The climactic conclusion of the symbolic presentations in the book of Daniel
At the end of chapter 8, we are told, Daniel "didnotunderstand" (8:27)
In chapter 9, Daniel seeks further understanding (vs. 3), and the visiting angel admonishes him to "understand the vision," saying, "I have now come forth to give you skill to understand (9:22-25)
Chapter 10, which introduces the last vision in the book, begins with the statement that Daniel "understood the message and had understanding of the vision" (10:1)
With Daniel 7:28 the Aramaic section in the book of Daniel finishes, in chapter 8 the prophet resumes his writing in Hebrew
Chapters 8-12
A unit that revolves around the theme of the desolation and restoration of the sanctuary and the divine kingdom on earth that the sanctuary symbolized
There is a connection between 2, 7 and 8
2 - Religious, 7 - Politics, 8 - Sanctuary, 9 - Explanation of time factor
Chapter 7 adds the new power of the little horn and the heavenly trial, while chapters 8 and 9 add the beginning date of this Judgment, plus new details of the last three world empires and the new religious political power (the little horn) of the seventh chapter
Chapters 10 – 12 do not contain a vision of symbolic elements with their respective explanation but prophetic discourse of the angel to the prophet
Ram
Symbol of princely power of the king of Persia (Media-Persia 539 – 331 BC)
Male goat
Symbol of Greece (331 – 168 BC), its great leader was Alexander the great
The male goat attacked the ram
MEDE PERSIA fell down and GREECE arises, with 35,000 men, Alexander defeated the army of Darius which was so much greater
Four prominent Horns
1. Cassander: Greece and Macedonian, 2. Lysimachus – Minor Asia, 3. Seleucus – Syria and Mesopotamia, 4. Ptolemy – Egypt and Palestine
One horn
Appeared among the four kingdoms, various interpretations regarding its origin
Parallels between the little horns in Daniel 7 and 8
Both are little in the beginning
Both become great later on
Both are persecuting powers
Both are self-exalting and blasphemous
Both target God's people
Both have aspects of their activity delineated by prophetic time
Both extend until the time of the end
Both are supernaturally destroyed
Since in Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 the little horn comes next after Persia and Greece, it must be a symbol for Rome in both chapters
"Grew exceedingly great"
Rome ruled for a longer period than any before it, as a civil power for six hundred years, and including its religious form has extended to over two thousand years
"The host of heaven"
The little horn enters into conflict with the heavenly army
The little horn
He exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host
How the papacy took away the daily sacrifice and cast down the place of his sanctuary
1. By placing the intercession for men into the hands of the priests through the confessional and by sacrificing Christ anew in every mass, the papacy has removed Christ's heavenly ministry in the thinking of men
2. By substituting the priest's service for Christ's service in the heavenly sanctuary it has "cast down the place of his sanctuary" to the earth and thereby defiled it
For two thousand three hundred days - Gabriel will explain later on that this long period would be connected with the coming of the long-expected Messiah and would extend far beyond that time to the year A.D. 1844 (9:24-27)
What happens at the end of the 2300 years? The sanctuary's place, will be restored at the end of the 2300 evening-mornings
There is a strong connection to Pre advent investigative judgment