Daniel 8

The Ram and the Goat

1 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel had another vision, after the one he saw earlier.

2 In this vision, he was in Susa, the capital city, standing by the Ulai Canal.

3 He looked up and saw a ram with two long horns. One horn was longer than the other, and the longer one came up later.

4 The ram was charging west, north, and south, smashing everything in its path. No one could stop it, and it did whatever it wanted.

5 As Daniel was watching, a goat came from the west, moving so fast it did not even touch the ground. It had a big horn between its eyes.

6 The goat rushed at the ram with the two horns, full of anger.

7 It hit the ram, broke its two horns, and the ram was powerless to stop it. The goat knocked the ram to the ground and stomped on it. No one could rescue the ram.

8 The goat became super powerful, but right when it was at its peak, the big horn got broken off. Four smaller horns grew in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.

The Little Horn

9 Out of one of these horns came a small horn that grew big and strong, reaching toward the south and the east, and even toward the beautiful land (Israel).

10 This little horn grew so powerful it reached the heavens and threw down some of the stars and trampled them.

11 It even challenged the commander of heaven’s army, stopping the daily sacrifices, and defiling the holy place.

12 Because of rebellion, this army was handed over to the little horn, and the sacrifices were stopped. Truth was thrown to the ground, and the little horn was successful in everything it did.

13 Then Daniel heard two holy ones talking, and one of them asked, “How long will this vision about the daily sacrifice and rebellion last, How long will the holy place and the army be trampled?”

14 The other answered, “2,300 evenings and mornings. After that, the holy place will be cleansed.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15 While Daniel was trying to figure out the vision, someone who looked like a man stood in front of him.

16 Then he heard a voice from the river Ulai saying, “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

17 So Gabriel came near Daniel, and Daniel was terrified, falling face down. But Gabriel said, “Son of man, understand that this vision is about the end times.”

18 While Gabriel was talking, Daniel passed out. Gabriel woke him up and helped him stand.

19 Gabriel said, “I am going to explain what will happen in the future. The time of the end is coming soon.”

20 “The two-horned ram you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.”

21 “The goat represents the king of Greece, and the big horn between its eyes is the first king.”

22 “The four horns that replaced the broken one are four kingdoms that will come out of the first one, but they will not be as strong.”

23 “At the end of their reign, when rebels have become full of it, a fierce-looking king will rise, full of cunning schemes.”

24 “He will be super powerful, but not by his own strength. He will cause massive destruction, and everything he does will prosper. He will destroy mighty leaders and the holy people."

25 “Through his deceit, he will be successful and think he is untouchable. But he will get taken down when he tries to stand against the Prince of princes. He will be broken, but not by human hands.”

26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings is true, but seal it up because it is for a time way in the future.”

27 After hearing all this, Daniel was worn out. He was sick for days, but then he got up and went back to work for the king. He was still confused about the vision though.