Daniel 8 Summary

In the third year of Belshazzar's reign, Daniel receives a vision by the river of Ulai in Shushan, where he sees a ram with two horns pushing in all directions and becoming great. A he-goat from the west with a notable horn between his eyes charges the ram, breaks both his horns, and casts him down. When the goat becomes strong, his great horn breaks and four notable horns rise toward the four winds of heaven. From one comes a little horn that waxes exceeding great, casting down stars and the host of heaven, magnifying itself against the prince of the host, and taking away the daily sacrifice. Gabriel explains to Daniel that the ram represents the kings of Media and Persia, and the rough goat is the king of Grecia with its great horn being the first king. When that kingdom breaks, four kingdoms rise but without its power, and in their latter time a fierce king of dark sentences will stand, destroying the mighty and holy people through craft and peace, but shall be broken without hand. The vision pertains to the time of the end.