Daniel 8:2-27

2I 1looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel of 2Susa, which is in the province of 3Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai 4Canal. 3Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a 5ram which had two horns was standing in front of the 6canal. Now the two horns were 7long, but one was 8longer than the other, with the 9longer one coming up last. 4I saw the ram 10butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his 11power, but 12he did as he pleased and magnified himself.

5While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the 13goat had a 14conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the 15canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his 16power. 8Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as 17he was mighty, the 18large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the 19four winds of heaven.

9Out of one of them came forth a rather 20small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the 2122Beautiful Land. 10It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the 23stars to fall to the earth, and it 24trampled them down. 11It even 25magnified itself 26to be equal with the 27Commander of the host; and it removed the 28regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. 12And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will 29fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper. 13Then I heard a 30holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “31How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, 32while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host 33to be 34trampled?” 14He said to me, “For 352,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be 36properly restored.”

15When 37I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought 38to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one 39who looked like a 40man. 16And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “41Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.” 17So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and 42fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the 43time of the end.”

18Now while he was talking with me, I 44sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he 45touched me and made me stand 46upright. 19He said, “Behold, I am going to 47let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end. 20The 48ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21The shaggy 49goat represents the 50kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22The 51broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.23In the latter period of their 52rule, When the transgressors have 53run their course, A king will arise, 54Insolent and skilled in 55intrigue.24His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, And he will 5657destroy to an extraordinary degree And prosper and perform his will; He will 58destroy mighty men and 59the holy people.25And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his 60influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, And he will 61destroy many while they are 62at ease. He will even 6364oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken 65without 66human agency.26The vision of the evenings and mornings Which has been told is 67true; But 68keep the vision secret, For it pertains to many 69days in the future.”

27Then I, Daniel, was 7071exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and 72carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to 73explain it.