The Prophecy Project:
Session 18
WELCOME… To session number eighteen of the prophecy project. Last session I went through Daniel Chapter 7. We looked into the four beasts which came up from the great sea. We covered the fourth beast specifically, and the ten horns which it had, we saw how another little horn came up out of them. This little horn destroy at some point in time 3 of the original horns. The fourth beast will: through the little horn rule the world, or more precisely will devour the whole world. The little horn attempts to change God’s laws and the times.
I want insert something at this point that I did not mention in the last session, this attempt to change God’s times and laws is what I call the Herod syndrome, King Herod attempted to befuddle God’s plan for the Messiah by killing all the male children in Bethlehem. He thought that he could stop God’s plan by making the prophets wrong, and thus rewriting the future according to his will and plans. He was of course wrong, because God had taken into account his actions. God prophesied in Hosea 11: that Messiah would be called out of Egypt, (because he was sent there to avoid Herod’s plan Matt 2:14). The prophecy did not say why Messiah was in Egypt, but only that he would come out. The information was withheld so Herod would fail.
If God’s version of the future as revealed in the prophets were to be changed or prevented then the future would be changeable, God would be fallible, and the future could be whatever the man who changed it, wanted it to be. And whoever was able to change God’s laws and times would in effect become the new God.
In Revelations 10:3,4 John is hearing the voice of great thunders in heaven, and he begins to write them down, for inclusion in the book. but before can, he was told not to write it down (seal them up). The information contained in the comments of the thunders was and or is, classified, and not to be available to the enemies of God, God’s plans are a mystery to the rulers of this world. Had they known the plan of God they would have never crucified the Lord (1 Corinthians 2:8). Scripture speaks clearly of the end time Jewish temple on the temple mount, but as of today it has not been rebuilt. the enemies of God have built on the site to thwart Gods word. We read that there will be a nation of Assyria in the last days, but the nations have divided Assyria into four different nations to prevent it’s re-establishment and thwart God’s word. Israel has been re-established as God said but is now the target for destruction by nearly every other nation, why? to thwart God’s word. Their attempts are as futile as king Herod.
Back to the last session, we saw that the little horn will rule or have dominion for time , times, and a dividing of time, 3 1/2 years. The little horn is Asshur the Assyrian, and is destroyed when God sets up his kingdom, which will never end. The little horn is also the beast of Revelation 17. how it is found as a major sign of the end times and is used to identify the Assyrian. We also saw how it is connected to the ceasing of sacrifices in the Jewish temple at Jerusalem.
Now let’s look at Daniel chapter 8 another account of the little horn.
Daniel, while he was in captivity in the palace at Shushan in the province of Elam has a vision. He sees different animals, and each represents kings and kingdoms, and again horns are also used to represent kings. The vision starts in verse 3.
(3) Then I (Daniel) lifted mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. (4) I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that deliver out of his hand: but did according to his will, and became great.
We are not left to speculate who these horns are and what empires do they represent, because the interpretation was given to Daniel in verse 20 of this chapter:
The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of the Media and Persia.
History shows us that these kings are Cyrus the Great, which God calls his shepherd, and also his anointed, and Darius the Mede.
The vision continues: (5) And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the he goat had a notable horn between his eyes. (6) And he came to the ram that had two horns , which I had there seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. (7) And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler (anger) against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. (8) Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heavens.
The interpretation was given to Daniel in verses 21 and 22
(21) And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn between his eyes is the first king. (22) Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation (empire) but not in his power.
This Greek king is fulfilled in The historic king Alexander the great. The account fits his life perfectly, including the subsequent dividing of the empire with four of his commanders (generals) because of his untimely death in Babylon. the commanders went on to establish four separate empires, inferior empires.
Back to the vision in verse (9)
And out of one of them (the four horns) came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east and toward the pleasant land (Holy Land). (10) And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. (11) Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
From Daniel chapter 11, we know that the little horn is the vile Persian king, the Assyrian, the arrogant angry king which defies God. He magnifies himself even unto Christ, he is the alternative to Christ (Antichrist). He will come out of one of the four kingdoms of Alexander’s generals. In fact we know that it is the Seleucid kingdom, which is Persia, or Iran today. While the little horn may be seen later in life as coming or living in some other location, his roots will have to go back to Iran, and most likely to the lake Ermia area in the north.
How do we know that this king has not come and gone sometime in the past? First, it’s inconceivable that a king of this stature could go undocumented. But more than that, Daniel is told that it will be at the end.
(17) …Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. (19)…I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
The little horn is further described in verses 23-25 and is as follows:
(25) And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, (stout) and understanding dark sentences, (occult spiritual understanding) shall stand up. (24) And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, (through signs and wonders) and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. (25) And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall he destroy (Corrupt, ruin) many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but shall be broken without hand.
I want to go back to verses 12-14. In previous sessions I have mentioned the Jewish temple a couple of times and now I want to show some possibilities of how things will go down.
(12) And an host (army) was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression (sins against God), and it (the little horn) cast down the truth to the ground; and practised, and prospered.
The little horn comes into Jerusalem with his armies, he surrounds and takes the city. His intent is to evict God out of his own temple, stop the daily sacrifices to God, and place himself in the temple to be worshipped, which is the abomination that maketh desolate. This event starts a countdown to the end. 3 1/2 yrs later he will be killed, however he operates and appears to prosper for a time.
(13) Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host (God’s people) to be trodden under foot? (14) And he said unto me (Daniel) Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
The subject is brought up by two Holy (sanctified) ones, they ask each other questions about the daily sacrifices. But, when they explain the answer, it is directed to Daniel. God very much wanted this information to be revealed to us.
The vision or event of the sacrifices would be confusing for anyone reading the prophecy before 70 AD, before the Jewish temple was destroyed. because the temple was in existence and sacrifices were being made. The time of this vision has a start and ending, 2300 days. We know that the daily sacrifices will cease at the midpoint of Daniels 70th week, 1260 days from the covenant (beginning) and 1260 days from the end (coming of Messiah). So the temple cleansing will begin at the end of the last 3 1/2 yrs, (time times, and dividing of times). If you place the 2300 days to the end of Daniel’s last week, and count back in time you find that the sacrifices would start 230 days (7 months and 10 days) after Israel’s covenant with death is made. This also means that the end time Jewish temple would have been dedicated at that time. It seems reasonable that the new temple was part of the agreement made in the covenant, and would be a great incentive to agree and make the Assyrian their stay. The construction would have started soon after the agreement. The Jews would have been operating the temple as regular part of worship (daily) for 1040 days (2yrs 10mo. 10days) before the covenant is broken by the Assyrian, at the midweek. To expect to see the new temple before that time is unlikely. for those who can’t see how a Jewish temple could be placed on the Moslem temple area, because of the dome of the rock. Scripture indicates that the Jewish temple will share the area with the existing structures.
Revelation 11:1-2
(1) And there was given to me (John) a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. (2) But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
This account was written approx. 90 AD, and the Jewish temple was gone, razed to the ground. So this temple is to come after that time and John is measuring it just before it is tread under foot for 3 1/2 yrs. The temple is also in operation because he is to measure or count them that worship there. It’s not just a building, the daily sacrifice is still happening. There is no temple on the area right now, so it will be built in the future.
..Stop here..
I need to close this session at this point, but next session I want to cover the beast of revelations. also present one man’s story, a presentation of Asshur.
Thank you.