top of page
  • Writer's pictureSharon

DANIEL 8:24 THE POWER OF THE KING OF FIERCE COUNTENANCE

Updated: Dec 26, 2022

CHAPTER 24



Just in case you are a little lost. If you get nothing else out of this book, my hope is that you will understand there is a third application to the entire prophecy of Daniel 8. The “last end of the indignation” referred to in Daniel 8:13 is the third application to the prophecy of Daniel 8. In this book I have presented three fulfillments of the symbolic vision of Daniel 8: 1) the literal, 2) the cross, and 3) the close of time. I have tried to spell it out in this chart.


Daniel 8 Figures/prophetic fulfilments


Daniel 8 Figures/prophetic fulfilments

Ram with 2 horns

He (Rough) Goat

Four Winds of the heaven of this earth

Little Horn Power


1st fulfilment

Literal

The kings of Media and Persia

Alexander the Great

Kingdom of Greece divided to Alexander's four generals

King of fierce countenance (man of sin) leopard like beast, Papal power


2nd fulfilment

Cross

Christ

Satan/ Dragon Revelation 12:10

Satan's kingdom divided to the powers of this earth = Leopard like beast Revelation 13

Church (Jewish) / State (Roman) powers that put Christ on the cross


3rd fulfillment

End of time

Protestantism/State (Lamb-like beast Rev. 13:11)

Dragon (Revelation 12:17)

The powers of this earth or four winds of the earth

Image of the beast (Revelation 13:14-17)


In this study of Daniel 8:23 we found that the “king of fierce countenance” of Daniel is also the “image of the beast” of Revelation 13:14 which is also the image of the Little Horn power of Daniel 8:9-12. The Bible refers to the Leopard-like beast as having a deadly wound (Revelation 13:3, 12,14) but being healed. In our study of Daniel 8:24 we will find that the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13 or the Little Horn power of Daniel 8 (papal power) is resurrected so to speak to form the “image of the beast” of Revelation 13:14-18.



Please review our study of Daniel 8:23 to understand that the “king of fierce countenance” is the one spoken of in Daniel 8:24-25. He is also the “Mystery of Iniquity” of 2 Thessalonians 2. At the close of time, the power behind him is the prince of evil, the power of darkness, the serpent, otherwise known as the Devil. A further description of him is given in Daniel 8:24 - 25. We will study this “king of fierce countenance” in relation to this prophecy’s final and third application in the “last end of the indignation” spoken of in Daniel 8:19. We will study it phrase by phrase. We will study specifically, the word “POWER”, as it relates to evil, historically within the context of this prophesy’s first fulfillment to understand the final fulfilment at the close of time. We will find that Satan also uses the Lamb-like beast to fuel or give power to the Image of the Beast (king of fierce countenance) of Revelation 13.

AND HIS POWER SHALL BE MIGHTY, BUT NOT BY HIS OWN POWER…. DANIEL 8:24

In this study, the key word in this verse is power. And the key chapter of Bible study is Revelation 13 although other passages from scripture are also used here.

At the close of time we are warned regarding the “leopard like beast” of Revelation 13, that his power comes from the dragon who is Satan (Revelation 12:9).

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/

People would literally worship this beast. And in so doing they were worshipping the dragon, which, the Bible emphasizes, gave power unto the beast.

Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

But just like earlier stated and discovered in the chapter on Daniel 8:22, God is ultimately in charge and must release His restraint on the power of Satan to allow him to work. Satan will work through the four opposing winds of the earth to destroy. See our study on Daniel 8:8. We found that these winds look like the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13. See our study on Daniel 8:22. Satan will be free to show his truest destructive colors.

During this prophecy’s first fulfilment regarding the Little Horn of Daniel 8:9-12 and its mirror prophecy of the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13:1-8 this power is allowed to reign forty-two months. Using the prophetic “day for a year” principle, this is 1260 years (Revelation 13:5). This is also mentioned in other mirror prophecies referred to as the “time, times, and dividing of times” (Daniel 7:25 & Revelation 12:14) which is the same as a year plus two years plus a half a year. It is stated again as 1260 days (Revelation 11:30) and 42 months (Revelation 11:2). This period of time began in 538 AD and lasted until 1798 AD which is the period of the reign of the papacy. In 1798 the papacy received its prophetic deadly wound and was considered only a church without state power.

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/


He had power over all people. Revelation 13:7 tells us the Leopard-like beast or papacy wielded power over the whole world.


Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.


The papacy used its power to blaspheme God by appearing to take His place by speaking and acting in the place of God. But in so doing he blasphemed God’s true character (name), and God’s true church, and all of Heaven. He used his power to make war against Christianity and to overcome Christians. And he used his power to command and encourage self-worship.


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/



Revelation 13:11-14 tells us of another world-wide power at the close of time which helps the first power of the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13:1-8 to revive from his deadly wound. This Lamb-like beast “exercises all the power” of the Leopard-like beast, meaning it is also a world-wide power and church/state power. Like the first beast, and by giving its strength to the Leopard-like beast, it will make war with the people of God. We have found it’s fulfilment already in a study of Daniel 8:20 realizing the Ram, which is a Lamb-like beast (Christ-like) is in the end of time known as Protestantism (Christianity) and is seen predominantly in the New World or the United States. (See our study on Daniel 8:20.) Though it seems impossible that the United States, a country which grew out of the Protestant reformation, could persecute Bible believing Christians, it is predicted to happen according to prophecy relating to the Lamb-like beast.

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

This Lamb-like beast has power to do miracles in the sight of the Leopard-like beast. Here we have apostate Christianity and popery working together to deceive the world into making an image to the beast. An image is a likeness in character. This image to the beast is the revival of the “mystery of iniquity” or “man of sin” or “son of perdition” spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7. God allowed this power to rule for 1260 years to fully reveal its character (2 Thessalonians 2:6). See our study of Daniel 8:9-12. The character of the Leopard-like beast is fully explained in Daniel 8:9-12, Revelation 13:1-8, and in other places in scripture.

This Lamb-like beast is a church/state power who forces its system of belief upon the world through persecution and war. But first it tries to win the world through its power to do miracles in the sight of the beast. Jesus warned us explicitly to regard this beast in sheep’s clothing as a false prophet. And He told us that miracles were not a test of a true prophet. He used the parable of the wise man building his house upon the rock to mean that those who hear God’s Word and obey it, are true wise men who stand upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, and will not be fooled by this false prophet and will not worship the image of the beast and receive the mark of the beast.

Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-7/

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-16/



Revelation 13:15 tells us that the Lamb-like beast has power to give life to the image of the beast. This means that Protestantism, which came about because of men and women of faith studied and followed the (Sword) Word of God as their rule of faith (Revelation 2:16; 6:4; 13:14; Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17), will literally give up the eternal life which comes from knowing God and obeying His Words to follow the man of sin and his man-made traditions rather than God. This act will breathe life into the image of the beast (Revelation 17:12,13) and fully heal the deadly wound of the Leopard-like beast (papacy). We see this happening in the ecumenical movement of today.

Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/

A careful study of Revelation 17 will reveal that the 10 horns on the scarlet-colored beast with seven heads are the same as the Lamb-like beast of Revelation 13. Again, power is involved.


Even today, there is a movement in the religious world called the ecumenical movement where churches of different faiths come together and compromise their Bible based beliefs to create a unity in the name of peace. This kind of peace is poison to Protestantism and is setting the foundation for opposition to Christ and His Word and His people. Men and women are placing their trust in man and forsaking God and His Word to attain unity or peace. In the end, this will cause their destruction.


In the end of time there is an hour of the power of darkness just like there was at the cross. It is also called the hour of temptation. Every man in the whole world will have decided for himself whether he will keep the Word of God or not.

And don’t forget that at the end of time, the Leopard-like beast, and Lamb-like beast are also working in harmony with the Dragon (Satan) or the power of darkness.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-16/


AND HIS POWER SHALL BE MIGHTY… AND SHALL DESTROY WONDERFULLY, AND SHALL DESTROY THE MIGHTY AND THE HOLY PEOPLE

Daniel 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-12/


During this time, Satan will not be able to “hurt” those who are sealed in their foreheads with the seal of God, just like he could not hurt Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were in the fiery furnace. This does not mean that the sealed will not go into the furnace of affliction. It does not mean they will not go through the flood. It means that Christ will go with them through the flood of persecution. It means they will be saved from the hour of temptation. This passage in Revelation 9 explains this concept.


This passage describes 150 days or five months of destruction. In the Bible, five months is a symbol representing a flood just as Noah’s 150-day flood (Genesis 7:23-24). The Bible warns us of a flood of persecution coming upon the earth (Isaiah 28:2,17-18; Psalms 69:1,2,4,14,15). But the saved of God will be shut in or sealed and safe in the ark of the presence of Christ (Genesis 7:15-16; Isaiah 26:20; Luke 13:24) during this flood. They can resist the lies of this evil king and his false prophets (the tails – Isaiah 9:5; Deuteronomy 28:15) and have built their house on a true foundation and give their obedience to the Rock of Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Matthew 7:24-25). The flood of persecution and destruction will come but their house will stand strong because these are they who hear the word of God and do it. (Isaiah 59:19; Matthew 7:15,21 -27). These are they who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:12; 12:17).



Isaiah 28:2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-Chapter-28/


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-Chapter-69/


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-Chapter-7/


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-Chapter-32/

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-13/


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-7/


Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-Chapter-18/


Deuteronomy 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Deuteronomy-Chapter-28/

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-14/


This will be a time where God’s people will be delivered from temptation because they are settled in their minds to firmly stand for truth by obedience to the commands of God rather than bow to the image of the beast. A Bible of example of this is found in Daniel 3. Notice that the three Hebrew worthies, who would not bow to the image, were delivered from temptation but had to go into the furnace of affliction. They knew that God would deliver them from temptation, though they may suffer persecution. (See verse 17). His presence, in the fire, saved them from destruction. They were not hurt.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-3/


The test at the end of time will be a life and death question. Some may be killed for their faith temporarily but will gain eternal life. Others will choose a temporary life and will gain eternal death.

Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/

Revelation 18:24 And in her (Babylon riding on the beast) was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-18/

Jesus had warned,


Just as the body of Christ was referred to as a temple, so it is in our day. We are the temple of God. Anyone who destroys a follower of Christ, attempts to destroy the body of Christ, His temple. God will destroy that man who destroys His temple.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

In this chapter I spelled out the three fulfillments of the symbolic vision of Daniel 8: 1) the literal, 2) the cross, and 3) the close of time in a chart.

We briefly reviewed what we learned in the study of Daniel 8:23 we found that the “king of fierce countenance” of Daniel is also the “image of the beast” of Revelation 13:14 which is also the image of the Little Horn power of Daniel 8:9-12. The Bible refers to the Leopard-like beast as having a deadly wound (Revelation 13:3, 12,14) but being healed. In this study of Daniel 8:24 we find that the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13 or the Little Horn power of Daniel 8 (papal power) is resurrected so to speak to form the “image of the beast” of Revelation 13:14-18.


The “king of fierce countenance” is the one spoken of in Daniel 8:24-25. He is also the “Mystery of Iniquity” of 2 Thessalonians 2. At the close of time, the power behind him is the prince of evil, the power of darkness, the serpent, otherwise known as the Devil. A further description of him is given in Daniel 8:24 - 25. We specifically studied the word “POWER”, as it relates to evil, historically within the context of this prophesy’s first fulfillment to understand the final fulfilment at the close of time. We found that Satan also uses the Lamb-like beast to fuel or give power to the Image of the Beast (king of fierce countenance) of Revelation 13.

n this study, the key word in Daniel 8:24 is power. And the key chapter of Bible study is Revelation 13.

At the close of time we are warned regarding the “leopard like beast” of Revelation 13:2, that his power comes from the dragon who is Satan (Revelation 12:9).

People would literally worship this beast. And in so doing they were worshipping the dragon, which, the Bible emphasizes, gave power unto the beast.

But just like earlier stated and discovered in the chapter on Daniel 8:22, God is ultimately in charge and must release His restraint on the power of Satan to allow him to work. Satan will work through the four opposing winds of the earth to destroy. See our study on Daniel 8:8. We found that these winds look like the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13. See our study on Daniel 8:22. Satan will be free to show his truest destructive colors.

During this prophecy’s first fulfilment regarding the Little Horn of Daniel 8:9-12 and its mirror prophecy of the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13:1-8 this power is allowed to reign forty-two months. Using the prophetic “day for a year” principle, this is 1260 years (Revelation 13:5). This is also mentioned in other mirror prophecies referred to as the “time, times, and dividing of times” (Daniel 7:25 & Revelation 12:14) which is the same as a year plus two years plus a half a year. It is stated again as 1260 days (Revelation 11:30) and 42 months (Revelation 11:2). This period of time began in 538 AD and lasted until 1798 AD which is the period of the reign of the papacy. In 1798 the papacy received its prophetic deadly wound and was considered only a church without state power.

He had power over all people. Revelation 13:7 tells us the Leopard-like beast or papacy wielded power over the whole world.


Revelation 13:5-8 tells us the papacy used its power to blaspheme God by appearing to take His place by speaking and acting in the place of God. But in so doing he blasphemed God’s true character (name), and God’s true church, and all of Heaven. He used his power to make war against Christianity and to overcome Christians. And he used his power to command and encourage self-worship.


Revelation 13:11-14 tells us of another world-wide power at the close of time which helps the first power of the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13:1-8 to revive from his deadly wound. This Lamb-like beast “exercises all the power” of the Leopard-like beast, meaning it is also a world-wide power and church/state power. Like the first beast, and by giving its strength to the Leopard-like beast, it will make war with the people of God. We have found it’s fulfilment already in a study of Daniel 8:20 realizing the Ram, which is a Lamb-like beast (Christ-like) is in the end of time known as Protestantism (Christianity) and is seen predominantly in the New World or the United States. (See our study on Daniel 8:20.) Though it seems impossible that the United States, a country which grew out of the Protestant reformation, could persecute Bible believing Christians, it is predicted to happen according to prophecy relating to the Lamb-like beast.

This Lamb-like beast has power to do miracles in the sight of the Leopard-like beast. Here we have apostate Christianity and popery working together to deceive the world into making an image to the beast. An image is a likeness in character. This image to the beast is the revival of the “mystery of iniquity” or “man of sin” or “son of perdition” spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7. God allowed this power to rule for 1260 years to fully reveal its character (2 Thessalonians 2:6). See our study of Daniel 8:9-12. The character of the Leopard-like beast is fully explained in Daniel 8:9-12, Revelation 13:1-8, and in other places in scripture.

This Lamb-like beast is a church/state power who forces its system of belief upon the world through persecution and war. But first it tries to win the world through its power to do miracles in the sight of the beast. Jesus warned us explicitly to regard this beast in sheep’s clothing as a false prophet. And He told us that miracles were not a test of a true prophet. He used the parable of the wise man building his house upon the rock to mean that those who hear God’s Word and obey it, are true wise men who stand upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, and will not be fooled by this false prophet and will not worship the image of the beast and receive the mark of the beast.


Revelation 13:15 tells us that the Lamb-like beast has power to give life to the image of the beast. This means that Protestantism, which came about because of men and women of faith studied and followed the (Sword) Word of God as their rule of faith (Revelation 2:16; 6:4; 13:14; Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17), will literally give up the eternal life which comes from knowing God and obeying His Words to follow the man of sin and his man-made traditions rather than God. This act will breathe life into the image of the beast (Revelation 17:12,13) and fully heal the deadly wound of the Leopard-like beast (papacy). We see this happening in the ecumenical movement of today.

A careful study of Revelation 17 will reveal that the 10 horns on the scarlet-colored beast with seven heads are the same as the Lamb-like beast of Revelation 13. Again, power is involved.

Even today, there is a movement in the religious world called the ecumenical movement where churches of different faiths come together and compromise their Bible based beliefs to create a unity in the name of peace. This kind of peace is poison to Protestantism and is setting the foundation for opposition to Christ and His Word and His people. Men and women are placing their trust in man and forsaking God and His Word to attain unity or peace. In the end, this will cause their destruction.

In the end of time there is an hour of the power of darkness just like there was at the cross. It is also called the hour of temptation. Every man in the whole world will have decided for himself whether he will keep the Word of God or not.

And don’t forget that at the end of time, the Leopard-like beast, and Lamb-like beast are also working in harmony with the Dragon (Satan) or the power of darkness.


Daniel 8:24 says “HIS POWER SHALL BE MIGHTY… AND SHALL DESTROY WONDERFULLY, AND SHALL DESTROY THE MIGHTY AND THE HOLY PEOPLE”

During this time, Satan will not be able to “hurt” those who are sealed in their foreheads with the seal of God, just like he could not hurt Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were in the fiery furnace. This does not mean that the sealed will not go into the furnace of affliction. It does not mean they will not go through the flood. It means that Christ will go with them through the flood of persecution. It means they will be saved from the hour of temptation. This passage in Revelation 9 explains this concept.

Revelation 9:1-11 describes 150 days or five months of destruction. In the Bible, five months is a symbol representing a flood just as Noah’s 150-day flood (Genesis 7:23-24). The Bible warns us of a flood of persecution coming upon the earth (Isaiah 28:2,17-18; Psalms 69:1,2,4,14,15). But the saved of God will be shut in or sealed and safe in the ark of the presence of Christ (Genesis 7:15-16; Isaiah 26:20; Luke 13:24) during this flood. They can resist the lies of this evil king and his false prophets (the tails – Isaiah 9:5; Deuteronomy 28:15) and have built their house on a true foundation and give their obedience to the Rock of Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Matthew 7:24-25). The flood of persecution and destruction will come but their house will stand strong because these are they who hear the word of God and do it. (Isaiah 59:19; Matthew 7:15,21 -27). These are they who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:12; 12:17).

This will be a time where God’s people will be delivered from temptation because they are settled in their minds to firmly stand for truth by obedience to the commands of God rather than bow to the image of the beast. A Bible of example of this is found in Daniel 3. Notice that the three Hebrew worthies, who would not bow to the image, were delivered from temptation but had to go into the furnace of affliction. They knew that God would deliver them from temptation, though they may suffer persecution. (See verse 17). His presence, in the fire, saved them from destruction. They were not hurt.


The test at the end of time will be a life and death question. Some may be killed for their faith temporarily but will gain eternal life. Others will choose a temporary life and will gain eternal death.


In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 God warns that those who defile the temple of God shall be destroyed. Just as the body of Christ was referred to as a temple, so it is in our day. We are the temple of God. Anyone who destroys a follower of Christ, attempts to destroy the body of Christ, His temple. God will destroy that man who destroys His temple.


0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page