Daniel Chapter 8

In Our Study Last Week, We began in Daniel 7 and Quickly turned to Daniel 4.

In this lesson, instead of returning to Daniel 7, I am going to turn to chapter 8.

For introduction, I’m going to quickly review “My Approach to Prophecy.”

2. Interpret things figuratively when that is the only way that will make sense.

(Dan 8 NKJV) 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.

Dan 7:1 “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.”

The “dream and visions of his head” occur two years after the dream and visions of chapter 7.

8:2 (KJV) 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.

This verse simply tells where he was when he received this vision.

Now the Dream Begins.

8:3 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.

Now we are going to turn to the “end of the book” to see how the story ends. Actually we only move down a few verses.

(Dan 8:15-20 NKJV) 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."

A note about Daniel:

{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.

Gabriel’s Purpose:

{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.

Now the Explanation so far:

{20} "The ram which you saw, having the two horns; they are the kings of Media and Persia.

This is similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2 except there is not head: no Babylon. We start with the second world empire instead of the first.

Daniel 8:5 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.

Daniel 8:7 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.

Now What Does This Mean?

{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.

· It is said when he finished his conquering the world that he wept because there were no more worlds to conquer.

· In his busyness, he not reared any children, so when he died his kingdom fell into the hands of four of his generals, but they were not Alexander the Great. “four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.”

Now what follows?

Is it immediate, or is it into the distant future?

I think this is a good question.

Daniel 8:9 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. [Israel] {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.

Then we have a break of sorts. A conversation in heaven if you will.

{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 Dan. 8:13 cont. “and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?" {14} And he said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed."

There are points, where we must say we are not sure exactly what a passage means. The “two thousand three hundred days” been interpreted by the Seventh Day Adventist to mean two thousand three hundred years. Dating it from that day brings them into the 1800’s and gives them a date for beginning the Seventh Day Adventist. Personally, I have to seriously doubt that this is a day/year prophecy. I know of no way to make it fit anything by doing that.

I believe verse 23 and following are very important in putting thing together.

{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; [Then whose power?] He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.

Compare this to Revelation:

(Rev 13:4-7 NKJV) So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" {5} And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

Rev 13:6 “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His nMy Study of Prophecyame, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. {7} It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

{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.

Compare this to Daniel