13.3- Brief overview of Daniel Chapter 8

This chapter gives a view of the end time, (verse 17: “The vision has to do with the end of the world”) looking into the far future, (verse 26: “because it will be a long time before it does come true”).

Although it first speaks about the kingdoms of the Medians and Persians and of Greece, (539-175 BC) we see that the “small horn”, Antiochus Epiphanes, of verse 23, is projected onto the brutal and godless ruler at the end time: the antichrist.  We read that he will install a service of disobedience and blasphemy. See verse 12:

“It even defied the Prince of the heavenly army, stopped the daily sacrifices offered to him, and ruined the Temple. People sinned there instead of offering the proper daily sacrifices, and true religion was thrown to the ground. The horn was successful in everything it did”. However God protects his people, because, as it says in verse 25, “he will be destroyed without the use of any human power”. 

See also 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 8: “Then the Wicked One will be revealed, but when the Lord Jesus comes, he will kill him with the breath from his mouth and destroy him with his dazzling presence”.