DANIEL CHAPTER EIGHT

DANIEL CHAPTER EIGHT

DANIEL’S SECOND VISION: ‘THE RAM AND THE GOAT’

DANIELS VISION: DANIEL 8:1-14

THE INTERPRETATION: DANIEL 8:15-27

READ: DANIEL 8:1-2

1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me-- to me, Daniel-- after the one that appeared to me the first time.

2 I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.

QUESTIONS: DANIEL 8:1-2

1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me-- to me, Daniel-- after the one that appeared to me the first time.2 I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.

WHEN DID DANIEL HAVE THIS VISION?WHERE WAS DANIEL?WHAT WAS SHUSHAN?

READ: NEHEMIAH 1:11 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, (NKJ)

WHAT WAS SHUSHAN?

READ: ESTHER 1:2-52 In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel,3 That in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants-- the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him--4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.5 When these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace. (NKJ)

READ: DANIEL 8:3-4

3 I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.

4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no beast could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.


3 I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no beast could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.

WHAT DID DANIEL SEE BY THE RIVER?DESCRIBE THE RAM’S HORNS?WHAT WAS THE RAM DOING?

READ: DANIEL 8:5-6

5 As I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

6 He came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power.


5 As I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.6 He came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power.

THEN WHAT HAPPENED?DESCRIBE THE MALE GOAT?

WHAT DID THIS GOAT DO?

READ: DANIEL 8:7-8

7 I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.

8 The male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.


7 I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.8 The male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.

WHAT DID THE MALE GOAT DO?WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RAM?

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MALE GOAT?WHAT HAPPENED TO ITS LARGE HORN?

READ: DANIEL 8:9-10

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 up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.


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 up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ONE OF ITS HORNS?WHAT DID THIS HORN DO?

READ: ISAIAH 13:1919 Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.(NKJ)


READ: ISAIAH 14:13-1513 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north;14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. (NKJ)

READ: ISAIAH 24:2121 It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth.

(NKJ)

READ: DANIEL 8:11-12

11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.

12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.


11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.

WHAT DID THIS HORN DO?WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSION?

READ: ISAIAH 59:1414 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. (NKJ)


13 I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?"

14 He said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed."


13 I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?"14 He said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.“

WHO DID DANIEL HEAR SPEAKING?WHO WAS THIS HOLY ONE SPEAKING TO?

WHAT DID HE SAY TO DANIEL?HOW LONG WILL THIS VISION BE?


15 It happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man.

16 I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision."

17 He came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end."


15 It happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man.16 I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision."

WHAT WAS DANIEL SEEKING?WHO APPEARED TO DANIEL?

WHAT DID HE SAY?

WHO IS GABRIEL?

READ: DANEL 9:2121 While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. (NKJ)

READ: LUKE 1:1919 The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. (NKJ)

READ: LUKE 1:2626 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, (NKJ)


17 He came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.“

HOW DID DANIEL RESPOND TO THIS?WHAT DID GABRIEL SAY TO DANIEL?

WHAT IS ‘THE TIME OF THE END’?


18 As he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.

19 He said, "Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.


18 As he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.

WHAT WAS DANIEL DOING?

READ: GENESIS 15:1212 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.(NKJ)

READ: JOB 4:13-1413 In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. (NKJ)


18 As he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.19 He said, "Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.

WHAT DID GABRIEL DO?WHAT DID HE SAY TO DANIEL?

WHAT IS ‘THE APPOINTED TIME OF THE END’?

WHAT IS ‘THE TIME OF THE END’?

READ: ISAIAH 2:22 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. (NKJ)

READ: HEBREWS 1:1-21 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,2 Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (NKJ)


20 "The ram which you saw, having the two horns-- they are the kings of Media and Persia.

21 “The male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.

22 "As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.


20 "The ram which you saw, having the two horns-- they are the kings of Media and Persia.21 “The male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.22 "As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.

WHAT DID THE RAM REPRESENT?WHAT DID THE MALE GOAT REPRESENT?

WHAT DID THE LARGE HORN REPRESENT?WHAT WOULD TAKE ITS PLACE?


23 “In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.

24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.


23 “In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN ‘IN THE LATTER TIME’?


24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power. He shall destroy fearfully and shall prosper and thrive. He shall destroy the mighty and also the holy people.

WHAT IS THIS KINGDOM?WHERE DID THIS KING GET HIS POWER?

READ: JOHN 19:1111 Jesus said, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

READ: DANIEL 8:25

25 "Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule. He shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.

QUESTIONS: DANIEL 8:25

25 "Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule. He shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.

WHAT WILL HE CAUSE TO HAPPEN?WHO WILL EXHALT HIM?

WHO IS ‘the Prince of princes’? GOD? CHRIST?HOW WILL HE BE DESTROYED?


26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true. Therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future."27 I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days. Afterward I arose and went about the king's business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it. (NKJ)


26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true. Therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future."27 I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days. Afterward I arose and went about the king's business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it. (NKJ)

WAS THIS VISION “TRUE”?WHAT WAS DANIEL TOLD TO DO? WHY?

HOW LONG SHOULD THIS VISION BE SEALED UP?WHAT HAPPENED TO DANIEL AFTERWARD?

WHY WAS DANIEL ASTONISHED?

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DANIEL CHAPTER EIGHT