Daniel Chapter 8 Vs. 23

The Interpretation of the Vision

Daniel 8:23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up."



This has jumped to an entirely different time element. Notice, it does not say in their later time, it says in the latter day of their kingdom. It is the kingdom’s latter day. This king is evil. He is using things of Satan to make him understand. Dark sentences have no light of God in them.

The 4 kingdoms arising not in Alexander's power represents the 4 generals of Alexander carving out 4 kingdoms of their own in their own rights (vs. 22; vs. 8; 11:4). Daniel predicted the old Grecian Empire would be divided into 4 parts or kingdoms (vs. 22), in the same sense he predicted the old Roman Empire would be divided into 10 parts or kingdoms (Dan. 2:40-43; 7:23-24). Alexander died at the height of his conquests, when about 33 years of age. His brother, Philip Aridaeus, and his two sons, Alexander Aegus and Hercules, kept up the show and name of the Macedonian kingdom for a time, but they were all murdered within 15 years. Thus the great horn and his regal family were were all dead. The governors of provinces usurped the title of king. Antigonus, one of 5 generals, was slain in the battle of Ipsus, which reduced the number to 4 who seized upon the old Grecian Empire and divided it into 4 kingdoms.

the latter time... reveals the time of the coming of Antichrist and the complete fulfillment of the prophecy. These kingdoms will not cease to exist before the little horn or the Antichrist comes from one of them (vs. 23; vs. 9; 7:24; 9:26-27; 11:36-45). Since they are all still in existence, and since the Antichrist has not yet come, his coming from one of them must be future.

the transgressors are... when come to the full is the 2nd statement here revealing the time of the coming of the Antichrist. He will come in the last days when sin and iniquity shall abound and the time has come for transgressors on earth to be dealt with and be put down (Mat. 24:4-26; 2Thes. 2:3-12; 1Tim. 4:1-8; 2Tim. 3:13; 4:1-4; Rev. 13:1-18; 16:1-17; 18:2-3, 24). This will be after the 10 kingdoms are formed (Dan. 7:23-24), after the rapture of the church (2Thes. 2:7), during the fulfillment of all the events of Rev. 4:1-19:21, and just before Christ comes to put down all sin and transgressors (1Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-10).

a king of... This reveals the character of the Antichrist, showing the type of person the little horn will be when he comes out of Greece, Turkey, Syria, or Egypt in the latter time of their existence (vs. 23; 7:20-25; 9:27; 11:36-45; 2 Thes. 2:3-12; Rev. 13:1-18; 14:9-11; 15:2-4; 16:13-16; 19:20; 20:4-6).