Daniel 2 describes Gentile empires of gold, silver, bronze, iron and iron/clay that will rule over Judah. Nebuchadnezzar reigned over Babylon and Jerusalem fell in 586 BC. Later in 556 BC, his grandson, Belshazzar, ruled as regent under Nabonidus the king. Daniel had a vision in the third year of Belshazzar so Daniel 8 (583 BC) occurs before Daniel 5 (539 BC) and Babylon and Belshazzar fall to Media-Persia. Daniel and Revelation are not in sequential order. See Revelation Views. Susa, Iran is about 215 miles east of Babylon.

In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at first. (Daniel 8:1).

Daniel saw a ram with two horns that expanded west, north and south and became great. Then a one horned goat came from the west and struck the ram and broke the two horns. The goat became very great but the horn was broken and four took his place.

I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns. And as I was considering, behold, a goat came from the west: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. I saw him [goat] come close unto the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns. Therefore the goat waxed very great; and from it came up four [horns] toward the four winds of heaven (Daniel 8:3, 5, 7, 8).

Then came a little horn which was great and expanded south and east taking Israel. He exalted himself and stopped the Jewish sacrifices. The daily sacrifices at the Jewish temple will restart after 1150 days or 2300 morning and evenings.

Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the pleasant land. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down. How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said, Two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed (Daniel 8:9, 11, 13-14).

Daniel wanted to understand the vision. A man stood before him and told the angel Gabriel to tell the meaning of the vision. This is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Daniel was fearful but Gabriel explained the vision. God wants us to know Himself and His Word.

It came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man [Jesus]. So he [Gabriel] 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 (Daniel 8:15-16, 17).

In Daniel 2, there was a statue. Babylon is the head of gold, Media-Persia is the chest and arms of silver, Greece is the stomach and thighs of brass and Rome is the legs of iron. In Daniel 8, the ram with two horns is Media-Persia. The goat is Greece and the great horn is the first king. In 482 BC, Media-Persia attacked Greece. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great retaliated by conquering Media-Persia but then died in 323 BC. Four of his generals became kings of four regions. Greek Egypt (Ptolemy) ruled Judah but Greek Syria (Seleucus) captured the region in 200 BC.

The ram which you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power (Daniel 8:20-22).

2300 Years

Joseph Miller predicted the Rapture in 1844. Why did the prophecy not come true? Miller and the Seventh Day Adventists started with 457 BC and added 2300 years to come up with 1844. Daniel 8 started with Alexander the Great's war with Media-Persia in 334 BC and not 457 BC. This prophecy was about the Gentile's rule of Israel, Jerusalem and the temple and not the Church, Rapture or Heaven. In 1967 during the Six Day War, Israel recaptured Jerusalem and the temple mount.

Antiochus IV and the Maccabean Revolt

In 167 BC, Greek Syrian king, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), captured Jerusalem and forced Jewish priests to sacrifice pigs to Zeus on the altar of the Jewish temple. Judas Maccabeus refused and started the Maccabean Revolt which lasted three years two months and 10 days (2300 evening and mornings). Then the Jewish temple was recaptured and cleansed as part of the first Hanukkah. Daniel was told to shut the vision because Babylon was ruling Israel and Media-Persia and Greece empires were still future.

In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore you shut up the vision; for it shall be for many days. (Daniel 8:23-24, 26).

Tribulation

In the near future, the Church Age ends at the Rapture and the seven years of Tribulation begins. Ten kings reigns the first half and the Antichrist reigns the second half. Greek Syrian king, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) is a type of the future Antichrist (Matthew 24:15-16). The Tribulation ends at the Second Coming on the Day of Atonement (10th of Tishri).

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End War Chapter 8 - Prophecy Fulfilled, Chapter 13 - Minor Feasts, Major Events, Chapter 25 - Iraq War III,  7000 Years, Revelation Views, Bible Chronology, Daniel's Dream, Hanukkah