Daniel 8:13
KJV - 13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
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I humbly submit that this part of Daniel’s prophecy deals with the land of Israel in general and the targeting of Jerusalem in particular and the Jews living within it at the time. (Isaiah 6:11; Isaiah 63:18; Luke 21:24) After the death of Alexander the great his Greek kingdom was divided between his four generals. Israel became a buffer state in constant tension between two of those generals Ptolemy and Seleucus and a leader Antiochus Epiphanes (the little horn). Time and Prophecy In the West generally “time” is viewed or thought of as a simple lineal procession; example moving from point A to point B with some sort of entertainment in between referenced as history. (Luke 8:10; Luke 12:56) In the East generally the concept of “time” is viewed or thought of more as a spiral (picture a vertical coil spring). On which time is viewed past-present-future or simply looking down the spring to see what were all the factors present at a certain point of time for an event or thing to happen.(Ecclesiastes 1:10; Luke 8:18; Mark 4:11) Using this simple concept the Hebrews are able to view current day “entertainments” in relationship to what has happened to them in their past history (looking down the spring). And see the current day in this concept while looking for future events that have followed these past events, as king Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun.(Ecclesiastes 1:9) (Daniel 8:13) Antiochus Epiphanies IV marched into Jerusalem in 168 BCE vandalizing the temple and erecting an idol that was an image of Zeus (Greek) or Jupiter (Roman) Baal Shamen on the altar and desecrated it’s holiness with the blood of swine. Swine and it’s blood are this idol’s required offering. At some point in the near future after the third temple is build there will be a replay of this, with the possibility of the animal rights folks and political correctness stopping the daily sacrifice first and then what is written to follow shortly closing out the show with a big dance number.(Luke 22:53; Revelation 6:10; Revelation 11:2) The Torah - Bible was given with Eastern concepts to His chosen people and must be viewed in that light to be completely understood just what the spirit is saying to those who have spiritual ears to hear. (Revelation 2:11; Revelation 2:29; Revelation 3:6; Revelation 3:22) In the Lord’s freedom and His time line…….warrior on
In my opinion, the "host trodden under foot" in this prophecy refers to the future (at the time that Daniel wrote) conquest of the people of Judea by the Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC, during which he desecrated the temple and instituted the worship of idols.
I believe the "host to be trodden under foot" refers to the prior verse 10: And it waxed great [the little horn], even to the host of heaven: and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. The symbol of the he-goat in prior verses refers to the Alexandrian Empire on earth, but for it to succeed it also required great demonic angels to clear the way for victory - these angels are also part of the he-goat symbol. The portion of the host of heaven cast to the ground are heavenly beings fighting against the evil spiritual forces of the little horn (Antiochus Epiphanes) but who are defeated. Stars in the bible represent higher angels who are also defeated temporarily at that time. The "prince of the host" (Dan 8:11), or the prince of the host of heaven, may in fact be Christ, who is also called Messiah the Prince (Dan 9:25), and Prince of Princes (Dan 8:25) because he has not yet at that time inherited the throne of his father, The LORD, who is king over the entire earth. It may be surprising that a great battle in heaven occurred at the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, but we know there actually will be another battle in Rev 12:7 at the time of the 10-horned beast.
Interpreting Daniel chapter 8's prophesy requires a consistent and timing aware understanding of the thrice-used word "host." The word "host" in Hebrew apparently means offering (one of a number of meanings) and in Greek/ Latin, enemy or sacrifice or army. Both Orthodoxy and Catholicism adopt the meaning 'the army of heaven', or the people of God. Of importance here is that they both recognize a heavenward component of the attack by Antichrist. This remains true however one interprets "host". Most bible translations, including the KJV follow suit. However, consider that the Catholic church calls the consecrated bread of the sacred sacrifice of communion the "Host", being that which contains the very offering of Jesus body. Mass, or Eucharist is held once daily on one altar in many Orthodox churches and all monasteries. There must be antemins in or on the altar (being sanctified holy relics) to conduct a communion/eucharist service. Now there is no Jewish temple, and even if there was, to stop the daily sacrifice would require shutting down one building in Jerusalem! Whereas we read that an army (or a force) was formed to implement and control this ban. This sounds like overkill. Anyway, does Hebrews not tell us that the time of ineffective animal sacrifices was over after Jesus made the one perfect sacrifice of Himself? Further still, this sacrifice is made on earth and in heaven simultaneously, continually, daily, since His once-only actual giving of Himself to the cross. The Lamb is as one slain on the heavenly, true, altar next to the Father in heaven. Any action against the earthly church directly affects the heavenly church since they, clothed in Righteousness of Christ, are also already seated on the right hand of the Father, IN Christ. Therefore, there is no conflict whatsoever between the stars and the host falling from heaven and falling on the earth - it could be no other way' - there is only one body! The other usage of "host" in the Daniel 8:13 " both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot" "for 2300 days, and then the sanctuary will be cleansed" is understood if the items are things related to the sanctuary (altar), the daily sacrifice (bread & wine) and a consecrated item (Antemins) rather than an oblique reference to the Jewish people getting trampled. If this is the correct understanding of the abomination of desolation, including the host, then the other chapters in Daniel describing the same event without the host are fully explained: communion is banned ending of the daily sacrifice, the antemins removed (leaving desolation) and a defiled unholy item, swine's blood, placed on the altar instead. This would apply to all Christian churches in Israel, all occupied territories, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, possibly Coptic Egypt and Ethiopia, everywhere that Antichrist controlled at the time. It will not be global, but a much bigger area than just Israel. It became obvious during Covid here in Russia that the churches could be shut to all except the priests and the choir, and the Eucharist made off-limits on the basis of the danger of transmitting the virus. They needed no anti-religious grounds rather just implementation of the closure of churches as they had done to libraries, concert halls, sports complexes etc. As for the secular authorities, continuing to drink from a common cup was suicide or murder and should be prosecuted. Alertness to expect tangential attacks is now better.
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