Day 2

Scripture to Read: Daniel 8:1–8

Persia conquered the Babylonians, but Persia was also conquered, as we read in Daniel 8:5–8. God allowed Daniel to see the ram (the Medo-Persian Empire) conquer Babylon, but he also saw Greece (the one-horned goat) conquer the Medo-Persian Empire a few centuries later. Daniel 8:5 says, “While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.” The goat represented Greece. The one horn on the goat represented their first leader, Alexander the Great. Daniel 8:6–7 says, “He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power.” Daniel saw the ram (the Medo-Persian Empire) which had conquered Babylon being defeated swiftly by the goat (the Greek Empire). But God shows us in Daniel 8:8, “Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly.” Alexander the Great was prideful. We know that with pride comes destruction, and God does not share His glory with anyone. Alexander the Great was just as arrogant as his Medo-Persian and Babylonian predecessors, and each empire fell—God’s reminder that nothing in this world lasts.

Challenge & Application

• We know pride and arrogance should never be a part of our lives, but how do we guard against that kind of attitude? • How have you seen the destructive results of pride and arrogance in yourself or in others?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

Daniel, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote about things 400 years before they happened. Read Daniel 8:1. Daniel had a second vision in the third year of Belshazzar the King, about 551 B.C. Some doubt that Daniel wrote the Book of Daniel. But in Matthew 24:15, Jesus quotes Daniel 9:27 and says this was given through “Daniel the prophet.” In Daniel ...

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Day 2

Persia conquered the Babylonians, but Persia was also conquered, as we read in Daniel 8:5–8. God allowed Daniel to see the ram (the Medo-Persian Empire) conquer Babylon, but he also saw Greece (the one-horned goat) conquer the Medo-Persian Empire a few centuries later. Daniel 8:5 says, “While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming fr...

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Day 3

Alexander the Great received the discipline of God. Though Alexander the Great had conquered the world, the history books tell us that he died of debauchery at around age 32. Some attribute his death to alcoholism; others attribute it to sexually transmitted disease(s). Basically, his lustful passions cost him his life. God warns us, as His ...

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Day 4

We covered Alexander the Great in last week's devotions, but God reveals more in Daniel 8. Since Alexander the Great died young, his empire went to his four generals; that’s the four horns Daniel saw emerge on the goat to replace the large horn. General Cassandra ruled Macedonia. General Ptolemy ruled Egypt. General Lysimachus ruled Thrace an...

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Day 5

We know Antiochus Epiphanes was a tyrant toward Israel, and in Daniel 8:11, we read, “It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down.” God shows how Antiochus exalted himself and made himself equal to God. Even his name, Antioch...

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Day 6

Read Daniel 8:13–14. We have two angels discussing the desecration of God's temple and wondering how long it would last. God makes it clear it would last 2,300 days, about six years. After the 2,300 days, the Maccabean Revolt took place and though Israel was outnumbered, God gave them favor and they succeeded in taking the temple back from An...

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Day 7

In Daniel 8:15–19, Daniel “sought to understand” the vision God showed him. In Daniel 8:20–25, God gave Daniel the interpretation of the vision. Note that Daniel chose to diligently seek an answer. Sadly, today, too many who claim to be Christians in America choose to be apathetic toward hungering for God’s Word. Many don’t have an appetite f...

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