OUR GOD WILL SEE US THROUGH TO THE END

(Daniel 8)

Our son my son just completed his first season of running for his middle school cross-country team. My wife and I loved watching his races, and as we watched, we noticed that most of the races start and finish in the same place. They begin in one spot, the runners follow a two-mile course, and then they finish where they began. So, all the runners know exactly how the race will end.

However, every cross-country course is different. So, my son’s coach, wise as she is, had the team arrive early to all the away races so they could walk the course once before running it. She knows it’s not enough for these middle school runners to know how the race will end. If they’re going to run well—with optimal strategy and without getting lost—they need to know what the course is like ahead of time.

It’s not enough for them to know what the end will be like; they need to know where the uphills are so they can be mentally prepared, where the downhills are so they can let gravity help them, and where key markers are so they don’t go off course or think they’re nearly done when they’re not. To run with endurance to the end, they walk the course ahead of time.

Daniel chapter eight is a bit like walking the course ahead of time. In Daniel 8, our God, so to speak, walks the course of history with us in advance so we’ll know what the race is like. Last week, in Daniel chapter seven, we learned what the end of our race will be like: our God will give His kingdom to His saints forever. This week, our God shows us the course we have to run to get there. He shows us the arduous course of faith so that we won’t grow weary and lose heart as we run, but will run with endurance the race marked out for us.

Our God summarizes what the course will be like for His people in Daniel 8:24–25:

“His [the little horn’s] power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.”

God is showing us that the course we run will be otherworldly in its difficulty, but our God will help us through with otherworldly power. That brings us to the big idea of our passage this morning: Our God will see us through to the end. The course of history will be full of evil, but God will see us through to the end.

Three ways to apply the truth that the course will be difficult but our God will see us through to the end:

1. Take heart (vv. 1–8, 15–22)

2. Stand firm (vv. 9–14; 23–26)

3. Keep working (v. 27)

TAKE HEART (vv. 1–8, 15–22)

Ram and Goat

If you’re somewhat new to Citylight Church or weren’t here last week, it’s important to know that just as movies come to us in different genres—comedy, action, drama—the Bible also comes in different genres: poetry, narrative, epistle. The genre in Daniel chapters seven through twelve is what’s called apocalyptic.

Apocalyptic literature employs vivid, sometimes frightening imagery to show us that our God will see us through to the end—so that we won’t grow weary, fainthearted, anxious, or discouraged, but will walk by faith to the finish. Daniel 8 uses some of this striking imagery.

At the beginning of the vision, Daniel saw a ram with two horns, one higher than the other. The ram charged in every direction; no beast could stand before him, and no one could rescue from his power. Later, in Daniel 8:20, we learn that the ram represented the Medo-Persian Empire, which would soon conquer Daniel’s Babylonian captors:

“As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia.”

As Daniel considered this seemingly indestructible ram, a male goat came from the west across the whole face of the earth at incredible speed and destroyed the ram. However, when the goat was strong, his great horn was broken, and in its place four horns arose.

Who does the goat represent? Daniel 8:21–22 explains:

“And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power.”

The ram with two horns, one higher than the other, represents the kings of the composite Medo-Persian Empire, which would soon conquer the Babylonians who had exiled and enslaved God’s people. The goat represents the king of Greece—Alexander the Great—who conquered the known world by his 33rd birthday but then died and was succeeded by four generals, none of whom ever achieved Alexander’s power.

Application to Daniel – The course isn’t over yet; be prepared for the long term

Why does any of this matter to Daniel? Remember my son walking the cross-country course ahead of time. One reason it’s important for him to walk the course first is so he doesn’t expect it to be easy when it’s hard—or think the race is nearly over when there are still hills to climb. That would be demoralizing.

Similarly, Daniel knew God had promised that his exile would soon end—that the Persians would conquer the Babylonians and allow God’s people to return home. Daniel might have been tempted to think that once Babylon was gone, God would immediately give His kingdom to His saints forever.

Therefore, God gave Daniel the vision of the next two kingdoms to come after Babylon so that Daniel’s expectations would align with God’s sovereign plan. God would give His kingdom to His saints forever—but the race wasn’t over yet. One Old Testament scholar summarized the lesson this way: “God’s agenda is never in jeopardy; nevertheless, they were to be prepared for the long term.”

God showed Daniel the course ahead of time so that he would not be discouraged but take heart—because his God was still in control.

Application to us – In this world you will have trouble; take heart and help one another to heaven

In a similar way, the Lord Jesus Christ has walked the course of our lives ahead of time. In His Farewell Discourse (John 13–17) and His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25), He summarized the course for us in seven words: “In the world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33b).

Like my son, like Daniel, we know the course ahead of time. And the course of discipleship to Jesus Christ is difficult. We are converted to Christ by God’s grace, we walk by faith in Christ through God’s grace, and we will be brought safely home by God’s grace. But it’s still a hard course because we walk it in this world—and in this world, our Lord has promised tribulation.

But listen to the very next words Jesus speaks: “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b).

The course will be difficult. When it is, don’t assume something’s wrong and drop out. Jesus Christ said it would be like this—He wants you to expect it. But also, take heart. Jesus Christ is risen. If you’re in Christ by faith, He will see you through to the end, and you will rise.

Therefore, take heart—instead of taking on discouragement and anxiety—and help each other.

When our children were little, I loved reading Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey to them. I still read it to my daughter sometimes. It’s a children’s version of Pilgrim’s Progress, in which Christian must walk the narrow path of faith—even through the valley of death—to reach the Celestial City. It’s a wonderful book.

Do you know how the King got Christian home? Companions.

Take heart. Jesus has overcome the world. He will get you safely home. Take heart! And the way He will get you there is through one another—a church that speaks the gospel in love. You need that.

Our God will see us through to the end. Take heart—you won’t fall away. And second…

STAND FIRM (vv. 9–14; 23–26)

The Little Horn

Let’s return to Daniel’s vision. You may remember that in the first part of the vision, the goat who trampled the ram had a conspicuous horn. When the goat became exceedingly strong, its great horn was broken, and four other horns arose in its place. Then, out of one of those four horns came a little horn.

That’s a lot of horns! What does this image mean? The angelic interpreter told Daniel that the goat trampling the ram is the king of Greece conquering Persia. That’s remarkable, because Daniel saw this vision and wrote it down hundreds of years before Greece defeated Persia. Our God truly reigns over history.

The goat’s first horn is Alexander the Great. But Alexander died young, and in his place arose four generals—four horns—who were never as powerful as he was. Out of one of those generals came a ruler who brought more bloody persecution to God’s people than nearly any before him.

Daniel 8:21–23 explains:

“And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.”

Who is this little horn? Most scholars agree that the near fulfillment of this prophecy was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who ruled from 175–164 BC. His reign included the “glorious land,” likely referring to Israel, where God’s people lived at that time.

Epiphanes was ruthless. To consolidate power, he strictly enforced paganism, making God’s people his enemies. He executed those who observed the Sabbath or circumcised their sons, stopped the daily sacrifices in the temple, built a pagan altar, and offered an unclean pig on it to Zeus. He was truly a foretaste of the Antichrist.

In fact, the far fulfillment of the little horn points to the man of lawlessness—the Antichrist—whom the New Testament describes as ushering in peak persecution before Christ’s return. The “mid” fulfillments likely include oppressive empires such as Rome and others throughout history.

The Source of the Little Horn’s Power – Satan

But notice where Antiochus Epiphanes got his power and what power would ultimately defeat him.

Daniel 8:24–25:

“His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.”

He was great—but not by his own power. Old Testament scholar Stephen Miller writes, “The writer was saying that Antiochus’s power (much of which he employed for evil purposes) would come from Satan, the prince of darkness.”

In other words, Daniel 8 pulls back the curtain to reveal that behind all the evil opposition we experience on our course is the power of the Evil One. Revelation confirms that the power behind the final Antichrist is the dragon—Satan himself.

Application – Stand firm in the Lord; hold onto each other

Why do we need to know this? Because we need to know where the real problem lies.

Ephesians 6:10–12 says:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

In Daniel 8, the little horn—Antiochus Epiphanes—and all the “antichrists” throughout history share two main strategies: persecution and deceit. You can’t overcome that on your own. Turn to the Lord.

Help one another live lives of dependence. Turn to the Lord, turn to His people, turn to His Word, and stand firm. Now that you’ve seen the course, you know you can’t run it in your own strength. Stand firm in the Lord together, and don’t let one another turn away when lies or persecution arise.

KEEP WORKING (v. 27)

Our passage closes with Daniel’s reaction to seeing the course of history ahead of time. He saw the tribulations that were coming and was reassured that the evil would be “broken—but by no human hand.”

Daniel 8:27 says:

“And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.”

Daniel understood enough to be appalled—the course would be difficult. Nevertheless, because he knew that evil would be broken off, he kept working.

We know even more than Daniel did. We know how God will break off evil: Christ was cut off.

1 Corinthians 15:56–58 says:

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Keep running—whether in piety, ministry, marriage, parenting, vocation, or evangelism.

THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper is the family meal for Christians, where we remember the death of Jesus for our sins and are strengthened by His grace to live for His glory.

If you are not yet a Christian—or are not sure—we love that you are here, but please don’t take communion. I’ll explain why while the volunteers begin passing it out.

Who should participate in the Lord’s Supper? Anyone? No.

1 Corinthians 11:27 says:

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.”

In line with the teaching of Scripture, the Citylight pastors ask that only those who have repented of their sins, received Christ as Lord, and are presently resting in Him as their only hope in life and in death participate in the Lord’s Supper.

If you’re participating, please take the cup and hold onto it. The bread element is in the bottom cup and the wine element in the top cup. Gluten-free options are in the middle cups, which are a different shade.

If you’re not participating, simply pass the elements to the person next to you. There is no shame in that.

If you are not yet a believer, while we participate in the Lord’s Supper, take that time to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Cry out to God to save you by His grace through what Christ has done for you in His life, death, and resurrection. You can use the prayer at the bottom of your connect card as a guide.

Please let us know on the card so we can follow up with you.

Please pass out the communion elements.