WEEK 30 | Daniel 8:15–27
Days 1–2 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
18 And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. Daniel 8:15–22 ESV
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
Gabriel and Another One and Daniel’s response (vv15–17)
What does Daniel seek?
Who stands before him?
What type of voice does he hear? Where does he hear it?
What does the voice say?
Who in verse 17 comes near to where Daniel stood?
What is Daniel’s emotion? What does he do? (v17)
How does Gabriel address Daniel?
When is the vision for?
Daniel’s response and the Interpretation of the time, ram, and goat (vv18–22)
What does Daniel do after Gabriel speaks to him?
How does Gabriel restore him? (v18) Then what does Gabriel make Daniel do?
What specifically does Gabriel say he will make known? (v19)
Why shall he make that known? (19)
Last lesson we applied historical facts to the ram and the goat. How do we know the ram is indeed the kings of Media and Persia and the goat is indeed the king of Greece?
Who did we learn was the first king of verse 21?
How was this king broken?
What four did we learn received his kingdom?
How does the power of these four compare to the king of Greece’s power?
Historical Context –– According to Tanner the Hebrew word for “man,” gever, refers to “a male at the height of his powers,” and since he is said to only have the appearance of a man, he could be an angel, for in the Hebrew Scriptures when angels appear to humans, they look like young men (e.g. Genesis 6:2; 18:2). If he is an angel, he appears to have greater authority than Gabriel, so he could be the archangel Michael; later in Daniel, Gabriel and Michael are associated together (10:13, 21; 12:1). Finally, some may interpret this man who speaks as the preincarnate Christ or Messiah. The identity of Gabriel, however, is certain, and this is the first time in the Hebrew Bible that a holy angel is named. In the New Testament, Gabriel appears to Zacharias to announce the birth of John the Baptist and to Mary to announce the virgin birth of the Messiah (Luke 1:19, 26).
In verse 19, Gabriel states that the vision is for “the time of the end”; this Hebrew phrase only appears in Daniel 8:17; 11:35, 40; 12:4, 9). Tanner suggests it is possible this phrase conveys truths beyond the nearer future of Antiochus Epiphanes. Since in chapters 11 and 12, the use of this phrase refers to the times of the Antichrist, Arnold Fruchtenbaum believes this vision also extends to that time as well. He also notes the use of the definite article in “the indignation,” which cannot refer to ordinary indignation (wrath); therefore, he views Gabriel as referring to the tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30).
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details and use these words?
1. Gabriel refers to Daniel as “son of man.” Remember “son” simply means Daniel is of the class “human.”
How do you see Daniel responding as a human would respond in Daniel 8:15–18? Review what happens immediately before Daniel’s two human responses.
Read Ezekiel 1:28–2:1–2 and compare this text to Daniel 8:17.
Read Genesis 15:12–20 and compare this along with the Ezekiel text to Daniel 8:18.
How do you see God ministering to mere men whom He has appointed to hear such prophetic words in the presence of supernatural beings and events?
2. How might verse 19 support that the vision is for “the time of the end” and is not fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes?
Why might Gabriel emphasize this understanding?
3. If the distant future is emphasized in verse 19, why does Gabriel take the time to give the interpretation for the near future of the ram and the goat? (See How to Read Your Bible on the next page.)
How to Read Your Bible –– Divine interpretation accompanying or following a visionary experience is a pattern in Scripture (cf. Gen 41:5–36; Jer 1:11–19; Amos 7:7–9; 8:1–3; Zec 1:7–21; 4:1–6:8; Acts 10:9–23; Rev 1:12–20). When reading such prophetic texts, the most authoritative interpretation is in these single, integrated narratives because in this unbreakable unit God’s intent through the human author’s intent is discerned. A reader should not impose his or her own interpretative frame upon these challenging texts for this makes the reader the author with intent.
Days 3–4 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. Daniel 8:23–25 ESV
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
A Kingdom with a Bold–Faced King (vv23–25)
The “broken” horn refers to Alexander the Great, so what does word “broken” mean in 8:22, 25?
What do you notice about the “four kingdoms” in verse 22 and “their kingdom” in verse 23?
When do the transgressors reach their limit? (v23)?
Who do you think set the standard for this limit?
What type of king arises in the latter end of their kingdom?
Where does his great power not come from?(v24)
What type of destruction does he cause?
Who does he destroy?
What do you think “succeed in what he does means”?
What does he possess that gives him success as a deceiver?
From his successful deceit, what does he gain? (See “hand” in diction box.)
Before we read “he shall destroy many without warning,” what do we learn about his mind/heart?
Who does he rise up against?
What shall be his end?
Who shall not kill him?
OBSERVE DICTION
Ask: Which words/phrases might provide clues to the author’s message? What do they literally mean?
Ex. transgressors > pasha can also refer to transgression, meaning “rebellion.”
Ex. bold face > “strong or fierce of face,” meaning he will be “without mercy”
Ex. understands riddles > We read this before of Daniel as meaning “unties knots.” God gave him the gift of wisdom (Daniel 5:12). The context of this person, however, demands a negative connotation. See Daniel 8:25.
Ex. fearful destruction > His destruction shall be “surpassing” or “extraordinary.”
Ex. in what he does > asah “to accomplish,” but the focus is on deliberative actions or “will.”
Ex. hand > figurative expression for “power”
Ex. Prince of princes > Either the God of heaven or the Jewish Messiah depending on whether the person of 8:23–25 is describing Antiochus Epiphanes or the Antichrist. See Debates below.
Debates ––
Scholars hold different opinions about the identity of the person described in Daniel 8:23–25. Some believe these verses describe Antiochus Epiphanes alone. In Lesson 29 in Days 3–4, we read about Antiochus Epiphanes and his severe persecution of the Jewish people. We discussed how Antiochus fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel 8:9–14, but also pointed forward to the Antichrist. J. Paul Tanner believes these verses (8:23–25) also are fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, yet he states the description of the king refers “ultimately to the antichrist himself (Daniel 512). Fruchtenbaum agrees Antiochus Epiphanes fulfilled Daniel 8:9–14, but he sees Gabriel moving from Antiochus, the type, to describe only the Antichrist, the antitype. So, basically, in his view after giving a cursory interpretation of near future events in verses 20–22, Gabriel shifts to later future events featuring the Antichrist as the interpretation of the type (Antiochus) in Daniel 8:23–25.
Fruchtenbaum also argues that the switch from kingdoms plural in 8:22 to kingdom singular indicates that “their kingdom” does not refer to the Greek “four kingdoms”; Gabriel, he states, refers to this singular kingdom to point to the distant future “at the latter end.” Since Antiochus Ephiphanes ruled from 175 BC to 165 BC while the last Hellenistic (Greek) king, Philip II, reigned from 65–63 BC, he does not view Antiochus as the referenced “latter end” ruler. Other scholars have no issue ascribing this singular kingdom or description to Antiochus.
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details and use these words?
1. Let’s start with summarizing the character of the person described in 8:23–25. Consider your Diction and Details notes.
2. Read the following verses that do describe the Antichrist. Some you have read before. Take some notes.
o Revelation 13:1–8
o 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4, 8
o Zechariah 13:8
o Daniel 7:25–26
o Daniel 7:9–11, 26
o Re–read your notes about Antiochus Epiphanes from Lesson 29. Jot anything pertinent here.
How does Antiochus Ephiphanes die? According to 1 Maccabees, Antiochus died in Persia after becoming seriously depressed by news from Judah, while 2 Maccabees reports he died in Persia while raiding a temple. In the fuller account of 2 Maccabees 9, Antiochus attacked temples in Persepolis and died “among the mountains in a strange land” while hurrying from Ecbatana in Media toward Jerusalem, which he intended to destroy. The narrative in 2 Maccabees emphasizes the gruesome nature of his demise as divine retribution. The account describes how Antiochus attempted to rob temples and was humiliated; he then planned revenge against the Jews and ordered his charioteer to drive faster, but bowel pains followed, causing an accident that broke his spirit.
3. After reading the Scripture carefully, reviewing your notes, the commentators, and references to the Antichrist, do you identify the person in Daniel 8:23–25 as Antiochus Epiphanes or the Antichrist? State a few reasons. Consider completing Day 5 before making your choice. Note that the complete text for Daniel 8 is provided after Day 5 to aid in your work here.
If you see this person as Antiochus Epiphanes, do you see him as a type for the Antichrist as described in 8:23–25? Why or why not?
Day 5 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.” 27 And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it. Daniel 8:26–27 ESV
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
Affirmation
Read Daniel 8:14. What does Gabriel affirm in 8:26 about this prophecy?
What does he command Daniel to do?
Why should Daniel do that?
Daniel’s Response
What is Daniel’s physical response to the vision?
What is Daniel’s emotional response to the vision?
What specifically does he do after “some days”?
What do you think he also did but with little success given his conclusion?
1. Daniel is commanded to write down the vision to “seal it,” meaning to preserve it for the intended future recipients (cf. Ezekiel 12:27). Make a list of various future generations of Jews and Gentiles who would read this vision.
Choose one from your list. How might reading this vision impact that people group?
2. Why do you think Daniel, of THIS generation in exile, responded as he did?
3. Given that, what do you make of Daniel “going about the king’s business”? See text note in turquoise on the next page.
Daniel 8
As you read, meditate on how the bolded details that relate to “time” contribute not only to our understanding , but also to our appreciating how Daniel applied this provocative text to his life.
In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. 3 I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. 7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. 11 It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”
15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
18 And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. 26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”
27 And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.
APPLY
1. Some debate (yes, I know we have had a lot of debates in Daniel 8), whether the word transgressors in Daniel 8:23 refers to Antiochus/Antichrist or whether it refers to Israel herself who is under God’s discipline in this Age of the Gentiles. Romans 3:21–26 does not provide the answer to that debate, but it does humble us and exalt God. As you read that passage, mark the details that reference time. Pray through this Scripture in confession, supplication, and praise using the space below.
2. What did this vision teach Daniel about time that you can apply to your life today? The two points below might be helpful as you meditate upon this question.
How are you using God’s appointed time for your life well as you faithfully go about the “King’s business”?
How are you responding with fear or selfishness (passivity, laziness, lascivious living) in regards to the King’s business?
3. Daniel obeys God by writing down the vision that we have read. Who is someone in your life who needs to hear that their appointed time for bringing glory to God is short? How could you share that with love this week?
Duos & Trios Prayer Time ––
Discuss with your duo/trio the October Prayer Requests. They very much relate to Daniel 8. Then share a personal prayer request, perhaps one stirred as you considered how to apply Daniel 8.
October Prayer Requests for the Church
“His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14
1. Our Spiritual Growth –– Ask God to deepen our allegiance to Christ and strengthen us to stand firm when following Him comes at a cost, confident that His everlasting kingdom will prevail.
2. Children & Families –– Pray that God would use our Fall Festival, Regalos de Amor, and Heart Gallery to reveal His love and care for children and families. Ask Him to provide places of refuge and belonging, meet practical needs, and move hearts to care for children who need a family.
3. The Persecuted Church –– Pray that God would help them obtain Bibles, training materials, and necessary aid (food, shelter) without being discovered.
God’s joy and strength to you,