DANIEL 8:8B TOWARD THE FOUR WINDS
Updated: Dec 16, 2022
CHAPTER 8 B
Often with Bible symbolism, the same terminology can be used for good or for bad. And that is the case with the “four winds.” In the Bible you will find ”four winds of heaven” as well as a “four winds of the earth.” We will be talking about the “four winds of the earth” in the context of Daniel 8:8. Again, we will look at Daniel 8:8 phrase by phrase.
AND FOR IT CAME UP
Daniel 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Please note that though the great horn is broken, the influence of the He-goat goes on.
The Hebrew meaning of the words “and for it came up” is “ascended” or “rising up” as seen per the Strong’s Concordance below.
AND FOR IT CAME UP H5927
עָלָה ʻâlâh, aw-law'; a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative:—arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, × mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?page=16&strongs=H5927&t=KJV#lexResults
FOUR NOTEABLE ONES
Daniel 8: 8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones (toward) the four winds of heaven.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Note that the word TOWARD is not present in the Hebrew. It can read and for it came up four notable ones, the four winds of heaven. Or in other words in place of the great broken horn came up four horns which are also notable and remain where the first notable horn was, between the eyes of the He-goat. The He-goat is still viable. He just lost his great horn.
NOTABLE ONES H2380
חָזוּת châzûwth, khaw-zooth'; from H2372; a look; hence (figuratively) striking appearance, revelation, or (by implication) compact:—agreement, notable (one), vision. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H2380&t=KJV
Remember we saw this “notable” idea before. Please review this discussion from the chapter on Daniel 8:5 or Chapter 5-F.
HORN H7161
qeren, keh'-ren; from H7160; a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e. ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a mountain), a ray (of light); figuratively, power:—× hill, horn. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7161&t=KJV
Horns in the Bible are a prophetic symbol for power. An example of this is found in Deuteronomy 33:17.
Deuteronomy 33:17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth:….
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Deuteronomy-Chapter-33/
Power according to the dictionary is :
1)the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality.
“the power of speech”
synonyms:ability, capacity, capability, potential, faculty, competence ”the power of speech
2)”the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events”.
In the Bible the word translated “wind” in Hebrew is the same word also sometimes translated “spirit”.
WIND H7307
רוּחַ rûwach, roo’-akh; from H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions):—air, anger, blast, breath, × cool, courage, mind, ×quarter, × side, spirit(-ual), tempest, × vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7307&t=KJV
So, we can deduce that these four horns are four powers described as spirits OR winds which take the place of the great horn but which still are powerfully working and thinking similar to the He-goat. Review the method and character of the He-goat from this book in chapters 6-7.
Below we will look at the literal way Alexander the Great’s kingdom was divided. Notice that in Daniel 8:22 these four winds are also referred to as four kingdoms.
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Daniel 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Literally the great horn being broken is the ideology and power represented by the great horn of Greece. In other words, the desire of Phillip II and his son’s continued aim to conquer the power of the Medes and Persians and to rule the world was the horn to be broken. History tells us this happened when Alexander, at the height of his power, died and his great empire was divided four ways. Notice how though the great horn is destroyed the same great horn thinking or Greek culture and religion called Hellenization was spread throughout the four regions.
In 331 BCE Alexander decisively defeated Darius at the Battle of Gaugamela and was now supreme ruler of the regions formerly belonging to the Persian Empire. He adopted the tile ShahanShah (King of Kings) and introduced Persian customs into his army while, at the same time, sharing Greek culture with the people of Persia. He carried this culture with him to India in his 327 BCE invasion which was halted only because his men threatened mutiny if he did not turn back. He was allegedly contemplating another move to expand his empire when he died, after ten days of fever, in June of 323 BCE. As he did not name a successor, his four generals divided his empire between them.
https://www.ancient.eu/article/94/the-hellenistic-world-the-world-of-alexander-the-g/
After Alexander’s death his Empire was divided among his four generals (known in Latin as the Diadochi, the name by which they are still referenced, from the Greek, Diadokhoi,meaning “successors”):
Lysimachus – who took Thrace and much of Asia Minor.
Cassander – controlled Macedonia and Greece.
Ptolemy I – ruled Egypt, Palestine, Cilicia, Petra and Cyprus. He founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty which lasted until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BCE.
Seleucos I- ruled the remainder of Asia and founded the Seleucid Empire which was comprised of Mesopotamia, the Levant, Persia, and part of India.
To greater or lesser extents, all of these regions were Hellenized as Greek culture and religious beliefs influenced those of the indigenous people. https://www.ancient.eu/article/94/the-hellenistic-world-the-world-of-alexander-the-g/
THE DIADOCHI & HELLENIZATION
These generals, Lysimachus, Cassander, Ptoelmy, and Seleucus, initially spent their time warring with each other for more territory but even as they ravaged the land with battles, their very presence in the region encouraged the diffusion of Hellenization which had been established by Alexander.
Easily the most successful of these four, in this regard as in others, was Ptolemy I (r.323-282 BCE). While the other three continued their wars against each other (and against even more of Alexander’s officers or family members), Ptolemy I made an honest attempt at furthering Alexander’s vision of a multicultural world. His efforts at Alexandria produced an almost seamless blending of Egyptian and Greek cultures as epitomized in his personal god Serapis.
Serapis was a combination of Egyptian and Greek gods (Osiris, Apis, and Zeus) and his worship was established as a state religion by Ptolemy I. Although other gods continued to be venerated, Ptolemy I encouraged the cult of Serapis by building the great temple of the Serapeum in Alexandria and the Great Library to accompany it. The library drew scholars from around the world and elevated Alexandria to a center of learning which rivaled even Athens. Under Ptolemy I, construction of the Lighthouse at Alexandria (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) began and the city, as well as the entire region under his control, flourished.
As the wars of the Diadochi settled down and finished, Hellenic influence continued to spread throughout their regions and Greek dedications, statues, architecture and inscriptions have been found in abundance in every locale. The Great Library at Alexandria steadily grew to become the most important center for learning in the ancient world, drawing scholars from all over who then returned to their native towns and cities inspired by Hellenic beliefs and scientific methods. Greek theatre flourished throughout the lands conquered by Alexander and held by his generals and the amphitheaters built during the Hellenistic Period show markedly Greek features no matter the nationality of the architect nor the country of construction, one example being, Ai-Khanoum on the edge of Bactria, modern day Afghanistan.
Greek language introduced Greek literature into the former Persian Empire, thereby influencing the philosophical thought and writing of the region and the same held true for the area known as Palestine where Greek literature found its way into the religious thought and scripture of Judaism and, later, Christianity. Hellenization, in fact, inspired one of the most popular Jewish holidays, Chanukah, which celebrates the liberation of the Temple of Jerusalem from the Syrian Greeks under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BCE) who, according to the traditional story, tried to force Hellenic gods on the Jewish people and instigated the Maccabean Revolt of c. 168 BCE.
Recent scholarship suggests, however, that the revolt was actually a civil war between Jewish factions: Hellenic Jews who embraced Greek values and traditionalists who resisted them. In this version of the story, Antiochus IV Epiphanes becomes involved in this civil war on the behalf of the Hellenistic Jews and his participation is forced as opposed to the traditional story in which he is depicted as imposing his will on the Jewish people of Palestine. Either way, Hellenism played a crucial role in the revolt of the Maccabees who would later found the Hasmonean Dynasty which, through its wars with the neighboring Kingdom of Nabatea, would attract the attention of Rome and lead to the eventual conquest of the region.
https://www.ancient.eu/article/94/the-hellenistic-world-the-world-of-alexander-the-g/
FOUR WINDS OF THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE
SPIRITUAL CONOTATIONS
In the Bible there are both four winds of heaven (which come from where God resides) and four winds of the earth. The “four winds of heaven” from where God resides are life giving.
Ezekiel 37:9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ezekiel-Chapter-37/
The four winds of the earth are destructive.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-7/
Also note that the Hebrew word for “heaven” in Daniel 8:8 is not the same as we find in other parts of the book of Daniel, such as Daniel 7:2 which refers to the place where God dwells. Instead, the word translated from Hebrew to English in Daniel 8:8 refers to the visible arch of the sky of this world.
HEAVEN H8064
שָׁמַיִם shâmayim, shaw-mah'-yim; dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה shâmeh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve):—air, × astrologer, heaven(-s). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H8064&t=KJV
This Hebrew word H8064 “shamayim” for wind used in Daniel 8:8 is used five times in the book of Daniel in chapters 8-12 and refers to the sky, air, or starry sky above our earth.
The other word translated “heaven” used in the book of Daniel is shamayin.
Daniel 7:2Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
HEAVEN H8065
שָׁמַיִן shâmayin, shaw-mah'-yin; (Aramaic) corresponding to H8064:—heaven. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H8065&t=KJV
This Hebrew word H8065 “shamayin” is used 27 times in the book of Daniel in chapters 2-7 and all except twice refers to the place where God and His messengers live.
Daniel 8:8Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven (to the sky, air, or starry sky above our earth).
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https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Satan is referred to as the “prince of the power of the air”. When we are considering the four winds of the earth in a spiritual sense, we need to realize Satan has control of those winds. But even Satan is not allowed to destroy at his leisure. As we shall see, he is only allowed to destroy with the permission of God. God is in the business of restraining Satan’s power.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ephesians-Chapter-2/
The Greek word for air is “to blow”.
AIR G109
ἀήρ aḗr, ah-ayr'; from ἄημι áēmi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow); "air" (as naturally circumambient):—air. Compare G5594. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G109&t=KJV
An example of Satan (Abaddon or Apollyon) as having power over the air is in Revelation 9:2-11.
Revelation 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power…..
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-9/
There are many evil winds in scripture including these that follow:
Ephesians 4:14 wind of doctrine
Job 16:3 empty words
Job 15:2 vain knowledge as an east wind
Jeremiah 5:13 false prophets
Luke 7:24 reed shaken with the wind
Luke 12:55 south wind= heat
But notice that in Daniel 8:22 these four winds are unusual in that they are also referred to as four kingdoms.
. Daniel 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
This idea we have seen before in the book of Daniel. When something is a prophetic symbol, it is well to look at the way the symbol was used at other occasions during the same Bible book or by the same Bible author to gain understanding. In the case of “four kingdoms” we find the idea of “four kingdoms” in Daniel 7. The four kingdoms of Daniel 7 arise from the sea (symbolic for the nations) in Daniel 7:3 but are called four kings arising out of the earth in Daniel 7:17.
Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
Daniel 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
Here is the description of these four kingdoms, found in Daniel 7:4-7 where they are referred to also as a lion, bear, leopard and dreadful beast.
Daniel 7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
They all lose their dominion. The fourth beast loses his life. But the other three beasts including the lion, bear and leopard and little horn power, though their dominion is removed, Daniel 7:12 says their lives are prolonged prophetically.
Daniel 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
Looking carefully, we find these four kingdoms of Daniel 7 again in Bible prophecy in Revelation 13:1-2 within the life of the first beast of Revelation 13.
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/
We see this leopard like beast of Revelation 13:1-2, who also eventually loses one of his lives when one of his seven heads is wounded by a sword, again in Revelation 13:14-15 when he is resurrected so to speak because his power and life is restored to him by the second or Lamb-like beast. Therefore, we see four kingdoms of Daniel 7 three times in prophetic time. To re-iterate, the four kingdoms are first seen in the context of time as in their literal kingdoms in Daniel 7; secondly appearing prophetically in the context of the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13; and thirdly appearing in the context of the image of that same resurrected beast later in Revelation 13:14-15.
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/
All total we see them at 3 different time periods in Bible prophecy the first time being their literal kingdoms of Daniel 7 and the 2nd and 3rd time as prophetic spiritual symbols in Revelation 13.
The question is, do they have anything to do with the four kingdoms we are studying in Daniel 8:8? And the answer is that they do. Let’s look at the reasons why.
First, the 1st beast of Revelation 13:1-2 is foremost “like unto a leopard” and the kingdom of Greece which is the power these four kingdoms or horns of Daniel 8:8 arise from is also described as “like a leopard” in Daniel 7:6.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/
Daniel 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
Secondly, this beast representing Greece in Daniel 7 has four heads which matches the literal dividing of the kingdom of Greece among Alexander’s four generals.
Daniel 8: 8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones (toward) the four winds of heaven.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Daniel 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Daniel 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
Thirdly, the next great power we see in Daniel 8 is the Little Horn power coming forth from one of the four kingdoms or horns. And as we shall see later this is the same Little Horn power of Daniel 7 coming forth or taking the place of three of Rome’s ten horns but also coming from the fourth kingdom of Rome.
Daniel 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Daniel 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
The question is, why would God would show it to us in Daniel 7 and then differently in Daniel 8? Is there something God is trying to say? And to answer, we need to look at the whole context of Daniel 7 and that of Daniel 8.
In Daniel 7 we see the progression of the major kingdoms ruling the world or state powers who rule up until the Little Horn power rises as a state power who uses his state power to “change times and laws” and “persecute the saints.” State kingdoms are the theme of the chapter. What happens to God’s people is a secondary theme.
But in the context of Daniel 8 we are following God’s people as regards God’s temple or sanctuary or church through the following ages of spiritual battles. The power symbols are sanctuary imagery of a Ram representing Christ and a He-goat representing Satan. We see God working through the state power of the Medo-Persian kings to restore His people to freedom of worship and freedom to govern themselves under God. This is a state using it’s authority to help the church. Conversely, we then see the devil as he works through the Greek state power to introduce his own ideas to rule the world. In so doing, he destroys the two church enabling powers of the Medo-Persian kings. This is a state power using his authority inadvertently to hurt the church. Later we see the Little Horn power of Daniel 8, rising from one of the four-part divisions of the kingdom of Greece as a power who tears down the temple and government of God. This also is a state power using its authority to advertently hurt God’s church. Consequently, we come full circle seeing the temple rebuilt and then destroyed; seeing the government of God re-instated and then destroyed as helped by state powers. But God’s church or temple is the primary theme of the chapter. The state kingdoms involved are a secondary theme.
To summarize, in Daniel 8 these four winds are literally the four divisions of Greece. However spiritually they are also found twice more future as the four-part character of the Leopard-like beast and Image of the Beast of Revelation 13.
Revelation13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/
This entire concept is also presented in scripture with the words of Daniel 7:12.
Daniel 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-7/
Staying consistent with the way Daniel uses the two words for “heaven”, these four horns of Daniel 8 are four powers which are ruling in the visible arch underneath the heaven of our world, not the heaven where God rules.
Spiritually in Daniel 8:8, we are looking at the “four winds of the earth,” with an origin on the forehead of the He-goat which is spiritually the devil himself.The four-kingdom prophetic counterpart in Revelation 13 demonstrates a power origin from the dragon or Satan also.
Revelation13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragongave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-13/
These four winds of the earth are out to destroy. They are the same spiritual winds found in Revelation 7.
Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-7/
God literally spends a lot of time restraining the four winds or four powers of the earth that would hurt or destroy it. However, though the four winds of the earth receive their power from the dragon (Revelation 13:2), they really receive their permission from God because it is He who authorizes the four angels holding or restraining the four winds of the earth to finally let go. And this holds true for our prophecy in Daniel 8 concerning these four winds which tells us the four winds stand but not in their own power.
Daniel 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
As I stated earlier, the “four winds of the earth” are powers Satan uses to destroy the earth. They were present in Christ’s day. Christ gave us warning how to survive these evil winds. We are not to only hear God’s Word but we are to do or obey God’s Word.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-7/
Spiritually thinking, the “four winds of the earth” are powers who use their authority for evil or to hurt the cause of God. Thinking of Christ and His sufferings we are reminded that in the days of Christ, there was an evil wind of persecution by state powers. John the Baptist suffered this persecution. Eventually, after His ministry was accomplished, he was beheaded for the sake of preaching the Word of God. Christ testifies of John, that he was not “a reed shaken with the wind.”
Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-7/
Similarly, looking at this prophecy of Daniel 8:8 as concerns Christ and His sufferings, we find that the devil could not have done his dirty work at the cross without the permission of God.
Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-22/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-19/
CHAPTER SUMMARY
We have learned that these four horns which take the place of the great horn are four powers described as spirits OR winds but which still are powerfully working and thinking similar to the He-goat. Though the great horn is destroyed the same great horn thinking or Greek culture and religion called Hellenization was spread throughout the four regions in which the kingdom was divided following the death of Alexander. And the desire to rule the world was still the same.
In the Bible there are both four winds of heaven (which come from where God resides) and four winds of the earth. The “four winds of heaven” from where God resides are life giving. And the four winds of the earth are destructive.
Satan is referred to in scripture as the “prince of the power of the air” where air refers to blowing or wind. When we are considering the four winds of the earth we need to realize Satan has control of those destructive winds. But Satan is not allowed to destroy at his leisure. He is only allowed to destroy with the permission of God. God is in the business of restraining Satan’s power.
In Daniel 8:22 these four winds of the earth are also referred to as four kingdoms. Though, in Daniel 8, these Four Winds or kingdoms are literally the four divisions of Greece, God uses the four-kingdom theme to remind us of the four kingdoms of Daniel 7. We looked at Daniel 7’s four kingdoms described as a lion, leopard, bear and beast, which lose their dominion. We saw that though they lose their dominion as state powers, the lion, leopard and bear and Little Horn power have their lives prophetically prolonged according to Daniel 7:12. True to Daniel 7:12, we see these kingdoms a second time appearing prophetically in the context of the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13. We see them a third time appearing in the context of the Image of that same beast later in Revelation 13 for a total of three different time periods in Bible prophecy .
For added evidence of the Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 and Revelation 13 correlation, we found prophetically the third kingdom of Daniel 7 is described as a Leopard-like beast and is the kingdom of Greece. This is the same power these four kingdoms or horns of Daniel 8:8 originate from. Furthermore, the Leopard-like beast representing Greece in Daniel 7 has four heads which matches the literal dividing of the kingdom of Greece among Alexander’s four generals.
A third reason the Four Winds of Daniel 8:8 correspond to the four kingdoms is that the next great power we see in Daniel 8 is the Little Horn power which comes forth from one of these four kingdoms or horns of Greek origin. We will soon discover the Little Horn power of Daniel 7 has instead Roman roots. But we will find these Greek and Roman roots for the Little horn power are still consistent with prophetic fulfilment.
God shows the story to us in Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 differently. In Daniel 7 the state powers which rule are the primary theme whereas a secondary theme is persecution of God’s people. In the context of Daniel 8 we are following God’s people through the ages in spiritual battle where God’s church is under construction and is the primary theme of the chapter and state kingdoms are the secondary theme.
Staying consistent with the way Daniel uses the two words for “heaven”, these four horns of Daniel 8 are four powers which are ruling in the visible arch underneath the heaven of our world. This is not the heaven where God rules but rather the spiritual world surrounding this earth where Satan rules and gives his subjects power to do their destructive work.
God literally spends a lot of time restraining the Four Winds or four powers of the earth that would hurt or destroy it. However, it is He who finally releases or permits the Four Winds of the earth to do their destructive work. This holds true for Daniel 8:8 concerning these four winds which tells us the four winds stand but not in their own power.
The “four winds of the earth” were present in Christ’s day as persecuting winds. John the Baptist suffered and was killed at their hands but stood firm against their opposing powers. Christ gave us warning how to survive these evil windsin the parable of the Wise Man building his house upon the Rock. To survive we must hear and obey God’s Word. We will fall if we hear but not obey God’s Word.
Looking at this prophecy of Daniel 8:8 as concerns Christ and His sufferings we discover the devil could not have done his dirty work at the cross without the permission of God. Jesus stood firm against the contrary wind or power of Satan. He listened to and obeyed His Father’s will, humbling Himself and was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross to save you and me.