I cannot imagine how excited and exhausted and humbled and concerned Daniel must have felt after he saw these things. We are now coming to the very close of our study of Daniel 8. (To see the study verse by verse, go to propheasy.com and to categories and to Daniel 8) Daniell was just beginning to try to understand what he and seen. He did not have the history we have or the tools to so easily compare scripture with scripture or even the story of the cross to look back on. Here in this study, we will just touch on how he began to understand the vision of the appearance of the Mighty Man. But full understanding of the whole did not come to Daniel . We are privileged to have this little book now opened to our understanding.
Daniel 8:27And 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 (H4758), but none understood it. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Daniel 8:27 is about the word “vision” translated “mareh”. This vision is explained further in Daniel 9. But understanding it, is about the preparation of the heart.
Daniel, at this point, is weak and exhausted. He has just been shown a smaller vision (mareh) within a larger vision (chazown) of the mighty powers of the world all the way to the end of time. He knows the 2300 day vision (chazown) is to be shut up for many days or far into the future. But the Bible says he was astonished at the vision of the “mareh” or the appearance of the Mighty Man.
The word astonished from the Strong’s Concordance is also translated devastated, or amazed or stupified:
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/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H8074&t=KJV
Daniel apparently consulted with his friends regarding the meaning of the “mareh” or appearance of the Mighty Man, but none could understand it. This vision of Daniel 8 occurred in the third year of King Belshazzar. Just a little bit later in time, the Medes and Persians would take the kingdom. Darius the Mede would be put on the throne. From Daniel 9 we learn that during the first year of Darius the Mede was the time when Daniel would begin to understand the “mareh” or the appearance of the Mighty Man! But God had a purpose for the wait. With God it is a matter of heart. And Daniel due to his concern for His people and their relation to God in the events of his time, comes into a right heart. See the following verses.
2In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
3And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
4And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
Note the two sins Daniel confesses for his people:
1. not keeping God’s law
2. not hearing God’s prophets.
Here we are reminded once again of the Law and the Prophets and this is repeated again in Daniel 9:10. Another name for the law and the prophets in the Bible is “The Testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 19:10; Luke 24:27,44).
Then Daniel says:
Daniel 9:7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-9/
The word confusion can be translated shame. It was only shame that Adam and Eve gained after they had sinned in Eden (Genesis 2:25; 3:10). Shame is a result of sin. Here in this verse we can see that the opposite of shame is righteousness and that it belongs to God.
As Daniel is confessing the sin and condition of his people, He prays specifically for God’s face to shine upon His Sanctuary that is desolate for the Lord’s sake.
Keep in mind we have learned already that there is more than one period of desolation regarding the Sanctuary of God historically and prophetically as follows: the desolation Daniel and his people were experiencing as captives of Babylon (Daniel 9:17); the desolation the Jewish nation would experience when they rejected Christ (Matthew 23:38); the desolation when spiritual Babylon or the papal power would cause to the church of God in the dark ages (Daniel 11:31); and the desolation at the close of time (Jeremiah 4:26-27).
Daniel 9:17Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-9/
Daniel was asking for God to work on restoring their national pride in God by returning His presence to their sanctuary in Jerusalem. In light of Daniel 8 and the Ram this would result in the beginning of the 2300 day vision fulfilment regarding the new freedom given by the Cyrus of Persia for Israel to return and rebuild the sanctuary of God. But this prayer would have application in each historical and prophetic fulfilment of the remedy for the desolation of the people of God. After all what does it mean to “cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate” considering we are the temple of God?
2 Corinthians 4:6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
We study the above verses to find out the following. To give man back the knowledge and glory of God could only happen through an understanding of the character of Christ as regards His righteousness, not their own. And it could only happen by the power of God, not by their own power. This place of asking for and understanding our dependence upon Christ is exactly the place each person must be for God to reveal Himself to us. And it is the place of understanding for both the “mareh” and “chazown” visions of Daniel 8. It is the place of the cross! This is where the light or life or love of Jesus shines in mortal flesh.
Daniel 9:18O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies.
19O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-9/
This story not only would apply to the present situation Israel was in but would also apply to future Israel and spiritual Israel when Satan through various agencies would cause shame to the church of God as in the 2300 prophecy whent the little horn power tramples the sanctuary of God. This place of repentance and humility is exactly where the church future would also need to be for receiving a full understanding of the visions of Daniel 8 and the book of Daniel as regards the work of Christ in their heart temples.
Daniel 9:20And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
21Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
22And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
23At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-9/
With Daniel’s heart ready to understand, Gabriel comes immediately or a soon as Daniel begins to pray this prayer. This is a lesson to us. Have I prayed this prayer of confession? Have you? God is just waiting to send the answer, found in the revelation of Jesus Christ!
The word “vision” here is “mareh”. Daniel would now be given understanding regarding the “mareh” or appearance of the Mighty Man.
This understanding would come straight from the throne of God where Gabriel is a covering cherub. And God will also send His angel for us.
Daniel would now begin to understand the role Christ would play as our substitute and surety to be consecrated as our High Priest. God spells it out.
Daniel 9:24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint (consecrate) the most Holy.
The very last thing in this list of accomplishments the Mighty Man
completed for us is that of being anointed or consecrated as our High Priest. As a man He must learn obedience even in the face of suffering to be fit to be our High Priest. (Hebrews 2:17-18; 3:15; 5:7-10). After His resurrection, Jesus ascends to heaven to be anointed or consecrated as our High Priest. As the eternal, evermore, continual Son of Man/Son of God He now intercedes for us.
Hebrews 7:28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-Chapter-7/
20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-Chapter-10/
Folks, Jesus is coming soon! Because of what He did on the earth for us, He now stands in Heaven as our consecrated High Priest. We can come directly to the throne of God through Him. Prepare your heart. Come let His Presence cleanse the temple of your heart and mind. Let Him help you pray this prayer.
Daniel’s experience is ours at the end of time. In the time of trouble, when we collectively pray and confess our sins of breaking the law of God and not listening to the warnings of His prophets; when we recognize that righteousness does not belong to us but to God; when we are aware of our shame and confusion caused by our sins; when we beg as Daniel did to see the face of Jesus Christ to know God; when we acknowledge our need for forgiveness not based upon our own righteousness but based upon His mercy, then it is God will answer with a personal revelation of Jesus.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-John-Chapter-1/
2 Chronicles 7:14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
16For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Chronicles-Chapter-7/
This cleansing of our heart temples is what Daniel 8 is about. God is waiting to reveal Himself to each of us but are we aware of our need? Do we even realize we are defiled by sin? What is the attitude of our heart? Are we ready to see Jesus and let Him take away our sin?
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-1/