5.3- Discussion of Daniel 8, verses 10- 14

>>> Verse 10: He also attacked “the army of heaven, the stars themselves”. See also Rev. 12 verse 4: “With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth” Similar words are used in many other biblical texts, such as for example: Isaiah 13 verse10:” Light will disappear from the stars in the sky; the dawning sun will turn dark, and the moon will lose its glow”, Ez.32 verse 7: “I will cover the whole sky and every star with thick clouds, so that the sun and moon will stop shining”, Matthew 24 verse 29: “Right after those days of suffering, the sun will become dark, and the moon will no longer shine. The stars will fall,

and the powers in the sky will be shaken”, and also Luke 21:25. All this indicates the terrific power of the antichrist and all that is related to him. These are the powers of the heavens, worldly leaders, and also idols. The detail that it threw some of them to the ground and trampled on them could very well refer to the people of God: Jews and Christians.

>>> Verse 11 and 12: In the year 170 BC, the high priest Onias III was removed from his position. Onias III was a faithful Jew and was the image of the Great High Priest. See Daniel 11 verse 22: “Anyone who opposes him, even God's High Priest, will be swept away and wiped out”. After this the temple was desecrated, and a swine was offered in the holy place. This will happen in the future again.

See Matthew 24 verse 15: “You will see ‘The Awful Horror’ of which the prophet Daniel spoke. It will be standing in the holy place.” (And also 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, Rev.  13:4, 12-15).

>>> Verses 13, 14: The angels, (saints), wonder how long these things that were seen in the vision will continue. See also Rev. 6 verses 9 and 10: “…..I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because they had proclaimed God's word and had been faithful in their witnessing. They shouted in a loud voice, “Almighty Lord, holy and true! How long will it be until you judge the people on earth and punish them for killing us?”

The time that people sinned instead of offering the proper daily sacrifices (see verse 12) was 2300 evenings and mornings, as we see in verse 14. In other words: 1150 days. This is 110 days less than the 1260 days, or three and a half years, described in Daniel 9 verse 27, which will be discussed later. Here I will only mention the reduction of the three and a half years by 110 days as mentioned by Jesus in Mathew 24 verse 22: “But God has already reduced the number of days; had he not done so, nobody would survive. For the sake of his chosen people, however, God will reduce the days”. 

5.2- Discussion of Daniel 8, verses 5-9

>>> Verse 5: The goat (Leopard in Daniel 7 verse 6), is the symbol of Greece (Aegea is the metaphorical use of "goat”, from there the name “Aegean sea”). It was moving so fast that his feet didn't touch the ground…. This is how Alexander the Great conquered the world: Very fast, in13 years.  

>>> Verses 6 and 7: In 332 BC, Alexander the Great defeats the Medes and the Persians.

>>> Verse 8: Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, when he was 33 years old and his kingdom was divided among his 4 generals as follows:

 To the west: Greece with Macedonia under Cassander.

To the north: Turkey and Asia Minor, under Lysimachus/Antigonus.

To the east: with Syria under Seleucus.

To the south: Egypt and Palestine, under Ptolomy, until 198 BC.

>>> Verse 9: From one of these four parts of the Greek empire (Syria?) will come the “little horn”, the coming antichrist, who will become powerful in Egypt, Iraq, Iran and the Promised land.

See also Daniel 11 verses 16 and 41: “The Syrian invader will do with them as he pleases, without opposition. He will stand in the Promised Land and have it completely in his power……  He will even invade the Promised Land and kill tens of thousands…..” 

5.1- Discussion of Daniel 8, verses 1- 4  

>>> Verse 1: 553BC. The time of the “golden head” (see Dan. 2 verse 38) is almost over. This vision is therefore approximately 50 years after Daniel 2.

>>> Verse 2: Susa was the capital of Elam and part of Persia. (Semitic, see Gen. 10 verses 22, 23: “Shem, the older brother of Japheth, was the ancestor of all the Hebrews. Shem's sons—Elam, Asshur,….). Therefore, Daniel was probably in Susa as an ambassador. Susa was independent but connected to Babylon against Assyria. Later on, Cyrus the Persian, (son of Ester), conquers the weakened Babylon. This is not far away and therefore it talks here in this vision only about the “silver” and “bronze” kingdoms, and the “golden head” is no more mentioned.

>>> Verses 3: The ram (bear in Dan. 7 verse 5), had two horns: One of the horns was Darius the Mede, see Daniel and 9verse1:” Darius the Mede, who was the son of Xerxes, ruled over the kingdom of Babylonia”.  He was the husband of Ester. The other horn was Cyrus from Persia (see Dan. 6verse 28: “Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian”, And Ezra 1 verse 1 to 3, where we see Cyrus giving the command for rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. : “In the first year that Cyrus of Persia was emperor,  the Lord made what he had said through the prophet Jeremiah come true. He prompted Cyrus to issue the following command: ………………….May God be with all of you who are his people. You are to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is worshiped in Jerusalem”. And also Isaiah 44: 28: “I (= The Lord), say to Cyrus, ‘You are the one who will rule for me; you will do what I want you to do: you will order that Jerusalem be rebuilt and that the foundations of the Temple be laid.”). … Cyrus, the son of Darius, was the longer and newer horn.  

>>> Verse 4: The ram was butting with his horns to the west, the north, and the south. To the west: Babylon. To the North: Lydia, and against the south: Egypt. 

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”.