The Conqueror
February 10, 2021
27:29
In this message learn about the amazing detail in which God revealed the immediate future to Daniel.
Closed captions
The Conqueror
Show timecode
Hide timecode
- ...
- 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.082
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:00.549 --> 00:00:05.654
- [swords clanking]
- 00:00:05.654 --> 00:00:07.689
- [screaming]
- 00:00:07.689 --> 00:00:09.792
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:09.792 --> 00:00:24.773
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:26.742 --> 00:00:33.916
- Dr. David Jeremiah:It has been said that truth
- 00:00:33.916 --> 00:00:35.784
- is stranger than fiction.
- 00:00:35.784 --> 00:00:37.686
- And nowhere could this bemore evident than in a prophecy
- 00:00:37.686 --> 00:00:41.390
- fulfilled centuries after itwas given.
- 00:00:41.390 --> 00:00:44.426
- Most amazing,both the prophetic vision
- 00:00:44.426 --> 00:00:47.329
- and the fulfillment thereoftranspired within
- 00:00:47.329 --> 00:00:51.066
- the same walls, the palaceNebuchadnezzar built in Babylon.
- 00:00:51.066 --> 00:00:56.538
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:56.538 --> 00:01:04.947
- Dr. Jeremiah: If we look to theOld Testament book of Daniel,
- 00:01:05.013 --> 00:01:07.716
- the aged Hebrew prophetof God has taken ill
- 00:01:07.716 --> 00:01:10.586
- after receiving a visionof the downfall of a ruler
- 00:01:10.586 --> 00:01:13.388
- that has yet to be born.
- 00:01:13.388 --> 00:01:20.262
- If we lookto the pages of history,
- 00:01:23.999 --> 00:01:25.968
- we finda 33-year-old Greek warrior
- 00:01:25.968 --> 00:01:29.171
- who has taken illand lay dying
- 00:01:29.171 --> 00:01:31.974
- after conquering the world.
- 00:01:31.974 --> 00:01:39.581
- The prophet conquereda culture of ungodliness.
- 00:01:39.581 --> 00:01:49.224
- The warrior conquered the worldfor a fleeting moment.
- 00:01:49.224 --> 00:01:56.331
- The prophet saw the visionof a warrior's demise.
- 00:01:56.331 --> 00:02:03.872
- The warrior readthe vision about his own demise.
- 00:02:03.872 --> 00:02:11.146
- The prophet was blessed of Godand lived for more than 90 years
- 00:02:11.146 --> 00:02:15.184
- in Babylon.
- 00:02:15.184 --> 00:02:18.587
- The warrior was cursed by menand, at 33 years old,
- 00:02:18.587 --> 00:02:22.090
- died in Babylon.
- 00:02:22.090 --> 00:02:29.231
- Though this prophecy andits fulfillment might read like
- 00:02:29.231 --> 00:02:31.800
- fiction, history has provena strange reality.
- 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:36.705
- The Word of God gives usa future and a hope
- 00:02:36.705 --> 00:02:40.342
- we can count onas being absolutely certain.
- 00:02:40.342 --> 00:02:46.014
- So who is this warrior wholay dead in the very place
- 00:02:46.014 --> 00:02:49.284
- in which his demisewas foretold?
- 00:02:49.284 --> 00:02:53.322
- Alexander the Great,the conqueror,
- 00:02:53.322 --> 00:02:56.692
- an agent of Babylon.
- 00:02:56.692 --> 00:03:02.431
- male announcer: What does Godexpect from his followers
- 00:03:06.668 --> 00:03:08.637
- living in today's culture?
- 00:03:08.637 --> 00:03:10.505
- How can we stand up for him?
- 00:03:10.505 --> 00:03:12.908
- In Dr. David Jeremiah's book,"Agents of Babylon," you'll find
- 00:03:12.908 --> 00:03:16.445
- that the answer can be foundin the life
- 00:03:16.445 --> 00:03:18.280
- of one of Scripture's greatestheroes, Daniel.
- 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:21.683
- Why Daniel?
- 00:03:21.683 --> 00:03:23.018
- Because the culture of his dayis surprisingly similar
- 00:03:23.018 --> 00:03:25.387
- to the culture of today.
- 00:03:25.387 --> 00:03:27.556
- And he not only survived,but thrived by standing up
- 00:03:27.556 --> 00:03:30.859
- for God in the midst of it.
- 00:03:30.859 --> 00:03:33.028
- Discover how you can alsoreflect God grace and love
- 00:03:33.028 --> 00:03:35.831
- as you live for Christin today's culture
- 00:03:35.831 --> 00:03:38.800
- in "Agents of Babylon,"yours when you give a gift
- 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:42.037
- of any amount.
- 00:03:42.037 --> 00:03:43.772
- If you give $70 or more,Dr. Jeremiah will send you
- 00:03:43.772 --> 00:03:46.642
- the "Agents of Babylon"DVD study set containing
- 00:03:46.642 --> 00:03:49.678
- the "Agents of Babylon" book,complete teaching series on DVD,
- 00:03:49.678 --> 00:03:53.348
- correlating study guide,and the Stand Up bookmark.
- 00:03:53.348 --> 00:03:56.485
- Plus, a bonus DVD containingDr. Jeremiah's live reading
- 00:03:56.485 --> 00:04:00.322
- of "The Agent of Agents"and "The Agents of Babylon"
- 00:04:00.322 --> 00:04:03.358
- highlight episode,including the opening
- 00:04:03.358 --> 00:04:05.661
- Hall of Prophecy segmentsyou've seen
- 00:04:05.661 --> 00:04:07.963
- on "Turning Point" television.
- 00:04:07.963 --> 00:04:09.898
- Order the "Agents of Babylon"book or study set
- 00:04:09.898 --> 00:04:13.468
- when you contactTurning Point today.
- 00:04:13.468 --> 00:04:15.671
- ♪♪♪
- 00:04:17.806 --> 00:04:29.184
- Dr. Jeremiah: We areabout to embark
- 00:04:25.814 --> 00:04:30.752
- on another vision that Godgave to his servant.
- 00:04:30.752 --> 00:04:35.290
- This is the second major visionDaniel has,
- 00:04:35.290 --> 00:04:39.127
- as recorded in this book.
- 00:04:39.127 --> 00:04:41.263
- We read in chapter 8 and verse 1the position of this vision.
- 00:04:41.263 --> 00:04:47.102
- "In the third yearof the reign of King Belshazzar,
- 00:04:47.102 --> 00:04:51.106
- a vision appeared to me,to me, Daniel,
- 00:04:51.106 --> 00:04:54.910
- after the one that appearedto me the first time."
- 00:04:54.910 --> 00:04:58.146
- This is his second vision.
- 00:04:58.146 --> 00:05:00.982
- Now, noticethe profile of the vision.
- 00:05:00.982 --> 00:05:03.618
- The visions in Daniel 2and parts of Daniel 7
- 00:05:03.618 --> 00:05:08.724
- are parallel.
- 00:05:08.724 --> 00:05:10.726
- They summarizethe rise and the fall
- 00:05:10.726 --> 00:05:14.363
- of four main governments.
- 00:05:14.363 --> 00:05:17.933
- Remember on the statue,Babylon was the head of gold,
- 00:05:17.933 --> 00:05:20.602
- Medo-Persia with the armsand breast of silver,
- 00:05:20.602 --> 00:05:23.205
- Greece was the belly of brass,and Rome were the legs
- 00:05:23.205 --> 00:05:27.542
- and feet of iron.
- 00:05:27.542 --> 00:05:30.045
- Today, in the eighth chapter,the Holy Spirit is going to take
- 00:05:30.045 --> 00:05:33.648
- two of those kingdomsand zero in on them.
- 00:05:33.648 --> 00:05:37.886
- First of all, the Medo-Persians,and secondly the Greeks.
- 00:05:37.886 --> 00:05:42.724
- And we ask ourselves,why would God do that?
- 00:05:42.724 --> 00:05:46.194
- Because the Medo-Persiansand the Greeks had
- 00:05:46.194 --> 00:05:48.663
- an incredible influenceon the nation of Israel.
- 00:05:48.663 --> 00:05:52.134
- It was duringthe reign of the Persians
- 00:05:52.134 --> 00:05:54.636
- that Cyrus,king of Persia,
- 00:05:54.636 --> 00:05:58.840
- gave permissionto the Jewish people
- 00:05:58.840 --> 00:06:01.009
- to go back to Israeland rebuild their city,
- 00:06:01.009 --> 00:06:03.545
- and rebuild their temple.
- 00:06:03.545 --> 00:06:06.181
- Cyrus the Persian wasa mighty force
- 00:06:06.181 --> 00:06:09.684
- in the program of God.
- 00:06:09.684 --> 00:06:11.987
- He came outof the Medo-Persian empire.
- 00:06:11.987 --> 00:06:14.623
- And in the Greek empire,the Greeks coined
- 00:06:14.623 --> 00:06:18.260
- the language of Koine Greek,which is the language
- 00:06:18.260 --> 00:06:21.029
- of the New Testament.
- 00:06:21.029 --> 00:06:22.364
- And it was through that languageand through the Greek leaders
- 00:06:22.364 --> 00:06:26.802
- that the way was opened upfor the spread of the gospel
- 00:06:26.802 --> 00:06:30.105
- beyond Israelto the Gentile nations.
- 00:06:30.105 --> 00:06:33.375
- And so, as we see this vision,we need to understand that it
- 00:06:33.375 --> 00:06:37.913
- is given to usto kind of focus in
- 00:06:37.913 --> 00:06:41.416
- on how God is going to useeven these beastly nations
- 00:06:41.416 --> 00:06:45.187
- to push forward his programfor the Jewish people.
- 00:06:45.187 --> 00:06:50.258
- Now, notice the placeof the vision in verse 2.
- 00:06:50.258 --> 00:06:54.229
- "I saw in the vision,"said Daniel,
- 00:06:54.229 --> 00:06:56.965
- "and it happenedwhile I was looking,
- 00:06:56.965 --> 00:06:58.767
- that I was in Shushan,the citadel, which is
- 00:06:58.767 --> 00:07:02.938
- in the province of Elam,and I saw in the vision
- 00:07:02.938 --> 00:07:05.407
- that I was by the River Ulai."
- 00:07:05.407 --> 00:07:08.844
- Daniel says he was in Babylonand he had a vision,
- 00:07:08.844 --> 00:07:11.346
- and in this vision,he was transported to Shushan,
- 00:07:11.346 --> 00:07:14.182
- the city.
- 00:07:14.182 --> 00:07:15.550
- Now, the Bible saysin chapter 8,
- 00:07:15.550 --> 00:07:18.687
- verses 15 and 16,"It happened, when I,
- 00:07:18.687 --> 00:07:21.890
- Daniel, had seen the visionand was seeking the meaning,
- 00:07:21.890 --> 00:07:24.559
- that suddenly there stoodbefore me one having
- 00:07:24.559 --> 00:07:27.696
- the appearance of a man.
- 00:07:27.696 --> 00:07:29.564
- And I heard a man's voicebetween the banks of the Ulai,
- 00:07:29.564 --> 00:07:32.667
- who called, and said,'Gabriel, make this man
- 00:07:32.667 --> 00:07:35.804
- understand this vision.'"
- 00:07:35.804 --> 00:07:38.473
- The purpose of the visionis given to us
- 00:07:38.473 --> 00:07:40.442
- in verses 17 and 19.
- 00:07:40.442 --> 00:07:43.044
- When the mighty angel Gabrielappeared to Daniel to help him
- 00:07:43.044 --> 00:07:46.548
- understand the vision, he said,"Understand, son of man,
- 00:07:46.548 --> 00:07:50.118
- that the vision refersto the time of the end.
- 00:07:50.118 --> 00:07:55.023
- I am making known to youwhat shall happen
- 00:07:55.023 --> 00:07:57.626
- in the latter timeof the indignation,
- 00:07:57.626 --> 00:08:00.795
- for at the appointedthe end shall be."
- 00:08:00.795 --> 00:08:04.900
- And whenever you see the word"the time of the end"
- 00:08:04.900 --> 00:08:07.168
- in the Bible, it's always aboutthe time of the end
- 00:08:07.168 --> 00:08:10.539
- of some kind of rebellion.
- 00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:13.241
- For instance,the first rebellion took place
- 00:08:13.241 --> 00:08:15.877
- in the northern kingdomof Israel, and the Assyrians
- 00:08:15.877 --> 00:08:19.514
- came and took them away.
- 00:08:19.514 --> 00:08:21.917
- The second rebellion camein the Babylonian captivity,
- 00:08:21.917 --> 00:08:25.921
- and it was captivity once againthat ended the rebellion.
- 00:08:25.921 --> 00:08:29.524
- The time of the end,it usually means
- 00:08:29.524 --> 00:08:31.760
- the time of the endof some period of rebellion.
- 00:08:31.760 --> 00:08:34.262
- Now, the Bible says thatnot only was
- 00:08:34.262 --> 00:08:36.565
- the rebellion significantin the northern kingdom,
- 00:08:36.565 --> 00:08:39.301
- in the southern kingdom,but one day in the future,
- 00:08:39.301 --> 00:08:41.770
- there's going to beanother rebellion
- 00:08:41.770 --> 00:08:43.672
- and the time of the endwill appear again,
- 00:08:43.672 --> 00:08:46.007
- the time of indignation.
- 00:08:46.007 --> 00:08:47.409
- Daniel says in the vision,he was given a picture
- 00:08:47.409 --> 00:08:50.378
- of the time of the end.
- 00:08:50.378 --> 00:08:53.982
- Now, beginningin these next verses,
- 00:08:53.982 --> 00:08:57.052
- we move from the receptionof the vision by Daniel
- 00:08:57.052 --> 00:09:00.155
- to the revelation of it,what did it mean.
- 00:09:00.155 --> 00:09:03.058
- Two animals dominatethis vision.
- 00:09:03.058 --> 00:09:05.994
- One of these animals is a ramand the other is a goat.
- 00:09:05.994 --> 00:09:10.999
- These two creatures representtwo prideful generals
- 00:09:10.999 --> 00:09:15.170
- in a fierce battlefor each other's kingdom.
- 00:09:15.170 --> 00:09:19.007
- Let's look at the ram first.
- 00:09:19.007 --> 00:09:21.343
- We read about the ramin verses 3 and 4.
- 00:09:21.343 --> 00:09:24.613
- "I lifted my eyes and I saw,and there, standing beside
- 00:09:24.613 --> 00:09:29.050
- the river, was a ramwhich had two horns,
- 00:09:29.050 --> 00:09:32.821
- and the two hornswere high.
- 00:09:32.821 --> 00:09:34.956
- But one was higherthan the other,
- 00:09:34.956 --> 00:09:36.725
- and the higher onecame up last.
- 00:09:36.725 --> 00:09:39.394
- I saw the ram pushing westward,and northward, and southward,
- 00:09:39.394 --> 00:09:42.964
- so that no animalcould withstand him,
- 00:09:42.964 --> 00:09:45.133
- nor was there anythat could deliver him
- 00:09:45.133 --> 00:09:47.168
- from his hand,but he did according to his will
- 00:09:47.168 --> 00:09:49.671
- and he became great."
- 00:09:49.671 --> 00:09:52.073
- Now, the first animalthat Daniel sees in his vision,
- 00:09:52.073 --> 00:09:55.844
- this ram with two horns,represents the Medes
- 00:09:55.844 --> 00:10:01.449
- and the Persians.
- 00:10:01.449 --> 00:10:03.218
- Two horns, Medes, Persians.
- 00:10:03.218 --> 00:10:04.686
- You say, "Well, Jeremiah, wherein the world did you get that?"
- 00:10:04.686 --> 00:10:07.322
- I am so glad you asked methat question because
- 00:10:07.322 --> 00:10:10.792
- if you will just look downat verse 20, you will see.
- 00:10:10.792 --> 00:10:14.362
- "The ram which you saw,having two horns,
- 00:10:14.362 --> 00:10:17.465
- are the kings of Mediaand Persia."
- 00:10:17.465 --> 00:10:22.070
- How many timeshave I told you that,
- 00:10:22.070 --> 00:10:23.938
- especially in prophecy,the Bible is
- 00:10:23.938 --> 00:10:25.674
- a self-interpreting book?
- 00:10:25.674 --> 00:10:27.876
- Don't sayyou don't understand it
- 00:10:27.876 --> 00:10:29.644
- unless you read it allbecause if you keep reading,
- 00:10:29.644 --> 00:10:32.113
- you'll probably find a versethat'll help you understand
- 00:10:32.113 --> 00:10:34.449
- what you read.
- 00:10:34.449 --> 00:10:35.950
- Now, look at the story again.
- 00:10:35.950 --> 00:10:37.786
- Two horns grow up on the ram,but one grows higher
- 00:10:37.786 --> 00:10:41.923
- than the other,and that is
- 00:10:41.923 --> 00:10:44.392
- the Persian governmenttaking over the Medes.
- 00:10:44.392 --> 00:10:48.530
- The ram isthe Medo-Persian government.
- 00:10:48.530 --> 00:10:53.134
- And we'll stop with thatbecause we could say
- 00:10:53.134 --> 00:10:55.670
- more about it,but we'll come back to that
- 00:10:55.670 --> 00:10:57.005
- in a moment.
- 00:10:57.005 --> 00:10:58.339
- Now, notice the second animal,which is the goat.
- 00:10:58.339 --> 00:11:01.142
- Notice Daniel 8:5-6,"Suddenly a male goat
- 00:11:01.142 --> 00:11:07.048
- came across from the west,across the surface
- 00:11:07.048 --> 00:11:10.618
- of the whole earth,without touching the ground;
- 00:11:10.618 --> 00:11:14.589
- and the goat had a notable hornbetween his eyes.
- 00:11:14.589 --> 00:11:17.826
- And he came to the ramthat had two horns,
- 00:11:17.826 --> 00:11:20.361
- and ran at himwith furious power."
- 00:11:20.361 --> 00:11:23.498
- Now, we got the goatin a fight with the ram.
- 00:11:23.498 --> 00:11:26.701
- The goat that comesagainst the ram
- 00:11:26.701 --> 00:11:28.937
- of the Medesand the Persians
- 00:11:28.937 --> 00:11:30.872
- represents Greece.
- 00:11:30.872 --> 00:11:32.874
- You say, "Come on, man,you're just making
- 00:11:32.874 --> 00:11:34.309
- this stuff up."
- 00:11:34.309 --> 00:11:35.643
- No, look at verse 21.
- 00:11:35.643 --> 00:11:38.847
- "The male goatis the kingdom of Greece.
- 00:11:38.847 --> 00:11:42.817
- The large hornthat is between his eyes
- 00:11:42.817 --> 00:11:45.386
- is the first king."
- 00:11:45.386 --> 00:11:48.957
- And the powerful leaderof Greece we know
- 00:11:48.957 --> 00:11:51.760
- was the sonof Phillip of Macedon,
- 00:11:51.760 --> 00:11:54.529
- no one elsebut Alexander the Great.
- 00:11:54.529 --> 00:11:59.067
- Now, listen carefully.
- 00:11:59.067 --> 00:12:01.002
- Five propheciescome out of this passage
- 00:12:01.002 --> 00:12:05.273
- on the conflict between the goatand the ram,
- 00:12:05.273 --> 00:12:08.443
- the conflict betweenthe Medo-Persians
- 00:12:08.443 --> 00:12:10.912
- and the Greeks.
- 00:12:10.912 --> 00:12:12.480
- And the fulfillment of each oneis historically verifiable.
- 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:17.018
- And it's important,men and women,
- 00:12:17.018 --> 00:12:19.654
- to understand thatAlexander's rise to power
- 00:12:19.654 --> 00:12:22.423
- took place 200 yearsafter Daniel made the prophecy.
- 00:12:22.423 --> 00:12:28.730
- Two centuries went by.
- 00:12:28.730 --> 00:12:31.833
- God gave a messageto Daniel through this vision
- 00:12:31.833 --> 00:12:34.803
- and he said, "Daniel, this iswhat's going to happen."
- 00:12:34.803 --> 00:12:37.172
- And 200 years later,we can watch it,
- 00:12:37.172 --> 00:12:39.674
- we can write it down,we can study it.
- 00:12:39.674 --> 00:12:41.743
- It happened exactlyas God told Daniel it would.
- 00:12:41.743 --> 00:12:46.181
- Now, I know people saythat there's no such thing
- 00:12:46.181 --> 00:12:49.651
- as prophecy,that prophecy is baloney,
- 00:12:49.651 --> 00:12:53.655
- that people make it up,that nobody could prophesy
- 00:12:53.655 --> 00:12:56.825
- what's going to happen 200 yearsfrom the moment they speak.
- 00:12:56.825 --> 00:13:00.295
- Nobody, unless that personwas the one who spoke
- 00:13:00.295 --> 00:13:04.332
- and the whole worldcame into being.
- 00:13:04.332 --> 00:13:06.734
- Nobody unless somebody was ableto breathe out and worlds
- 00:13:06.734 --> 00:13:11.172
- and galaxies and starsand moons and universes
- 00:13:11.172 --> 00:13:14.609
- were formed.
- 00:13:14.609 --> 00:13:15.944
- If the God who spoke this worldinto being cannot speak
- 00:13:15.944 --> 00:13:20.782
- about what's going to happenin the world he created,
- 00:13:20.782 --> 00:13:23.384
- and by the way,he lives in the eternal now,
- 00:13:23.384 --> 00:13:26.321
- not in 200 yearsbefore or after.
- 00:13:26.321 --> 00:13:28.623
- If Almighty God can't do that,then we don't have
- 00:13:28.623 --> 00:13:30.825
- much of a God.
- 00:13:30.825 --> 00:13:32.393
- Prophecy is a pictureof the power,
- 00:13:32.393 --> 00:13:35.363
- the almighty power of the Godwho is in heaven,
- 00:13:35.363 --> 00:13:38.600
- who periodically reached downinto the heart of a prophet
- 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:42.704
- and gave hima picture of something
- 00:13:42.704 --> 00:13:44.572
- God already knewas if it were history.
- 00:13:44.572 --> 00:13:48.109
- And he entrusted Danielwith this prophecy
- 00:13:48.109 --> 00:13:50.245
- about the goat and the ram.
- 00:13:50.245 --> 00:13:52.413
- And now we in this generation,we get to look back at it.
- 00:13:52.413 --> 00:13:56.851
- And we see the prophecy,and we see how accurate,
- 00:13:56.851 --> 00:13:58.987
- and we watch what happened.
- 00:13:58.987 --> 00:14:00.455
- So, let me tell you a little bitabout the story,
- 00:14:00.455 --> 00:14:03.124
- the story of Alexander.
- 00:14:03.124 --> 00:14:06.361
- Alexander, if you read his life,was a precocious young boy.
- 00:14:06.361 --> 00:14:11.532
- I can understand thatbecause his mother told him
- 00:14:11.532 --> 00:14:14.469
- that his ancestors werethe Greek heroes Achilles
- 00:14:14.469 --> 00:14:18.039
- and the god Hercules.
- 00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:19.741
- If somebody tells youyour grandfather was Hercules,
- 00:14:19.741 --> 00:14:21.776
- you might havea pretty good opinion
- 00:14:21.776 --> 00:14:23.378
- of yourself, amen?
- 00:14:23.378 --> 00:14:25.313
- And Alexander did,he was a very, very arrogant,
- 00:14:25.313 --> 00:14:27.949
- but a very gifted person.
- 00:14:27.949 --> 00:14:30.618
- In fact, Alexander the Greatconquered more nations
- 00:14:30.618 --> 00:14:33.821
- at a faster rate thanany other king in history.
- 00:14:33.821 --> 00:14:38.493
- In 12 years, he conqueredthe Mediterranean world,
- 00:14:38.493 --> 00:14:43.264
- much of North Africa,Mesopotamia,
- 00:14:43.264 --> 00:14:45.266
- and even extended his reachas far as India.
- 00:14:45.266 --> 00:14:47.902
- And listen to this,men and women,
- 00:14:47.902 --> 00:14:49.771
- he never lost one single battle.
- 00:14:49.771 --> 00:14:54.475
- Alexander the Great,Now, in verses 6 and 7,
- 00:14:54.475 --> 00:14:59.213
- we get some more information,the ruin
- 00:14:59.213 --> 00:15:02.483
- of the Medo-Persian empire.
- 00:15:02.483 --> 00:15:04.552
- "And he came to the ram that hadtwo horns, which I had seen
- 00:15:04.552 --> 00:15:07.488
- standing beside the river,and ran at him
- 00:15:07.488 --> 00:15:10.258
- with furious power.
- 00:15:10.258 --> 00:15:12.026
- And I saw him confrontingthe ram; he was moved
- 00:15:12.026 --> 00:15:15.029
- with rage against him,attacked the ram,
- 00:15:15.029 --> 00:15:16.931
- broke his two horns.
- 00:15:16.931 --> 00:15:18.266
- There was no power in the ramto withstand him,
- 00:15:18.266 --> 00:15:20.635
- but he cast him downto the ground
- 00:15:20.635 --> 00:15:22.503
- and trampled him;and there was no one
- 00:15:22.503 --> 00:15:24.706
- that could deliver the ramfrom his hand."
- 00:15:24.706 --> 00:15:27.675
- In his vision,Daniel sees the goat,
- 00:15:27.675 --> 00:15:30.812
- Alexander the Great.
- 00:15:30.812 --> 00:15:32.847
- And this goat is comingafter the Medes
- 00:15:32.847 --> 00:15:37.552
- and the Persians,and that's exactly
- 00:15:37.552 --> 00:15:39.921
- what happened in history.
- 00:15:39.921 --> 00:15:41.389
- In 334 BC,Alexander came from the west
- 00:15:41.389 --> 00:15:45.960
- with 35.000 troops.
- 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:48.129
- He crossed the Hellespont,defeated the Persian army
- 00:15:48.129 --> 00:15:51.132
- at the Granicus River,which is in modern Turkey,
- 00:15:51.132 --> 00:15:54.369
- and he freedall the Greek cities
- 00:15:54.369 --> 00:15:56.838
- of Asia Minorfrom the Persians.
- 00:15:56.838 --> 00:15:59.307
- Alexander defeatedeverybody.
- 00:15:59.307 --> 00:16:01.309
- Nobody could stand before him.
- 00:16:01.309 --> 00:16:03.644
- But like all of those who buildtheir lives around
- 00:16:03.644 --> 00:16:07.715
- their achievementsand their accomplishments,
- 00:16:07.715 --> 00:16:10.218
- like all of those who believeI can do it myself or,
- 00:16:10.218 --> 00:16:13.221
- like Frank Sinatra,I did it my way, after defeating
- 00:16:13.221 --> 00:16:17.892
- the Medo-Persian armies,Alexander went toward India,
- 00:16:17.892 --> 00:16:21.062
- but his army was weary.
- 00:16:21.062 --> 00:16:23.031
- He had enough fighting.
- 00:16:23.031 --> 00:16:25.299
- They didn't want to fightanymore.
- 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.901
- They came back to Babylon andAlexander got very, very ill.
- 00:16:26.901 --> 00:16:31.806
- And at the age of 33, he died.
- 00:16:31.806 --> 00:16:36.144
- Now, nobody knows for surethe exact cause of his death.
- 00:16:36.144 --> 00:16:39.981
- Some people thinkhe might have been poisoned
- 00:16:39.981 --> 00:16:41.716
- by one of his enemies.
- 00:16:41.716 --> 00:16:43.251
- But it is certainthat he died heartbroken.
- 00:16:43.251 --> 00:16:46.421
- History recordsthat he was found
- 00:16:46.421 --> 00:16:48.890
- in the dying momentsof his life in his tent,
- 00:16:48.890 --> 00:16:52.393
- weeping because there wereno more worlds for him
- 00:16:52.393 --> 00:16:56.464
- to conquer.
- 00:16:56.464 --> 00:16:58.232
- His life was cut shortat the height of his power
- 00:16:58.232 --> 00:17:01.602
- and Daniel prophesied itin verse 8,
- 00:17:01.602 --> 00:17:04.639
- "The male goat grew very great;but when he became strong,
- 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:09.444
- the large horn was broken."
- 00:17:09.444 --> 00:17:12.980
- Well, it seems on the surfacethat Alexander
- 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:16.017
- was simply fulfillinghis own dreams of conquest.
- 00:17:16.017 --> 00:17:18.586
- In reality,Alexander was playing a role
- 00:17:18.586 --> 00:17:23.257
- in God's prophetic plan.
- 00:17:23.257 --> 00:17:26.494
- The Greeks brought civilizationand a universal language
- 00:17:26.494 --> 00:17:31.632
- to the Mediterranean world.
- 00:17:31.632 --> 00:17:33.901
- Think about this with me.
- 00:17:33.901 --> 00:17:35.236
- A few centuries later,the New Testament
- 00:17:35.236 --> 00:17:38.139
- was written in Greek,making it accessible to everyone
- 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:43.644
- in that whole vicinity,which could never have happened
- 00:17:43.644 --> 00:17:47.081
- had the Greeksnot universalized Koine Greek,
- 00:17:47.081 --> 00:17:52.420
- and now the Greek languagewas universal
- 00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:55.022
- almost like English is today.
- 00:17:55.022 --> 00:17:56.891
- And the gospel spreadthrough the language of Greek
- 00:17:56.891 --> 00:18:00.428
- because of what God was doingbehind the scenes
- 00:18:00.428 --> 00:18:03.631
- in this wicked Greek nationunder this very proud
- 00:18:03.631 --> 00:18:07.502
- and successful king.
- 00:18:07.502 --> 00:18:09.837
- But here's whatI want you to know.
- 00:18:09.837 --> 00:18:11.172
- Some day in eternity future,we will look back and say,
- 00:18:11.172 --> 00:18:15.743
- "Oh, so that's whatyou were doing, God.
- 00:18:15.743 --> 00:18:19.514
- That's what you were up to."
- 00:18:19.514 --> 00:18:21.082
- Let me tell you what I know.
- 00:18:21.082 --> 00:18:22.416
- Whatever it is that's happeningin our culture today,
- 00:18:22.416 --> 00:18:24.585
- God is up to something.
- 00:18:24.585 --> 00:18:26.721
- And if we keep our eyeson the Scripture
- 00:18:26.721 --> 00:18:28.756
- and our heartsright before God,
- 00:18:28.756 --> 00:18:30.458
- little by little,we'll get little glimpses
- 00:18:30.458 --> 00:18:32.827
- of what he's up to,just as he was up to something
- 00:18:32.827 --> 00:18:35.096
- with the Greeks,and the Medo-Persians,
- 00:18:35.096 --> 00:18:37.765
- and then finally the Romans.
- 00:18:37.765 --> 00:18:40.902
- At the end of Alexander's life,according to the Scripture,
- 00:18:40.902 --> 00:18:46.374
- something was going to happen.
- 00:18:46.374 --> 00:18:48.242
- Read with me verse 8and then verse 22.
- 00:18:48.242 --> 00:18:52.146
- "The male goat grew very great;but when he became strong,
- 00:18:52.146 --> 00:18:55.349
- the large horn was broken,and in place of it
- 00:18:55.349 --> 00:18:58.019
- four notable onescame up toward
- 00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:01.622
- the four winds of heaven.
- 00:19:01.622 --> 00:19:03.291
- As for the broken hornand the four that stood up
- 00:19:03.291 --> 00:19:05.893
- in its place,four kingdoms shall arise
- 00:19:05.893 --> 00:19:08.896
- out of that nation,but not with its power."
- 00:19:08.896 --> 00:19:12.200
- Cassander, Lysimachus,Seleucus, and Ptolomy,
- 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:16.771
- the four generals of Alexander.
- 00:19:16.771 --> 00:19:20.141
- Cassander took over Macedonia,Lysimachus conquered Thrace,
- 00:19:20.141 --> 00:19:24.312
- Seleucus took Syria,and Ptolomy became
- 00:19:24.312 --> 00:19:27.248
- the king of Egypt in Palestine.
- 00:19:27.248 --> 00:19:29.850
- And each of these eventsthat I have given to you
- 00:19:29.850 --> 00:19:33.020
- were prophesiedin this prophecy.
- 00:19:33.020 --> 00:19:35.323
- And the symbols that God gaveto Daniel, I want to remind you
- 00:19:35.323 --> 00:19:38.693
- again every single one of themwere fulfilled
- 00:19:38.693 --> 00:19:42.096
- to the exact detail,and all of them
- 00:19:42.096 --> 00:19:43.965
- were prophesied 200 yearsbefore they were fulfilled.
- 00:19:43.965 --> 00:19:50.871
- Now, let me just say,if that's true,
- 00:19:50.871 --> 00:19:53.908
- and we know it is,then what does that say
- 00:19:53.908 --> 00:19:57.712
- about all of the propheciesof the Word of God?
- 00:19:57.712 --> 00:20:01.282
- If God can secure a prophecyfor 200 years before
- 00:20:01.282 --> 00:20:06.254
- it's finally fulfilled,what do you think
- 00:20:06.254 --> 00:20:08.823
- is going to happenwith all of the other prophecies
- 00:20:08.823 --> 00:20:10.825
- that have not yetbeen fulfilled?
- 00:20:10.825 --> 00:20:13.394
- Listen to me, what I getfrom studying prophecy is this.
- 00:20:13.394 --> 00:20:16.597
- I see the prophecy of the past,I see the fulfillment of it
- 00:20:16.597 --> 00:20:19.767
- in history, and I knowthat all of the prophecies
- 00:20:19.767 --> 00:20:22.670
- that are yet unfulfilled will bejust as accurately fulfilled
- 00:20:22.670 --> 00:20:26.073
- as the early ones were.
- 00:20:26.073 --> 00:20:27.408
- So, studying prophecy,especially prophecy
- 00:20:27.408 --> 00:20:29.810
- that is fulfilled in history,gives me great confidence
- 00:20:29.810 --> 00:20:32.380
- to believe every single wordof this book.
- 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:34.982
- If God said it, he will do it,and you can count on it,
- 00:20:34.982 --> 00:20:38.119
- and it's going to happen.
- 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:43.224
- There's a bit of an aftermathabout this man, Alexander.
- 00:20:43.224 --> 00:20:47.428
- Once again,it's quite astounding.
- 00:20:47.428 --> 00:20:50.665
- Josephus, who isthe greatest
- 00:20:50.665 --> 00:20:52.767
- and most prolificcompiler of Jewish history
- 00:20:52.767 --> 00:20:55.703
- secular-wiselived in the first century AD.
- 00:20:55.703 --> 00:20:59.607
- And in one of his writings,he describes what happened
- 00:20:59.607 --> 00:21:04.945
- to Alexander when hewas thinking about going
- 00:21:04.945 --> 00:21:08.249
- against Jerusalem and destroyingthe city of the Jews.
- 00:21:08.249 --> 00:21:13.254
- "Alexander went upinto the temple,
- 00:21:13.254 --> 00:21:15.756
- and when the book of Danielwas showed to him,
- 00:21:15.756 --> 00:21:20.828
- wherein Daniel declaredthat one of the Greeks
- 00:21:20.828 --> 00:21:23.798
- would destroythe empire of the Persians,
- 00:21:23.798 --> 00:21:26.334
- Alexander knew thatthat was a prophecy
- 00:21:26.334 --> 00:21:30.471
- about himself.
- 00:21:30.471 --> 00:21:32.573
- He went to the temple,and he read the Bible,
- 00:21:32.573 --> 00:21:35.109
- and saw himself in the Bibleas a fulfillment
- 00:21:35.109 --> 00:21:38.779
- of the prophecy of God.
- 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.348
- I didn't make that up.
- 00:21:40.348 --> 00:21:41.682
- That's in the history bookof Josephus.
- 00:21:41.682 --> 00:21:45.920
- Alexander the Great.
- 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:49.857
- He offered sacrifices to God.
- 00:21:49.857 --> 00:21:51.592
- And from Alexander'sside of time,
- 00:21:51.592 --> 00:21:54.695
- there was a prophesied eventyet to happen,
- 00:21:54.695 --> 00:21:57.998
- and he was the fulfillmentof that prophecy.
- 00:21:57.998 --> 00:22:01.769
- As we wrap upthis amazing chapter
- 00:22:01.769 --> 00:22:04.472
- full of all of these storieswhich are helpful to know
- 00:22:04.472 --> 00:22:07.842
- as you read the secular sourcesthat go with the Scripture,
- 00:22:07.842 --> 00:22:10.845
- you just have to say,"We have an awesome God."
- 00:22:10.845 --> 00:22:14.815
- We have an awesome God.
- 00:22:14.815 --> 00:22:16.150
- He can make kings riseand make them fall.
- 00:22:16.150 --> 00:22:18.786
- He is behind the scenes,in control.
- 00:22:18.786 --> 00:22:21.155
- And when I sometimes geta little bit
- 00:22:21.155 --> 00:22:23.057
- of a foreboding spiritabout what's happening
- 00:22:23.057 --> 00:22:24.859
- in my nation,I'm reminded that the same God
- 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:27.495
- who was in controlduring Daniel's days,
- 00:22:27.495 --> 00:22:29.930
- during Alexander's days,is the same God
- 00:22:29.930 --> 00:22:32.600
- who's in control now.
- 00:22:32.600 --> 00:22:34.301
- That may seem like nobody elseis in control,
- 00:22:34.301 --> 00:22:36.637
- and sometimes I think that,but God is in control.
- 00:22:36.637 --> 00:22:40.608
- He is the onewho is seated on the throne.
- 00:22:40.608 --> 00:22:45.112
- And we can rest assuredthat the same God
- 00:22:45.112 --> 00:22:48.682
- who engineered the eventsin Alexander's life
- 00:22:48.682 --> 00:22:52.119
- can surely take careof whatever events we need him
- 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:54.789
- to engineer for us.
- 00:22:54.789 --> 00:22:57.358
- And I want to just pauseas we close this message
- 00:22:57.358 --> 00:23:00.828
- and remind you that,in a real sense,
- 00:23:00.828 --> 00:23:02.930
- Alexander over hereand Jesus over here represent
- 00:23:02.930 --> 00:23:07.468
- the two choices we have in life.
- 00:23:07.468 --> 00:23:10.271
- Alexander was a great manwho had great goals
- 00:23:10.271 --> 00:23:15.709
- for his life,and determined that
- 00:23:15.709 --> 00:23:17.044
- he was going to do everythingthat was in his heart to do.
- 00:23:17.044 --> 00:23:20.748
- In many respects, we admire him.
- 00:23:20.748 --> 00:23:22.950
- We admire him for his vision,his courage.
- 00:23:22.950 --> 00:23:24.852
- He was an incredible personof power over people.
- 00:23:24.852 --> 00:23:28.022
- He built a great empire,the fastest growing army
- 00:23:28.022 --> 00:23:31.492
- that ever existed.
- 00:23:31.492 --> 00:23:33.127
- But I want to remind you,he died a brokenhearted man
- 00:23:33.127 --> 00:23:35.563
- at the age of 33because he set his sights
- 00:23:35.563 --> 00:23:38.699
- on the wrong goal.
- 00:23:38.699 --> 00:23:40.534
- On the other hand,there is Jesus.
- 00:23:40.534 --> 00:23:44.839
- He can transform your lifeand make you the person
- 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:47.107
- you always wanted to be,and keep you going
- 00:23:47.107 --> 00:23:49.543
- in the right direction forever,for eternity.
- 00:23:49.543 --> 00:23:53.714
- Don't choose Alexander.
- 00:23:53.714 --> 00:23:55.583
- So many people in our culturethink that's the way to go,
- 00:23:55.583 --> 00:23:58.686
- all the self-help seminars,and how to be yourself,
- 00:23:58.686 --> 00:24:02.423
- and be the greatestand all of that.
- 00:24:02.423 --> 00:24:06.460
- But Jesus will transformyour life.
- 00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:10.798
- Jesus and Alexander died at 33.
- 00:24:10.798 --> 00:24:15.536
- One died for self,the other for you and me.
- 00:24:15.536 --> 00:24:21.075
- male announcer: Dr. Jeremiahwill return in a moment
- 00:24:22.376 --> 00:24:24.211
- to close today's programright after this.
- 00:24:24.211 --> 00:24:27.748
- announcer: Revelationis not the only place
- 00:24:29.550 --> 00:24:31.485
- in God's Wordwhere end-times prophecy
- 00:24:31.485 --> 00:24:33.754
- can be found.
- 00:24:33.754 --> 00:24:35.122
- In his book, "Agents of Babylon:What the Prophecies of Daniel
- 00:24:35.122 --> 00:24:38.659
- Tell Us About the End of Days,"Dr. David Jeremiah travels back
- 00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:42.530
- to explore the Old Testamentbook of Daniel,
- 00:24:42.530 --> 00:24:45.566
- teeming with prophetic markersand visions.
- 00:24:45.566 --> 00:24:48.135
- The prophecies found thereinreveal not only a glimpse
- 00:24:48.135 --> 00:24:51.071
- of the future, but alsoa full picture of God's power
- 00:24:51.071 --> 00:24:54.375
- in the past and present.
- 00:24:54.375 --> 00:24:56.243
- "Agents of Babylon" explainshow the fulfilled prophecies
- 00:24:56.243 --> 00:24:59.446
- of Daniel give us confidenceto live for God in today's world
- 00:24:59.446 --> 00:25:03.417
- and preparefor what is yet to come.
- 00:25:03.417 --> 00:25:05.986
- "Agents of Babylon" is yourswhen you give a gift
- 00:25:05.986 --> 00:25:08.756
- of any amountin support of this program.
- 00:25:08.756 --> 00:25:11.125
- If you give $70 or more,Dr. Jeremiah will send you
- 00:25:11.125 --> 00:25:14.528
- the "Agents of Babylon"DVD study set containing
- 00:25:14.528 --> 00:25:17.431
- the "Agents of Babylon" book,complete teaching series on DVD,
- 00:25:17.431 --> 00:25:21.368
- correlating study guide,and the Stand Up bookmark.
- 00:25:21.368 --> 00:25:24.204
- Plus, a bonus DVD containingDr. Jeremiah's live reading
- 00:25:24.204 --> 00:25:28.175
- of "The Agent of Agents"and "The Agents of Babylon"
- 00:25:28.175 --> 00:25:31.111
- highlight episode,including the opening
- 00:25:31.111 --> 00:25:33.447
- Hall of Prophecy segmentsyou've seen
- 00:25:33.447 --> 00:25:35.382
- on "Turning Point" television.
- 00:25:35.382 --> 00:25:37.551
- Order "Agents of Babylon"book or study set
- 00:25:37.618 --> 00:25:40.387
- when you contactTurning Point today.
- 00:25:40.387 --> 00:25:42.423
- announcer: And now,with one last word
- 00:25:44.992 --> 00:25:46.327
- for today's program,here is Dr. Jeremiah.
- 00:25:46.327 --> 00:25:50.631
- Dr. Jeremiah: If you're like me,you've probably fallen
- 00:25:50.698 --> 00:25:53.200
- victim to your shareof faulty weather forecasts.
- 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:57.137
- I always wonder why peopleso willingly trust
- 00:25:57.137 --> 00:25:59.974
- the weatherman witha success rate that's shaky
- 00:25:59.974 --> 00:26:02.977
- at best, yet they doubtthe prophecies of the Bible,
- 00:26:02.977 --> 00:26:06.447
- which boastsa perfect track record,
- 00:26:06.447 --> 00:26:09.350
- including the oneabout today's agent,
- 00:26:09.350 --> 00:26:12.019
- Alexander the Great.
- 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:14.188
- The fact is, if you've acceptedJesus Christ as your Savior,
- 00:26:14.188 --> 00:26:18.459
- these prophecies were writtenwith you in mind so that you
- 00:26:18.459 --> 00:26:22.563
- and all Christians understandand prepare for what lies ahead.
- 00:26:22.563 --> 00:26:27.835
- What a wonderful gift.
- 00:26:27.835 --> 00:26:29.970
- I pray that you've takenthat first step and asked Christ
- 00:26:29.970 --> 00:26:33.374
- into your heart.
- 00:26:33.374 --> 00:26:34.742
- To help youin your Christian walk,
- 00:26:34.742 --> 00:26:37.244
- I'd like to send youtwo resources, our booklet,
- 00:26:37.244 --> 00:26:40.781
- "Your Greatest Turning Point,"and our monthly
- 00:26:40.781 --> 00:26:43.150
- devotional magazine,"Turning Points."
- 00:26:43.150 --> 00:26:46.186
- They're both yours freeupon request when you contact us
- 00:26:46.186 --> 00:26:49.790
- today at Turning Point.
- 00:26:49.790 --> 00:26:51.992
- announcer: Next timeon "Turning Point."
- 00:26:53.994 --> 00:26:55.763
- Dr. Jeremiah:If you're with God,
- 00:26:55.829 --> 00:26:57.164
- you're on the winning side.
- 00:26:57.164 --> 00:26:58.499
- If you're with Jesus,you're going to triumph one day
- 00:26:58.499 --> 00:27:00.668
- in victory.
- 00:27:00.668 --> 00:27:02.002
- And you're going to havea lot of triumphs before
- 00:27:02.002 --> 00:27:03.470
- that day, but those triumphsare only sweeter
- 00:27:03.470 --> 00:27:05.739
- when you realizethey're a picture
- 00:27:05.739 --> 00:27:07.574
- of the ultimate triumphwhen the King of kings
- 00:27:07.574 --> 00:27:09.910
- and the Lord of lordsreigns over this earth,
- 00:27:09.910 --> 00:27:12.946
- and evil is forever destroyed.
- 00:27:12.946 --> 00:27:17.951
- announcer: Join us next timefor Dr. Jeremiah's message,
- 00:27:18.018 --> 00:27:21.288
- "The Madman,"here on "Turning Point."
- 00:27:21.288 --> 00:27:27.161