Sharon
DANIEL 8:27B ASTONISHED AT THE VISION (APPEARANCE OF THE MIGHTY MAN)
Updated: Dec 26, 2022
CHAPTER 27B
In this chapter we will discover that, though the “Mareh” or appearance of the Mighty Warrior is key to understanding the 2300-day vision, Daniel must wait for understanding of the “Mareh”. He will not receive understanding until his heart is prepared to receive it. Even then, he must go through settling experiences and study and pray to get full understanding. Daniel’s experience is the same as for people of God at the close of time. Just as the first appearing of Jesus Christ was the climax of history, the second appearing of Jesus Christ will be the climax of the future!
Daniel 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
This verse could be translated, “And I Daniel, worn out, took a day to rise up and continue the king’s business; and I was stunned by the vision of the appearance of the Mighty Man and had no understanding of it.”
FAINTED H1961
הָיָה hâyâh, haw-yaw; a primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):—beacon, × altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1961/kjv/wlc/0-1/
SICK H2470
חָלָה châlâh, khaw-law'; a primitive root (compare H2342, H2470, H2490); properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or (causatively) to grieve, make sick; also to stroke (in flattering), entreat:—beseech, (be) diseased, (put to) grief, be grieved, (be) grievous, infirmity, intreat, lay to, put to pain, × pray, make prayer, be (fall, make) sick, sore, be sorry, make suit (× supplication), woman in travail, be (become) weak, be wounded.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2470/kjv/wlc/0-1/
Daniel literally feels weak and sick for at least a day following this vision. After taking time to rest, he gets up to continue the king’s business. The Medes and the Persians have not come on the scene of action and will not for another eight years. Daniel though taken in vision to the close of time is still a servant of King Belshazzar in the court of Babylon. But what Daniel is most concerned about is that he still does not understand the “mareh” (the appearance of the Mighty Man).
ASTONISHED H8074
שָׁמֵם shâmêm, shaw-mame'; a primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense):—make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish(-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate(-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8074/kjv/wlc/0-1/
VISION 4758
מַרְאֶה marʼeh, mar-eh'; from H7200; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision:—× apparently, appearance(-reth), × as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4758/kjv/wlc/0-1/
NONE H369
אַיִן ʼayin, ah'-yin; as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle:—else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h369/kjv/wlc/0-1/
UNDERSTANDING H995
בִּין bîyn, bene; a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand:—attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform,
instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man).
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h995/kjv/wlc/0-1/
It will be almost nine years before Daniel gains understanding of the appearance of the Mighty Man. The kings of the Medes and Persians will have conquered Babylon. With the kings of the Medes and Persians on the scene of action, the “chazown” or revelation of Daniel 8 will be set in motion. More information will come when Daniel is most receptive because his heart is humbled in the attitude of prayer regarding corporate repentance for himself and his people. I believe this to be the attitude, God is looking for, to reveal more to His people, even now. Daniel knew prophecies were being fulfilled. In Daniel 9:1-19 we see him was searching his own heart and that of his people in the light of God’s face, to prepare for what lay ahead. In repentance, He was supplicating for the mercy, forgiveness, and the righteousness of God for the nation. And the response of heaven was the Spirit of Prophecy born to Daniel by Gabriel regarding understanding of the appearance of the Mighty Man.
9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-9/
Even then Daniel would not have full understanding of the appearance of the Mighty Man. Daniel 10:10 tells us that Daniel does gain understanding of the “mareh” but between Daniel 9 and Daniel 10:10, Daniel will have gone through the experience of Daniel 6 where he is thrown into the Lion’s den for maintaining His faithful attitude of prayer to His God, the only true God. A law written by the princes and executed by the king demanded he give his prayer and worship to the king of the Medes, in direct opposition to the law of God. Though Daniel is a faithful servant to the king of the Medes, his allegiance to the king is secondary to his allegiance to God. When tested similarly, the Bible teaches we should do the same.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-Chapter-5/
Christ was also tested very similarly to Daniel. His test was harder than ours in that He was God, but went through the experience of the cross in our place as a man dependent upon the Word and Will of God to know the path He must take. When tempted to save Himself, he only went forward to save us. In this way He denied Himself, motivated by love for us. Though all the priests and rulers were confederated against Him, his earthly judges found no fault with Him. Though Pilate labored to save Him, He died in our stead, keeping His Father’s will or law of love perfectly. To take our penalty for sin, He went into the grave, with a stone rolled in place to seal Him there. But He was an innocent man, and death could not keep him in the ground. Find the comparisons with the story of Jesus Christ and Daniel’s experience below.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
See the comparison of Daniel to God's people at the close of time to understand that Daniel’s experience, regarding worship of God or man, during the kings of the Medes and the Persians also mirrors the experience of those who are faithful to God at the close of time.
Revelation 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Revelation 12:17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Daniel 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
From the experience of the lion’s den, it would still be a year before Daniel’s people would be liberated by Cyrus. It was only when Daniel humbled his heart yet again in the attitude of fasting and prayer that Daniel was given full understanding of the appearance of the Mighty Man. Daniel also understood the Controversy or war (time appointed) would be long.
2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-10/
Bringing this experience of Daniel to our day, we know from scripture that following a time of persecution at the close of time, like Daniel went through, when He was thrown to the lions, during the kings of the Medes and Persians, there will be a climax to the Conflict of the Ages. Following a time of persecution, the whole earth will experience the second appearance of the Mighty Man. Like for Daniel, for the righteous, the second appearing of Christ will follow a period of trial, during which we are to hide ourselves in Him, or in other words, in the secret place of prayer.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-Chapter-26/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-21/
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-21/
At the second appearing of God there will be executive judgment. This judgement concerns each individual and God. As in other ages, scripture tells us that those who have placed their trust in Jesus at the close of time will undergo severe trial before He comes. Through this trial they are kept by the power of God. At the second appearing of Christ, the trial of their faith will be found unto praise and honor and glory. At the sound of the last trumpet, they receive the promised reward to the faithful, the crown of righteousness, and the inheritance of eternal life in glory.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-Chapter-9/
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-5/
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Corinthians-Chapter-15/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Peter-Chapter-1/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-11/
In the end of time, just as understanding the first appearing of Christ gave the people of God the basis for understanding prophecy, so at the close of time. Understanding the second appearing of Christ will give us the reason for understanding prophecy and will help us not to be deceived by Satan and his man of sin.
Friends, Jesus is coming soon! God has tried to warn us what will happen just before Jesus comes again. He wants us to be prepared. He is interceding at the throne bestowing His grace upon all who will receive it. To be a Christian is not for cowards. We must learn to place our trust in God rather than mammon. We must study God’s Word for ourselves and learn what our duty is.
Until then the exhortation Paul left us in God’s word is for us at the close of time today.
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The day the wrath of the Lamb is coming. The question is, when Jesus comes again, who shall be able to stand?
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-6/
Psalms 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-Chapter-24/
My prayer for you is that you will, like Daniel, come today to God’s throne of mercy in prayer, learn to seek His face and His grace to prepare to meet thy God. Then may you join me in telling others about the coming appearance of the Mighty Man!