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Recap of the sermon from June 19, 2011 (Daniel 8:1-27)
1. Daniel 8 records another of Daniel’s visions concerning kingdoms, kings, and events future to the time in which Daniel is living. The vision occurred in 551 B.C. but foresaw events which wouldn’t occur ‘til hundreds of years later.
2. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the six evidences for the reliability of the Bible (the others being: Unity and consistency; Archaeology; Canonicity; Transmission of the text; and Self-testimony).
3. Hank Hannegraf in Defense of the Faith writes: “The Bible records predictions of events that could not be known or predicted by chance or common sense.” “Careful research affirms the predictive accuracy of the Bible. For example, the book of Daniel (written before 530 B.C.) accurately predicts the progression of kingdoms from Babylon through the Medo-persian Empire, the Greek Empire, and then the Roman Empire, culminating in the persecution and suffering of the Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, his desecration of the temple, his untimely death, and freedom for the Jews under Judas Maccabeus (165 B.C.).” “It is statistically preposterous that any or all of the Bible’s specific, detailed prophecies could have been fulfilled through chance, good guessing, or deliberate deceit.” “Clearly, statistical probability concerning biblical prophecy is a powerful indicator of the trustworthiness of Scripture.”
4. Daniel 8 concerns the coming Medo-Persian regime which would conquer Babylon, which would then by conquered by Alexander the Great and the Greeks. Alexander would die young and his kingdom would be divided into four parts. Out of one of the four would come a wicked leader, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who would mercilessly persecute the Jews, desecrate the Temple with pigs’ blood and an idol of Zeus, and prevent the practice of Judaism. He would be cut off by God. Once again, as in the personal section of the book in chapters one through six, God’s people are delivered out of life threatening situations.
