Saturday, September 26, 2020

Daniel Chapter 8: Vision of the Ram and the Goat Explained

 Daniel's vision of a ram and a goat occurs in the third year of Belshazzar's reign or B.C. 551. Babylon doesn't fall until B. C. 539. Thirteen years before Babylon becomes invaded by the Persians and Cyrus, Daniel once again sees the fall.

Beyond this, however, Daniel sees the rise of Alexander the Great. He could have been one of the greatest military conquerors in history. However, he died when he was only 32 years of age. The kingdoms he conquered were diveded between his four generals: Cassander took Macedonia; Seleucus took Syria; Thrace and much of Asia Minor went to Lysimachus; Ptolemy claimed Egypt. Alexander was never defeated.

Let's look at the account of Daniel 8 to see how this all comes about.


Vv 1— 8         Vision of the Ram and Goat

V 1 In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king a vision appeared to me, Daniel,

            subsequent to the one which appeared to me previously.

A. When was the third year of the reign of Belshazzar? 551 B.C.

  1. During this year, Daniel has a vision.

  2. The vision was the same one which appeared to him previously.

  3. How long ago? 2 years after the vision of Chapter 7.

  4. Remember, Babylon fell in 539 B.C.

V 2 I looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel of Susa, which is

            in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the

            Ulai Canal.

B. Remember, it is 13 years before Babylon will fall, and Daniel no longer lives in

            Babylon.

V 3 Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was

            standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were long, but one was longer

            than the other, with the longer one coming up last.

C. Two horns represent two kings or kingdoms. The longer horn represents that one

            kingdom will be more powerful than the other.

V 4 I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts

            could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power, but he did

            as he pleased and magnified himself.

D. Next Daniel sees this ram actually taking countries westward, northward and

            towards the south.

  1. He took whomever he pleased.

  2. He thought of himself as a great and powerful.

V 5 While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the

            surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a

            conspicuous horn between his eyes.

E. Then a male goat coming from the west, quickly, with a long horn between his eyes.

V 6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of

            the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath.

F. He made war with the ram with two horns.

V 7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram

            and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he

            hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the

            ram from his power.

G. When they engaged in war, the ram couldn’t withstand they goat with a long horn.

  1. The ram was no match for the goat.

  2. The goat trampled the ram into the ground.

  3. No one could help the ram.

V 8 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the

            large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns

            toward the four winds of heaven.

H. Although the male goat made war and proved himself very powerful, soon he was

            defeated, broken, Alexander the Great died at age 32.

  1. Alexander the Great took Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.

  1. Actually, he wasn’t defeated; his kingdom was split after his death.

  2. His kingdom was split four directions by four of his generals.

    a. Cassander took Macedonia

    b. Thrace and much of Asia Minor went to Lysimachus

    c. Seleucus took Syria

    d. Ptolemy claimed Egypt.

Vv 9 – 14        The Little Horn

V 9 Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great

            toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.

A. From one of these came a rather small horn: this isn’t to be confused with the small

            horn of 7:8 that must come out of the Roman Empire.

  1. This small horn was Antiochus IV Epiphanes 175 B.C. of Greece.

    a. He became great toward the south, Egypt toward the east, and toward Israel.

    b. He persecuted the Jews relentlessly.

    c. He desecrated the temple by offering pig’s flesh on the altar.

V 10 It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars

            to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down.

B. host of heaven is God’s people, the Jews.

  1. Antiochus persecuted them severely.

  2. The stars representing the fallen Jews, here.

V 11 It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed

            the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down.

C. The Commander is God,

  1. Antiochus set himself up as God.

  2. He caused the sacrifices to stop.

  3. He destroyed a portion of the temple.

V 12 And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with   the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and

            prosper.

D. Antiochus had his way with the Jews, they could not withstand his power.

  1. He stopped the regular sacrifice.

  2. He flung truth to the ground.

  3. He did anything he wanted to do.

  4. And he prospered.

V 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one

            who was speaking, How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply,

            while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the

            host to be trampled?

E. A voice from heaven asks, How long will the regular sacrifice be stopped while the

            transgression causes horror and allow the temple and God’s people to be

            trampled.

V 14 He said to me, For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be

            properly restored.

F. 2300 days equal 6.39 Jewish years.

  1. From 171 B. C. to December 25, 165 B.C.

  2. At this time, Judas Maccabeus restored the temple to proper worship.

Vv 15 – 19      Interpretation of the Vision

V 15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing

            before me was one who looked like a man.

A. Since Daniel wanted to understand the vision, God sent someone that looked like a

            man to stand before Daniel.

V 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and

            said, Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.

B. Daniel hears the voice of a man before him on the banks of the Ulai River.

  1. The man called to Gabriel.

  2. He asked Gabriel to tell Daniel the meaning of his vision.

  3. Gabriel’s name means, “Hero of God.”

V 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and

            fell on my face; but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision

            pertains to the time of the end.

B Although it pertains to the time of the end, notice that the vision starts well before

            Christ, and begins with the Medes and Persians.

  1. When did the Medes and Persians begin? 539 B.C.

  2. So the time of the end began then?

  3. No, this just sits the stage for the entrance into the life of Jesus under the Romans

            and the beginning of the end that starts with the church age on the day of

            Pentecost.

V 18 Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the

            ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright.

C. Have you ever heard of Swooning in the Spirit. That’s what happens to Daniel, here.

  1. He falls out in front of Gabriel.

  2. But the angle touches Daniel and makes him stand upright.

V 19 He said, "Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of

            the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.

D. Hold on because I’m going to reveal the final indignation =  Zah’-am1  Strictly, to

            froth at the mouth, fury (especially with God’s displeasure at sin). Anger,

            indignation, rage. This pertains to the appointed time of the end.

Vv 20 -- 27      The Ram's Identity

V 20 The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

A. We already know who, it is the Medo-Persian empire.

The Goat

V 21 The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is

            between his eyes is the first king.

B. The shaggy goat is Greece under Alexander the Great 334-331 B.C.

V 22 The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms

            which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.
C. The horn broken into four pieces will represent four kingdoms that will arise from

            this nation; however, they will not be nearly as strong as Alexander.

V 23 In the latter period of their rule,
         When the transgressors have run their course,
         A king will arise,
         Insolent and skilled in intrigue
.
D. Antiochus IV Epiphanes 175 B.C. of Greece, the same as the little horn of Vv 9-14.

V 24 His power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
         And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree
         And prosper and perform his will;
         He will destroy mighty men and the holy people
.
E. These verses just add impetus to the persecution of the Jews of Vv 9-14

V 25 And through his shrewdness
         He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence;
         And he will magnify himself in his heart,
         And he will destroy many while they are at ease.
         He will even oppose the Prince of princes,
         But he will be broken without human agency
.
F. Notice that his downfall will not be natural but supernatural, by God. He died in B.C. 164 .

V 26 The vision of the evenings and mornings
         Which has been told is true;
         But keep the vision secret,
         For it pertains to many days in the future
.

G. It lasted 6.39 years from B. C. 171 to December 25, 165.

V 27 Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days Then I got up again and carried on

            the king's business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to

            explain it.

H. Daniel remained sick and in bed for days.

  1. Finally he returns to work.

  2. Although he saw the visions, he could not explain the meaning.

  3. We know now by looking back in history that all the events he described came true.

 

 

 1. Ibid.


Daniel

 

Chapter 8

 

Study Questions

 

  1. What is the date of this chapter?

 

  2. How long since Daniel had his vision in Chapter 7?

 

  3. How was this vision like the one he had in Chapter 7?

 

  4. Where is Daniel at this time?

 

  5. Who did the Ram with the two horns represent?

 

  6. Who did the Shaggy Goat represent?

 

  7. What do the two horns represent?

 

  8. What does the one horn represent on the goat?

 

  9. Where is the Beautiful Land described in verse 9?

 

10. How long will the regular sacrifice be cut off?

 

11. Who did the man call to give Daniel understanding of the vision?

 

12. When does the vision start?

 

13. What is the vision for?

 

14. What does this tell us about the end times?

 

15. When the one horn broke, four came up in its place, what do the four hours mean?

 

16. The persecutions of the Jews of Vv 23-25 still depict whom?

 

17. In comparison, think of Jesus’ words from Matthew 24:21, For then there will be a

            great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until

            now, not ever will. These persecutions were horrible!

 

18. Why were, are and will the Jews be so persecuted? (Your opinion).

 

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Howard


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