Daniel 8:15-27 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Daniel 8:15-27. Let’s go!
Daniel 8:15-27 (NIV)
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.
16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.”
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”
18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.
20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.
21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.
22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.
24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people.
25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
On verses 15-27: Yesterday in discussing verses 1-14 we addressed the meaning of the visions that Daniel had seen about the two-horned ram, the shaggy goat, the large horn on the goat’s head as well as the little horn that would later rise up in power. What strikes me here is WHO tells Daniel the meaning of these visions. It was the angel Gabriel, who goes to Daniel, at the instructions of a voice from the Ulai River (presumably, the voice of the LORD).
Though the Bible says that there are thousands upon thousands of angels (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 5:11), in the Bible we don’t learn the names of many angels. In fact, we know of only two (or three, if you count Lucifer). There’s the archangel Michael (see Daniel 10:13; Daniel 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7). And there is Gabriel.
In addition to appearing to Daniel here in Daniel 8, centuries later Gabriel also appears to Zechariah in Luke 1 to announce that his wife will give birth to John the Baptist. Most famously Gabriel appears to Mary in Luke 1 to announce that she will give birth to Jesus. If the same angel Gabriel that spoke to Daniel also spoke to Zechariah and Mary, that means the angel Gabriel had lived for centuries at the very least and possibly suggests that angels don’t die.
1 Peter 1:12 suggests that angels are privy to many of God’s important plans. Here we see that to be the case as Gabriel knew the meaning of the visions God gave Daniel and was able to explain it to Daniel.
2 Peter 2:11 says that angels are stronger and more powerful than human beings. Here in Daniel 8 we see a hint of that strength and power as Gabriel is able, seemingly with ease, to lift Daniel to his feet with just a touch (v18).
Hebrews 1:14 calls angels ministering spirits sent by God to serve God’s people. Here we see that as Gabriel goes to Daniel pursuant to God’s instruction and helps Daniel to understand the visions he saw.
Angels are described as doing many other things in Scripture, such as rescuing, protecting and leading God’s people (e.g. Genesis 19:10-11, 16-17; Acts 5:19; Acts 12:7-11); combating the devil (Jude 1:9); comforting God’s people (Luke 22:43; Acts 27:23-24); giving God’s people messages from God (Acts 8:26; 10:3-22); and administering God’s judgment (Acts 12:23). In Matthew 18:10 Jesus seems to say that God has assigned at least one angel to watch over every little child, which is a beautiful thought.
In this lifetime we will not be able to fully understand what angels are or how angels work. But the Bible certainly gives us some interesting information about what angels are and what they do, and we should thank God for using them in our lives.
Thank You, Father, for sending Your angels to serve and protect Your people. Even though I don’t fully understand what angels are and what they do, I appreciate Your Word for teaching us some things about the help You give us through them. Thank You for the angels You send to us. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
