John Calvin states, "The faithful were informed beforehand of these grievous and oppressive calamities, to induce them to look up to God when oppressed by such extreme darkness(Beckwith, Ezekiel, Daniel, 345)." God provided Daniel with a vision of the future of His chosen people, and we will learn later in this chapter that it really troubled Daniel. So much so that he was sick for days! Sometimes we are presented with hard truths in our lives that have the capacity to stop us in our tracks as well. However, as a Christ-follower we have a HOPE to cling to that the lost do not have. So rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say Rejoice!

Verses 8:1-4 

We are still in the reign of good old Belshazzar, our indignant King, who chose to drink out of the Jewish temple goblets during a debaucherous party where they toasted the gods of silver and gold. As we know, this did not end well for him.   Chapter eight's vision arrives during Belshazzar's third reigning year. 

This ram is Medo-Persia as signified by the two horns with the bigger of the two showing Persia's dominance and strength over Media (Akin, pg. 98).  Interesting fact: the Persians utilized the ram as their battle symbol. Thereby all other nations were "rammed" down. 

Verses 8:5-8 

Now enters floating goat. From the west a goat comes across the earth without touching the ground. It too had a horn between it's eyes, and charged the ram ruthlessly. The ram could not withstand the onslaught and fell so terribly that it would never rise again.   "The ram is dead! Long live the goat!" (Akin, pg 99)

What do they represent?

The male goat led by the large horn, Alexander the Great, was truly great and mighty. Then the horn was broken and in it's place four porminant horns grew. History tells us that Alexander the Great died suddenly at the peak of his power and his kingdom was divided into four. 

Verses 8:9-14 

One of the four horns grew out toward the south and east, but then also ascended high into the heavens. The Bible states that it began to hurl some of the host and stars down to the earth to be trampled.  So who is this???

In Daniel 8:11, scripture tells us this horn, Antiochus, set himself up to be as great as the Prince of the host. He took away offerings and the temple. The horn hurled truth to the ground and prosper in it's mission.  Now this "little" horn is not the same as the one seen in chapter seven. This is "a type of antichrist (Akin, pg 100)."  

According to Maccabee 5:11-14 in the Jewish historical text he:

• "Devastated Jerusalem in 168 BC

• Murdered tens of thousands 

• Defiled the temple

• Offered a pig on it's altar

• Erected a shrine to Jupiter

• Prohibited temple worship

• Forbade circumcision on pain of death

• Sold forty thousand jews into slavery

• Destroyed all copies of scripture that could be found

• Slaughtered everyone found to be in possession of God's Torah"

As a type of antichrist his behavior is consistent with others. He was full of pride and power as he grew into the heavens.  Joyce Baldwin says, "The little horn, in reaching for the stars, is claiming equality with God (Baldwin, Daniel)." This antichrist was successful for awhile, and according to scripture 2,300 evenings in verse 14. The comfort in this being that IT WILL END! 

Judas Maccabee led a revolt in 164 BC where Jews would attain the victory and restore their religion. The Jews now celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, to remember the revolutionary event (Akin, pg 104). 

Verses 8:15-27 

Enter the angel, Gabriel, whom God sent to explain the vision to Daniel. Terrified, Daniel fell to the ground in front of Gabriel prostrate. Gabriel explains to him that the visions in which he sees will come to fruition in "the time of the end." Akin states "God's people will suffer for their sins, but their suffering will not be indefinite." and " Human powers are merely instruments in the hands of an all-powerful and providential God (Akin, pg. 102)." 

Gabriel then proceeds to tell Daniel in the following verses exactly what we have learned thus far.  The ram is Medo-Persia, the goat is Greece led by it's first king, the horn. The horn is divided into four. A fierce king will arise and try to be the Prince of princes. When it feels like nothing can stop him, God prevails. 

Daniel is burdened with a vision that brought him to his knees. He saw what would transpire due to the sins and revolt of the Jewish people. Ultimately, Daniel knows that God is in control, and the suffering is only for a little while. "Daniel did NOT let it paralyze him (Akin, pg. 105)." Knowing this now what?

"In view of what the future holds, we must live holy lives now (Akin, pg. 105)."

"Do the king's business: walk in obedience, live in holiness; purify yourself as He is pure (Aking, pg. 105).

Sometimes we receive burdens of others that make our hearts heavy. How do we deal with them? 

How do we talk to people about God's judgement of evil nations and the discipline of his people?

Why is complacency a problem in today's society?