Skip to Content

Daniel

Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.

Daniel 8

Commentary · verses 1-27

Chapter 8 was written by Daniel in first person.

1In 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.

2And I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.

1In 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.

2And 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.

Commentary · verses 1-2

Daniel was in the capital of Persia (Shushan Palace), the same setting for the Book of Esther. This prophecy also occurred during Belshazzar's reign prior to his rejection of God in Daniel 5.

3Then 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.

3Then 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.

Commentary · verse 3

The two horns were Darius (first) and Cyrus (last and higher). At the time of this vision, none of this had happened yet. Darius was Esther's son. Cyrus was her grandson who gave the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple in Ezra 1.

4I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no beasts could stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.

4I 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.

Commentary · verse 4

The "Ram" was Medo-Persia. In the previous chapter, this was the second beast: the bear.

5And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

5And 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.

Commentary · verse 5

The "He-Goat" was Alexander the Great. In the previous chapter, this was the third beast: the leopard.

6And he came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran upon him in the fury of his power.

7And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with anger 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 trampled upon him; and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

8And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven.

6And 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.

7And 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.

8Therefore 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.

Commentary · verses 6-8

When Alexander died, his kingdom was divided into four parts.

9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.

9And 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.

Commentary · verse 9

The "little horn" in this verse was Antiochus Epiphanes. The "glorious land" was Israel. An apocryphal (hidden) book, 2 Maccabees, documented this history of Alexander and Antiochus Epiphanes.

10And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them.

11Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

12And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.

10And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

11Yea, 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.

12And 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.

Commentary · verses 10-12

God's house was no longer used as God's house. It was turned into a gymnasium according to 2 Maccabees.

13Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

13Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Commentary · verse 13

Notice, Daniel heard an angel ask a question of another angel. This question concerned how long between the re-establishment of the temple being used for its proper purpose (offerings) and the transgression that makes desolate.

14And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

15And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

14And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

15And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

Commentary · verses 14-15

Daniel was told the answer was 2300 days: six and a third years. Next, Daniel sought understanding, the WHY.

16And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

16And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

Commentary · verse 16

One of the angels told the other angel to give the understanding, the WHY. The angel's name was Gabriel. Notice, his name ended in -el...for Elohim.

17So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end.

18Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.

17So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

18Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

Commentary · verses 17-18

Amazing things happen when people get touched by an angel. Gabriel stated the vision referred to the time of the end, to the time of the completion of the Dispensation of the Law...events associated with the Tribulation.

19And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongeth to the appointed time of the end.

19And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

Commentary · verses 20-22

Verses 20-22: earthly kings.

20The ram which thou sawest, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.

21And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

22And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.

20The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

21And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

Commentary · verse 22

Like in the previous chapter (vision), there was a huge time gap between verses 22 and 23. Some people believe these verses have already been fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes. However, the following verses did not occur with Antiochus Epiphanes...

23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.

25And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

25And 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.

Commentary · verses 23-25

Verses 23-25 concerned the Antichrist. He will have understanding of dark sentences. His power will not be his own (Satan). By peace ("in their security") he will destroy many. The Antichrist will bring peace for the first half (3 1/2 years) of the Tribulation. Then when everyone relaxes, he will actively destroy during the second half (3 1/2 years) of the Tribulation, like we saw in Daniel 7:25. Also, Ezekiel 28 stated that sin was found in Satan as an effect of "much traffic." Clearly, one of Satan's tools is to use the economy, whether it is spiritual or physical.

26And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth to many days to come.

26And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Commentary · verse 26

It appeared the 2300 days applied to the time near the Tribulation, however, the explanation was closed up to be revealed at a later date.

27And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king’s business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.

27And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

Commentary · verse 27

Daniel fainted and was sick, and none understood it at that time. Again, the explanation for the 2300 days appeared to be saved for a later date. Taking these last two visions together, here was what we have learned about end times prophecy:

There will be four great world leaders (beasts) culminating in the fourth world leader who will bring peace for 3 1/2 years which will cause people to relax. During this time, the world's economy will prosper. Then, after 2300 days of offerings being given in the temple, this fourth world leader will commit a transgression that makes desolate in the temple and torment God's people for 3 1/2 years before God permanently defeats evil and establishes His Kingdom, seven years total. This fourth beast will get power from ten smaller world leaders (beasts). There would be a dispensation that occurred before the completion of the Dispensation of the Law.

Up and down arrows move between verses, Enter selects one, Shift with an arrow takes in a run. Tab then reaches Save, Add Note and Copy.