Daniel’s Second Vision
“In 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.” Daniel 8:1
Much of the first seven chapters of the book of Daniel was written in the Chaldean language, Aramaic, which was spoke by the Gentile world. The time of this writing was during the captivity of God’s people by Babylon prior to the defeat of Babylon by the Persians. Belshazzar was the king at this time and was the son of Nebuchadnezzar. The first seven chapters focused on the Gentile world, however, in Chapter 8, the emphasis changed to focus how the Jewish nation will be affected by the Gentile nations and was written in Hebrew.
It had been about two years since Daniel had his first vision (for a brief study of Daniel’s first vision, see the blog of 6/30/2022, Daniel’s Dream). For this second vision, he gave his location as the palace in Shushan, Esther’s residence at the time of her heroic exploits regarding the captive Jewish people. Daniel’s vision began with the sight of a ram with two horns, which represented Media and Persia. One horn grew and became higher than the other horn. Media had dominated Persia until the reign of the Persian king, Cyrus II. The ram was the symbol of the Persians representing strength and power which was indicative of the Persians forceful, intentional push toward the west, north, and south. The Medo-Persian empire became so powerful and large that, for a time, it was unconquerable. However, as history has shown us, no human-led nation can stand forever.
Daniel’s vision then turned to the west as he saw a he-goat, the symbol of the Macedonian-Greek empire led by Alexander the great. The he-goat seemed to be in flight, symbolizing the speed and agility at which it conquered the known world. This he-goat also had a very large horn between its eyes with which it could do great harm. The he-goat attacked the ram with great fury and might. The ram, the Medes and Persians, were defenseless and suffered complete defeat in B.C. 331. Alexander was not called “the great” for nothing. He was only about 20 or 21 years of age when he began his exploits of the known world, conquering it in 12 years. However, he fell suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 32 or 33. After his death, four of his generals took control of his empire and divided it four ways: Syria and Babylon, Asia Minor, Egypt, and Greece.
From these four rulers, a “little horn” came forth, an Old Testament type that prefigures the future antichrist. This “little horn” is believed to be Antiochus Epiphanes, a descendant of Seleucus, Alexander’s general who had gained control over Syria and Babylon. Antiochus became the most powerful ruler of his day. He is most known for his brutal treatment of the Jews in Israel. He fought against the people of God, killing some of their best leaders. From the account of II Maccabees 6:18, we find that one of the Jewish scribes was executed for refusing to eat pork. The actions of Antiochus Epiphanes were a foretaste of the future period of tribulation, and he is sometimes referred to as the Old Testament antichrist.
This “little horn” gave himself a position of power that was, in his mind, greater than that of God. He ordered the Jews to abandon worship of God and took away their daily sacrifice, the method whereby the Jews promised their allegiance and loyalty to Jehovah God and no other. He also defiled the temple by building pagan altars. Some of the Jews even participated in the pagan rituals (I Maccabees 1:52). It was because of the sins and disobedience of God’s people, the Jews, who did not take a stand against this evil, godless “little horn”, that God allowed this evil one to desecrate the holy temple. It was for their eventual correction that God allowed His truth to be tossed aside and allowed the wicked one with his evil deeds to influence the people to participate in evil’s spread across the land.
In I Maccabees 1:47-63, we find Antiochus Epiphanes had allowed swine and other unclean animals to be sacrificed in the temple. He forbade circumcision of the Jewish boys. Any mother who allowed her baby son to be circumcised was executed and the baby was hung around her neck. The people were forced to worship at pagan shrines. Having a copy of any portion of God’s law or anyone who was observed obeying it was condemned to die. However, as in all generations, there was a remnant of God’s people who refused to give in to such defilement. Many of them became martyrs for the faith.
There are some who study God’s word and believe that what is written in the book of Revelation refers to this time in the day of Daniel. But that doesn’t make sense. Why would Jesus tell John to write of his vision of the tribulation some 600 to 700 years later if it had already happened? It is much more likely that the time of this “little horn”, Antiochus Epiphanes, is a parallel of the future time of tribulation which will occur just prior to Jesus’ return to earth. Could it be that the appearance of this “little horn” be the first coming of the antichrist, and the future appearance be a second coming of the antichrist? There are similarities in that the antichrist will appear as a trinity of the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet (Revelation 16:13) in a manner that will attempt to emulate the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
As this “little horn”, continued to defile the temple and receive glory in the worship by not only Gentiles, but some of the Jews, there were some in Daniel’s vision who looked for restoration. To be continued.