DANIEL 8

INTRODUCTION:

1. Daniel 7 dealt with the four major world empires, proceeding from Daniel’s day.
2. Daniel 8 confines itself to the second and third, Medo-Persia and Greece.
3. The two chapters are similar in that they both look beyond Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome to the end-times and the rise of the antichrist.
4. I want to point out that Daniel 1:1 – 2:3 is in Hebrew; Daniel 2:4 to 7:28 is in Aramaic (Chaldean); and from 8:1 to the end of the book it is in Hebrew.

BRIEF HISTORY OF MEDO-PERSIA

1. They were under the domination of Assyria until the 7^th century BC.
2. In 614 BC, the Medes captured Asshur, the capitol city of Assyria.
3. In 612 BC, the Medes joined the Chaldeans and captured Nineveh, resulting in the downfall of the Assyrian Empire (prophesied by the prophet Nahum approximately 100 years beforehand). NOTE: Nineveh’s revival, recorded by the prophet Jonah, was about 862 BC.
4. In the following years, there was much intermarriage and alliances with Babylon.
5. In 549 BC, the Persians conquered the Medes to form Medo-Persia.
6. The Medo-Persians conquered Babylon in 539 BC. This was prophesied by the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah:

• Isa.13:17ff. – about 713 BC, approximately 175 years beforehand.
• Jer.51:11,28 – c. 595 BC, approximately 56 years beforehand.

7. The Medo-Persian empire covered the entire Middle East and surrounding areas, and they ruled up until the rise of Alexander the Great in 331 BC.
8. Daniel 2:39a refers to Medo-Persia. The image’s breast and arms of silver represent Medo-Persia, one arm is Media, the other arm is Persia.
9. Daniel 7:5 refers to Media-Persia. The bear raising itself up on one side refers to Persia being greater than Media.

8:1 THE TIME: "In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar." This would be somewhere between 553-551 BC. It has been two years now since the vision of Daniel 7 (cf. 7:1). These visions occurred before King Belshazzar’s drunken party (5:1).

8:2 THE PLACE: Daniel was probably in Babylon and in a vision was transported to the palace in Shushan. Ezekiel (40:1ff.) and John (Rev.17:3) had similar experiences. NOTE: Shushan was little known in Daniel’s time but was soon to become the capitol of Persia (cf. Neh.1:1; Esther 1:2,5; 2:3,5).

8:3 THE VISION: Daniel saw a ram with two horns, signifying Media and Persia (cf. 8:20). One horn "was higher than the other," i.e., Persia was stronger and "higher."

8:4 Daniel saw the ram pushing in three directions – not east. These three directions correspond to the "three ribs" (7:5). In ancient literature, the guardian spirit (demon) of the Persian Empire appears under the form of a ram with sharp-pointed horns. The Persian king wore the head of a ram on his head.

8:5 Next, Daniel sees the goat, signifying Greece. The goat had "a notable horn between his eyes," representing Alexander the Great (cf. 8:21). He "touched not the ground" emphasizes Alexander’s incredible speed (cf. 7:6 "four wings").

8:6,7 Medo-Persia fell to Greece in 331 BC. Daniel predicted this 220 years ahead of time. This is why the liberals attack the book of Daniel: they do not believe in the supernatural. Also, they hate Daniel because he magnifies the second coming of Christ, and our Lord referred to "Daniel the prophet" (Matt.24:15).

8:8 Alexander died at the early age of 32 – "when he was strong" – from drinking. The "four notable ones" refer to the four generals who divided up his kingdom after his premature death (cf. 8:22). The four kingdoms were Europe, including Greece and Macedonia; Asia Minor; Syria, Babylon, and the East; and Egypt, Palestine, North Africa, and Arabia (cf. Scofield margin, p. 913). This is why Daniel saw "four heads" on the third beast (7:6).

8:9 This "little horn" is not the antichrist, but a type of the antichrist, Antiochus Epiphanes. He "waxed exceedingly great" (cf. 8:10a). He reigned from 175-164 BC. He came "out of one of them," i.e. Syria (cf. Scofield margin., p. 912). Therefore, the south would be Egypt, the east would be Medo-Persia, and "the pleasant land" is Israel. His career is recorded in the Apocryphal book of I Maccabees. He hated the Jews, forbade circumcision, banned the Scriptures, desecrated the Temple – he sacrificed a pig to the god Zeus right on the altar in the Temple, and according to some historians, murdered 100,000 Jews.

8:10 This is a rather difficult verse. Scofield calls it "the most difficult in prophecy" (p. 912, bottom of page). It refers to Antiochus Epiphanes’ persecution and destruction of the people of Israel, with his defiance of the angelic hosts who protect them. The O.T. teaches that angels protect Israel (cf. Daniel 12:1). The "stars" probably refer to the Jews (cf. Gen.15:5; 22:17; Dan.12:3).

8:11 This verse brings out Antiochus foreshadows the antichrist. "Historically, this was fulfilled in and by Antiochus Epiphanes, but in a more intense and final sense Antiochus but adumbrates the awful blasphemy of the `little horn’ of Dan.7:8,24,25; 9:27; 11:36-45; 12:11)." – Scofield, p. 912. This prophecy was literally fulfilled in about 175 BC when Antiochus took away the daily sacrifices and defiled the sanctuary. He actually slew a pig on the altar and forced the Jews to eat it. Scofield writes: "In Dan.8:10-14 the actions of both `little horns’ blend." The picture of him magnifying himself "even to the prince of the host" (i.e. the Lord Jesus Christ) describes the antichrist defying our Lord. There are many examples of this sort of "blending" in the Bible (cf. Isa.14:4-15; Ezek.28:12-19). The first and second coming of Christ are often "blended" (Isa.9:6,7). David referred to his disloyal counsellor Ahithopel as his "own familiar friend" (Ps.41:9; cf. II Sam.15-17). Our Lord quoted Ps.41 in reference to Judas Iscariot.

8:12 Antiochus removed the daily temple sacrifices and replaced them with Greek paganism (cf. 9:27). He will "prosper" for a time and "cast down the truth to the ground" but only for a few years (cf. 8:14).

8:13,14 For Daniel’s benefit, "one saint" (literally a holy one, i.e. an angel) reveals to "another saint" that the periods of Antiochus’ desecrations will last 2,300 days, a bit more than six years. The "cleansing" was then accomplished by Judas Maccabeus. Even though this prophecy has no reference to the second coming of Christ, some have taken it that way. Unfortunately, the SDA cult traces its beginning back to a misinterpretation of this scripture. Speculating that each day represented a year (a "year-day theory"), a mixed-up Baptist preacher named William Miller, who lived in upstate NY, attempted to predict the exact date of our Lord’s return (cf. Matt.24:36). This movement started in 1818 and the predicted date was 1843. Finally, he and his followers set October 22, 1844 as the definite date when our Lord would return. When he was proven wrong, he admitted his error but the damage was already done. Ellen G. White and other demon-inspired cultists came along and developed what is known today as the SDA cult.

8:15,16 This is the first mention in the Bible of the angel Gabriel.

8:17,18 Understandably, Daniel was afraid and fell upon his face. The "time of the end" (cf. 8:19, and Scofield, p. 913, bottom).

8:19 The angel Gabriel stated that he would make Daniel "know what shall be in the last end of the indignation (wrath)."

8:20 Daniel saw "a ram which had two horns" (8:3). Now, Gabriel identifies the two horns as Media and Persia, the same empire represented by the bear raised up on one side (7:5). Though Persia rose up later than Media, the Persians overshadowed the Medes. Therefore, the second horn on the ram was higher than the first horn (8:3). The Persian army had more than 2 million soldiers.

8:21 Next, Gabriel gave the interpretation of "the rough goat" (8:4-8). He is "the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king," i.e. Alexander the Great (cf. 11:3). Even though his father, Philip II of Macedonia, united all the Greek city-states except Sparta, historians all call Alexander the first king of Greece. In 7:6, Greece was represented as a leopard, with four wings upon his back. The four wings suggest unusual speed. Alexander, "the notable horn" (8:5), came from the west with a small but fast army ("touched not the ground" – 8:5). Alexander wanted to even the score with the Persians because they defeated the Greeks at the battle of Marathon (490 BC) and the Battle of Salamis (481 BC). Marathon and Salamis were two Greek cities near Athens. This notable horn "ran unto him (Media-Persia) in the fury of his power" (8:6). Alexander quickly conquered Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia in a few years, beginning in 334 BC. He "moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns…" (8:7). The Persians were helpless to resist Alexander, and soon he had conquered Tyre, Media, India, and the whole civilized world, but died of malaria and complications from alcoholism in 323 BC at the age of 32 in Babylon. At the height of his power he was "broken" (8:8). "He died 10 days after being taken ill after a prolonged banquet and drinking bout" (Encyclopedia Britannica).

8:22 Since Alexander had no heirs to succeed him, the kingdom was divided several years later among his four generals – "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power" (cf. 8:8; 11:4). To Ptolemy was given Egypt and parts of Asia Minor. Cassander was given the territory of Macedonia and Greece. Lysimachus was given Thrace and parts of Asia Minor such as western Bythinia, Phrygia, Mycia, and Lydia. Seleucus was given the remainder of Alexander’s empire which included Syria, Israel, and Mesopotamia (cf. Scofield margin). Since these four kingdoms were not as strong as Alexander’s had been ("but not in his power"), they eventually fell to Rome.

8:23,24 Years later – "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." This deceitful and powerful ruler will be assisted by satanic power, and he "shall destroy wonderfully…and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people" (i.e. Israel).

8:25 This "king of fierce countenance" "shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many" (cf. I Thess.5:1-3). His antagonism against Israel would also be against her Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, "the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." This reference to "the Prince of princes" indicates that this prophecy goes beyond Antiochus Epiphanes to the coming antichrist and his defeat at the second coming of Christ.

ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES WAS A TYPE OF THE ANTICHRIST.

1. After murdering his brother, who had inherited the throne in the Seleucid dynasty, he came to power in 175 BC.
2. In 170 BC, Ptolemy VI of Egypt sought to recover territory then ruled over by Antiochus.
3. So Antiochus invaded Egypt and defeated Ptolemy VI and proclaimed himself king in Egypt ("a little horn, which waxed exceedingly great, toward the south" – 8:9).
4. On his return home from Egypt, trouble broke out in Jerusalem so he decided to subdue the city ("and toward the pleasant land" – 8:9; cf. 11:16,41). Antiochus attacked Jerusalem; the people were subjugated, the temple desecrated, and the temple treasury plundered.
5. From Jerusalem Antiochus went back to Egypt in 168 BC but was forced by Rome to evacuate Egypt.
6. On his return he determined to make the land of Israel a buffer state between himself and Egypt. He attacked and burned Jerusalem, killing multitudes, some say 100,000 Jews (cf. 8:10).
7. The Jews were forbidden to follow their religion, couldn’t keep the Sabbath, annual feasts, and couldn’t circumcise their boys (cf. 8:11).
8. Altars to idols such as Zeus were set up in Jerusalem and in 167 BC, the Jews were ordered to offer up a sacrifice to Zeus and eat swine’s flesh or be put to death. A pig was sacrificed at the altar in the temple.
9. Antiochus called himself Epiphanes, meaning "the Illustrious One," but the Jews called him Epimanes, meaning "the Madman."
10. Antiochus’ desecration of the temple was to last 2,300 days (8:14), six years from his first incursion in 170 BC up to the cleansing and refurbishing of the temple by Judas Maccabeus in 164.
11. This prophecy looks beyond Antiochus to the coming antichrist of whom Antiochus was only a foreshadowing. Antiochus never stood up "against the Prince of princes" (8:25) but the antichrist will (cf. 7:9-11; II Thess.2:8; Rev.19:20).
12. Since Antiochus foreshadows the antichrist, certain facts can be learned about his rise and fall.

1. He will achieve great power by subduing others (8:24).
2. He will rise to power by promising peace and prosperity (8:25).
3. He will be a clever man of intrigue, probably involved in the occult (8:23).
4. His power comes from another, undoubtedly Satan (8:24; cf. Rev.13:2,4,7).
5. He will oppose Israel and seek their destruction (8:24b). When you consider the political climate today this is easy to imagine. And it will be far worse after the rapture.
6. He will rise up against the "Prince of princes" (8:25).
7. His rule will be terminated by divine judgment (8:25b).

13. These prophecies have a dual reference (cf. 8:11; notes for 8:11; and Scofield, p. 912). They refer to the "latter time of their kingdom" (8:23) – kingdom is singular – a reference to the collective kingdom of mankind, the "new world order" vividly described in Rev.13 and 17.
14. These prophecies will not be fulfilled until "the transgressions are come to the full" (8:23). Our Lord Himself said that these prophecies were still future (Matt.24:15; cf. Dan.9:27; 12:11).

8:26 God’s Word "is true." People ignore God’s Word or deny God’s Word or attack God’s Word or twist God’s Word at their peril. These fascinating prophecies were "shut up" for "many days" but now we are living close to their fulfillment. "Shut up" means "sealed up." Its full import could not be understood then, and will not be fully understood until the tribulation.

8:27 Daniel "fainted, and was sick certain days" and he "was astonished at the vision, but none understood it." Even today, most Christians do not understand the prophecies of Daniel. And obviously, the lost have little interest in it. But despite the severe strain, Daniel went back to work "and did the king’s business."