JULY 21, 2025 – ASTONISHED

READ: Dan. 8:23–27: … he shall even rise against the Prince of princes …

Beginning at verse 23, the angel provides a more detailed explanation of verses 9–12 regarding the ruthless King Antiochus Epiphanes IV (175–164 BC), who is a foreshadowing of the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2:4). God uses him to punish the widespread apostasy in Israel (v.23: “when the transgressors have reached their fullness”).

There is large-scale worldliness in Israel, expressed through Hellenization—the mixing of faith in God with Greek philosophy. One expression of this is the doctrine of the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection and the existence of angels.

This cruel king rises to power through deceit, eliminating rivals and sowing destruction among God’s people. He uses deceptive methods to lure many into apostasy. His actions are comparable to what the two beasts in Rev. 13 bring about. He even exalts himself against God (the Prince of princes, verse 25). He defiles the temple, forbids circumcision, burns parts of the Old Testament, and terrorizes the people.

We see the seed of the serpent rise up against the seed of the woman, aiming to prevent the coming of the Messiah (see Rev. 12:4).

Yet God will strike him down—without human hands. A faithful remnant will be preserved. What happens here in the run-up to the first coming of Christ through anti-Christian powers and actions, will happen again before His return. Then too, there will be a time of great temptation and persecution (Matt. 24:9–24; 2 Thess. 2:3–11 (!); Rev. 11:7–8; 20:7–9).

But even then, God will intervene through His Son—again without human hands (Rev. 19:15)—to bring everything to completion, and Christ’s return and the final judgment will take place (Matt. 24:30–31; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 11:11; 20:9).

Daniel is told to keep the vision secret, as it will not be fulfilled for a long time. The disturbing visions make him ill, but after a few days he is able to continue his work.

Why must the church know all of this?

Sing: Ps. 56:3,4