What is the meaning of Daniel 8:24? His power will be great, but it will not be his own Daniel foresees a ruler whose strength looks overwhelming, yet Scripture stresses that this supremacy is borrowed. • In Daniel 8:24 the phrase “His power will be great” reminds us of the limited but frightening reach of past oppressors like Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16) and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:37-38). • “But it will not be his own” points to a darker, unseen source. Revelation 13:2 portrays the beast receiving authority from the dragon, echoing how Satan fuels earthly tyrants (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9). • God remains sovereign; even borrowed power operates only within boundaries He allows, as Jesus affirms before Pilate: “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11). He will cause terrible destruction The verse continues: “He will cause terrible destruction,” signaling both scope and severity. • “Terrible” evokes the devastation Antiochus IV inflicted on Jerusalem (1 Maccabees 1:29-31) and foreshadows the future man of lawlessness (Matthew 24:15). • Isaiah 10:5-7 shows God permitting Assyria to be “the rod of My anger,” yet ultimately judging that nation for its cruelty—an example of how He may use a violent instrument for discipline while holding it accountable for excess. • The havoc reaches far beyond military campaigns; Daniel 8:11-12 details attacks on worship, mirroring later assaults on biblical truth foretold in 1 Timothy 4:1. and succeed in whatever he does Success, from a human vantage, appears absolute—at least for a season. • Psalm 73:3-12 laments the prosperity of the wicked, yet the psalmist gains clarity when he enters God’s sanctuary (vv. 16-17). Temporary triumph is not ultimate victory. • Daniel 11:36 notes that the king “will prosper until the time of wrath is completed,” underscoring a divinely set expiration date. • Revelation 17:17 assures believers that God puts it into the hearts of kings to fulfill His purpose, even as they seem unstoppable. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people The target list widens to include both secular “mighty men” and “the holy people.” • Mighty men—political, military, or cultural leaders—fall under his ruthless ambition, recalling Haman’s bid to eliminate Mordecai and all Jews (Esther 3:5-6). • The holy people—Israel in Daniel’s context—suffer grievously (Daniel 8:11, 24; 12:7). This preview aligns with Zechariah 14:2 and Revelation 12:13-17, showing Satan’s fury chiefly aimed at God’s covenant community. • Yet Zechariah 2:8 affirms that whoever touches God’s people “touches the apple of His eye.” Their persecution becomes the catalyst for God’s dramatic intervention (Daniel 8:25; 12:1). summary Daniel 8:24 outlines a terrifying ruler whose borrowed power wreaks havoc, appears unstoppable, and devastates both prominent leaders and God’s own people. Yet every clause hints at limits set by the sovereign Lord. The oppressor’s strength is not inherent, his destruction is time-bound, his success is temporary, and his assault on the faithful triggers divine deliverance. The passage calls readers to recognize God’s ultimate control, remain steadfast under trial, and trust that borrowed evil power will finally bow to everlasting righteousness. |
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