^” And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but “no one understood it.”

Daniel 8:27

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Introduction

Daniel ends chapter 8 with a startling statement:

“….no one understood it.”

No doubt, Daniel told others about the vision he received because he said, “no one“ could understand the vision, or at least the part unexplained.  Ironically, this becomes a big point in understanding Daniel 9.  Because in Daniel 9 the angel comes back to uncover the part of Daniel 8 that was not explained.

Quite likely, Daniel discussed the vision with his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who stood the test of the fiery furnace.

What is odd about Daniel’s statement is that almost all the prophecy is interpreted by the attending angel.  This is what we will study today.  But, there is part that was left open and revealed in chapter 9.

So when the chapter ends, Daniel and those that discussed it with him are confused, this confusion is the reason for the events of Daniel 9

“O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision”

Daniel 9: 22, 23

The angel starts by encouraging Daniel who was made sick by the visions.  The angel reminds him that he is “greatly beloved.”  My friends, what an encouragement to us is to know that we are “greatly beloved!”.  Let us never forget this!

Then the angel begins to lead Daniel through the time part of the prophecy.

With this in mind, let’s do a quick review and consider Daniel 8.

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Quick Review

As one studies the book of Daniel and the visions, it becomes clear there is a time line of world events throughout. The starting point is when Daniel and his friends are taken captive by Babylon and Daniel reveals to Nebuchadnezzar a succession of nations and kings that would arise.  At a designated point the end would come and Jesus would reign without end.  The dream of Daniel 2 sets up the structure on which the remaining prophecies are built:

1.) Babylon

2.) Medes and Persians

3.) Greece

4.) Rome

5.) 10 Divisions of Rome (Never to be reunited)

6.) Return of Jesus (Rock that breaks the image and fills the whole earth.)  We live in this part of the image!  The next big even is the return of Jesus!

These 6 major events is the framework for the succeeding related chapters. The prophecies repeat and expand.  With each chapter we learn a little more detail and the detail focuses on the period at the end of the statue i.e., the 10 divisions of Rome.

Some might wonder why other great countries like China are not mentioned.  The reason is simple.  The focus of the visions are on the apple of his eye-His people! It is these countries and these events that have a world-wide effect because of the great controversy between Christ, Satan and their followers.

It is not until chapter 7 that the dream of Daniel 2 has detailed added.  In this chapter , we see the same countries and the same outcome, but there more detailed is revealed.

In Daniel 7, the four great monarchs of our history are now shown as animals rather than metals.  Animals are used to demonstrate their character, speed of conquest, and details of their territory.

Also introduced is more detail about the 10 divisions now called horns.  Horns represented power.  These horns are nations that would arise.  We can now see that 3 of the nations would be destroyed by the new character added to the basic vision.  It is a little horn power that spoke and did “great” things!  This little horn would rage war “against the saints and prevail against them” all the way until the next event, the judgement scene just before the return of Christ.

“I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”

Daniel 7:21 – 22

Daniel wants to know about the 4 great beasts, but particularly the 4th beast and the little horn.  He recognized how different it was and the impact they would have on the earth before the return of the Son of Man.

Daniel 7 is interpreted for us as we saw

“Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.”

Daniel 7: 19 – 20

The time part of the prophecy has to do with the length of time the 4th beast (Rome and the papacy) would rule.  It is expressed in prophetic language as a time, times, and a half of time.  This was explained previously. See Prophecies for Our Time-The Beast and Little Horn of Daniel 7

At the end of Chapter 7, Daniel understands everything, but he is troubled and he keeps the dream to himself and does not talk to anyone about it.

“This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel 7:28

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The same principle of repeating and expanding on the basic prophecy of Daniel 2 continues in Daniel 8 as it did with Daniel 7.

In Daniel 8, the dream starts with the Medes-Persians and Greece.  They are represented by the ram with two horns and the male goat with on large horn that broke into 4 “notable horns”

The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.

Daniel 8: 21 – 22

We know from history Greece conquered the Medes and Persians (Doubled-horn Ram).  Greece is depicted as a goat with a notable horn.  The prophecy tells us this “notable horn” was the first king.  History tells us that the first king of Greece was Alexander the Great!

We also know that after the death of Alexander, his brother and sons became the heir apparent, but were murdered, thereby eliminating the Alexander heritage.  Instead, the kingdom was divided among Alexander’s 4 generals as the prophecy foretold by the symbolic language of 4 horns.  Those generals were:

1. Cassander, who had Greece and the neighboring countries;

2. Lysimachus, who had Asia Minor;

3. Selecus, who had Syria and Babylon, and from whom came the line of kings known as the “Seleucidae,” so famous in history; and

4. Ptolemy, son of Lagus, who had Egypt, and from whom sprang the “Lagidae.”

These held dominion toward the four winds of heaven as predicted. Cassander had the western parts, Lysimachus the northern regions, Seleucus the eastern countries, and Ptolemy the southern portion of the empire.

But, here is where it gets interesting.

And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great..

Daniel 8:9

History again reveals the beginnings of the powerful little horn that came from one of these generals.

Many who subscribe to the popular Rapture scenarios point to Antiochus Epiphanes as this little horn power.  But he does not fit the description.  Antiochus was one of 26 kings and was a weak king who had very little influence during his reign.  Remember, this little horn was to have influence all the way until the Lord returns.  (For those desiring more information on the error of identifying Antiochus Epiphanes as the little horn, please contact me)

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The little horn can represent none other than the powerful nation of Rome.  It is in the same line as that of Daniel 2.  After Greece was to come Rome.  Chapter 8 tells us the beginnings of Rome.

As we look at the actions of the little horn and we will see that if fits Rome perfectly:

And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.

Daniel 8:9

This power would grow “exceedingly great” toward the south, east and the “Glorious Land”

South:  This was true of Rome. Egypt was made a province of the Roman Empire in 30 B.C., and continued such for some centuries.

East: This also was true of Rome. She conquered Syria in 65 B.C., and made it a province.

The pleasant land:  Judea is called “the pleasant land” in many scriptures. The Romans made it a province of their empire in 63 B.C., and eventually destroyed the city and the temple, and scattered the Jews throughout the earth.

 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.

Daniel 8: 10

In this expressions two figures are introduced, “the host” and “the stars.” When used in a symbolic sense concerning events taking place on earth, these figures refer almost always to the people of God and their leaders. In verse 13 of this chapter, we read that both the sanctuary and the host will be trodden under foot. Here, undoubtedly, reference is made to God’s people and the place of their worship. The stars would naturally represent the leaders of the work of God.

In Matthew 24, the Lord warned the people of the coming destruction of Jerusalem by Rome and its comparison with the end of the world. Jerusalem was destroyed as well as the temple.  It has never been rebuilt and it never will be despite the predictions of of Hal Lindsey’s  and  his followers regarding the rapture theories.

He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.

Daniel 8: 11

The little horn “exalted himself even to the Prince of the host.” Rome alone did this. In the interpretation (verse 25) the little horn is said to “stand up against the Prince of princes.” This is clearly an allusion to the crucifixion of our Lord under the jurisdiction of the Romans.

Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.

Daniel 8: 12

Out of Rome came the papacy.  The papacy suppressed the truth from God’s word by taking it from the people in order to perform her craft. It was not until Martin Luther found a Latin bible chained to a monastery wall that the truth was uncovered and the craft of the “prospering” and powerful Roman Catholic revealed.  Thus began the reformation which produced the protestant churches as we know today.  Even today, the error of the papacy can be uncovered by simply comparing its teachings with the Bible.

The “daily sacrifices” taken away refers to the institution of confessionals to a priest rather than directly to Jesus who is our mediator.  Later, we will see that this is the work of the Anti-Christ or Beast of Revelation 13.  It sets up itself as a block between the sinner and Christ.  It becomes a power that sets itself up as a person “in the place of” of Jesus.

Only Jesus can forgive sins.  Sins are forgiven freely through him without the need to perform penance!

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Matthew 23: 8 – 9

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

It is clear from God’s word that there is only one Father (in the context of religion) and that is our Lord.  He alone can forgive our sins and provide us help.  Powerless is the confessional booth, the priest, and a set of beads!  Forgiveness is given freely without any works to earn it.  It was earned by the sacrifice of Jesus.

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.”

Isaiah 55:1

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Next Daniel hears the angels asking a question:

“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 underfoot?”

And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”

Daniel 8: 13 -14

Immediately following these verses, Gabriel comes and explains the vision as has been pointed out above in verses 20-26.  Daniel does not see the literal fulfillment of the vision, but he understands “in part” the vision.  He knows there are rising and falling of powers but, he doesn’t understand the time part of this prophecy.

The question asked by the angel and the another angel’s response is left uninterpreted, at least at this point.  The chapter ends by the angel telling Daniel that the vision of the “evenings and mornings” is true.  This is a reference to the 2300 days (i.e., evenings and mornings).  The understanding is  to be sealed up until the time of the end.  No one would understand it until the time of the end.

And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.

Daniel 8: 26 – 27

My friends, it IS the time of the end and the unexplained time prophecy of Daniel 8 has an explanation.  We find the answers in Daniel 9.  Next time, we will let the Bible interpret itself and we will review history to see how it all fits together.  Most importantly, we shall pull back the curtain to reveal the workings of our enemy and the powerful work of our Savior that is “greater than he that is in the world.”

Until then, be blessed and seek God’s wisdom, power, and mercy.