Daniel 8: Ram vs Goat
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Review of Daniel Thus Far
Structure
Theme verse:
He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
Anti-Theme verse:
He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Summary Statement
The book of Daniel is a plea for God’s people to be faithful as God exercises his authority over the nations.
Introduction to
Outline of
Scene 1: Daniel’s Vision (1-14)
Setting (1-2)
The second vision explicitly reminds the reader of the first vision.
In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.
We as readers should recall as we just read it but in case we forget Daniel brings it to our attention as it will help us:
Understand the second vision
Identify a pattern
Three levels of zoom: Province of Elam, Susa the Citadel, Ulai canal
Province of Elam
Susa the citadel
Ulai canal
Enter Ram (3-4)
For the reader…the ram is connected with the bear in
Bear from
Raised up on one side (so it has two sides)
Three ribs in its mouth
“Arise, devour much flesh”
Ram from
Two horns with one being higher
Horns = military strength
One came up last
Charging in three directions
westward/northward/southward
not eastward (explicitly against God)
“east” represents Godly presence. It is protected.
He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
“he did as he pleased and became great”
beast, like all beasts, does as they please. They do not see or perceive they play a part in cosmic battle or story.
Enter Goat (5-8)
For the reader, the goat is connected with the leopard in .
Leopard from
Has wings…to fly
Four heads
Dominion was giving to it
Goat from
“without touching the ground” - a reference to wings
Attacks the ram
“I saw him come close to the ram” - zoom in
Breaks both horns
Exercises dominion (v7b)
New in this vision
“Great horn broken”
dies or ends, as the two horns of the ram
“four horns take the place of one”
“toward the four winds of heaven”
Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.
Nature of its spread is similar to its origin: “death”
Enter Little Horn (9-14)
For the reader, the little horn connects us back with the little horn in
Little horn in
Part of the fourth beast
“mouth and eyes”
Killed
speaking great things
against the Most high
“made war with the saints and prevailed over them”
How long? - time, times, and half a time
Little horn in
Part of the third beast
Grew toward the east, God’s land and people
Different than the 2nd kingdom/beast
Introduces Spiritual Warfare (10)
“host” or “host of heaven”
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
“stars”
God’s people
I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
(Hamilton)
I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,
Worship Interputed
“regular burnt offering was taken away from him (Prince of the host)”
“sanctuary was overthrown”
“host will be given over to it
“throw truth to the ground (to trample)”
How long? (v13-14)
2300 evenings and mornings.
1150 days (approximately three and a half years)
Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state”
Scene 2: Vision’s Interpretation (15-28)
When? (15-19)
“time of the end”
sleep but made to stand
“latter end of the indignation”
This is what is happening at the end of the third kingdom in the vision
“refers to the appointed time of the end”
Forth beast little horn qualities during the reign of the third beast.
With the Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology The Ram and the Goat in Daniel 8
These parallels are based on actual historical realities, but they also point beyond themselves to ‘the end’.
Who? (20-26)
The ram is the Medo-Persian empire.
The goat is Greek empire.
What? (v27)
Application