King of kings -- and with him will be his called, chosen and
faithful followers."
Vs. 25b -- "Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human
power."
Notice the various places where the Bible describes this demise of the Antichrist --
but not by human power.
Rev. 19:19,20 -- Then I saw the beast and the kings of the
earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and
his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet (the
Antichrist) who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf.
With these signs he had deluded those who had
received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown
alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
They had to be thrown into this lake of burning sulfur by non human hands or power.
Daniel 7:11 -- "Then I continued to watch because of
the boastful words the horn was speaking. (claiming to be God) I kept looking until
the beast (the beast with the ten horns -- this little horn by now had
become the dominate horn) was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing
fire. (burning sulfur)
Ezek. 38:17-20 -- "This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel?
At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them.
This is what will happen in that day: When Gog
(the Antichrist) attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the
Sovereign Lord.
In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that
time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.
The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts
of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face
of the earth will tremble at my presence.
The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will
crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.
Vss. 21,22 -- I will summon a
sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man's
sword will be against his brother.
I will execute judgment upon him with plague and
bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on
his troops and on the many nations with him.
The hailstones are one of the plagues that occurs with the seventh and last plague.
God says that He will pour down burning sulfur on him. This again points out
that his demise comes not by human power, but always in the same way.
Daniel 8:26 (continuing) -- "The vision of the
evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it
concerns the distant future."
At the time Gabriel was giving this prophecy interpretation to Daniel it would be only
a few years until the Medes and Persians would overthrow the Babylonian Kingdom and
destroy it from ever becoming a nation again. It is obvious that it would only have
symbolic value in helping our generation to be better able to see the momentous and
catastrophic events that are scheduled to occur in the soon coming Great Tribulation.