Introduction

Daniel 8

Verse 1: In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

In the vision of Daniel 7, Daniel had "a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters" (Dan. 7:1). Daniel had apparently been asleep and had been given the vision recorded in Daniel 7 by way of a dream. He was awake, however, when God spoke to him in the vision recorded in Daniel 8.

Verse 2: And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

Not only was Daniel awake, but apparently he was out on the king’s business when he was given the vision.

Verse 3: Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

Positive identification of who that ram represents is given in verse 20: "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia." The ram with two horns represents the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians. The higher horn reveals that the Persian side of the kingdom would be dominant.

Verse 4: I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

This study of Daniel 8 will reveal the reason the words "became great" are an important key to understanding this prophecy.

Verse 5: And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

This shaggy-looking, rough goat is specifically identified in verse 21: "The rough goat is the king of Grecia (Greece) and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king." Here the Bible identifies this third world kingdom as the kingdom of Greece. History records that Greece, led by Alexander the Great, followed Medo-Persia to power. Thus, Alexander the Great is represented by the notable horn between the eyes of the he goat. The swiftness of Alexander’s conquests is represented by the goat’s astonishing speed as he appeared not to touch the ground.

Verse 6: And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

The ram seemed to be standing still as the racing forces of Alexander the Great out-maneuvered and overthrew the mighty army of Medo-Persia. Note the graphic details depicted in these verses.

Verse 7: And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

"Choler" is an obsolete word suggesting fury and wrath. None could deliver the ram because Alexander the Great set about to conquer the world with great speed and force. Medo-Persia had no one to turn to for help because Alexander’s forces were conquering the rest of the world also. No other ally could deliver the ram out of the hand of the he goat.

Verse 8: Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

Scripture says the ram "became great," but the he-goat became "very great." History records that Greece was by far a greater world power than Medo-Persia.

In Daniel 2 and the vision of the great image, each succeeding kingdom was represented by a metal of inferior value. However, it is interesting to note that each succeeding metal actually increased in strength: Babylon (gold), Medo-Persia (silver), Greece (bronze), Rome (iron). This agrees with the description of each power becoming greater.

Daniel 8:8 says, "and when he was strong, the great horn was broken." The Bible is careful to point out that at the apex of his power, as soon as he became "very great," the great horn was broken. At the height of his greatness and in the prime of life, Alexander died at 32 years of age.

Verse 8 continues, "the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones." Regarding those four notable horns, history reveals that Alexander’s kingdom was divided among his four leading generals. And the description "towards the four winds of heaven" (directions of the compass) was played out in history by each of Alexander’s four leading generals receiving a portion of the Grecian Empire (N.S.E.W). Seleucus became ruler in the east over Syria, Lysimachus ruled in the north over Palestine, Cassander ruled in the west over Macedonia, and Ptolemy ruled in the south over Egypt.

In Daniel 7, Greece was represented by the leopard with four heads. The four heads of the leopard likewise correspond to the four leading generals of Alexander the Great.

Verse 9: And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

From one of those four points of the compass came forth a little horn which waxed "exceeding great," greater than "great" and "very great." This little horn power must be as recognizable as the powers before it.

Since the little horn power pushed to the south, east, and north, it had to come from the west. History records that Cassander’s kingdom pushed toward the south (Egypt fell to Rome in 30 BC), pushed to the east (Syria fell to Rome in 65 BC), and pushed north to the pleasant land (Palestine fell to Rome in 63 BC). Of the four leading generals, Cassander proved to be the strongest. His kingdom grew to become the mighty Roman Empire, the "little horn, which waxed exceeding great."

The prophecies of Daniel 2, 7, and 8 deal with the same powers in the same order: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The "he goat" that came on the scene prior to the "little horn" power was Greece. The next world power to follow Greece is unquestionably Rome. God’s Word leaves no doubt about what power is being revealed. Daniel 8:9 presents Rome (including both its Pagan and Papal phases) as the little horn power.

It is a fact of history that the Church of Rome is a continuation of the Empire of Rome. "The popes filled the place of the vacant emperors of Rome, inheriting their power, prestige, and titles from paganism . . . . Constantine left all to the Bishop of Rome . . . . The papacy is but the ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon its grave" (Arthur P. Stanley, Stanley’s History, p. 40).

A popular theory suggests that Antiochus Epiphanes is the little horn power. However, careful study of history proves this cannot be the case.

In Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 11, all the world empires appear in the same order: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome (the divided kingdoms), and Papal Rome. Deviating from this order causes the prophecies to lose harmony and creates great confusion. Some attempt to interject Antiochus Epiphanes as the little horn power. This makes it impossible to understand what the prophecies represent.

The beasts represented in these prophecies symbolize world powers. They are not individuals. Antiochus Epiphanes was not a world empire; he was one in a series of Selucid kings. The same "little horn" appears in Daniel 7:21, 22, 26 and continues until the glorious return of Jesus, but Antiochus Epiphanes has been resting in his grave since around 164 years before the first coming of Christ. Furthermore, people today are familiar with the Grecian Empire and most are aware of the Persian Empire (Persian Gulf), but few today would recognize Antiochus Epiphanes. If this power was greater than all the previous powers, it should be well known in history. However, most people need to find Antiochus Epiphanes in an encyclopedia to know who he was. On the other hand, most people are familiar with the Roman power – both church and state.

Verse 10: And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

The Roman Empire became very powerful during the Dark Ages when it displayed its extreme hatred for God’s people by putting tens of millions of them to death in various barbaric ways. This persecution "cast some of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them." The "host" and "stars" represent those who were dedicated to following God, "the mighty and the holy people of God" spoken of in Daniel 8:24. A similar use of "stars" to represent God’s followers is found in Daniel 12:3.

Verse 11: Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

The only being the "prince of the host" could represent is Jesus Christ. Through all these prophecies, this "little horn" power magnified itself not only to be equal with but also in some cases to be above God Himself. By attempting to change God’s law, this power endeavored to place itself above God (Dan. 7:25). The prophecy of Daniel 8 builds on the foundation of Daniel 7 and more fully reveals the true character of the "little horn" power as Satan carries on his work against God’s people.

In the phrase "the daily sacrifice was taken away," the word "sacrifice" is italicized (KJV). When a word is italicized in Scripture, it means that the translators have supplied the word. This verse says that the "little horn" power of verse 9 even attempted to undermine Christ’s perpetual ministry in the heavenly sanctuary that began after He returned to heaven from this earth. At the death of Christ, the sacrifices and the earthly priestly ministry ended (Dan. 9:27). For this reason, animal sacrifices and confession of sins to a priest are no longer practiced or necessary today. This power, however, established the idea of the confessional and an earthly priesthood where sins are confessed to another human being rather than to Christ. This practice replaces Jesus’ free gift of salvation with salvation by works in which one must do something (for example, pay money) to be forgiven. The whole idea of what Christ is actually doing in heaven for mankind was therefore undermined (Rev. 13:6).

Some view the "daily" as the perpetual empire of Rome giving way to the church phase of the Roman power. Both views are an actual fact of history and are in perfect harmony. Verses 13 and 14 make clear that it is the heavenly sanctuary and Christ’s ministry there that is the subject of those verses. This was "taken away" and "cast down" by the "little horn" power through the establishment of its own priesthood.

Christ’s Perpetual Ministry

When Christ died on the cross, the temple curtain was rent from top to bottom without the aid of human hands, signifying that an earthly priest would no longer be mankind’s high priest (Matt. 27:51). Christ (and Christ only) was designated to be the high priest for mankind from that time forward (Heb. 4:14-16). The sacrifice and the oblation ceased. All earthly priesthood came to an end along with animal sacrifice. Christ, as the spotless Lamb of God, had paid the price; only He was worthy to be High Priest from henceforth and forever more.

Verse 12: And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.

Note that "an host" (or army) "was given" him. Verse 24 foretells that "his power shall be mighty but not by his own power." Millions fell under the influence of the Roman church during the Dark Ages and it literally "was given" its frightful power of destruction. In spite of all that it did against God and His people, especially during the Dark Ages, it prospered greatly. (This "host," or army, must not be confused with the "host of heaven" in verse 10 of which some were cast "to the ground, and stamped upon.")

Verse 13: Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot?

The saints speaking to one another knew the answer to the question, so this conversation was for Daniel’s benefit. To help Daniel understand that they were talking about the sanctuary ministry in heaven, one saint asked the other saint, "How long shall the vision be concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot?" God’s persecuted people were the host that was cast down in verse 10.

Verse 14: And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Here the angel answers Daniel’s unspoken question that the saints had raised in verse 13. The answer in verse 14 is the only place in Scripture that establishes 2300 days as the period of time ("how long") until the final purging of sin would begin in the heavenly sanctuary. Daniel 8 does not mention a starting or stopping point for this time period. However, Daniel 9:24-25 gives a starting date to the 2300 days. Without this starting date, it would be difficult to know when the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary began. Studying Daniel 9 as an extension of the prophecy in Daniel 8 makes this verse clear and emphasizes its great significance for the present time. (See study on Daniel 9.)

Verse 15: And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

Oftentimes Bible prophets didn’t fully understand the messages given them, but it was their responsibility to relate what they had seen or heard. Daniel stands out among the prophets as one who speaks through prophecy that is being fulfilled today (Dan. 12:13). The book of Daniel was to remain largely sealed until the "time of the end" (Dan. 12:4).

Verse 16: And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

The only mention of "Gabriel" in the Old Testament is here in verse 16 and in Dan. 9:21 where he returns to complete the vision. This, along with the fact that Daniel 9 contains the only explanation in Scripture establishing the beginning point for the 2300 days (years), suggests that these two chapters are closely related.

Verse 17: So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

Gabriel is telling Daniel that some aspects of this vision will continue to the end of human history. Some details of this vision are being fulfilled today.

Verse 19: And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

Verses 17 and 19 both emphasize the end times. Then Gabriel goes on to explain the vision exactly as it has been described in the study above.

Verse 20: The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

Gabriel does not leave the interpretation of this vision to speculation. The ram with the two horns is the Medo-Persian kingdom.

Verse 21: And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

The rough goat is the kingdom of Greece, and its first king was Alexander the Great.

Verse 22: Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

After the "great horn" (Alexander the Great) was broken, "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation." As explained previously, following Alexander’s death, Greece was divided among his four leading generals: Seleucus, Lysimachus, Cassander, and Ptolemy. (See comment on Dan. 8:8.)

THE EMPIRE OF ROME (168 BC – AD 538)

Verse 23: And in the latter time of their kingdom when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

Verse 23, referring back to verse 22, predicts that "in the latter time of their kingdom," when the Grecian empire (which had already divided into four divisions) comes to an end, "a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences shall stand up." This description closely parallels the description of the terrible beast of Daniel 7:7. The phrase "understanding dark sentences" suggests the idea of deceitful talk.

James 1:17 gives a description of things that come from God: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Light is from God and comes from above (1 John 1:5; Prov. 4:18). A power "understanding dark sentences" implies a Satanic connection (Eph. 6:12; Prov. 4:19).

THE CHURCH OF ROME (AD 538 – AD 1798)

Verse 24: And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

What power is verse 24 talking about? In Daniel 7:25 the little horn would "wear out the saints of the most High." This verse says this king would "destroy the mighty and the holy people." Revelation 13:2 says "the dragon gave him his power." This verse calls him "mighty, but not by his own power."

PRESENT PHASE OF THE ROMAN POWER

Verse 25: And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

This power being "broken without hand" refers to events that take place at the coming of Jesus. Two other verses, verse 17 ("at the time of the end shall be the vision") and verse 19 ("for at the time appointed the end shall be"), also indicate that this as the "indignation" that takes place at the end of time (Dan. 8:19; Dan. 11:36; Nahum 1:6; Zeph. 3:8; Rev. 14:10).

What would the situation be like in the world at this time? Would it be easy to be deceived by this power? Verse 23 says, "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand." Dictionary definitions of "craft" include the words "deceitfulness" and "witchcraft." This is what is emerging today. The Marian movement of priests, 100,000 strong, is teaching that Mary, the mother of Jesus now sleeping in her grave, is appearing with messages for the end times. One must have an understanding of what Scripture teaches about the state of man in death in order to escape this spiritualistic deception.

At the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City in December 1994, Mary is purported to have delivered this message to Father Gobbi, the head of the Marian priesthood: "I confirm to you that, by the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, there will take place the triumph of my Immaculate Heart, of which I foretold you at Fatima, and thus will come to pass the return of Jesus in glory to establish His reign in the world. Thus you will at last be able to see with your own eyes the new heavens and the new earth" (The Virgin Mary to Father Gobbi at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, December 1994. Recorded in the video documentary Prophecy and the New Times (1997). MaxKol Institute: 1301 Moran Rd., Suite 303, Sterling, VA 20166.)

It is very important to understand the state of man in death. Those who believe that some conscious part of a person lives after death could easily believe that Mary is indeed giving messages from her Son. This belief leaves individuals open to Satan’s masterful spiritualistic deceptions. In the same manner, those who believe Satan’s deceptions about life after death could also rely on another human as their redeemer rather than relying solely upon Christ. They could even go so far as to accept the Anti-Christ for the Messiah. Spiritualism is indeed deceptive and dangerous.

Some other Old and New Testament passages that outline the Biblical teachings about the state of man in death include 1Thess. 4:15-18; John 5:28, 29; Gen. 2:7; Eccl. 12:7; Job 27:3; Psalm 146:3, 4; 1 Tim. 6:16; Romans 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Psalm 115:17; Acts 2:34; Psalm 6:5; Eccl. 9:5-6; Romans 6:23; 2Tim. 4:7, 8; Rev. 22:12.

Daniel 8:25 declares, "and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many." In times of peace and prosperity when people are at ease and feel secure and when there is a push for world peace, sudden destruction will come (l Thess. 5:1-5).

When Israeli leaders met with the Pope at the Vatican in the early 1990’s, John Paul II gave a speech and, with recollections of the Holocaust as a platform, stated that we are entering a millennium of peace where there will not be bigotry against race, religion, color, or creed. He added that those who do not fit into the peace of the new millennium will be rooted out.

The "Prince of princes" of verse 25 refers to the same "prince of the host" as in verse 11. With most of the world captive to Satan’s delusions, he will array himself with all the confederated forces of earth against the "Prince of princes" (Christ). The final showdown between truth and error will soon take place. In the eyes of most of the world, the pope (through his policy of craft) will be seen as the one to usher in the era of peace.

Verse 25’s conclusions that "he shall be broken without hand" is parallel to Daniel 11:45 which says, referring to this same power, "And he (the papacy) shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." 2 Thess. 2:8 reveals that it is Christ Himself who will eventually destroy this power at His coming. How wonderful it is to have the assurance that Jesus Christ, along with all who are faithful to Him, will soon be victorious (Rev. 17:14).

Verse 26: And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Daniel was told to "shut…up the vision" because it was not to be clearly understood in his day. However, at the end of time, the meaning of the prophecy will become clear. With current events and Bible prophecy in mind, it is clear that the culmination of the battle between Christ and Satan will soon take place.

Verse 27: And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

Summary

Short Cuts