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In our sermon today, as another introduction to The Gospel of Mark, I want to ask and answer two questions…

#1 What is a “Gospel?”

#2 Who is Mark?

First, what is a “Gospel?”

A gospel is a form of a written document inspired by GOD (as are the other sixty-five books of The Christian Bible) but they are both typical and unique in several important ways:

A gospel is the very Word of the One True and Living GOD breathed into human authors in human languages common at the time of their writing. This process is called “Revelation” whereby GOD reveals HIMSELF, HIS will, “HIS Word, HIS way of salvation, and HIS plan and purpose through the ages.”

Once GOD had revealed HIS Word to the human authors, HE led and enabled them to perfectly write HIS Word through the process known as “Inspiration.”

After the writing of HIS Word was complete, HE superintended the copying, preserving, and accurately translating HIS Word through the process known as “Preservation.”

After the processes of Revelation, Inspiration, and Preservation were complete, HE enables born-again people to understand HIS Word through the process of “Illumination.”

In the process of giving the world HIS Word, HE gave HIS Word through ten forms of normal grammatical syntax in the languages in which HIS Word was given:

History. Biography. Law. Prophecy. Poetry. Wisdom. Gospel. Epistle. Parable. Apocryphal.

Therefore, The Christian Bible must be interpreted using the normal meaning of words and the normal rules of grammar!

Many of the Books of the Christian Bible include many, if not all, of these genre’ of literature withing their text.

The subject of our coming study, The Gospel of Mark falls into the category of “gospel” literature.

A gospel is a form of biography, but it is not a traditional biography either in form of purpose.

While including many of the ten forms of literary genre’, a gospel is primarily a mixture of biography and historical narrative.

Second: “Who is Mark?”

He is the son of a woman named Mary. Acts 12:12

He was a companion of Paul and Barnabas. Acts 12:25

He was a cousin of Barnabas. Colossians 4:10

He deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first Missionary Journey. Acts 15:38

He later went on another Missionary Journey with Barnabas after Barnabas and Paul parted ways. Acts 15:39-41

Years later, Paul described Mark as a “fellow worker.”        Philemon 1:24

Paul later sent for him to join him in his ministry.                               2^nd Timothy 4:11

Years later, Mark was working with the Apostle Peter. 1^st Peter 5:13

“She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.”

Since John Mark is the human author of this Gospel and he was not an Apostle; and since he was a fellow minister and protégé of Simon Peter, it is the consensus of Bible-believing scholars that John Mark is serving as Peter’s amanuensis which gives this Gospel Apostolic imprimatur and authority!

Extrabiblical history and church tradition suggest that John Mark served as an interpreter for Peter. He is credited with writing the Gospel of Mark based on Peter’s teachings and eventually founding the church in Alexandria, Egypt.

So, what are the key lessons from this introduction to John Mark and his Gospel?

LESSON ONE: The Christian Bible is the very Word and Voice of the One True and Living GOD and since The Gospel of Mark is part of The Christian Bible, the Words in The Gospel of Mark are the very Words and Voice of the One True and Living GOD!

LESSON TWO: The very best of young Christian men can make really serious mistakes!

LESSON THREE: Young men from the very best of Christian families can make really serious mistakes!

LESSON FOUR: Failure is only final if you quit!

AMEN!

UNDERSTANDING THE GOSPEL OF MARK – CHAPTER BY CHAPTER – SERMON ONE “INTRODUCTION PART 2”

In our sermon today, as another introduction to The Gospel of Mark, I want to ask and answer two questions…

#1 What is a “Gospel?”

#2 Who is Mark?

First, what is a “Gospel?”

A gospel is a form of a written document inspired by GOD (as are the other sixty-five books of The Christian Bible) but they are both typical and unique in several important ways:

A gospel is the very Word of the One True and Living GOD breathed into human authors in human languages common at the time of their writing. This process is called “Revelation” whereby GOD reveals HIMSELF, HIS will, “HIS Word, HIS way of salvation, and HIS plan and purpose through the ages.”

Once GOD had revealed HIS Word to the human authors, HE led and enabled them to perfectly write HIS Word through the process known as “Inspiration.”

After the writing of HIS Word was complete, HE superintended the copying, preserving, and accurately translating HIS Word through the process known as “Preservation.”

After the processes of Revelation, Inspiration, and Preservation were complete, HE enables born-again people to understand HIS Word through the process of “Illumination.”

In the process of giving the world HIS Word, HE gave HIS Word through ten forms of normal grammatical syntax in the languages in which HIS Word was given:

History. Biography. Law. Prophecy. Poetry. Wisdom. Gospel. Epistle. Parable. Apocryphal.

Therefore, The Christian Bible must be interpreted using the normal meaning of words and the normal rules of grammar!

Many of the Books of the Christian Bible include many, if not all, of these genre’ of literature withing their text.

The subject of our coming study, The Gospel of Mark falls into the category of “gospel” literature.

A gospel is a form of biography, but it is not a traditional biography either in form of purpose.

While including many of the ten forms of literary genre’, a gospel is primarily a mixture of biography and historical narrative.

Second: “Who is Mark?”

He is the son of a woman named Mary. Acts 12:12

He was a companion of Paul and Barnabas. Acts 12:25

He was a cousin of Barnabas. Colossians 4:10

He deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first Missionary Journey. Acts 15:38

He later went on another Missionary Journey with Barnabas after Barnabas and Paul parted ways. Acts 15:39-41

Years later, Paul described Mark as a “fellow worker.”  Philemon 1:24

Paul later sent for him to join him in his ministry.  2^nd Timothy 4:11

Years later, Mark was working with the Apostle Peter. 1^st Peter 5:13

“She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.”

Since John Mark is the human author of this Gospel and he was not an Apostle; and since he was a fellow minister and protégé of Simon Peter, it is the consensus of Bible-believing scholars that John Mark is serving as Peter’s amanuensis which gives this Gospel Apostolic imprimatur and authority!

Extrabiblical history and church tradition suggest that John Mark served as an interpreter for Peter. He is credited with writing the Gospel of Mark based on Peter’s teachings and eventually founding the church in Alexandria, Egypt.

So, what are the key lessons from this introduction to John Mark and his Gospel?

LESSON ONE: The Christian Bible is the very Word and Voice of the One True and Living GOD and since The Gospel of Mark is part of The Christian Bible, the Words in The Gospel of Mark are the very Words and Voice of the One True and Living GOD!

LESSON TWO: The very best of young Christian men can make really serious mistakes!

LESSON THREE: Young men from the very best of Christian families can make really serious mistakes!

LESSON FOUR: Failure is only final if you quit!

AMEN!

The Gospel of Mark is divinely inspired scripture; therefore, the words of this Gospel are the very words of the living GOD!

Since John Mark (the human author of this Gospel) was not an Apostle, and since he was a fellow minister and protégé of Simon Peter, it is the consensus of Bible-believing scholars that John Mark is serving as Peter’s amanuensis which gives this Gospel Apostolic imprimatur and authority!

Cf. 1st Peter 5:13 “She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.”

In Chapter one and verse one of this Gospel, John Mark declares that Jesus Christ is, “the Son of GOD.” The primary purpose of this Gospel is to prove that opening statement.

For today, as Part ONE of an Introduction to The Gospel of Mark, I will use the sixteen points from Dr. James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries for my sermon outline.

1. Mark calls Jesus the Son of GOD!

(1:1) “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

2. John the Baptist applies Isaiah 40:3 (which is about Yahweh) to Jesus!

(1:2-3) “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”

3. GOD the Father calls JESUS HIS Beloved Son!

(1:9-11) “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

4. The unclean spirits recognize JESUS as the Holy ONE of GOD Who has power to destroy them!

(1:23-24) “And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are⁠—the Holy One of God.”

5. JESUS is able to forgive sins that are committed against GOD!

(2:5-7) “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

6. JESUS claimed to be the SON of Man (referenced in Daniel 7) Who is the LORD of the Sabbath!

(2:27-28) “And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

7. Demons fall down before JESUS and recognize HIM as the SON of GOD!

(3:11) “And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

8. A demon possessed man recognized JESUS’ authority and power!

(5:6-7) “And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

9. JESUS has the authority to change GOD’s Law!

(7:17-19) “And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus, he declared all foods clean.)”

10. JESUS called people to not be ashamed of HIM but rather to give their lives for HIM!

(8:34-38) “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

11. JESUS is called the Father’s “Beloved Son!”

(9:7) “And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

12. JESUS asked the Rich Young Ruler if he understood the implications of calling HIM, “Good!”

(10:17-18) “And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

13. The Elect people of GOD are called JESUS’ Elect people!

(13:26-27) “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”

14. JESUS’ Words are put at the same level as GOD’s Words!

(13:31) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

15. JESUS places HIMSELF to be above men and angels in relationship to GOD the Father!

(13:32) “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

16. JESUS identifies HIMSELF as the Son of Man as given in Daniel 7:13-14!

(14:61-64) “But he remained silent and made no answer. Again, the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.”

Amen, Dr James White… that is good preaching!

INTRODUCTION:

THE remaining section of the Book of Daniel forms but one vision, of which this chapter is the Introduction or Prologue.

Daniel is here spoken of in the third person. It is dated in the third year of Cyrus (B.C. 535). We have already been told that Daniel lived to see the first year of Cyrus. (1:21) “And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.”

REMEMBER: These prophesied events began in 336 BC, BUT Daniel was given this vision and prophecy in 539 BC – 203 years before they began to come to pass!

EXPOSITION: (Following the outline of the Expositor’s Commentary)

11:1 This verse should be the last verse of Chapter 10.

“And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.”

11:2 – 9 Events from the rise of Alexander the Great (B.C. 336) to the death of Seleucus Nicator (B.C. 280). (56 years)

(2) “And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.

(3) Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. (4) And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the ** four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these. (5) “Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority.

Note: “Four winds…” Alexander’s 4 Generals – Ptolemy I Soter (Egypt), Seleucus I Nicator (Babylon/Asia), Lysimachus (Thrace/Asia Minor), and Cassander (Macedonia/Greece).

(6) After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times. (7) “And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. (8) He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north.  (9) Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.”

11:10 – 19 Events from the death of Ptolemy Euergetes (B.C. 247) to the death of Antiochus III (the Great, B.C. 175). (72 years)

(10) “His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress.

(11) Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. (12) And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. (13) For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first. And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies. (14) “In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail.       (15) Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. (16) But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand. (17) He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage. (18) Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him. (19) Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

11:20-27 Events under Seleucus Philopator down to the first attempts of Antiochus IV Epiphanes against Egypt (B.C. 175 – 170). (5 years)

(20) “Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle.

(21) In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (22) Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant.    (23) And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. (24) Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. (25) And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. (26) Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. (27) And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed.

10:28-35 From the first attack of Antiochus IV Epiphanes on Jerusalem (170 BC) and his plunder of the Temple to the first revolt of the Maccabees (167 BC). (3 years)

(28) “And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land. (29) “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. (30) For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant.

(31) Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. (32) He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. (33) And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. (34) When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, (35) and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

11:36-45 From the beginning of the Maccabean uprising (167 BC) to the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. (147 BC) (20 years)

(36) “And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. (37) He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. (38) He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. (39) He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. (40) “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through.

(41) He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. (42) He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (43) He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. (44) But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. (45) And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.”

Amen!

INTRODUCTION:

Spiritual Beings and Spiritual Warfare are Real!

Ephesians 6:12 “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.”

Lucifer, himself, is an angelic being who rebelled against God!

Isaiah 14:12-15 (12) “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! (13) You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;            (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ (15) But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.”

Ezekiel 28:11-17a (11) “Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me: (12) “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. (13) You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. (14) You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.

(15) You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. (16) In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (17a) Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground…”

When Lucifer fell from Heaven, 1/3 of the angels of Heaven fell with him. These fallen angels are now called demons!

Revelation 12:7-9 (7) “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, (8) but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world⁠—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

Take careful note here: Godless leaders who oppose GOD, HIS people, and HIS plan for the world are empowered by demonic angelic beings! BUT !!! GOD’s people are protected and served by GOD’s holy angelic beings!

EXPOSITION:

10:1-3 The reality of spiritual warfare between the Holy and the fallen angels is real and even Daniel was shocked by it!

(1) “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. (2) In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.

(3) I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”

10:4-6 Angelic Beings, such as Gabriel seen here, are real and are very different from humans!

(4) “On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) (5) I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. (6) His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.”

10:7-9 Angelic Beings, even the Holy Angels sent to help us, (such as Gabriel seen here) are real and are terrifying!

 (7) “And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. (8) So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength.     (9) Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.”

10:10-12, 15-19 The Holy Angels, such as Gabriel seen here, are sent to protect and to serve GOD’s people!

(10) “And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

(11) And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. (12) Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.”

(15) “When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. (16) And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. (17) How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.” (18)  Again one having the appearance of a man touched me strengthened me. (19) And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

10:13-14 Spiritual Warfare between the Holy Angels and fallen angels (called demons) is real, but the fallen angels cannot overcome the Holy Angels whom GOD sends to protect and to serve HIS People!

(13) “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, (14) and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

10:20-21 Every godless world leader is empowered by these demonic fallen angels!

(20) “Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.

(21) But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.”

Amen.

EXPOSITION:

9:1-2 A lot of questions can be answered by simply reading the Bible!     Cf. Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10

(1) “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans⁠— (2) in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.”

Remember! King Ahasuerus was married to Queen Esther, which may account for his son’s kindness to the Jews! Darius may have been the son of Queen Esther (“may” that is!)

9:3-16 Confession of sin is always the best way to begin a prayer!

(3) “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (4) I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, (5) we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. (6) We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers,

and to all the people of the land. (7) To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.  (8) To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.

(9) “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him (10) and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. (11) All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. (12) He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. (13) As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.”

(14) “Therefore, the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. (15) And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. (16) “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.”

                                               9:17-19 After confession should come supplication!

(17) “Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. (18) O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. (19) O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

9:20-23 GOD reveals HIMSELF, HIS will, and His “Plan and Purpose for the Ages” to HIS people because HE loves us!

(20) “While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, (21) while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. (22) He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. (23) At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision.”

9:24-27 GOD’s Roadmap to HIS Return!

(24) “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.

(25) Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. And for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.

** Theological Note: If these are not weeks of days, can they be weeks of years?

Why do I (and a multitude of others) believe that these are weeks of years and not days? Hindsight! Since nothing of prophetic importance happened 490 days after this prophecy, and since all prophecy will be perfectly fulfilled – as was the prophecy of the four Kingdoms – this prophecy will be perfectly fulfilled as well.

Take note here that the “seven weeks” (of years)are added to the “sixty-two weeks” (of years) giving us sixty-nine “weeks” (of years)! Ergo… “sixty-nine” years x 7 = 483 years x 360 days per year = 173,880 days.

If the many biblical historians are correct who date Palm Sunday as being March 30th, 33AD, then the number of days from the decree to rebuild the Temple (444BC) to the declaration of JESUS as “the anointed prince” is 173,880 days!

Theological Note: We cannot rightly understand this prophecy if we do not understand the clear reference here to two different people who are called, “prince…”

First, there is a person called, “an anointed one, a prince…” who is said in 26a “shall be cut off and have nothing…”

“Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince…”

The “anointed prince…” is JESUS who was “cut off” on Good Friday (April 4^th 33AD) in Jerusalem!

(26a) “And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing.”

Second, there is a person called, “the prince who is to come…” and it says, “the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.”

The “prince who is to come…” is the antichrist, who will lead his people to destroy the sanctuary beginning the three and one-half year period of time called the, “Great Tribulation!” (Matthew 24:21)

“(26b) And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.

Notice that “the prince who is to come” will make a “one week” (7 years) but at the midpoint of the “week” (3 ½ of the 7 years) he will break the covenant with Israel and attempt to destroy the people of GOD!

(27) “And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

And that, Beloved Ones, is the clearest outline of pre-tribulational pre-millennialism in the Bible!

Amen!

1. There are two kinds of people in the world today – those who do believe that the Bible is true; and those who do not believe that the Bible is true.

There are perfectly good reasons for both kinds of people to believe that Jesus really did rise from the dead.

For those of us who are sure that the Bible is true, believing that Jesus rose from the dead is really easy!

2. Since we are sure that the Bible is true, and since the writers of the Old Testament said that Jesus would rise again from the dead, it makes perfect sense to us that Jesus would rise again from the dead.

Job 19:25-27 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”

Psalm 16:10 “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”

Isaiah 53:10 “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”

Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”

Jesus declared that the entire Book of Jonah was a prophecy of HIS resurrection from the dead. 

Matthew 12:38-40 “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

3. Since we are sure that the Bible is true, and since the Bible says that Jesus is GOD in human flesh; it makes perfect sense that Jesus would keep HIS promise to rise again from the dead.

Before HIS death on the cross, Jesus said that HE would rise from the dead. (Future Tense)

Cf. Matthew 16:21 “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

John 2:18-22 “So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”

After HIS death on the cross, Jesus said that HE had risen from the dead. (Past Tense)

Cf. Revelation 1:18 (NKJV) “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

Note: This verse was written 60 years after the death of Jesus on the cross.

4. Since we are sure that the Bible is true, and since the Bible says that the Apostles were honest and godly men; it makes perfect sense to believe what they said about Jesus being raised from the dead.  

Cf. John 20:19-20 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”

5. Since we are sure that the Bible is true and the Bible says that one must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead to be saved… and since the Bible says that being saved will change our life… and, since believing that God raised Jesus from the dead really did change our life; what the Bible says about Jesus being raised from the dead must be true.                                         

Romans 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

2^nd Corinthians 5:17 ” Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

6. Finally, for those people in the world today who are not sure that the Bible is true there are still lots of logical reasons to believe that Jesus actually rose from the Dead!

– The fact that the Apostles (who really knew if Jesus really rose from the dead or not) were willing to die horrific deaths rather than deny that they saw Jesus alive is strong evidence that they really did see Jesus alive after his death.

(People will die for a lie if they believe it is true; but people will not die for a lie if they know it is a lie.)

– The dramatic change in the lives of the Apostles from Christ-denying skeptics to self-sacrificing evangelists is strong evidence that they really did see Jesus alive after HIS death on the cross.

– The fact that when Paul was writing 1^st Corinthians (30 years after the death of Jesus) he could call on over 500 eyewitnesses who had seen Jesus alive after HE died on the cross is strong evidence that Jesus really rose from the dead.

– Three of most highly regarded non-Christian Roman historians mention that Jesus was a person who lived when the Bible says HE lived; and that HE was executed under Pontius Pilate; and that people worshipped HIM as God.

Guardian Magazine (4/14/2017) gives this historical information:

“As far as we know, the first author outside the church to mention Jesus is the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who wrote a history of Judaism around AD93.”

“He has two references to Jesus. One of these is controversial… but the other is not suspicious – a reference to James, the brother of “Jesus, the so-called Christ”.

“About 20 years after Josephus, we have the Roman politicians Pliny and Tacitus, who held some of the highest offices of state at the beginning of the second century AD.”

“From Tacitus we learn that Jesus was executed while Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect in charge of Judaea (AD26-36) and Tiberius was emperor (AD14-37) – reports that fit with the timeframe of the gospels.”

“(Roman Historian) Pliny contributes the information that, where he was governor in northern Turkey, Christians worshipped Christ as a god. Neither of them liked Christians – Pliny writes of their “pig-headed obstinacy” and Tacitus calls their religion a destructive superstition.”

– In spite of the fact that some people who “claim” to believe in Jesus give no evidence of being changed at all; the millions of people whose lives have been dramatically changed testify that they have come to believe that Jesus really did die for their sins, and that HE really did rise from the dead is strong evidence that Jesus really is the son of God, that He really did die on the cross to pay for the sins of sinners, and – HE is still forgiving sinners and changing lives today.

2^nd Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Beloved Ones, the invitation is always the same… since Jesus was willing to die for you, are you now willing to die for him?

Amen!

INTRODUCTION:

1. GOD knows the future because HE decreed the future!

2. In the process of inspiration, GOD sometimes revealed the future to certain of the writers of Scripture to inform them (and us) of what HE is going to do, and to identify those who are giving the prophecy as HIS true people.

3. In The Book of Daniel, GOD reveals events that are to be fulfilled soon, others that were fulfilled 200 to 500 years later, and some that have yet to be fulfilled (over 2,500 years) later.

4. Since there is only one future, the yet unfilled prophecies in The Book of Daniel must correspond to the prophecies in The Book of Revelation – and they certainly do!

5. The vision in Daniel 8 was given to him in the last year of the reign of King Belshazzar which was also the end of the Babylonian Empire.

EXPOSITION:

8:1-4 The Ram – The Medes and Persians!

(1) “In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. (2) And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. (3) I raised my eyes and saw, and behold,

a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.

(4) I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.”

8:5-8 The Empire of Greece!

(5) “As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. (6) He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath.  (7) I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. (8) Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.”

Note: The “Conspicuous Horn” is Alexander the Great.

The four horns were the four Generals who divided up Alexander’s empire after his death: © ebsco.com/research

Antipater (397-319 BC), Macedonian statesman, regent of Macedonia, r. 321-319 BC

Antigonus I Monophthalmos (382-301 BC), Macedonian general and local ruler; king of Macedonia, r. 306-301 BC

Ptolemy Soter (367/366- 283/282 BC), Macedonian general; governor of Egypt, 323-305 BC.; king of Egypt, r. 305-285 BC

Seleucus I Nicator (358/354-281 BC), Macedonian general; satrap of Babylonia, 321-305 BC; king of Babylonia and surrounding territories, r. 305-281 BC

8:9-14 Antiochus IV Epiphanes who reigned from 175 to 164 BC.  “The Old Testament type of the antichrist”

(9) “Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. (10) It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. (11) It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. (12) And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. (13) Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” (14) And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”

Note: 2,300 days by the Jewish Calendar is 76 months or 6 years and 3 months.

Note: In December 167 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Second Temple by setting up an idol (likely Zeus) on the altar of burnt offering and sacrificing pigs, which are unclean in Jewish law.

He was overthrown by a priest named Mattathias and his son Judah Maccabee (“The Hammer”). The revolt secured religious freedom, rededicated the Temple (celebrated as Hanukkah), and established the Hasmonean dynasty which was ultimately conquered by the Romans in 63 BC.

8:15-17 Do not be worried about the complicated nature of these visions, Daniel did not understand them either!

(15) “When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. (16) And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”      (17) So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”

8:18-26 Thankfully, GOD sent the Angel Gabriel to interpret the vision for him – and for us!

(18) “And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. (19) He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. (20) As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. (21) And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king.  (22) 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. (23) 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.

(24) 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. (25) 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. (26) The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”

8:27 It is OK to be “appalled” by this vision (and other prophetical visions) Daniel was as well!

(27) “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.”

Amen!