Learning to Live in Exile Week Three: Apocalyptic Visions Welcome! Please fill out a name tag and help yourself to refreshments. Please begin reading Daniel 8 as you are waiting for class to begin.
Daniel 8 Forward Daniel 8 Apocalypticism? ◦ What do you notice about the images and symbolism used in the chapter? The course of ◦ How do you understand the empires? interpretation of the dream? Hope in Persecution? ◦ For what times is this vision?
What is an Apocalypse? "Apocalypse" (ἀποκάλυψις ) is a Greek word meaning "revelation", "an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and which could not be known apart from the unveiling." Combines angelic revelation with transcendent eschatology including Judgement after death. (Collins) Human reform no longer possible – Divine intervention needed. (Hanson)
Extra- Biblical examples Enoch 1, 2 (300 BCE to 100 CE) ◦ Contains 5 separate visions of Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24) “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him. (5:24) Features: ◦ Pseudopigrapha: Writings attributed to famous people who lived in the past. ◦ Ex Eventu Prophecy: Writings in the form of predictions of past historical events. ◦ Travel accounts to places of judgement ◦ Descriptions of eras of history and the time of the end.
Questions in Daniel From third to first person narrative Daniel from interpreter of dreams to needing interpretation of visions. How long will the persecution last? ◦ 1,150 days 8:14 ◦ 3.5 years (1,278 days) 12:7 ◦ 1,290 days 12:11 ◦ 1,335 days 12:12
When are the end times, “time of the end”? When do people become aware of Daniel’s visions? “I kept the matter in my mind.” (7:28) “As for you, seal up the vision. . .” (8:26) “But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end.” 12:4a “At the time of the end the king of the south shall attack him” (11:40) “But he said to me, ‘Understand, O mortal, that the vision is for the time of the end.’” (8:17b)
The Little Horn . . . “He shall speak words against the Most High, shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and shall attempt to change the sacred seasons and the law. (7:25) “It took the regular burnt offering away from him and overthrew the place of his sanctuary (8:11) “He shall make sacrifice and offering cease; and in their place shall be an abomination that desolates. (9:27) “Forces sent by him shall occupy and profane the temple and fortress. They shall abolish the regular burnt offering and set up the abomination that makes desolate.” (11:31)
Antiochus Epiphanes IV
Cycle of Empires Babylonian exile, 586 – 539 BCE Persian, 539 – 333 BCE Hellenistic (Alexander the Great), 333 – 164 BCE Ptolemaic, 301 – 200 BCE Seleucid, 200 – 164 BCE ◦ Hellenistic Reforms 175-168 ◦ Profanation of the temple; Maccabean revolt 168-167 ◦ Rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabee 164 Hasmonean, 164 – 63 BCE
Under Antiochus Opened Greek Gymnasium – allowed citizenship status and began military training for Jewish boys. Jerusalem renamed “Antioch of Jerusalem” High Preists Jason and Menelaus – bribed Antiochus Epiphanes IV to become priest – stole the gold from the temple to pay the bribes. 167 – statue to Zeus set up on the altar – circumcision banned, following Torah banned, extreme persecution started. 164 overthrown by the Maccabean revolt – cleansing of the temple, establishment of Hannukah.
Consistent Lessons The Lord is in control Live and Remain work faithful Daniel The Lord The Lord has a is faithful purpose Be patient
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