Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Daniel 8

Note: Daniel resumes writing in Hebrew (from Aramaic) in Daniel 8:1.

• In this chapter Daniel is serving the Babylonian empire but his vision reveal the kingdoms that will follow Babylon. In the previous chapter he saw four kingdoms Babylon, Medes and Persians, Greece, and the Kingdom of the coming Antichrist as a global leader, a beast.
• In this chapter his vision focuses only on the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians, Greece and the beginning of the coming Antichrist early in the Antichrist’s career when he is but a “little horn”.

Vision of a Ram and a Goat

Daniel 8:¹ In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar (Immediately prior to Belshazzar’s party and demise)

• Belshazzar was monarch of Babylonia for two years, being killed at the beginning of the third year on the fatal night of the fall of Babylon (Meg. 11b).
  http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2846-belshazzar

The vision of Alexander the Great of Greece defeating the Medes and Persians, occurred immediately before Belshazzar’s feast in Daniel chapter Five when Daniel reads “the Writing on the Wall”

a vision appeared to me—to me, Daniel—after the one that appeared to me the first time.

• The vision of the four beasts from Daniel chapter 7. Both visions are in regard to gentile kingdoms who are prophesied to rule over the Jews.

Daniel 8:² I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan (Or Susa), the citadel (Or fortified palace), which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.

Daniel 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 (long); but one was higher (longer) than the other, and the higher (longer) one came up last (later).

• The Ram with two horns (powers) is the Medes and Persians. (Cyrus II, a Persian who conquered Astyages the ruler of the Medes ) See the Chart of the Persian Rulers at the bottom of this chapter.

Daniel 8:⁴ I saw the ram pushing (warring, charging) westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal (kingdom) could withstand (Lit. stand before him) him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.

• Not toward the east because the Medes and Persians are from the east.

• Darius III, From Cyrus’ lineage is Darius III, the Ram, who will be trampled by Alexander the Great, representing the goat.

Daniel 8:⁵ And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west (Macedon), across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground (with great speed); and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes (Alexander the Great).

Daniel 8:⁶ 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,

• Alexander came with revenge in his heart because of all the Persian attacks on Greece.

(The goat, Alexander the Great) attacked (Lit. struck) the ram (Darius III), and broke his two horns (powers of the Medes and the Persians). 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.

• Darius III, the king of the Persians, ran from battle. Alexander’s men found him wounded, hiding in an ox-cart in Afghanistan. He had been stabbed by one of his own kinsmen who had visions of declaring himself king of Persia. When Darius III was found by Alexander’s men he stated he was glad he would not die alone. Alexander gave him a royal funeral and married his daughter. Darius’ mother never forgave her son from abandoning his family and took Alexander as her own son. When Alexander died, she turned her face to the wall, refused food and water, and died grieving.

Daniel 8:⁸ Therefore the male goat (Alexander the Great) grew very great;

• Alexander’s territories ranged from Greece all the way to India including Africa.

but when he became strong, the (one) large horn was broken,

• According to a Babylonian astronomical diary, Alexander died between the evening of June 10 and the evening of June 11, 323 BC. This happened in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon. Alexander was 33 years old and died at the height of his power.

and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.

• The four notable horns are Alexander’s generals at his death who formed a coalition against Antigonus’ attempt to crown his son Demitrius.
  
  • Ptolemy took Egypt
  • Seleucus took Syria
  • Laysimachus took Thrace (Turkey)
  • Cassander took Macedonia marrying Alexander’s sister.

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The Last Kingdom Before Jesus Christ Returns:
See Daniel Chapter 8 {2 of 3} The Shadow (Antiochus IV) and the Shadow’s Type (The Antichrist)

Daniel 8:⁹ And out of one of them (the four notable horns) came a little horn (from Seleucus’ Syria), which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.

Daniel 8:¹⁰ And it (the “little horn” Antichrist indwelt by Satan) grew up (grew in power) to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.

Daniel 8:¹¹ 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 (temple) was cast down.

• ►The Antichrist enters the Holy of Holies and declares that he is god (in the place of Jesus)

• ► Jesus spoke of this event:
  • Matthew 24:15 [The Great Tribulation] “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),
  • Mark 13:14 [The Great Tribulation] “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,

• ►Antiochus IV fulfilled Daniel’s prophecy but there is another to come like Antiochus IV – Jesus referred to this event in the future of Jesus’ time (Matt 24:15). This is why Antiochus IV is the “Foreshadow” or “Type” of the Antichrist.

Daniel 8:¹² Because of transgression (sin), 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.

• In these things, scripture refers to the coming Antichrist.
• An army is given to him: perhaps the ten kings.

Daniel 8:¹³ 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?”

Daniel 8:¹⁴ And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days (Lit. evening-mornings); then (plus) the sanctuary shall be cleansed.

Gabriel Interprets the Vision

Daniel 8:¹⁵ 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.

Daniel 8:¹⁶ And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”

Daniel 8:¹⁷ 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.”

Daniel 8:¹⁸ 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.

Daniel 8:¹⁹ 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.

Daniel 8:²⁰ The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia.

• The Medes and Persians (Cyrus) is the second head on the seven headed dragon.

Daniel 8:²¹ And the male (shaggy male) goat is the kingdom (Lit. king, representing his kingdom, Dan. 7:17, 23) of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.

Alexander the Great

See bottom of Chart below for the End of Darius III by Alexander the Great, who has Darius III killed and then marries his daughter. The boxes in yellow are ruling kings.

Daniel 8:²² 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.

• The broken horn is Alexander the Great. The four horns are four of his generals who broke up his territory after his death. Two of those horns ruled over the Jews intermittently, Egypt (Ptolemy) and Syria (Seleucus). Those two “horns” became two of the heads on the Seven-Headed dragon.
  
• Alexander (Greece) was the third head. Egypt and Syria are the fourth and fifth heads.

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Daniel 8:²³ “And in the latter time of their kingdom (the seven year tribulation),
When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
A king shall arise (the 7th head on the dragon),
Having fierce features (Lit. Countenance),
Who understands sinister schemes.

The king in Daniel 8:23 is the coming Antichrist who is the seventh and last head on the dragon in Revelation during the tribulation, which is also Daniel’s 70th week from Daniel 9:24

• The little horn, the Antichrist.
• The Antichrist cannot be Titus. Titus was part of the Roman Empire which is the 6th head on the dragon.
• The Antichrist is the 7th head on the dragon. (The heads are the kingdoms that have and will rule over the Jews).
  See: The Leviathan (sea monster, sea dragon, dragon) in the sea of people. Compare the Leviathan with Nebuchadnezzar’s Statue of Kingdoms.
  See Topic: Leviathan and scroll down to division (chapter) 12.

Daniel 8:²⁴ His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;

He shall destroy fearfully (Or extraordinarily),
And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people (the Jews).

Daniel 8:²⁵ “Through his cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule (Lit. hand);
And he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity.
He shall even rise against the Prince of princes (Jesus who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords);
But he shall be broken without human means (Lit. hand).

Daniel 8:²⁶ “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.”

Daniel 8:²⁷ And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished (amazed) by the vision, but no one understood.

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See Daniel and Ezekiel’s Visions Timeline during Daniel’s 70 Years

Daniel 8 {1 of 5} Daniel 8-History
Daniel 8 {2 of 5} Daniel 8-Antiochus IV and the Antichrist
Daniel 8 {3 of 5} Daniel 8-Mystery of Daniel’s 1,335 Days
Daniel 8 {4 of 5} Daniel 8-Symbolism
Daniel 8 {5 of 5} Daniel 8-End Time Prophecies

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