A RAM WITH TWO HORNS

"I began to see in the vision," writes Daniel, "and it came about, while I was seeing, that I was in Shushan the castle, which is in Elam the jurisdictional district, and I proceeded to see in the vision, and I myself happened to be by the watercourse of Ulai." (Daniel 8:2) Whether Daniel actually was in Shushan (Susa)-the capital of Elam located on some 220 miles east of Babylon-or was there only in a visionary way is not stated.

Daniel continues:  "When I raised my eyes, then I saw, and, look!  a ram standing before the watercourse, and it had two horns.' (Daniel 8:3a)  The identity of the ram does not remain a mystery for Daniel. The angel Gabriel later states:  "The ram that you saw possessing the two horns stands for the kings of Media and Persia." (Daniel 8:20) The Medes came from the mountainous plateau to the east of Assyria, and the Persian originally led an often nomadic life in the region north of the Persian Gulf. As the Medo-Persian Empire grew, however, its inhabitants developed an outstanding taste for luxury. 

The two horns were tall," reports Daniel, "but   the one was taller than the other, and the taller was the one that came up afterward."  (Daniel 8:3b) The taller horn that came up later pictures the Persians, whereas the other horn represents the Medes. At first, the Medes were dominant. But in 550 B.C.E., Cyrus the ruler of Persia gained an  easy victory over Median King Astyages. Cyrus combined the customs and laws of the two peoples, united their kingdoms, and expanded their conquests. From then on, the empire had a dual nature.  

Next time: THE RAM PUTS ON GREAT AIRS 

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999