August 3: CONSIDERING PROPHETIC THEMES
“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.” Daniel 8:3
The mention of the river in verses 2 and 3 will catch the attention of any prophecy student who is aware of the prophetic symbolism of water as multitudes of peoples (see Daniel 7:2-3; Revelation 9:14; 13:1; 16:12; 17:15). As we will learn, the prophecies of Daniel affect many nations all the way through to the second coming of Christ.
The ram which had two high horns is the third symbolic representation of Media and Persia in Daniel’s book, the first being the chest and arms of silver (Daniel 2:32) and the second being the bear, raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth (7:5). At the time of Babylon’s fall, the Medes were the stronger of the two allies. Over time, however, Cyrus led the Persians to the top, represented by the higher [horn which] came up last. After this shift, the Medes were never treated as inferiors or a subjugated people. They remained united and under Cyrus were treated as equals.
“I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.” 8:4
The three conquering directions that the Medo-Persian ram pushed indicate that from their eastern location, their general westward push also swung northward and southward with such force that no animal [meaning nation] could withstand him (him being the bear…with three ribs in its mouth in Daniel’s first vision). So successful were these conquests under the providence of God, that the Medo-Persian empire, during the reign of Ahasuerus, still extended beyond any boundaries of the then-known world: one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). The Medo-Persian empire lasted from 539BC to 331BC.
“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.” Daniel 8:5
Daniel’s sincere consideration of the things that God had to show him is a precious example to everyone who claims to love the truth. Real regard for spiritual matters exists among very few today, having been crowded out by pursuits of business or pleasure. Beloved, are you willing to seriously consider the important themes that the Lord seeks to bring to your attention? The suddenness of the next conqueror brings to mind the suddenness of our Lord’s return. When He comes, He will go across…the whole earth, [also] without touching the ground… to gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:31).
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air… 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (see also John 14:1-3)