THE RAM, GOAT, & LITTLE HORN

Tonight (Wednesday, 4/23, 7:00 pm), join your Calvary Chapel family at the Holy Grounds Cafe or online through our website (www.calvaryinv.com

), Facebook, and YouTube (Calvary Inverness) as we continue our study of the book of Daniel (8:1-27). It is one of the most remarkable sets of prophecies ever recorded.

In chapter seven, the prophet Daniel dreamed of four terrifying beasts, each more horrifying than the last. Daniel struggled to sleep because of the dream. He may have hesitated to return to slumber for fear of reliving the disturbing visions, sounds, and sensations he had experienced.

Two years later, Daniel had another dream that was as terrifying and more confusing than the last. In the dream, he saw a ram with two horns, a goat with one horn that became four horns, and then a little horn arose from the four. All of this was befuddling to Daniel.

While he pondered the meaning of the vision, God sent the angel Gabriel to assist Daniel in understanding what he saw and heard. The angel explained that the two beasts represent two kingdoms, while the horns symbolize the kings over those kingdoms.

The little horn that grew to prominence shook Daniel to his core. He had witnessed the destruction of his city, Jerusalem, and his people, the Jews. The king who would live two hundred years after Daniel’s vision and who would enact this was so vile that many commentators over the years believed he was the Antichrist prophesied of in the Bible.

Yet, as evil as the king representing the little horn is, it only foreshadows the Anti-Christ, who will commit many of the same atrocities as the little horn but will go far beyond in an attempt to finally destroy the city of God and His people.

But, like all tyrants in world history, no matter how powerful and influential they may have been, they are no match for the God of heaven, who alone determines who rules, when, and for how long. By doing so, He manifests His presence and power to the people of the world so that they may see Him in all His glory, turn from their sins toward Him in faith, and be saved.

There are many lessons we can learn from this extraordinary dream. Please pray that open hearts will embrace this journey through the Word of God, eager to grow in Jesus’ grace and knowledge. Furthermore, He will accomplish profound and lasting work in and through us for a world that desperately needs a Savior.

In His Strong Love,

Pastor