God's Sovereignty and the Hope of Redemption

Daniel Series #8

Daniel 8:1-17

In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me at first. 2 In the vision, I saw myself in Susa, the capital, in the province of Elam, and I was by the Ulai Gate. 3 I looked up and saw a ram standing beside the gate. It had two horns. Both horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one came up second. 4 I saw the ram charging westward, northward, and southward. All beasts were powerless to withstand it, and no one could rescue from its power; it did as it pleased and became strong.

5 As I was watching, a male goat appeared from the west, coming across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground. The goat had a horn between its eyes. 6 It came toward the ram with the two horns that I had seen standing beside the gate,[f] and it ran at it with savage force. 7 I saw it approaching the ram. It was enraged against it and struck the ram, breaking its two horns. The ram did not have power to withstand it; it threw the ram down to the ground and trampled upon it, and there was no one who could rescue the ram from its power. 8 Then the male goat grew exceedingly great, but at the height of its power, the great horn was broken, and in its place, there came up four prominent horns toward the four winds of heaven.

9 Out of one of them came another[g] horn, a little one, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the beautiful land. 10 It grew as high as the host of heaven. It threw down to earth some of the host and some of the stars and trampled on them.11 Even against the prince of the host, it acted arrogantly; it took the regular burnt offering away from him and overthrew the place of his sanctuary. 12 Because of wickedness, the host was given over to it together with the regular burnt offering; it cast truth to the ground and kept prospering in what it did. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is this vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled?” 14 And he answered him, “For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”

When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. Then someone appeared standing before me, having the appearance of a man, 16 and I heard a human voice by the Ulai, calling, “Gabriel, help this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came, I became frightened and fell prostrate. But he said to me, “Understand, O mortal, that the vision is for the time of the end.”

Introduction:

Beloved, Daniel 8 presents yet another powerful vision of God’s sovereign hand at work throughout human history. We see empires rise and fall, evil powers oppress God’s people, and yet God remains in control. This message is as relevant today as it was in Daniel’s time. Amen!?

Daniel receives a vision during the third year of King Belshazzar. In the vision, he sees himself in Susa, where a ram with two horns rises in power, charging in all directions unopposed. Suddenly, a male goat from the west, with a single prominent horn, attacks and defeats the ram. The goat becomes powerful, but its large horn is broken and replaced by four others. From one of these four horns emerges a small horn that grows in power, challenges heavenly powers, ends regular offerings, desecrates the sanctuary, and casts truth to the ground. Daniel hears a holy one's question about the duration of these events and learns the period will last 2,300 evenings and mornings, after which the sanctuary will be restored. Like in chapter 7, Daniel could not understand what he saw. So, God instructs Gabriel to explain to Daniel what the vision means. Gabriel is the same angel that John tells us announces both John the Baptist and Jesus to their mothers.

1. God’s sovereignty over kingdoms

So, Gabriel explains what the ram, the goat, and the horns symbolize. We can also deduce from history what this vision means. Like all the dreams and visions in Daniel, the animals represent real history. The two-horned ram symbolizes the Medo-Persian Empire. The goat that followed with a great horn represents the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great, who defeated Cyrus the Great. The description of how fast the goat moves across the earth is indicative of Alexander’s prowess as a logistical military commander. The four smaller horns offset the great horn, representing the sudden death of Alexander the Great at age 32, when his four generals split his kingdom. (All this, and the imagery from the last chapter, would be very familiar to John when he writes Revelation 13) One must keep in mind the rest of Daniel as these visions unfold; kingdoms do not rise by chance, but under God's sovereign decree. Daniel knows this by instinct and through faith. Recall what he says in 2:21, “He [God] changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.” God is not a passive observer but the sovereign ruler over history. Isaiah 46:9-10 also reminds us that God declares, “9…I am God, and there is no one like me, 10 declaring the outcome from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention,’”. Therefore, even when the world seems chaotic, God's plan is unfolding perfectly.

2. The little horn: Opposition to God’s people.

The vision then shifts to a “little horn” arising from one of the four horns, speaking boastfully and opposing God’s people. Historically, Antiochus IV Epiphanes fits this description. As ruler of the section of the Greek empire that held Jerusalem, he persecuted the Jews and desecrated the temple.

History Lesson:

The Seleucid Empire, originally tolerant of Jewish customs in Judea, saw a dramatic policy reversal under Antiochus IV. A conflict over the High Priesthood and potential political unrest led Antiochus IV to intervene violently in Jerusalem, resulting in a massacre and the installation of his preferred High Priest, Menelaus. He then issued decrees outlawing Jewish religious practices, desecrated the Temple by introducing Greek religious rites and sacrificial practices, and established a military fortress (the Acra) to control Jerusalem.

These unprecedented attempts to suppress Judaism and enforce Hellenization, combined with brutal military actions, led to the Maccabean Revolt. Traditional accounts portray the uprising as a national resistance to foreign oppression; however, some modern scholars suggest it was also fueled by internal conflict between traditionalist and Hellenized Jewish factions. The crisis instigated by Antiochus IV catalyzed a significant revolt, ultimately reshaping Jewish society and establishing the Hasmonean dynasty. During the revolt in 1 and 2 Maccabees, the celebration of lights, or Hanukkah, comes from.

Yet this “little-horn” figure also points us forward in time to the ultimate Antichrist, described by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, “Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.” Not to mention the beast of Revelation 13.

Daniel is being shown a preview of what will happen in a few years, as well as what John will write about in his first two letters and the book of Revelation. None of this is shown to Daniel to scare him. No, it is shown to reassure him and as a moral lesson to God’s people. Daniel’s vision is a warning for believers to be vigilant, to stand firm in our faith, and to keep our eyes on his victorious King and coming Messiah, Christ.

3. God’s Judgement and Redemption.

Daniel is not shown the specific details of Antiochus IV or the Maccabean revolt; he is only given the big picture, but despite the little horn’s apparent success, Daniel is assured that its end is destruction. Daniel 8:25 says, "But he [the little horn] shall be broken—but not by human hand." Again, reflecting the assurance of God’s authority stated in chapter 2, a reassurance that God’s judgment is indisputable. Ultimately, Christ, the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14), will reign forever. Paul, who is also very familiar with the tales of Daniel, encourages us in Romans 8:28, saying, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.”

This vision, both familiar and confusing, teaches us that no matter how dark the times or powerful the opposition, God reigns supreme. There is Hope in God’s sovereign plan, resting in His control over history—a plan of redemption of God’s people and creation. Gabriel encourages Daniel to stand firm against the spiritual forces that oppose God; likewise, we are encouraged to stand against any force that opposes Christ and His teachings. Knowing the promise and the life-changing power of Christ, as well as the life-giving promise of God’s grace, we are called to live as faithful witnesses, confident that God's kingdom will prevail.

4. Call to Action

Daniel’s vision is a reminder for us to take time to examine our hearts: Are we placing our trust in God’s sovereign plan or allowing anxiety about the future to take hold? How would you react to a vision like this from God? How would you handle Gabriel explaining it to you? Daniel’s vision is a call for us to commitment to daily prayer and reading Scripture—especially passages that remind us of God’s supreme authority, such as Psalm 46 which says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” or Romans 8 which says, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

As I reflect on this passage, providence brings to my attention the news of a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia, with a tsunami sweeping the Pacific coasts of the United States and Hawaii, on this day, July 30, 2025. In moments like these, the truths of Psalm 46 become not just words but anchors for the soul: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” When we witness so many calamities—whether earthquakes, floods, heatwaves, violent storms, or even tragedies wrought by human hands—we are reminded that our sovereign God guides all of history according to His perfect will.

Therefore, let us hold steadfastly to the faith once delivered to the saints. Let us pray fervently for creation and one another, as well, trusting not in our own wisdom or strength but in the gracious providence of our King. Encourage the church and every believer to persevere, knowing that Christ reigns and His kingdom cannot be shaken. Above all, we rest in the blessed assurance that our Lord will return in glory to consummate the redemption He accomplished on the cross—a truth attested by the angel Gabriel to Daniel and fulfilled in the finished work of Christ. In this sovereign hope, we endure, comforted by the knowledge that God’s purposes will stand, and His people shall never be forsaken.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Bibliography

Daniel / auth. Creasy, Dr. Bill - [s.l.] : Logos Bible Study, 2011. - Second Edition. - Audible Lecture.

NRSVue // Holy Bible w/ With Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament.. - Washington, D.C. : Zondervan, 2021. - Vol. Updated Edition. - National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

The Harper Collins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version with the Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books // NRSV Bible/ed. Meeks Wayne A. [et al.]. - New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993.