"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
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  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