Daniel 8:5-12 - Truth was thrown to the ground

8:5-8

So the ram from the east seemed to be very powerful, but it was not all powerful! A goat from the west came that was even more powerful. It attacked the ram with great fury and broke the two horns.  The ram could do nothing to stand against the goat. So it was destroyed and nothing could be done to rescue it. This goat was all powerful for a time, but it too was defeated, and this at the height of its power to be replaced by four prominent horns. This goat is usually identified with Alexander the Great. What we have here is the changing fortunes of world powers. Kingdoms arise for a time, and may seem all powerful, but no human power is all powerful. When we look around the world today at powers, be they national, economic, or social, they are all just temporary. All of them will fall.

8:9-12

Yet another horn came out of one of the four horns. It started small, but grew in power “to the south and to the east and towards the beautiful land”. The Beautiful Land is the land of Israel. This king sought to claim equality with God. Man has forever claimed equality with God. It is always a sham, and it never ends well. This king claimed to be as great as the “commander of the army of the Lord”.  It even took away the daily sacrifice in the temple, and the temple was destroyed. The Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. This happened because of the rebellion of God’s people. The horn prospered and truth did not. Evil kingdoms prosper when God’s people do not trust in the Lord.