Daniel 7

Daniel Chapter SevenVerse 1 Practically all scholars, whether liberal or conservative, are convinced that the prophecy of this chapter follows the same pattern as that in Daniel 2, and that the “four beasts” appearing here are to be identified with the four parts of the great image with the head of gold which appeared in Daniel 2. This means also that the same critical errors alleged in their interpretations of Daniel 2 are repeated in this chapter, where against all reason, and opposed to the plainest facts, critical enemies of the Bible insist on identifying the fourth of the world empires prophesied here as that of the Greeks and Macedonians under Alexander the Great. The greatest minds of human history, as well as many of the intellectual giants of our own millennium, have unanimously and invariably identified the “four beasts” of this chapter as Babylon, Medo-Persia, the Greeks, and the empire of the Romans. Note the following: “The traditional theory is that the fourth empire is the Roman."[1]“The common Jewish belief much earlier than the fourth century was that the fourth empire was the Roman."[2]“The Fourth Book of Esdras (dated near the beginning of the Christian era) describes the Roman power as an eagle and expressly identifies the Roman empire as the fourth beast of Daniel."[3]The apostle John, as we found in our studies of the Revelation, did not hesitate to identify the beast with the ten horns as Rome. “The apocalypse of Baruch which was written about 60 B.C. expressly designates Rome as the fourth beast of Daniel."[4]The Bible teaches that the kingdom of God was to be established in the days of the “fourth beast”; and that of course was during the times of the Roman empire. Trying to force the interpretation that Alexander’s kingdom was the fourth beast reduces the prophecy to an absurdity. “The interpretation commonly received in the church (throughout history) is that these four kingdoms (or beasts) are the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Macedo-Grecian, and the Roman. On this opinion, Martin Luther wrote, ‘All the world are agreed, and history and fact abundantly establish it.’"[5]“Sir Isaac Newton stated that the fourth beast is undoubtedly that of the Roman empire and devoted an entire chapter to his exposition of how the little horn rooted out three of the ten horns."[6]From the above, it is absolutely clear that when this prophecy is approached intellectually, the traditional and we believe authentic understanding of the prophecy is absolutely valid. The greatest minds of two millenniums could hardly be wrong about what the language says and means. Besides, anyone who will put his mind to the task of discerning what is meant by the words of these chapters (Daniel 2 and Daniel 7) cannot fall to discern the truth. How then does it come about that the near-unanimous opinion of critical scholars today shifts from the true interpretation? It is very important that this be properly understood. The a priori bias of the critical schools today which deny the supernatural, reject any such thing as predictive prophecy, reject all ideas of the miraculous, do not believe in the inspiration of Bible writers, and in fact reject every major premise of Christianity, including all of its fundamentals such as the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment - this bias, this necessity which they have taken upon themselves to deny everything in the Bible that contradicts their godless prior assumptions forces them to deny a book like Daniel. Keil stated that the true understanding of Daniel prevailed until about the end of the last century; but when faith in the supernatural origin and character of Biblical prophecy was shaken by Deism and Rationalism, the prophecy of the Roman Empire under the figure of the fourth best was denied. On what grounds? Here is the logic (?). Since there is no such thing as predictive prophecy, the author of Daniel could not have prophesied anything that he had not seen and witnessed; and, since the very earliest that they dared to allege the date of Daniel had to be placed subsequent to what is prophesied, they misinterpreted clear and undeniable references to the Roman Empire as being references to the empire of Alexander! Then they arbitrarily, and against all evidence and all reason, moved the date of Daniel to the times of the Maccabees (about 165 B.C.). This meant, of course, that Daniel could not have written the book. The whole fraudulent position of critical enemies of the Bible is apparent in such shenanigans as that! Furthermore, look at the writings of the whole fraternity of the Bible enemies; there is not an original idea in all of them put together. They are all parroting the same outdated, exploded, disproved and ridiculous arguments that were first advocated a hundred years ago. We are willing to admit this: if one is willing to give up all hope, reject the claims of the Christian religion, and enter upon a sensuous unbelieving existence apart from God and without hope in the world, these critical enemies of God’s Word are exactly the crutch that he needs. Any truth in their evil postulations? Certainly not. Daniel 7:1“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.““This dream and the visions were special, divinely-imposed revelations from God, as the rest of the chapter shows? We are here dealing, not with an ordinary dream of Daniel, but with a revelation from God. Some of the inscriptions excavated from Babylon indicate that Nabonidus was actually king, leading to charges that this contradicts the Biblical account where Belshazzar is seen as the king when the nation fells But, as Thomson said, “We now know that for five years during the nominal reign of his father Nabonidus, Belshazzar was acting as king."[9] This solves the difficulty. Verse 2 “Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold the four winds of heaven brake forth upon the great sea.““The four winds of heaven here …” are cosmic forces of the greatest extent. Involved are the rise of populations and human systems and developments pertaining to all the people of the earth. The “great sea” here is not the Mediterranean sea, but the oceans of population upon earth. Just as we have in Revelation 13, where either the apostle John, or perhaps even Satan himself (depending upon the translation) “stood upon the seashore” to behold the great scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns that came up out of the sea, the sea of earth’s peoples, just as in the case here. The kinship between Revelation and Daniel is evident in many such particulars. Verse 3 “And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagles’ wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it.“These beasts do not represent individual kings, but kingdoms. Scholars of all schools agree that Babylon was this first beast. We have already noted that Babylon was noted for its identity with this beast, the king of animals. There is some disagreement about what is meant by “a man’s heart being given to it” (Daniel 7:4); but Young’s view that, “The change that came upon the beast evidently has reference to the event of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness and his subsequent restoration,"[10] is as good as any. Verse 5 “And behold another beast, like to a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.“The big factor in the identification of this beast is that it came after the first thus denoting that it was the empire that succeeded Babylon. All of the other details, it appears to us are inert factors in the vision, collectively designed to show the ruthless and destructive character of all the great pagan empires as they most surely applied to the second beast also. We have discovered no reasonable interpretation of the three ribs between its teeth. For long ages, this second beast was identified by all scholars as the Medo-Persian power which succeeded Babylon. The critical device of making this second beast refer to the Median Empire and the third beast a reference to the Persian empire, with only one thing in mind, namely that of making the fourth beast a prophecy of Alexander’s empire, is fraudulent. The Medo-Persian empire was not two different empires, but one only. “History knows of no Median empire."[11] “This hypothesis of Medo-Persia being two empires is destitute of every foundation."[12] In Daniel’s prophecy that Babylon would be divided and given to “the Medes and the Persians” (Daniel 5:28), the fulfillment is given in Daniel 5:31, “Darius the Mede took the kingdom,” indicating that there was just one kingdom, Darius taking “the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians.” Verse 6 “After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon its back four wings of a bird; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.“This beast having four wings of a bird was thus represented as moving very rapidly; and of all the empires ever to rise in human history, Alexander’s came to power with the greatest swiftness. Another factor that make it mandatory to apply this to the Macedonian-Grecian empire is the mention of four heads. This simply cannot be applied to Persia. It is obviously a prophetic reference to the four generals of Alexander the Great who founded four different empires upon the territory conquered by Alexander. This particular alone makes it impossible intellectually to identify this third beast with any other except the empire of Alexander. The proof of this is in Daniel 8:22, on which Keil made this comment: “If the four horns of the he-goat represent four world-kingdoms rising up together, then the four heads of the leopard can never represent four kings reigning one after the other, even though it were the case, which it is not, that Daniel knew only four kings of Persia."[13]Verse 7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the other beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the other horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.“See the chapter introduction for some of the reasons why it is necessary to see this fourth beast as a prophetic reference to the Roman Empire and to no other. In the mid-19th century, Alexander Campbell debated Bishop Purcell of the Roman Catholic Church, affirming that, “The Scriptures teach that the hierarchical Papacy of the Roman Church is The great Harlot' of John's apocalypse, The Man of Sin’ of Paul, and the Little Horn' of Daniel." It is the resistance of this interpretation that leads to the false allegations seeking to deny this. This interpretation is still true, no matter how men may resent it. Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest intellectual giants of an entire millennium, unequivocally interpreted this little horn” as follows: “The little horn is a little kingdom. It was a horn of the fourth beast, and rooted up three of the first horns; and therefore we are to look for it among the nations of the Latin Empire. But it was a kingdom of a different kind from the other ten kingdoms, having a life and soul peculiar to itself, with eyes and a mouth. By its eyes it was a Seer;, and by its mouth speaking great things and changing times and laws, it was a Prophet as well as a King. And such a Seer, Prophet, and King, is the Church of Rome."[14]There is not a Protestant church of any name on earth today that was not founded upon the premise that this interpretation of “the little horn” is true and correct. Furthermore, Sir Isaac Newton went on to identify in detail the “ten kingdoms” (the ten horns) that succeeded the fall of Rome in 476 A.D., and to identify the “three” which were rooted up by the “little horn,” the same three being “The Exarchate of Ravenna,” “The kingdom of Lombardy,” and “the Duchy of Rome,” these three becoming “the Patrimony of Peter,” making the Roman church a small temporal kingdom, which began about that time to coin money, and to assume other signs of temporal authority, such as the establishment of an armed force (the Papal Guards), etc.

It was shortly after the development of this usurpation that the Papacy claimed authority over the kings of the earth, one Pope even presuming to crown Charlemagne as “King of the Holy Roman Empire” on Christmas Day, 800 A.D.[15]The identification of the hierarchical apparatus of the Medieval apostate Church as the little horn of Daniel has been accepted through the entire series of our commentaries; and related passages in the Epistles, and in the Book of Revelation are all synchronized with this interpretation. We do not feel that it is necessary to go into all of this in detail here; but supporting passages in the New Testament should be consulted in the commentaries for further comment on this interpretation. Needless to say, there is absolutely nothing in the description of this fourth beast that gives any hint whatever that the Greek empire is the world power represented by that beast. The critics have tried to find “ten kings” in the Greek Empire; but they are not there. Keil has devoted 22 pages of detailed studies to this question, pp. 245 to 267; and reference is here made to this very excellent study. Of all the preposterous postulations the critical enemies of the truth have ever made, this attempt to make the fourth beast mean the Greek empire is the most ridiculous and unbelievable of all. Verse 9 “I beheld till the thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld at that time because of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.“This passage is undeniably a prophecy of the eternal judgment. (See extensive comment upon the thoughts here as expanded and developed in Revelation 20.) This is the so-called “Great White Throne Judgment.” The Ancient of Days should here be capitalized as it could not possibly refer to anyone else except Almighty God; and the fact that in the New Testament (Revelation 20) it is Christ who sits on this throne, such is a natural result of the early church’s acceptance of Our Lord as indeed Deity, to whom the Father has committed the judgment of all men. It is surprising that the “other beasts” here are represented as being present even until the destruction of the final beast. This is a remarkable consonance with the Apostle John’s Apocalypse, in which it appears that “the kings of the earth” (all of them), the Great Harlot (apostate religion), and Satan himself shall all perish simultaneously in the “lake of tire.” Verse 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him: and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, and nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.“This paragraph somewhat out of chronological sequence relates to the setting up or the establishment of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Note the statement that he was brought near unto God (the Ancient of Days) “with the clouds of heaven,” corresponding exactly with the facts related in the New Testament, that upon Christ’s ascension to the Father to receive the kingdom that he was taken up “with the clouds of heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). Keil and other usually dependable scholars are mistaken in their view that “coming with the clouds of heaven” indicates Christ’s coming down from heaven to earth. We are sure that the words refer to Christ’s “coming with the clouds of heaven” is a reference not to the Second Coming, but to His Ascension to heaven “to receive the kingdom.” “One like unto a son of man …” This expression should be capitalized. “Son of Man,” by far and away Jesus’ favorite title for himself, simply cannot refer to anyone else who ever lived. See extensive discussion of this title under John 1:51 in this series of Commentaries. The problem encountered by the position of this paragraph relates to the fact that it appears that Christ received the kingdom only after the total and final destruction of the world kingdoms. However, the placement of this paragraph cannot indicate the chronological sequence of the event of Jesus’ receiving the everlasting kingdom. Daniel 7:9-12 merely indicate the fact of the vision’s continuing until the time of the judgment and the destruction of the four beasts. These verses do not teach that all of the world powers were destroyed before Christ’s kingdom was established. Daniel 7:13-14 simply announce the establishment of Christ’s kingdom with no word whatever of exactly when this magnificent achievement took place. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 states categorically that at the time of Christ’s giving that commission, “All authority in heaven and upon earth” were at that time in the possession of Christ. Without this light from the New Testament, it would be difficult to discern this.Daniel 2:44, however, which is parallel to the visions here and must be consulted in connection with the interpretation, makes it very plain that the kingdom was to be established “in the days of those kings,” not in the days after the kings were destroyed. Verse 15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this.“There is no wonder at Daniel’s grief. Such terrible monsters as appeared in the vision were a dreadful indication that terrifying times were in store for the troubled races of men. “One of them that stood by,” indicates some heavenly being, perhaps an angel, who explained to Daniel the significance of the visions. Verse 17 “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom, forever, even forever and ever.“There is practically no disagreement from the understanding that “kings” in this vision are to be understood as “kingdoms” or “world-governments.” “Four” in the numerology of the Hebrews is the number of the earth; and what is indicated here is that monstrous world-governments shall continue throughout the world’s history (Isn’t it true?). “But the saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdom …” Exactly when this event takes place was not indicated here; but Daniel 2:44 and supplemental information from the New Testament indicate that the possession was to take place in the days of the “fourth” great beast, namely, the days of the Roman Empire. Daniel 7:22 also mentions the saints’ possession of the kingdom; and apparently that reference is focused upon the everlasting phase of the kingdom mentioned by the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:10-11. Thus the “possession of the kingdom” is not a single date at all. Christian baptism admits one into the kingdom (Colossians 1:13); but it is fidelity that grants one, at last, admission “into the eternal kingdom” (2 Peter 1:10-11). Such facts as these were not revealed to Daniel; and it is therefore quite normal that there should have appeared some evidence of ambiguity on these particular points in the vision. Verse 19 “Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.“Some scholars have mistakenly confused “saints of the Most High” with the Jewish people; but, in this connection it must be remembered that during the times of the fourth beast with the ten horns and the little horn that made war against God’s people, the Jews are most definitely not meant. Israel was at that time in total rebellion against God and had already suffered judicial hardening. Therefore, the mention of “saints” here is a reference to Christians, servants of Jesus Christ. Any notion that secular Israel, or racial Jews ever “received the kingdom of Christ” is totally refuted by every word of the New Testament. It is precisely in the instance of these ten horns and the little horn that uprooted three of the ten, persecuted God’s people, and became a perpetual factor on earth even until the time of the judgment, - it is precisely here that the fourth beast was “diverse” from the others. See under Daniel 7:25, below, for interpretation of “how long” this little horn continued, namely, for “time and times and half a time.” “Until … the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom …” The possession of the kingdom here is not a reference to the establishment of the kingdom, nor to the entry of saints into the kingdom, but is a reference to that point in the future at which time, “The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ: and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Verse 23 “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And so for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and a half a time.“Several very important deductions are made mandatory by these words. Note that the “saints” existed throughout the period of the little horn, itself a part of the fourth beast, having arisen out of it. “Shall be diverse …” This is twice mentioned - in both Daniel 7:24 and Daniel 7:25. Not all of that diversity is spelled out here; but the New Testament sheds further light upon it. The diversity is seen in that (1) the little horn is a religious kingdom, as indicated by its two horns (of a lamb) (Revelation 13:11); (2) it shall prevail mightily, continuing, even to the end; (3) it will think to change times and law, especially as regards sacred things (changes were made in such things as baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the two central ordinances in the Christian religion); (4) it became a terrible persecuting power of God’s true people; it formed alliances with the kings of the earth, etc., etc. “Time and times and a half a time …” The key fact of what this means is plainly taught in the Book of Revelation; but as far as we have been able to determine, the true meaning is today unknown by practically the whole world of Bible scholars. The whole dispensation of the kingdom of Christ until the final judgment, embracing all of the time between the First Advent of Christ and the Second Advent of Christ culminating in the Final Judgment of all men, is repeatedly mentioned in Revelation. Here are the references:

1. The Christian martyrs of Rev 6:10 pleaded with God to tell them, “How long?” it would be before the final judgment at which time they would be avenged upon those who had slain them. From the answer given, it is obvious that that vengeance would come at the final judgment in the end of time, that is, at the end of the whole Christian dispensation. The answer? And it was said unto them that they should rest yet FOR A LITTLE TIME (until all the future martyrs who were yet to die in the faith should join them). Here the whole Christian dispensation is called “a little time.”
2. Revelation 12:12 explains the hatred of Satan for God’s church, a hatred which, of course, exists during every moment of the Christian dispensation. What is the reason? “Satan has great wrath, knowing that he hath but a SHORT TIME. How long is that? It is the total time between the First Advent and the Second Advent of Christ.
3. God promised to nourish his church during her wilderness probation (Revelation 12:14). This period is described as “always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20); but it is also referred to in this passage (Revelation 12:14), as A TIME AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME.
4. This same period when God will nourish his Church in the wilderness, protecting her from Satan’s hatred, is also called in Revelation 12:6 A TWO HUNDRED AND THREE-SCORE DAYS.
5. The authority of the little horn (identified with the fourth beast of Daniel) is stated in Revelation 13:5 to continue for FORTY AND TWO MONTHS. Since both Daniel and Revelation make it clear that this period is actually to last until the end of time, it becomes mandatory to believe that all such time-references in Revelation have exactly the same meaning. Every one of these means “The whole Christian Dispensation.”
6. “They shall live and reign with Christ a YEARS” (Revelation 20:4-6). As long as saints “suffer with Christ,” they also “reign with Him”; and therefore this " YEARS” can be nothing else except the whole dispensation of Christ, lasting all the way from the First Advent through the Second Advent of Christ. The above understanding of these mysterious time-references in Daniel and Revelation is absolutely necessary to any complete understanding of these prophecies. In connection with these studies, the Commentary on Revelation should be consulted. Much additional material is available there. (Also see the Excursus on “The Man of Sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2 in this series.) A careful coordination of the passages in Revelation, with the revelations in this prophecy (Daniel 2 andDaniel 7), with due respect to other New Testament references to this same phenomenon, namely, that of the Great Apostasy from Christianity which was specifically foretold by the New Testament authors, will fully confirm all of the positions which we have advocated in the interpretations presented here. Verse 26 “But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given unto the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.““But the judgment shall be set …” This is God’s final and effective answer to all of the misdeeds of men and of nations. It is necessary in the mercy and providence of God that the continuity of Adam’s race upon earth shall be allowed until the full number of the Redeemed have come into service of God through Christ. Concurrently with this it is unavoidable that many terrible developments shall plague Adam’s rebellious, sinful race.

These terrible examples of wicked human governments, symbolized by the four beasts, are among the most prominent and the most evil of those wicked things that shall arise among earth’s populations. But, in His own good time, THE . “But the Judgment!” Yes there shall indeed be a final Judgment Day. This is one of the foundational doctrines of Christianity (Hebrews 6:2). The Judgment Day is extensively mentioned in the New Testament. That is the occasion when God will cast evil out of his universe, when Satan, and the Beast (all of the beasts), and the False Prophet (all false and immoral religion) shall be cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone. (See Revelation 18-20.) The Final Judgment may not be dismissed as merely a sensational feature of apocalyptic literature. Christ spoke plainly of it in Matthew 25; and those who accept Christ as the world’s only Lord and Saviour are surely obligated to believe what he said of that Eternal Day.

Commentary On Daniel Seven by Eric HallDaniel 7As we leave the first six chapters and enter chapter 7, we are leaving historical narrative behind and entering an apocalyptic section. What is apocalyptic language?Apocalyptic language is composed of symbols that are often lurid in color, violent in tone, and easily remembered. They strike the imagination and grab hold of the mind. Such language is found in Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Isaiah, and even in the gospels and epistles. What is the purpose of apocalyptic language?It denotes conflict and victory. It is used when God judges and smites an oppressor and vindicates his people. It is used to describe times of crisis and judgment. Why does God use apocalyptic language?Some think that the language is used to hide the true meaning from hostile authorities and thus shield God’ s people from retaliation. This makes more sense with the book of Revelation than it does with the book of Daniel. Who are the hostile authorities in Daniel? The Jews were not being persecuted. Further, writing the message in Hebrew would no doubt have been sufficient to hide its meaning from the Chaldeans and the Persians. I think the reason God uses such language is because of its emotional impact. Apocalyptic books are oil paintings from God. The vivid and violent language conveys emotional images while also conveying historical facts – just as a painting can convey emotions and facts. Numbers 12:8 reminds us that God does not always speak clearly, but sometimes uses dark language. (Such language may be reserved for times of conflict and judgment.) How do we interpret apocalyptic language?We need to pay particular attention to numbers and periods of time. They have symbolic meanings that must be deduced from the evidence. 3 is the number of God. 12 is the number of God’ s people. 10 is the number of completeness. 7 is the number of perfection. 6 is the number of imperfection. 8 is the number of renewal. Apocalyptic language always has historical significance, so we must study history in order to interpret it properly. The usual approach to scripture is to understand a passage literally unless we are forced to do otherwise. For example, Jesus told us to cut off our right hand if it offends us. Was this a literal command or should we interpret it figuratively? This is reversed for apocalyptic language – it should be understand figuratively unless we are forced to do otherwise. Whatever we do, we should strive to be consistent. (Hal Lindsey says the 144,000 Jews in Revelation 7:4 are literal yet the locusts in Revelation 9:3 are cobra helicopters. John Walvoord says the 10 days in Revelation 2:10 are figurative yet the 1000 years in Revelation 20 are literal.) The following principles are helpful in interpreting apocalyptic language. (1) We should understand apocalyptic language figuratively unless we are forced to do otherwise. We should be consistent in our interpretations. (2) Similarity of language does not prove identity of subjects. (There are many judgments in the Bible, but the same language is used to describe each – Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Edom. Jerusalem, Rome, the world.) (3) Dissimilarity of language does not prove distinctness of subjects. (4) Easy to understand scriptures should be used to understand harder passages. This basic principle of hermeneutics should be used whenever we study the Bible. We should be very wary of any interpretation of apocalyptic language that conflicts with easier passages found elsewhere. (Premillennialism is based entirely on Revelation 20 and as we know is in conflict with a host of other passages.) (5) Mark Twain: “ When you find yourselves on the side of the majority, it is probably time to change sides.” Keep in mind that more nonsense has been written about these books than any other Biblical subject. We must be discerning. But shouldn’ t we just take all scripture literally? NO ONE takes all scripture literally. Of course, when we say that we do not take all scripture literally we do not mean that we do not believe that all scripture is true. We know that God’ s word is absolutely true and contains no falsehoods or inaccuracies – historical, scientific, or otherwise. The question is not whether a particular passage is true, but is instead whether God is using literal language or figurative language to convey the truth to us. To take Matthew 5:30 literally would require Christians to practice self-mutilation. Is Genesis 3:15 a prophecy about snakes and humans or about God and Satan? Was Hosea mistaken when he told Israel they were going into Egyptian captivity when they really went into Assyrian captivity – or did he simply know that to a Jew ‘ Egypt’ denotes slavery and captivity? To literally interpret Ezekiel 16:53– 55 would require the resurrection of the Sodomites to their former prosperity despite what we read in Jude 7. To literalize Ezekiel 37:22– 25 would require David and not Jesus be Israel’ s eternal king. To literalize Isaiah 34:5– 17 would require that Edom exist eternally here on earth and burn eternally while weeds and animals live in it. NO ONE takes all scripture literally – indeed, it is not logically possible to do so. Instead we need to approach the scripture with the common sense that God has given to us and that he knew we had when he gave us his word. God wants a thinking people! One last example: Matthew 24:21 and Ezekiel 5:9, in reference to different events, both claim that the event in question will be a greater calamity than anything that has occurred or will ever occur. Logically, this could not be literally true of both events! The solution is to recognize the language as hyperbole and reject the literal interpretation. Sometimes one hears or reads Deuteronomy 29:29 applied to apocalyptic language. The secret things belong to the Lord our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. The idea is that we shouldn’ t worry about what books like Revelation and Daniel mean because they contain secret things that belong only to God. But does this make any sense? The word apokalupsis in Greek means unveiled, uncovered, or revealed! Apocalyptic books do not contain secret things, they contain revealed things. The Bible is meant to be understood – and if we don’ t understand it, we shouldn’ t blame our inability on God. He wants us to understand his word. Apocalyptic language is meant to convey comfort to those suffering captivity or persecution. What would it say about God if he offered us comfort but worded it in such a way that we could never receive that comfort? He wants us to understand his word. Final comments before we begin:Many different interpretations about the following passages have been given. Without discussing all of the other opinions, I will largely confine my efforts to presenting and providing evidence for my own opinions. While it is hard in some places to be dogmatic, it is not impossible. Also, our inability at some points to state with certainty what a passage means does not imply that it could mean anything. We can, even in those cases, still often state with certainty what the passage does not mean. We all have preconceptions about what this book says or does not say. Countless sermons, for example, have used Daniel 12 to preach about the end of the world. We must, however, keep an open mind regarding the evidence in this book. Remember, however, Chesterton’ s comment that an open mind is only useful when it clamps down on something solid. Of course, it goes without saying that whatever is said about these passages should be checked carefully with the word. In Mark 4 and Luke 8 we find two commands of Christ that have largely been ignored. Mark 4:24 Take heed what you hear. Luke 8:18 Take heed how you hear. Hearing is not a neutral activity. Jesus told us to be active hearers and to watch both how and what we hear. (This is not directed just to our leaders, but it is directed to every Christian. This is a very important responsibility that we shouldn’ t turn over to anyone else.) This is particularly crucial today when so many are twisting the scriptures to their own and their listeners’ destruction. Verse 1 1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, and told the sum of the matter.Notice that chronologically this vision occurred before the events that we studied in chapter 6. In fact, this vision occurred prior to the defeat of the Chaldeans by Cyrus. The first year of Belshazzar probably refers to the year 553 in the 6th century BC when Nabonidus left the city of Babylon for 14 years to live in North and Central Arabia. Thus, the first year of his reign would refer to the first year of his coregency. This book states very clearly that this vision was given to Daniel in the 6th century BC.

The late-date crowd states very clearly that this vision was made up in the 2nd century BC. Who are we to believe? To believe the late-date crowd requires us to believe that the author of Daniel was guilty of a deliberate lie. (If he lied he certainly had Jesus fooled! See Matthew 24:15.) Verse 2-3 2 Daniel said, “ I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The wind often denotes the action of God. Like God, the wind is invisible yet can have very dramatic effects. Psalms 18:10 He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind. Hosea 13:15 Though he may flourish as the reed plant, the east wind, the wind of the Lord, shall come, rising from the wilderness; and his fountain shall dry up, his spring shall be parched; it shall strip his treasury of every precious thing.The sea often denotes the restless nations of the world as they toss and churn.Isaiah 17:12-13 Ah, the thunder of many peoples, they thunder like the thundering of the sea! Ah, the roar of nations, they roar like the roaring of mighty waters! 13 The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm. Thus, the wind on the sea would denote the action of God on the restless nations of the world. In verse 3 these four beasts come up from the sea. Later in verse 17 we will see that they also come up from the earth. Coming from the sea means that these beasts will arise from the restless nations of the world. Coming from the earth means that these beasts are of human origin. Verse 4 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand upon two feet like a man; and the mind of a man was given to it.This first beast is Babylon – the same kingdom that was represented by the golden head of the statue we saw in chapter 2. (Chapter 7 parallels chapter 2 in many ways.) A winged lion was a very common symbol for Babylon, especially during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. ALL commentators agree on this point. Like Babylon, this beast was hindered and humiliated by God. In historical fact, the king of Babylon was a man who was given the heart of a beast. In the vision, Babylon is pictured as a beast who is given the heart of a man. Verse 5 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side; it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ This second beast is the combined Medo– Persia empire that both Daniel and secular history say followed the Babylonians. Recall that in chapter 2, Medo– Persia was represented by the breast and arms of silver on the giant statue. Note that one side of the bear is higher than the other side. This stresses the point that in the Medo-Persian empire, the Persians were dominant. This beast is like a bear and is told to continue eating even before it has finished its last meal. It is voracious and greedy. The three ribs may simply add to the picture of the greedy starving bear, or they may depict the three major Medo-Persian conquests that occurred under Cyrus and his son Cambyses. Lydian kingdom in 546 BC haldean kingdom in 539 BC Egypt in 525 BC Verse 6 6 After this I looked, and lo, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back; and the beast had four heads; and dominion was given to it. This third beast represents Greece, which in chapter 2 was denoted by the belly and thighs of brass on the giant statue. This beast is a leopard, which like Greece, moved very fast. This beast has four wings and four heads. Recall that after the death of Alexander, Greece was split into four pieces ruled by his four generals. Note 1: This is an example where it seems most logical to interpret a number literally rather than figuratively even though the number appears in an apocalyptic section. Note 2: Here in Daniel 7:6 Greece is depicted as a beast with four heads. Later in Daniel 8:8 Greece will be depicted as a goat with four horns. In Daniel 8:21– 22 we will find out that those horns denote kings or kingdoms. Thus, heads and horns are sometimes used to denote the same thing – kings or their kingdoms. (This point will be useful to remember as we continue.) The liberals would have us believe that this divided third kingdom is Persia, but Persia remained unified until its end when Alexander the Great conquered it. Who is mistaken? Daniel or his critics? I wonder… The arrogance of these liberal critics is unbounded. Instead of admitting that they are mistaken, they insist that Daniel must have mistakenly thought that Persia would be split into four pieces! Verse 7 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. This fourth beast is Rome, which in chapter 2 was represented by the legs and feet of iron and clay on the giant statue. Like Rome this beast is terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong. And like Rome, it is different from the beasts that came before it. This beast has ten horns, which we will discover in verse 24 denote 10 kings. (We will see which kings they are when we get to verse 24.) Verse 8 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. From among the ten horns arises an eleventh horn. This little horn (which we will later discover denotes an eleventh king) comes up only after three of the ten horns are plucked up. Who is this little horn? We will discover that when we get to verses 24 and 25. Verse 9-10 9 As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. Here we have a judgment scene in which the ancient of days sits at the head of an enormous court in which the books are opened and judgment in rendered. Which judgment does this refer to? There are many different judgments in the Bible. The two leading candidates are the judgment of Rome and the judgment of the world at the end of time. Which choice fits better with the context? Clearly the judgment of Rome does. This is the judgment of the fourth beast, and the fourth beast is Rome. Verse 11 tells us that after this judgment the fourth beast is slain and burned with fire. Verses 21– 22 tell us that this judgment was against the little horn who was waging war against the saints. Verse 26 tells us that this court would take the dominion away from the little horn. Revelation 20 contains another great judgment scene similar to what we see here. (It also contains thrones, books, and fire.) John said that the judgment in Revelation 20 would come to pass soon after the book was written. (Revelation 1:1;1:3;10:6;22:6;22:10) Revelation was written during the Roman persecution. Thus, the context suggests that the judgment scene in Revelation 20 also applies to the judgment of the fourth beast from Daniel 7 – the Roman empire. Thus, I believe that the judgment scene in Daniel 7 and the judgment scene in Revelation 20 both apply to the same judgment – the judgment of Rome. Did Rome fall in the first century? Absolutely no. Was Rome judged and sentenced by God during the first century? Absolutely yes! Verse 11-12 11 I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. The judgment of the court is that the fourth beast be destroyed, which is thus pictured in verse 11. The beast is burned with fire and utterly destroyed. The other three beasts have lost their power (their dominion was taken away), but they are pictured as still being around waiting to hear their fate as well. These three beasts lived on in the fourth beast.

They had the same ungodly ways and aims. We saw this in chapter 2, where all four kingdoms were denoted by a single giant statue. What did they have in common? They were all earthly kingdoms that were trying to take the place of or destroy the one true heavenly kingdom of God. We also see this in John’ s description of Rome found in Revelation 13.Revelation 13:1-2 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems upon its horns and a blasphemous name upon its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.In Revelation 13, the beast (Rome) is like a leopard, a bear, and a lion. Where have we seen these three animals before? In Daniel 7, we just saw a lion, a bear, and a leopard (in that order). In Revelation, John mentions a leopard, a bear, and a lion (in the reverse order). Daniel and John are both looking at the same three kingdoms, but Daniel is looking FORWARD through time whereas John is looking through time! Verse 13-14 13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.At the end of this remarkable judgment scene, Daniel sees “ one like a son of man” come to the Ancient of Days to be presented before him. This son of man is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and in fact this is where the Messianic title “ the Son of Man” came from. Why the Son of Man? Jesus was saying that he was the son of man who was mentioned in Daniel 7! He was taking a Messianic title familiar to every Jew and applying it to himself. Jesus as the representative of his people comes to receive the kingdom.

What does this mean? In verse 22 and 27, it is the saints who receive the kingdom. Like we mentioned in our study of Revelation, Jesus did not receive something here that he did not already have. This part of the judgment scene depicts a public reaffirmation of something that had been true all along. God has removed and judged a great enemy of his people and he wants everyone to be aware of the outcome. In Revelation 1:9, John made it very clear that the kingdom had been established. Yet in Revelation 12:10 we read that “ Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ.” What is meant by this? It is simply a public reaffirmation and display of what was already true! Is it still appropriate to pray “ Thy kingdom come” as the apostles’ were instructed to do in the Lord’ s prayer? Yes. Although the kingdom was established on the Day of Pentecost after the Lord’ s ascension, God’ s kingdom continues to come anytime and anywhere the Lord and his church are victorious over their enemies. Verse 15-16 15 “ As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made known to me the interpretation of the things.Luckily, Daniel was just as curious as we are, so he asks someone standing in the court what the vision meant, and he receives the interpretation. Be very wary of any commentary whose interpretation of this passage disagrees with what we are about to read! At this point we might pause to consider why Daniel was given this vision. A cursory reading of Isaiah might have led some to conclude that the Messiah would appear immediately following the Babylonian captivity. In fact, liberals today believe that Zerubbabel was a disappointing Messiah figure.

Daniel’ s vision says NO. The Messiah will not come until two other kingdoms have come and gone. The Messiah, Daniel will say, will come during the fourth kingdom (Rome). Paul dealt with a similar problem in 2 Thessalonians. There some had quit working to await what they felt would be the immediate return of Christ. Paul told them that Christ would not return until the man of perdition was destroyed. I think the man of perdition is the little horn from Daniel 7, and Paul was simply saying that Jesus could not return until all that God had prophesied in Daniel had come to pass. Some say that the New Testament authors were under the mistaken impression that Jesus’ return was imminent. That is just not so. Paul said just the opposite in 2 Thessalonians. While we say (correctly) that Jesus can return at any moment, that was not true in the first century before all of the events in Daniel had come to pass. Verse 17-18 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, for ever and ever.’ The four beasts are four kings (or kingdoms) as we have suggested. The term “ king” and “ kingdom” are used interchangeably in this chapter. The fourth beast is called a king here in verse 17 and is called a kingdom in verse 23. When the term “ king” is used it most likely speaks of the king or kings who rule the kingdom in question. Should God’ s people have been frightened of these four fierce powers that had arisen or would arise from the earth? No. Notice the word “ but” in verse 18. Things look bad, BUT we are going to win. Our kingdom (unlike these earthly kingdoms) will never pass away. It will outlast them all. Verse 19-22 19 “ Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrible, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze; and which devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up and before which three of them fell, the horn which had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and which seemed greater than its fellows. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom.Daniel skips quickly to the fourth beast, which in this vision was different from all the others. What about the other three? Daniel does not ask about those or perhaps he does but does not give us the details regarding the answer he received. We will learn a great deal about these other kingdoms in the visions that occur later in the book. Daniel repeats the details regarding the fourth kingdom and we learn more about the little horn. Notice that this little horn wages war against the saints. This sheds doubt on the theory of some that this vision is speaking about the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. There, Rome was not waging war on the saints but on the Jews who had persecuted the saints. Daniel will have some things to say about the fall of Jerusalem, but I don’ t think it is being discussed here. In verse 22 we see God coming in judgment. There are many comings of God in the Bible. We often speak of the “ second coming of Christ” as if there were only two. However, the phrase “ second coming of Christ” does not appear anywhere in the Bible. The closest we get is Hebrews 9:28 which says that he will appear a second time – which will occur at the end of the world. While Christ did not literally appear in AD 70, he did come in judgment at that time. Matthew 24:30 describes a coming of Christ and Matthew 24:34 tells us that it happened during the first century. Conclusion? We need to consider the context very carefully when we read of a coming of God or of Christ in the Bible. While Jesus will come again literally at the end of the world, he has come before figuratively in judgment against oppressors of God’ s people. Matthew 24 speaks of his coming in judgment against Jerusalem, and Revelation speaks of his coming in judgment against Rome. Verse 23 23 “ Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.This is an accurate picture of the Roman empire which grew from a dusty village on the Tiber River in the 8th century BC to control virtually the entire known world. This fourth beast is Rome, which was different than all the other kingdoms in its organization and unity. This kingdom breaks things into pieces, unlike Greece which was itself broken into pieces. The fourth kingdom is not Greece; it is Rome. Verse 24-25 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and half a time.Here we again meet the ten horns and the little horn. Do they rule simultaneously? Some have suggested that the language requires that they do so. However, this is not true at all. In Chapter 2, the statue was destroyed at one time yet the kingdoms it depicted did not rule simultaneously. What do we know about the little horn? Let’ s consider the clues: 1. He is of the fourth beast. (verses 7– 8 and 24) This would mean that he would be a king of the Roman empire, which is represented by the fourth beast. 2. He is the 11th king. (verses 7– 8 and 24) The 11th Roman emperor was Domitian. 3. He is a braggart. (verses 8 and 20) Listen to what Suetonius had to say about Domitian in his Lives of the Twelve Caesars: From his youth he was far from being of an affable disposition, but was on the contrary presumptuous and unbridled both in act and word.4. He claims to be deity. (verse 25) Verse 25 says that he would think to change the times. In Daniel 2:21 we read that God changes the times. Thus, this little horn claims to be in the place of God. Suetonius wrote: With no less arrogance he began as follows in issuing a circular letter in the name of his procurators, ‘ Our Master and our God bids that this be done.’ And so the custom arose henceforth of addressing him in no other way even in writing or in conversation. William Barclay wrote: But with the coming of Domitian there came a complete change. Domitian was a devil. He was the worst of all things – a cold blooded persecutor. With the exception of the mad Caligula, he was the first Emperor to take his divinity seriously, and to demand Caesar worship. 5. He is a persecutor of God’ s people. (verses 21– 22 and 25) Domitian began an empire policy of persecution that did not end until 311 AD under the Edict of Toleration by Galerius and Constantine. Tertullian called him a “ limb of the bloody Nero” and that name was associated with him even into the third century. Eusebius called him “ the successor of Nero.” 6. He is depicted as the 8th king when 3 others are removed. (verses 8 and 20– 24) Why was it important to depict Domitian as number 8 rather than number 11? Listen to what Milligan had to say about the number eight: The number six itself awakened a feeling of dread in the breast of the Jew who felt the significance of numbers. It fell below seven just as eight went beyond it. [The number eight] denoted more than the simple possession of the Divine. As in the case of circumcision on the eighth day, of the “ great day” of the feast on the eighth day, or of the resurrection of our Lord on the first day of the week, following the previous seven days, it expressed a new beginning in active power.The Year of Jubilee when everyone got the chance to begin all over again, followed seven sevens of years. The leper who had been excluded from the congregation was given a new beginning on the eighth day. (Lev. 14:10) In early Christian literature, Christ was referred to as 888. How does the number 8 fit with Domitian? Nero was the first to actively persecute Christians.Tertullian wrote: Consult your annals, and there you will find Nero, the first emperor who dyed his sword in Christian blood.He later referred to Domitian as a “ limb of the bloody Nero.” A rumor arose during the reign of Domitian that he was literally Nero, raised from the dead. How else would he be described except by the number 8? Who are these three kings that are uprooted? Galba, Otho, and Vitellius all reigned within less than a two year period of time. These are the three that are pushed out of the way so that the actual 11th emperor can be seen as the symbolic 8th emperor. They are ignored in Revelation and are mentioned but uprooted in Daniel. How was Domitian “ different from the former ones” as verse 24 says? As we mentioned, he was the first to make it a policy of the empire that all who refused to worship him be persecuted. What does it mean in verse 25 when it says that the saints would be given into his hand for “ a time, two times, and half a time” ? This phrase denotes 3.5 years, a period of time that is also found in Revelation 11:2, 11:3, 12:6, 12:14, and 13:5. In each case it denotes a state of affairs in which God’ s people would be persecuted yet be sustained. It denotes a temporary state of affairs – something that would not last.

Why Isaiah 3.5 used to denote this? It is a broken seven, and seven denotes perfection – something that will last. Thus, a broken 7 denotes something that is temporary. Another possible source is the drought that Elijah prayed for. It lasted 3.5 years. (See James 5:17.) Thus, this may have been the source for a period of time denoting a temporary affliction. Verse 26-27 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’Here we again have a public demonstration of something that was already true. Similar language was used in Revelation to also describe the judgment of Rome: Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.“Did the kingdom of the world become the kingdom of the Lord when Rome was judged? No. That had always been true. Jesus has always and will always rule the universe. Jesus did not begin to reign in Revelation 11. He had been reigning all the time. What did happen when Rome was judged? The rule of Christ was vindicated. The triumph of the church was a public demonstration of the power of Christ, which was thus made know to all of the world. That is how the language is used here in Daniel. Again, note that while Rome did not fall in the 1st century, Rome was judged and sentenced in the 1st century. Indeed, we have just seen a picture of the judgment scene in which that happened. Verse 28 28 “ Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed; but I kept the matter in my mind.”Daniel was greatly alarmed by what he had seen. Why? He had been given a glimpse of the great persecution that awaited the people of God – and that disturbed him. Paul said that we should rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15) Sometimes I fear that we weep with those who rejoice and rejoice with those who weep! Further, he bore the burden of this knowledge alone because he was not able to make the vision known when he first received it. (Verse 28 says that he kept the matter in his mind.) If you agree with the conclusions in this chapter, then you have absolutely undeniable proof of Biblical prophecy. Why? Because we have copies of Daniel from the Dead Sea Scrolls that predate the Roman empire. Even the late date critics are unable to push the book of Daniel past 160 BC. That is why they deny the obvious internal evidence that the fourth empire is Rome.

“THE BOOK OF DANIEL”

The Vision Of The Four Beasts (Daniel 7:1-28)

1. The book of Daniel naturally divides itself into two parts… a. In our introductory lesson, we described these parts as:

1. God’s providence in history - Daniel 1:1 to Daniel 6:282) God’s purpose in history - Daniel 7:1 to Daniel 12:13b. Wiersbe describes these two parts as:
2. The personal history of Daniel - Daniel 1:1 to Daniel 6:282) The prophetical history of Daniel - Daniel 7:1 to Daniel 12:13

2. The second half of the book contains four visions seen by Daniel… a. The vision of the four beasts - Daniel 7:1-28b. The vision of the ram and the goat - Daniel 8:1-27c. The vision of the seventy weeks - Daniel 9:1-27d. The vision of the time of the end - Daniel 10:1 to Daniel 12:13– In which God reveals to Daniel many things about His purpose and plan in history, regarding the nation of Israel and the everlasting kingdom to come

[In this lesson we shall consider “The Vision Of The Four Beasts”, found in Daniel 7:1-28. We begin by noting…]

I. THE VISION (1-14) A. DATE OF THE VISION…1. Received by Daniel in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon - Daniel 7:12. This would be about 550 B.C., when Belshazzar became co-regent with his father Nabonidus

B. DETAILS OF THE VISION…1. Part One: The four beasts from the sea - Daniel 7:2-8a. The four winds of heaven stirring up the Great Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

1. The “sea” may symbolize the mass of humanity - cf. Isaiah 17:12; Revelation 17:152) The “four winds of heaven” may be forces God uses to control and even destroy - cf. Jeremiah 49:36; 51:1– (Harkrider) b. Four great beasts coming up out of the sea
2. The lion with eagle’s wingsa) Whose wings were plucked off b) Made to stand on two feet like a man c) A man’s heart given to it – The lion represents Babylon; the wings possibly symbolizing the co-regency of Nabonidus and Belshazzar, a kingdom shown to be remarkably fragile

• cf. Daniel 5:1-31 (Believers’ Study Bible)

2. The bear with ribs in its moutha) Raised up on one side b) Three ribs in its mouth between its teeth c) Told to “Arise, devour much flesh!” – The bear represents the Medo-Persian empire; that it raises on one side may reflect the Persian dominance, the three ribs in its mouth may illustrate its victories over Egypt, Syria, and Babylon (BSB)
3. The winged, multi-headed leoparda) With four wings and four heads b) To whom dominion was given – The leopard represents the Greek empire of Alexander the Great; the wings may symbolize its rapid conquest, the four heads prophetic of its division by four generals after Alexander’s death (BSB)
4. The dreadful and terrible beasta) Exceedingly strong, with huge teeth b) Devouring, breaking in pieces, trampling residue with its feet c) Different from all the beasts before it 1/ Unlike the other three, it is not compared with any animal 2/ But if it is the beast of Revelation, note that it was a conglomeration of a lion, bear and leopard

• cf. Revelation 13:1-2d) With ten horns; another little horn coming up among them… 1/ Before whom three of the first horns were plucked from their roots 2/ In which were the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompously – This beast represents the Roman empire; the ten horns and little horn may represent emperors or kings who ruled during events involving the establishment of God’s kingdom (see below) - cf. Daniel 2:442. Part Two: An awesome judgment - Daniel 7:9-12a. Thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated

1. His garment was white as snow, His hair like pure wool
2. His throne a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire, a fiery stream issued from before Him
3. A million ministered to Him, a hundred million stood before Him
4. The court (judgment) was seated, and books were opened b. The judgment of the four beasts
5. The great and terrible beast a) The one with the sound of pompous words from the little horn b) It was slain, its body destroyed, and given to the burning flame
6. The rests of the beasts a) They had their dominion taken away b) Their lives were prolonged for a season and a time

3. Part Three: The coronation of the Son of Man - Daniel 7:13-14a. Daniel sees one like the Son of Man

1. Coming with the clouds of heaven
2. Brought near to the Ancient of Days b. To Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom
3. That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him
4. His dominion is an everlasting dominion
5. His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed - cf. Daniel 2:44 [The parallels between this vision and Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2) should be carefully noted. Both involve the rise and fall of four kingdoms, and a kingdom which would never be destroyed. In Daniel’s three-part vision, the conflict to come between the fourth kingdom and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom is foretold as we see…]

II. THE VISION (15-28) A. EFFECT ON DANIEL…1. Grieved in his spirit - Daniel 7:152. Troubled by the visions he saw

B. TO DANIEL…1. An overall summary of the vision - Daniel 7:16-18a. Provided by one of those who stood by (an angel?) b. The four beasts represent four kings (kingdoms, cf. 7:23) c. Yet the saints of the Most High shall receive and possess the everlasting kingdom 2. Daniel’s desire to know more - Daniel 7:19-20a. About the fourth beast, exceedingly dreadful b. About the ten horns on it head c. About the little horn

1. Before which three horns fell
2. Which had eyes and a mouth speaking pompous words
3. Whose appearance was greater than his fellows

3. What Daniel then saw - Daniel 7:21-22a. The little horn making war against the saints, prevailing against them b. Until the Ancient of Days came

1. With judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High
2. And it was time for the saints to possess the kingdom

4. What Daniel then heard - Daniel 7:23-27a. Concerning the fourth beast

1. It shall be a fourth kingdom on the earth
2. It shall devour the whole earth, trample it, and break it in pieces – The Roman empire, which came to rule the Mediterranean world b. Concerning the ten horns
3. They are ten kings to arise from this fourth kingdom
4. After whom another shall arise – These may be emperors who ruled during the first century A.D. when the everlasting kingdom (i.e., the church) was being established, or the ten kings alluded to in Re 17: 12-13; then again, the number ten may be symbolic, reflecting their complete or full number, and not ten specific kings c. Concerning the little horn
5. He shall be different from the first kings
6. He shall subdue three kings
7. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High
8. He shall persecute the saints of the Most High
9. He shall intend to change times and law
10. Into whose hands the saints shall be given for a time, times and half a time 1/ Perhaps 3 1/2 years (1 year, 2 years, 1/2 year), or 42 months - cf. Revelation 13:5; also 11:2,32/ A broken, short period of time involving persecution (Harkrider) – This is likely the persecuting emperor of Rome (e.g., Domitian), described as the beast from the sea in Revelation - cf. Revelation 13:1-2,5-7d. Concerning the judgment
11. The dominion of the little horn shall be taken away, consumed and destroyed
12. Then the kingdom (of heaven?), and the dominion and greatness of the kingdoms under heaven shall be given to the saints of the Most High
13. This kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and dominions shall serve Him – As depicted in Revelation, the conflict between the Roman empire and the church would end with the ultimate victory of the people of God (who even though martyred, would reign with Christ) - cf. Revelation 17:14; 19:19-20; 20:4 C. BY DANIEL…1. His thoughts greatly troubled him, and his countenance changed

• Daniel 7:282. But he kept the matter in his heart - Daniel 7:28a. A good course of action whenever we are unsure about the meaning of a particular Scripture, especially that which is prophetic b. As we continue to read and study, what we learn later may help enlighten the unclear Scripture we have kept in our heart

1. “The Vision Of The Four Beasts” is certainly interesting and challenging… a. It expands upon the vision seen by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2b. It introduces the conflict described in the vision seen by John in Revelation 13-20
2. I understand these visions to relate details concerning the establishment of “the everlasting kingdom” (i.e., the church)… a. To occur during the days of the Roman empire - Daniel 2:44; Lk 1: 30-33; Mark 1:14-15b. Which began when Jesus ascended to heaven - Daniel 7:13-14; Acts 1:9; 2:36; Ep 1:20-23; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 1:5,9c. Which experienced great persecution at the outset - Daniel 7:25; Revelation 1:9; 2:10; 17:14
3. But the saints who persevered in those days, even to the point of death, continue to reign with Christ in heaven (i.e., they “possess the kingdom”) - Daniel 7:18; 2 Timothy 4:17-18; Revelation 20:4 The ultimate victory of the church over the Roman empire came to pass as foretold to both Daniel and John. May this fulfillment encourage us to remain faithful until the time when Jesus returns to “deliver the kingdom to God the Father”! - cf. 1 Corinthians 15:23-26 “THE BOOK OF DANIEL”

Chapter Seven In the first year of Belshazzar (552 B.C.), Daniel receives two visions. The first is of four beasts from the sea (Daniel 7:1-8). The second involves a judgment by the Ancient of Days, and the coronation of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:9-14). The interpretation describes persecution by elements of the fourth beast (kingdom), with ultimate victory by the saints of the Most High (Daniel 7:15-28).

POINTS TO PONDER

• The identity of the four kingdoms represented by the four beasts

• The identity of the Son of Man and the timing of His coronation

• The conflict between the fourth kingdom and the saints of the Most High

REVIEW

1. What are the main points of this chapter?- The vision of the four beasts - Daniel 7:1-8- The vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man - Daniel 7:9-14- The interpretation of Daniel’s visions - Daniel 7:15-28
2. What four world empires do the four beasts likely represent? (Daniel 7:1-8)- Lion: the Babylonian empire

• Bear: the Medo-Persian empire
• Leopard: the Grecian empire
• Dreadful, terrible, exceedingly strong beast: the Roman empire

3. In the second vision, what two scenes appear before Daniel? (Daniel 7:9-14)- Judgment by the Ancient of Days

• The coronation of the Son of Man

4. What takes place between the two scenes? (Daniel 7:11-12)- The fourth beast with the pompous horn is slain

• The other beasts have their dominion taken away, but live for awhile

5. What is Daniel told is the meaning of the two visions? (Daniel 7:15-18)- The four beasts represent four kings (kingdoms, cf. Daniel 7:23)

• The saints of the Most High will receive and possess the kingdom forever

6. What is Daniel told when he inquires about the fourth beast? (Daniel 7:19-27)- The fourth beast represents a kingdom that will devour the earth

• The ten horns represent ten kings, but the pompous horn will subdue three of them
• The pompous horn will make war with the saints, but will succeed only for a short time
• The pompous horn and its kingdom will lose its dominion and be destroyed
• The kingdom and its dominion will be given to saints of the Most High, whose kingdom will be everlasting and all dominions will serve Him

Daniel 7:1

Daniel 7:1, With this chapter the book takes on a different characteristic and will be made up almost entirely of prophecies. However, since the chapters are not chronological as to dates, it will be necessary for the author to make reference to some of the visions of Daniel in connection with their his storicai settings. Some of them occurred while the Babylonian Empire was yet in power, while others came to him after the Persians took over. The vision of this chapter came to Daniel in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon. That takes us back a number of years prior to the fall of Babylon. God has used various methods in making revelations of his purposes to the world (Hebrews 1:1), Sometimes He will cause a heathen to become the instrument for service and give him a vision or dream.

Sometimes the prophet will be given the dream and be enabled to explain it to the proper persons. Such was done In this and other chapters of this book.

Daniel 7:2

Daniel 7:2. Prophecies are frequently made in symbols and the interpretation consists in determining what the symbols stand for. It is not so difficult to do that if we may find the history of such prophecies as have been fulfilled. Four winds signifies the whole world is to be involved because there are four directions on the compass. Strove is from giyach and Strong defines it, “To push forth,” which means to cause some commotion or movement. Since the outcome of this rushing will result in something pertaining to human beings, we know the great sea means the inhabitants of the civilized world that were to become subjects of this empire.

Daniel 7:3

Daniel 7:3. When this great sea of humanity was stirred up by the four winds it brought forth four great beasts. They correspond to the four world kingdoms of chapter 2: 3640. These kingdoms were diverse one from another, which means that although the four governments were alike in that they were world powers in their scope, yet each had characteristics peculiar to itself.

Daniel 7:4

Daniel 7:4. The first beast (Babylon) was like a lion which indicates strength. (See chapter 2: 37.) It bad eagle’s wings which indicates the ability to soar and cover the whole area of mankind. (See chapter 2: 38.) Man’s heart given to it signifies the beast, referred to something composed of intelligent, human beings, which was true of the Babylonian Empire.

Daniel 7:5

Daniel 7:5. The second beast (Medo Persia) was like to a bear. That animal is cruel and vicious (2 Kings 2:24), and likewise the Persians were a cruel people. See the comments on chapter 6: 24, and note that women and children were east together into the lions’ den. The three ribs denotes a devouring disposition, and it was told to devour much flesh, which means this kingdom would conquer many people. The beast raised itself up on one side.

It was composed of the Medes and Persians (two sides), and one side (the Persians) rose higher as a political institution than the Medes. To verify this I shall quote some history. “Although the Persians were destined to become the dominant tribe (emphasis mine, E.M.Z.) of all the Iranian Aryans, still the Medes were at first the leading people."— Myers’ Ancient History, page 88. This statement is verified also by Herodotus, Part 1, section 130.

Daniel 7:6

Daniel 7:6. A leopard is of the same family of beasts as the lion (the cat), but is smaller and apparently with less prospect of accomplishing much in the world. But it is a swift animal (Habakkuk 1:8) and can make up in speed what it lacks the size of body to perform. This feature of the beast will be described soon. The kingdom represented by the leapard was the Greek or Macedonian (two names applied interchangeably to the same government). This empire was started by Philip of Macedon, but its worldwide proportions were accomplished by his son, known in history as Alexander the Great.

In 12 years he covered the territory of the MedoPersian Empire and brought It under the control of the Grecian, and by such swift military accomplishments justified the comparison to the leopard made by the prophet Habakkuk. Four wings and four heads refers to the four divisions into which the conquests of Alexander fell upon his untimely death. This great event is well described by the historian from whom I shall quote. “There was no one who could wield the sword that fell from the hand of Alexander. It is said that, when dying, being asked to whom the kingdom should belong, he replied ‘ to the strongest,’ and handed his signet ring to his generat Perdiecas. But Perdic cas was not strong enough to master the difficulties of the situation. Indeed, who is strong enough to rule the world?

Consequently the vast empire created by Alexander’s unparalleled conquests was distracted by the wran glings and wars of his successor’s, and before the close of the fourth century B.C, had become broken into many fragments. Besides minor states, four monarchies rose out of the ruins,”— Myers’ Ancient History, pages 286, 287.

Daniel 7:7

Daniel 7:7. The fourth beast (Roman) is described as dreadful and terrible. The first word is from an original that means to look dangerous; the second is defined in the lexicon as “ mighty,” and both of these characteristics were true of the Roman Empire as history abundantly shows, iron, teeth is explained by the comments and history quoted at chapter 2: 40, and also are devoured and brake. I trust the reader will see that place before going further with the study of this verse. The ten harm corresponds to the ten toes in the 2nd chapter that belonged to the’ giant man in Nebuchadnezzar’ s dream. They refer to ten European governments that Were within the Roman Empire and whose kings or other heads ruled their dominions in subjection to the great head in the city of Rome.

It does not mean that just that number was all of such governments that existed, but they were representative of the group of local powers that made up the fourth and last world empire. The reason for selecting the number of ten is that the initial symbol for the subject was a human form which would call for ten since that is the proper number for the toes. The ten governments are, England, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium. Austria. Switzerland, Portugal, and Spain,

Daniel 7:8

Daniel 7:8. Religion was a state affair in the world empires, and the success or failure of any conflict between church and state depends on which was the stronger at any given time. The ten horns of the fourth beast were the temporal powers named in the preceding verse, and each of them had some jurisdiction over the religious lives of its subjects. A9 a rule that jurisdiction was exercised in harmony with the will of the beast to which the horn belonged. But in time a little horn sprang up among these temporal powers, and it also had a religious theory, and there was some kind of conflict between it and the temporal powers and the result was that three of them were subdued or plucked up. The little horn was the papacy that started with anmll proportions but expanded as the years went by.

There is some uncertainty as to which temporal powers were the three and I shall not attempt to determine it. But the purposes of this commentary do not require any definite conclusion here. The characteristics of eyes of a man and mouth speaking great things identify the horn as the papacy.

Daniel 7:9

Daniel 7:9. Not only was religion a state affair in the world empires, but that religion was forced upon the subjects without regard for their personal convictions. As long as that condition existed, such institutions as world empires could exist also. But God pur possed to introduce an institution into the midst of “these kings” (chapter 2: 44) that was to change things and teach the principle of individual responsibility that would result in the downfall of these world powers. That is the prediction in the words till the thrones ive.re cast down In this verse. The Ancient of days is the same being as is called Ihe God of heaven in chapter 2: 44,

Daniel 7:10

Daniel 7:10. Fiery stream is a symbol ot the forceful discharge of truth that proceeds from God. The many thousands refers to the extent of God’s dominion over the lives of mankind. Judgment set; hooks opened indicates that God is about to put into execution His determination to overthrow the reign of the world empires. The words italicized are used for this great revolution because such is the usual procedure when anyone or any group is to be brought to a test. In its fulfillment it refers to the predictions made by both Ezekiel and Daniel previously that the dominating world powers were to be overthrown by the influence of God’ s teaching on individual responsibility.

Daniel 7:11

Daniel 7:11. Two creatures or institutions are referred to in this verse, and they seem to be in collusion for the one purpose of depriving men of their personal liberty of thought and action. Those two creatures are the horn and beast, The first is the papacy and the second is the world empire ot Rome. We do not usually think of these as being in the same class, for one is political and the other is religious; yet they both were opposed to the personal liberty mentioned a few lines above. It is true that the papacy was formed many years after the kingdom was started that the God of heaven was to set up. And it is true also that the beast (Rome) continued many years after it was Btarted, But it received the “death stroke” when that heavenly kingdom was set up and some time was required for it to succumb to the stroke.

But knowing that it would do so, God directed a vision that is to be dated according to the time of the “stroke,” some more particulars of the same which will be seen in the following verses. Beast was slain is the event resulting from the “death stroke” stated above, and the turning flame is the fiery stream, of verse 10,

Daniel 7:12

Daniel 7:12. Best of the beasts refers to the same as the ten horns. When the world empires were made to be a thing of the past, the kings of those governments lost the position they once held (had their dominion taken away) as part of such an empire. Yet their lives prolonged is a figurative way of saying they would not be entirely blotted out. When the next great event occurs, soon to be predicted, these governments will find that their existence as temporal institutions, independent of the world monarchies, will be recognized and encouraged.

Daniel 7:13

Daniel 7:13. The Scot of man is Christ and the Ancient of days is God bis Father. Near before him denotes the close association of these two divine Beings in bringing into the world the principles destined to accomplish the things just predicted.

Daniel 7:14

Daniel 7:14. This verse predicts the same things as Daniel 2:44, slightly different terms being used. Given him means that God was to work through his Son in “ setting up” the kingdom that wan never to be destroyed. 41! people were to serve Him even as all nations of them had been under the sway of the world empires. But those empires dominated the people by their political control to such an extent that they perverted even their religious conduct. The kingdom of the God of heaven (the church) was to rule all who became its subjects with the rod of divine truth, which would give to each man the liberty of conscience and conduct that is in harmony with individual responsibility under the principles of that divine truth.

Daniel 7:15

Daniel 7:15. Up to this verse the chapter is describing the dream or vision that Daniel had. The interpretations and comments that I have been giving on the verses are not those of the prophet, for he had not known them himself as yet, but is soon to learn them through another. My comments are based partly on some of the statements of one of them that stood by (verse 16), and partly on the facts and truths of history as quoted. We may note here that Daniel was not given the interpretation of his dream along with the vision itself, as was done in other cases, but he must obtain that information from another. So it is another instance of the “ divers manners” spoken of in Hebrews 1:1.

After having this vision, the prophet was grieved and troubled because he did not know what it meant. However, upon awaking he recalled it and made a record of it, “wrote the dream,” and also “ told the sum” of it (verse 1),

Daniel 7:16

Daniel 7:16, This verse tells ns to whom Daniel told his dream; it was to one of them that stood by. This was evidently some person sent by the Loi’ d to explain to Daniel the interpretation of his dream. It is true that God could have inspired the prophet with the interpretation also even as he did in other instances, but He has not always done his work after the same maimer (Hebrews 1:1). After the one that stood by had given to Daniel the interpretation of the dream he disappeared from the scene and the rest of the chapter will be the direct words of Daniel, repeated, of course, after the interpretation as he received it. We may be sure that the Lord will give the prophet whatever help is necessary to assure a correct report of that given him.

Daniel 7:17

Daniel 7:17. I shall avoid lengthy or unnecessary repetition of Interpretations that have been given in the forepart of the chapter. The four kings are the same as the four great beasts in verse 3, and the four kingdoms of Dan 2:38-40.

Daniel 7:18

Verse 18. Saints of the Most High are members Of the kingdom that the God of heaven was to set up. Take the kingdom is equivalent to “break in pieces and consume these kingdoms*’ in chapter 2: 44. possess . , . for ever and ever means the overthrow of world empires by the Influence of the church, and this influence was to last always.

Daniel 7:19-20

Daniel 7:19-20. Tile one that stood by at first gave Daniel a brief interpretation of the four great beasts, that they represented four kings who were to arise, and then he added that the saints of the Most High would take the kingdom, indicating that this particular prediction pertained to only one of them, and naturally it would be the fourth and last one. Just then he recalled that in his dream he saw much more concerning it than of any of the others. That caused him to ask tor the interpretation of those events, and to make sure that his inquiry was appreciated he repeated the description and doings of the fourth beast; such is the subject matter of these verses.

Daniel 7:21

Daniel 7:21. It is not an unusual thing for a prophecy in the Bible to have a twofold application, or for it to have its original application extended so as to include other things farther in the future, and that was done in this prediction. But to get the background that leads up to this extended application I must take the reader back to a word in the beginning of verse 19 which is the word truth. We know Daniel was not in any doubt as to whether anything the one standing by said would be true, hence we must look for a special meaning of the word. It is derived from yatsab which Strong defines, “A primitive root; to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively to station, offer, continue.” The last word in the definition is the one for our use here. It signifies that Daniel wanted to know the application of the prophecy so that it ‘ ‘continued” until it included the horn (the papacy).

Continuing his inquiry of the man, he saw some additional symbols, and they are the things of the present verse and others to follow. The war this horn made against the saints was the persecution of Christians by the church of Rome, that received such strong support from the empire of Rome (the fourth beast) before that beast was overthrown.

Daniel 7:22

Daniel 7:22, The war mentioned in the preceding verse was to continue until God gave his saints some relief from the persecutions they were enduring. This general prediction will become more specific a little farther down.

Daniel 7:23

Daniel 7:23. For some reason the prophet goes hack to an earlier time and repeats some things about the fourth beast, describing it. as a world power and devouring men,

Daniel 7:24

Daniel 7:24. The story continues on with the inclusion of the ten horns which have been previously explained to be the ten European governments that were a part of the Roman Empire. Perhaps we can see (he logieai connection between this and what is soon to come before the chapter is concluded. It was among or out of “ these kings,” including the ten horns, that another “ little horn” was to arise which was the papacy. It was necessary to refer anew to this institution in order to connect the story up with the important revolutionary events yet to be foretold.

Daniel 7:25

Daniel 7:25. The pronoun he stands for the “ tittle horn” which is the papacy or church of Rome, and the passage is a description of the character and conduct of that institution through a Jong period of years. Wear but the saints is a repetition of the “ war with the saints” in verse 21. Think to change times and laws is still a prediction of the church of Rome which was to be in cooperation with the fourth beast, the Roman Empire; as long as that government existed, and tile two thus united composed what is known in history and prophecy as Babylon the Great, otherwise described as the union of church and state. The words italicized means the church of Rome boastfully will claim authority to regulate public matters the same as if it were God. (See a like prediction of this institution in 2 Thessalonians 2:4.) Shall be given into his hand means they will be persecuted and suppressed during the period soon to be described. That period is known in the language and literature of Christian teachers as the Dark AgeB. and its length Jb acknowledged to have been 1260 years.

But the period here is stated in symbols, and we know that all inspired symbols must be interpreted in harmony with the known facts of history. So the symbols denote the following: A time , times (which would require at least 2 years), and the dividing of time (which would be haif a year.) Altogether there would he three and a half symbolical yars. In prophecy or symbols a day stands for a year. There are 360 days in a prophetical year: multiply 360 by three and a half and we get 1260, the number of years of the Dark Ages. This is not simply an arbitrary conclusion of a devoted advocate of the Bible, but even the historian Edward Gibbon, who was an infidel as regards the Bible, gives us in round numbers the same period for the reign of the church of Rome, and I shall quote a paragraph from his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chapter 28. as follows: “In the long period of twelve hundred years, which elapsed between the reign of Constantine and the reformation of Luther [which are the beginning and ending dates of the Dark Ages according to Christian scholars], the worship of saints and relics corrupted the pure and perfect simplicity of the Christian model; and some symptoms of degeneracy may be observed even in the first generations [See 2 Thessalonians 2:7] which adopted and cherished this pernicious innovation.”

Daniel 7:26

Daniel 7:26. This verse Is a prediction of the period in history known as the Reformation, started by Martin Luther and conducted in cooperation with others of that time. Take aioay his dominion means the union of church and Slate was to be dissolved as a result of the Reformation, for that event overthrew the despotic rule of the church of Rome over the lives of men in both public and private life.

Daniel 7:27

Daniel 7:27. The language of this verse is similar to that of chapter 2: 44, and it is fitting that it should be. Each passage had to do with the perpetuity of the church or kingdom Of Christ. In the first place the teaching of that church resulted in the overthrow of the world empires, and in the second it resulted in the downfall of Babylon the Great, and in spite of a’l the tests its enemies forced upon it, the kingdom of Christ stood and ia still standing.

Daniel 7:28

Daniel 7:28. Hitherto is the end means that Daniel has related the whole story of this dream. Cogitations is defined by Strong as, “a mental conception.” The prophet repeats what he said in verse 15, that what he saw in the vision troubled him. Yet he was able to keep the matter in his heart and relate it to the one who stood by.