Read Daniel Chapter 8
Doing God’s Work Can Be Exhausting.
Daniel has a vision of a ram and a goat. There was a ram with two horns and was very powerful and nothing could stop it. He did as he pleased and magnified himself. Then a goat came from the West with one horn and came rushing toward the ram with a great wrath and was enraged. The two collided and the ram fell to the ground and was trampled and defeated. The goat magnified himself exceedingly. When the goat became mighty, his horn broke off and four new horns grew. Then a little horn came forth and was powerful and caused such great destruction. A voice said the destruction of the Holy place and of the host would continue for 2,300 evenings and mornings, a little over 6 years. But the Holy place would be properly restored.
The interpretation was unclear but it said it had to do with the end times. The ram with the two horns represented the kings of Media and the Persia. The goat represents the kingdom of Greece. The goat’s little horn represents the first king.
The fulfillment of the prophecy is a little confusing. But some commentators speak of much of its fulfillment from Alexander the Great when he destroyed the Medes and the Persians. The other fulfillment they see as coming from Antiochus, which has already occurred, and from the Antichrist which has yet to occur.
Daniel was exhausted and sick for days because of the prophecies then got up and carried on the king’s business despite the fact he didn’t understand it’s interpretation.
There’s a lot about prophecy that people debate about and talk about. I admire those who put so much work in trying to figure out what the prophecies mean. But for me it can be very exhausting. After all is said and done, I admit there’s a lot I don’t understand. But I know that God does understand and he promises that the church wins through Christ. So I will commit to being busy doing the Lord’s work by the grace of God, till the final days. Help us all Lord to be faithful to your calling!
