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THE RAM AND THE GOAT

Chapter 8

Each vision of Daniel is giving more details about the general scheme represented by the statue of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. As from this chapter, the visions concern more the future of the Jews (here called "holy people"), Jerusalem, the sanctuary (temple) and a terrible king (the beast of Revelation) that will persecute the Jews at the "latter time of the indignation" (the great tribulation), so the language used in the original goes back to Hebrew.

We now have more details on another "little horn" which, all seems to indicate, corresponds to the fourth animal in the previous chapter, being the same person: the Beast of Revelation (many commentators take the position that this time it is a king named Antiochus Epiphanes who plundered the temple and persecuted the Jews between 171 BC and 165 BC, but although there are some similarities, he did not fulfil the prophecy).

As the horn this time comes out of Greece, we believe that Greece will join the confederation of ten countries described in the previous chapter.

The Lord Jesus referred to the "abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" (Matthew 24:15) dealing with this same passage from the book of Daniel, identifying him as one who comes immediately before the "great tribulation."

From the vision and its interpretation given by the angel Gabriel, we see that this king will grow in power to the south, east, and to the "glorious land" (Israel), destroying the powerful and even the "holy people" (Jews) .

He will have "fierce features ", and understand sinister schemes. His power is great, but not by his own power (it is from Satan - Revelation 13:2). He shall rise against the "prince of Princes" (the Lord, and so making himself Antichrist), the daily sacrifices will be taken away by him, and the place of His sanctuary (the new temple to be built in Jerusalem) will be cast down.

Very astute in his enterprises, and using lies and deception, he will prosper and do what he pleases. He will war against the Prince of princes (the Lord Jesus, on His second coming), but will be broken without human means (he will be captured and cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone by the army from heaven - Revelation 19:20 - see also 2 Thessalonians 2:8). In Chapter 11 we will see something more about this.

The angel assures Daniel that the vision is true, but he must preserve it (for our benefit) as it refers to days still in the distant future. Daniel fell ill, and when he recovered he went about the king's business. He was amazed at the vision, but no one understood the message.

 

R David Jones

1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me—to me, Daniel—after the one that appeared to me the first time.
2 I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.
3 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.
5 And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
6 Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power.
7 And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.
8 Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.
10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.
11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.
12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?"
14 And he said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed."
15 Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision."
17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end."
18 Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.
19 And he said, "Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.
20 The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.
22 As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.
23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.
25 "Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.
26 "And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future."
27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king's business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.

Daniel chapter 8