The Meaning of Daniel 8 Flashcards
Daniel 8:1 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.
Name a fact about King Belshazzar.
King Belshazzar was the last king of the Neo Babylonian empire.
Daniel 8:3 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.
Who are the two horns?
The two horns are referring to the Persian-Medo Empire.
What is the vision Daniel is seeing in Daniel chapter 8 referring to?
This is an allegory that is predicting the abomination of desolation conducted by Antiochus Epiphanes IV.
In Daniel 8:3 when it says “the two horns were high but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last”, what does this mean?
It means that one horn was the Medo Empire and the other was the Persian Empire but the Persian Empire gained more strength and power particularly during the Achaemenid Empire in 550 B.C. Under King Cyrus, even though the Median Empire gained traction first.
-There was a Persian revolt that declared independence from Median rule. 553–550 BCE
Daniel 8:4 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.
What does this mean?
This is referring to how Persia conquered the known world. This is why in 1 Maccabees 1:1 it speaks about Darius III who was a king of the Persian Empire that was eventually conquered by Alexander the Greek, but prior to that The Persian empire was dominant and the largest empire amongst the ancient empires.
Daniel 8:5 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.
What does this verse mean?
The he goat is referring to Greece.
When the scriptures say then he goat touched not the ground it’s referencing Alexander and his conquest throughout the earth. He covered so much land it was like he didn’t travel on foot as if he was flying.
The notable horn in this verse is referring to Alexander the Greek.
Daniel 8:6 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.
What does this verse mean?
- It’s referring to how Alexander overthrew the Persian-Mede Empire which allowed him to conquer the known world at the time.
- Battle of Gaugamela, (October 1, 331 bce) clash between the forces of Alexander the Great of Macedonia and Darius III of Persia that decided the fate of the Persian Achaemenian Empire.
[link] (https://www.quora.com/How-did-Alexander-the-Great-beat-the-Persian-Empire#:~:text=Battle%20of%20Gaugamela%2C%20also%20called,ground%20chosen%20by%20the%20Persians.)
Daniel 8:7 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.
What is this verse referring to?
This is speaking about how Alexander destroyed the Persian-Mede empire because he was so powerful. No one could save themselves against him.
Daniel 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.
What does this mean?
This means Alexander became very great on the earth, but eventually he was broken meaning he came into power at 20 and died at 22 due to an STD contracted by his homosexual behavior. (1 Maccabees 1:7)
The four notable ones towards the four winds of heaven are referring to his four generals. (1 Maccabees 1:8)
The four winds is referring to the areas they were given to rule over. (Speaking about direction)
- Seleucus (Syria 305 BC - 281 BC)
- Cassander (Macedonia 305 BC - 297 BC)
- Ptolemy (Egypt 305/304 BC - 282 BC)
- Lysimachus (Thrace/Asia Minor 306 BC - 281 BC)
Daniel 8:9 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.
What does this mean?
Out of one of them (the Seleucid Empire) came a little horn which was Antiochus Epiphanes IV.
He became great in the earth and started moving toward the south, the east and the pleasant land which is Jerusalem.
What does Epiphanes mean?
God manifested on earth.
Daniel 8:10 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.
What is this referring to?
Antiochus Epiphanes IV gained more power as he continued to conquer different regions including Jerusalem. He then defiled the temple which The Most High caught wind of.
Casting down some of the stars to the ground in referring to him conquering Israel and destroying them. If you didn’t conform to his doctrine you would be killed.
Daniel 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
What does this mean?
Antiochus set manners of abomination in the temple. He magnified himself even into the Lord.
He took away the daily sacrifices Israel would do and put up abominable sacrifices and by the abominations done In the temple it stopped becoming holy. (2 Maccabees 6:2-5)
Daniel 8:12 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.
Explain this.
An host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression is referring to Israel consenting to practice those abominations within the temple. And the indoctrination prospered.
Daniel 8:12 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.
Explain this.
An host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression is referring to Israel consenting to practice those abominations within the temple.
Casting the truth to the ground is talking about how Gods laws were abolished (1 Maccabees 1:41-42)
And the indoctrination was practiced and it prospered greatly. You can see the evidence of that in modern society.
