The Verses (Daniel 8:23) and (Daniel 11:4) ARE NOT Descriptive of The Eschatological Time of the End: They Only Highlight The End of the Grecian Progeny
by Paul MacDonald RN MA Dipl
Not The Eschatological End
Contrary to popular beleif, Daniel 8 does not concern itself with the End Time as so many teach, preach and would have us falsley believe. It's the end for something, but not the Eschatological End.
In the Latter/Last Part of their Reign
Significantly, Daniel 8:23 has: “in the latter part of their reign [aharît malkûtam]” while Daniel 11:4, explains how Alexander’s kingdom will be divided when it comes to its end:
“His kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven [8:8], but not among his posterity [aharît] nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these”.
Notice in Daniel 11:4 how "aharît" has the very narrow meaning of “posterity, descendants”. It certainly does not mean “the end”, and we'll demonstrate as to why.
During the Posterity: "The Period of the Descendants" of Greece
Coming back to (Daniel 8:23) and (11:4), since both passages are "thematically related", and indeed "parallel", it seems then that the best translation of "aharît" in (Daniel 8:23) should be “posterity, or descendants” as it does in (Daniel 11:4), instead of “latter part”; thus we’d have in (Daniel 8:23):
“And during the posterity [the end period of the descendants] of these [Greek] kingdoms (when the transgressions have reached their full measure), *then* a King of bold countenance shall arise, skilled in intrigue.”
Greece Continued Through The Posterity/Descendants of the Greek Generals
When Alexander’s generals died, their kingdoms were in turn passed down to their descendants (aharît), called by historians as the “Epigonoi” (a term commonly used for the offspring of mythological heroes).
Thus aharît in (Daniel 8:23) seems to point to the "descendants" of the Greek Kingdoms out of which the “little horn” arises, which will be AFTER the Rapidly Oncming War with Iran as described in Daniel 8.
The Time of the End for the Grecian Posterity Only
The expression “Time of the End” in (Daniel 8:23), and (11:4) applies to the fulfilment of the events described in the vision:
1) Involving The Grecian Breakup
2) The Grecian Kingdom and their “Posterity”, or "Descendants", and
3) The aggressions of a Greek “little horn” against that of the Jews.
Only once does “Time of the End” refer to the Eschatological Time of the End, and this is in the book of Daniel (Daniel 12:13), and nowhere else.
Conclusion
We are still under the Rule of Greece.
The Iron Legged Kingdom is a coming Middle Eastern Kingdom Ruled by Assyria (King of the North) and Egypt (King of the South) which according to Prophecy will be a divided kingdom. It will also be a Muslim World Caliphate.
Paul MacDonald RN MA Dipl ©
Israel Institute of Biblical Studies
