He came near, that he might speak more familiarly to him, yet Daniel could not bear the glory of it, Matthew 17:6. How much less can we bear the glory of God! and how graciously hath the Lord dealt with us to teach us by men, and not by angels! and how vain are they who aspire to a converse with angels here on earth! O son of man: he calls him son of man, to make him mind his frailty, and not to be lifted up with visions, and this great condescension and familiarity of Heaven with him. At the time of the end, i.e. in God's appointed time, i.e. in the latter generations, but not now in thy lifetime, but about four hundred years hence. See Daniel 8:26.
Related Commentaries of Daniel 8:17
Daniel 8:17
17 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.