Sabbath Bible Lesson 5 A Succession of Kingdoms Essentials of Prophecy

Hello, and welcome back to Sabbath School panel. My name is Septimiu Muresan. am so glad to be together with you. want to welcome you wherever you are behind the screen listening or watching this study. And as used you, am not alone, but this time do want to welcome Johan Suresh Kumar and Timi When. Welcome, and thank you for being together with me. Thank you as well for tuning up with us and being with us as we study lesson number five, succession of kingdoms. Before we go into the study, we will have together word of prayer. Lesson number five, succession of kingdoms. Now, if you have your printed lessons, please open it together with us. Or if you have digital copy, you can find it on the app Sabbath School. Or if you prefer to listen or to watch, however you prefer. Now, do want to appeal to your memories. know you have strong memories. You know, as we studied only four lessons thus far from this quarterly Essentials of Prophecy. Do you remember that great dream of Nebuchadnezzar? Remember that statue? With gold, silver, brass or bronze, and then iron and iron with clay, and then the stone that came and destroyed that image, that statue, and became big mountain. Do you remember all those symbols? Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece or Macedonia and Greece cuz Alexander the Great was Macedonian, and then Rome, and then Rome crumbled into pieces, the divided nations of Europe. Then, do you remember what we studied last week? We studied Daniel chapter seven, actually. We had the four beasts there. You remember the beasts? I'm calling your memories. The lion, the bear, the leopard-like, and then one that Daniel couldn't compare with any animal on this earth. He said terrible and dreadful one. The same again, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. And then we could see actually with more details, pagan Rome and papal Rome. We had that. Now, do you realize already the repetitiveness of the prophecy? Now, this time, together with JoAnn and Timi, we'll focus on this lesson succession of kingdoms. Basically, in Daniel chapter 8, this will be our chapter, we'll see again the repetitiveness of the prophecy. And you know, God is so good. He repeats the the same thoughts, but with more details and with more light according with his divine wisdom. So, now it's getting little bit easier. Shouldn't get complicated, okay? And It is Uriah Smith saying, you know, we'll see on the lesson, says leave men in their own interpretations and who knows with what fanciful interpretations may come up with. So, now we have already two visions. Actually, one was dream of Nebuchadnezzar and the first vision of Daniel. That we see already Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, pagan Rome, papal Rome. We already have this repetition. So, let's keep this in mind because it's essential as we will be going in the study. Now, Sister JoAnn, if you would please read the memory verse that we have there, and if you have any comments, feel welcome. And the vision of the evening and the morning, which was told, is true. Wherefore, shut thou up the vision for it shall be for many days. Daniel 8:26. Thank you. So, now obviously this is special vision, but we'll see how Daniel reacted. And it says like anything else in the Bible, it says it is true. There is no room for fairy tales or for imaginations. It is true. Now, Timmy, if you would please read for us that thing in Prophets and Kings, that sentence. It makes us reflect upon the glory of this world. Yes, absolutely. It says every nation has had its period of test. Each has failed, its glory faded, its power departed. It makes us sad thinking little bit what what happens with the nations. Why would they fade and fail? Because such is the things of the world, right? We know that there's only one thing that is for eternity, and it is the kingdom of God. And so for us, we we have the word that kind of lays out all of the different nations that came and went and the impact that it had on the world, the impact that it has on even the world now. But also very significantly, the impact that it had on the truth and the message and advancing all of that. Absolutely. You know, it's interesting cuz Nebuchadnezzar, he got so upset. He said, the gold the golden head will be ended at one point and then it will be followed by silver, brass, iron, and so on." He says, will make one more statue, everything of gold." To to to tell everyone that Babylon will never perish. And we know what happened, right? And actually, Nebuchadnezzar had to learn that this kingdom Yeah. the stone that hits the image, that will be lasting forever. Now, if we had in the previous lesson, as you remember, we studied together the lion, the bear, the leopard-like beast, and then the terrible and dreadful one. Now we have some kingdoms, that's why our lesson is succession of kingdoms, represented in different form. So, let's see going step by step. On Sunday, the ram that becomes great. And the question is near the end of Babylon's supremacy, what did Daniel see? So, the first two verses there in Daniel, verses 1 and 2, it says he sees vision. It says vision appeared unto me, even unto me, Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. And saw in vision and it came to pass when saw that was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam, and saw in vision and was by the river of Ulai. Okay, thank you. So, when is the time happening? It says well, it's near the end of Babylon's supremacy. And so, here at Shushan in the palace, believe that this is later becomes the capital of the Persian Empire. Persian Empire, yes, that's true. So, you see Daniel is very kind, he gives us the time and the place. Very accurate and very nice. Many historians acknowledge this third year of King Belshazzar as being his last year. So, that's why in this vision, don't be surprised to not find Babylon anymore reflected in the vision cuz it's over with them, you know, it's the end. That's why going into question describe the behavior of the first beast that came onto the scene and became great. So, in Daniel 8:3 and 4, it says, "And lifted up mine eyes and saw, and behold, there stood before the river ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up blast. saw the ram pushing westward and northward and southward so that no beast might stand before him. Neither was there any that could deliver out of his hands, but he did according to his will and became great. Interesting. In the previous vision we had like wild animals representation like beasts, ferocious beasts that will devour. Now we have ram. ram can become vicious as well, you know, to to attack and to to destroy. Actually the the armies were using in the past ram battering ram to destroy walls and gates, right? Now it says characteristic of this ram had two horns. Okay, which is normal, right? But it not so normal one to be higher than the other. Okay, so there is meaning there. We'll see. And he says it's pushing in three directions, but not the other one. Why? Because that's the one where he's coming from. We'll be seeing on the map, right? Okay, something very important to keep in mind is great, becomes great. Cuz there will be some comparisons, keep that in mind, okay? Question How did the angel, want to emphasize the angel, interpret the ram that Daniel had seen? What is that ram representing? So they were the kings of Media Persia. Yes. Simple. We we we read verse 20 and it's so simple and clear. And now it explains us why one horn was higher than the other one lower, right? The Persians turned out to be higher. Actually when we were studying in Daniel chapter 5, when you know, Babylon was conquered, it says that verse last verse of of chapter 5, it says that Darius the Median took the kingdom of Babylon. But then the Persians took preeminence in the you know, dual empire Median and Persian. And then you have the Persians it says exactly how the prophecy says as you are reading there to one. Mhm. The higher came up last. So, the Persians were magnifying higher, right? So, how beautiful is that the Bible says what is what? Yeah. Your eyes means says leave people in their imaginations and who know what interpretations they will come up with. So, the ram, simple, the kings and the kingdoms of Media and Persia. Now, Timmy, if you would please be kind to read for us that last paragraph paragraph in the note Yeah. has some very good thoughts, you know, regarding these great empires. Yeah, it's very good paragraph. From Prophets and Kings, page 548, it says, "From the rise and fall of nations as made plain in the books of Daniel and the Revelation, we need to learn how worthless is mere outward and worldly glory. Babylon, with all its power and magnificence, the like of which our world has never since beheld, power and magnificence which to the people of that day seemed so stable and enduring, how completely has it passed away? As the flower of the grass, it has perished. So perished the Medo-Persian kingdom and the kingdoms of Grecia and Rome. And so perishes all that has not God for its foundation. You know, it says Herodotus, one of the Greek historians, he says, have never seen so much gold in my entire life as much as I've seen in Babylon. Mhm. Babylon had according with some historians the suspended gardens, the those fantastic walls. They were thinking they are so safe, they are nobody can conquer them. And yet the Persians conquered them. Then few years later they have to reconquer them and to destroy the walls. And by the time Alexander the Great comes, they he heard from the historians about Babylon and he wanted to be the king of Babylon even. But when he arrived there, Babylon was ruins. Mhm. He wept according with the historians, Alexander the Great. Where is my big city wanted to be outward and worldly glory. Later on the Romans said, "Sic transit gloria mundi." So perishes the glory of this world. Mhm. Now, the Persians had their time on the stage, right? Mhm. But then comes in the vision something else as we know already. We studied two two chapters, chapter two and chapter seven. So it's much easier. The very great goat. We're going for the second subtitle. What new power came to challenge Medo-Persia? was just read the two verses that are presented there in Daniel 8 verse 5. And as was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth and touched not the ground. And the goat had notable horn between his eyes. And it clarifies in Daniel 8:21 as the angel is interpreting the vision there. The rough goat is the king of Grecia. And the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Mhm. So once again, you know, need to repeat, when we talk about the symbol in prophecy and we talk about the application and you don't talk only about an individual, right? said sometimes, my younger brother, when he was little, he was asked, "What do you want to become when you are?" And he said an an artist, painter, and king, he said. So, grandpa was like, an artist, painter, you may become, but king, you need some people to put you king over them, right? So, here as well, Alexander the Great would be nothing without his people, his kingdom, right? So, when in prophecy, it means not only an individual, the leader, but as well together with people. Now, notice, this is the only one in prophecy that comes from the west, actually. Actually, there is one more later down the road, but this comes from the west because the Persians were coming from the east, right? So, now they are going it says rough goat. And would kindly ask our media team to put on the screen as well verse 8. Says the goat waxed very great. Let's keep that in mind because the ram was great and the goat became very great. And then soon will have power that goes more than very. We'll see how. Okay, let's see. Describe question Describe the conquering power of the king of this new empire, of the Greeks, basically, right? Well, when we read Daniel 8:6 and 7, it talks about the fact that this ram was running with fury of power. So, when you think about the word fury, you know, that's such great force and great power behind their movement and momentum that they have established. So, they're they're blazing through this whole section. And when I'm reading in Daniel 8:6, specifically, it says, "And he came to the ram that had two horns, which had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power." Mhm. Yeah. How did the ram react? Was it comfortable for the ram? Well, not quite, right? When we see in verse seven, it continues and it says, "And saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with color against him, and smote the ram, and break his two horns, and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him, and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand." Mhm. So, now let's visualize. Can you imagine rough goat? In this context is only with the one horn in the beginning in prophecy. Basically, it's it's unicorn goat, if we can put it that way. So, it's attacking the ram. Can you imagine casting him down, or basically, you know, have you seen two rams, you know, fighting? But, imagine in this in this one is the the goat coming against, put the ram down, stamps upon him. That's very painful. And it says, "No one could deliver." So, basically, this is the Greeks doing that to the Persians. Now, it's it's very hard, you know. Actually, it's quite interesting. Daniel 11 tells us that the last Persian kings, they stirred their armies against the Greeks. They went, we check in history, they went all the way, they came to Greece, and guess what? It was like stirring up nest of hornets and wasps, you know, and then you deal with that. So, then when Alexander the Great came to his glory, to his fury, you know, in in in battle. By the way, want to emphasize this. What was great about Alexander? That's great question. Yeah. You ask mean, of course, like he had his like military prowess. Military genius, genius. He was described as prodigy, believe. Yeah, so he was very good at conquering. Military strategy. But people that were conquered by by him and his armies, how were they feeling them, those that were left alive? Awful, terrible. Can you imagine? There was think Michael Powell from BBC or or they made documentary on the footsteps of Alexander, four seasons, four episodes actually, and he and he says that they traced all the way to nowadays territory of Iran, or former Persia, and even nowadays the moms put their babies to sleep or their toddlers, he says, "Please go to sleep, otherwise Iskander will come and get you." Iskander being their name for Alexander, you know, their understanding, you know. So, this man brought terror upon these people, you know, it was was not easy. Now, this is the when when he faced the last Persian king, Darius Codomannus, he says that the last Persian king sent his noble lords from his family actually to sue for peace. But Alexander was so mad, he says, "Tell your sovereign that the sky will not suffer two suns, neither two kings." though he cried after he killed Darius Codomannus. Now, I'm sure in the note you emphasized some thoughts, you know. This is the historical part. Let let's see behind the curtains how the eye of God sees all these things happening. It's it's fine to discuss historical details, but it's more precious the biblical point of view. What what do you have from note from from the paragraphs there? The first sentence, the power exercised by every ruler on the earth is heaven-imparted, and upon his use of the power thus bestowed, his success depends. So, every ruler on earth, yeah, like they might be powerful, they might be great, but they have to realize that it's heaven-imparted. So, if you don't have that understanding of where the power comes from, like for ourselves even, like it's very dangerous, think, if we were to rely on our own power or to think that it's us who's good at it. you know, those things, but if we don't recognize that God's the one that grants all power and all wisdom, and that he's sovereign over all things, you're just not going to you're not going to have successful kingdom at the end of the day because you realize when you're conquering nations like this and doing this in the in the wrong ways, the wrong manner, you're you might appear great on the outside, but you have you'll be have all this anxiety and this worry. I'm kind of jumping ahead little bit. There's note under question that talks about it, but basically Alexander, even though he was so great, at the end of the day, he even though he was great at conquering nations, he was so intemperate. He had such intemperance, and that was his ultimate downfall, too. True. So, we have to think about that in our own lives, so Absolutely. We we all take personal lessons, right? And now, you know, we need to keep in mind when you may be upset that this leader in your country or where you're born is is taking leadership or you are missing the previous one or something, just remember Daniel chapter 2, if recall correctly, verse 21. And the verse starts this way, it says, "God removeth kings, and he setteth up kings." It's very interesting cuz it says first removing. You know, God is in control. If if the Lord allows this leader or that leader to to you know, want to say presidents or kings, you know, whatever depending on the country. But God is in control. God is still on the throne and some leaders may be blessing, some may be lesson for the nation, you know, God God knows. God is wise. Actually God evaluates everything and God knows the best. Joann, if you would be kind to read the last part of this note, it's so precious both as nation and as an individual. In the word of God only is this clearly set forth. There is shown that the strength of nations as of individuals is not found in the opportunities or facilities that appear to make them invincible. It is not found in their boasted greatness. It is measured by the fidelity with which they fulfill God's purpose. Yes. just want to make parenthesis. Even this country being great again is measured how? How can be found greatness? It's measured with the fidelity with which we fulfill God's purpose. Every nation and every individual, right? That's why it leads us into the next question, you know, we may become melancholic about the amazing fast conquering Greek empire. What happened to the Grecian empire when it became very great at the height of the career of Alexander the Great. We mentioned him already. Well, yeah, it says in the verses chapter chapter 8 verse 8, the he-goat waxed very great. Again, emphasis on very great. And when he was strong, what happened? The great horn was broken and four it came up four notable ones towards the four winds of heaven. And so the interpretation is in verse 22. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. So, believe that's talking about his four generals kind of took the reins after his Yeah. There was civil war in the empire actually. The generals of Alexander the Great, they killed he had one illegitimate son and he had another son. He killed the rest of his family of Alexander's family, and then they fought among themselves until the number of these generals, civil war about 22 years, was reduced to neither five, neither three, neither two, but to four. For good while. Now, obviously here there prophecy goes beyond natural animal, natural goat, you know. Actually from the beginning was one horn, then the horn is broken, and now will be four, right? And will stand up, you know, but are these four kingdoms as strong as Alexander's kingdom No. don't think so. Yeah. Yes, Seleucus, Lysimachus, Cassander, and Ptolemy, they tried their best in their parts of the Greek empire to hold it, to to dominate. But the genius of Alexander the Great, military genius, was gone. He lived short. Lived either 31 or 33 years. I'm quite older than that, you know. He he was intemperate. History is kind with him, but he drunk twice apparently. One of his soldiers drunk the Herculean cup. Apparently of 6 of wine. And then one of his soldiers, and the king says, am stronger than anybody. drink twice. Wow. And apparently he died basically alcoholic coma, you know, historians are gentle about him, you know, but intemperance was one one word, you know, and many other things that are not worth to mention, you know. Mhm. If you may have any thoughts from the note, think that brings insights. Yeah. Absolutely. Here in the last little the last sentence of the note emphasizes exactly what you just said. It said, "Alexander and Caesar found it easier to subdue world rather than to subdue themselves. What shame, right? And after conquering nation after nation, they fell. One of them the victim of intemperance and the other of mad ambition." Yeah. Yeah. So sometimes we can inflict the most amount of destruction on ourselves without self-control, without the ability to be able to take step back and take inventory of the things that really are the driving force behind lot of our actions, right? We think about these two great men that history still remembers to this day Mhm. and you see the impact they've had on the world collectively, but how are they remembered at the very end, right? So even their legacy is tarnished by the fact that they weren't able to control themselves as leaders or as just humans. And how many times do we have those things that are driving us? Maybe it's not it's it's pride, maybe it's over ambition, you know, maybe it's guilt or you're trying to prove something to the world, but are we actually trying to prove something to God with our character, with what we have the only thing that we can take to heaven. Amen. Yeah, that's great. That was really well put. Yeah. And was just going to add real quick, think this is suggesting too that to be true conqueror, you don't have to be mighty king or anything like that, right? Any of us can be with the grace of Christ. And so we have to have strong temperance over our own spirit, indulgences, our own passions. So at the end of the day it's about being righteous and God-fearing, following God's instruction, not our own. Amen. And it's right what you say. Like it's it takes more control to be able to do that for ourselves than to be able to lead mighty armies. Yes. By God's grace. Yes. Absolutely possible. Yes, and it's message was reading was using that paragraph mostly for healthy cooking demos, you know, and stuff. It says it's easier to fight for the principles than to live up to them. Powerful thought, you know. Makes us think. That's true. Now, ladies and gentlemen, wherever you are, brace yourselves cuz we go to something very strong. We have had already Persia. Yes. Great Greek Empire. Very great. Now comes something exceedingly great. Please remember the prophecies from Daniel 2 and from Daniel 7. Okay? We are thankful that the Lord repeated the prophecy. Let's see on question What new power is described as taking over the divided Grecian Empire? In Daniel 8:9 it says, "And out of one of them came forth little horn which waxed exceedingly great toward the south and toward the east and toward the pleasant land. And in Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom when the transgressors are come to the full king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up. So we know that this exceedingly great kingdom is actually Rome. That's right. Because in Daniel 8:9 when we're talking about where where is this kingdom, you know, coming from? It's towards the south, towards the east, and toward the pleasant land. So in context when we're looking at the map that's exactly where it lands and we still talk about the Roman Empire to this day, right? Like there's still lot of people that focus lot of even their personality and their character on lot of the the philosophies and principles that came out of Rome. Right. So you can see that their reach and their influence is still even exceedingly great. Mhm. And something to put it in context, notice verse 23. Mhm. Was talking about the four pieces of the Greek Empire of the Grecian Empire and he says in the latter time Yeah. of their kingdom. He doesn't say in the middle of their in the halfway or little bit in the beginning or somewhere they are contemporary with the Greek kingdoms, right? With the four with the Seleucid, Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus dominances, you know? But he says in the latter time. Mhm. Right? And it has to be power that is exceeding great. If we appeal to our memories, back on Daniel 2, you see the the quality of the metal is decreasing. Yes. But, the strength is increasing. Mhm. Iron is stronger than everything that was above that, right? So, so comes the the the terrible monarchy of Rome, which conquers, indeed conquers south, that's Egypt. The Romans conquered Egypt. They conquered east, they conquered Syria. And there is one pleasant land which the Bible talks about, the beautiful country, the beloved country where it flows honey and milk, right? The promised land. Mhm. The Romans conquered that one as well. We remember, but as they came there in the times of Lord Jesus, Mhm. the Hebrews, the Jews were sort of captives in their own country. Not pleasant situation. Yeah. Now, let's look on to question Describe the actions of Rome. And notice related with the previous vision, with the with the four beasts, both pagan and papal, the actions of Rome, both pagan and papal, that Daniel saw in this vision now in chapter 8. Let's see what is this doing. So, guess before read at least Daniel 8:10-12, just again, so we just talked about in verse 9, how exceedingly great and powerful they were like military-wise, like they would conquer so many like like countries once again. So, that was like their military power. Horizontally, they were strong. But, now we're going to see that they're going to attack vertically, if that makes if that makes sense, because let's go ahead and read Daniel 8 chapter 8, verses 10 through 12. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven. And it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them. Yay, 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. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground, and it practiced and prospered. So, there's lot in those three verses, but to start off, think that it's saying that Rome is trying to magnify itself even to the prince of the host, which is like to the status of God. And quite honestly, like we're going to explore it more as we talk about this, but this is like level of rebellion that we haven't seen since Lucifer at the beginning of the great controversy. This is don't want to get too far into it, but this is like an attack on the sanctuary and to its ministering high priest, which is Jesus Christ. by this power. She will just talk. So, when we talk about Rome, indeed, they had some of them even the honor and the privilege to be contemporary with the prince of the host of heaven, with the prince of life, says the Apostle Peter in Acts, with the king of kings, with the prince of all princes, with Lord Jesus Christ. Now, obviously, when we look in this verse 10, says that Rome, pagan and papal, magnified or waxed great against the host of heaven. Now, obviously, the Roman legions and papal armies down the road did not have access to go to heaven, right? But God has faithful angels in heaven, and God has faithful people on this earth. Many of them despise, they scorn them and so on. And he says it's casting down to the ground. Now, what could be the stars? just want to help us remember about the Joseph in the book of Genesis. He has dream about him having star, him being star, and his 11 siblings, 11 stars that come and worship his star. And then his father says, "So what, Joseph? You imagine me and my mother, the sun and the moon, you know, and and your 11 brothers will come and worship you?" Mhm. You know, so we can see that the the leaders or the patriarchs among God's people can be considered like the stars, you know? And he says yet this power comes cast the host, the faithful people of God. mean, we studied already in Daniel 7, you know, martyrs. The blood of the martyrs were were running. He says 50 million martyrs, the easiest number, the the lowest computation, the lowest numbers. The Roman pagan Rome and papal Rome. And he says stamp upon them. And as you mentioned already, Tim, magnified himself even to the prince of the host. You know, that moment when the governor, the the Roman governor of Judea, he presents the prince. The the son of God, Lord Jesus. And he says with these Latin words, translated, "Behold the man." Ecce homo. Mhm. "Behold the man. You can take it to crucify." They were shouting. So, of course, Rome magnified itself against the prince of the host. They had privilege to be contemporary with Lord Jesus Christ. Now, the saddest of all because the death of Lord Jesus was in the plan of the salvation. But notice the end of verse 12. want to ponder upon that. Cast down the truth to the ground. And it practiced and prospered. So, when the truth is to the ground, what happens with the people? What happens with the nations? What happens with the individuals? Kind of pushes people and society and culture into this deep, dark place. There was you could see external prosperity at least like financially for the people in the kingdom, the rulers. But when you think about the people, the actual people that mattered, the people that are the the ones that are working in order for all of these rulers to have these luxurious things and their experiences and buildings and all of that, they were driven into darkness. And we see here in the note in the middle of the first paragraph, it says, "The noon of the papacy was midnight of the world. For centuries, Europe had made no progress in learning arts or civilization." People in science, they were burned at the stake. Galileo Galilei discovered that the earth is moving. They were burning him at the stake. Recant, heretic. How can you say that the earth is moving? And his last words were, pur si muove." And he said, "It's still moving, whether you burn me or not." But the most the saddest thing is the truth about God, about Jesus. mean, still enjoy with with with sacred responsibility to ask people, you know, "What is Jesus doing today?" Interesting. Christianity calls themselves Christians. And how many Christians down on the street, you go there, they celebrate not clear when was Jesus' birth or or or Jesus' death. And then what what is Jesus doing today? And you have Christianity that celebrates historical figure of Jesus and they don't know the truth cuz this will lead us into the point you mentioned already about the sanctuary. What is our Lord Jesus doing today? And you studied in history, you know about Middle Ages. What was the other term? Dark Ages. Why dark? It is not just big match. Intellectual darkness, right? And here we even see that there was intellectual moral and intellectual paralysis that had fallen on all of Christendom. So all of the faithful, few that were there and we'd even talked about the fact that this is kind of how Satan operates, right? This was time in which, you know, before there was Judaism and then there were the disciples that were kind of organizing themselves in church capacity and then here comes this falsehood that kind of infiltrated into little bit of truth and lot of everything else and then it got to point that it was so powerful that it even was threatening the very livelihood of Christendom as whole, right? And that's how it tricky and dangerous it can be to have like that morsel of truth blended in with lot of falsehood is that it can deceive so many people and it can have lasting effect, lasting impact on society as whole. Yeah. This is happening today, too. It's not just like history we're talking about. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. And in way when we think about it, like we're thriving as society right now in you know, some areas with technology advancing so fast and exponentially like never before in history. And yet Science. Science and the technology. And yet when we see people's needs, right? Like what are the people's needs in their spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs that are not being met. So in way there is that prosperity, but also this darkness. Big gap. There's disparity. All at the same time. Yeah, and all because there is that lack of focus and fidelity into the word of God, which we talked about at the beginning, right? So that is the only way that you can guarantee the success of society, not just on historical level, but also for the people to be thriving as well. And it just hasn't happened. We're working towards it, but we have these examples here in front of us, and yet sometimes we tend to forget. We sometimes You know, what what did they say about But when you forget history, you're bound to repeat it. So we're stuck in this cycle in this loop. We're seeing how many times these civilizations succeed, succeed into greatness, exceeding greatness, and that's exactly the moment when they fall. Collapses, collapses, right? And if we look back onto verse 24, it says shall be mighty and so on and shall destroy wonderfully, you know. Now, obviously King James translation here it's it's it's quite kind, you know, about what they did. It means destroying, you know, almost to perfection destruction, you know, so cruel, so terrible. Will prosper and practice and will destroy the mighty and holy people. Basically, this is prophecy about the terrible martyrdoms that took place during the first centuries all the way in the times of reformation in the 15th, 16th century, and so on. And cannot help but cry. Think about how many people went to church, and they heard everything only in Latin language. And it did them no good if they couldn't understand. Only in Latin. If I'm coming here and say "Pater noster qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum, veniat regnum tuum." You're like, "What's going on?" And your mind is somewhere else. said the Lord's Prayer in Latin, but was no benefit. And when when we John Wycliffe translated the first Bible, he was scholar from Oxford. The last 10 years of his life he translated the Bible. The church thought that he committed great crime. Mhm. They wanted to burn him. They managed to burn William Tyndale in 1500s, because he just updated the Bible translation of the Bible. Mhm. Sad sad times, you know. There is so much to to talk about the those times, you know. The The destiny says in the beginning of the note, "The destinies of men both for time and eternity seemed under his control." Meaning the the papery kings went to beg for their throne. "Can be king of France?" Henry the Fourth had to to cross the Alps barefoot, you know, to ask, "Sorry, can still be the king in France?" And so on. Now, let's move on. Question "Despite its cunning methods, Mhm. how would this power be brought to an end?" So, verse 25 is explaining, the angel Gabriel is interpreting the vision again for Daniel here. it says, "And through his policy also, he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart." so believe this is talking about like Rome, the papacy, right? Yes. And my peace shall destroy many. He shall also stand up against the prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand. So again, it's talking about how he's standing up against the prince of princes. Against Jesus, yes. Jesus, yes. But it says that he shall be broken. Now, who conquered Rome? They themselves. Yeah. Yeah. They they they fell into pieces, you know, because so much, you know, if we would start speaking about the degradation of Rome, the moral fall of Rome, it was terrible, you know. We mentioned earlier Caesar, Julius Caesar. He got to be assassinated by the senators, including one of them was his of the assassinators was his adoptive son, Brutus. And his famous words, last words were, "Et tu, Brutus?" Right? Even you. You know, Rome became terrible. It would be sad to disclose some of the things what brought the decline of Rome, you know. So, but let's move on. You know, this said time it leads us into something unique in prophecy. The 2,300 days. What conversation did did Daniel overhear concerning the expanse of time covered by the events of the vision, and what would take place at the end of the time period? Well, let's turn to Daniel 8:13 and 14. Then 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 to be trodden under foot?" And he said unto me, "Unto 2,300 days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. want to emphasize something very precious. The question is, will it ever end all that terrible tragedies? The question is not that way. He says, how long? And an answer is given. And as you mentioned, the sanctuary has to be cleansed. Question, what makes the sanctuary dirty? Why has to be cleansed? lot of questions, you see. Questions are helping us to to dive deeper. Let's see. That That leads us into question What antitypical event was foreshadowed by the cleansing of the sanctuary as illustrated in the ceremonial law and foretold in Daniel's vision? Well, there's lot of verses here that it presents in Leviticus chapter 23 and 16, but it's talking about the day of atonement, right? And think I'll just use the note probably mainly kind of explain the answer here. read from the great controversy page 352. In the typical system, which is the example with the antitype being the actual, right? The typical system, which was shadow of the sacrifice and priesthood of Christ, the cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed by the high priest in the yearly round of administration. It was closing work of the atonement, removal or putting away of sin from Israel. And it prefigured the closing work and administration of our high priest in heaven and the removal or blotting out of the sins of his people, which are registered in the heavenly records. So, yeah, that's just explaining how the whole system of the sacrifice and priesthood in the beginning is just pointing to Christ's work eventually that it was going to come, right? As he was going to be transferred to from the holy to the the holy of holies in heaven to be working as our intercessor in the removal and the blotting of the sins of his people. Yes. Very important, you know, because when we think that when Moses was told to build that tabernacle, Mhm. what did God tell him? Even in the beginning, even at the end, make sure that you build everything how? According with what? With pattern, with blueprint showed you on the mount, which basically that was displaying the great original was in heaven. Right. So, these things that were happening with the people of Israel, they were just copy so of what Jesus was to be doing in heaven. So, once again, don't be shy to ask your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, what is Jesus doing today? Mhm. What did he do after he went up to heaven? And the answer is not he's just sitting at the right hand of the Father. Mhm. The answer is not he's building mansions because in John 14, he says, "In my father's house there are Yes. many mansions." So, Jesus is busy. Jesus was busy for the last nearly 2,000 years cuz he was baptized in 27. So, next year will be 2,000 years from his baptism, right? Now, Amen. once year, one day year, which by the way could have been any day of the week according in the calendar, it says has to be the 10th day of the seventh month, you know. But, he says you have to respect it as Sabbath. Mhm. He says, "Then the high priest, only the high priest, which obviously Lord Jesus is our high priest, right? We have in the book of Hebrews, he says he shall make verse 33, Leviticus 16:33, the end of the verse, he shall make an atonement for the priests and for all the people. Mhm. So, that's only the high priest, right, doing that. Only Lord Jesus is is doing that. So, this is indicating the cleansing of the sanctuary. That only the high priest can do it and Lord Jesus Right. Yes, is doing that. Right. Now, obviously we'll have more details into that in in in prophecy and in the lesson, but we we are bound by time. We have to move on. Question what did the angel say concerning the 2,300 day-night prophecy when we compare with Daniel 8:26? Well, it is what we read at the very beginning. And it says again, And the vision of the evening and the morning, which was told, is true. Wherefore shut thou up the vision for it shall be for many days. So, it's confirming it's true. It's making sure that we know that it is true. Yes. So, at this point, we need to keep in mind this is how much Daniel, the prophet, knew about this aspect. If about the ram or about the goat, he told him, look, it's the Medo-Persians and the Greeks." Yeah. Here, he says, "You heard the number. Mhm. You heard it's true. Shut up the vision is for many days. That's it for now, right?" Yet, when we go back to verse 14, immediately after verse 14, verse 15, we basically have the last part of our lesson, vision partly understood. That's why the angel comes and gives explanation. Question what was the angel Gabriel commissioned to do for Daniel? So, what was what was the angel coming to do? Essentially, he was coming to help him understand the vision that he was having, right? Yes. Yeah. So, he he tells him, came He was commissioned Notice that the in the middle of verse 16, it says, 'Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.'" Yeah. So, he came near. How did Daniel react? was afraid. fell on my face." and so on. But, the angel talks to him. Mhm. Now, notice even the reaction when he realizes, "Wow." want to keep in mind this all together. For us, it's easier. Way easier when we study historical facts. Mhm. It's painful, though. don't know how many of you don't know how many of you behind the scenes read books about martyrs. It's painful. But, want you to imagine the prophet seeing that about the faithful people of God that will happen to them. mean, when it happened, you cannot change anything. But, when you know will happen, that's why question our last question of the lesson, is "Despite thorough explanation being given for many other details, you know, the ram, the goat, the Greeks, the the Medo- Persians, and so on, what was Daniel's reaction after hearing about the time prophecy of the 2,300 days?" Daniel fainted. Yeah. That's lot to take in. Yeah. And want to emphasize Daniel did not faint it because of the numbers. No. Could have been 5,000, 7,000, 1,000. But, he fainted and he was astonished or shocked because he saw that the truth will be cast to the ground. The people of God will be stamped like grass, mowed like grass, and it's so painful. And he wants to understand what happened. Mhm. He was sick for so many days even. Like it took big toll on him to try to grasp the fact that like this truth that he's so passionate about is going to be affected in such way, you know? And we're witnessing it right now in this day and age as well. That's right. And he was little bit in relating with another prophecy. Mhm. Daniel wasn't thinking like what we study nowadays from the Bible. Notice they earnestly he sought for the meaning of the vision. Says in the middle of the note, he could not understand the relation sustained by the 70 years captivity, you know, the people of God were captives in Babylon and Persia as foretold through Jeremiah. He could understand the relation of this to the 2,300 years that in vision he heard the heavenly visit and declare should elapse before the cleansing of the sanctuary. So Daniel is at this moment thinking, well, we have almost 70 years of captivity, but but now 2,300 days. And Think about Daniel. Him and his people, they were taken slaves to Babylon and then him and few survivors even to Persia. And he's hearing that more of the people of God will be destroyed and killed. And there comes power, if the Babylonians and Persians were not enough, comes power that will even go against the prince of the host, against Lord Jesus. Was hurt. He was astonished. He couldn't understand. Mhm. We cannot the explanation in this lesson. But want to thank you, Joanne. want to thank you, Timi, for being together with us as we studied. Thank you as well for being together as we studied this deep lesson. Let's wrap up with prayer and please stay tuned because we have more about this important vision. Let's pray together. Gracious heavenly Father, we come this moments. We thank you so much for revealing the present, the future, and everything that will happen and has happened to your people and to this world. We thank you that you are still on the throne. You are the sovereign of the whole universe. We thank you for protecting your people and foretelling what will happen that we may find comfort in the sure word of prophecy. We thank you for Lord Jesus Christ, the prince of princes, the prince of the host, that accepted to come down on this earth. Accepted to die for our sins. Forgive us, cleanse us, and help us as well to forgive each other and others as we want to be forgiven. In his precious name we're asking. Amen. Amen. Once again, thank you for being with us. As you could see, we finished studying chapter eight, but we didn't finish with the explanation of the vision. That's why we need to meet again on lesson number six, The Vision Explained. Please stay tuned because we need to study that one together. Until we see you again, God be with you.