So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The angel, Gabriel, addresses Daniel as "son of man," a title also given to Ezekiel, which emphasizes Daniel's humanity in contrast to the angelic being before him. This humble designation serves as a reminder that, despite receiving divine visions, Daniel is still mortal and should not be overcome by pride. The assurance that the vision pertains to "the time of the end" is meant to offer hope and context for understanding these challenging prophecies.
So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a celestial being appears to Daniel and describes a vision involving powerful animals and horns, the angel Gabriel approaches Daniel directly. Daniel is overwhelmed by the angel's presence and falls to the ground in fear, prompting Gabriel to reassure him and explain that the vision pertains to "the time of the end." This sets the stage for Gabriel to reveal the deeper meaning of the preceding visions, which concern future kingdoms and their ultimate fate.
Have you ever felt so awestruck by something spiritual that you were completely overcome? Daniel’s reaction when the angel approached him is intense and revealing.
Awe and Trembling
When the angelic messenger draws near, Daniel’s reaction is immediate and overwhelming: "when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face." This isn't just a mild unease; it’s a profound sense of being in the presence of the holy and the mighty.
Why such a strong reaction?
Daniel’s experience reminds us that encounters with the divine are not meant to be casual. They stir us to our core, revealing our smallness and God’s greatness.
Ask a follow-up
The angel tells Daniel the vision is 'for the time of the end.' What does this phrase really mean in the context of Daniel's prophecy?
More Than Just the World's Final Moments
The phrase "the time of the end" is a key prophetic term in Daniel, and it carries significant weight. It doesn't always refer to the absolute final moments of history.
Layers of Meaning:
The angel’s clarification is meant to give Daniel perspective—that this vision isn't just about immediate events, but about a crucial unfolding in God's grand timeline.
Daniel is addressed as 'son of man.' Why this specific title, and what does it signify when spoken by an angel?
A Tender Yet Grounding Address
The angel calls Daniel "son of man" (ben-adam in the original language). This title, famously used for Ezekiel, carries a dual significance in this moment.
The Significance of 'Son of Man':
It's a gentle yet firm call to attention, framing Daniel's role as a recipient of divine truth within the context of his human experience.
Understand the original words
ben ’ādām · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title often used in the prophetic books to emphasize the prophet’s humanity, frailty, or creaturely status in contrast to the majesty and holiness of the divine messenger or God.
‘ēt qēts · Hebrew Noun phrase
A technical eschatological phrase denoting the period leading up to or encompassing the final culmination of God’s redemptive historical plan.
The vision in Daniel 8 is set against the backdrop of the post-exilic period and points forward to future oppressions, specifically the Hellenistic crisis under Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The angel clarifies that while the immediate fulfillment involves Antiochus, the ultimate 'time of the end' points to a future, climactic period of divine intervention.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and deports some of the Judean elite, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
After further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. The people of Judah face decades of displacement and loss.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon. This shifts the geopolitical landscape and eventually leads to the decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
c. 538 BC
Decree of Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting exiled Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This begins the process of restoration for a remnant.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrates the Jerusalem Temple and attempts to suppress Jewish religious practices. This sparks a major revolt led by the Maccabees against Seleucid rule.
c. 165 BC— this verse
Temple Rededication
The Maccabees successfully reclaim and rededicate the Jerusalem Temple, an event still celebrated today as Hanukkah. This marks a significant period of Jewish religious and political resurgence.
Like Daniel, Ezekiel falls on his face in awe and fear when encountering a divine vision, highlighting the overwhelming nature of God's presence and revelation.
Revelation 1:17John's reaction to seeing Jesus in glory mirrors Daniel's response, showing a consistent pattern of profound fear and prostration when faced with heavenly beings.
Daniel 10:8-9This passage shows Daniel's similar physical reaction of fear and weakness when encountering an angelic messenger, emphasizing the profound impact of spiritual encounters on human frailty.
Luke 1:19The angel Gabriel identifies himself by his presence before God, just as he does when appearing to Daniel, underscoring his role as a divine messenger of crucial information.
Daniel 7:15-16While in Daniel 7 Daniel asks questions of another angelic being after being disturbed, here in chapter 8 he falls on his face before Gabriel, illustrating different but equally powerful responses to divine encounters and revelations.
ellicottDaniel 8:17: "So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision."
(17) The time of the end— i.e., either at the final period of earthly history, or at the time which lies at the limit of the prophetic horizon. St. Jerome observes that what happened in the times of Antiochus was typical of what shall be fulfilled hereafter in Antichrist.
jfbDaniel 8:17: "So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision."
- the time of the end—so Da 8:19; Da 11:35, 36, 40. The event being to take place at "the time of the end" makes it likely that the Antichrist ultimately referred to (besides the immediate reference to Antiochus) in this chapter, and the one in Da 7:8, are one and the same. The objection that the one…
The angel, Gabriel, addresses Daniel as "son of man," a title also given to Ezekiel, which emphasizes Daniel's humanity in contrast to the angelic being before him. This humble designation serves as a reminder that, despite receiving divine visions, Daniel is still mortal and should not be overcome by pride. The assurance that the vision pertains to "the time of the end" is meant to offer hope and context for understanding these challenging prophecies.
After a celestial being appears to Daniel and describes a vision involving powerful animals and horns, the angel Gabriel approaches Daniel directly. Daniel is overwhelmed by the angel's presence and falls to the ground in fear, prompting Gabriel to reassure him and explain that the vision pertains to "the time of the end." This sets the stage for Gabriel to reveal the deeper meaning of the preceding visions, which concern future kingdoms and their ultimate fate.
After a celestial being appears to Daniel and describes a vision involving powerful animals and horns, the angel Gabriel approaches Daniel directly. Daniel is overwhelmed by the angel's presence and falls to the ground in fear, prompting Gabriel to reassure him and explain that the vision pertains to "the time of the end." This sets the stage for Gabriel to reveal the deeper meaning of the preceding visions, which concern future kingdoms and their ultimate fate.
"So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”" — The angel, Gabriel, addresses Daniel as "son of man," a title also given to Ezekiel, which emphasizes Daniel's humanity in contrast to the angelic being before him. This humble designation serves as…
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Last reviewed October 2026