Daniel 8:1-2 (NIV2011)
1 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the UlaiCanal.
1. When and what kind of vision was this?
Third year. Ca. 551 b.c., two years after the dream of chap. 7 but before chap. 5.
This vision appears to have occurred to him when awake, the former one occurred when he was asleep. Therepresentation would seem to have been made to pass before his mind in open day, and when he was fully awake.
2. What do we know about Susa?
Susa stood about 200 miles east of Babylon and approximately 150 miles due north of the top of the Persian Gulf. The site of Susa is in modern Iran whereas the site of Babylon is in modern Iraq. Elam was the name of the province where Susa stood when Daniel wrote this book, not necessarily when he had this vision. Susa became the capital of the Persian Empire. Eighty years after Daniel had this vision Susa became Esther’s home. The citadel was the palace, the royal residence, that had strong fortifications.
Daniel 8:3-4 (NIV2011)
3 I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great.
3. What would this ram represent?
The ram, later identified as representing the kings ofMedo-Persia, has two horns. The first horn would be Media and the second Persia, coming later than the first and being more powerful. The directions in which these kings extend their dominion is revealed in verse 4 and confirmed by history.
Daniel 8:5-8 (NIV) 5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7 I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
4. What are some of the characteristics of the male goat? How well does this vision fit into history?
Alexander the Great came from Greece, which was to the “west” of both Babylon and Persia. without touching the ground. Alexander conquered the mighty Persian Empire with amazing speed, from 334–331 b.c. (He is also represented as a leopard with four wings in 7:6.) he was enraged. Alexander’s father was king of Macedonia (a land north of Greece) and brought all of Greece under his control by 336 b.c.
Alexander was only 20 when his father was murdered, but managed to consolidate his hold on Greece and to unify the Greeks with “rage” over the way the Persians had been attacking them and meddling in their affairs for the previous two centuries. the goat became exceedingly great. Alexander the Great’s kingdom extended all the way to India, exceeding any kingdom before it in size (approx. 1.5 million square miles) there came up four conspicuous horns. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 b.c.,ultimately, after serious internal struggles, four of his generals divided his kingdom into four parts. ESVN
Daniel 8:9-12 (NIV)
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. 10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the LORD; it took away the daily sacrifice from the LORD, and his sanctuary was thrown down. 12 Because of rebellion, the LORD’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
5. Who is this small horn and how is he able to cause so much trouble?
- Seleucid Rulers
- Seleucus I Nicator 311-305
- King 305-281 Apama
- Antiochus I Soter co-ruler from 291, ruled 281-261 Stratonice of Syria Co-ruler with his father for 10 years
- Antiochus II Theos 261-246
- Berenice Berenice was a daughter of Ptolemy II of Egypt. Laodice had her and her son murdered.
- Seleucus II Callinicus 246-225
- Seleucus III Ceraunus (or Soter) 225-223 Seleucus III was assassinated by members of his army.
- Antiochus III the Great 223-187
- Euboea of Chalcis Antiochus III was a brother of Seleucus III
- Seleucus IV Philopator 187-175 Laodice IV Wife: This was a brother-sister marriage.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes 175-163
The crisis destined to confront God’s people in the time of the earlier little horn, Antiochus Epiphanes, will bear a strong similarity to the crisis that will befall them in the eschatological or final phase of the fourth kingdom in the last days (as Christ himself foresaw in the Olivet Discourse Matt 24:15. “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— “
This little horn grew very great to the south, the east, and “the beautiful land” (Israel). The first problem with this description is what is the reference point for these directions?
Daniel 8:13-14 (NIV)
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the LORD’s people?” 14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”
Here the vision begins to focus on the future of Israel and the Jews. Antiochus was especially vengeful against the Jews whom he persecuted brutally. “He is . . . one of the greatest persecutors Israel has ever known.”. “In one assault on Jerusalem, 40,000 Jews were killed in three days and 10,000 more were carried into captivity.”
There he erected an idol of Zeus and desecrated the altar by offering swine on it. This idol became known to the Jews as ‘the abomination of desolation’ (hassiqqus mesomem,), which served as a type of a future abomination that will be set up in the Jerusalem sanctuary to be built in the last days (cf. Christ’s prediction in Matt 24:15).”
Three years later, on December 25, 165 B.C., Judas Maccabaeus, a Jewish nationalist, defeated Antiochus IV, led the Jews in rededicating the temple to Yahweh
Daniel 8:13-14 (NIV)
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the LORD’s people?” 14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”
6. What is this stuff about 2300 evenings and mornings?
Theories that transform these days into years depart radically from both literal hermeneutics and sound biblical interpretation. KJV Bible Commentary
These are 2,300 evenings/mornings: The prophecy was precise in identifying the time as that of Antiochus’ persecution, beginning with the murder of the high priest Onias III Sept. 6, 171 b.c. to Dec. 25, 165 b.c. when the Jews celebrated the cleansing of their holy place in the Feast of Lights, or Hanukkah, in celebration of the restoration led by Judas Maccabeus. MacArthur Study Bible NASB.
Turning now to the dates, we know that Judas the Maccabee cleansed the Temple on Kisleu 25 (December 25th, B.C. 165). If we reckon back two thousand three hundred full days from this date, it brings us to B.C. 171, in which Menelaus, who bribed Antiochus to appoint him high priest, robbed the Temple of some of its treasures, and procured the murder of the high priest Onias III. In this year Antiochus sacrificed a great sow on the altar of burnt offerings, and sprinkled its brood over the sacred building. Expositors Bible Commentary
Daniel 8:15-18 (NIV)
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.” 17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.” 18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
Daniel 8:19-22 (NIV)
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. 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. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
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. 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. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
Daniel 8:23-25 (NIV)
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.
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.
Daniel 8:26-27 (NIV)
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.” 27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
7. OK now for the interpretation.
- Gabriel gives the interpretation
- Concerns the time of the end.
- A later time of wrath
- The appointed time of the end.
- The ram represents Media Persia
- The goat is Greece (Alexander the Great)
- The 4 heads that come up from the goat are Alexander’s kingdom which split in 4 parts after his death.The Law of Double Reference is the principle of associating similar or related ideas which are usually separated from one another by long periods of time, and which are blended into a single picture.
8. A wicked fierce king will emerge from a part of Alexander’s broken empire.
9. He will be very strong, not by his own power (Satanic?),
10. Will cause devastation.
11. Be successful, destroy the Holy people, cause deceit to prosper
12 In a time of security he will be destroy many, he will stand against the Prince of princes
13. He will be destroyed by non human power
14. The vision is true (literal not just allegorical)
15. Seal up the vision it concerns a distant time
16. It was beyond Daniel ability to comprehend
Matthew 24:15 (ESV) “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
Matthew 24:21-22 (NIV)
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
a. In the latter time of their kingdom: The prophecy in this passage reads equally true of both Antiochus and Antichrist. This is an example of a prophetic passage that has both a near and far fulfillment.
b. Having fierce features: Antiochus Epiphanes was known for his cruel brutality. This will also be true of the coming Antichrist.
c. Who understands sinister schemes . . . through his cunning: Antiochus was known for his flattery and smooth tongue. The coming Antichrist will strike a covenant with Israel
(Daniel 9:27).
Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
d. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: Antiochus Epiphanes was empowered by Satan and allowed by God. The same will be true of the coming Antichrist.
e. Shall prosper and thrive: Antiochus Epiphanes looked like a total success. The coming Antichrist will look like a complete winner until God topples his reign.
f. He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people: Antiochus Epiphanes not only destroyed his enemies, but also harshly persecuted the people of God. The coming Antichrist will also destroy and persecute.
g. He shall cause deceit to prosper: Both the rule of Antiochus Epiphanes in the past and of the Antichrist in the future are marked by deceit. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
He shall exalt himself in his heart: The coins of Antiochus Epiphanes were inscribed with this title: THEOS EPIPHANIES meaning, “God manifest.” The coming Antichrist will also exalt himself: So that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
2 Thessalonians 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
i. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes: Though Antiochus Epiphanes hated the people of God and fought against them, it was because he really hated God. The same will be true of the coming Antichrist, who will hate the Jews because he hates God.
Broken without human means: History tells us that Antiochus Epiphanes died of disease, not by the hand of man. In a similar way no man will defeat the coming Antichrist, but the hand of Jesus will strike him down (Revelation 19:20).
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Therefore seal up the vision: Daniel must do this because in his day the vision referred to a period far distant in its ultimate fulfillment. For us, the time is near (Revelation 1:3) and the book is unsealed (Revelation 22:10).
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes
· MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
· NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes.
· JVM ……………..J Vernon McGee,
· ACC ……………. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
· BN ……………..Barnes Notes
· WBC……………. Wycliffe Bible Commentary
· CN …… …………..Constables Notes
· IC………………….Ironside Commentary
· NET……………….Net Bible Study Notes.
· JFB…………..Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
· VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies
· CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark
· BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)
· Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT
· Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.
· NTCMM…………..The New Testament Commentary: Matthew and Mark.
· EHS………………….Expositions of the Holy Scriptures
· CPP…………………The Complete Pulpit Commentary
· SBC…………………Sermon Bible Commentary
· K&D……………….Keil and Deilitzsch Commentary on the OT
· EBC…………………Expositors Bible Commentary
· CBSC……………….Cambridge Bible for Schools and College
· GC……………………Guzik Commentary
· RD…………………….Robert Deffinbaugh
JBC…………………Joseph Benson Commentary
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