Chapter 8 : A ram and a goat

Chapter 8 

A ram and a goat 

19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.[c] 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.(Dan.8:19-21)

Why do the nations conspire 

    and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth rise up

    and the rulers band together

    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,

3 “Let us break their chains

    and throw off their shackles.” (Psalms 2:1-3)

The vision 

Daniel was in the palace of Shushan in the province of Elam in the third year of the reign of Belshazzar what he saw a vision. He found himself standing by the river of Ulai and there appeared a ram with two long horns. One horn was longer than the other. The ram pushed westwards, northwards and southwards. No beast could stand against it and it did as it pleased. As Daniel was watching, a goat came from the west without touching the ground. The goat had a notable horn between the eyes. It came to the ram with great fury and broke its two horns. It cast down the ram to the ground and stamped it under its feet. The goat became very great and strong. As it became great, its notable horn got broken and in its place, four horns grow up. A small horn came out of one of the four horns and grew into a big one even reaching up to the host of heaven. It stopped daily sacrifices and destroyed the holy sanctuary. Then Daniel heard one saint speaking to another: " Two thousand three hundred days. After that period, the sanctuary will be restored".

As Daniel was thinking about the meaning of the vision, Angel Gabriel came to him and explained the meaning to him. 

Ram with two horns

The animal points to Medo-Persian empire. The longer horn represents the Persian kings who were stronger than the Medians.It is a historical fact that as the ram was seen pushing in three directions, this empire extended its reign from India to Ethiopia.

Goat

The conquering goat represents the Greek army and the horn between its eyes represents Alexander the Great. The army of Alexander conquered all the then known nations of the world very speedily. Greek army defeated the Persians in two stages, first in B.C.334 and then in B.C. 331. The two attacks are pictured in the vision. In the first step, both horns of the ram were broken and in the second stage, the ram was trodden on the ground. Just when the goat was becoming stronger, its horn was broken, Alexander was returning after conquering nations up to India, he got drunk and spent one night in a river. He became seriously sick and suddenly died at the age of 33 in B.C. 323. A great warrior who conquered all nations in 12 short years was himself struck down by alcohol! How many great men are conquered by alcohol monster even today!!

Four horns

Four new hons came up when the single horn of the goat was broken. (You may recall that the leopard in Chapter 7 had four heads). The new horns show the division of the Greek empire into four after the death of Alexander. The divided nations were Macedon, Asia, Egypt, and Syria which remained in power till B.C. 150 and propagated Greek language and culture. Of these, Egypt and Syria were always in conflict with each other for many years.

Small horn 

A small horn sprouted out of one of the four horns. It became very strong "towards south, east and pleasant land" (Dan. 8:9)
               9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.(Dan 8:9)

Who does this horn represent? Gabriel explained thus: "When the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance and dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty"
His actions are described in Dan 8:24,25

23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.(Dan 23-25)

The king referred to could be Antiochus Epiphanes, an autocratic ruler who attacked Jerusalem in second century B.C., stopped all sacrifices in the Temple and killed many Jews. He is also a shadow of Antichrist who will rise up after the first phase of the second coming of Jesus Christ (When His saints will be raptured ) and rule the world in a cruel and despotic manner.

Two thousand three hundred days

How long will the atrocities of this king last? The answer given in Dan 8:14 is 2300 days.

 14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.” (Dan 8:14)

Historians say that the fearsome rule of Antiochus Epiphanes lasted for 2300 days. But there is also another prophetic implication of this period. Daniel chapter 9 speaks of a coming prince who will "confirm the covenant for one week and cause the sacrifice to cease in the middle of the week"

27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.(Dan 9:27)

Prophetically one week represents 7 years of 360 days each, meaning 2520 days. Persecution of the Jews and restriction on their worship will start at the beginning of this period and intensify after 220 days when the period of 2300 days. At the end of this great tribulation, out Lord Jesus Christ will appear in glory to destroy Antichrist and establish His kingdom. Let us be ready for that beautiful morning.