The Ram, the Goat, and the Little Horn

In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, Daniel received a vision that surpassed his earlier one in both clarity and terror. He saw himself in Shushan, the palace fortress in the province of Elam, standing by the Ulai Canal. There, lifting his eyes, he beheld a ram with two high horns, one higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. The ram pushed westward, northward, and southward, and no beast could stand before it; none could deliver from its hand, and it magnified itself according to its will.

As Daniel considered this, a he-goat appeared from the west, moving across the whole earth without touching the ground. Between its eyes was a notable horn. The goat charged the ram in fury, struck it, broke both its horns, and trampled it underfoot. No one could deliver the ram from the goat's power.

The goat magnified itself exceedingly, but at the height of its strength, the great horn was broken. In its place, four notable horns came up toward the four winds of heaven. From one of these, a little horn emerged, growing exceedingly great toward the south, the east, and the glorious land. It grew even to the host of heaven, casting down some of the host and stars to the ground and trampling them.

This little horn magnified itself even to the prince of the host, took away the continual burnt offering, and cast down the place of the sanctuary. The host was given over to it along with the continual burnt offering through transgression. It cast truth to the ground, did as it pleased, and prospered.

Then Daniel heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one asked, “How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt offering and the transgression that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot?” The answer came: “Unto two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”

When Daniel saw the vision, he sought to understand it. Suddenly, one with the appearance of a man stood before him, and a voice from between the banks of the Ulai called out, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” Gabriel approached, and Daniel, terrified, fell on his face. Gabriel said, “Understand, O son of man, for the vision belongs to the time of the end.” As Gabriel spoke, Daniel fell into a deep sleep with his face to the ground, but Gabriel touched him and set him upright.

Gabriel then explained: the ram with two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. The rough he-goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is the first king. When that horn is broken, four kingdoms will arise from that nation, but not with his power. In the latter time of their kingdom, when transgressors have reached their full measure, a king of fierce countenance, skilled in dark schemes, will arise. His power will be mighty, but not by his own power; he will destroy wonderfully, prosper, and do as he pleases, destroying the mighty and the holy people.

Through his policy, he will cause craft to prosper. He will magnify himself in his heart, destroy many in their security, and stand up against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken without human hand. The vision of the evenings and mornings is true, but Daniel is told to shut it up, for it belongs to many days to come.

After this, Daniel fainted and was sick for several days. When he recovered, he rose up and attended to the king's business. He wondered at the vision, but no one understood it.