Daniel 8:1-14

The Ram and the Goat

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1In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one that had appeared to me earlier.

2And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.

3Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a ram with two horns standing beside the canal. The horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up later.

4I saw the ram charging toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no deliverance from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

5As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground.

6He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power.

7I saw him approach the ram in a rage against him, and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him, and the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and no one could deliver the ram from his power.

8Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.

9From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land.

10It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth and trampled them.

11It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary.

12And in the rebellion, the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did.

13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?”

14He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

In the third year of Belshazzar, Daniel has another vision. He sees himself in the citadel of Susa beside the Ulai Canal. A ram stands there with two long horns; the longer horn grew up later. It charges west, north, and south, and no animal can withstand it.

A goat comes from the west, crossing the earth without touching the ground. It has a prominent horn between its eyes. It attacks the ram furiously, breaks both horns, and tramples it. No one can rescue the ram. Yet at the height of the goat’s power, its great horn breaks, and four horns grow in its place.

From one of them a little horn emerges, growing toward the south, east, and Beautiful Land. It casts down some of the heavenly host and stars and tramples them. It exalts itself against the Prince of the host, removes His daily sacrifice, and overthrows His sanctuary. Truth is thrown to the ground while the horn prospers.

Daniel hears a holy one ask how long this desolation and trampling will last. The answer is 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored. The vision shows grievous harm to worship, but it also gives that devastation an end.

Questions

1 What does the ram do?

AnswerThe ram pushes in three directions and appears unstoppable. Its two horns represent power that expands successfully until another kingdom confronts it.

2 How does the goat appear?

AnswerIt comes from the west without touching the ground and has a conspicuous horn. Its speed and singular leadership make its attack seem overwhelming.

3 What happens after the goat's great horn is broken?

AnswerFour horns grow in its place, and a little horn emerges from one of them. Power changes form rather than disappearing, and the new ruler attacks the holy place.

4 What answer is given to the question about how long the desolation will last?

AnswerThe answer is 2,300 evenings and mornings, after which the sanctuary will be properly restored. The vision includes restoration as well as the trampling of the holy place.

What This Means for Us

The attack in this vision reaches the sanctuary, the daily sacrifice, and truth itself. The question about how long it will last is answered with a promise that the sanctuary will be restored.

Remember people who cannot gather safely for worship or who face pressure to abandon their faith. Pray for them by name when you can. And receive your own opportunities to read Scripture, pray, and gather with believers as gifts worth protecting and using.

Prayer

God of the holy place, remember people whose worship and conscience are under attack. Give us patience in seasons of desolation, wisdom with difficult visions, and courage to protect what is true. Amen.

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