THE RAM AND THE GOAT In the last year of the reign of Belshazzar, when the Babylonian kingdom was about to end, God showed Daniel a new vision about the destruction of the old kingdom, so that he may not be astonished when he sees the destruction of Babylon. Many thought that Belshazzar will mock Cyrus and Darius, and that their attack upon Babylon does not deserve the concern of Belshazzar. But God revealed, more than once, to Daniel the destruction of Babylon then Persia. Daniel enjoyed seeing a new vision, which confirmed the first vision and which explained it in more detail, by revealing the extremely evil role which Antiochus Epiphanes played in the Old Testament, and the Antichrist at the end of days. This vision had weakened Daniel and made him perplexed, but St. Hippolytus of Rome said that it serves the purpose of the edification of the believers1. 1. Introduction to the vision 1-2 2. The vision of the ram 3-4 3. The vision of the goat 5-8 4. The small horn 9-14 5. The explanation of the vision v.15-27 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE VISION This vision was fulfilled just before the fall of Babylon, for Daniel saw himself in Shushan, the capital of Elam, west of Persia, east of Babylon and south of Medes. “In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, to me, Daniel, after the one that appeared to me the first time” (1). Daniel was granted to see what is happening in the future, to be far sighted and see things that no one else beside him can see, and which some might even think of as impossible. This gift is granted to the faithful soul, which is thrown in God’s bosom, so He lifts her with the wings of a dove to see what is beyond the times. This vision was seen two years after the first one, i.e., shortly before the fall of Babylon (Dan. 5), thus ignoring the vision of the Babylonian Empire and revealing the kingdoms of Medes and Persians (the ram), which the Macedonian kingdom (the goat) attacked. “I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai” (2). The city of Shushan, or Susa, is described as a fortress and was the capital of Persia. Like Babylon, it became the capital of the Persian Empire. It was located 250 miles east of Babylon, therefore one capital was used in the winter and the other one in the summer then it became the capital of Cyrus. Daniel was in the palace in Babylon, but because he saw himself in the vision by the River Ulai, some people then thought that Daniel was in the city of Shushan. But this is unacceptable, because it is impossible for Daniel the captive to leave Babylon and go to Shushan in Persia. However, that is how he saw himself in the vision. Perhaps God had permitted it so that Daniel may know that as he served God’s people during the Babylonian reign, he will serve them again during the Persian reign. Most probably the palace in Shushan was not built yet, for the Persian 1 AN Frs., vol. 5, p. 179. 168 Empire had not flourished yet. 2. THE VISION OF THE RAM In the previous vision Daniel saw four animals, but here he saw two animals, the first is a ram with two horns. Babylon was about to collapse before Medes and Persia; Daniel saw a ram standing by the river. The ram had two horns; one was higher than the other. St. Hippolytus of Rome said: [This ram which attacks west, north, and south, make reference to King Darius, the king of the Persians who conquered all the Gentiles, for it is written that no animal stood before him1.] “Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great” (3-4). Since Daniel felt that he was called to see divine visions, he lifted his eyes. The vision indicated the appearance of the kingdoms of the Persians, the Medes and the Greeks. In essence, the vision touches the eternity of the believers and their enjoyment of what is above. We cannot ignore the history and the time; however God lifts up our eyes to see His hidden plan, which works beyond history. In great accuracy, the ram with two horns likened the kingdom of Persia, with one horn higher than the other, because Persia became greater than Medes. Cyrus the Persian married his cousin, Cyaxares. Darius had a weak personality compared to Cyrus the Persian who surpassed his father-in-law. However, he kept him as a partner in the rule, thus the prophecy was literally fulfilled. The two horns here match the two sides of the bear in the previous revelation where it was raised up on one side (7: 5), and match the shoulders of the great metal statue (Colossus) in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that was mentioned in the second chapter. The pushing of the ram symbolizes the fast victories of the Persians. Cyrus was likened to the ram and the other kings, who were likened to the animals, were not able to withstand him. Marcellinus said that the king of Persia used to wear on his head the head of a ram instead of a crown2. 3. THE VISION OF THE GOAT “And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power” (5-6). The ram, with power and authority, appeared in the vision pushing every animal that he met, and then an enemy appeared, which was the goat, with a notable horn between his eyes. The prophet saw the goat coming from the west, making reference to Greece, which is located west of Persia. The goat was very swift to the point that his legs did not touch the ground (5). He and his army were like a bird flying in the air. The 1 Cf. AN Frs., vol. 5, p. 179. . 2 القس عبد المسیح بسیط، ص 116 169 kingdom of Persia was compared to the ram while the Greek Empire was compared to the goat; for the goat is swifter than the ram, and thus was Alexander the Great, faster in his movements. The ram was conquered, his two horns were broken and he fell on the ground; he had no power to withstand the goat (7). “And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him; attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand” (7). This was a true vision for it was fulfilled 200 years later. Here God revealed to his prophet the victory of Alexander the Great who dominated the whole East. He went through many battles especially against Persia which had dominated many countries and which was compared to the ram that pushed in all directions. The goat reached the ram, something no one had expected to happen, for the great cities were fortified, and especially that a big distance separated Persia and Greece. However, Alexander the Great conquered Persia very fast; he conquered Darius in two battles and during the second battle killed Darius. Some historians said that Alexander the Great was called the son of the god Jupiter, Amon, who was symbolized by a goat. Many historical pictures were discovered showing a goat with a unicorn as a symbol of the old Greek armies. “Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven” (8). St. Hippolytus of Rome said: [What the male goat means was Alexander the Macedonian coming from Greece. Alexander went to war against Darius and conquered him as well as all his army and became the ruler over all kingdoms. After the goat was glorified, his horn got broken and four horns appeared instead. This was a reference to Alexander the Great who became ruler over all Persia, but after his death, his kingdom was divided among four rulers1.] The goat became very great, but when his large horn got broken, four notable ones replacing it came up toward the four winds of heaven (8). When Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was divided into four: Macedonia, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt. The historians are in discord about the cause of his death. Some say that he died because of illness; others say that he died because he was poisoned. Before his death, he was asked who does he wish to succeed him. In his pride, he couldn’t find anyone that deserves that position. He had two sons, one from Roxana the daughter of Darius, and the other son was called Aridaeus, but he thought neither one could succeed him, as if he was indispensable. When he became unable to talk, he took off his royal ring and gave it to Perdiccas. After his death, there were many attacked and fifteen of the generals were killed. Cassander, the son of Antipater, became king over Macedonia, after killing Olympus the mother of Alexander, his sister, his son, his wife Roxana and many relatives. The leaders lost trust in one another, and each one was afraid of the other, and the spirit of treason prevailed between them. Then fifteen years after the death of Alexander the Great, the kingdom was divided into four divisions: 1 Cf. AN Frs., vol. 5, p. 180. 170 a. Macedonia, where Cassander, the son of Antipater, ruled. Some parts of Thrace with some cities of Greece joined it. b. Syria, Babylon and all the kingdoms of the East, where Seleucus Nicanor ruled. c. Asia Minor, where Antigonus ruled. Phrygia and Paphlagonia and all the Asian regions joined when five or six generals were killed. d. Egypt, where Ptolemy the son of Lagos ruled. These were the four notable horns, which prevailed in the East, West, North, and South. 4. The Small Horn “And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, ‘How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under-foot?’ And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” (9-14). Who is this small horn of the Old Testament, other than Antiochus Epiphanes, who is a symbol of the Antichrist in the end of the days. He was called the small horn, not because he was compared to the rest of the kings of his era, but because no one expected him to reign after his father. But he ruled because of his craftiness. Epiphanes ruled over Syria (the kingdom of the North for the Greek Empire), in the year 175 B.C. Daniel talked about this in more details in chapter 11:21-35. Antiochus Epiphanes was called the most defiled person in the Old Testament who persecuted the Jews. After the death of his brother, he met the people and pretended to be very gentle until they appointed him king then he deceived them. He killed a pig and sprinkled his blood on the altar and on the holy vessels and prohibited offering the daily sacrifices, lest they be killed. As Antiochus Epiphanes conquered Egypt, he went to Jerusalem and entered the temple. He took all the vessels, the golden lampstand, the sanctuary and the table, and ordered the biggest slaughter on earth, as it was written, the sanctuary was trampled underfoot for 1300 days. The holy temple became desolate for three and a half years, thus fulfilling the 1300 days. When Judas Maccabaeus appeared after the death of his father Matthias, he conquered Antiochus, saved the city, sanctified the holy places and restored the Law1.It was descript in book of Maccabeus St. Hippolytus of Rome Antiochus Epiphanes went toward the south that is toward Egypt. He wanted to occupy Egypt, but the Senate sent him Pompilius asking him to leave Egypt. Due to his craftiness, he asked the prophet to give him some time until he leaves Egypt, however, the prophet told him, “You have to give me an answer, and do not deceive me by saying that you are asking for a counsel.” Antiochus Epiphanes had to leave Egypt; however, he 1 Cf. AN Frs., vol. 5., p. 180. 171 entered into war against Ptolemy Philopatir, the king of Egypt. He headed toward the east then after, for his kingdom extended until Ptolemais, and in Persia he fought those who rebelled against him. Then moved toward the glorious land, that is the Promised Land “Canaan.” As it was written in the book of Jeremiah, “…And give you a pleasant land, a beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations?” (Jer 3: 19). “You have given them this land, of which You swore to their fathers to give them - a land flowing with milk and honey” (Jer 32: 22). It was also called the glorious land because the glorious temple of the Lord was in Judah. Antiochus fought the Jews and defiled their temple. Antiochus, or Antichrist, bragged over all the hosts, and he cast down some of the hosts and some of the stars to the ground (10), thus God revealed to his prophet Daniel that His Church is heaven and that the believers are the host of Christ and His stars. Antiochus attacked the church of the Old Testament and killed many; likewise the Antichrist will exert all his efforts to attack the stars of the New Testament. The Lord Jesus Christ said about His Second Coming, “Whether the Son of Man will find faith on earth?” and that the Antichrist will even deceive the chosen ones. The matter does not stop at the stars of heaven and its host but the Antichrist tries to brag over the Prince of the hosts, i.e. the high priest, whom Antiochus had persecuted. St. Jerome said that the chief host means God Himself1, the Lord of hosts. Antiochus had defiled the entire temple and prohibited offering the permanent offering “endelekhismos,” thus abolishing the temple of God. St. Jerome said that Antiochus had done that, not because of his bravery but because of the sins of the people2. This symbolizes what the Antichrist will do, making himself a god. Moreover, he did not only oppose the worship of God but he defiled the divine teachings, for he said that he cast truth down to the ground (12). Thus, the vision correlated the worship and the correct teachings, for the devil can cast truth down to the ground but he cannot cast it from heaven. Hence, anyone living in heaven carries the truth in him beside the spiritual worship. Since Daniel’s heart was raised up to heaven, he saw an angel asking another angel. Some people think that he was asking the Word of God: “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation?” (13). the angels do not know all the mysteries (Eph. 3:10), but due to their love of the human race and their longing to the perfect glory, they ask about things which pertain to the Church lest the tribulation may prolong and the believers may lose their faith and their crowns. The scholars differed about the small horn. a. Some people think that Antiochus Epiphanes is the small horn mentioned in chapter 7. b. Others say that the small horn mentioned in chapter 7 refers to the Antichrist, while the small horn mentioned in this chapter (8). refers to Antiochus Epiphanes, who was the Antichrist of the Old Testament. c. Another opinion mediates between the two previous opinions by saying that the small horn in chapter 8 refers to Antiochus who in turn refers to the Antichrist. In chapter 7, Daniel refers to the Antichrist in a direct way, but in chapter 8 he refers to him in an indirect way. 1 PL 25:674. 2 PL 25:674. 172 Regarding the period of cleansing the sanctuary, which is 2300 days, St. Jerome says that this equivalent of 6 years and 3 months, which is the period since Antiochus attacked the worship until Judas Maccabaeus conquered him1. However, St. Hippolytus of Rome thinks that 2300 include mornings and evenings, which means 1150 days (2300 divided by 2); when morning and evening daily sacrifices were prohibited during the persecution. This is equal to three and a half years, where Judas Maccabaeus cleansed the temple after Antiochus had defiled it. Many interpreters think that 2300 mornings and evenings confirm that they were true days, which correspond to 6 years, 4 months, and 20 days. It should be noted that a year in the Holy Bible is equal to 360 days, a month is equal to 30 days. This is the period, which started on August 5, 71 B.C., that is, since the desolation, where there were conspiracies with Jason the chief priest, and the king promised to pay him 260 silver coins. The chief priest permitted him to build a store to teach the Jewish youths the pagan customs and call them the Antiochians. Thus the priests despised the temple of God and the sacrifices, and were occupied with the Greek sports. It was written in the book of Maccabees: “In those days lawless men came forth from Israel and misled many saying, ‘Let us and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us. This proposal pleased them, and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, and removed the marks of circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil” (1 Mac 1: 11-15). According to Daniel’s prophecy, since the restoration of the temple and the purification of the sanctuary on December 25, 165, this period is 2300 days. This constitutes the period where all the catastrophes had befallen the temple during the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, since the desolation until the end of the period of annulling the permanent offering, when Maccabaeus saved the Jews from Antiochus. The grievous events, which had befallen Jerusalem during that time, were as follows: a. Jason’s appointment to chief priest, and his participation with Antiochus in pagan defilement. b. Antiochus attacks Jerusalem, enters the temple and plunders all the vessels offering a pig on the altar. (1 Mac 1: 20-28). c. Two years later when the news of his false death was announced, the Jews rejoiced. Apolonis, one of his commanders, was sent to burn the city, destroy its walls and build a citadel on a mountain overlooking the temple. (1 Mac 2: 29; 2 Mac 5: 11-14). d. The official date of prohibiting offering sacrifices in the temple (1 Mac 44: 51) was during the month of June in the year 197 B.C. As for what had happened to the Jews under Antiochus Epiphanes, we differentiate between two major periods: A. The period of 2300 days started by the reign of Jason the high priest and ended by the victory of Judas Maccabaeus. B. The period of 1290 days, that is approximately three and a half years, started by the abolish of the permanent sacrifice, the erection of the statue of Jupiter in the 1 PL 25:675C. 173 temple and the defile of the vessels after Antiochus had overtaken Jerusalem by his commander Apolonis1. 5. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION “Then, it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, ‘Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” (15-16). Daniel wanted to understand the vision in a clearer way, for he knew little. That is why for his benefit and for the benefit of the church, he desired a clearer interpretation. He saw one having the appearance of a man. Most probably this was the Word of God before the incarnation, which had the authority to command Gabriel the archangel to interpret the vision (16). When God, who knows the inner heart, sees the yearning of someone toward the truth, He reveals it to him and asks His heavenly ministers to reveal to him some of the hidden mysteries. “So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, ‘Understand, son of man, the vision refers to the time of the end. Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. And he said, ‘Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be” (17-19). St. Jerome said about the angel calling Daniel “son of man”: [Since Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah were always in the company of angels, God wanted to remind them of their weaknesses lest they fall in pride. He did not want them to think that they partake of the angelic nature or dignity that is why they were called sons of men2.] Daniel fell in fear as soon as the archangel approached him. Daniel might have felt the seriousness of the vision and God’s firm intention to reveal its mysteries to him. He recorded this for us so that we may not belittle the vision or its interpretation. We have to set our minds and our lives to understand this vision, through the spirit of diligence and seriousness. The angel made it clear that this vision is for the time of the end (17), which means that it pertains to the future. He probably meant that it would be fulfilled during the days of Antiochus, especially before the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He emphasized that the vision will be definitely fulfilled, but in due time. The archangel woke him up from his deep slumber and assured him that the small horn will be destroyed. It was said that when Antiochus died the worms ate his body, like Herod Agrippa the First (Acts 12). Likewise, the Antichrist and his kingdom will be destroyed. “The ram which you saw, having the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper 1 المتنیح القس منسى یوحنا: كتاب حل مشاكل الكتاب المقدس 1982 ، ص 112 الخ. 2 PL 25:677F. 174 and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning, he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means” (20-25). He called Antiochus a king with fierce features because he was a very severe and strict type of person. He also said that he understands sinister schemes, which means that he was extremely cunning. Daniel prophesied that Antiochus will destroy many in their prosperity (25). This prophecy was fulfilled when Antiochus sent his commander with 22,000 men to Jerusalem under cover of a mission of peace. The soldiers used to treat people very gently, they also used to go in and out until the Jews got used to that. On a Sabbath while the Jews were worshiping in the temple, a command was issued to slaughter them all. Thousands were killed on that day; thus he destroyed many in their prosperity1. Daniel also prophesied that he will rise against the Prince of princes and shall be broken without human hand (25). This, again, was fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes attacked God Himself, the King of kings, in his temple. His attack on the temple lasted for 6 years (2300 days). Then the Maccabees attacked him and threw out his army, at that time the temple was cleansed and victory was proclaimed. Under the leadership of the Maccabees, the statue of Jupiter Olympias was removed from the temple. The anger of Antiochus aroused and he decided to eradicate the entire Jewish race, at that time he felt severe pain in his bowels and died instantly. Hence, the divine providence caused his death without any human means2. “And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future. And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it” (26, 27). The vision of the evenings and mornings, which was told, is true (26), means that the vision had two sides: the gloomy side which refers to the great tribulation and the joyful side which refers to the triumph of God’s people. Daniel could not bear the vision therefore he became sick and unable to leave his bed. He was scared about what will befall the church whether during the times of Antiochus or the times of the Antichrist. As St. Jerome3 said He went to perform the works of the king, thus rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Lk. 20: 25). However, Daniel could not comprehend all the mysteries of the vision and therefore was astonished by the vision. 1 Boyd’s Bible Handbook, p. 309. 2 Boyd’s Bible Handbook, p. 309. 3 PL 25:677F. 175 THE FOUR EMPERORS IN DANIEL Daniel 2 Daniel 7 Daniel 8 Empire Date The golden Head A winged lion Babylon 626 B.C. Chest and arms of silver A bear Medes and Persians 539 B.C. Belly and thighs of bronze A leopard Ram Greek (Ptolomies, Seleucusians) Maccabees 330 B.C. 167 B.C. Legs of iron Goat Roman 63 B.C. Feet of iron and clay Fall of Jerusalem 70 A.D 176 FROM THE INSPIRATION OF DANIEL (8) I BECAME PERPLEXED AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND Gabriel the archangel accompanied your prophet Daniel, And showed him some interpretation of your mysteries. Daniel cried because his body became very weak, And was astonished by the vision because he did not understand it. May You reveal to me the mysteries of Your love, So that I may see the history under Your control, And see my life the subject of Your concern! Let Your angels accompany me, But remind me of my weaknesses lest I become self-conceited. May I remember that I am a weak human being, but with You I become strong and understanding! May the mighty kingdoms succeed one another, And the Antichrist appears. But You alone are the fortress of the church and her power! You will never allow the Antichrist to reign except for a limited time! His kingdom will end and Your saints will reign forever in heaven!
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