Daniel Prophecy – Chapter 8

How is God’s prophetic outline for the end times laid out in Daniel Chapters 6-12?

I. Video Data. Video Data. I. Video Data. John Ankerberg Show. Dr. John Ankerberg,  (M. Div., D. Min.), (Dr. Jimmy DeYoung (M. Div., Ph. D., 1940-2021).

II. Overview.

Dr. John F. Walvoord (Th. B., Th. M., Th. D., 1910-2002) Daniel Commentary.

A. Two important factors mark Daniel 8 as the beginning of a new section. First, beginning with this chapter, the language returns to Hebrew instead of the Aramaic used by Daniel from 2:4 through 7:28. Second, the change of language is in keeping with the change in thought introduced by this chapter. From here to the end of Daniel, the prophecy, even though it concerns the Gentiles, is occupied with human history as it relates to Israel. Therefore, although many expositors divide the book of Daniel into two halves (1-6 and 7-12), there are also good reasons for dividing Daniel into three sections (1, 2-7, 8-12)

B. The first of Daniel’s own visions recorded in Daniel 7 is a broad summary of the times of the Gentiles, with emphasis on the climactic events culminating in the second coming of Christ to the earth. Beginning in chapter 8, Daniel’s second vision concerns the empires of Persia and Greece as they relate to Israel. Under the Persian government, Israelites went back to rebuild their land and their city, Jerusalem. Under Grecian domination, in particular under Antiochus Epiphanes, the city and the temple were again desolated. Daniel 9 presents Israel’s history from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah to the inauguration of the kingdom from heaven at the second coming of Christ immediately preceded by the time of great trouble for Israel. Chapters 10-11 reveal the events relating the Persian and Greek Empires to Israel, with emphasis on the Gentile oppression of Israel. The final section, 11:36—12:13, deals with the end of the age, the period of the revived Roman Empire, and the deliverance of Israel. It is fitting that the last five chapters of Daniel should be written in Hebrew, the language of Israel.

III. Scripture Text. Daniel Chapter 8. See the following link which was pasted from Bible Gateway.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+8&version=NASB1995

IV. Verse Examination. Dr. Charles C. Ryrie (Th. M., Th. D., Ph. D.; 1925-2016) Ryrie Study Bible. 

A. 8:1. “third year.” 551. B.C., two years after the vision of chap 7, and before the fall of Babylon in 539. “a vision” concerning the second and third world empires — Medo-Persia (vv 3-4, 20) and Greece (vv 5-7, 21). 

B. 8:2. “Susa.” About 250 mi (400 km) East of Babylon.

C. 8:3. “a ram.” Medo-Persia (v 20). “the longer one coming up last.” Though Persia was the younger kingdom, under Cyrus it became the dominant one in 550 B.C.

D. 8:5. “goat.” Greece. “a conspicuous horn.” Alexander the Great, whose army swept through Asia Minor, Syria, and Mesopotamia from 334-331 B.C.

E. 8:8.  “the large horn was broken.” The death of Alexander at age 32, after which his kingdom was divided among his four generals. Cassander took Macedonia; Thrace and much of Asia Minor went to Lysimachus; Selecus took Syria; and Ptolemy claimed Egypt. 

F. 8:9. “small horn.” Not the same as the horn of 7:8, which will arise out of the restored Roman Empire. This little horn came out of Greece, and refers to Antiochus Ephiphanes, who came to the throne in 175 B.C., and plundered the Temple in Jerusalem, desecrating it by offering pig’s flesh  on the altar. “the Beautiful Land.” I.e., Israel.

G. 8:10-11. “the host of heaven.” God’s people, the Jews, who were horribly persecuted by Antiochus. The “Commander” is God. 

H. 8:14. Antiochus’s persecution of the Jews would last for 2300 days, the period from 171 B.C. (when peaceful relations between Antiochus and the Jews came to an end) to Dec 25, 165 B.C. (when Judas Maccabeus restored the Temple for the proper worship). 

I. 8:16. “Gabriel.” An angel, whose name means “hero of God,” and who often brought important messages to various individuals (9:21; Luke 1:19, 26). The only other good angel mentioned in name in the Bible is Michael 9 (see 10:13; Jude 9).

J. 8:23-25. These verses give added details concerning Antiochus and his persecution of the Jews (See 1 Macc 1-6). 

V. My Bucket List shows the references, of people and documents, that I use when I write my articles.

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VI. My Websites To Follow.

https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/ Eternity

https://untotheleastofthese.home.blog/ Book Prep

https://newsandcommentary38395276.wordpress.com/ Thy Kingdom Come