4/13/12

"THE BOOK OF DANIEL" Chapter Eight by Mark Copeland

"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