Author's Note: Iraq’s demise
by the American-led coalition commenced in March 19, 2003, on Shushan Purim (Jerusalem's celebration of Purim). The second Persian Gulf conflict involving
Iran is the catalyst that sets in motion a torrent
of end-time disasters, which follow in quick succession, one after the other.
Discover What Crisis Begins The Appointed Time Of The End
Learn What Two Islamic Nations The West Will
Find The Location Where The Final Conflict Begins
In Daniel 7 we discovered
that the "four winds" (four angels) of Heaven stir up the great sea of peoples,
and out of this divine movement emerge four governmental beasts: Lion with
Eagle's Wings (United States/United Kingdom); Bear (Russian Federation); Leopard
(China and Eastern Asia); and Terrible Beast with Ten Horns (Western European
Union). From the Terrible Beast will emerge the "little horn" (little country)
whose ruler will reign for a "time, times and dividing of time," (1,260 days/ 3
In Daniel 8 we rediscover
the four winds and the emergence of the little horn in verses 8-9.
However, new events are depicted which are not found in the first of Daniel's
visions. A conflict will ensue before the four winds emerge and
Antichrist comes into power. What is the event? Where is it located? These
are questions that we attempt to answer in this study.
Daniel's second vision
(chapter 8) of the last days comes to him a couple of years after the first one
in Daniel 7. The prophecy was similar to the first one, he says. In his vision
he sees himself beside the Ulai Canal or River, which would indicate the region
near the Persian Gulf region in Old Babylon--the area today near the border
between Iraq and Iran. How appropriate that the final conflict may well begin
in the same region where sin first took root-- near what may have been the
Garden of Eden where the two great rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, meet.
The prophet sees a Ram
with two horns and one horn was longer or larger than the other and emerged
later. The Ram charges to the west, north and south and becomes great in
power. The Ram represents Islam and the two prominent horns of this Bible
prophecy represent two distinct Islamic countries. One smaller horn next to a
larger and more powerful horn.
Daniel is in vision and he
sees himself at Susa. The Iran map below shows modern Susa is about 100 miles
north of the Persian Gulf in Iran, near the border of Iraq.
Michael instructs Gabriel
later in the chapter to explain the vision to Daniel (vs.
Horns in prophecy represent nations, and Daniel
is told that the two horns represent two kingdoms that would fight a battle
against a Western power referred to as the Goat.
2. In what
segment of time is the vision going to be fulfilled (vs.
according to Gabriel?
Gabriel states twice, as
though to add emphasis, that the confrontation conveyed in the vision concerns
the "time of the end." Many commentators have applied the vision to historical
events thousands of years ago (331 B.C.), but this would be an application at
best and not the fulfillment. On the other hand, we may be nearing the end of
time; for this reason, we should look at the world around us to consider what
nations might be represented in the vision.
3. According to
to whom does Gabriel associate the two-horned Ram?
Media and Persia. The
location of Daniel's vision borders between Iran and Iraq, and two horns
(countries) are involved; therefore, the description would indicate that Media
likely refers to Iraq, and Persia to Iran-- a country that changed its name from
Persia to Iran in 1935. The wild Ram (representing Islam) is charging to the
west, north and south, and it looks to be an animal of great size and strength;
however, according to the prophecy the two-horns (Iraq and Iran) will be broken
4. Daniel 8:5
states that a Goat with a prominent horn (country) comes from what direction?
The Goat comes from the west
from a great distance and at a remarkable speed to deal with the two-horned ram-
Iraq and Iran.
successful is the Goat in dealing with these two countries (vs.
The two horns will be
shattered. So strong is the Goat that he tramples the two-horned Ram with speed
and power. First the smaller horn (Iraq), followed by the larger horn (Iran).
identifies the powerful Goat and the "horn" as the first king (first in
standing--the most powerful). The translators identified the Goat as “Greece”
which in Hebrew is actually “Yawan” (“Javan”). Javan was one of the sons of
Japheth (Genesis 10:2), and at the writing of Daniel Javan implied not so much a
specific nation but powers from the west. Since the vision concerns the time of
the end, it would be reasonable to identify the Goat as a coalition of western
powers and the prominent horn as the first king in power.
Large American Horn--First King
The large horn
(country)--the first king (first in power) and the most prominent in western
strength--no doubt represents the United States. In 1990-91 George Herbert
Walker Bush, 41st President of the United States, along with the American led
western coalition confronted Iraq for its aggression against its smaller
neighbor, Kuwait. This confrontation did not fulfill the prophecy of Daniel 8,
but was a forerunner to a future confrontation that would emerge from the pages
Just as this teacher and
other prophecy students predicted for over ten years, in March 2003, the son of
the former Bush president--George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States,
along with other western powers attacked Iraq and quickly defeated her just as
the prophecy said. That military operation continues to this day in Iraq. The
second and larger horn--Iran will “come up last.” The West will confront this
neighbor to the west of Iraq sometime in the near future. Both Iraq and Iran
will fall victim to the power of the Goat coalition.
Prophecy says the Goat (Western Coalition) will furiously attack the Islamic
Ram, striking the Ram and shattering his two horns. Daniel adds, "The Ram
(Islam) was powerless to stand against him; the Goat [West] knocked him to the
ground and trampled on him, and none could rescue the Ram [Islam] from his