CHAPTER 8

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.

Chapter 7 was the FIRST year of Belshazzar's reign over Babylon. This chapter is in the THIRD year of Belshazaar's reign.

Here, Daniel has another vision, similar to the first.

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. 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. 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.

First, Daniel saw a "ram." This ram had one horn that was low, and then another, larger horn, came up high on the ram's head.
The ram was pushing toward the north and south. No beast could defeat him.
The ram represents the Medo-Persian empire which arose after Belshazzar.

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

The ram was conquering, but then there came a "he goat." The goat had one strong horn between his eyes, and defeated the ram.

The goat represents Alexander the Great who conquered the Medo-Persian empire. Alexander's army swept powerfully through Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia from 334-331B.C.

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. 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. 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. 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 goat's horn was broken (Alexander died) and four small horns. Of these four, one was particularly strong. That one forced his power toward the south and the east. He went toward "the pleasant land" -- Judah, and Jerusalem.

Antiochus Epiphanes took over the 4th part of Alexander's kingdom of Greece in 175B.C., and conquered Palestine in 171B.C. He desecrated the temple of God by offering a pig on the altar!

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 practised, and prospered.

The REASON Antiochus was able to do what he did was because of "transgression" in the people of God!

Friend's, when God's people do not stand for what is right, God sends DISCIPLINE to bring REPENTANCE!

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

Daniel heard a voice asking "How LONG will the sacrifices be taken away?" And the answer came back, "two thousand and three hundred days." Now that translates into about 6 and 1/2 years.

History records that Judas Maccabeus restored the Temple for proper worship in 165B.C.

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. 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. 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. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 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.

Daniel fell into a deep trance, but when the Lord spoke from within the river, He also "touched" Daniel and awakened him and stood him "upright." Let me just take a moment to say that the Word of God will always AWAKEN us and cause us to stand UPRIGHT!

The angel Gabriel is called upon to interpret the vision and explain to Daniel. Gabriel brought important messages to Israel (See Luke 1:19).

Note that the purpose of the vision is to explain things which will come at the "end," when God's "indignation" is poured out.

20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

The "ram" -- see verse 4.
The "he goat" -- see verses 5-7.
The "little horn" -- Antiochus Epiphanes -- see verses 10-11.

Antiochus was a deceitful man. He used "peace" (making treaties) to gain nation's favor, and then would destroy them.

Antiochus heard that the Jews had cleansed the temple (under the leadership of Judas Maccabaeaus, and was very angry. He vowed to return and make Jerusalem a "cemetery."

However, God had said that he would die "out of hand." In other words, the hand of man would not determine his death, but God alone would tend to it. Antiochus had made a prideful vow, and God struck him with an awful disease.

He was diseased with worms in his bowels, and he stunk so much that people didn't want to be near him. Finally, he wrote letters to the Jews and stated that if he recovered, he would allow them full and free exercise of their religion.

The disease continued to consume him. Ultimately, Antiochus died just as God had said, "out of hand;" by the hand of God!

Keep in mind that Daniel was written in 537 B.C. The events described didn't happen until some 300 and 400 years later!

This is the reason God had told Daniel the vision was for "the end." It was not the end of time, but the end of the era of the Jewish kingdom and usefulness to God which ushered in the birth of Christ and the beginning of the Christian church.

When Antiochus destroyed the temple, later Judas Maccabaeaus cleansed it. But when Christ was born, the unrighteousness of the Jews of that day had reached transgression "to the full" (see verse 23).

They were so full of themselves, and their own agenda that they refused to believe Christ was Messiah, God in flesh.
Thus ended the Jewish era of religious domination and the church age was ushered in.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.