Daniel 8 Page 1    

  We studied in Daniel 2 page 2 the image of 4 metals   symbolizing the 4 world empires (Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, Roman Empires) that existed from Daniel's day to the time when Christ would establish His everlasting Kingdom of God on earth forever. While the image of Daniel (Daniel 2 page2) showed clearly the division of the Roman Empire into East and West, and its final division into nations of East and West Europe in the last days (10 toes), we were left at the end of studying Daniel 2 with the question of how all those former empire land areas will be resurrected to form one last mighty empire - a revived Roman Empire yet whose land area included all the former empires put together. Daniel saw this empire standing in the last days - the generation that would see the rapture and return of Christ. Daniel saw this image standing as symbolizing the final world kingdom - like a defiant giant standing like the pyramids of Egypt looking invincible until Christ visible return when He destroys it and sets up His Kingdom over the whole earth.
   In Daniel 7, Daniel's 4 beasts added some new information to the same 4 empires of Daniel 2 (Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, Roman). Most of new information told us was about 'the little horn' Daniel's name for Antichrist . We saw in Daniel 7 page 2, page 3, page 4 the rise and wars of Antichrist from within the nations of East and West Europe in the last days (10 horns). Daniel makes it clear, that it is Antichrist in the last days whose empire will continue to grow and take over all the land areas of these last 4 world empires (Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, Roman).  Below is a quick review of the r metals in the image of Daniel 2 and 4 beasts of Daniel 7. Click for detail review 

  In our current study of Daniel 8, Daniel continues to show the growth of Antichrist's Empire, and like Daniel 7, starts out with a visions of beasts symbolizing these same world empires. However, unlike Daniel 7 that had 4 beasts, Daniel 8 only mentions 3 beasts because at the time of this vision the Babylonian Empire was past. Daniel had witnessed its fall to the Persians/Medes when he interpreted the handwriting on the wall (Daniel 5:24-31).

Daniel 5:24-31
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 ¶ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

  Like Daniel 7, the beasts of Daniel 8 adds new information to each empire already mentioned in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7. Daniel 8 quickly introduces 'the little horn' again (Daniel's name for Antichrist introduced in Daniel 7). Daniel 8 and book of Habakkuk adds powerful information about the growth of Antichrist's Empire that even the angels in heaven marveled at. Both Daniel and Habakkuk give us a good idea of the kind of lying signs and wonders Satan's angels will do when they give Antichrist visible air support to his land forces. With Satan's fallen angels give visible air support ahead of Antichrist, Antichrist will be able to follow up and destroy all the strongholds of the aggressors and occupy, take dominion.


                                                                      Beasts of Daniel 8

  The first beast Daniel saw in Daniel 8 referred to the then current empire Daniel was living in known as the Persian/Media Empire.

Ram (medes/Persian Empire
Daniel 8:3-4 3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

Again, like as in Daniel 7, God has sent a divine messenger to interpret Daniel's visions. This divine messenger is the mighty archangel Gabriel. We read in Daniel 8:16

Daniel 8:16
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

   In Daniel 8:20, Daniel is told the ram which had the two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. Let us compare ram with the bear of Daniel 7 and two arms of silver in the image of Daniel 2 since they are all symbolic of the Persian/Mede Empire.

Daniel 2	Daniel 7	Daniel 8

  Comparing the ram with the two horns of the bear of Daniel 7 (see above image) that got up on one side and then the other, and the two arms of silver in the image of Daniel 2 (see above image), it is clear to see the consistency of the visions and dreams as relating to the Medes who existed first, and then joined the Persians to form the Medo/Persian Empire. In Daniel 7 the bear was told to devour much flesh and he had three ribs in his mouth (triple alliance of Lydia, Babylon and Egypt the Medes/Persians conquered ). Now here in Dan 8:3,4 the ram conquers in three directions: westward; northward and southward matching the three ribs of Daniel 7.

He-goat (Grecian Empire)
Daniel 8:5 5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

  Gabriel tells Daniel (Daniel 8:21) that this rough he goat symbolizes the Kingdom of Greece. His feet not touching the ground denotes the speed of conquest west to east. The great horn between his eyes is the first king which is well known and taught in history as one of the greatest world conquerers - Alexander the Great.

Daniel 8:6-7
6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

The notable horn is the first King of the Grecian Kingdom who defeated the Media/Persian Empire. This is well documented in history as Alexander the Great.

 
Daniel 8:8
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very
great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

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.

Daniel 8:8 records the dividing up of Alexander's kingdom into 4 smaller kingdoms. Gassander; Lysimachus, Seleucus and Ptolemy were his generals. It is very important to note these kingdoms were each toward the 4 winds of heaven meaning all 4 directions (north; south; east and west).

Again let us review the Grecian Empire from Daniel 2 and Daniel 7

Daniel 2	Daniel 7	Daniel 8

  Daniel told us the brass in the image of Daniel 2 was 3rd empire after the Babylonian and Persian/Mede which would be the Grecian Empire. Daniel 7 interprets the Grecian Empire by a leopard known for it's speed and had 4 wings.  These 4 wings parallel the 4 horns of the he-goat in Daniel 8.

Daniel 8:20-22
20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
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. 

  We have already covered the interpretation of verses 20, 21, 22 in identifying the ram and he-goat (Daniel 8:3-8 above) as the Persian/Medes Empire followed by the Grecian Empire which then divided up into 4 smaller kingdoms toward the 4 winds. What is amazing in these verses is the angel naming the empires by name.

The little horn (Antichrist) of Daniel 8:9

Daniel 8:9
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

  The word 'Them' is very important here. It's importance is not be missed. 'Them' refers back to the last truth of the previous verse Daniel 8:8.  'Them' refers to the 4 winds NOT the 4 horns. Look at Daniel 8:8 again

Daniel 8:8
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.


    Many commentaries and Bible scholars make the 'them' to be the 4 horns. They then limit 'the little horn' of Dan 8:9 to come out of one of the 4 kingdoms the Grecian Empire divided up into. When, in truth, 'the little horn' is the same as 'the little horn' of Daniel 7:8, which Daniel said appears during the last days from among the 10 horns (East and West Europe - the land area of the old Roman Empire).  Between Daniel 8:8 and Daniel 8:9 Daniel simply skips from the division of the Grecian Empire (4 horns toward the 4 winds) to one of those winds (direction) which in time the Roman Empire came into existence and from whose land area in the last days produces 'the little horn'. Daniel 8 does not go into the beginning of the Roman Empire or its division into East and West or its further division into nations (10 toes/10 horns) or how 'the little horn' came into existence from among the 10 horns in the last days. That was already done for us in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7.  'The little horn' of Daniel 8:9 is the same as 'the little horn' of Daniel 7:8 who is clearly Antichrist - that simple! Daniel in Daniel 8 as he has done consistently, is building on those prophetic truths that are laid down in previous chapters - just like Daniel 7 is built on Daniel 2. In our study of Daniel 11 we will find that Daniel does a final review of the rise and fall of these empires we have been talking about without using symbols. Daniel mentions the same simple truth about the Grecian Empire in that it followed the Persian Empire and divided up toward the 4 winds.

Daniel 11:2,3
2 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

  Note: In Daniel 11:3 the first Grecian king mentioned was a mighty king and this compares with Daniel 8:5 above - the first horn of the he-goat (Grecian Empire) was a great notable horn  - Alexander the Great. Later. Daniel 11 refers to Antichrist rising to power from the Roman Empire area in the last days which agrees with Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Daniel 8, Daniel 9.


   In Daniel 7:8,20 Daniel mentions 3 notable features of Antichrist: 'eyes like a man', 'a mouth speaking great things', a stout look compared to the other leaders of the nations (10 horns) of his empire. The angel Gabriel in Daniel 8:23-35 interpreting 'the little horn' (Antichrist of Daniel 8:9) adds many more facts to what has already been revealed about Antichrist.                                      

Daniel 8:23-25
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.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

  In our next study we will review these major truths one by one concerning Antichrist. Let us close out this study by noting the divine messenger says the 'the little horn' of Daniel 8:9 in the end stands up against the Prince of princes and is destroyed by the Spirit of God. The Prince of princes is of course Christ. This confirms beyond any shadow of doubt 'the little horn' is Antichrist the same horn of Daniel 7:8. When Christ returns Antichrist is defeated.

2Thess 2:8-12
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Revelations 19:11-21
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

  'The little horn' of Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 are the same person - the Antichrist of the last days who will dominate history for a short time. He will have an empire that will include but be larger then the Roman Empire area - the same area he himself will come from. His empire will be destroyed by the return of Christ and His saints by the mighty power of God's Spirit. Daniel 8 agrees with the same story as told in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7.

1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
2 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.
3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from
the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had
seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was
moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and
brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram
to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it
cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai,
which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was
afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep
on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
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.
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.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.