Daniel 8 Study Notes

8:26 Gabriel instructed Daniel to seal up the vision not for the purpose of hiding its meaning from faithful readers of Scripture but rather to secure the document for safekeeping into the distant future, meaning the time of Antiochus (some four hundred years after the vision was given) and the time of the antichrist which is yet future and is typified by Antiochus.

8:27 Daniel did not understand the timing of the events, their full implications, or the identity of the evil king who would oppress the Jews.

Antiochus IV as a Type of the Antichrist

•symbolized by horns that were “little” or small at the beginning (8:9); like antichrist (7:8).

•was “a ruthless king” (8:23); antichrist will have an imposing look (7:20).

•was a master of “intrigue” (8:23); the brilliance of antichrist is suggested by the “eyes” of the horn (7:8,20).

•had great power (8:24); antichrist will have even greater power (11:39; 2Th 2:9; Rv 13:7-8).

•was energized by Satan (8:24), just as antichrist will be empowered by Satan (2Th 2:9; Rv 13:2).

•destroyed thousands (8:25); antichrist will destroy more (Rv 13:15; 16:13-16).

•prospered for a short time (8:25); likewise with antichrist (11:36; Rv 13:7).

•persecuted the Jews (8:24), as will antichrist (7:21,25; Rv 12:13).

•was a deceiver (8:25); antichrist will be a master deceiver (2Th 2:9; Rv 13:4,14; 19:11).

•was proud (8:25); antichrist will be a megalomaniac (7:8,11,20,25; Rv 13:5).

•blasphemed God (8:25); as will antichrist (7:25; 11:36).

•was not killed by human hands (8:25); the antichrist will not be either (2Th 2:8; Rv 19:19-20).