5.0- Daniel's Vision of a Ram and a Goat

In Daniel 8 verses 1 through 14 we read:

“1 In the third year that Belshazzar was king, I saw a second vision.  2 In the vision I suddenly found myself in the walled city of Susa in the province of Elam. I was standing by the Ulai River, 3 and there beside the river I saw a ram that had two long horns, one of which was longer and newer than the other. 4 I watched the ram butting with his horns to the west, the north, and the south. No animal could stop him or escape his power. He did as he pleased and grew arrogant.

5 While I was wondering what this meant, a goat came rushing out of the west, moving so fast that his feet didn't touch the ground. He had one prominent horn between his eyes. 6 He came toward the ram, which I had seen standing beside the river, and rushed at him with all his force. 7 I watched him attack the ram. He was so angry that he smashed into him and broke the two horns. The ram had no strength to resist. He was thrown to the ground and trampled on, and there was no one who could save him.

8 The goat grew more and more arrogant, but at the height of his power his horn was broken. In its place four prominent horns came up, each pointing in a different direction. 9 Out of one of these four horns grew a little horn, whose power extended toward the south and the east and toward the Promised Land. 10 It grew strong enough to attack the army of heaven, the stars themselves, and it threw some of them to the ground and trampled on them. 11 It even defied the Prince of the heavenly army, stopped the daily sacrifices offered to him, and ruined the Temple. 12 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.

13 Then I heard one angel ask another, “How long will these things that were seen in the vision continue? How long will an awful sin replace the daily sacrifices? How long will the army of heaven and the Temple be trampled on?”

14 I heard the other angel answer, “It will continue for 2,300 evenings and mornings, during which sacrifices will not be offered. Then the Temple will be restored.” 

4.2- Discussion of Daniel 7 verses 24- 28.

>>> Verses 24, 25: Which these 10 kingdoms are, is not yet clear. It is not like the old Roman Empire where there was only one emperor. This new “Roman Empire” covers now 27 nations, (the European Union). Anyway its time is short, (one hour it says in Rev. 17 verse 12).

The small horn that came up afterwards and had made three of the horns fall indicates the appearance of the “antichrist”. He is called “the beast” and will fight against the Lamb (Jesus and his followers) and will persecute God’s people for three and a half years. See Daniel 12 verse 7: “The angel raised both hands toward the sky and made a solemn promise in the name of the Eternal God. I heard him say, “It will be three and a half years. When the persecution of God's people ends, all these things will have happened”.

There are many places in the bible where it refers to the three and a half years, or forty two months of tribulation. See for example: Daniel 9:27, “That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past (= three and a half years), he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him” …This end is three and a half years later

(= the second half of the seven years): The end of the tribulation time. Also we can find this same time period used in revelations 13verses 5 and 6, “The beast was allowed to make proud claims which were insulting to God and it was permitted to have authority for forty-two months. It began to curse God, his name, the place where he lives, and all those who live in heaven”.

The Lamb (=Jesus Christ) with his chosen people will however obtain the victory. See Rev 17 verses 13 and 14 and also 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 8, already cited before.

>>> Verse 26: This repeats what was said before and was discussed under Daniel 7 verses 9 and 10; however it’s worth it to proclaim again the coming destruction of God's enemies.

>>> Verse 27: The same as also promised under verses 18 and 22, where we see that God’s people will receive royal power and keep it forever. They will never have to fear again the power of “the beast”:  Satan.

>>> Verse 28: Also for us these words are very overwhelming, thinking of the terrible suffering of God's people.

4.1- Discussion of Daniel 7, verses 15-23

>>> Verses 15, 16: Intense emotion about this fascinating vision, with the subsequent logical question about its meaning. This, of course, should be also our reaction.

>>> Verses 17, 18: The answer to the question to explain “it all” is surprising because the answer Daniel receives covers “it all”: The whole history of the world in two verses. …

Namely: First there will be four kingdoms that will disappear, and subsequently, the people of God will receive power and keep it forever.  This is the plan of God with the world we live in: There will not be any more a nation on earth that will threaten Israel (or the church).

>>> Verse19-22: Explanation of the fourth - and fifth - kingdom.

In the vision of Daniel these two kingdoms go from one into the other in a smooth transition. And this occurs, while there are 1878 years between them. (This is the difference between the year 1948, the year when Israel officially became a nation again, and the year 70, the year of the siege of Jerusalem, when the Jews went into exile).  See Rev. 17 verse 12: “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to rule, but who will be given authority to rule as kings for one hour with the beast”. The ten kings in this verse,  will arrive after the old Roman Empire has disappeared, and the Jews have come back from their exile and have returned to their land. Very difficult times will arise. See Rev. 17 verses 13 and 14: “These ten all have the same purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. They will fight against the Lamb; but the Lamb, together with his called, chosen, and faithful followers, will defeat them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings”. 

>>> Verse 23: This fourth beast is different from the ones before. This difference we must seek in its cruelty: “It will crush the whole earth and trample it down”, says the bible. This is also because of its satanic religious dictatorship: see verse 25, where it says that he will try to change their religious laws

4.0- The Visions Are Explained.

In Daniel 7 verse 15 through 28 we read:

“15 The visions I saw alarmed me, and I was deeply disturbed.  16 I went up to one of those standing there and asked him to explain it all. So he told me the meaning. 17 He said, “These four huge beasts are four empires which will arise on earth. 

 18 And the people of the Supreme God will receive royal power and keep it forever and ever.”

19 Then I wanted to know more about the fourth beast, which was not like any of the others—the terrifying beast which crushed its victims with its bronze claws and iron teeth and then trampled on them. 20 And I wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the horn that had come up afterward and had made three of the horns fall. It had eyes and a mouth and was boasting proudly. It was more terrifying than any of the others.

21 While I was looking, that horn made war on God's people and conquered them.  22 Then the one who had been living forever came and pronounced judgment in favor of the people of the Supreme God. The time had arrived for God's people to receive royal power.

23 This is the explanation I was given: “The fourth beast is a fourth empire that will be on the earth and will be different from all other empires. It will crush the whole earth and trample it down. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will appear; he will be very different from the earlier ones and will overthrow three kings. 

 25 He will speak against the Supreme God and oppress God's people. He will try to change their religious laws and festivals, and God's people will be under his power for three and a half years. 26 Then the heavenly court will sit in judgment, take away his power, and destroy him completely.  27 The power and greatness of all the kingdoms on earth will be given to the people of the Supreme God. Their royal power will never end, and all rulers on earth will serve and obey them.”

28 This is the end of the account. I was so frightened that I turned pale, and I kept everything to myself”.

3.2-  Discussion of Daniel 7, verses 12-14

>>> Verse 12: The other beasts, (the remaining empires without the Babylon/Rome empire) were allowed to go on living for a limited time, - (this is understood to be for the time of 1000 years: “the millennium”) - But without authority…. What happens at the end of this “limited” time we can see in Rev. 20 verses 7,-9: “After the thousand years are over, Satan will be set loose from his prison,   and he will go out to deceive the nations scattered over the whole world, that is, Gog and Magog. Satan will bring them all together for battle, as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They spread out over the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people and the city that he loves. But fire came down from heaven and destroyed them. Then the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”.  …. It is surprising and in the same time wonderful to note this indication of the period after the millennium. This is the moment when also the devil is thrown into the “lake of fire and sulfur”, after the “beast and the false prophet” had already been thrown in there 1000 years earlier. This is how far this vision goes into the future. The beast here represents the antichrist.

>>> Verses 13, 14: Jesus is shown here as coming surrounded by clouds. See also Mark 14 verse 62: “I am,” answered Jesus, “and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven”. Also Mathew 24 verse 30:” Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky; and all the peoples of earth will weep as they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”. And many more texts refer to clouds surrounding Jesus when he appears. It is like a “code” to help us recognize Him when He returns. (See also Rev. 1 verse 7: “Look, he is coming on the clouds! Everyone will see him, including those who pierced him. All peoples on earth will mourn over him. So shall it be!”). … Verse 14 indicates that to Jesus “was given authority, honor, and royal power” and that there will be no end to His kingdom. See as reference: Rev. 20 verses 1-6, where I will copy only the most relevant parts: “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven…….   He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent—that is, the Devil, or Satan—and chained him up for a thousand years …... so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set loose for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge………. They had not worshiped the beast or its image……….. they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years”. ..… And after that, as we have seen above, Satan will be “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur”, and Jesus will reign forever. 

3.1-  Discussion of Daniel 7, verses 9-11

>>> Verses 9, 10: Suddenly is there the promise to Daniel and to us: God Himself is going to judge these Babylonian, - these hostile- , world powers. We see his throne of judgment and there around more thrones. See revelation 20 verses 4 and 12:

“Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge”………… “And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, (see verse 10) and then another book was opened, the book of the living. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books”. This is the beginning of the final Day of Judgment, “the day of the Lord”. See revelation 1 verses 10-16: “On the Lord's day the Spirit took control of me, and I heard a loud voice, that sounded like a trumpet, speaking behind me. It said, “Write down what you see”……. I turned around to see who was talking to me, and I saw ……..what looked like a human being, wearing a robe that reached to his feet, and a gold band around his chest.  His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes blazed like fire;   his feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished, and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall. His face was as bright as the midday sun”. This image from revelation 1 is very similar to the image given in Daniel 7 verse 9. These two persons are very closely related: Father and Son. Note also that both, in Revelation 1 verse 13, and in Daniel 7 verse 13 the words: “what looked like a human being” are used. These words refer to the Son: Jesus Christ.

 See also Revelation 3 verse 21: “To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne”. And revelation 5 verse 11:” Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders”.  This is what it says also in verse 10 of Daniel 7: “and millions of people stood before him”

>>> Verse 11: The fourth beast is being killed. See 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”. This fourth beast, representing Babylon/Rome of the end times with its materialism, occultism, impureness, power, inquisition and more, will be judged as described in Rev. 18: 8-10: “Because of this, in one day she will be struck with plagues disease, grief, and famine. And she will be burned with fire, because the Lord God, who judges her, is mighty. The kings of the earth who took part in her immorality and lust will cry and weep over the city when they see the smoke from the flames that consume her”.

3.0- The Vision of the One Who Has Been Living Forever.

In Daniel 7 verses 9 through 14 we read:

“9 While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire,

 10 and a stream of fire was pouring out from it. There were many thousands of people there to serve him, and millions of people stood before him. The court began its session, and the books were opened.

11 While I was looking, I could still hear the little horn bragging and boasting. As I watched, the fourth beast was killed, and its body was thrown into the flames and destroyed. 12 The other beasts had their power taken away, but they were permitted to go on living for a limited time.

13 During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a human being. He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to him.   14 He was given authority, honor, and royal power, so that the people of all nations, races, and languages would serve him. His authority would last forever, and his kingdom would never end”.