Daniel 8:17
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)
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The angel doesn't just deliver a message; he calls Daniel "son of man," a title also given to Ezekiel, highlighting the prophet's humanity in contrast to the divine messenger. This isn't merely a title of respect, but a reminder that Daniel, despite receiving heavenly visions, remains frail and mortal, meant to keep him grounded amidst the awe.
Daniel has just received a complex vision involving a ram and a goat, which leaves him shaken and confused. As a divine messenger approaches Daniel, the prophet is overwhelmed by his presence and falls to the ground. The angel then speaks directly to Daniel, urging him to pay close attention because this vision pertains to the "time of the end."
Imagine a being of pure light and power appearing before you. How would you react? Daniel's response to the angel's arrival is intensely human.
Daniel's reaction – falling on his face in fear – is a natural response to encountering the divine. It's not a sign of weakness, but of recognizing the immense holiness and power of God's messengers and presence.
Awe, Not Just Fear
This isn't just a scare; it's awe. Think about Isaiah's encounter in the temple (Isaiah 6:5) or John's reaction to Jesus on Patmos (Revelation 1:17). When we glimpse the reality of God's kingdom and His agents, our first instinct is often to recognize our own smallness and His greatness.
The Angel's Gentle Correction
The angel doesn't scold Daniel for his fear. Instead, he gently brings him back to a place of understanding, saying, 'Understand, O son of man.' This shows the tender, patient nature of God's communication, even with those who are overwhelmed.
The angel delivers a crucial piece of information: this vision is 'for the time of the end.' What does that really mean for Daniel, and for us?
The phrase 'time of the end' is key here. While it can refer to the ultimate end of the world, in Daniel's context, it often points to a specific, significant period within God's plan.
More Than Just Antiochus
Daniel is receiving visions about future kingdoms and conflicts. The angel clarifies that the ultimate fulfillment or ultimate significance of this vision reaches towards a future 'end time.' While elements of the vision might find immediate fulfillment in historical figures like Antiochus Epiphanes (who persecuted God's people), the angel emphasizes that the vision's deeper meaning points to the events leading up to Christ's return or the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.
A Message of Hope
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.
Daniel's vision in chapter 8 is powerfully situated within the context of exile and foreign domination. The angel Gabriel clarifies that the vision's ultimate fulfillment points to a future 'time of the end,' a concept that would have resonated deeply with Daniel's experience and offered hope for God's ultimate justice and kingdom.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
Daniel and his companions are taken captive to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile for many Judeans.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys the First Temple, and deports a large portion of the remaining population to Babylon.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Daniel's Vision of the Ram and Goat
Daniel receives a vision while by the Ulai Canal, which he later records in chapter 8. The vision involves a ram and a goat, symbolizing the Medo-Persian and Greek empires.
c. 167-164 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Persecution
The Seleucid king Antiochus IV desecrates the Jerusalem Temple and persecutes Jews who refuse to adopt Greek customs. This period is often seen as a partial fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies.
Just like Daniel, John falls down in fear and awe when encountering a divine messenger, highlighting the overwhelming nature of spiritual encounters.
Ezekiel 1:28The phrase 'son of man' is directly echoed here, linking Daniel's experience to Ezekiel's prophetic visions and emphasizing his human frailty in the face of God's glory.
Daniel 10:9This passage describes a similar physical reaction of terror and falling on his face when encountering an angel, reinforcing Daniel's consistent response to heavenly beings.
1 Corinthians 10:11This verse speaks of 'the ends of the age' coming upon believers, paralleling Daniel's 'time of the end' by connecting prophetic visions to crucial, climactic periods in God's plan.
Habakkuk 2:3This verse states the vision is 'for an appointed time' and 'hastens toward the end,' sharing the theme that prophetic visions are directed towards a specific future fulfillment, just as the angel tells Daniel.
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 doesn't just deliver a message; he calls Daniel "son of man," a title also given to Ezekiel, highlighting the prophet's humanity in contrast to the divine messenger. This isn't merely a title of respect, but a reminder that Daniel, despite receiving heavenly visions, remains frail and mortal, meant to keep him grounded amidst the awe.
Daniel has just received a complex vision involving a ram and a goat, which leaves him shaken and confused. As a divine messenger approaches Daniel, the prophet is overwhelmed by his presence and falls to the ground. The angel then speaks directly to Daniel, urging him to pay close attention because this vision pertains to the "time of the end."
Daniel has just received a complex vision involving a ram and a goat, which leaves him shaken and confused. As a divine messenger approaches Daniel, the prophet is overwhelmed by his presence and falls to the ground. The angel then speaks directly to Daniel, urging him to pay close attention because this vision pertains to the "time of the end."
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Understanding that the vision pertains to the 'time of the end' offers comfort. It assures Daniel (and us) that current struggles and visions of upheaval are not random or without purpose. They are part of a larger, divinely orchestrated plan that moves towards a final resolution. It's a reminder that God is in control, even when things seem chaotic.
c. AD 100
Composition of Daniel's Prophecies
Scholars generally date the final composition of the Book of Daniel around this time, though parts may be older. This context is crucial for understanding how the "time of the end" was perceived by its original audience.
"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 doesn't just deliver a message; he calls Daniel "son of man," a title also given to Ezekiel, highlighting the prophet's humanity in contrast to the divine messenger. This isn't merely a tit…
