took Egypt, Cyrene, Coele-Syria, and some of the northern parts of Asia- Minor. Cassander became king of Macedon and Greece. Lysimachus reigned over Thrace, Western Bithy- nia, Lesser Phrygia, Mysia and Lydia, with the Meander for a boundary. Seleucus possessed the remainder of Asia Minor and the east. This takes us down to the end of verse 22. You will observe that a new section begins with verse 23, marked by the words “in the latter time of their kingdom.” The little horn of this chapter is identical with the little horn of chap ter 7. It is the antichrist. Rome does not appear in chapter 8 as the fourth world-power, because God has been pleased to reveal to us here that antichrist, whom we have already seen to be a Roman prince, will spring out of the eastern portion of the Roman kingdom, that portion formerly belonging to one of the four kings in the Grecian empire. Now in chapter 8 we see that the antichrist will arise in the eastern leg of the empire. He will be “a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences. His power shall be mighty, but not of his own power,” for he will be energized by the super human power of satan. The date of chapter 9 is impor tant. The prophet in the first verse locates it in the first year of Darius, the Mede. This was in the year 537 or 538 B.C. Daniel tells us in verse 2 that he understood by books the number of the years, whereof the Word of Jeho vah came to Jeremiah the Prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. The fall of Jerusalem at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, was in the year 606. Thus there had elapsed 68 or 69 years. Unlike many of the Lord’s people of modern days, this man Daniel was a student of prophecy. He studied what God had revealed concerning “things not seen as yet.” And he not only read the Word of God; he also believed it. Therefore, he tells us that he understood by books—“the books,” 31
any that could deliver out of his hand. This was because the divine commission had gone forth, “Arise, devour much flesh.” (Ch. 7:5.) It should be observed here that the ram actually became the heraldic de vice of the empire of Medo-Persia. “And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece” (V. 21a). Stevens, “The goat was the national emblem of the Graeco-Macedonian empire, owing to its connection with the famous legend of Caranus. It is found on the Mace donian coins. The ancient capital city was called Aegea, or Goat Cityt and the people are called Aegeadae. Hence the adjacent waters were called the Aegean, or Goat Sea. Alexander’s son bore the name of Aegus, meaning ‘son of the goat.’ Thus the fitness of Daniel’s goat vision is seen.” “And the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king” (V. 21b). Every student of history recognizes this great horn as Alexander the Great. And it is easy also to see the meaning of what immediately fol lows: “And as for that which was broken (compare v. 8) in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.” (V. 22.) When Alexander the Great died, that is when “the great horn was broken,” his empire was divided into four parts by his four generals, who became kings over these divisions. Ptolemy
Developing plans for the Arizona Bible College, Phoenix, are pointed out by Mr. Merv Fishback (standing), executive administrator of Biola's affili ate, to Mr. Paul Schwepker (left), Biola vice presi dent of Finance, and Mr. John VonKommer, mem ber of the A.B.C. faculty.
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