The Vison of the Ram and the Goat
Text: Daniel 8
INTRODUCTION:Daniel 8 tells of Daniel's vision of a two-horned ram destroyed by a one-horned goat, followed by the history of the "little horn", which is Daniel's code-word for the Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Although set during the reign or regency of King Belshazzar(who died in 539 BC), the subject of the vision is Antiochus' oppression of the Jewish people during the second century BC: he outlawed Jewish customs such as circumcision, the Jewish monthly/Lunar calendar, dietary restrictions, and Sabbath observance, made ownership of the Torah scroll (the first 5 books of the Bible a capital offense, and built an altar to Zeus in the Temple (the "abomination of desolation")
In In previous chapters we have seen visions describing four kingdoms...
The vision of Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel 2
The vision of Daniel - Daniel 7
These kingdoms were the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Greek, the Roman
And now in Daniel 8, Daniel has another vision...
“The Vision Of The Ram And The Goat”
In which two kingdoms are described
As we will see, the two kingdoms are the same as two of the four kingdoms in earlier visions.
But just as the vision in Daniel 7 provided more information about the fourth kingdom, so now the vision in Daniel 8 provides some information about the second and third kingdoms...
Let’s begin by looking at:
DATE OF THE VISION...
Verse 1
1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
This would be about 552 B.C., two years later than the vision in Dan 7
Next we’ll see the
DETAILS OF THE VISION...
Verse 2
2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
Verse 3
3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
In the vision, Daniel saw himself in Shushan (Susa)
In the province of Elam (western Persia, modern day Iran)
The winter capital of the Persian kings
He was by the river Ulai
He saw a two-horned ram Standing beside the river
The horns were high, with one higher than the other which came up last
The ram was pushing westward, northward, and southward
No beast could withstand him
None could deliver from his hand
He did according to his will and became great
Verse 5
5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
He then saw a one-horned male goat
Coming suddenly from the west
Across the surface of the whole earth, not touching the ground
With a notable horn between his eyes
Verse 6
6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
He saw the goat defeat the ram
With furious power the goat attacked the ram and broke his two horns
The ram was unable to withstand the goat, and was trampled
The goat become great, but when he became strong... -
Verse 8
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
The large horn was broken
In its place four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven
He saw a little horn come out of the four with great power -
Verse 9
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
He saw the goat defeat the ram
Which grew exceedingly great
Toward the south and east
Toward the Glorious Land
Which grew up to the host of heaven
Casting down and trampling to the ground some of the host
Exalting himself as high as the Prince of host
By this powerful horn...
The daily sacrifices were taken away
The place of His (God’s) sanctuary was cast down
An army was given him to oppose the daily sacrifices (because of transgression)
He did all this and prospered
Verse 13
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Daniel then heard a conversation between two holy ones
One asking: “How long will the vision be, concerning...”
“the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation”
“the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?”
The reply given to Daniel:
“For two thousand three hundred days”
“Then the sanctuary shall be cleansed”
With the details before us, we are now ready to consider the explanation provided to Daniel...
The vision is interpreted…
And
Gabriel is assigned to explain the vision…
Verse15
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Gabriel speaks to Daniel
Verse 17
17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
He approaches Daniel
Prompting Daniel to fall on his face in fear
Telling him that “the vision refers to the time of the end”
He stands Daniel on his feet (because Daniel had fallen into a deep sleep with his face to the ground)
To tell him “what will happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at
the appointed time the end shall be”
GABRIEL EXPLAINS THE VISION...
The two-horned ram -
Verse 20
20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
The larger horn may represent Persia’s greater influence
The expansion of the Medo-Persian empire illustrated by the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward
Verse 21
21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
The one-horned male goat
Depicts the kingdom of Greece; note that it came from the west Daniel 8:5
The large horn representing it’s first king (Alexander the Great)
The speed of the goat aptly reflects Alexander’s conquests Daniel 8:5
Alexander defeated the Persians in three decisive battles Daniel 8:6-7
At Granicus (334 B.C.)
At Issus (333 B.C.)
At Gaugamela (331 B.C.)
Verse 22
22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
The broken horn and four horns that arose in its place -
Alexander died at 33 years of age
His empire was divided between his four generals Dan 8:8
Ptolemy (Egypt)
Seleucus I (Syria)
Cassander (Macedonia and Greece)
Lysimachus (Thrace and Asia Minor)
Verse 23
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
The little horn that became exceedingly great
Some time later a king shall arise
When transgressors have reached their fullness (when Israel has fallen back into sin)
With mighty power, but not by his own.
He will destroy fearfully, prosper and thrive
He will destroy the mighty and also the holy people
Through cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper
He shall magnify himself, and destroy many in their prosperity
He shall even rise against the Prince of princes (The LORD )
But he shall be broken without human hands (God will destroy him)
This is most likely Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of Syria (175-163 B.C.)
Who imposed Greek culture and deities upon his subjects
Who when he conquered Jerusalem:
Set up an image in the temple
Offered swine flesh upon the altar
Encouraged Greek soldiers to commit fornication in the temple
Forbade circumcision,
keeping the Sabbath,
possessing a copy of the Scriptures
Verse 26
26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
The number of days the sacrifices will cease, and the temple desolated
Maybe a literal period (a little over six years) corresponding to the actual period of time
the abomination by Antiochus Epiphanes occurred (171-165 B.C.)
Daniel is instructed to seal up the vision because it was to occur
“many days in the future”
almost four hundred years later
Finally let’s look at the
EFFECT ON DANIEL...
Verse 27
27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
He fainted and was sick for days
Though he afterward arose and went about the king’s business, he was astonished by the vision (but no one understood it)
CONCLUSION
This vision is probably the easiest to understand of the four visions that Daniel saw...
The identity of the ram and goat are clearly given
History confirms what is described in this vision
The conflict between Medo-Persia and Greece
The division of the Grecian empire following Alexander’s death
The rise of Antiochus Epiphanes and his desecration of the temple in Jerusalem
The purpose of the vision was to prepare the people of Daniel for what was to come...
In “the time of the end”
In “the latter time of the indignation”
Including the persecution that would come upon Israel toward the end of the OT period
The remarkable accuracy of this vision have led some to date the book of Daniel after the events of Antiochus Epiphanes.
But its accuracy poses no problem for those who accept the inspiration of the Scriptures, and should remind us of God’s power to fulfill His Word:
Isaiah 46:9-11
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Amen
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