Daniel – Day 8
Perhaps two years after the vision in Chapter 7, Chapter 8 recalls another vision of Daniel. Bible scholars refer to the vision as one involving the he-goat and the little horn. Of particular interest are two main events. In the first, a powerful ram, with two horns, symbolizing a powerful leader, pushes westward, northward and southward so that no animal could withstand him and there was no one who could deliver the prey from its hand. This ram became great (Daniel 8:3-5). Most commentators believe that the ram represents the continuing success of the Persian empire of which Babylon was a part.
But suddenly a male goat, with one horn, arose in the vision and moved across the earth without touching the ground and came at the ram with two horns and broke it horns and cast him to the ground and trampled him and there was no one that could deliver the ram from the male goat (Daniel 8:8). Most commentators believe that the male goat represents the future success and dominance of Alexander the Great who won victory after victory over the Persians by attacking with great speed in a series of future maneuvers that took place from 334 BC onward, which is more than 200 years after Daniel’s vision.
But in a second series of events, Daniel sees the male goat, which grew very great but when it became strong, the large horn became broken and in its place four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven and out of one came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east and toward the Glorious land (which apparently represents Israel). This little horn became so powerful that it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground and he then exalted himself as the Prince of the hosts until he cast truth down to the ground (Daniel 8:8-12). As Ronald Wallace shows, this series of events represent the division of the Alexander’s kingdom into four distinct entities led by four of Alexander’s generals. Out of one of these divisions and over a substantial time period, one leader shoots forward and the description of the little horn that emerges suggests that there is not a scrap of greatness within him. His method did not involve head-on conflict or open war but deceit and cunning (See verse 25). In essence through deceit and cunning, he arises in power and then engages in the same fatal error that brought Belshazzar down. He exalts himself and ultimately arises against the Prince of princes but his power shall be broken without human means (Daniel 8:25). It appears that this little horn is Antiochus IV Epiphanes who came to power around 170 BC. He devoted himself to the destruction of everything the Jewish religion stood for consistent with his objective of casting down truth. Where the text speaks of casting down the host of the stars and trampling on them, this likely refers to Antiochus’s strategy of deliberately selecting outstanding witnesses within the Jewish community for martyrdom. He issued edicts forbidding sacrifice and abolishing religious festivals and he was allowed to work his devastation over a period of time. The text states this period of destruction lasted for two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings (verse 14).
What does this all mean? We believe in God and so what does this human history mean for us and for the age to come? Daniel posed similar questions as he sought the meaning of these events. He sought understanding and ultimately a clue to the meaning of this dream and reality was conveyed to him by an angel (Daniel 8:15-17). Not only do the events have historical relevance for future eras, but the vision also refers to the end of human history. The angel confirms the historicity of the events in verses 20-22 referring explicitly to the ram as a representative of the Medes and Persians, the male goat as the kingdom of Greece and the four powers that arise when the male goat s horn has been broken as four kingdoms that arise out of Greece but not with its power. This vision and its meaning give evidence that God speaks and still speaks to men and women and we still have the opportunity to ask the Lord of heaven what these visions, dreams and prophetic words all mean. On one view, the events spoken of in the latter part of Chapter 8 provide a foretaste of the rise and demise of the Anti-Christ figure but we must remain confident that there is a heavenly and righteous power that has already broken the power of this figure even if this he has not yet been finally destroyed.
Key Verses:
“Through his cunning, he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.” ~ Daniel 8:25
Questions:
- This is now a good time to reconsider Daniel. Please go back and reconsider Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, Daniel’s vision in Chapter 7 and his vision in the current chapter. Ask yourself, what consistent and enduring themes emerge concerning human pride and self-exaltation?
- Please ask yourself, is God surprised when evil, deceitful and dishonorable men and women prosper?
- Has the power of the evil one in the world been broken even if Satan and his minions have not yet been completely destroyed?
- If Satan’s power has been broken but not yet been fully destroyed, what are the implications for how we should live?
