Dr. David Guzik states per this verse:

1. Israel’s land was fought over between the dynasties of Seleucid and Ptolemy, but the Seleucids gained power over the region in the days of Antiochus III (198 B.C.).

2. Antiochus IV gained the throne by murdering his brother, the former king Seleucus Philopator. The son of Philopator was the rightful heir to the throne, but Antiochus IV had him held hostage in Rome. Antiochus IV legitimized his rule mainly through flattery and bribery.” The prophesied antichrist will do the same things. Originally named Mithradates.

Daniel 8:10 And 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.

This verse can be as complex as one wishes to make it. It is describing some of the previous couple of verses…

1. Grew up to the host(armies) of heaven;
2. cast down some of the host (armies);
3. threw some of the stars (pronces) to the ground;
4. trampled (on) them.

The Geneva Bible comes close to the meaning of this verse 10. It says: Antiochus raged against the elect of God, and tread his precious stars underfoot, who are so called because they are separated from the world.

Now read Exodus 12:14…(Young’s Literal Interpretation) “…and it cometh to pass, at the end of four hundred and thirty years — yea, it cometh to pass in this self-same day — all the hosts of Jehovah have gone out from the land of Egypt”. Some translations substitute “hosts” with “armies”. We know that the fleeing Israelites had their own military personnel, of sorts, but the best take on this is the word HOSTS. These are the people of God called Israelites. Oxford Reference defines host: “Derived from the Latin hostis, the term “host” evolved, designating originally an armed expedition against an enemy, then the army itself, and finally, by extension, the obligation to serve in arms.” This is why some translations use the word “armies” instead of the word “host”.

Antiochus Epiphanies raged against God’s people for the same reason the Antichrist will during End Time. They refused to abandon their “religion”, bow to, and give fidelity to him. This will also be true during the time of the Antichrist. Satan wants to be worshiped, so much so that it got him cast out of Heaven. All will not bend knee to the antichrist (Satan).

Daniel 8:11 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.

This verse can also be a bit of a challenge to the common reader.

1. Exalted…Prince of the host
2. He removed the daily sacrifices
3. Place of HIS sanctuary is cast down

BUG AHAMOMENT: He exalted himself, not others exalted him. This means he saw what he wanted to be and acted out the part on his own. This verse, in context with Daniel 10:1, the truth is cast down, a time is set (permitted by God), and the Book of Laws by Moses (the possibly deemed Prince of the hosts of Israel) is replaced by Satan…in this current Daniel situation, the Law of Antiochus replaces the Laws penned by Moses.

The sanctuary that was cast down, being the Temple of God, loses its purification through Epiphanies pig sacrifices at the Temple alter and his setting himself up to be worshiped in the Temple (via an idol).

Daniel 8:12 Because of transgression, an army [host] 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.

This is a repeat (verification) of the past few verses. TRUTH was cast down to the ground and trampled upon by Antiochus Epiphanes IV; just as the antichrist will do. This will also be what happens when the antichrist sets himself up to be worshiped in the rebuilt (3^rd) Temple in Jerusalem. Temple #1 was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Temple #2 was destroyed by the Romans about 30 years after they crucified Jesus (70 A.D.).

Because of transgression…the determined disobedience of Jews to cow-tail to Antiochus and a future antichrist. Some Jews did give in to a more Hellenistic life. Keep it in mind that these Israelites (Ju-deans) did not have a standing army to challenge Antiochus the IV. Neither the Kingdom of Israel nor the Kingdom of Judah was any longer a sovereign nation or kingdom. (soon the Jewish Maccabees eliminate Antiochus)

The following two verse go together…

Daniel 8:13 Then 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 underfoot?”

Daniel 8:14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” (2,300 days)

Verse 13 is the question and verse 14 is the answer. Here we have two heavenly voices speaking to each other. Judah (Judaism) had dissolved to the leadership and High Priesthood was now given to the highest bidder. They were subject to Syrian overlords. It was their option to appoint and remove leadership in the former Judah. High Priest Onias III is replaced by his brother (Jason) by bribery; then another brother (Menelaus) via bribery replaces him. Each man outbid the previous for the title of High Priest. The bribery moneys usually came from the Temple gold. Menelaus needed to sell off the golden utensils of the Temple to fulfill his bribery promise (bid for his appointed title as High Priest) to Epiphanes IV.

One must wonder how faithful the Jewish congregants and leadership were at this time. The role of the high priest, according to God, was a religious responsibility, not a governorship. It is obvious religious title assignments were bought, not earned. Onia III, the displaced High Priest, did condemn Menelaus for selling Temple’s gold artifacts …brother Jason had him murdered. Not for his love of God and the Temple, but for greed and a hope to regain the title of high priest.

The temple sanctuary had become a bloody, Godless, and murderous place. The first holy one asked how long it would be that way. The second holy one said 2,300 days, i.e., just shy of 7 years. Dr. David Guzik says: The date when the temple was cleansed is well established as December 25, 165 B.C. If we count back 2,300 days from then, we come to the year when Antiochus Epiphanes began his persecution in earnest (171 B.C.). 165 B.C. is when the Maccabees cleansed the Temple and through off their overlords in Syria by military force.

Daniel 8:15 Then 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.

Then! Suddenly! Daniel must have been taken aback to use these words of startle in one verse. What is startling to us today is that this event and the vision/prophecy of Daniel were about 350 years before Antiochus IV Epiphanes even appears in the history books.

Daniel 8:16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”

The angel Gabriel is assigned to this moment in Daniel 8. Gabriel is the angel (although never identified in the Bible as an angel) who brought news to others. In this chapter, Gabriel is told to help Daniel understand the news of the future. Gabriel also announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. The third time he appears in scripture is when Gabriel informs the priest Zechariah to foretell and announce the miraculous birth of John the Baptist to him and Elizabeth (Luke 1:18-19).

The river Ulai is very close to Shoshan, Elam. Daniel spent a great deal of time there in his aging years. For additional knowledge and understanding, click HERE.

Daniel 8:17 So he [Gabriel] 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.”

Gabriel was instructed to help Daniel understand but as he came near to him, Daniel panicked.

This Vision refers to the time of the end; the Tribulation! This leaves little to the imagination. Daniel is seeing the end of this world setting the stage for the 2^nd Advent of Jesus Christ. Gabriel affirms it. It is a telling of what the time of the end will have for the Jews (Israelites). A good question to ask at this point is…Did Daniel fear seeing Gabriel? He has or should be familiar with such events of his lifetime. OR…did he fear the understanding of the meaning and the outcome of all of this?

Daniel 8:18 Now, 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.

A deep sleep? Wasn’t Daniel awake but a few minutes ago when Gabriel approached him? In case one misses it, go back to verse 15… I, Daniel, had seen the vision. Daniel goes from deep sleep to a conscious awareness of Gabriel. he touched me and stood me upright. Gabriel spells it out for Daniel. Here Gabriel gives names and identities to places and nations that have still to appear in history.

Rev. Dr. Jstark
2013 (revised 2023)

According to Britannica, Cyrus the Great was the grandson of the King of the Medes. JIV: A large contingency of Medes trace their identities back to the Assyrian dispersion of the Northern Tribes of Israel. The same is true of the Kurds. Most of them have Abraham DNA but thy have walked away from his (their) God.

What might all this possibly mean? The Israelis dispersed to the Zagros Mountains of the Medes by the Assyrians in and after 720 B.C. are the Medes. The original kingdom of the Medes (dispersed Israelis) was established BEFORE the Persian dynasty. The larger horn that grew up later (Persia) conquered the first shorter horn (Medes).

Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.

The ram with two horns, charged the lands to its west, north, and south. It was only stopped when invading India. Media, ancient country of northwestern Iran, generally corresponds to the modern regions of Azerbaijan and Kurdistan (Kurds). This was once called Persia/Media. However, from a historical perspective, this was a major reason to Alexander some 150 years later to attack Persia. We see this in the next verse even though there is a 150 gap between verses 4 and 5.

Daniel 8:5 And 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.

From Persia’s west, initially defined in Daniel 7:6 as a Leopard (for its great speed) is a ram with one prominent horn in Daniel 8:5. This is Alexander the Great. He is avenging the Persian attacks on Greece (city-states) from 150 years earlier. The four heads mentioned in Daniel 7:6 are the four generals that divided up Alexander’s massive empire. The notable horn in verse 5 is Alexander.

Daniel 8:6 Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power.

Alexander had no mercy upon Persia. “Newton very properly observes that, two hundred years before the time of Daniel, they (Macedonian Greeks; emphasis mine) were called, the goats’ people.” (Clarke Commentary). The Aegean Sea area was home to many herds of goats. Therefore, the people around the Aegean Sea were nicknamed the Goat People. Hmmm? Who else was known for large herds of sheep and goats? The large number of sheep in the land can be understood when it is realized that Job had fourteen thousand sheep (Job. 42:12), and that King Solomon at the Temple’s dedication, sacrificed one hundred and twenty thousand sheep (1 Kings 8:63).

Daniel 8:7 And 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.

Alexander had a very small army compared to the Persians and many of the previously destroyed armies in his pathway to Persia. We should remember Psalms 33:16… No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. The two horns are once again, the combined strength of the Mede & Persia Empires. Two empires melded into one. The Ram with one horn destroyed both the Media and Persian Empire.

Daniel 8:8 Therefore 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.

the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones…Seven generals of Alexander’s Greek army initially partitioned their conquered empire lands to call their own. Four Generals dominated the others and annexed the lands of three other generals. The four conquering Generals were: Cassander, ruling over Greece and its region’; Lysimachus, ruling over Asia Minor; Seleucus, ruling over Syria and Israel’s land; Ptolemy, ruling over Egypt. Now we begin to get a preview of End Time events and week 70 of Daniel’s seventy 7’s vision/dream.

This is particularly so when considering the history of the Seleucus’ rule over Syria and Israel plus their appetite for conquering additional people and lands. Add to this mix, one will soon see their hate for Jews and Judaism. Later we will identify the historical fulfillment of this little horn that grew up amongst the other four horns pictured in Antiochus IV Epiphanes who ruled over Syria and Israel’s land under the Seleucid dynasty. This verse also begins the parallel prophetic actions of the End of Time (Tribulation). No longer will it be Antiochus Epiphany IV but antichrist.

Daniel 8:9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.

JIV NOTE: Notice the pronouns in this chapter. No icon is given a proper identity and name. A few weeks back we published a series of commentaries on Daniel 11. We compared the prophetic history of these unnamed characters alongside the secular history of Middle East books. We identified every single pronoun with a noun. Verse 10 of Daniel 8 begins the parallel of the antichrist during the time of the Tribulation.

Hmmm? And out of one of them… One of the prevailing four generals who divided the Alexandrian Empire between them, out of ONE OF THEM came a little horn which grew. Jamison-Fausset-Brown Commentary:

“…not to be confounded with the little horn of the fourth kingdom in Daniel 7:8. The little horn in Daniel 7:8 comes as an eleventh horn after ten preceding horns. In Daniel 8:9 it is not an independent fifth horn, after the four previous ones, but it arises out of one of the four existing horns. This horn is explained (Daniel 8:23) to be “a king of fierce countenance,”

However, this incident is comparable to the End Time antichrist. The Antichrist will arise out of a power that exists in End Time. This parallel prophecy of the End Time (Daniel’s 70^th week vision) was exhibited during the time of Antiochus Epiphany IV.  What he did would be like Antichrist’s action during the Tribulation. This is a forewarning to Israel at the end of times.

Rev. Dr.Jstark
2023

Daniel chapter 8 is an eye-opening look into a prophetic future when the chapter was written AND still so today. The fulfillment of Daniel 8 prophecies is 2,500 years closer today in the 21^st century. Watch and read the news of today, compare what is happening, and take an honest look at what you will be reading over the next few weeks on this website. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and discernment [James 1:5].

Daniel 8 Background:

According to the highly respected Halley’s Bible Handbook, Babylon of old exceeded the beauty (Hanging Gardens; one of the 7 wonders of the world) and military strengths of any other known City-State. This chapter contains additional prophecies not mentioned in chapters 2 and 7. These two chapters were written in Chaldee, not Hebrew. Chapters 2 and 7 initially discuss the empires of the Persians, then the Greeks. Both had yet to occur; the Babylonian Empire came first. Chapters 8–12 focus on the world’s relationship with the Jews.

The Greek Empire would be the four-headed Leopard according to Daniel 7:5 in our Daniel commentary from three weeks ago. Here a divided Greek Empire is represented as a He-Goat. In chapter and verse 7:5 of Daniel, this He-Goat had but one strong horn. Now it has 4 horns. What happened? Back in chapter 7, it was Alexander the Great at the head of his army. He died in 323 B.C. at the age of 32. He had several Generals in his forces but four were dominant. They are represented by the Goat losing one powerful horn, and the speed of a Leopard, becoming four individual horns (kings), but still Greek.

Alexander’s initial motivation to bring together a powerful army and march eastward was to settle an old grudge against the Persians. Between 499 and 480 B.C. the Persians (Xerxes I; possibly aka, Ahasuerus) planned and waged war with the Greek city-states.

JIV ahamoment … This Persian war would have begun within 40 years of Daniel’s death (536 B.C.). Alexander’s revenge was about 200 years later.

Double ahamoment …This war would have been in part, during the time of the Book of Esther.

Alexander the Great was tutored as a youth by Aristotle. Aristotle taught him about the unprovoked Persian invasion of Greek city-states. So did his father Philip constantly remind him about this egregious attack by the Persians. He, as did his father King Philip of Macedonia, vowed to “get even” and did so 150 years later in 333/332/331 B.C.

Alexander was the prophesied Leopard with the single and powerful horn. [see Revelation 13 and Daniel 7]

Now Daniel 8 verse-by-verse:

Daniel 8:1 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.

Note: Belshazzar was on the throne of Babylon, but his father Nabonidus was the king in self-imposed exile. A fatal error made by King Nabonidus of Babylon was his self-imposed exile. The error? He took the Babylonian army with him. Only a small military guard was garrisoned in Babylon. His assigned co-regent King Belshazzar had little to protect him other than the formidable walls of Babylon.

Because of religious differences between King Nabonidus and the Babylonian priests, Nabonidus left his son, Belshazzar, as King/governor of Babylon. Nabonidus worshiped the moon god “Sin”. The powerful lobby of Babylonian priests adamantly preferred the idol god Marduk.

Daniel 8:2 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.

*Recall that Elam (Elamite Empire) was named after a son of Shem. At this time in Daniel, it was a province of Babylon. Daniel was buried in Susa, the original capital of Elam. Its other name was Shushan…one and the same city. It appears that Daniel was in Susa/Shushan on royal business. There is probably a reason Daniel was buried there instead of in Babylon where he lived for 80 years.

Daniel 8:3 Then 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.

Horns on animals represent power. Babylon was later (prophetically) conquered by the Medes and Persians. The Medes were the original but smaller horn on the ram. The Persians overcame the Medes and lasted longer thus the longer horn. What few realize is that when the Medes and Persians became one empire, it was Cyrus the Great who took the Medes under his control. Here is an amazing verse to consider and make connections in one’s mind. [Isaiah 11:11] “…a second time?’ Yes, Isaiah is prophesying about God’s chosen people, Israel. Isaiah 11:11 is telling us in the end time when Jesus calls his chosen back to Jerusalem from the four corners of the earth. There is a large number of Israelites scattered throughout what we know as Iran. But they have lost their commitment to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or, they have lost their identity as descendants of Abraham.

Ahamoment: Click here and read Jeremiah 49:38.

Rev. Dr. Jstark
2023

Daniel 7:20 “…and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows”.

Once again, we read of the ten horns (temporary kings/rulers), the smaller but dominant Little horn to whom the others give their power, and the pompous words spoken from the idol made in the antichrist’s image. This is all about a history we have yet to live on earth.

Daniel 7:21 “I was watching, and the same horn was [will be] making war against the saints and prevailing against them,…

V 21…the same horn means the little horn. Read this verse carefully to find hope amid this war on the saints. Some translations leave the impression that the “little horn” [antichrist] prevailed as past tense yet prophetic. That is not the word yek-ale’. Antichrist was prevailing as, an ongoing thing but not fully accomplished. The next verse verifies this with the word “UNTIL”. He does not dominate all. He has that ability as allowed by God, but God is also the one who steps in and settles it all.

Daniel 7:22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

V 22… until the Ancient of Days came. This is a reference to God, not Jesus. He too comes, as previously discussed, but God the Father is now calling the events. The word “saints” is the same Ka-deesh [Chaldee/Aramaic] discussed in Daniel 7:18. It includes Jew and Gentile believers.

Daniel 7:23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.”

We are reminded in verse 23 that this is the fourth and last beast with a summary of its only goal…to destroy what God has created. The beast is different in that it is not described as having a parallel earthly beast, but it is beastly in its actions.

Let’s understand the use and meaning of a couple of words in verse 23. “Earth” or ar-ah’ in the Chaldee language (Aramaic) means “an inferior place.” It has the same implication as Eretz in Hebrew.

all other kingdoms…the “ALL” here does not mean just the previous three kingdoms. The word in Chaldee is Kole/kol’ meaning any kingdom in existence without exception.

shall devour the whole earth…does not mean the entire earth will be devoured as we might understand the word in a conversation. It can mean to accuse, or devour, as in the process of doing so, like eating, not having eaten. The entirety of the earth will know it is under siege.

Trample it and break it in pieces…meaning tread heavily with a big stick. This is a process and does not in any way mean the antichrist, false prophet, and Satan himself will not have some form of opposition.

Daniel 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings.

This is a repeat of the ten horns meaning ten authorities. The unexpected is that these kings will arise from THIS KINGDOM. Huh? Click on and read what Revelation 17:12 states. Daniel (OT) and John of Revelation (NT) see the same prophecy. As we see it at ahabiblemoments, these ten kings come out of a single authority or compromise of global leaders. They will have their KINGLY POWERS long enough to give their crowns to the antichrist. We see this in Revelation 17:13.

Daniel 7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

Going backward in this verse, there will be 3 ½ years of peace, then 3 ½ years of global fear, pestilence, bloodshed, disease, war, and people advocating by force their personal choices (kingdom: Luke 12:53; Mark 13:8) advantages. Click on and read both the passage in Luke 12:53 and the connecting verse in Mark 13:8.

JIV: There are ten toes (Daniel 2) and ten horns (Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, 17) associated with the rule of this final world ruler. The ten are put in power by the antichrist or some global power only to then turn their power over to the antichrist. Three of the selected kingdoms may not be so willing to “cast their crown at the feet of the antichrist”. The little horn, the antichrist, subdues them by force.

He will speak pompous words against the Most High…we addressed earlier. Not only will the antichrist speak against God in filthy ways, but so will the idol that is made to speak (Revelation 13:15).

Why will he attempt to change the times, seasons, and laws of nature? Satan will try to destroy anything God created.

Daniel 7:26 ‘But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever.

JIV PS: All of this is the 70^th week of Daniel’s seventy 7’s dream or vision spoken of in chapter 9:20-27. This will follow in a couple weeks after a verse-by-verse commentary on all important Daniel 8.

Daniel 7:27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is everlasting, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

The greatness of kingdoms under the WHOLE heaven (shaw-mah’-yin) shall be given to God’s people…the sanctified saints. It will be God’s domain yet the kingdom of Jesus. We must insert some Bible information too many do not realize what is going to happen.

Many people, including unbelievers, have heard that Jesus will be the Millennial ruler on earth. Sadly, Satan has deceived people into thinking He is [only] LOVE so no one will be deprived of this perfect kingdom. People fail to grasp that the Godhead is perfect in love AND judgment on the earth. But what about God the Father?

Here are a few Old Testament and New Testament scripture verses that declare from where the Godhead will rule. Jeremiah 3:17; Jeremiah 49:34-39; (go no further than the Lord’s Prayer…Our father [God] whose kingdom is to come); Luke 1:32-33 [Jesus will rule from the Throne of David whose throne was in Jerusalem]; Micah 4:2; Zechariah 14:8 We see that God the Father will rule from Elam. Elam was a son of Shem.

Daniel 7:28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

but I kept the matter in my heart…One could assume this ending statement means some or much of what Daniel learned he did not record for others to read. It could also mean; he did not dismiss “this matter” out of hand. Continence or Zeev in Chaldee (Aramaic) is happiness or brightness. Daniel’s changed. What we do not know is in which direction Daniel’s continence changed. He could be very concerning about what his Hebrew relatives will endure in the end, or…it may be that the end justifies the means for Daniel.

We Teach – You Decide

This ends the part of Daniel that he wrote in Chaldee/Aramaic. Beginning in Daniel 8 is written in Hebrew to the end of the book. Why? Because the message has a primary targeted audience – the sons of Jacob (Israel).

Rev Dr. Jstark
2023