---

LESSON 11

*September 2 - 8

The Sanctuary and the Little Horn

Read for This Week's Study:

Memory Text: 

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 9.

"Even to the Prince of the Host"

Read Daniel 8:9-12, which focuses on the activity of the little horn. What are the specific things, according to the text, that the little-horn power does?  

In an earlier lesson (week 5), we noticed how the direction of the little horn's activity had shifted, first from a horizontal direction (vs. 9), which depicted a military or political expansion, to a vertical one (vss. 10-12), which revealed a religious dimension. This, we said, showed the two phases of Rome, first pagan, then papal.

Look again at the description of the little horn's activities in verses 10-12. These actions, obviously, aren't to be taken literally but symbolically. Without attempting to understand each symbol, what kind of action is being portrayed here? What kind of attack is the little horn launching?  

Look at some of the key words seen in this attack: "host" (Neh. 9:6, Luke 2:13); "heaven" (Matt. 6:1, Heb. 9:24); "prince" (Isa. 9:6, Dan. 12:1, Acts 3:15, 5:31); "daily" (Num. 4:16, 28:24, 29:6); "sanctuary" (Exod. 25:8; Heb. 8:1, 2); "truth" (Job 9:2, John 14:6, 1 Tim. 2:4, James 5:19). All these words, filled with religious and spiritual meaning, are what come under attack by the little horn. Thus, more than anything else, it's the religious attack by the little horn that plays great prominence here, and that's the focus of the vision. The Lord wants us to see the religious dimension of the little horn and that its activities are in a religious sphere. This activity is seen again in the explanation in Daniel 8:23-25, in which the little horn specifically is said to persecute "the mighty and the holy people," as well as to stand up against "the Prince of princes."

In your own experience, what are the ways that your faith and beliefs have come under attack? Which has been the greatest challenge to you? What has been your most effective means of defense?

The Sanctuary

Compare the kind of beast-symbols found in Daniel 7 and in Daniel 8. What great difference do you see between them?  

Not only are the beasts in Daniel 8 sanctuary animals, they are among the animals used on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). This provides the first link to the book of Leviticus, which spends more time dealing with the sanctuary service than any other book in the Old Testament.

Read again Daniel 8:10-12 (see also vss. 13, 14). What is the center of the little horn's attack?  

It's clear that the sanctuary is under attack.

First, the little horn takes away the "daily." The Hebrew word translated "daily" (tamid) also means "continual" or "perpetual," and it is used numerous times in direct reference to the day-by-day ministry of the priests in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary service. This, then, is an unmistakable reference, not only to the sanctuary service but to the daily ministry in that service (see Exod. 27:20, 29:42, Num. 4:7, 28:6).

In Daniel 8:11, it said that the "place" or the "foundation" of His sanctuary was cast down. That word place is found in numerous texts, all in reference to the sanctuary, or to God's dwelling place, which also has a link to the sanctuary (Exod. 15:17, 1 Kings 8:13, 2 Chron. 6:2, Isa. 18:4).

Then there are, of course, the references to the "sanctuary" itself, found not only in verse 11 but also in verses 13 and 14. These verses alone show clearly how the sanctuary, which was the earthly model of the plan of salvation, was under attack.

Given the time frame of this phase of the little horn, which arose around the fifth century A.D., why can this not be an attack on the earthly sanctuary?  

Because the earthly sanctuary had been destroyed in A.D. 70, this was an attack on the heavenly sanctuary. The little horn, of course, would not get into heaven, so this, instead, would have been an attack on all that was symbolized by the sanctuary, which is the plan of salvation. Thus, the little horn attacks not only God's people but the plan of salvation, as well.

The Attack

Daniel, more than five hundred years before Christ, is shown in vision the essence of Rome's later attack on "the truth," which it cast "to the ground" (Dan. 8:12). Among other things, the little horn waxes great, even against the "Prince of the host," Jesus.

At the time of Rome's attack, where was Christ, and what was He doing? Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:24-27; 8:1-5; 9:11-14, 24.  

The little horn, as we saw, waxed great, even to the "Prince of the host," who is obviously Christ. Its attack, too, centered against not just the people of God but against the sanctuary and its foundation and services, in this case, specifically, the "daily" service.

It's very important to keep in mind that Christ, "the Prince of the host," is now ministering for us in the heavenly sanctuary, which is under attack by the little horn. Again, the language was symbolic; the little horn didn't actually get into heaven, any more than it physically cast the "truth" or the "place of his sanctuary" to the ground.

Thus, this attack by the little horn was also an attack on the plan of salvation, which began with the death of Christ (symbolized by the death of the animals in the sanctuary service), and which was followed by Christ's high-priestly ministry (symbolized by the ministry of the priesthood in the earthly service). Everything symbolized by that sanctuary has come under attack by the little horn.

How did it do this?

Christ is now our High Priest, interceding for us in the heavenly sanctuary. A careful study of the Roman system shows how the entire structure of the church, with its priesthood, mediation, and mass, usurps everything that Christ has done for us or is doing for us now. Everything that we as believers would attribute directly to God and Christ has been commandeered by the Roman Church itself, which according to the text "magnified itself" (Dan. 8:11, RSV), even to Christ Himself (see Friday's lesson).

What is the role of the organized church in the plan of salvation? How can you be an active participant in helping the church fulfill its role? At the same time, what are the limits of what the church can do for you in your walk with the Lord?

The "Daily":  Part 1

As you read about the little horn's attack in Daniel 8:10-12 on the sanctuary, it says specifically that the little horn took away "the daily." Though many translations in English supply the word "sacrifice" or "burnt offerings," the text does not say that. Though this addition shows that translators were able to see the clear link with the sanctuary, the added word is not warranted. The word "daily" (see Monday's lesson) dealt not just with the daily sacrifices but with the entire daily operations of the earthly sanctuary.

What part of the "daily" service (translated as "always," "continual," "perpetual") is depicted in each of these texts? Also, in what part of the sanctuary are most of these activities taking place?  

Exod. 25:30

Exod. 27:20

Exod. 30:8

Lev. 6:13

In these texts, the word tamid (translated "daily" or "the daily" in Daniel 8:11) modified each of these activities. Thus, though the tamid included the sacrifices, it included the day-by-day ministrations of the priesthood, which, according to the book of Hebrews, was just an "example and shadow of heavenly things" (Heb. 8:5). Those heavenly things, of course, were the spiritual realities of Christ's high-priestly ministry; all these earthly activities, these shadows, were simply symbols of Christ ministering in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf. Again, this is what has come under attack by the little horn.

Also notice, too, that these activities centered around the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. The bread, the lampstand, and the incense were all in the first apartment; the sacrifice, of course, was at the altar outside it.

The important point, which will be seen later, is that none of the activities had anything to do with the Most Holy Place, the second aparnnent, which the high priest entered only once a year, when the sanctuary was cleansed.

What kind of "daily," or "continual," activities are so important for your own spiritual growth? Why is the fact that they are done "daily" so important for that growth?

"The Daily":  Part 2

The earthly sanctuary service was a model of the heavenly; the sacrifices and the ministry of the priesthood were types, figures, mini-prophecies, as it were, of the death and high-priestly ministry of Jesus.

What does Hebrews 9:1-14 teach about the relationship between the earthly service and the heavenly one?  

Students of the sanctuary service know that besides the daily ministration in the first apartment, once a year the high priest entered into the Most Holy Place to perform the "cleansing of the sanctuary" (see Leviticus 16). Because this happened only once a year, it's often called "the yearly," to contrast it with "the daily." Hence, the entire sanctuary service could be placed broadly in two categories: the daily, first-apartment ministry, and the yearly, second-apartment ministry, during which the sanctuary was cleansed.

We've seen, too, that the little horn attacks the heavenly sanctuary, which was an attack on the plan of salvation itself. This, we believe, refers to the entire Roman Catholic system, which has usurped the role and prerogatives of God and Christ in the plan of salvation (see Friday's lesson).

Now, an important question: Why was just the daily service, the tamid, specified as the object of the little horn's attack? Why did the vision emphasize only one aspect of the sanctuary service, as opposed to both?

Read Daniel 8:14. How does this text help answer the above questions?  

The little horn was able to attack only the "daily" because the "yearly," the second-apartment ministry, which occurred when the sanctuary was cleansed, wasn't in operation then. Not until the end of the 2,300 years, 1844, was the sanctuary to be cleansed and the "yearly" began.

Thus, in Daniel 8, both phases of Christ's high-priestly ministry appear: "the daily," which comes under attack by the little horn, and "the yearly," which commences at the end of the 2,300 days. Both are brought to view in this chapter.

Further Study:  

Discussion Questions:

How do these quotes help us better understand the little horn's usurpation of what belongs only to God?      As a class, discuss the question at the end of Tuesday's lesson. What is the role of the church in the plan of salvation; what are the limits in what it can do for us? Why is the church a means to an end but not an end in itself?

Join the SSNET moderated email discussion group.  You are also warmly invited to join a group discussion of this lesson Sabbath morning with your local Seventh-day Adventist congregation.

Editorial Office:  12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904.
Principal Contributor:  Clifford R Goldstein
Editor:  Clifford R. Goldstein
Associate  Editor:  Lyndelle Brower Chiomenti
Production Manager:  Soraya Homayouni Parish
Editorial Assistant:  Larie S. Gray
Pacific Press Coordinator:  Paul A. Hey
Art and Design:  Lars Justinen
Concept Design:  Dever Design

Copyright © 2006 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist.  All Rights Reserved.

SSNET Web Site Home page.
Directory of adult SS quarterly Bible Study guides.

Prepared for the Internet by the SSNET Web Team.
Last updated July 26, 2006