VISION OF THE RAM AND THE HE-GOAT
Daniel 8
Two years after the vision of the four Beasts of chapter 7 (see 7:1 and 8:1). Written now in Hebrew as events relate particularly to Israel through to chapter 12. This is the second half of Daniel, in Hebrew.
v3 – Ram, symbolised the kings of media and Persia (v20) – 2 horns. A 4th century historian states that the Persian ruler wore the head of a ram as he stood at the head of his army, Cyrus, king of Persia gained control over Media in 550 BC. Date of the vision, 551 BC. Daniel aged about 69 yrs. Vision was one year before fulfilment concerning Media, but 12 years before Belshazzar’s death and capture of Babylon (chapter 5). Note conquest direction, v4. West Babylon, Syria, Asia Minor; then north: Armenia, Caspian Sea. South: Egypt and Ethiopia. Note: not eastward – insignificant conquest there. Isaiah 45:1-3. Isaiah is given the prophecy concerning the overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus, I50 years beforehand.
v5 – He-goat symbolised king of Greece, (v21). Alexander came against Persia in 334 BC. He-goat has greater strength and agility. Goat is the symbol of ancient Macedonia – N. Greece, west of Persia. Conquest at great speed and Alexander conquered a greater area the Persia – speed of a leopard (chapter 7:6). Goats have two horns , this goat had only one – unusual, like Alexander – great military strategist, born 356 BC, son of Philip of Macedon, a military man himself. One horn symbolised Alexander’s unique person and power to conquer at great speed. No one person succeeded him as his empire was divided into four parts and ruled by his four generals. Ptolemy ruled Egypt and parts of Asia Minor. Cassander ruled Macedonia and Greece. Lysimachus ruled Thrace and parts of Asia Minor. Seleucus ruled the remainder: Syria, Israel and Mesopotamia.
v6-7 – Hot fury of hatred, revenge, infuriated strength, conquered the Persian empire over 3 years (334-331 BC) and on to the Indus river (India). Persia was humiliated and conquered. Daniel was shown this 220 years before in vision form.
Eight years after his leopard-speed conquest, Alexander died of a severe fever in June 323 BC at the age of 32.
v8 – His empire was divided into 4 parts, (see 7:6).
v9 – From the Greek division, Seleucus, came a king of unusual significance, Daniel noted. Antiochus Epiphanes, the 8th Ruler from Seleucus, (175-164BC). Remember Daniel’s visions concern the Jewish people. He was like the future Antichrist will be towards the Jewish people. Antiochus Epiphanes began insignificantly, but grew powerfully. Similar to 7:8 & 24-26, but there it is clearly Antichrist of the future, from the restored Roman empire, not Greece. Here in chapter 8 it is Antiochus Epiphanes of ancient history, though future to Daniel. Both are called ‘little horns’ – one prefigures the other. In chapter 8, Antiochus Epiphanes is the Antichrist of the O.T., causing intense suffering to the Jewish people, in the pattern of the future Antichrist of the Great Tribulation (chapter 7:24-26; 8:10-13, 9:27; Revelation 12;13;17), causing future suffering for the Jewish people. Antiochus Epiphanes obtained the throne by flattery and bribery, not as the rightful heir. He assumed the name ‘Epiphanes’; ‘Illustrious’. People called him ‘Epimanes’ – the mad man. He exercised dominion over the glorious land, v9, Israel. (See 11:16,41 concerning the future Antichrist).
v10 – ‘Host of heaven’ – the people of God, (see v24), numerous as the stars and sand – the Jewish people (Abrahamic Covenant promise). Antiochus Epiphanes blasphemed against God, profaned the Temple, oppressed the Jewish people with slaughter and massacre – severe persecution. Antiochus Epiphanes forced Hellenisation (Greek influence) upon the Jewish people. They resisted unto death (1st book of Maccabees – apocryphal history, but interesting).
v11 – ‘Prince’ – God Himself (see Joshua 5:14, margin ref.). See also v25. ‘Prince of Princes’ – (9:25), Messiah the Prince. Revelation 19:19-20.
v12 – ‘Ceremony’; ‘sanctuary’ polluted and desecrated – Jewish worship forced to end. On December 167 BC Jewish people were ordered to offer unclean sacrifices and eat swine’s flesh or die. Truth suppressed (see Romans 1:18; Isaiah 59:4,14-15). Change truth – Mosaic law and ordinances – cast down Divine revelation and substituted false religion of Greece.
v13 – How long?
v14 – 2300 days – from September 16th 171 BC began anti-Jewish atrocities by Antiochus Epiphanes. (Until 171 BC there was peace). Persecution ended when Judas Maccabeus recaptured and restored the Temple, December 25th 165 BC. Feast of Chanukah celebrates this in Jewish life. ‘Sanctuary cleansed and restored’ – the Temple.
v15-16 – ‘Man’ – ‘Gabor’ (Hebrew). ‘Mighty man’. Gabriel – mighty one of God who brings important in formation from God to man.
v17-18 – ‘Terrified’ – reaction of fear – personal sinfulness becomes overpowering in the presence of perfect holiness. Gabriel is only an angel! – not God!
Daniel was in Babylon, not Shushan. He was ‘taken in the Spirit’ to Shushan (Susa), v1-2.
v19 – ‘Time of the end’. Not just Antiochus Epiphanes of ancient history, but Antichrist of future history. Partial fulfilment must lead to total fulfilment, in line with the other visions recorded in Daniel.
v20-22 – Explanation.
v23 – ‘Transgressors’ – sinful actions have reached a point where God cannot permit them to go further without bringing punishment (see 1 Thessalonians 2:16; Matthew 23:32). Antiochus Epiphanes came on the scene towards the end of the Greek empire split four ways but as in prophecy we are taken beyond that into the time of the end – future antichrist (v24). Descriptions of Antiochus Epiphanes limited – Antichrist more fully in Daniel and Revelation.
v24 – ‘Not by his own power’ – significant reference to Antichrist – Satan controls him – the counterfeit Christ, world ruler (see Revelation 13:2). He achieves military and political world control.
v25 – Deceitful, cunning and proud, self-exalting ruler. Time of security – false peace – then sudden destruction, (see 1st Thessalonians 5:3). Antichrist pretends friendship, makes a covenant with Israel, then breaks halfway through a 7 year agreement, Isaiah 28:14-22. God judges him. He is personally destroyed by Christ at His coming again.
v26 – Compare with v14. Preserve vision for the end times.
v27 – Daniel ill, severe emotional reaction to the vision. After his recovery, Daniel was still astonished. Vision related to:
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Persia 538-331 BC
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Greece 331-146 BC
- that of Antiochus Epiphanes 175-164 BC.
Remember Daniel was about 69, the year was 551 BC, 12-13 years before Cyrus of Persia, 220 years before Greece and Alexander; 380 years before Antiochus Epiphanes and at least 2500 yrs before the end time Antichrist. No wonder Daniel was ill having been shown important aspects of future history as it related to Daniel’s people.