Hello Friends!
Welcome back to our Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book of Daniel painted as a panoramic landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago… “The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 8: Verses 1-8)
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 – Daniel 8:1-8
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Beginning with this next challenging charter of “Daniel” through to the end of the book, this provided PROPHECY will lead us mostly upon “Jewish” ground. And while some of these PROPHECIES were already fulfilled in the PAST, there are many of them that are directly related to the FUTURE tense when the great “end times” final FULFILLMENT of the practical PROMISES of our great “God” takes place shortly before the HIGHLY anticipated “coming” of the “Son of Man” on the “clouds of heaven” to rightly – RECEIVE His Kingdom!
As we have diligently discovered, the book of “Daniel” was originally “written” in distinctly TWO different literal languages: Hebrew and Aramaic in kind. Chapter 1 is fully “written” in the Hebrew style closely allied to the ancient sixth-century B.C. text utilized in the book of Ezekiel as such. And. chapter 2 verse 4 through chapter 7 are actually “written” in the Aramaic language. However, here in chapters 8 through chapter 12 were again “written” in the Hebrew language. WHY? Because “Daniel” had previously purposed to PROPHECY of the “times of the Gentiles” as they related to the waning “world” of those nigh “nations” themselves. However, here in these very challenging chapters “Daniel” will be PROPHESYING as they relate directly unto the “nation” of – Insolent ISRAEL!
Chapter 8: Vision of the Ram & He-Goat!
The FIRST of the aged “Daniel’s” violently vivid “visions” previously pronounced earlier in chapter 7 is a broad sweeping summary of the torrential “times of the Gentiles” beginning from his “life” of conspired “captivity” beginning back in “Babylon” all the way through the hated HISTORY of the “Jewish” people “until” the righteous RETURN of their PROMISED Messiah “Jesus Christ” and His coming 1000-year Millennial “Kingdom” to earth. There would be “four” world empires: Babylon followed by Medo-Persia followed by Greece finally followed by Rome of which would eventually be rankly RESURRECTED into a conspired confederacy over which the “Antichrist” would gain ecclesiastical designated DOMINION and political world RULE although his SATANIC prideful power. However, our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” will ultimately CRUSH this corrupt man-made “kingdom” mania completely – Sovereignly SHATTERED!
Conversely, this SECOND vexatious “vision” visualized here in chapter 8 concerns ONLY the menacing Medo-Persian and gigantic Greek elements of that grander “vision” in much greater detailing FOCUS displayed – HISTORY Heralded!
The Ram & He-goat!
The PRIOR versatile “vision” choicely chronicled within chapter 7 had agonizingly AGITATED the aged “Daniel” while he was SLEEPING during the founded “first year” of the brazen “Belshazzar king of Babylon” as the grandson of “King Nebuchadnezzar” himself…
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters – Daniel 7:1
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: It is very difficult to have physically DIED and then REIGN for “three years” in kind. WHY? Because “Belshazzar” had ALREADY died! Therefore, as “we” have diligently discussed during this seminal series, the very BEST way to seriously “study” through the book of “Daniel” itself is by “dividing” the individual chapters in the following numerical order:
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 5, 6, 9, 11, 10, 12
If faithfully fomented in this literary “Hebrew” styled CHRONOLOGICAL sequence, the book of “Daniel” will indeed make much more – SINCERE Sense!
Now THIS follow-up “vision” had aptly “appeared” unto “Daniel” in the “third year” of the caustic “king Belshazzar” taking its PROPHETIC place within the chronicles of chapter 5 sometime PRIOR to his “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin” dooming demise that was “determined” by the great “God of heaven” back in the HISTORICAL year of 551 B.C. respectively:
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin – Daniel 5:24-25
The APPOINTED Time!
Thus, “we” back-up chronologically in this nigh NARRATIVE beginning here in chapter 8 as a heralded “vision” outlined by the aged man “Daniel” as he was wide AWAKE had totally transpired on the woeful FALL of bold “Babylon” as the mighty “Medes and Persians” aptly assumed their HISTORICAL world-wide helm:
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 – Daniel 8:1
Indeed the humble
man “Daniel” was aptly APPOINTED at
this specific trying “time”
for this vivid “vision” that
had “appeared” to him just prior
to the PROPHESIED dire demise of the “Babylonian” Empire after their allotted “seventy years” of rule. Here he laments “unto me, even unto me” as aptly according
to the great GRACE lovingly bestowed upon him – Granted BY God!
The APPOINTED Place!
The next APPOINTED point “Daniel” makes is the specific PLACE for this “vision” and gives “us” the explicit EXACTNESS of our glorious “God” when He provides His precise PROPHETIC insight. And as “we” poignantly proceed with this powerful NARRATIVE of which “came to pass” as such, the Sovereign setting set forth here in this vivacious “vision” is indeed VERY significant…
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 – Daniel 8:2
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The city of “Shushan” is also referred to as Susa by the Greeks and there is a village left there TODAY named Shush laid atop the ancient ruins. It is located approximately 230 miles directly east of “Babylon” and some 120 miles north of the Persian Gulf. At the time “Daniel” wrote, “Shushan” was just an eastern town at the extremity of the “Babylonian” Empire in the “province” area of “Elam” itself. However, AFTER the “writings” provided by “Daniel” the city of “Shushan” became the royal rite of the “Medes and the Persians” respectively. The “Spirit of God” had PROPHETICALLY pointed to “Shushan” as a city of great significance in where such a “vision” would be obscure to the “time” in which “Daniel” lived. WHY? Because in his “day” it had NO significance. None the less, under the looming leadership of “Cyrus” the moving “Medes and the Persians” aptly affirmed this city “Shushan” as their royal city. Incidentally, when “Esther” sat on her throne as “queen” she rightly reigned in the “palace” built in the city of “Shushan” proper. And when “Nehemiah” was to “return” unto “Jerusalem” to righteously REBUILD the waning “wall” itself, he was commissioned and thus departed from where he dwelt. WHERE? It was from the city of “Shushan” as well! Thus, it became a very significant city. In fact, archeologists have uncovered the “palace” and the fortress built in this village of Shush of which “Daniel” wrote. And in his “time” it most likely did NOT yet exist. However, it indeed does – TODAY!
The “river Ulai” is also very interesting. This is the ONLY place the SPECIFIC word for “river” is ever used in the Bible. It is a very obscure and strange word usage. Archeologists have discovered that running through the area of “Shushan” on the northeast of the city, was an artificial canal built to transport water between two “rivers” that flowed north and south. It was actually a hand-dug chasm measuring 900 feet wide named Ulaus by the classic writers for this man-made channel. Amazing! The “Holy Spirit” reserved a very SPECIAL word for a very SPECAIL water way “river” indeed. These detailed HISTORICAL facts indeed PROPHETICALLY prove to the waning “world” at large that our great “God’s” wonderful “Word” is no doubt – Totally TRUE!
The APPOINTED Ram!
The next APPOINTED person of whom “Daniel” makes reference is the ruling “ram” radiantly running through the annuls of HISTORY via this “vision” as such:
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. 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 – Daniel 8:3-4
This “ram” represents the “Medes and the Persian” Empire with the “two horns” being HISTORICALLY held by “Darius the Median” and “Cyrus the Persian” ruling from 539 B.C. to 330 B.C. as they moved “westward” then “northward” and “southward” succinctly CONQUERING all other “beasts” within “his” domain. Horns have always been a symbol of POWER and are how animals defend themselves. In this case “one was higher than the other “ as such. WHY? Because when “Cyrus” came to power in Persia he began to grow. And although he had begun his career later than the “Medes” themselves, he finally conquered Media making Persia the greatest of the “two horns” succinctly. Therefore, this rambunctious “ram” ransacked EVERYTHING aptly “according to his will” as the “great” victor – The APPOINTED Ram!
The APPOINTED He-goat!
Finally, another APPOINTED animal is made known by “Daniel” represented by a hurdling “he goat” gallantly galloping across the pages of HISTORY through this “vision” in kind:
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 – Daniel 8:5
Here comes a “he-goat” persona. WHAT in the world is THIS kind of creature? One of the interesting phrases used by the Old Testament prophets in reference to “he-goats” was made of leaders or head chiefs in kind. This heralded “he goat” rightly represents the grandiose Graeco-Macedonian Empire with this “notable horn between his eyes” of whom is PROPHETICALLY and HISTORICALLY held as Alexander the Great in that he had “came from the west” and not even “touching the ground” as he flew throughout the “whole earth” during 330 B.C. to 63 B.C. in utter CONQUEST over the “ram” regiment set before him…
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. 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 – Daniel 8:6-7
HISTORICAL HINTS: The conquering king Alexander raised an army and traveled through Asia to meet the Persians. First at Granicus under local satraps, the Persians not considering the Macedonian army a true threat, had foolishly remained in place. Holding the HIGHER bank at the River Granicus, king Alexander steamily stormed across and ROUTED them accordingly. And the descriptions of king Alexander’s first valiant victory firmly FULFILL this Divine description wonderfully. The frightful fury, ardor anger and complete confidence by which Alexander attacked the Persians are absolutely legendary in human – HISTORY Heralded!
This caustic “choler” rightly represents a very hot TEMPER and is easily provoked anger. Alexander had NO fear of the mighty Persians and attacked them with the ferocity of a wild “goat” loosed. WHY? Because he had a personal mission to AVENGE the great invasion of Greece by king Xerxes in the year 480 B.C. And as a real result, king “Darius” could do NOTHING against this furious leader with his own troops or hired mercenaries. Therefore, in THREE great battles: Granicus, Issus and Gaugamela this ardent Alexander completely CRUSHED the perplexed Persians to a pulp. In Issus he corruptly CAPTURED the royal family and in Gaugamela he routed a great army – SWIFTLY Slaving 600,000!
And if “we” want the intense INTERPRETATION of this rumbustious “ram” it is poignantly provided for “us” later in this nigh narrative:
The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king – Daniel 8:20-21
This rank “rough goat” representing a WILD male “goat” is none other than the coming “kingdom” of Greece itself. And the “great horn” that is boldly set “between his eyes” is actually the “first king” noted as Alexander the Great in kind. Here “Daniel” sees this “rough” male “he-goat” and informs his readers that the angel “Gabriel” gives him these details. Therefore, human HISTORY now moves along “God’s” perfectly PROPHETIC picture poised as the THIRD great “world” Empire to come – GREECE!
The Greek empire stretched from Europe to Asia and encompassed a great portion of Africa. It was a MASSIVE Empire; and its “dominion” was far more reaching than the “beast” of the previous Medo-Persian Empire had ever conquered. And the Greeks came upon the “ram” just “like a leopard” so fast that they seemed to have “four wings of a fowl” in their ability to FLY throughout the land:
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it – Daniel 7:6
This was Alexander the Great himself. He was, a PROPHETICALLY perfect and illustrious ILLUSTRATION of the power found within the FUTURE coming “Antichrist” and “man of sin” figure. He will be fantastically FAST, exceedingly EFFECTIVE and deeply DOMINATING over all. In fact, this horrendous “he goat” had rigorously “ran” upon the “ram” with much “fury” and “power” in “choler” against his ADVERSARY that he “brake” these “two horns” and caustically “cast him down to the ground” and stoutly “stamped upon him” in a candidly – COMPLETE Victory!
That is, until the purposed PROPHESIED dooming demise of this heralded “he goat” was NOW directly determined as such…
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 – Daniel 8:8
This haughty ONE horned “he goat” indeed “waxed very great” of which DENOTES his solid swiftness and aggressive agility to maneuver mindfully. However, when “he” became very “strong” in stature, this “great horn” was briskly “broken” and as a real RESULT there were “four notable ones” raised up. WHY? Because this Sovereign scene indeed PROPHETICALLY points to the eventual PARTING of this animating Empire (due to the drunken and debauched dire DEATH of the young 33-year old Alexander the Great) into the “four winds of heaven” becoming FOUR co-opted compartmentalized “kingdoms” that swiftly spread THROUGHOUT the north, south, east & west regions of the Mediterranean world – Syria, Egypt, Macedonia & Asia Minor!
PROPHETIC PROMISE: The Bible itself does NOT provide these intricacies themselves. However, human HISTORY itself indeed DOES provide these departed details. WHY? To constantly CONFIRM the very veracity found in the “Word of God” completely! HOW? When Alexander the Great had died, his FOUR great generals Cassander, Lysimacus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy had decidedly DIVIDED the conquering “kingdom” of Greece into FOUR regions. WHAT? The General Cassander had taken the west area of Greece and Macedonia in kind. The General Lysimacus was given Thrace and Asia Minor in the east arena. The General Seleucus took Syria and the Middle East (known as the Seleucids) in the north region. And General Ptolemy had taken Egypt (known as the Ptolemies) in the south corridor – A Kingdom DIVIDED!
The HISTORICAL saga of the Syrian Wars were a Sovereign series of SIX waged wars between the Seleucid Empire in the Middle East and the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt of whom were successor states as these “four notable ones” spawned off from the alluring Alexander the Great's Empire during the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C. over the region then called Coele-Syria as one a the FEW available – Avenues INTO Egypt!
Next Study: The LITTLE Horn!
Here in this “dream” and accompanying “visions” of the aged “Daniel” we find yet AGAIN that all of human HISTORY was powerfully pre-written in an avid ADVANCE notice by our great “God” Himself of Whom ALONE knows the “end” from the “beginning” revealed in this dramatic – Dream DECLARED!
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ! We
are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't
yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus
Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
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I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Shane K. Morin <><
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