Daniel 8:15-27

While I, Daniel, was pondering the vision I had seen, suddenly there appeared before me one who looked like a man. Then I heard the voice of someone calling out over the waters of the Ulai canal, “Gabriel, help this man understand the meaning of his vision.” As the angel Gabriel came closer to where I was standing, I was so terrified that I fell facedown on the ground. Then he said to me, “Daniel, son of man, you need to understand that your vision refers to the time of the end.” When he spoke with me, I lost consciousness and passed out. But he took hold of me and raised me to my feet. “Listen,” he said, “and I will tell you what will take place in the time of wrath, for the vision pertains to the appointed time of the end: “The ram that you saw with two long horns represents the kingdoms of the Medes and the Persians. “The male goat represents the kingdoms of Greece, and the big horn on its forehead is the first king of the Greek Empire. “As for the horn that was broken off and replaced by four prominent horns, this signifies that four other kingdoms will rise from its midst, but their combined power will not be as great as the first. “When their reign comes to an end and their crimes have reached their full measure, there will arise a stern king, skilled in stubbornness and trickery. He will grow in might but not through any power of his own. He will cause amazing devastation, succeed in every undertaking, and destroy mighty ones, the saints of the Most High. By his cunning, he will make treachery succeed under his rule. In his own mind, he will highly exaggerate his own importance. When they are at ease, he will suddenly destroy many. But when he rises up against the Prince of all princes, he will be broken—but not by any human power. “The explanation of the vision you had about the evening and morning sacrifices is absolutely true. And seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.” I, Daniel, was dazed and lay sick for several days; then I got up and went back to serve the king. I was perplexed by the vision, for it seemed beyond understanding.