"THE BOOK OF DANIEL"
Chapter Eight
In the third year of King Belshazzar (550 B.C.) Daniel has another
vision: a swift goat defeating a mighty ram. The goat's large horn is
then broken into four horns, followed by a little horn that brings
desolation to the sanctuary and the host of heaven (1-14). The angel
Gabriel interprets the vision which foretells the rise of a fierce and
mighty king (Antiochus IV Epiphanes, 175-164 B.C.) that would bring
desolation against the holy people (15-27).
POINTS TO PONDER
* The interpretation of Daniel's vision in this chapter
* The meaning of the expression, "the time of the end"
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- The vision of the ram and the goat - Dan 8:1-14
- Gabriel interprets the vision - Dan 8:15-27
2) Describe the ram and the goat in Daniel's vision. (3-8)
- Ram: mighty and great, with two horns, one higher than the other
- Goat: swift, from the west, with a notable horn
- The goat tramples the ram, then grew very great
- The goat's horn is broken into four, and out of them a little horn
3) List the actions of the little horn that arises from the four horns.
(9-12)
- Grew great toward the south, the east, and the Glorious Land
- Grew up to the host of heaven and cast some of them and stars down
- Exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host
- Took away the daily sacrifices, cast down the sanctuary, cast truth
to the ground
4) How long would the desolation against the sacrifices and sanctuary
last? (13-14)
- For 2300 days (evening-mornings, v.26); then the sanctuary would be
cleansed
5) According to Gabriel, to when did the vision pertain? (15-19)
- The time of the end, the latter time of the indignation, the
appointed time
6) What did the ram and goat represent? (20-22)
- Ram: Media and Persia; Goat: Greece (Alexander and his generals)
7) How is the king who shall rise (the little horn) described? (23-25)
- Fierce, mighty, cunning, who will destroy the mighty and holy
people
- Rising even against the Prince of princes, but will be broken
without means
8) What was Daniel told to do with the vision? Why? (26)
- Seal up the vision; it pertained to many days in the future