In Chapter 8 Daniel records another vision. This one occurs two years after the one described in Chapter 7.  He sees another picture of the MedoPersian empire -- this time, as a ram. And, he sees another picture of Alexander the Great and the Greek generals that succeeded him.  Of the four military generals, Seleucus held the most territory. 150 or so years later, one of his successors was Antiochus IV Epiphanes. 
The horn that rises up among the four horns (Daniel (8:9) is thought to refer to Antiochus IV. And, the events around the desceration of the temple that he led are thought to be the foundation for the Maccabean revolt that occured in the years prior to the coming of Jesus in the Gospels.
From the ESV Study Bible (2008, Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, IL): "this horn grew great, even to the host of heaven, and some of the stars it threw down to the ground. . . almost certainly refers to saints who were killed during Antiochus IV's reign. It began the the assassination of the high priest Onias III in 170 BC and continued to the death of Antiochus IV in 164. Within those few years, he executed thousands of Jews."
Language in Chapter 8 by Gabriel suggests that, in addition to the prophecy already (from our perspective) fulfilled, the attributes applied to Antiochus IV may also serve as a type (i.e. a foreshadowing) for the Antichrist.
 
Background commentary excerpts can be found here.
 
 
 

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