Daniel 8:17-18
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When the angel addresses Daniel as "son of man," it's not just a generic title but a poignant reminder of Daniel's humanity facing divine revelation. The phrase "time of the end" doesn't necessarily point to the world's final moments but rather to the culmination of God's plan for that specific prophetic horizon, bringing assurance that the vision has a destined fulfillment.
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.” And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The magnificent angelic messenger, previously seen at a distance, now draws near to Daniel, prompting overwhelming fear and causing the prophet to fall prostrate. The angel commands Daniel to understand that this intricate vision is not for the immediate present, but pertains to "the time of the end," a prophetic period stretching toward the ultimate culmination of God's purposes. This assurance is meant to steady Daniel amidst his awe and fear, preparing him for the detailed interpretation.
Daniel collapses at the angel's approach. What does this visceral reaction tell us about encountering the divine?
It's easy to think of angels as just messengers, but Daniel's response highlights the overwhelming holiness of God's representatives.
A Holy Encounter
When the angel draws near, Daniel is not just surprised; he's terrified and falls prostrate. This isn't simply fear of harm, but a profound, physical reaction to the sheer holiness and power radiating from a being sent by God. It’s a reminder that even angelic beings carry an authority and presence that dwarfs human frailty.
Falling Down
Falling on one's face is a common posture in Scripture for acknowledging God's or His messenger's supreme power and one's own insignificance. It’s a recognition that we stand before something far greater than ourselves.
Amidst Daniel's fear, a clear command rings out: 'Understand!' What does this reveal about God's purpose for difficult visions?
Even when visions evoke terror, God’s intention is not to leave us confused but to bring understanding. The angel’s words are a divine reassurance.
The "Son of Man" Address
The angel calls Daniel "son of man." This term, often used for Ezekiel, emphasizes Daniel's humanity, reminding him that though he's receiving divine revelation, he remains a mortal man. It’s a tender way of drawing him back from his fear, grounding him before imparting crucial truth.
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Vision for the End Times
The angel's core message is that this vision pertains to "the time of the end." This phrase doesn't necessarily mean the absolute end of the world, but a significant, divinely appointed future period. It points to a specific culmination of events, offering hope and perspective. It assures Daniel that even amidst terrifying prophecies, there is a divine plan unfolding towards a specific, intended conclusion.
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 phrase 'time of the end' in Daniel's vision, while pointing to Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his persecution of the Jews, also encompasses a future, ultimate fulfillment connected to the very end of the current age. This dual meaning highlights how prophetic visions often have layers of fulfillment, speaking to both immediate historical crises and God's ultimate plan.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Judah and begins deporting Jewish nobles and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon. This event ushers in the Persian period, under which the Jewish exiles would eventually be permitted to return to Jerusalem.
167 BC - 164 BC
Maccabean Revolt Begins
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, ruler of the Seleucid Empire (a Hellenistic successor state to Alexander the Great's empire), desecrates the Jerusalem Temple and persecutes Jews who refuse to adopt Greek customs. This triggers the Maccabean Revolt.
c. 142 BC
Hasmonean State Established
Following the Maccabean Revolt, the Jewish Hasmonean dynasty establishes a period of independence, though it eventually falls under Roman influence.
c. 160 BC— this verse
Daniel Receives the Vision
The angel Gabriel appears to Daniel, who is distressed by a vision of a ram and a goat. Gabriel explains the vision, identifying it with future events, particularly those related to Antiochus IV Epiphanes and a 'time of the end'.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Rome conquers Judea, ending the Hasmonean dynasty and bringing the region under direct Roman rule. This sets the stage for the geopolitical landscape during the time of Jesus.
This passage also describes a prophet's overwhelming reaction of falling on his face in the presence of a divine vision, mirroring Daniel's experience and the awe-inspiring nature of divine encounters.
Revelation 1:17Similar to Daniel's reaction, the apostle John falls at Jesus' feet as dead when encountering the resurrected Christ, highlighting the consistent human response of fear and awe before divine glory.
Daniel 10:8-10This passage depicts Daniel's similar physical and emotional reaction of fear and weakness upon encountering a divine messenger, reinforcing the profound impact of heavenly beings on mortal men.
Luke 1:19The angel Gabriel identifies himself, stating that he stands in the presence of God, which echoes the profound heavenly status acknowledged in Daniel 8:17 and provides context for Daniel's fear.
1 Corinthians 10:11This verse speaks of 'the ends of the ages' (often translated as 'the ends of the world'), connecting with the 'time of the end' in Daniel and suggesting that Daniel's vision points towards ultimate, eschatological events.
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…
When the angel addresses Daniel as "son of man," it's not just a generic title but a poignant reminder of Daniel's humanity facing divine revelation. The phrase "time of the end" doesn't necessarily point to the world's final moments but rather to the culmination of God's plan for that specific prophetic horizon, bringing assurance that the vision has a destined fulfillment.
The magnificent angelic messenger, previously seen at a distance, now draws near to Daniel, prompting overwhelming fear and causing the prophet to fall prostrate. The angel commands Daniel to understand that this intricate vision is not for the immediate present, but pertains to "the time of the end," a prophetic period stretching toward the ultimate culmination of God's purposes. This assurance is meant to steady Daniel amidst his awe and fear, preparing him for the detailed interpretation.
The magnificent angelic messenger, previously seen at a distance, now draws near to Daniel, prompting overwhelming fear and causing the prophet to fall prostrate. The angel commands Daniel to understand that this intricate vision is not for the immediate present, but pertains to "the time of the end," a prophetic period stretching toward the ultimate culmination of God's purposes. This assurance is meant to steady Daniel amidst his awe and fear, preparing him for the detailed interpretation.
"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.” And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with m…" — When the angel addresses Daniel as "son of man," it's not just a generic title but a poignant reminder of Daniel's humanity facing divine revelation. The phrase "time of the end" doesn't necessarily…
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Last reviewed October 2026
