Daniel 7

 

Daniel 7:1

(1) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; (2) then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it.

  1. The vision is introduced.
  2. What follows is the summary of that dream.

Daniel 7:2

Daniel said, (1) I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, (2) the four winds of heaven were stirring up (3) the great sea.

  1. He was seeing.  This is a vision, or a visible thing.
  2. Spiritual.  Activity of the spirits of some kind.  The four winds are also referenced in Revelation.
  3. Probably the Mediterranean.

Daniel 7:3

And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 

  1. This is the substance of the dream–four unique beasts.

Daniel 7:4

(1) The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. (2) I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and (3) it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; (4) a human mind also was given to it.

  1. Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar.
  2. It was made to no longer have wings–it could no longer ascend and have swift travel.
  3. It was also brought to its feet, made to be human.
  4. A human mind was also given to it.  Probably in reference some to the ordeal of Nebuchadnezzar in losing his mind.  One has to beg the question, these rulers, what were they?  If a human mind was given to it, then they truly were beasts to begin with.  These are in one sense humans, but, in another sense, they are truly beasts.  They cannot, unless they have a human mind, be reasoned with.  There is no diplomacy with such.  These are demonically inspired, controlled, and permeated beings.  And, while prayers and petitions should be offered for all kings and those in authority, that we may lead peaceable lives, we must not forget that those who are controlled and empowered by the devil are just that.  And, they will continue to be that unless another spiritual power, greater than it, overcomes it, binds it, so that the house can be spoiled.

Daniel 7:5

(1) And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and (2) three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 

  1. Media-Persia is in view.
  2. It’s conquest and devouring nature are revealed.

Daniel 7:6

(1) After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back (2) four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 

  1. This is Greece.
  2. Probably in someway indicating their leaders and their swiftness.  Alexander the Great also spread so quickly across the world, conquering it at a young age.  In such a way, he was fast like a leopard, and had four wings with which to fly.

Daniel 7:7

(1) After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, (2) a fourth beast, (3) dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; (4) and it had large iron teeth. It (5) devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and (6) it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and (7) it had ten horns. 

  1. The vision continues.
  2. The fourth, and final beast.
  3. It is not described as a creature, but only in a few attributes, in that it was terrible.
  4. And, it’s large teeth to devour.
  5. Rome devoured the land and everything it touched, even as iron crushes everything.
  6. It was remarked as “different”.
  7. The ten horns will be interpreted for us.

Daniel 7:8

(1) While I was contemplating the horns, behold, (2) another horn, a little one, came up among them, and (3) three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and (4) behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.

  1. Here we see the Roman Kings.  In Revelation 17, we see it talk of seven kings.  Here, we see ten kings, but three pulled up by the roots.  The book of Daniel is primarily concerned with the people of Israel and the temple, as Daniel 9 indicates.  Hence, these ten Roman Kings are:
    1. Augustus
    2. Tiberius
    3. Caligua
    4. Cladius
    5. Nero
    6. Galba*
    7. Otho*
    8. Vitellius*
    9. Vespasian
    10. Titus
    11. Domitian
  2. Domitian would be seen as the “little horn”.  Both he and Titus were sons of Vespasian, and the three emperors, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, were all deposed right before his reign, serving for less than a year.  According to history, after Nero’s death, there was no clear heir.  Vespasian was a worthwhile choice, but he was busy far from the city of Rome, dealing with Jerusalem.  Titus, his older son, was also dealing with the capital of Israel.  Domitian, on the other hand, was in Rome.  History does not indicate all that he did, as much was probably in secret and intrigue, but it is probable that he helped work to secure the emperorship for his father Vespasian.
  3. The text says simply that three horns will pulled up by the roots before him.  It does not say the 11th horn did the pulling, but that they were pulled up.  Indeed, we see all three of the other non-Vespasian rulers, Otho, Galba, and Vitellius pulled up completely, and their families and heirs were not made emperor.  While Otho is said to have killed himself and another fell in battle, the effect is the same, the three were pulled up, whether directly or indireactly at the hand of this 11th horn.  The text in Revelation 17 simply ignores the three horns that didn’t last, and it is good to note that they never ruled in Judea.  Their emperorhood lasted less than a year in each case, and there were four emperors in Rome in a single year.
  4. This describes Domitian, with eyes and a mouth uttering blasphemies.

Daniel 7:9-10

(1) I kept looking until (2) thrones were set up, and (3) the Ancient of Days took His seat; (4) His vesture was like white snow and (5) the hair of His head like pure wool. (6) His throne was ablaze with flames, (7) its wheels were a burning fire. (8) A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; (9) Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; (10) The court sat, (11) And the books were opened.

  1. This is indicative of many visions.  If you want to see more, keep on looking.  Whether this was compulsory on Daniel or not, it is often good advice for anyone receiving revelation:  Keep looking.
  2. Daniel sees the throne of God.  Many commentators have made the mistake to assume that simply because the throne room is described here, that every other reference to thrones being set up is the same scene.  This is categorically false.  God is on the throne, he holds court, and issues judgments regularly.  This is, of course, the same setting, but this particular holding of court is on the specific matter of the beast.  While one can certainly relate the features of the room to other references to the throne room scene, one cannot automatically claim that the contents of the deliberation and resultant judgments are the same.  Even as in courts of law in our own day, the same court-room exists, but each day is a new trial.
  3. The Father makes His judgment.  This is the ultimate vindication of anyone, for when He sits in judgment, none can contramand his sentence.  Once He gets involved, it will not stop until His way is fulfilled all the way.
  4. A white robe, similar to Revelation 1.
  5. His hair is white like wool.  Judges in the past often wore wigs as such, but this is His glory, as well.  He is wise, and ancient.  But, most of all, perfectly pure.
  6. His throne is on fire.  Power, and strength are indicative.  Not that it isn’t a literal, spiritual fire, for they are not merely parables, but the spiritual reality of the things.
  7. It has wheels, as described by Ezekiel.
  8. The river of fire is described.  This is God in His judgment.  He judges, and avenges, and makes war.  Much like the river of life, and, perhaps the same thing, as well as the sea of glass mixed with fire.
  9. The multitude of Revelation, perhaps.
  10. The court sitting.  This should be a regular occurance, although perhaps not on this scale, as the judgment of the beast.
  11. Books were opened, is part of a kingdom proceeding.  It is not indicated which books were opened, just that they were.  It does not have to relate to Revelation 20:12, as books would be opened for any judicial proceeding.  The books are the record of things done, and no court proceeding can be official without the official record of deeds.  Hence, this is simply what happens in court, and the witness of the books is merely evidence that this is, in effect, a criminal trial.  The record of the beast, the little horn, must be judged, and the only way that can happen judiciously is through record of the books.  The same is true in Revelation 20:12 for individuals, but there is no necessity to equate the two court proceedings.

Daniel 7:11

(1) Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; (2) I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.

  1. Domitian’s boastful words.
  2. Domitian is killed, and this beast was destroyed into the fire.

Daniel 7:12

(1) As for the rest of the beasts, (2) their dominion was taken away, but (3) an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.

  1. The rest of the beasts, meaning the first three.
  2. They had their authority stripped, meaning they could no longer rule the entire world.  Nations continued to exist, but there was no one world government after Rome.
  3. They were allowed to live for a “season and a time”, according to the Authorized Version.  This clearly indicates that this is not the end of time, as the three other demonic beasts were allowed to continue to exists.  This cannot be right before the second coming, Revelation 20:12, because there will still be demonic empires in the Earth, but they will not have their former dominion.  Hence, there is no way whatsoever to connect Daniel 7 with Revelation 20, or with an end-of-the-world scenario, even as most appreciate the Millennium to be (which is discussed in the Revelation 20 section).  Of all the futurist dealings with Daniel 7, little talk is seen regarding this “season and a time”, or “an appointed period of time”.  It seems to this interpreter, that the season could well be the season of the thousand years, where the church grew and filled the whole earth, and the time is the short time after that thousand years, where the enemy attempts to deceive the nations to war against the saints and Israel, apparently.

Daniel 7:13-14

(1) I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, (2) with the clouds of heaven (3) one like a Son of Man (4) was coming, and (5) He came up to the Ancient of Days and (6) was presented before Him. And (7) to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, (8) that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. (9) His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and (10) His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.

  1. Daniel keeps looking.
  2. The clouds, just like Christ’s ascension at the Mount of Olives.
  3. This is Jesus in view.
  4. He was coming, not going.
  5. Coming up to the Father at His ascension after His resurrection, where he told Mary He had not yet ascended to the Father.  This is that ascension.
  6. He had to be presented to the Father, the perfect sacrifice.
  7. This is the result:  dominion, or authority; glory; and a kingdom.  Matthew 28:18, after the ascension above, Jesus says He then has all authority.  Ephesians 1:19-20 makes it clear that he had all dominion, above every other name in this age and in the age to come, so there is no more.  John 17:5 Jesus prayed that He be restored to the glory He formerly had.  Hence, since He has all authority and dominion and glory now, this must be fulfilled.  Since Christ has all of these things currently, there is not more authority nor glory that He can be given at a future time.  Hence, He has been given His Kingdom, and it is this Kingdom that has filled the whole Earth, through the body of His assembly.
  8. Indeed, His body fills the whole world, and all the nations have a Gospel presence.  This is the Kingdom of God of Daniel 2:44.
  9. The Kingdom and dominion will never pass away.  It is an everlasting Kingdom, Psalm 145:13.
  10. It will never be destroyed.  The gates of hell have not and will never prevail against the true church of Jesus Christ.

Daniel 7:15-16

(1) As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. (2) I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. (3) So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 

  1. The vision disturbed Daniel.
  2. Daniel, led of the Lord, used wisdom and humility, and asked someone who knew what the vision meant.  The fact that the person asked was in the vision does not appear relevant.
  3. The one asked explained the vision to Daniel

Daniel 7:17

(1) These great beasts, (2) which are four in number, (3) are four kings who will arise from the earth. 

  1. These are world-ruling, one-world government spirits.
  2. They are explicitly identified as being four in number.  This fact is clearly escaped by those who try to make the iron legs and the iron and clay feet into a fourth and fifth empire in Daniel 2, since these are parallel.  Daniel 7:17 makes it clear that there are exactly four beats, not five, not three, or any other number.
  3. They are four kings, and hence, they bring fourth four kingdoms. Again, the number of beasts and kings is explicitly four.

Daniel 7:18

(1) But the saints of the Highest One (2) will receive (3) the kingdom and (4) possess the kingdom forever, (5) for all ages to come.

  1. That is, the believers, known to be Christians first in the city of Antioch.  But, those who are children of Abraham by faith, made holy by the blood of Jesus Christ.
  2. The Authorized Version reads “shall take”, in correlation to Matthew 11:12, taking the kingdom by force.
  3. Again, God only has one Kingdom.
  4. Those who believe inherit Eternal Life in the Kingdom of God forever.
  5. It will never cease.

Daniel 7:19-20

(1) Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, (2) which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze,and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, (3) and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, (4) namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates.

  1. Daniel wants to know about the last beast, Rome.
  2. He describes its characteristics again.
  3. As well as the ten horns, or its ten kings.
  4. And, finally, the 11th horn, Domitian, the beast of Revelation 13, Nero back from the dead.

Daniel 7:21-22

(1) I kept looking, and (2) that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them (3) until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and (4) the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

  1. Daniel continues to look, even as he wanted to know more.
  2. That 11th horn, Domitian, persecuted the church, and was killing many.
  3. Until the Father passed judgment against him.
  4. And, ultimately, through the overthrow of Rome in the following centuries, Christianity was made legal in 313 AD, and the church could flourish.

Daniel 7:23

Thus he said: ‘(1) The fourth beast will be (2) a fourth kingdom on the earth, (3) which will be different from all the other kingdoms and (4) will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it.

  1. The fourth beast, the terrible one.
  2. It is a fourth Kingdom.
  3. Different from all others, as was Rome.
  4. Rome devoured the whole Earth.

Daniel 7:24

(1) As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; (2) and another will arise after them, (3) and he will be different from the previous ones and (4) will subdue three kings.

  1. The ten kings, previous listed, ending with Titus, who destroyed the temple.
  2. Another, Domitian.
  3. He was different, in that he followed after Nero in his persecution of the church.  He did many horrible things, including demanding emperor worship and overturned the Roman legal system.
  4. The YLT reads that he humbled three of the prior kings.  The NASB reads “subdued”.  Whether he did this directly by his hand, or through intrigue in getting his father the principate is no matter.  It does not say he killed them directly, only that he subdued them, in one manner or another.

Daniel 7:25

(1) He will speak out against the Most High and (2) wear down the saints of the Highest One, and (3) he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and (4) they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

  1. He was against Christ and His church.
  2. He persecuted the Christians.
  3. He changed the names of the Roman months and turned over the Roman legal system.
  4. The persecution is said here to have been three and a half years.

Daniel 7:26

(1) But the court will sit for judgment, and (2) his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.

  1. The court, above, will sit in judgment.
  2. The dominion of Domitian is taken away.

Daniel 7:27

(1) Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; (2) His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’

  1. At the final collapse of the Roman empire, there was no longer a “great beast” ruling over the affairs of men.  While one had been since Nebuchadnezzar, for the first time in nearly a thousand years, only the church was the ruling force in the entire world.
  2. Christ’s Kingdom will never end.

Daniel 7:28

(1) At this point the revelation ended. (2) As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.

  1. The vision was over.
  2. Yet, the effect of the revelation upon Daniel had an affect upon his heart.