True Sayings Series
The Little Horn    Part 3 of 4
By C. Eldon McNabb

As I continue this series, I take us to the eighth chapter of Daniel. Although the chapter number has changed, the subject has not. The elements introduced in chapter seven are described in greater detail in this vision of the two-horned ram and the he goat.

The Second Vision
This second vision, which is told in Daniel chapter 8, is a continuation of the revelation which was presented in chapter seven. It could be compared to an inset in a map, because it is an enlargement of the view of The Little Horn, and holds the key to the source from which it comes.

This vision is different from the first vision in that it contains a revelation which was to be fulfilled in two different periods of time. Verse 26 says, "The vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true." That is the reason it is not possible to get all of the facets of the vision to fit one scenario. It needs a little "rightly dividing."

"I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

"And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

"Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land." (Dan. 8:3-11)

It is relatively simple to relate the following passage to the world events which spanned the period of time from Daniel's prophecy to the ministry of Jesus Christ and the eventual martyrdom of His early followers. However, verse nineteen clearly shows that the primary intent of the vision was to reveal The Little Horn at this end of the age.

"There stood before me as the appearance of a man. And he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

"The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

"In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. ... And by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true." (Dan. 8:15-26)

When God gave this vision to Daniel, He knew that neither the "Medes and Persians" (Iran), nor the "Greeks," would be the major players in world politics near the time of "the last end of the indignation." Yet, something about those two nations is intended to give us the important clues as to which nations will actually fulfill this vision.