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. It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down. Because of rebellion, the Lord’s peopleand the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. Daniel 8:10-12 (NIV).
Evil keeps on growing. As with yesterday’s verses, today’s have dual meaning. Only a few centuries after Daniel’s time, Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire would persecute the Jews, then violently defile the rebuilt Jewish temple: blaspheming and defying the Lord as he did so. His persecution of the Jews was so widespread and evil that the Maccabean revolt resulted and the Greeks of Antiochus’ forces were driven out of Judea. The conclusion of that revolt– the cleansing of the Temple – is remembered each year during Hannukah. See (https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/understanding-the-book-of-daniel/daniel-8/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabean_Revolt).
Antiochus was the first Greek ruler to gain power by seizing the throne. As events unfolded over the coming decades, this began the decline of the Greek Empire (which had previously overtaken the Mede-Persians of Daniel’s time, who had overthrown Babylon). That happened through power struggles, intrigues for power, and violent usurpation of the throne. Behind all that thirst for power was evil: same as it had always been going back to Eden, same as it is in our world today.
And the same as it will be in the days to come. The dual meaning of these verses is that they describe an “abomination of desolation” performed by Antiochus IV AND the defilement and rebellion against God that will be performed by the antichrist in the end times. The little horn of the goat grew and overtook all around it. Many Bible scholars assume this refers to the coming anti-Christ, the incarnation of Satan.
Evil simply keeps on growing. One day, it will grow too big for us to ignore. It would have been terrible to witness what happened during Antiochus’ rampage. It will be much worse to see what happens when the imp of Satan rules this world. Some people believe he’s already at work in our time; some think it will still be many years, even centuries, before the prophecy comes true.
But it will come true at some point; part of it already did. Will you be ready to make your stand for the Lord if it happens in your lifetime?
For further reading: Isaiah 48:1, Ezekiel 46:13-14, Revelation 8:10, Revelation 12:4, Daniel 8:13
Mighty Lord, You’re more powerful than the puny devil and his race of fallen angels. I cling to You alone as the hope and salvation of this world.
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