Article The Ram, the Goat, and the Little Horn

The Ram, the Goat, and ​

the Little Horn ​

VISION 3​

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In Daniel 8:3-8, 20-22 we may be moving back to Daniel’s era concerning two animals which represent two of the earlier noted empires/kingdoms at war with each other. So, Daniel says:



“I lifted up my eyes and I saw, and look! A ram standing before the stream, and it had two horns, and the horns were long, but the one was longer than the second, and the longer one came up after the other one. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward, and none of the beasts stood before it and there was no rescuing from its power, and it did what it wanted and it became strong. And I was considering this, and look, a he-goat coming from the west across the face of the whole earth, and it was not touching the ground; and the he-goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. Then it came toward the ram that had the two horns that I saw standing before the stream, and it ran at it with the rage of its power. And I saw it approaching the ram and it was furious at it, and it struck the ram, and it broke its two horns, and there was not strength in the ram to stand before him, and he threw it down to the ground and trampled it, and there was no one who could rescue the ram from its power. 8 And the he-goat grew exceedingly great, and at the height of its power the great horn was broken, and four conspicuous horns came up in place of it toward the four winds of heaven. ... 20 “The ram that you saw who had two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. “And the hairy he-goat is the kingdom of Greece, and the great horn that is between his eyes—he is the first king. And the horn that was broken, and then there arose four horns in place of it—these are four kingdoms that will arise from his nation, but not with his power” (LEB).



The traditional interpretation of concerns the Medo-Persian Empire as being attacked and defeated by Alexander the Great. There is another view held which concerns only the very end-times. We shall examine both views starting with the traditional view.

The Traditional View Concerning

the Medo-Persian and Greek Empires

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Because Daniel interprets “the ram which had two horns” of 8:3-4 as being “the kings of Media and Persia” in 8:20 with the longer horn as representing the Persian part of the empire which became the more prominent it is assumed that this description is of that ancient empire. Then “the goat” of 8:5 is interpreted as representing the Greek Empire, with Alexander the Great as the “conspicuous or large horn” (8:5, 8, 21). He did, in fact, defeat the Persians under Darius III at Gaugamela in 331 B.C, but after Alexander’s death his empire initially split into many parts. However, from a biblical perspective only four parts (8:8, 11:4) were relevant as the arising of “four horns.”



THE FOUR CONSPICUOUS HORNS

Daniel’s account says about Alexander that, “his kingdom will be broken up and divided to the four winds of heaven. It won’t be inherited by his descendants, and it won’t be ruled with the power he had, because his kingship will be uprooted and will pass to others than his own posterity” (Dan. 11:4). Indeed, after Alexander’s death in 323 B.C., the empire broke up into many parts but with four families finally becoming dominant and taking power of four areas of the empire through particular sons. These four were:

Cassander ruling Macedonia/Greece

Lysimachus ruling Asia Minor/Thrace

Seleucus 1 Nicator ruling Syria/Mesopotamia

Ptolemy Lagus ruling Egypt/Palestine



These four kingdoms later consolidated into just two kingdoms—those of Seleucid Syria and Ptolemaic Egypt. The kings from these empires are called the Kings of the North and Kings of the South in Daniel 11 and terminate in the historic events in 175 B.C., concerning the seizing of the throne of the Seleucid Empire by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He is seen as the final King of the North—the “despicable person” of Daniel 11:21 in the traditional interpretation. Then in 168 B.C. he attacked Jerusalem killing 40,000 Jews and then he had the altar and temple desecrated. This is all recorded in 1 and 2 Maccabees.

A limited futurist view of this interpretation of Daniel 8 presents the idea that the story switches from Alexander’s time to the distant future from Daniel 8:9 onwards. Although these views from history as being the fulfilment of Daniel 8 have some merit, there are certain problems to consider.



PROBLEMS WITH THE ABOVE INTERPRETATIONS

There are several reasons why both of the above explanations do not completely fit the biblical description. These are that:



The vision in Daniel 8:1ff is stated to be an entirely end-time scenario in verse 17 saying that, “the vision pertains to the time of the end.” This is confirmed in verse 19 as “what will occur in the final indignation…the appointed time of the end.”



The “little horn” of Daniel 8:9 is obviously the same as the “little horn” of Daniel 7:8 which comes out of the head of the future terrifying beast and is therefore a king of the end-times.



In the purely Historicist and Preterist view Antiochus IV could not be “the little horn” because he was not “broken without human agency” (Daniel 8:25c), but was defeated by the Maccabees. At best the history of Antiochus IV could be a type of the Antichrist.



Certainly, these problems involving Alexander the Great, the Seleucids/Ptolemies, and the Medo-Persian Empire lead one to the realization that these ancient events can be no more than a partial fulfilment in this near/far scenario so that these powers are only a type of the future empires and events of Daniel 8:1-8 and that Antiochus IV Epiphanes can be only a type of the Antichrist.

The Consistent Futurist View of Daniel 8

Concerning the Goat and the Ram​

In this near/far understanding of Daniel 8 it is entirely a single vision with a final fulfilment in the future end-times according to verses 17 and 19 which state:



“that the vision pertains to the time of the end” and as “what will occur at the final period of the indignation.”



THE RAM

This means that the ram with two horns, as a progression from the ancient Medo-Persian Empire of the silver part of the Daniel 2 statue, is a symbol of the modern-day nation of Iran (Shia Muslims) as “the bear” among the four beasts.

The two future horns will be two individual leaders—one religious and one secular—with the longer horn joining the shorter one in leading Iran. This is shown by the fact that the goat breaks both horns at the same time. Before this the ram butts its way westward, northward, and southward (vs. 4) This is apparent in the way Iran has interfered in the affairs of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, all to the west of Iran as well as Yemen to its south. If this interpretation is correct Iran will yet butt into the affairs of Armenia and Turkey to its North.



THE GOAT

This explanation also means that the he-goat, as a progression from the Seleucid Greek Empire (Asia Minor and more areas) of the bronze part of the Daniel 2 statue, represents a modern-day Turkish confederacy (Sunni Muslims) as “the leopard” among the four beasts whereby the corresponding four horns on the leopard appear on the goat after the great horn is broken.

This application may seem strange because verse 21 says, “the shaggy goat represents Greece.” So why should this be explained as representing Turkey and not modern-day “Greece”? The fact, is that the Hebrew word used in Daniel 8:21 is “Javan” the name of the fourth son of Japheth (Gen. 10:2) and who produced a people who settled in both Greece, European Turkey, and Asian Turkey (ancient Asia Minor—an area earlier occupied by many Greek cities) and who eventually formed the Islamic Ottoman Empire with Istanbul as its capital city (A.D. 1453 to 1923).

At the present time the president of Turkey, President Erdogan is moving the nation away from being a secular state as set up by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923 toward being a significantly Muslim state and appears to have the intention of reforming an Islamic Caliphate based on a revived Ottoman Empire with authority over 1.3 billion Muslims. From this detail we can project from Daniel 8:7 that an end-time revived Ottoman Empire centred on Turkey becomes enraged at Iran and attacks it with great speed and shatters its horns and destroys it as a power (Daniel 8:5-7).

All of these details are significant because Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 also indicate that Antichrist likely will originate from Turkey. Furthermore, in Revelation 2:13 Pergamum in ancient Turkey is described as the place “where Satan’s throne is,” and so indicating a likely location of the Antichrist because Satan (the dragon) gives his throne to the Antichrist (Rev. 13:2).

This does not necessarily mean that President Erdogan becomes the Antichrist. This is because “the large horn (the first king) was broken” and “there came up four horns” (vss. 8, 22). Indeed, from one of these horns there “came forth a rather small horn”—the Antichrist (vs. 9).

Interestingly the events we have just looked at as described in Daniel 8 may well precede those events described in Daniel 7.

Who Is the “Little Horn” of Daniel 8:9ff?​

Daniel now proceeds to show us the details of the activities of the “small horn” and his character, explaining:



“Then from one of the prominent horns came a small horn whose power grew very great. It extended toward the south and the east and toward the glorious land of Israel. Its power reached to the heavens, where it attacked the heavenly army, throwing some of the heavenly beings and some of the stars to the ground and trampling them. It even challenged the Commander of heaven’s army by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple. The army of heaven was restrained from responding to this rebellion. So the daily sacrifice was halted, and truth was overthrown. The horn succeeded in everything it did” (Dan. 8:9-12 NLT).



The “little (small) horn” of Daniel 8:9 is the same as the “little horn” of 7:8, 24 namely, the Antichrist and who is also described as:



“...a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. 25 He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power” (Dan. 8:23-25 NLT).



Although many commentators generally interpret this “little horn” of Daniel 8:9 as being Antiochus IV Epiphanes, they do so by distinguishing him from the “little horn” of 7:8, 24 who came up from the ten horns, namely, the Antichrist as is recognized by most scholars. Yet Daniel interprets these events in chapter 8:9-12 as being in the “time of the end” and “at the final period of the indignation” (Dan. 8:17, 19). Therefore, the “small horn” of 8:9 is the same as the “little horn” of 7:8, 24 namely, the Antichrist. Daniel further describes the Antichrist as, “a king…insolent and skilled in intrigue.” This means that there is no large gap in time after Daniel 8:8 so that 8:9ff and both passages concern the end-times.

The location of Antichrist in his “little horn” phase can be ascertained from 8:9, because he comes “out of one of…the four conspicuous horns,” but does not come from the south, the east or “the beautiful land” of Israel. In relation to Israel, he cannot come from the west because that is the Mediterranean Sea. This leaves the north, which fits with many other titles and descriptions of Antichrist. So, he comes out of the area of the ancient Seleucid kingdom which encompassed Asian Turkey, Armenia, Syria, and Mesopotamia, and he fits the pattern of the final “King of the north” of 11:21-45.



WHO ARE THE HEAVENLY ARMY AND THE STARS IN DANIEL 8:10?

Most commentators take this to refer to faithful Jews or God’s faithful people in general. This view seems to be likely according to the description that they are “trampled down.” However, in the sense that God’s angels have responsibilities for God’s people it could be a double reference to both the angels and those they are responsible for, namely, God’s holy people.



WHO IS “THE COMMANDER OF HEAVENS ARMY” IN 8:11?

Some versions of the Bible render this as “the Prince of the host.” Nevertheless, He is the same person as “the Prince of princes” in 8:25 because this is the interpretation given of the vision. The description in 8:11 shows this person to be either God Himself or, _less likely Michael the archangel as representing God (Dan. 10:13, 12:1; Rev. 12:7). It is more likely that this refers to God because the “small horn” “removed the sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary/temple was thrown down” even though it is strange that God should be called “Prince.”

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The 2,300 Evenings and Mornings​

This unusual phrase of “evenings and mornings” requires a little research. Does it mean 2,300 actual 24-hour days or does it mean half that number of days i.e., 1,150 days? The passage reads:



“Then I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one said to the one who was speaking, “To what period of time does the vision pertain—this vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the destructive act of rebellion and the giving over of both the sanctuary and army to be trampled?” 14 He said to me, “To 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be put right again” (Dan. 8:13-14 NET).



The New American Commentary on Daniel explains that:

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Keil argues quite convincingly that the 2,300 evenings and mornings represent a total of 2,300 days, and many scholars follow this view. First, Keil points out that in the Hebrew text the phrase is literally “until evening morning, 2,300.” He then demonstrates that in Old Testament usage an evening and a morning specified a day (e.g., Gen 1). Second, he shows that when the Hebrews wished to make a distinction between the two parts of the day, the number of both was given, for example, “forty days and forty nights” (Gen 7:4,12) … S. J. Schwantes presents additional problems with the 1,150-day view. (1) “Daily sacrifice” (tamid) does not appear in v.14 at all. It is found in 8:13 and is simply assumed to be the meaning of the “evenings and mornings” in this verse. (2) The term encompassed both sacrifices offered in the morning and evening (cf. Exod 29:38-42). The word tamid, therefore, represents one entity, not two. Thus “2,300 evenings and mornings” denotes 2,300 days with both a morning and an evening offering. (3) When the two daily sacrifices of the tamid are specified, the order in the Old Testament is always morning and evening. Therefore, Schwantes concludes with Keil that the expression reflects usage in Gen 1 and must represent 2,300 full days. p. 229.



This period is therefore, six years and almost four months and is 220 days less that Daniel’s 70th “seven” of 2,520 days, but 1,040 days longer than the 1,260 day periods.



WHEN DO THE 2,300 DAYS BEGIN?

This is very difficult to determine because one of the “two holy ones” asks questions concerning the single vision that can be broken into three parts. These are:



concerning the daily sacrifice

the destructive act of rebellion

the giving over of both the sanctuary and army to be trampled?”



So, it is a vision that encompasses all three of these events and amounts to 2,300 days. Clearly the daily sacrifices will be initiated sometime before the time they are cancelled by Antichrist and therefore before the mid-point of the 70th “seven.” Then according to Daniel 9:24 the restoration of the sanctuary will be completed by the end of the 70th “seven” when “the sanctuary will be put right again” (Dan. 8:14b). Finally, Antichrist’s destructive act will be within this time period, but starting at the mid-point of the 70th “seven.” So, this gives a starting point for the 2,300 days of 1,040 days before the mid-point of the 70th “seven” (220 days from the beginning of the 70th “seven) and will terminate at the end of the 70th “seven.”

Connecting the Ram and Goat to the Four Beasts​

FUTURE KINGDOMS MODERN-DAY NATIONS



Lion = Iraq

Bear = Iran …… Ram

Leopard + 4 heads = Turkish confederacy ….. Goat + 4 horns

Terrifying Beast = Revived Ottoman.



In fact, there are connections of all the events and symbols used in the visions in the book of Daniel.

Summary of Daniel Chapters 2, 7, and 8

in Their Future Fulfilment

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The “little horn” of Daniel 8:9 is obviously the same as the “little horn” of Daniel 7:8 which comes out of the head of the future terrifying beast and is therefore a king of the end-times—the final Antichrist.



To the extent that Christians today can understand the prophecies in the book of Revelation, they can also understand the prophecies in the book of Daniel.



The commonly held view that the legs of the Daniel 2 statue represent the Roman Empire is incorrect because Rome is never mentioned in Bible prophecy. The legs represent the fourth empire consisting of the Islamic Caliphate ending with the Ottoman Empire through the Kings of the North and the Kings of the South which extend into the feet and toes as representing the final Antichrist Empire.



Although it is commonly held that the four beasts are the same as the four parts of the image, the details of the beasts preclude this and present three end-time kingdoms based on those ancient nations as precursors to the final Antichrist’s kingdom.



The future final evil kingdom is depicted not only by the feet and toes of the statue image that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream (Chapter 2) but also by the fourth terrifying beast (Chapter 7).



After the future coronation of Jesus as king of God’s kingdom he will destroy the fourth beast—Antichrist’s Kingdom, but the other three kingdoms continue their existence for a while.



The temple is brought into its rightful condition after 2,300 days which begin 220 days after the start of the 70th “seven” and terminate at the end of the 70th “seven.”

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