Smoodock's Blog

In my previous study, I had concluded that the third year of Belshazzar’s reign was during his reign as co-regent with his father. This means that Daniel was about 75 years of age at the time of his vision, which occurred in Persia, while Daniel was there on the business of the king of Babylon. So, while he was in the palace at Shushan (Daniel 8:2; cp. Nehemiah 1:1), Daniel had a vision. He looked and at the Ulai River there stood a ram that had two great horns, and one horn was more powerful or more prominent than the other (Daniel 8:3). As Daniel continued to observe the ram it pushed in three directions: north, south and west. As the ram did so, no other beast was able to stand before him, because he was very great (Daniel 8:4).

As Daniel continued to observe the ram, he noticed a he-goat that came from the west. It appeared to fly, because its feet never touched the ground, and it had a conspicuous horn between its eyes (Daniel 8:5). Moreover, the goat came to and struck the ram that had the two horns, and the goat struck the ram with such fury and power that its horns (the ram’s strength) were broken (Daniel 8:6-7). The ram was cast to the ground and crushed, so that none were able to come to the ram’s aid and save it from the fury of the goat with the great horn between its eyes.

In light of his great conquests, therefore, goat became very great. However, at the height of its power, the goat’s great horn was broken, and four other horns grew in its place, dividing the kingdom into four parts (Daniel 8:8). Moreover, Daniel saw that out of one of the four notable horns there arose a little horn,[1] which grew very great toward the south and the east and toward the pleasant land. Furthermore, it grew great even to the host of heaven, casting some of the stars to the ground, crushing them under his feet. (Daniel 8:9-10). Not only so, but he also lifted himself up above the Prince of the host, taking away the Daily Sacrifice, and casting down the Place of his Sanctuary (Daniel 8:10-11)! Finally, Daniel says he saw that a host or power was given the little horn, because he had taken away the Daily Sacrifice. Therefore, truth was cast to the ground and the little horn was able to prosper and be successful. (Daniel 8:12).

At this point in his vision, Daniel heard two saints (viz. angels) speaking with one another. Concerning the transgression or revolt that takes place and the complete destruction in its wake, the first saint asked the second how long would the Daily Sacrifice and the host be cast down and crushed under the little horn’s feet. It isn’t clear to whom the reply was given, because some translations have the saint speaking to Daniel, while other versions have the second saint speaking to the first, and Daniel overheard what was said. In any event, the Daily Sacrifice and the host would be trodden down for 2300 days (literally, 2300 evenings and mornings), after which the Sanctuary would be cleansed (H6665; meaning: cleansed, put right, or justified; Daniel 8:13-14).

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[1] Once more, Daniel witnesses the rise of what he calls a little horn. This expression is also used in Daniel 7:8, where it rises out of the 4^th great beast/kingdom. It is interpreted as having eyes and a mouth, and speaks blasphemous words against God. It is also the persecuting authority during first century AD, which identifies the little horn as the office of the high priest, and especially the person of Annas. Both Annas and his family of high priests not only had Jesus crucified, but later persecuted Jesus’ disciples, despite their knowing that Jesus arose from the dead (cp. Matthew 28:11-15). Other than the persecution of Nero, which may have been inspired by Annas’ grandson, Josephus, no persecution erupted against Jesus’ disciples that wasn’t begun by or inspired by a member of the Annas family, while he officiated the office of high priest.