What does Daniel 8:19 mean?
God's inspired Word sometimes offers prophecies which come with "double fulfillment." This refers to a prophecy which is completed in a way foreshadowing another, future fulfillment. While the explanation given here refers to the end of Jewish persecution under a particular ancient king, it also foretells something about the end times.Daniel's vision (Daniel 8:1–2) depicted the rise of a brutal king who would clash with God's people for many, many days (Daniel 8:9–14). Included in this is terrible interference with sacrifices and offerings, and a desecration of the temple. The angel who speaks, Gabriel (Daniel 8:16), will provide more details in this passage (Daniel 8:23–25).
The first fulfillment of these ideas will come through Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Greek who brutally persecuted the Jewish people centuries after Daniel and centuries before Jesus' earthly ministry. Epiphanes spitefully vandalized the temple and outlawed Jewish worship. The second fulfillment of these ideas will not occur until the end times (Matthew 24:15–27; Revelation 13).