“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. And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had [two] horns: and the [two] horns [were] high; but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat [had] a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had [two] horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 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” (Daniel 8:1-8).

Standing in vision by the beautiful Ulai River, perhaps even sensing being away from his pressing duties in Babylon, Daniel is now given details of this chazown vision (8:1-2). Supernatural revelations were not new to him, but this time it would be one of the most frightening experiences he would ever have. As he went into vision he was first aware of where he was, then he looked “up” and saw a ram (ayil). Let’s see if we can discover why God began this amazing vision this way.

The Ram (8:3)

This animal, a male sheep, has a rich history in the Old Testament. In the context of what is being introduced here, it is a sanctuary animal used to typify making everything right with God or being in a binding covenant dedication to Him. It was the sacrificial animal, symbolizing the Deliverer and Restorer. This was illustrated in many ways, such as:

1.  One of the animals slain when God instituted His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:9)

2.  A guilt offering (Leviticus 5:15, 19:21-22)

3.  One of the animals used in burnt offerings (Numbers 28:11, I Chronicles 29:21)

4.  On Mount Moriah when Abraham was about to slay Isaac, it was a ram that became his substitute (Genesis 22:13). It therefore symbolized Jesus – the Deliverer.

5.  And, of special importance, a ram was part of the Day of Atonement services (Leviticus 16:3, 5), even being called the “ram of atonement” (Numbers 5:8).

6.  This animal was further illustrated by those Israelites who took vows to become a Nazarite. They offered a ram as a peace and purification offering. They became “holy unto the Lord” through that ritual (Numbers 6:8).

Yet, in Daniel 8:20 we are told it represented Medo-Persia. Why? That nation would deliver God’s people out of Babylon. This is so important for us to grasp! That era will also help set the timing for atonement prophecies, which occur far into the future! The ram’s typology begins to open the door to an incredible mystery of how and when the covenant promise will be completed. Chapters 8–12 are all about finishing the everlasting covenant with God’s holy people. How? Through deliverance and restoration. Those chapters also tell how Satan will fight to prevent that from ever happening. That deliverance ram was a perfect way to begin this amazing story.

On the Day of Atonement, the people became holy unto the Lord. The ram, on that Day, came to the altar (note this) from the east, moving towards the west, proleptically pointing to the second coming of Jesus from the east for His holy people!

Does this sound like something exciting is developing? We are beginning one of the most amazing prophecies in the Bible. Already we have seen imagery from Daniel’s day all the way up to the second coming of Jesus. Before we go further, there is more to examine.

If this vision begins with Medo-Persia, something has already happened to Babylon (according to the sequence of the Daniel 2 image and beast vision of chapter 7) – Babylon is fallen. That information ties to prophecies in Revelation. Two immediately come to mind:

“Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8).

“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit” (Revelation 18:2).

How did physical Babylon fall? Daniel 5 says King Belshazzar saw that bloodless hand write a message on the wall – which God’s representative, Daniel, interpreted. Babylon was found wanting, numbered and finished. How? At that moment Cyrus, who came from the east, had dried up the Euphrates (which ties to the sixth plague) so the kings of the east might come and enter the city, causing Babylon to fall!

Was Cyrus an important figure in prophecy? He not only brought down Babylon (a great symbol of apostasy in the book of Revelation), but he prefigured the Messiah.

               Cyrus                                                                  Jesus

My shepherd (Isaiah 44:28)                 Good shepherd (John 10:11, Hebrews 13:20)

His anointed (Isaiah 45:1)                    God anointed Him (Acts 10:38)

Came from the east (Isaiah 46:11)      Comes as lightning from the east (Matthew 24:27)

Set captives free (Isaiah 45:13)           Deliverance of captives (Luke 4:16)

Called righteous (Isaiah 45:13)            The Righteous (I John 2:1)[1]

Suddenly, we find ourselves right at the very beginning of this prophecy, looking into the face of a message with broad duality of meaning! Let’s outline what has been discovered so far.

Strange Behavior (8:4)

Suddenly, Daniel sees the ram pushing towards the west, north and south. Where, then, is he coming from? As noted under the Day of Atonement imagery above, he is coming from the east!

Pushing (nagach) means to thrust with its horns. As it exercised its power, coming from the salvic east, it became great. This ram’s kingdom was so strong no one was able to defeat him. His influence and power filled the earth.

Daniel was astonished and intrigued. The Bible says he was diligently meditating on or “considering” this message. The ram was now in control of the four directions of the earth. Its influence was worldwide. The ram was even able to accomplish exactly what he desired. That is, until something most unexpectedly happened. And here another dual application is introduced.

The Terrible He-goat (8:5-8)

The second beast to appear to Daniel was this swift male goat, moving so quickly that its feet didn’t touch the earth. Knowing the sequence of kingdoms from Daniel 2 and 7, we see that this goat was a symbol for Greece. That is exactly what Daniel 8:21-22 confirms.

It displayed violent action against the ram as described in verses 6-8. Historically, its initial great horn represented Alexander the Great, who conquered Medo-Persia; and the four horns that came up afterwards were the four succeeding generals – Lysimachus, Cassander, Seleucus and Ptolemy. But – that is where the similarities to the previous kingdom stories must end.

We’ve seen that there are no animals in this chazown vision to represent Babylon. Interestingly, there is no animal to represent what followed Greece – that is, Rome. This goat was the last. Why? The great spiritual truths God is presenting didn’t require rehashing something already given two times before. The Persia–Greece time period serves as a time marker to begin the 2300-year prophecy of Daniel 8:14. But wait! Gabriel said that this vision was for the time of the end (8:17) and for the time appointed at the time of the end (8:19). Something else of end-time importance must be introduced in this he-goat/Greece symbol. If the ram represented the powers that bring deliverance to God’s people and Greece came to destroy Medo-Persia, this goat must be a power trying to thwart the deliverance and restoration of God’s people!

The he-goat was also a sanctuary animal. Recall that this part of Daniel was written in Hebrew for “Israel.” From now on whatever will unfold in the rest of this chapter and book is specifically for God’s chosen people to grasp. Since the atonement deliverance ram is a sanctuary animal, in this setting, the he-goat must also relate to sanctuary imagery at atonement.

Let’s look at this he-goat closer.
Jesus made an interesting observation in the New Testament that when He, the Son of Man, came in His glory at the great harvest, the sheep and the goats would be divided. The sheep would be on His right hand, the goats on His left. Then He explained: The sheep were blessed and were invited to inherit the Kingdom. The goats were cursed and ordered to depart to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:32-34, 41). The sheep and goats – God’s people versus Satan’s. Is that the message of Daniel 8? Let’s look.

On the Day of Atonement two goats were chosen. One to represent Jesus and His blood that cleanses from sin (Hebrews 10:4); the other, Satan. The sins of all repentant Israel that were cleansed by Jesus’ blood, were transferred to the goat, symbolizing Satan. That goat was led into the wilderness to die with those sins (Leviticus 16:21).
Satan will bear the “goat” sin curse of all the righteous during the millennium. During that time the earth will be desolate – an issue addressed shortly in this prophecy.

Something is starting to fall into place. The “atonement ram” is contrasted with the “sin goat” – Jesus versus Satan – God’s people versus Satan’s. This must be the time when Jesus is delivering God’s people in an atonement process and Satan’s people or agents will fight them or persecute them, trying to prevent that from ever happening. That is exactly what this vision is all about.

“I saw Satan would work more powerfully now than ever he has before. He knows that his time is short and that the sealing of the saints will place them beyond his power; he will now work in every way that he can and will try his every insinuation to get the saints off from their guard and get them asleep on the present truth or doubting it, so as to prevent their being sealed with the seal of the living God.—Ms 7, 1850, pp. 2, 3. (‘A Vision God Gave Me at Brother Harris’,’ August 24, 1850.)”[2]

Note what the he-goat did to the ram:

1.  Ran into the ram with the fury of its power (vs 6)

2.  Smote (nakah) the ram – meaning strikes it, might even kill it (Jesus, martyrs)

3.  Cast him to the ground

4.  Stomps (ramac) on him. In this setting, ram not killed but persecuted.

What does all this mean? Christ and Gabriel will continue to lay out the beautiful meaning of this. It is going to unfold like an orchestra playing its musical scores. For now, let’s simply look briefly at this foundational imagery to help us in our subsequent study.

Everyone represented by the he-goat hates all those represented by the ram. They are in controversy, in fact, the great controversy between good and evil, right and wrong, sin and righteousness. And that is what the rest of the chapter is all about. As previously noted, the Persian empire begins the timeframe when the 2300 atonement evenings and mornings begin. It also heralds the onset of the final cleansing period allotted to God’s people, the 70 weeks of years (Daniel 9). That, too, as we will discover, has a dual application.

The “ram of atonement,” the ram of “peace/purification offering of the Nazerite,” focuses on the time when God’s people will become holy unto Him and be delivered. We will discover that this is when they become legally and morally perfect. Chapters 8–12 are filled with legal language. Most of this prophecy relates to the time after the 2300 atonement years end. Then the antitypical Day of Atonement will begin. This will come to focused significance when the mowed or “appointed time,” first mentioned in 8:19, arrives. “For at the time appointed the end shall be” (reviewed in the previous chapter).

Two great time periods are opening up to us. One represented by the fall of Babylon (Persian Empire setting), the other after the 2300 years are completed when another Babylon falls. From now on to the end of the book, both will be addressed. The progressive focus, however, is on the end. Remember the eth qets from the last chapter!

The imagery of the ram and the he-goat shows that at the time God’s people become “holy,” a power with “fury” or “choler” will smite or persecute them. When does this happen? At the sealing (Revelation 7) and the fifth Seal (Revelation 6) they will have no fighting power (koach); which means, though weak, they or what they represent still endures. The ram might even appear as dead, like the two witnesses of Revelation 11. All this implies that though God’s holy ones, His remnant, will be stomped upon, cast down and made “helpless,” they still have the capacity to endure.

A very important piece of information must be emphasized. Satan and his agents do come to their end. This is part of the incredible message in chapters 8–12. The he-goat power will soon be represented by the little horn power which shortly thereafter will become the king of the north, which comes to its end.

Now, let’s look at that little horn power. That is the next story in this astonishing saga. Gabriel put it right here in the chazown vision. There are two little horn time periods introduced in Daniel. We will now discover which one this little horn represents.