This first thing that we should see is that the vision concerns the end times, and was not fulfilled in historical times. Many contend that Daniel's prophecies were fulfilled before the time of Christ, this is not what the Bible says.
Daniel 8:19
He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. (NIV)
We are told very clearly, and directly, that the vision concerns the time of the end, in the time of wrath. It doesn't matter at all that many of the things were done in historical times. The only thing that matters is what the Bible says. There are many partial fulfillments of the Bible prophecies, but a passage is not fulfilled until it is completely fulfilled.
Daniel 8:26
"The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future." (NIV)
Again we see that the vision concerns the distant future.
That which the little horn does in Daniel eight is the same as what is recorded in Daniel 9:27, and Jesus pointed out to us that that will be fulfilled in his future.
Matthew 24:15
"So when you see standing in the holy place "the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel -- let the reader understand -- ... (NIV)
These events could not have been fulfilled during the Maccabean times. They all relate to the coming time of God's wrath. As we saw earlier the coming of Jesus in the prophecy of the statue in Daniel chapter two is the Second Coming.
Daniel 8:9-12
Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. 12 Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. (NIV)
The reference to the starry host being thrown down is a reference to Satan and his angels being cast out of heaven down to the earth, as recorded in Revelation 12:9. It says here that the little horn sets himself up to be as great as the Prince of the host, that is, Jesus Christ. Now, notice that I does not stay that he is as great as the Prince of the host, but that he sets himself up to be. This is what Paul was saying in this next passage.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (NIV)
If Daniel chapter eight was fulfilled in 200 or so BC then why is Paul looking forward in time for the event? He is looking forward in time, because it was not fulfilled in Paul's past, but will be fulfilled at the time of the end.
Notice in Daniel 8:12 that it says that because of rebellion the host of the saints are given over to the beast. This is the rebellion that Paul said must also take place before the coming of the Lord in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 above. The rebellion is the act of the many in Israel signing a seven-year treaty for their protection with the man from Europe, that is, the Antichrist. This would be the people of present day Israel aligning themselves with the leader of united Europe; a man that claims that Jesus is not the Christ. This treaty is the final straw. With its signing God views Israel's rebellion reason enough to hand them over to the beast.
Revelation 13:5-7
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. (NIV)
The beast here in Revelation is the small horn of Daniel chapter eight.
Daniel 7:8, 11
8 "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
11 "Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (NIV)
This from chapter seven is talking about the same guy, the beast.
Revelation 19:19-20
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (NIV)
This is the same event, but found in Revelation.
Something important and significant to see is that the beast comes from the Greek kingdom and not the fourth kingdom, the Roman Empire.
Daniel 8:8-9
The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. ... (NIV)
The goat represents the kingdom of Greece, (we are told in verse 21). At Alexander's death the kingdom of Greece split into four mini-kingdoms. We are told, very clearly, that it is out of one of those four mini-kingdoms that the Beast comes.
This fact has led many to believe that Daniel chapter eight was fulfilled before the time of the First Advent of Christ, but we must remember that we are told that the prophecy concerns the time of the end and that God can do anything. We will be examining just how the seemingly impossible contradiction is resolved in the next study, titled "The Man from Hell."
