What Does the Ram Symbolize in Daniel's Vision?

Direct Answer

The ram with two horns in Daniel's vision symbolizes the kings of Media and Persia.

Daniel 8:20 plainly identifies the ram as the kings of Media and Persia. Les Feldick teaches this same identification, adding that the two horns represent two individual kings — the father of Cyrus and Cyrus — and that the prophecy of Daniel 8 has already been fulfilled.

Key Scriptures

Daniel 8:20 — This verse explicitly tells the reader what the ram with two horns represents: the kings of Media and Persia.

Daniel 8:3 — This verse describes the ram and its two horns, the imagery later explained in Daniel 8:20.

What Does the Bible Say About the Ram in Daniel's Vision?

Daniel's vision records that he saw a ram with two horns standing before the river. The two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last (Daniel 8:3). The ram pushed westward, northward, and southward, and no beast could stand before him or deliver out of his hand (Daniel 8:4). The interpretation is then given directly in the text: "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia" (Daniel 8:20). So the Bible itself identifies the ram as a symbol of the royal power of Media and Persia, not as a literal animal.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Ram in Daniel's Vision?

Les teaches that Daniel 8 is prophecy that has already been fulfilled (Clip 0). He says the Medes and Persians are depicted as the ram with two horns, and the horns are the individual kings — the father of Cyrus ruling earlier, and then Cyrus on the scene (Clip 2). He also notes that the Medes and Persians held sway over Israel, which is why they appear in Daniel's prophecy (Clip 3). In Les's broader teaching, the same Medo-Persian empire is pictured as a bear in Daniel 7 (Clips 4 and 6), but in Daniel 8 the ram is the specific symbol for the kings of Media and Persia.

What Did Les Teach About the Two Horns of the Ram?

Les says the two horns are the two individual kings of the Medo-Persian empire. The father of Cyrus was ruling earlier, and then Cyrus came on the scene. He calls the horns 'emperors' and 'kings.'

How Does the Ram Fit With the Other Empires in Daniel?

Les teaches that the Medo-Persian empire held sway over Israel, which is why they are in prophecy. In Daniel 7 the same empire is shown as a bear, while Daniel 8 uses a ram. Both images point to the same empire.

Is Daniel 8 History or Future?

Les says Daniel 8 has already been fulfilled. He marks it as part of the accurate, already fulfilled prophecy of the Old Testament, giving confidence that the rest of prophecy will also be fulfilled.

From the Teaching

Daniel 8 as Fulfilled Prophecy

Les shows that Daniel 8 records prophecy that has already been fulfilled, setting the stage for understanding symbolic imagery like the ram.

The Antichrist Revealed: What 2 Thessalonians Really Says

He saw the Medes and Persians as the bear. And he saw the Greek Empire as the ram, if I remember correctly. And then the fourth empire was a beast beyond description. All right, now look at them here. They're in reverse order, because see, Daniel saw them from a prophetic view from start coming down. John sees them now as looking back.

The Ram's Two Horns as Kings

Les teaches that the Medes and Persians are depicted as the ram with two horns, and those horns are the individual kings — the father of Cyrus and Cyrus.

Medo-Persian Rule Over Israel

Les explains that the Medes and Persians held sway over Israel, which is why the empire is part of Daniel's prophecy.

Medes and Persians as the Bear in Daniel 7

Les identifies the bear in Daniel 7 as the Medes and Persians, who took over the then-known world.

Daniel's Four Beasts and the Revived Roman Empire Explained

And then he had no more in seeing that come out of his dream, and he says, I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked. In other words, it was defeated, it fell. And it was lifted up from the earth and made stand upon the feet of the man, and a man's heart was given to it. And then, verse 5, as a result of that fall, what happened? Well, another empire. And another beast.

Bear as the Median-Persian Empire

Les again states that the bear in Daniel 7 is the Median Persian empire, showing how the same empire appears as different animals in different visions.

The Antichrist Revealed: What Revelation 13 Really Says

He goes to the Greek, that is from the Roman, then to the Greek, the leopard, and then back to the Median and Persian, the bear, and then to the Babylonian empire, the lion. Now those four empires are the ones that the Bible concerns itself with as the times of the Gentiles. Now, when you come back to Daniel chapter 7 then, now come back into verse 7.

Bible Verses

Daniel 8:3: Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

This verse introduces the ram with two horns, the central symbol of the vision.

Daniel 8:4: I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

This verse describes the ram's conquests in four directions, showing its power and expansion.

Daniel 8:20: The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

This is the only place in Daniel where the ram is explicitly interpreted, answering the question directly.

Daniel 7:5: 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.

Les uses this verse when teaching that the same Medo-Persian empire is pictured as a bear in Daniel 7.

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