top of page
Search
  • Writer's pictureSharon
    • Oct 30, 2022
    • 47 min read

DANIEL 8:25B BROKEN WITHOUT HAND

Updated: Dec 26, 2022

CHAPTER 25 B


Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/

As I get ready to convey all God has revealed to me through His Word regarding these words, I pray for His Spirit to write it not only on these pages, but on your hearts and minds.

Immediately, these words “broken” and “without hand” take us back to Daniel 2 where we find a beginning to understand their meaning. See the same wording in the verses below.

Comparing scripture with scripture we find here that “without hands” is a reference to a passage earlier in the book of Daniel regarding King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter two. We now can understand that the “king of fierce countenance” of Daniel 8 will be broken by the Stone, cut out of a mountain without hands, which is the Kingdom of God built upon the Rock Jesus Christ. There will never be a different kingdom after this one for it will last forever. This Kingdom of God becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth.


But so many questions. When will this happen? After all, I have suggested three applications for the prophecy of Daniel 8? Does it apply to one or all three? What does it mean to be broken? What do the words “without hand” mean?


As we start this study of the “Stone cut out of the mountain without hands” we note the following facts. The Stone comes from a mountain and then becomes a mountain. This Stone is not like the stones of our day. It is a Living Stone. See it grow and fill the whole earth. This Stone, of its own accord, leaves the mountain. It does not have help by any hand or tool. When this Stone contacts metal, rather than shatter the Stone, the Stone shatters the metal. This Stone consumes or dissolves what it contacts.

One of the themes of Daniel 8 involves the sanctuary of God. It is re-built during the time of the Ram power or Medes and Persians (See the books of Ezra and Nehemiah) and it is polluted and destroyed during the time of the Little Horn’s reign of persecution (See Daniel 8:11.) And the sanctuary is cleansed in Daniel 8:14. The sanctuary is the story behind the story of Daniel 8. And it is also closely linked with the Stone cut out without hands as seen in what follows in this discussion.


THE STONE, THE FOUNDATION OF THE SANCTUARY OF GOD


First, let’s find some Bible references for the Stone cut out without hands.


This phrase “without hands” is mentioned in Hebrews as “not made with hands” and regards the tabernacle where Christ is High Priest, which is in Heaven.


Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;


Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:


Witnesses against Christ once said they heard Him refer to a temple made without hands.

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

What Jesus really said is recorded in John.



Is the Stone of Daniel 2, which is a kingdom, also a reference to the sanctuary or temple of God or to Jesus Christ? Let’s look at the temple of God more closely.


The temple built on this earth was patterned after the temple in heaven. And the purpose of the earthly temple was so God could dwell among his people here on earth.



Scripture tells us that the real sanctuary was in Heaven (Hebrews 9:8-11). The sanctuary was Christ Who came from Heaven to dwell or tabernacle with us (Matthew 1:23), sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us (1 Corinthians 3:16), and He and the Father are the Temple of God throughout eternity (Revelation 21:3,22)!


Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Corinthians-Chapter-3/

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God…. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-21/


The Lord of Hosts Himself would be their Sanctuary, but would become a

Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense to Israel in that they would fail to believe in Him. They would stumble on the Stone because they would try to keep the law by works rather than by faith or believing on the Rock, Jesus Christ.



Notice where the Stone (Christ) was laid. In Sion. What is Sion/Zion? Where is Sion/Zion?


Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.


Exodus 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-Chapter-15/


The Foundation Stone was laid in the Holy Mountains of Zion often referred to as Mount Zion or the City of God. This is foremost a heavenly place rather than earthly. But on earth God gave a replica of the pattern of the heavenly, built by man after the pattern of things in heaven, where God’s presence (Shekinah Glory) dwelt with man.


This place in the heavenly Zion is where exists the very throne of God.



Knowing then that Christ is the true Sanctuary and Pattern Man, when we study the earthly sanctuary it should be a study of Christ Himself. With that mindset, please take a fresh look at Isaiah 28:16.


Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.



Who is this Foundation Stone? Who is this tried Stone? Who is this precious Cornerstone?


In the counsels of heaven, the Foundation of the Kingdom of Heaven was laid. It was laid in the Son of God Who is the Cornerstone of Heaven’s kingdom. What does this mean?


A cornerstone is defined as:


cor·​ner·​stone | \ ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn \

Definition of cornerstone

1: a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony

2: a basic element : FOUNDATION a cornerstone of foreign policy



The Bible makes it clear this Rock is Jesus. Now let us look at how and when this stone was laid or founded?


Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.


Who is Wisdom?

1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Corinthians-Chapter-1/


The word in Hebrew translated “set up” means to be “poured out an offering” as follows from the Strong’s Concordance.


נָסַךְ nâçak, naw-sak'; a primitive root; to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king:—cover, melt, offer, (cause to) pour (out), set (up). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H5258&t=KJV


Christ was laid down as the Great Cornerstone from everlasting. Before anything in heaven or earth was ever created, Wisdom (The Heart of Christ) was poured out an offering as the Foundation of the kingdom of Heaven. There was an anointing or ordination service in the counsels of Heaven. Christ was foreordained to be the substitute and surety for any world fallen into sin.


This is known in the Bible as the “mystery kept secret from the eternal ages.”


Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Colossians-Chapter-1/



The words in Hebrew “chronos aionios”, from Romans 16:25, translated “since the world began” mean from everlasting space of time or eternity.


χρόνος chrónos, khron'-os; of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from G2540, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from G165, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay:—+ years old, season, space, (X often-)time(-s), (a) while. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5550&t=KJV


αἰώνιος aiṓnios, ahee-o'-nee-os; from G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):—eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G166&t=KJV


This means that our salvation was a forethought from the eternal ages. We do not understand infinity or eternity because we are finite. Why would God have to plan for our salvation? The Bible says God desires our love. “If ye love Me, keep my commandments.” He never wanted us to worship Him just because He is God or out of fear but rather because we loved Him. He never wanted a service from us that was forced but rather one that was volunteer. He knew that because He was the kind of God He was and would give His creatures freedom of choice to worship Him, one of His creatures might rebel and try to establish themselves as God. God knew that kind of rebellion would cause only fear and destruction. He knew we would need a Savior, more than just a created being. A Savior Who could rescue our minds from sin and the fear of arbitrary rule. A Savior Who could provide His righteousness and His eternal existence to us. God could not sacrifice His law or government for the sake of sin or the sinner. The wages of sin is death. So motivated by love for His creatures, He (The Cornerstone) purposed to lay down His own life for us, in order to re-establish His government of love in a world that had sinned. He would be our substitute both dying for our sin, but as the Holy Lamb of God to free us from our sin; and living to give us His eternal righteousness and grace. In the eternal ages, the Son of God was anointed to be our propitiation should we sin. He is the Alpha and the Omega.



THE STONE CUT OUT WITHOUT HANDS


And we did sin. And helpless were we. The wages of sin is death. Man sinned. Justice demanded man must die. But Christ rendered the sufferings of not just a sinner but of a God. He did not need atonement or death for Himself; all His sufferings were for us; all His merits were given to fallen man because He was man.


Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


God could and cannot forgive sins at the expense of His justice, holiness, or truth. Justice means to make things right again. To make things right so there would be no more death or sin, God must allow sin and the sinner to die. But without a Savior, they would die forever. If mankind were to have any hope, they needed a Divine Savior.



And help did come in the form of the Stone was cut out of the Heavenly Zion without hands. As soon as there was sin, there was a Savior. In the fulness of time, the Foundation of the government of Heaven, the Rock being Jesus Christ, would be sent from Mount Zion in Heaven to this earth. The true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man would be sent to earth to dwell among men, God with us.

Daniel 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-2/



But it was prophesied that His own people (church) would reject Him.



The words “This is the Lord’s doing” can be translated more accurately, “This is Jehovah, the Self-Existing One.”. “It is marvelous” means extraordinary and beyond one’s power. And the words “This is the day” could also be translated, “this is the morning and the evening, this is the daily, or this is the continual.” To continue means to go on forever, never stopping. Christ is the Continual or Eternal, Self-existing One.


BREAKING THE POWER OF SATAN, SIN, DEATH BY THE POWER OF CHRIST

John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up… 21 But he spake of the temple of his body. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-2/

Why did it have to be God? Why not an angel or a man to redeem man?

Did you notice the two kinds of power Christ declares. Power to lay it down. This is the power we have been talking about. The self-denying, love gift of God (John 3:16). This is half of the greatest power in the universe!


John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.


But there is a different power also that we would need. Without this other power of Christ, the power of His endless life, we would be lost without!

Psalms 133:3 the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.


Christ was the Stone cut out without hands. He volunteered His life or gave it. It was His to give. “Christ is equal with God, infinite, and omnipotent. The only ransom equal to God’s law would be the Heart from which that law proceeded. Only God could pay the ransom for man’s freedom from the condemnation of a broken law. He is Jehovah, the eternal, self-existing, the I AM, Who need not bow to the authority of anyone. And in the counsels of heaven when God asked, “Whom shall I send?” He could volunteer, “Here am I; send Me.” He could pledge Himself to become man’s surety; for He could say that which the highest angel could not say, -- I have power over My own life, “power to lay it down, and …power to take it again.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-3/


Only Jesus could be surety to God; for only He was equal to God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

When we choose to be baptized, we die with Jesus accepting in faith that God, out of love for us, became a Man, took the sins of the whole world, and voluntarily submitted to death, and then raised His body sinless to give us His very eternal life to us.


Justice was satisfied by the death of Christ. He had offered Himself in eternity as an atonement. At the cross, His blood and broken body, satisfied the claims of the broken law of God. In this way He bridged the chasm sin caused between humankind and God and reunited man to God. He suffered in the flesh so that His body might cover the defenseless sinner. His victory on the cross forever broke the accusing power of Satan. His self-denying act showed that self-denial is the character of God and essential also in humanity.


When on the cross Christ cried, “It is finished!” He had fully consummated the covenant made in heaven that He would die for the sinner. In death, He was more than conqueror! The redemption price was paid! The accusing power of Satan was broken!


Now that we understand Who the Rock is and a little of what He has done, Daniel 8:25 takes on new significance regarding the “king of fierce countenance” that he should be broken without hand.


Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.


The word “broken” in Daniel 8:25 from the Strong’s Concordance is translated “to burst, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, tear.


BROKEN H7665

שָׁבַר shâbar, shaw-bar'; a primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively):—break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, × quite, tear, view (by mistake for H7663). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7665&t=KJV


On the cross, Christ, by His death, which is a unique death in that it was a voluntary gift of laying down His life in love both to God and to us and in submission to the Father’s will, destroyed him that had the power of death, the Devil. Then by taking His life back up again in the resurrection, He losed the pains of death.



1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-John-Chapter-3/

With sin came death. This death was the in-volunteer result of sin. It was a tyrant which took our lives. God has no pleasure in death (Ezekiel 18:32; Hebrews 10:6). Christ came and slayed or took away the tyrant of death, not by taking life, but by voluntarily submitting His life to God’s will in giving or laying down His life for us. He abolished the enmity, the law of ordinances (sacrificial offerings) (Ephesians 2:15). He took away both sin and the results of sin (Hebrews 10:9). At the same time, He re-established humble submission to the Will or Law of God (Hebrews 10:9) in humanity.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die….

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

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



CUT OUT WITHOUT HANDS PART 1


There is a spiritual significance to be broken without hands. Remember the “man of sin” is the king of fierce countenance. In effect all of us are the spiritual “man of sin”. Each “man of sin” must be broken. Either we individually fall on the Rock of Jesus Christ and are broken, or we are broken by the Rock falling on us. Either way the “man of sin” is broken.

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-20/

To fall on the Rock is to be circumcised or cut by the Rock. To be circumcised is to have the baptism of death to self. We die His death. His death is a unique death. When He said, “not my Will but Thine be done, Jesus was submitting Himself to the Will of His Father and dying to self.” Then we are raised with Him also, into His newness of life, the established Will of His Father.

Did you notice the words “circumcision without hands” and “circumcision of Christ” in the passage above? Circumcision is a cutting away of the surplus of self or the heart of sin. In this Christ was also our example: THE STONE CUT OUT or CIRCUMCISED WITHOUT HANDS.


We are to put off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Another way to say it is:


This kind of circumcision makes us a whole, new man.

Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Jeremiah-Chapter-4/


What does it mean, the “circumcision of Christ”? How was Christ circumcised?

When Christ came to this earth as a man, if He were to die and live for us as a human, he must do it as we must. He must not rely on His own power. Instead, He relied on Divine Power the same way we must. Philippians 2 puts it this way:


Christ divested Himself of His divinity for us. He put it off. He Who Is Divine, became our Brother, a Man obedient to the penalty of sin. He denied Himself! But in so doing He established His government, the law of self-denying love.

He came to show us the Source of His Power that we might never rely upon our unaided capabilities. That is why the Bible when speaking of the casting down of Satan speaks, in regards to God, of the “Power of His Christ.”

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.


Just how did Christ cast out or brake Satan? He denied Himself, took up His cross daily and followed God.(Luke 9:23) As a human, He said, Not my Will, but Thine be done! (Matthew 26:39,42,44). He put His entire trust in the Will of God. He said, I delight to do Thy will O My God, ye Thy law is within my heart! (Hebrews 10:7 & Psalms 40:8). He relied on a “Thus saith the Lord, saying in response to Satan’s temptations, “It is Written!” (Matthew 4:4,7,10). This is called being “faithful” to God. (Hebrews 3:2) Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) After the Word of God was quoted, Satan had no chance of winning.


Satan’s power was broken without hand for the God of Heaven voluntarily gave His righteous blood to satisfy justice for my sin. The Lawgiver humbled Himself to be obedient to His law. No greater example of the law of God, which is unselfish love, could be found in all the universe than for God Himself to die for the sinner! But He took it one step farther, even giving us of His righteous eternal life! Will you trust Him Who was faithful!



Now and through the circumcision of Christ, WE ALSO ARE PART OF THE TEMPLE MADE WITHOUT HANDS, eternal in the heavens. And He by virtue of a sacrificial, sinless and endless life is the Cornerstone but also High Priest of that temple. (Hebrews 7) And we can go directly to Him to be forgiven for sin. He “ever liveth” to intercede and pray for us continually clothing us with His own robe of righteousness. (Hebrews 7:25).


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Peter-Chapter-2/


We are a project under spiritual construction. Just as the first tabernacle sanctuary was built after the pattern, so we are built after the Pattern and Temple of Jesus Christ. We are OF HIS BODY, OF HIS TEMPLE!


2 Corinthians 5:1 says we are “an house made without hands” like the stone (Jesus Christ) was cut out (circumcised) of the mountain without hands, voluntarily obedient even unto the death of the cross in trusting the Will and Word of God. Notice the tool used for the circumcision in the text below. FAITH comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17). With His Word, He spoke worlds into existence. With His Word, He can circumcise your heart.


To be cut out without hands, means to cease from our own works as God did from His. When did God ever cease? He ceased the day, in voluntary obedience to His own law of love, He PURPOSED TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE for us, as man, to save us from sin. He ceased that Friday afternoon ON THE CROSS for THE ULTIMATE GIFT OF HIS SABBATH REST!


Nothing we do can save us from the power of sin. We are mortal and we are sinners. We must rely, trust or have faith in the Divine Power of Jesus Christ to save us from the power of sin. That means dying to a reliance on self for everything! This means trusting to the power of Christ to save us. Even trusting, as Christ did, that the Word of God is more important than food. (Matthew 4:4)


2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Corinthians-Chapter-12/


This is hard! We HUMANS want to rely on our works to feed us for our next meal, to keep ourselves clothed, and often to get us to heaven. But Jesus says,


Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-Chapter-4/


Do we know the answer to our questions? When will this happen? It happened at the cross. What does it mean to be broken? It means to break the power of Satan and sin and death by the Power of Christ. The Power of Christ is unselfish love and submission to the will (law) of God. What do the words “without hand” mean? They mean we cannot save ourselves with our own works. But we can trust fully in Christ, Who fully trusted the Word and obeyed the Will of God in His Word even laying down His life for us and giving His eternal life to us, establishing that WORD.


The controversy between Christ and Satan continued, following the cross. God has granted the whole world to know and understand what Christ provided for them, to allow them to choose to follow, or not to follow, in the path and power of Christ. But as we know the Little Horn power is represented by the “king of fierce countenance” in Daniel 8. He represents the papal power which was empowered by Satan for 1260 years tearing down the system of true worship of God. But this power was broken without hand when Protestants chose to have FAITH in Solo Scriptura or the Bible and the Bible only as their rule of faith the same as Christ did. They did it at the expense of their lives, even suffering and dying for their faith in Christ. And hopefully we now understand that this prophecy in Daniel 8 has even a third application for “the king of fierce countenance.” For there is a power at the close of time called the “image of the beast” which looks just like the church state power of the papacy did. It too will ultimately test our FAITH but will be broken without hand when the people of God take their stand for truth and by FAITH follow the Lamb of God whithersoever He goeth.



BROKEN WITHOUT HANDS PART 2


At the close of time, the image of the beast, and the Lamb-like beast that form the power of the “man of sin” that opposes God, and exalt themselves as if they were God, are also to broken. They will be broken by the Rock falling on them.


Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Again, we see the image of the beast in the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of Daniel 2. This image contains the head of gold which is also comparable to the lion on Daniel 7 and is literally the kingdom of Babylon; the arms and chest of silver which is comparable to the leopard of Daniel 7 and is literally the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians; the belly and thighs of brass which is comparable to the bear of Daniel 7 and is literally the kingdom of Greece; the legs of iron which is comparable to the fourth beast in Daniel 7 and is literally the kingdom of Rome; and the feet of iron and clay which is comparable to the kingdoms following Rome which have never succeeded in being world-wide because of the fundamental belief in individuals rights of liberty and justice for all recognized by nations who rule within a republic versus other world nations which have arbitrary rule.


The point is that all the way to the close of time, this whole image still exists just as its counterparts in prophecy do. This image is the Leopard-like beast with lion, bear, beast qualities who rules in conjunction with the Lamb-like beast for one hour as the image of the beast. But this image of a man is to be destroyed or broken without hand.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-2/


Why does this happen? It is because they were not broken already. The man of sin is full of pride and sin. He stubbornly continues to exalt himself even to the place of God, to be worshipped as God even though he has been repeatedly shown Who rules the universe. He even takes liberty to change the law of God. Then he persecutes and kills those who conscientiously keep God’s law and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. But he is to be forever broken by the Stone cut out without hands.


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-Chapter-1/

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-Chapter-5/



https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-Chapter-35/

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-2/


https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-Chapter-2/

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-2/


CHAPTER SUMMARY


Comparing scripture with scripture we find in Daniel 8:25, the phrase “without hands” is a reference to a passage earlier in the book of Daniel regarding King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2. We now can understand that the “king of fierce countenance” of Daniel 8 will be broken by the Stone, cut out of a mountain without hands, which is the Kingdom of God built upon the Rock Jesus Christ. There will never be a different kingdom after this one for it will last forever. This Kingdom of God becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth. The Stone comes from a mountain and then becomes a mountain. This Stone is not like the stones of our day. It is a Living Stone. See it grow and fill the whole earth. This Stone, of its own accord, leaves the mountain. It does not have help by any hand or tool. When this Stone contacts metal, rather than shatter the Stone, the Stone shatters the metal. This Stone consumes or dissolves what it contacts.

One of the themes of Daniel 8 involves the sanctuary of God. It is re-built during the time of the Ram power or Medes and Persians (See the books of Ezra and Nehemiah) and it is polluted and destroyed during the time of the Little Horn’s reign of persecution (See Daniel 8:11.) And the sanctuary is cleansed in Daniel 8:14. The sanctuary is the story behind the story of Daniel 8. And it is also closely linked with the Stone cut out without hands.


THE STONE, THE FOUNDATION OF THE SANCTUARY OF GOD


This phrase “without hands” is mentioned in Hebrews as “not made with hands” and regards the tabernacle where Christ is High Priest, which is in Heaven.


The temple built on this earth was patterned after the temple in heaven. And the purpose of the earthly temple was so God could dwell among his people here on earth. Scripture tells us that the real sanctuary was in Heaven (Hebrews 9:8-11). The sanctuary was Christ Who came from Heaven to dwell or tabernacle with us (Matthew 1:23), sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us (1 Corinthians 3:16), and He and the Father are the Temple of God throughout eternity (Revelation 21:3,22)!


The Lord of Hosts Himself would be their Sanctuary, but would become a

Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense to Israel in that they would fail to believe in Him. They would stumble on the Stone because they would try to keep the law by works rather than by faith or believing on the Rock, Jesus Christ.


The Foundation Stone was laid in the Holy Mountains of Zion often referred to as Mount Zion or the City of God. This is foremost a heavenly place rather than earthly. But on earth God gave a replica of the pattern of the heavenly, built by man after the pattern of things in heaven, where God’s presence (Shekinah Glory) dwelt with man. This place in the heavenly Zion is where exists the very throne of God.


Knowing then that Christ is the true Sanctuary and Pattern Man, when we study the earthly sanctuary built after the pattern, it should be a study of Christ Himself. With that mindset, we took a fresh look at Isaiah 28:16. In the counsels of heaven, the Foundation of the Kingdom of Heaven was laid. It was laid in the Son of God Who is the Cornerstone of Heaven’s kingdom. The Bible makes it clear this Rock is Jesus.


The word in Hebrew translated “set up” in Proverbs 8 means to be “poured out an offering” . Christ was laid down as the Great Cornerstone from everlasting. Before anything in heaven or earth was ever created, Wisdom (The Heart of Christ) was poured out an offering as the Foundation of the kingdom of Heaven. There was an anointing or ordination service in the counsels of Heaven. Christ was foreordained to be the substitute and surety for any world fallen into sin. This is known in the Bible as the “mystery kept secret from the eternal ages.” The words in Hebrew “chronos aionios”, from Romans 16:25, translated “since the world began” mean from everlasting space of time or eternity.


This means that our salvation was a forethought from the eternal ages. We do not understand infinity or eternity because we are finite. Why would God have to plan for our salvation? The Bible says God desires our love. “If ye love Me, keep my commandments.” He never wanted us to worship Him just because He is God or out of fear but rather because we loved Him. He never wanted a service from us that was forced but rather one that was volunteer. He knew that because He was the kind of God He was and would give His creatures freedom of choice to worship Him, one of His creatures might rebel and try to establish themselves as God. God knew that kind of rebellion would cause only fear and destruction. He knew we would need a Savior, more than just a created being. A Savior Who could rescue our minds from sin and the fear of arbitrary rule. A Savior Who could provide His righteousness and His eternal existence to us. God could not sacrifice His law or government for the sake of sin or the sinner. The wages of sin is death. So motivated by love for His creatures, He (The Cornerstone) purposed to lay down His own life for us, in order to re-establish His government of love in a world that had sinned. He would be our substitute both dying for our sin, but as the Holy Lamb of God to free us from our sin; and living to give us His eternal righteousness and grace. In the eternal ages, the Son of God was anointed to be our propitiation should we sin. He is the Alpha and the Omega.



THE STONE CUT OUT WITHOUT HANDS


God could and cannot forgive sins at the expense of His justice, holiness, or truth. Justice means to make things right again. To make things right so there would be no more death or sin, God must allow sin and the sinner to die. But without a Savior, they would die forever. If mankind were to have any hope, they needed a Divine Savior.


And help did come in the form of the Stone was cut out of the Heavenly Zion without hands. As soon as there was sin, there was a Savior. In the fulness of time, the Foundation of the government of Heaven, the Rock being Jesus Christ, would be sent from Mount Zion in Heaven to this earth. The true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man would be sent to earth to dwell among men, God with us.


The words “This is the Lord’s doing” can be translated more accurately, “This is Jehovah, the Self-Existing One.”. “It is marvelous” means extraordinary and beyond one’s power. And the words “This is the day” could also be translated, “this is the morning and the evening, this is the daily, or this is the continual.” To continue means to go on forever, never stopping. Christ is the Continual or Eternal, Self-existing One.


BREAKING THE POWER OF SATAN, SIN & DEATH BY THE POWER OF CHRIST

Why did it have to be God? Why not an angel or a man to redeem man? Did you notice the two kinds of power Christ declares. Power to lay it down. This is the power we have been talking about. The self-denying, love gift of God (John 3:16). This is half of the greatest power in the universe!


But there is a different power also that we would need. Without this other power of Christ, the power of His endless life, we would be lost without!


Christ was the Stone cut out without hands. He volunteered His life or gave it. It was His to give. “Christ is equal with God, infinite, and omnipotent. The only ransom equal to God’s law would be the Heart from which that law proceeded. Only God could pay the ransom for man’s freedom from the condemnation of a broken law. He is Jehovah, the eternal, self-existing, the I AM, Who need not bow to the authority of anyone. And in the counsels of heaven when God asked, “Whom shall I send?” He could volunteer, “Here am I; send Me.” He could pledge Himself to become man’s surety; for He could say that which the highest angel could not say, -- I have power over My own life, “power to lay it down, and …power to take it again. Only Jesus could be surety to God; for only He was equal to God.

When we choose to be baptized, we die with Jesus accepting in faith that God, out of love for us, became a Man, took the sins of the whole world, and voluntarily submitted to death, and then raised His body sinless to give us His very eternal life to us.


Justice was satisfied by the death of Christ. He had offered Himself in eternity as an atonement. At the cross, His blood and broken body, satisfied the claims of the broken law of God. In this way He bridged the chasm sin caused between humankind and God and reunited man to God. He suffered in the flesh so that His body might cover the defenseless sinner. His victory on the cross forever broke the accusing power of Satan. His self-denying act showed that self-denial is the character of God and essential also in humanity.


When on the cross Christ cried, “It is finished!” He had fully consummated the covenant made in heaven that He would die for the sinner. In death, He was more than conqueror! The redemption price was paid! The accusing power of Satan was broken!


Now that we understand Who the Rock is and a little of what He has done, Daniel 8:25 takes on new significance regarding the “king of fierce countenance” that he should be broken without hand.


The word “broken” in Daniel 8:25 from the Strong’s Concordance is translated “to burst, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, tear.


On the cross, Christ, by His death, which is a unique death in that it was a voluntary gift of laying down His life in love both to God and to us and in submission to the Father’s will, destroyed him that had the power of death, the Devil. Then by taking His life back up again in the resurrection, He losed the pains of death.

With sin came death. This death was the in-volunteer result of sin. It was a tyrant which took our lives. God has no pleasure in death (Ezekiel 18:32; Hebrews 10:6). Christ came and slayed or took away the tyrant of death, not by taking life, but by voluntarily submitting His life to God’s will in giving or laying down His life for us. He abolished the enmity, the law of ordinances (sacrificial offerings) (Ephesians 2:15). He took away both sin and the results of sin (Hebrews 10:9). At the same time, He re-established humble submission to the Will or Law of God (Hebrews 10:9) in humanity.



BROKEN WITHOUT HANDS PART I


There is a spiritual significance to be “broken without hands.” Remember the “man of sin” is the king of fierce countenance. In effect all of us are the spiritual “man of sin”. Each “man of sin” must be broken. Either we individually fall on the Rock of Jesus Christ and are broken, or we are broken by the Rock falling on us. Either way the “man of sin” is broken.

To fall on the Rock is to be circumcised or cut by the Rock. To be circumcised is to have the baptism of death to self. We die His death. His death is a unique death. When He said, “not my Will but Thine be done, Jesus was submitting Himself to the Will of His Father and dying to self.” Then we are raised with Him also, into His newness of life, the established Will of His Father.

Did you notice the words “circumcision without hands” and “circumcision of Christ” in the passage above? Circumcision is a cutting away of the surplus of self or the heart of sin. In this Christ was also our example: THE STONE CUT OUT or CIRCUMCISED WITHOUT HANDS.


We are to put off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.

This kind of circumcision makes us a whole, new man.


What does it mean, the “circumcision of Christ”? How was Christ circumcised?

When Christ came to this earth as a man, if He were to die and live for us as a human, he must do it as we must. He must not rely on His own power. Instead, He relied on Divine Power the same way we must. Philippians 2 puts it this way:

Christ divested Himself of His divinity for us. He put it off. He Who Is Divine, became our Brother, a Man obedient to the penalty of sin. He denied Himself! But in so doing He established His government, the law of self-denying love.

He came to show us the Source of His Power that we might never rely upon our unaided capabilities. That is why the Bible when speaking of the casting down of Satan speaks, in regards to God, of the “Power of His Christ” (Revelation 12:10).


Just how did Christ cast out or brake Satan? He denied Himself, took up His cross daily and followed God (Luke 9:23). As a human, He said, Not my Will, but Thine be done! (Matthew 26:39,42,44). He put His entire trust in the Will of God. He said, I delight to do Thy will O My God, ye Thy law is within my heart! (Hebrews 10:7 & Psalms 40:8). He relied on a “Thus saith the Lord, saying in response to Satan’s temptations, “It is Written!” (Matthew 4:4,7,10). This is called being “faithful” to God. (Hebrews 3:2) Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) After the Word of God was quoted, Satan had no chance of winning.


Satan’s power was broken without hand for the God of Heaven voluntarily gave His righteous blood to satisfy justice for my sin. The Lawgiver humbled Himself to be obedient to His law. No greater example of the law of God, which is unselfish love, could be found in all the universe than for God Himself to die for the sinner! But He took it one step farther, even giving us of His righteous eternal life! Will you trust Him Who was faithful!


Now and through the circumcision of Christ, WE ALSO ARE PART OF THE TEMPLE MADE WITHOUT HANDS, eternal in the heavens. And He by virtue of a sacrificial, sinless, and endless life is the Cornerstone but also High Priest of that temple (Hebrews 7). And we can go directly to Him to be forgiven for sin. He “ever liveth” to intercede and pray for us continually clothing us with His own robe of righteousness (Hebrews 7:25).


We are a project under spiritual construction. Just as the first tabernacle sanctuary was built after the pattern, so we are built after the Pattern and Temple of Jesus Christ. We are OF HIS BODY, OF HIS TEMPLE! 2 Corinthians 5:1 says we are “an house made without hands” like the stone (Jesus Christ) was cut out (circumcised) of the mountain without hands, voluntarily obedient even unto the death of the cross in trusting the Will and Word of God. Notice the tool used for the circumcision in the text below. FAITH comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). With His Word, He spoke worlds into existence. With His Word, He can circumcise your heart.


To be cut out without hands, means to cease from our own works as God did from His. When did God ever cease? He ceased the day, in voluntary obedience to His own law of love, He PURPOSED TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE for us, as man, to save us from sin. He ceased that Friday afternoon ON THE CROSS for THE ULTIMATE GIFT OF HIS SABBATH REST!


Nothing we do can save us from the power of sin. We are mortal and we are sinners. We must rely, trust or have faith in the Divine Power of Jesus Christ to save us from the power of sin. That means dying to a reliance on self for everything! This means trusting to the power of Christ to save us. Even trusting, as Christ did, that the Word of God is more important than food (Matthew 4:4). This is hard! We HUMANS want to rely on our works to feed us for our next meal, to keep ourselves clothed, and often to get us to heaven.


The controversy between Christ and Satan continued, following the cross. God has granted the whole world to know and understand what Christ provided for them, to allow them to choose to follow or not to follow in the path and power of Christ. But as we know the Little Horn power is also represented by the “king of fierce countenance” in Daniel 8. He represents the papal power which was empowered by Satan for 1260 years tearing down the system of true worship of God. But this power was broken without hand when Protestants chose to have FAITH in Solo Scriptura or the Bible and the Bible only as their rule of faith the same as Christ did. They did it at the expense of their lives, even suffering and dying for their faith in Christ. And hopefully we now understand that this prophecy in Daniel 8 has even a third application for “the king of fierce countenance.” For there is a power at the close of time called the “image of the beast” which looks just like the church state power of the papacy did. It too will ultimately test our FAITH but will be broken without hand when the people of God take their stand for truth and by FAITH follow the Lamb of God whithersoever He goeth.



BROKEN WITHOUT HANDS PART II


At the close of time, the image of the beast, and the Lamb-like beast that form the power of the “man of sin” that opposes God, and who exalt themselves as if they were God are also to broken. They will be broken by the Rock falling on them.

Again, we see the image of the beast in the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of Daniel 2. This image contains the head of gold which is also comparable to the lion on Daniel 7 and is literally the kingdom of Babylon; the arms and chest of silver which is comparable to the leopard of Daniel 7 and is literally the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians; the belly and thighs of brass which is comparable to the bear of Daniel 7 and is literally the kingdom of Greece; the legs of iron which is comparable to the fourth beast in Daniel 7 and is literally the kingdom of Rome; and the feet of iron and clay which is comparable to the kingdoms following Rome which have never succeeded in being world-wide because of the fundamental belief in individuals rights of liberty and justice for all recognized by nations who rule within a republic versus other world nations which have arbitrary rule.


The point is that all the way to the close of time, this whole image still exists just as its counterparts in prophecy do. This image is the Leopard-like beast with lion, bear, beast qualities who rules in conjunction with the Lamb-like beast for one hour as the image of the beast. But this image of a man is to be destroyed or broken without hand.


Why does this happen? It is because they were not broken already. The man of sin is full of pride and sin. He stubbornly continues to exalt himself even to the place of God, to be worshipped as God even though he has been repeatedly shown Who rules the universe. He even takes liberty to change the law of God. He persecutes and kills those who conscientiously keep God’s law and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. But He is to be forever broken by the Stone cut out without hands.


7 views0 comments
Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page