5 Nov 2015, Daniel 8 但以理书 8, Foreshadowing the Antichrist 预示敌基督

Posted on Nov 2, 2015 in Daniel, Devotions |

Scripture Reading  : Daniel 8

Theme                  : Foreshadowing the Antichrist

Vision of Ram and Goat (1-14). Daniel sees another vision. This time about a ram and a goat. This vision is also recapitulating Daniel 2 and 7, but focuses on the characteristic and actions of the antichrist as pre-figured in the little horn (v. 9). This little horn was the historical person Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who was a king of the Seleucid Kingdom, aka the king of the north as described in Daniel 11. Antiochus desecrated the temple and the glorious land (v. 9) for 2,300 days or about 6.3 years (171 to 165 B.C.), but the Maccabean Jews eventually defeated Antiochus. To this day, Jews still celebrate this event every year on Hanukkah. The antichrist will be like Antiochus, desecrating the temple. This agrees with Daniel 9:27 and Matt. 24:15.

Meaning of Ram and Goat (15-27) Ram is Persia and the goat is Greece. The Bible accurately predicted that Alexander the Great of Greece would conquer Persia, but at the end he will die and his kingdom would be divided into four kingdoms. Out of the four kingdoms, one king from the Seleucid Kingdom, aka the little horn (v.9) will rise up against God and His people. This little horn is a type of the antichrist. The end times antichrist will have a bold countenance and understands riddles. He will have great power, but not of his own for he is empowered of Satan himself. He is cunning and deceitful. More description of the antichrist as pre-figured in the person of Antiochus is in Daniel 11.

Praying the Scripture

  1. The antichrist is given various names in the OT such as the little horn (Dan. 7:8, 8:9), king of the north (Dan. 11:6), the northerner (Joel 2:20), the Assyrian (Micah 5:5), king of Assyria (Is. 7:17), Gog of Magog (Eze. 38-39). We know this antichrist is coming. The spirit of the antichrist is already at work (1 John 4:3). We overcome the spirit of antichrist by our trust in Jesus who is greater than the antichrist (1 John 4:4). We overcome by loving God and loving His children (1 John 4:7). Thank God for delivering us from the spirit of the antichrist.
  1. God has miraculously resurrected the nation of Israel after 2,000 years. But in the end, the antichrist will come and destroy Israel. We now know the end times is near. Today, Israel now faces existential threat by its neighbours who hate Israel with a passion. Let us love Israel and its neighbours by praying for them and by sharing the gospel to them. Let us snatch some from the fire before Jesus returns.

经文：但以理书8

主题：预示敌基督

 

公绵羊和公山羊的异象（1-14）。但以理看到另一个异象，而这次是与一只公绵羊和公山羊有关。这个异象的内涵与但以理书2和7章相似，但焦点放在敌基督的特点和行为，即小角所映射的（9节）。这只小角就是安条克四世，在塞琉古帝国作王，也就是但以理书11所形容的北方王。安条克玷污了圣殿和荣美之地长达2300日之久，或约六年（公元前171-165年），直到马加比家族的犹太人终于打败他。直至今日，犹太人仍在每年的光明节庆祝这场胜利。敌基督的会像安条克一样玷污圣殿。这与但以理9:27和马太福音24:15是一致的。

公绵羊和公山羊所代表的含义（15-27）。公绵羊象征波斯；公山羊则是希腊。圣经准确地预言希腊的亚历山大大帝将打败波斯，但他最后会死，帝国一分为四。在四个王国里，其中的塞琉古帝国的国王将兴起—即小角（9节），抵触神与祂的子民。这个小角就是敌基督的类型。末时的敌基督将有凶恶的面貌，并能用双关的诈语。他将有强大的权势，但权柄却不属他，因为那是撒旦在背后操控的结果。他是狡猾奸诈的。但以理书11将使用安条克作预示，对敌基督的进行更多描述。

 

用经文祷告

  1. 旧约为敌基督的立了许多名称，如：小角（但7:8, 8:9）、北方王（但11:6）、北方来的军队（珥2:20）、亚述人（弥5:5）、亚述王（赛7:17）、玛各地的歌革（结38-39）。我们晓得这个敌基督的即将到来。敌基督者的灵已经在运作了（约一4:3）。我们是借着信靠耶稣胜过敌基督者的灵，因为祂比敌基督者更大（约一4:4）。我们也能借着爱神与神的儿女胜过敌基督的（约一4:7）。感谢神从敌基督者的灵搭救我们。
  1. 神在两千年后奇迹般地复兴了以色列国，但最后，敌基督者将到来毁灭以色列。我们如今晓得末时已近。今天，以色列因邻国的痛恨面对生存的威胁。让我们借着祷告和福音的传播爱以色列及她的邻国。让我们在耶稣归来之前从火中抢出他们。