DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 8.20

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Eight

The Ram, He-goat, and Little Horn Vision

 

 

Review

Daniel has been shown a duel prophecy, one that has a future double fulfillment. Verses 20 through 23 appear to indicate a near historical fulfillment since Persia and Greece succeeded the Babylonian Empire. However, from verse 23 and following, emphasis on the latter days is indicative of a futuristic fulfillment.

 

Gabriel submits to Daniel a chronological focus:

1. The first phase foreshadows a period of oppression on the people of God by Antiochus Epiphanes

 

2. In the second phase, there is a period of oppression of the people of God by the Antichrist

 

Daniel is overly cautious in restating his prophetic vision so that when its fulfillment occurs, it is not coincidental, but an assurance of the accuracy of God. Be mindful, synchronization of the two stages of chronological events are necessary, however, with a stronger prominence on the latter of which both Israel and the Church are recipients.

 

 

1. The Revelation of the Vision (Vv. 1-2)

2. The Presentation of the Vision (Vv. 3-14)

       a. A Ram (Vv. 3-4)

       b. A He-Goat (Vv. 5-8)

       c. A Little Horn (Vv. 9-12)

3. The Investigation of the Vision (Vv. 13-14)

4. The Interpretation of the Vision (Vv. 15-25)

       a. A Description of the Ram (V. 20)

(Verse 20)

 

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

 

The Ram

The angel Gabriel begins the interpretation of Daniel’s vision by explaining the meaning of symbols to leave no doubt in his mind. Simply stated, the ram signifies the Medo-Persian Empire. It is the equivalent of the breasts and arms of silver in Nebuchadnezzar’s statue dream (2:32b; 39a), and the one-sided bear of Daniel’s first vision (7:5a).

 

The Two Horns

The ram was depicted as having two horns. Two horns represented two kings, Darius of Media and Cyrus of Persia. Darius the Mede (cf. Ezra 4:5; Daniel 5:31) and Cyrus II the Great (cf. 2 Chronicles 35:22; Ezra 1:1; Daniel 1:21; 6:28; 10:21) held a duel monarchy, however, Persia became the more dominant horn. This is evidenced by the phrases it (the bear) raised up itself on one side (7:5) and the two horns [of the ram] were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last (8:3b).

 

Noteworthy: Persia expanded the neo-Babylonian Empire north to Macedonia and southward to Egypt. And, it remained in power for about 200 years.

 

 

        b. A Description of the He-goat (v. 21a)

(Verse 21a)

 

And the rough (male) goat is the king [kingdom] of Grecia:

 

The Hebrew translates king as a kingdom. So, the kingdom referred to is the Grecian Empire. It is representative of the belly and thighs of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (2:32b, 39b) and the leopard in Daniel’s vision (7:6a).

 

          c. A Description of the Little Horn (Vv. 21b – 25)

(Verse 21b)

 

And the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

 

The Little Horn

Undisputedly, the single large horn between the male goat's eyes portrays the first king of the newly acquired Greek Empire under Alexander the Great. Between 335 B.C. – 331 B.C. Alexander of Macedon swiftly conquered the Medo-Persian Empire and Hellenized the then-known world.

 

Etymology

Interestingly, the word for Greece in Hebrew is rendered Yavan and is taken from the root word yayin meaning wine. However, Javan was one of seven sons of Japheth, a grandson of Noah (see Genesis 10:2). Javan and his descendants occupied the area of Ionia and the islands of the Aegean Sea, the land of the Greeks.

 

 

(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.

 

Four Notable Horns

As for the broken horn, four notable ones (8:8) formed out of the great horn, which is descriptive of Alexander’s Empire after his death. The divided kingdom encompassed, Cassander to the West, Lysimachus to the North, Ptolemy to the South, and Seleucus to the East. Furthermore, the phrase not in his power indicates neither ruler had the power nor the direct family lineage of Alexander.

 

All of these divisions, except for a small part of the eastern kingdom of Seleucus, later became the Old Roman Empire. This area will also form the ten kingdoms of the last days, i.e., the Revived Roman Empire (cf. Daniel 7:7-8; Revelation 17:12).

 

 

(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.

 

Explanation of the Final Horn

Addressing his question from verse 15 as Daniel sought the meaning of his vision, Gabriel said, “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 8:19).

 

NOTE: All scholars recognize Antiochus IV Epiphanes fulfilled historically what Gabriel had predicted. However, Antiochus is merely a shadow of the Antichrist who is to come.

 

Since the phrase in the later time of their kingdom is preceded by a conjunction, it is joining the previous sentence. Therefore, he is referring to the events surrounding the final phase of the Roman Empire, i.e., the Revived Roman Empire. Ten nations or regions will emerge that would be submitted to a one-world government in Europe.

 

In eschatological terms, the frame reference is just before the Second Coming of Christ. So, it occurs in the latter days of the times of the Gentiles, encompassing the seven-year Tribulation Period.

 

Timeline of events

·        The death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.)

·        The independence of the four Greek kingdoms. i.e., the Hellenistic period (312 B.C. - 63 B.C.)

·        The rise of the Roman Republic (509 B.C. - 27 B.C.) under Julius Caesar began to assert themselves in the Mediterranean world as the Greek kingdoms entered a period of decline during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes (165B.C. – 174 B.C.)

·        Antiochus IV Epiphanes became ruler of the Seleucid Empire (175 B.C.)

·        The desecration of the Temple (167 B.C.)

·        The Maccabeans restored the Temple (December 25, 165 B.C.)

·        The death of Antiochus Epiphanes (164 B.C.)

·        The rise of the Roman Empire (27 B.C. – 476 A.D.)

·        The European Common Market comes into being in 1958, thus setting the stage for the final ten-nation alliance

 

When the transgressors are come to the full

A Time of His Coming

Gabriel is further describing a time when their sin is at its height (NLT), when sin has fully transgressed, or when sin has reached its limit. Although Antiochus Epiphanes and his reign of terror match the description, the prophecy goes beyond him and alludes to a time when someone more powerful and evil is in control toward the end of the world.

 

A king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up

The Mark of His Character

So, when wickedness has fully reached its apex, the final horn will appear in the latter days of Israel’s history. This king will have two identifying traits:

1. He will be of fierce countenance

The character of the Antichrist will be distinguished by his fierceness and stern-faced personality

 

2. He will be able to understand dark sentences

Another distinguishing feature will be his ability to solve complex problems or intriguing riddles, i.e., those with hidden meanings. Two such instances found in the Bible include:

a.  That which Samson tested the Philistines to solve within seven days for a reward of fine clothes (cf. Judges 14:12)

 

b.  Those which the Queen of Sheba tested the wisdom of Solomon (cf. 1 Kings 10:1-9)

 

Antichrist

From the final ten-nation conglomerate of the Revised Roman Empire (the ten toes), another horn or king shall arise and come into power in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation Period (cf. Daniel 7:24). This figure is the same little horn of Daniel’s second dream (cf. Daniel 8:9) and also the king in verse 23 who will stand up in power. He is known as Antichrist.

 

Antichrist is derived from the Greek word antichristos. Anti is defined as being against, antagonistic, in place of, or false. Christos, on the other hand, means anointed, as in Christ is the Anointed One. Interestingly, the Greek word christianos translates, to the anointed ones or Christians.   

                                                               

The word antichrist occurs four times in John’s epistles. Speaking about the time of the end, the last hour, he is introduced as such:

1 John 2:18 - Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we [may] know it is the last hour (BSB).

 

The Apostle Paul adds some further insight as to his coming:

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 - Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (destruction); Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

 

 

As Gabriel’s interpretation continues and comes to a close in the following study, the characteristics and actions of the Antichrist during the last days are more pronounced.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. Who were the two kings of the Medes and Persians?

2. What does the rough goat represent?

3. Who depicts the great horn between the rough goat’s eyes?

4. Name the four divided Hellenistic kingdoms.

5. How does the little horn obtain his power?

6. What is meant by the term dark sentences?

7. When does the little horn appear in the last days?

 

 

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