5) The Ram and the Goat
The vision of Daniel 8 and divine interpretation
Daniel 8 presents another prophetic vision, this time with a ram and a goat. The distinguishing feature of this prophecy is that the symbols themselves are identified by the angel Gabriel.
The Ram with Two Horns
What did Daniel see in his vision?
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Answer: A ram with two horns by the river
Daniel 8:3-4: "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."
What does the ram represent?
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Answer: The kings of Media and Persia
Daniel 8:20: "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia."
Why was one horn larger than the other?
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Answer: Persia was stronger than Media in the united 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."
The Hairy Goat
What came against the ram?
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Answer: A hairy goat with a notable horn
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 the goat represent?
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Answer: Greece, and the great horn is its first king
Daniel 8:21: "And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king."
The great horn of the goat represents Alexander the Great. With extraordinary speed, he conquered the Persian empire and rapidly expanded Greek dominion in the ancient world.
The Four Horns
What happened when the great horn was broken?
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Answer: Four notable horns arose, representing four kingdoms
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."; Daniel 8:22: "Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power."
What is the historical fulfillment of the four horns?
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Answer: Four generals divided the empire: Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy
Daniel 8:22: "Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power."
The Little Horn of Daniel 8
Where did the little horn of Daniel 8 arise?
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Answer: From one of the four winds/directions, arising from the West; it represents pagan and papal Rome
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 did the little horn do against the truth?
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Answer: It cast truth to the ground and 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."
What did the little horn do against the Prince of princes?
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Answer: It rose up against Him and took away the continual
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."; Daniel 8:25: "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."
And Now?
Daniel 8 clearly identifies the empires:
- Ram: Medo-Persia (identified by the angel)
- Goat: Greece (identified by the angel)
- Great horn: Alexander the Great
- Four horns: Division of the Greek empire
- Little horn: Rome in its pagan and papal phases, the power that attacks the truth and the sanctuary
My Decision
I thank God for clearly identifying the prophetic symbols through the angel Gabriel. This gives me confidence to understand the other prophecies. I desire to remain on the side of truth, even when it is cast to the ground.