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 e
are
quick to believe that Socrates existed, that Pythagoras was
a mathematician, Plato was a scholar, and Julius Caesar was
the first ruler of the Roman Empire. It is amazing we are willing
to believe that the seven wonders of the world existed even
when there is so little historical and archaeological evidence
for some of them. Few question the existence of the obscure
Egyptian priest Manetho, or the founders of two major religions:
Muhammad or Buddha. Yet, many doubt the truth about the Bible
and Jesus even though there is more proof that Jesus was born,
lived on this earth, and died. The same is true for the prophecies
in the Bible. Public television ignores the fascinating prophecies
found in the Bible. Recent research says men and women believe
there is a God and are looking. Yet, many do not even know the
Bible contains very accurate, fulfilled prophecies - especially
in the book of Daniel - rather than vague predictions. Since
the Bible is accurate when it makes future predictions, should
we not trust it when it speaks about God? As we come to Daniel
8 we find the fulfillment of another prophecy - the defeat of
the Medo-Persian empire by the Greek Empire.
Background.
When we started our study in Daniel, we discovered that God
had provided us with an overview of the prophecies found in
this book. The first kingdom was Babylon followed by Medo-Persia,
Greece and then the Roman Empire.
In
Daniel 5 we saw the fulfilment of the first prediction that
the Babylonian Empire would be defeated by the Medo-Persian
Empire. When we came to Daniel 7, we were provided with many
details to that overview. It is interesting that Daniel 2 was
the start of the Aramaic section of the book and Daniel 7 was
the end. As we come to chapter 8 we find that Daniel started
writing in Hebrew. Did Daniel write in Hebrew in order to keep
chapters 8-12 a secret from the Babylonians, Medes and Persians?
We will answer this question at the end of this study.
Next
Vision.
Daniel 8 begins by telling us that the prophet Daniel had a
vision in the third year of Belshazzar - the last king of the
Babylonian Empire (550-549 B.C.).
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