What does Daniel 8:12 mean?
The little horn of Daniel's vision (Daniel 8:8–9) represents an infamous king: Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This tyrant will desecrate the temple, interfere with Jewish worship, and make war on the people of Israel (Daniel 8:10–11, 13–14, 23–25). The reference to a "host" falling to this king may mean that many Jews would ally with Epiphanes to avoid persecution. Or it might refer to the many who died under his cruelty.Epiphanes outlawed Jewish religious practices and spitefully desecrated the temple. The prophecy also portrays Antiochus as throwing truth to the ground. In his opposition to God and His people, Antiochus despised the law of Moses and forbade the Jews to honor it. He was able to continue his despicable activities and prosper, for a short while.
Some expositors believe Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his horrific actions foreshadow what the false prophet of the tribulation will do. Revelation 13 pictures the false prophet corrupting worship by causing an image of the beast from the sea (the Antichrist) to be made and for everyone to worship the image (Revelation 13:11–15). Speaking to His followers, Jesus refers to "the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place" (Matthew 24:15), which seems to be a reference to something the Antichrist or false prophet will do in the Jewish temple.