THE VISION OF THE RAM AND THE HE-GOAT

It is written in Dan 8:2-27 “ And I saw in a vision…a ramwhich had two horns…but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward…according to his will, and became great. 5 And…an he goat came from the west…and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had two horns…and smote the ram, and brake his two horns…he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him… 8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. 9 And out of one of themcame forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 10 And it waxed great…and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down...and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered… 13 Then I heard…How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed…And I heard a man's voice …and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision… 17 So he came near where I stood… 19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation… 20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And…he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand…and I was astonished at the vision… ”

The vision above was given to Daniel by God during his captivity in Babylon ( Iraq) with the rest of Judah. Daniel was on official business in Shushan, a chief city in Persia ( Iran) when he received this revelation. This vision came 2 years after the vision of the four beasts (Dan 7) concerning which we have recently written to you, and the time of the vision was at the end of the reign of Belshazzar, which corresponds to the time of the handwriting on the wall in Dan 5. Again, this vision, like the vision of the great image and the four beasts, concerns what shall be from the days of Daniel in Babylon to the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to set up His literal kingdom on the whole earth forever. This one vision also reveals beyond reasonable doubt which region of the world the Antichrist arises from. Now, if any man desire to understand the times and the seasons, let him set his heart upon these words, and then he shall understand. Now hearken, for the sure interpretation of the vision is as follows:

1. The ram represents the old Medo-Persian Empire (now Iran), the same as the silver on the image of Dan 2:32, 39, and the bear of Dan 7:5. It is the 2 nd of the 4 beasts of Dan 7 and the 4 th of the 8 kingdoms in Rev 17:8-11 that make up the whole length of the times of the Gentiles (Dan 8:20).

2. The two horns on the ram represents the kings of Media and Persia (Dan 8:20), the same as the two arms of silver of Dan 2:32, 39, and the two sides of the bear of Dan 7:5. These two horns symbolize Darius the Mede (Dan 5:31, 6:1, 9:1, 11:1) and Cyrus the Persian (Dan 1:21, 6:28, 11:1-2, 2 Chro 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-4). That one horn was higher than the other and that the higher one came up last signified Cyrus the Persian who was greater then Darius the Mede and arose after Darius.

3. The rough he-goat is the old Grecian Empire (Dan 8:21, 11:3-4), the same as the belly and thighs of brass in the image of Dan 2:32, 39, and the leopard of Dan 7:6. The he-goat is the acknowledged symbol of Greece. Even Alexander the great from Greece named his son Roxana, Alexander Aegus which literally means Alexander the goat. That the goat touched not the ground symbolizes the swiftness of Alexander’s conquests (Dan 8:5-6). In 13 years, he conquered the whole known world.

4. The great and notable horn between the eyes of the he-goat represents the first king i.e. Alexander the great who founded the old Grecian Empire in 13 years (Dan 8:21, 11:3).

5. The great horn being broken represents the death of Alexander the great at the age of 33 (Dan 8:21).

The 4 horns growing out of the head of the he-goat in the place of the great horn (after the death of Alexander) represents 4 kingdoms formed out of the old Grecian Empire after the death of Alexander the great (Dan 8:22, 8, 11:4). These 4 kingdoms arising not in Alexander’s power represents the top 4 generals of Alexander carving out a kingdom of their own after his death (Dan 8:22, 11:4). Daniel the prophet stated here clearly that the old Grecian Empire will be divided into 4 parts or kingdoms (Dan 8:22), in the same sense he prophesied the old Roman Empire will be divided into 10 parts or kingdoms (Dan 2:40-43, 7:23-24). Alexander the great did die at the heights of his conquests at the age of 33. His brother Philip Aridaeus, and his 2 sons, Alexander Aegus and Hercules ruled the Macedonian kingdom thereafter for a time but they were all murdered within 15 years. Thus the great horn and his regal family were all dead. Thereafter, 4 of his top generals seized the Empire and divided it into 4 kingdoms according to the word of the Lord. Cassander took Greece, Macedon, and the western parts of the Empire, Lysimachus took Asia Minor (Turkey) and Thrace, the northern parts of the Empire, Seleucus took all the eastern parts of the Empire, including ancient Assyria and Babylon, a region known today as Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, and Ptolemy took the kingdom of Egypt, the southern part of the Empire. Thus again, Alexander’s Empire was literally divided towards the four winds of Heaven according to the word of the Lord. These four divisions would be known today as Greece, Turkey, Ancient Assyria ( Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran), and Egypt.

The phrase in the latter time of their kingdom clearly reveals the time of the coming of the Antichrist and the complete fulfillment of this prophecy. It is clear that these countries which make up the 4 divisions of the old Grecian Empire, which also are listed above, MUST continue to exist from the days of Daniel (540 B.C.) till the latter days when the Antichrist comes out from one of them (Dan 8:23, 7:24, 9:26-27, 11:36-45). Is it not amazing that all of these countries exist today? And none of them has fallen away since 540 B.C.? Surely, and assuredly, the word of the Lord is always true even if men would not believe. According to the word of the Lord, the little horn, who is also the Antichrist, will SURELY come from one of these 4 divisions of the old Grecian Empire (Dan 8:9). That he waxed great towards the south, east, and pleasant land (Palestine) proves beyond doubt that hewillbecome great in Egypt (south), Iraq, Iran, & Syria (east), and Palestine. He will prosper in these territories. What is most common to all these countries? Is it not the religion of Islam? Are they not all Islamic countries? A word is enough for the wise. It is coming! Prepare.

The phrase when the transgressors are come to the full reveals clearly the time of the coming of the Antichrist. He will come in the last days when sin and iniquity shall abound and the time has come for transgressors on earth to be dealt with and put down (Dan 8:23, 7:21-22, 9:27, 11:36-45, Matt 24:4-26, 2 Thess 2:3-12, 1 Tim 4:1-8, 2 Tim 3:1-13, 4:1-4, Rev 13:1-18, 16:1-17, 18:2-3, 24). It is this present times we are in. This will be after the last 10 kingdoms to rule the world are formed inside the old Roman Empire territories (Dan 7:23-24), after the rapture of the church (2 Thess 2:7), during the fulfillment of all events of Rev 4:1-19:21, and just before the Second coming of Christ (1 Corinth 15:24-28, Eph 1:10, Rev 19:11-21).

That a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences shall stand up reveals the character of the Antichrist, showing the type of person he will be (Dan 8:23, 7:20-25, 9:27, 11:36-45, Rev 13:1-18, 14:9-11, 15:2-4, 16:13-16, 19:20, 20:4-6). Dan 8:24 reveals that his power shall be mighty but not by his own power. This reveals that he will come after the working of Satan and have all the power the devil can endue a man with (Dan 8:24, 7:25, 11:36-39, 2 Thess 2:8-12, Rev 13:1-5, 12-18, 16:13-16, 19:20). It is written that he shall cause craft (Hebrew word is mirmah meaning deceit) to prosper (Dan 8:25). This refers to his coming with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to further his cause. He shall magnify himself in his heart and exalt himself above God. That he shall destroy many by peace (Dan 8:25) refers to his covenant of peace with Israel in Jerusalem and his sudden breaking of the covenant to destroy the Jews (Dan 9:27, 11:36-45, Rev 12:13-17, 13:12-18). He shall even destroy wonderfully (Dan 8:24) and behead many Christians in those days (Rev 20:4, Dan 7:21, 25). He will wage a very terrible war and persecution against Jews and Christians.

Dan 8:11-14 clearly reveal that the daily sacrifice will be taken away by the Antichrist and the place of his sanctuary will be cast down (Dan 8:11, 2 Thess 2:4, Rev 11:1-2). The place where sacrifices are offered is the altar of the temple. It will be destroyed and taken away, and the image of the beast will be set up in its place to be worshipped ( Rev 13:11-18, 14:9, 15:2, 16:2, 20:4). The sacrifices refer to the daily offerings and animal sacrifices that will be carried out in the Jewish temple that shall stand in Jerusalem (Num 4:16, 28:24, 29:6, Ezra 3:4, Ezek 45:23, Dan 11:31, 12:11). Are these things not also written in Dan 9:27, 12:11, Matt 24:15, Rev 13:1-18? This prophecy will be fulfilled when the Jewish people have a temple in Jerusalem and begin to offer such sacrifices again (intense plans are currently ongoing today by the Jewish Sanhedrin to build this temple). This will come to pass and nothing shall hinder it. Behold! It is done. Now, the rapture of the church must precede the building of this temple, therefore, keep looking for Him (Phil 3:20, Titus 2:13).

Brethren, as we write unto you all in the knowledge and revelation of the word of God, let these words abide in you and produce the good fruit of righteousness. Let them stir up your minds by way of remembrance that the coming of the Lord is at hand. Be provoked in your spirit to witness the love of God to many around you, persuading them by the Spirit to come to repentance. Work for the Lord now while it is still day for night soon cometh when no man can work. The Lord cometh shortly. Prepare, Watch, and Be Ready. His coming is at the doors. Grace and peace be unto you all. Amen.