When reading in the Memory of Nature records of the past and archetypes of the future evolution of continents, nations and races, an Initiate also investigates the causes underlying the evolution and their method of unfoldment. He sees the terrific battle constantly being waged between the forces of good and the powers of evil; he sees, too, the ultimate victory of good. These opposing forces are represented by the ram and the goat.
Matthew describes the same finale: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And he shall set the sheep on the right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on the right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:31,33,34)
As has already been said, the four elemental forces of God, called by Daniel the four winds of heaven, have their reflection upon our globe as Fire, Air, Water and Earth,
From the original or primordial essence of Deity came forth the martial Lucifer Spirits who made fire too fast. For this reason they were expelled from heaven and, in turn, tempted man by teaching him the negative use of the creative Fire. Toward the end of the present Epoch these mysteries will become common knowledge: "And I heard a mans voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he 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 8:16,17)
Astrologically, the ram represents the highest vibratory power of Aries, the Initiate keywords of which are purity, sacrifice and transmutation. The he-goat represents the lowest phase of Capricorn expressing itself in the selfish use of power. Thus, the two symbols represent two paths — the purely spiritual path leading to transmutation and the wholly material path leading to the transgression and desolation depicted by Daniel. "Yes, he (Lucifer) magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down."
We repeat, the goat is indicative of the sign Capricorn. In this sign the Master Jesus came to earth to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Throughout the Old Testament a goat is symbolic of sacrifice. The Christ came as the sacrificial Lamb for the redemption of the entire earth and its mass of humanity. lie came while the Sun was passing by precession through the sign of the Ram (Aries). Thus, we see a twofold and far-reaching significance in Daniel's vision of the goat and the ram. In the whole Book of Daniel there runs a golden thread of prophetic visions dealing with the life and mission of the blessed Lord Christ.
If the interpretation of this vision be continued in terms of cosmic days, or evolutionary periods, it is shown that these conditions of desolation shall last as long as man functions within the limitation of his five physical senses. They may be likened to the five nails which held the Christ upon the Cross, for they are the five nails that bind the human spirit to the cross of matter — that is, the limitation of the dense physical body as at present constituted. Numerologically, this is revealed in the numbers 2,000 and 300 which, by esoteric addition, yield five (2+3=5).
— Corinne Heline
