Daniel 8

The Explanation

Daniel was standing by a river called Ulai, in a city far from home. Suddenly he saw something strange. A ram stood before the river. It had two horns, and one horn was higher than the other. This ram pushed west, and north, and south. Nothing could stop him. No animal could stand in his way. He did whatever he wanted, and he grew proud.

Then, while Daniel was still watching, a goat came running from the west. This goat moved so fast his feet did not even touch the ground. He had one big horn between his eyes. He ran at the ram, full of anger, and smashed both of the ram's horns. The ram fell down, and the goat trampled him into the dust. Nobody could save him.

The goat grew very great, but then his one horn broke, and four horns grew up instead. Out of one of those horns came a small horn. This little horn grew and grew, until it reached toward the army of heaven itself. It threw stars down to the ground and trampled them. It even stopped the daily offering that was given to God, and knocked down his holy place. Truth was thrown to the ground.

Daniel heard two holy ones speaking to each other. One asked, "How long will this last?" The answer came, "Two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be made clean again."

Daniel wanted to understand this vision. Suddenly someone who looked like a man stood in front of him. Then Daniel heard a voice calling out, "Gabriel, help this man understand." Gabriel came near, and Daniel was so afraid that he fell flat on his face. "Understand, son of man," Gabriel said, "for this vision is about the time of the end."

What Does This Mean?

Gabriel explained the pictures. The ram with two horns was two kingdoms, Media and Persia, joined together. The goat was Greece, running fast and strong. But even the strongest kingdoms do not stay on top forever. Their horns get broken. That little horn was a king still to come, a fierce king who would lie, destroy, and even fight against God. But Gabriel said something important: this proud king would be broken, and not by any human hand. God himself would stop him, in his own time and way.

The Common Thread

This whole vision is really one long promise. Kings rise up, some good, many cruel, and they seem unstoppable, like that ram nobody could push back. But every single one of them falls. Only God's kingdom never breaks. Long after Daniel, another king came who was not proud like the little horn, but humble like a lamb. Jesus did not trample truth into the ground. He said, "I am the truth." He was struck down on a cross, but he was raised up again, not by human hands either. God's plans always win in the end, even when Daniel could not fully understand them yet.

For You

Sometimes you might see people who are mean or proud, and it feels like they always get their way. Daniel felt afraid too, and even fainted after this vision. But you do not have to be afraid of people who seem powerful. Ask God to help you trust him, even when you do not understand everything, just like Daniel did not understand everything either.

Talk About It

Why do you think Daniel was so afraid when he saw Gabriel?

Have you ever seen someone act proud like the ram or the goat in this story? What happened?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank you that you are stronger than every proud king and every mean person. When I feel afraid, help me remember that you are always in control. Thank you for Jesus, who never breaks his promises. Amen.