DANIEL 8:1-7 (God’s Overview Of History Given Beforehand)

As a boy, Daniel saw first hand the rise of the Babylonian Empire, when it invaded Israel and took him and many fellow countrymen captive.

Now as an old man, He has seen the fall of Babylon to the Medo-Persian Empire, currently ruled by Belshazzer.

But the Lord has an overview of all the history of mankind, and knows that a third empire will overtake Medo-Persia under Alexander the Great, and chooses to shows this to Daniel in a vision.

Using the symbols of a Ram and a Goat, the national symbols of the two empires, the Lord shows Daniel the near future and the far future.

That of the near rise of Alexander the Great, the Greek Empire and its subsequent divison into four Empires and the rise of Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horn.

That of the far future rise of a person in the character of Antiochus Epiphanes, better known as the Antichrist.

While the meaning first escapes Daniel, the Lord sends the angel Gabriel to provide an interpretation for both Daniel and us.

While we can look back and see the fulfillment of the near prophecy of the rise of the Greek Empire, we yet look ahead knowing that the far prophecy of the little horn of the Antichrist is still to appear…now very near indeed!