CHAPTER 8 A
It was only eight years after Alexander the Great conquered the Medo-Persian kings to be the ruler of the world that his soul was required of him. In the same way, Satan, the day he put Christ on the cross, signed his own death warrant. And Satan knows he has only a short time to deceive and to live. This reminds me of the following passage from Luke.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-12/
Daniel 8: 8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
WHEN HE WAS STRONG
Scripture tells us that it was when the great horn was strongest, or at the height of his power that he was broken. See the Hebrew meaning for the words “when he was strong” below.
WHEN HE WAS STRONG H6105
עָצַם ʻâtsam, aw-tsam'; a primitive root; also denominatively (from H6106) to bind fast, i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; to crunch the bones:—break the bones, close, be great, be increased, be (wax) mighty(-ier), be more, shut, be(-come, make) strong(-er). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H6105&t=KJV
THE GREAT HORN WAS BROKEN
It is important to note that literally this horn being broken is the ideology and power represented by the great horn of Greece. In other words, the desire of Phillip II and his son’s continued aim to conquer Medo-Persia and to be the next World kingdom, was the horn to be broken. History tells us this happened when Alexander, at the height of his power, died and his great empire was divided four ways.
“In 331 BCE Alexander decisively defeated Darius at the Battle of Gaugamela and was now supreme ruler of the regions formerly belonging to the Persian Empire. He adopted the tile ShahanShah (King of Kings) and introduced Persian customs into his army while, at the same time, sharing Greek culture with the people of Persia. He carried this culture with him to India in his 327 BCE invasion which was halted only because his men threatened mutiny if he did not turn back. He was allegedly contemplating another move to expand his empire when he died, after ten days of fever, in June of 323 BCE. As he did not name a successor, his four generals divided his empire between them.”
SATAN’S POWER BROKEN
Spiritually thinking the Ram represents Christ and the He-goat represents Satan. Satan’s horn or power was broken when it seemed Satan was at his strongest, at the cross. Unwittingly, by killing the Ram or Lamb of God, Satan lost the battle with Christ over the universe and the world. What was Satan’s horn that was broken? It was his vision to be ruler over this world.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-12/
As ruler over this world, Satan claimed the right to accuse those who had placed their trust in God, to a sentence of death because of their guilt with sin.
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.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-12/
Because of their sin, sinners were under the penalty of the broken law of God. Everyone is equal when it comes to sin. We are all guilty.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-Chapter-3/
The wages or penalty of sin is death. Satan wanted to remind God that we, the sinner, according to God’s own law, were condemned to die. But instead, Jesus died in our place! He took away our sin and gave us His sinlessness or righteousness.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-Chapter-6/
2 Corinthians 5:21 he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Corinthians-Chapter-5/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Corinthians-Chapter-15/
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-Chapter-3/
Jesus not only took away our sin, but He also brought us back to God through His own righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
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.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Corinthians-Chapter-5/
After Christ, the Sinless, voluntarily placed Himself under the penalty of the law and suffered death for us, Satan could no longer accuse or condemn the world to death.
Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-Chapter-2/
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
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.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-3/
Jesus won the battle over sin and death at the cross providing salvation freely for us. Satan, as the accuser of the brethren, lost the battle at the cross. Satan, by his actions, in putting the Redeemer on the cross, cast himself out of the hearts of all of heaven.
Now it remained for the gospel to be shared with those on earth. We would have opportunity to know the character of God and Satan and to choose for ourselves which side we would stand on.
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
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.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-12/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-12/
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-19/
John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-17/
Isaiah 42:13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-Chapter-42/
Did you notice the phrase in Revelation 12:10 “now is come…. the power of His Christ”. After His resurrection Christ was given power over all flesh and spirit.
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.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-12/
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-28/
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Scripture tells us that it was when the Great Horn was strongest, or at the height of his power that he was broken. The desire of Phillip II and his son’s continued aim to conquer Medo-Persia and to be the next World kingdom, was the notable horn or ideology that was broken. History tells us this happened when Alexander, at the height of his power, died and his great empire was divided four ways.
Spiritually thinking Satan’s notable horn or ideologic power was broken when it seemed Satan was at his strongest, at the cross. Unwittingly, by killing the Ram or Lamb of God, Satan lost the battle with Christ and rulership over this world.
As ruler over this world, Satan claimed the right to accuse those who had placed their trust in God, to a sentence of death under the penalty of the broken law of God.
Instead, Jesus died in our place and took away our sin and gave us His sinlessness or righteousness bringing us back to a Holy relationship with God winning the battle over sin and death for us. After Christ voluntarily placed Himself under the penalty of the law and suffered death for us, our ransom more than paid the price for sin and Satan could no longer accuse or condemn the world to death. At the cross, the battle over the hearts of heaven was lost. Satan had cast himself and his angels out of the hearts of heaven by what he did to Christ on the cross. The controversy between Christ and Satan was moved to this earth. But the salvation of man was made sure. After His resurrection Christ was given power over all flesh and spirit and is the true rightful ruler of this world and our hearts.