Daniel 8:13-17 - Tell this man the meaning of the vision

8:13,14

At one level the allowing of the triumph of evil and the desecration of the temple seems to go right against God’s plan and purposes. One of the “holy ones”  asked “how long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled?” We need to remember that the apparent triumph of evil over God’s people is not the end of the vision. The answer given was “2300 evenings and mornings”, i.e 1150 days. “Then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated”. The triumph of evil is only temporary.

8:15-17

Daniel was watching the vision, and before him stood “one who looked like a man”. We then get mention of Gabriel. Daniel is the only book in the Old Testament where angels have names. As occurred on many other occasions, Daniel was terrified by the vision of an angel, and he fell down prostrate. He was told that the vision concerned the time of the end. End here does not necessarily mean just the end of all things, it could also refer to the end of the things talked about in the current vision, the end of the rebellion by God’s people. The most important thing that can happen is that God’s people end their rebellion against God!