Interpretation of Daniel 8  (U.S. in the End Time Prophecy)     When we read, study, or try to interpret  Biblical Prophecy we must always be aware of the fact that it is only man’s conclusion of the facts given in Scripture. We are not YHWH (God’s Hebrew name) nor do we have his wisdom, knowledge, or mind; therefor we can never conclusively say, ‘this is what will happen.’ All interpretations are man’s and are subject to human error. When you read this article, or any article on Biblical Prophecy please always keep this in mind. That said please be advised that this is what I believe YHWH was showing me concerning Daniel 8. My understanding of Daniel 8 came to me early in 2002. This interpretation was shared with those around me. In light of resent events I have decided to post it here.   Most people believe that the prophecy given in Daniel 8 was fulfilled by Alexander the Great. While I will admit a large portion of Alexander the Great’s history does appear to match Daniel’s prophecy, I believe it was only a type of fulfillment. What if Daniel 8 is a prophecy for today? Are we about to or are we currently seeing a portion of it coming to pass? If so, what part does America have in it?   In the beginning of Daniel’s vision he is transported to a particular location on the River Ulai. On a current world map that would be about where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers meet, which would bring us to the tiny nation of Kuwait. There Daniel sees a vision that “appalls” him, and  leaves him “ill” for days, (verse 8:27). Was it a vision of Alexander the Great and his conquest that so horrified Daniel?  No, the Angel Gabriel interprets this vision and tells Daniel three times that this vision is for the end times. “Understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.” (8:17) “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.” (8:19) The Scriptures clearly show that this is a prophecy for the last days. Alexander the Great did not live in the last days; however it is very possible that we do.   While Daniel is standing on the banks of the River Ulail (Kuwait), he sees a ram with two horns, the last horn coming up higher than the first. The ram is pushing toward the West, North, and South. It would seem that we have a ram that is continually fighting with it’s neighbors, with much success. But what does this ram represent? Gabriel tells Daniel that the ram represents the kings of Media and Persia. On today’s map Persia would be the area now occupied by Iran while  Media consist of Iraq and a portion of Syria. Let’s think about this in today’s terms. Daniel is standing in Kuwait and he sees a ram (Islam?) with two horns, (Iraq and Iran) bullying their neighbors. The biggest horn (threat) comes up second. It’s very possible that Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait could have been the beginning of Daniel’s vision. A beginning that started and stalled with George Bush Sr but is continuing with his son, George W. Bush.   The next thing Daniel sees is a one horned shaggy goat coming from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. He charges the ram in a great rage, shattering the two horns and trampling him to the ground. The angel Gabriel identifies this shaggy goat as the king of Greece in verse 21, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the literal nation of Greece. In 1 Cor. 1:22-23 Paul uses the word Greek to refer to a non-Jew or a gentile. But, interestingly, the actual word that was used wasn’t Greece but Yavan(Javon) Yavan is  Strong’s # 3120, and it means; ‘Javan, the name of a son of Joktan, and of the race descended from him.’ Yavon’s descendants were maritime people. While it is true that the Greeks were descended from him, they aren’t the only ones. Yavon’s descendants also settled Cyprus and Rhodes as well as many islands and the coasts of Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the Mediterranean. Since they were maritime people they didn’t stop there but settled many other lands. Yavon’s descendants carried their culture with them, thereby laying the foundation of our Western culture. The goat represents the reign of the industrialized Western World, mainly England and the USA.   Gabriel describes the goat as being shaggy or rough. The actual word is sair or sayir, Strong’s #8163, and it means goat, hairy, rough or devil. It is actually translated as devil or goat-demon in Leviticus 17:7. Interestingly, devil is the very word many middle-easterners have used to describe us and our Western culture. Next, he describes the goat as having a notable or prominent horn between its eyes. Gabrielle clarifies the meaning of the horn in verse 21; "The shaggy goat is the king of Greece and the large horn between his eyes is the first king." The goat represents the coalition of the West, with the horn representing the USA, the most prominent member in the coalition.   The goat crosses the whole earth, showing that he has traveled a considerable distance, without touching the ground. This would not have been humanly possible in Daniel’s day but with modern technology it is the norm to fly great distances.   This goat (Western World) travels by air to the River Ulai (Kuwait) to confront the aggressive ram(Islam?) with two big horns (Iraq/Iran). This is the scenario that was started during operation Desert Storm. Iraq invaded their neighboring Kuwait but were pushed back by the US led coalition. We stopped short, we did not invaded Iraq but rather waited until we were ‘in a great rage.’ "He (the goat) came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage." 8:6 The word for great rage is choler, #4843, and it means bitterness, grieved, and/or provoked. That one word, choler, describes perfectly the sentiment of 99% of Americans after 9/11. When the war with Iraq began we were grieving the loss of our fellow citizens. We were bitter at the cowardly way we had been attacked on our own soil. We were provoked into action. "I saw him attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him and none could rescue the ram from his power." 8:7 The goat (USA), in a state of choler attacks and breaks off the horns (Iraq and Iran). We have already attacked Iraq. I believe once we have defeated Iraq something will happen to turn our attention to Iran. We will then attack and defeat Iran.        “The goat became very great," 8:8   After the US breaks the horn of Iran she will be at the height of her power, politically, militarily, and economically. The US is currently the strongest military power on earth. After the demise of Iran she will probably be seen as unstoppable, but she isn’t. “but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off,” 8:8 I am sure the US will have her share of enemies, and in greater numbers than today. Whether one or several of these enemies attack or YHWH Himself strikes, something dreadful happens to the United States of America, her horn is broken off. She (we) will no longer be the greatest, most powerful, or richest nation on the earth. America as we know it will be broken in half, destroyed, and she will never again regain her former glory.   Once the horn that is American is destroyed four more grow up in her place. We will look in depth at the four replacement horns in Daniel 8, Part II, ‘The Rise of the Anti-Christ’. (Coming soon)   Daniel's Vision of a Ram and a Goat   8:1 In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me.   8:2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal.   8:3 I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later.   8:4 I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.   8:5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground.   8:6 He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage.   8:7 I saw him attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him, and none could rescue the ram from his power. 8: 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven. The Interpretation of the Vision 8:15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 8:16 And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision." 8:17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end." 8:18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.   8:19 He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.   8:20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.   8:21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.   8:27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.