March 13, 2011
Passage:  Daniel 8:1-27
Speaker:  Bill Knepper
Main Point:  Every evil thing will come to an end to the glory of God.

I. Daniel’s ram is the kingdom of Medo/Persia.
         A. The kingdom was the result of joined power.
                  1.  The kingdom of the Medes was first.
                  2.  The kingdom of Persia was second and stronger.
                  3.  The combined kingdom gained power.
                           •    West—Babylonia, Syria, Asia Minor
                           •    North—Armenia, Caspian Sea Area
                           •    South—Egypt, Ethiopia
         B. This kingdom freed the Jews to return home.
                  1.  Cyrus was predicted 150 years before.  (Isaiah 45:1-3)
                  2.  Cyrus gave orders for the Jews to return.  (Ezra 1:1-4)

II. Daniel’s goat is the kingdom of Greece.
         A. Greece was led by Alexander the Great.
         B. Greece’s territories were divided among the generals.
                  1.  Cassander—Macedonia, Greece (west)
                  2.  Lysimachus—Thrace, Asia Minor (north)
                  3.  Seleucus—Syria, eastern lands (east)
                  4.  Ptolemy—Egypt  (south) 

III. Daniel’s little horn is Antiochus Epiphanes.
            A. Came from the Seleucus rule. Reign from 175-164 BC.
            B. Took the name Epiphanes meaning illustrious one.
            C. The power behind him was Satanic.
            D. God permitted him 2300 days.
            E. Temple was restored by Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC.