Read Daniel 8:13. What is the question asked here, and how does it help us understand the answer in the next verse?

What is the timing of the 2,300 evenings and mornings? First, we must note that after Daniel is shown the ram and the goat, followed by the actions of and the damage caused by the little horn, the vision turns into a question in Daniel 8:13.

Image © Pacific Press collection at GoodSalt.com

This question is especially concerned with what will happen at the end of that prophetic period, as well as the duration of the entire vision. In addition, such a period cannot be limited only to the duration of the actions of the little horn, because the term vision includes everything from the ram to the actions of the little horn. So this must be a long period of actual historical time.

To the question “How long shall be the vision” (ram [Media-Persia], goat [Greece], and the little horn and its actions [Rome, pagan and papal]), the other heavenly being replied: “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed” (Dan. 8:14, NKJV). As has already been noted, this period is so long because it begins during the time of the Medo-Persian Empire and extends through the timing of the Greek empire and pagan and papal Rome, thousands of years. According to the historicist method of interpretation (see Lesson 1), this prophetic period should be calculated on the basis of the year-day principle, which means that the 2,300 evenings and mornings correspond to a timespan of 2,300 years. Otherwise, the 2,300 days would amount to a bit more than just six years, an impossibly short time for all the events of the vision. Hence, the year-day principle must be in effect.

Daniel chapter 8 does not provide the information to allow us to calculate the beginning of this time period, which of course could establish its end. But Daniel 9 provides the crucial piece of information (see next week’s lesson).

<–Wednesday Friday–>

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/n6rmP1I2RpA/

You can view an in-depth discussion of “From Contamination to Purification” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/2yo-cJGtSKg/

Read Daniel 8:14. What happens here?

After the devastating attack of the horn, the announcement is made that the sanctuary will be cleansed. In order to understand this message, we must bear in mind that the cleansing of the sanctuary mentioned in Daniel 8:14 corresponds to the judgment scene depicted in Daniel 7:9-14.

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

And since that judgment takes place in heaven, the sanctuary must be located in heaven, too. Thus, while Daniel 7 portrays God’s intervention in and relationship with human affairs from a judicial perspective, Daniel 8 describes the same event from a sanctuary perspective.

The earthly sanctuary was modeled after its heavenly counterpart and served to illustrate the broad contours of the plan of salvation. Every day, sinners brought their sacrifices to the sanctuary, where the people were forgiven their confessed sins as the sins were, in a sense, transferred to the sanctuary. As a result, the sanctuary became contaminated. Therefore, a periodic process of purification was needed in order to cleanse the sanctuary from the sins recorded therein. It was called the Day of Atonement and took place once a year (see Leviticus chapter 16).

Why should the heavenly sanctuary need cleansing? By analogy, we can say that the confessed sins of those who have accepted Jesus have been “transferred” to the heavenly sanctuary, just as the sins of the repentant Israelites were transferred to the earthly sanctuary. On the earthly Day of Atonement, numerous animals were slain, symbolizing the future death of Jesus, which is how sinners were able to stand in the Day of Atonement.

And just as that happened in the earthly Day of Atonement when the sanctuary was cleansed, how much more so in the heavenly, when Christ’s blood alone gets us through the judgment? The cleansing of the sanctuary, depicted in Daniel 8:14, is the heavenly counterpart of the earthly service, whose basic message is: as sinners, we need the blood of the Messiah to forgive us our sins and enable us to stand in judgment.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/FrhuK0avZ0g/

The hymn that will be used as the theme for this quarter is from “The Church Hymnal, Official Hymnal of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church” which was surpassed by the “Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal” in 1985.In the ‘old’ hymnal, 
Number 497 – Standing by a Purpose True, that is, ”Dare to be a Daniel” will be the favourite. I do hope you are able to source this hymn and use it frequently during this quarter’s Sabbath School study time.

The Sabbath afternoon introduction shows we find our atonement is made by Christ in
Hymn 335, What a Wonderful Savior and Hymn 341, To God Be the Glory.

We find on Sunday that God had spoken through his prophet Daniel the unfolding of history to come, as in  
Hymn 413, God Has Spoken by His Prophets.

The papacy tries to take the place of Christ as our High Priest in heaven (Tuesday). We find our High Priest in 
Hymn 179, The Wonders of Redeeming Love, 
Hymn 238, How Sweet the Name!, 
Hymn 249, Praise Him! Praise Him!, and 
Hymn 145, Songs of Thankfulness and Praise.

Further, on Tuesday, Jesus is the Truth, as is the Word of God – 
Hymn 203, This Is the Threefold Truth, 
Hymn 221, Rejoice, the Lord Is King, 
Hymn 274, O Word of God Incarnate and 
Hymn 279, Only Trust Him.

Sinners bring their offerings to the sanctuary for cleansing (Wednesday) – 
Hymn 318, Whiter Than Snow, 
Hymn 282, I Hear Thy Welcome Voice, 
Hymn 294, Power in the Blood and 
Hymn 355, What a Wonderful Savior.

The question I ask myself is in 
Hymn 416, The Judgment Has Set.

God’s blessings as you enjoy your “Singing with Inspiration” this quarter.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/7EJFmg_LLUI/

1. How alike? How different? Before we take up the study of Daniel 8, let’s look at Daniel 7 and focus on how the two chapters are different from each other even though both deal with similar content. But first, what is missing in Daniel 8 that was emphasized in Daniel 7? Second, what is the basic content of chapter 8 compared to the central content of Chapter 7? Now we’ll consider the details.
2. The ram and the goat. First a ram, and then a goat takes center stage in this drama. The ram has two horns but is running in three directions: west, north, and south. What do the two horns represent? What is the importance of three directions the ram is taking at the same time? How strong do you think the Medo-Persian government was? Then the goat comes, running so fast its feet don’t touch the ground. Who is the famous monarch represented by the goat? As strong as the goat may be, what happens to its biggest horn? How was that prophecy fulfilled?
3. The rise of the little horn. From one of the goat’s four horns, a little horn shows up. In what direction does the little horn go? What power does the little horn, represent?  What seems to be its goal? After it accomplishes wars against Jewish people and even early Christians, does Rome (the goat) disappear? The little horn rapidly becomes the chief player in this drama. What are the two characteristics of the little horn (Rome) at this time? Does the little horn exist in any way today? Explain.
4. The attack on the sanctuary.  What is the difference between the murder of thousands of Christians by pagan leaders and attacks by the little horn on God’s people through the ages? Or is there a difference? How does the papal power establish itself to eliminate the intercessory ministry in the heavenly sanctuary? Explain how acts of the papacy have served to abolish the Word of God from full devotion and place papal tradition above the Bible. How does the Seventh-day Adventist church regard these actions and what if anything can we or should we do about them?
5. The cleansing of the sanctuary.Cheerful words, these. Right? Once in a while we hear a devout church member state that all of the details of the sanctuary on earth will be present in the final sanctuary service in heaven, and of course that’s right, except—Do you think we’ll offer sacrifices of live animals in the heavenly sanctuary? What is contained in the heavenly sanctuary that makes it in need of a thorough cleansing? How is the blood of Jesus given at Calvary represented in the heavenly sanctuary?

Amen!(1)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/SRA94KworYY/