A Closer Look at the Little Horn – Daniel 8

In this vision, Daniel is shown a more detailed view of the Little Horn, the Antichrist, who was introduced in chapter 7. It is vital for us to once again see that God is sovereign over the nations. The man of sin will arise and conquer, but his time is short, as decreed by the Lord.

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Call to Worship

Sunday School

The Holy War
by John Bunyan

Sunday Service

Pastoral Reading

Psalm 10:12-18

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
    forget not the afflicted.
13 Why does the wicked renounce God
    and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?
14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
    that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
    you have been the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
    call his wickedness to account till you find none.

16 The Lord is king forever and ever;
    the nations perish from his land.
17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
    so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Opening Song

A Shelter in the Time of Storm (TH #619)

1 The Lord’s our rock, in him we hide,
a shelter in the time of storm,
secure whatever ill betide,
a shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain
Oh, Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land,
oh, Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in the time of storm.

2 A shade by day, defense by night,
a shelter in the time of storm;
no fears alarm, no foes affright,
a shelter in the time of storm. [Refrain]

3 The raging storms may round us beat,
a shelter in the time of storm;
we’ll never leave our safe retreat,
a shelter in the time of storm. [Refrain]

4 O Rock divine, O Refuge dear,
a shelter in the time of storm;
be thou our helper ever near,
a shelter in the time of storm. [Refrain]

Prayer

Focus for the week:  Abraham Christensen

Song

Psalm 150 (Praise the Lord) CRC #33

Verse 1
You made the starry hosts, You traced the mountain peaks
You paint the evening skies with wonders
The earth it is Your throne, From desert to the sea
All nature testifies Your splendor.

Chorus 1
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Sing His greatness all creation
Praise the Lord, Raise your voice,
You heights and all you depths, from furthest east to west
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Verse 2
You reached into the dust in love Your Spirit breathed
You formed us in Your very likeness
To know Your wondrous works to tell Your mighty deeds
To join the everlasting chorus.

Verse 3
Let symphonies resound, let drums and choirs ring out
All heaven hear the sound of worship
Let every nation bring its honors to the King
A roar of harmonies eternal.

Chorus 2
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Sing His greatness all creation
Praise the Lord, raise your voice
You heights and all you depths from furthest east to west
You distant burning stars all creatures near and far
From sky to sea to shore sing out forevermore
Let everything that has breath
Praise the Lord!

CCLI Song # 7161130, Matt Boswell | Matt Papa
© 2020 Getty Music Hymns and Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Love Your Enemies Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Messenger Hymns (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 108183

Song

God the Uncreated One (CRC #12)

Verse 1
God the uncreated One the Author of salvation
Wrote the laws of space and time, and fashioned worlds to His design
The One whom angel hosts revere, hung the stars like chandeliers
Numbered every grain of sand, knows the heart of every man
He is King forever, He is King forever, He is King forevermore

Verse 2
God our fortress and our strength, the Rock on which we can depend
Matchless in His majesty, His power and authority
Unshaken by the schemes of man, never changing Great I am
Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, He is faithful through it all
Crown Him King forever, Crown Him King forever, Crown Him King forevermore

Verse 3
Mighty God in mortal flesh, forsaken by a traitor’s kiss
The curse of sin and centuries, did pierce the lowly Prince of Peace
Lifted high the sinless man, crucified the spotless Lamb
Buried by the sons of man, rescued by the Father’s hand
To reign as King forever, reign as King forever, reign as King forevermore

Verse 4
King eternal God of grace, we crown You with the highest praise
Heaven shouts and saints adore, You’re holy holy holy Lord
What joy in everlasting life, all is love and faith is sight
Justice rolls and praises rise, at the name of Jesus Christ
King of kings forever, King of kings forever, King of kings forevermore

CCLI Song # 7057478  CCLI License # 108183
Aaron Keyes | Pete James, © 2016 10000 Fathers (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Common Hymnal Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Getty Music Hymns and Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com

Song

He Will Hold Me Fast (CRC #15)

Verse 1
When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

Chorus
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

Verse 2
Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His Promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

Verse 3
For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When He comes at last

Ada Ruth Habershon/Matthew Merke
2013 Getty Music Pulishing/Matthew Merker Music
CCLI 108183

Scripture Reading

Daniel 12

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;[a] and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,[b] “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Preaching the Word

A Closer Look at the Little Horn

Daniel 8

In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.

Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some[a] of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. 11 It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”

15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”

18 And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints.25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. 26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”

27 And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.

Closing Song

Love Divine All Loves Excelling (TH #529)

1 Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav’n, to earth come down:
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown:
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter ev’ry trembling heart.

2 Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into ev’ry troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest:
take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

3 Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

4 Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be:
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.