Daniel 8:20 –
The two-horned ram represents the kings of Media and Persia.
Interestingly we try to apply this to today with the USSR being the two-horned ram and the USA being the goat, but it actually applies more to present time for Daniel. During this time Babylon was in a fall and Greece was rising. So the ram and the goat actually work
for that situation also. The previous verse does talk about this being “the very end of time,” so it makes the Babylon/Greek comparison difficult since cultures are still going.
Anytime we see “end times” prophecies we try to apply them to present. You know I often wonder if there will never be an end time, like Nineveh who was spared because they repented. Every time a nation or the world is on the brink of collapse, we as people repent and go back to God. Also, I have always said maybe these “end time” prophecies are for people to realize their salvation cannot be delayed because we never know when we may die.
I tend to believe this is talking about the end of Babylon and not the world. But again the problem with visions is they are so hard to interpret. I would love for Gabriel to help me with visions, but at the same time I would love to have visions. Many times we get caught up with reading people with the gift of prophecy and want it also. Our main purpose is to learn our gift and use it for God’s kingdom. And please note we are not all planters!! The biggest problem I see is someone with a great gift keeps it under a “bushel” saying they are planters when they are not!
Off on tangents again, but read this chapter with the thoughts of today and of the past. Realize visions are difficult to interpret even with Gabriel doing it in the vision. This is one of those chapters to enjoy and read more as a prediction of history that has already passed than our future. I wonder if this is God’s way of telling us to “live each day like it’s your last!” Hopefully that does not mean a huge lifelong part, but purpose for God!