Day 6

Scripture to Read: Daniel 8:1–14

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 Antiochus. Remember God’s Word in 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” When we submit to God and obey Him, He will give us His favor (James 1:25). This is what happened with the Maccabees. This victory is still celebrated by Jews today and they call it Hanukah, the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication. It’s a reminder of when the temple was taken away from Antiochus’ rule and re-dedicated to God. That’s what God led Daniel to write about 400 years before it happened. We have the historical record in 1 and 2 Maccabees, which shows how Daniel’s prophecies were fulfilled exactly as God said. It’s called The Festival of Lights because the priests needed eight days, according to Jewish law, to rededicate the temple after Antiochus had desecrated it for 2,300 days. The problem was they only had enough oil to light the Menorah for one day. So, by faith, they lit the Menorah and God poured out His favor and kept the Menorah burning, not only for the eight days needed, but tradition says it burned for ten days—an incredible miracle from God. Jesus celebrated this feast in John 10:22–24.

Challenge & Application

• Why was the Maccabean revolt such a great success, and how does 1 John 4:4 tie into that success? • How do the Jews still celebrate the success of the Maccabean revolt today, and why is it important to know?

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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