DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 7.12

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

 

Chapter Seven

The Ancient of Days

The Four Beasts

(Continued)

 

Preface

Chapter 7 opened with Daniel having a dream and receiving a vision of four great beasts, different from one another, coming up out of the sea. Each beast (the lion, bear, leopard, and nondescript animal) represented four kings and their empires (Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman). In successive order, each empire, kingdom, or monarchy overthrew the preceding one.  

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As the dream continues, Daniel becomes focused on the fourth beast having ten horns. A little horn (Antichrist) emerges from the ten, subdues three, and blasphemes God.

 

Then, Daniel watched as the Ancient of Days took His Throne and pronounced judgment upon the fourth beast. The beast is thus seen being tossed into the eternal blazing Lake of Fire.

 

 

(Verse 12)

 

As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

 

Judgment of the Three Beasts

Judgment by the Ancient of Days (Almighty God) on the three other beasts was not as harsh or drastic as the fourth. There is a significant contrast. The three beasts were stripped of their dominion and power, but not destroyed as their lives were prolonged for a season (time). The cultures of each empire were assimilated into the succeeding empire of the fourth beast.  

 

 

(Verse 13)

 

I (Daniel) saw in the night visions, and, behold, One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven [the sky], and came to the Ancient of Days, and they [the attending angelic beings] brought Him [Jesus Christ] near [into His Presence] before Him [i.e., the Ancient of Days].

 

The Glorified Son of Man

As Daniel kept observing in his night visions, he perceived the last world ruler – Jesus Christ. Although Messiah had already been named as God’s Son (cf. 2 Samuel 7:13-14; Psalm 2:7, 12; Proverbs 30:40), He is now given a name emphasizing His true identification with mankind – the Son of Man – A name Jesus frequently used of Himself [31 times in Matthew alone (cf. John 3:13)]. Jesus wanted the people to truly believe He was the God of man.

 

In Daniel Chapter 3, after Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar saw One like unto the Son of God. The distinction between both titles for Jesus is seen from two different perspectives:

A. Son of Man is from the believer's point of view

B. Son of God is from the unbeliever's point of view

 

The Coronation of the Son of Man

One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven [the sky] and went to the Ancient of Days, and they [the attending angelic beings] brought Him [Jesus Christ] near [into His Presence] before Him

This is the only place in the Old Testament where Jesus Christ is referred to as the Son of Man (or Son of Mankind). Understand, the Son of Man is in the form of a human body (glorified body) but He is still a heavenly Being.

 

There are many references in the Bible for the Son of Man. It consistently refers to His Second Coming. For instance:

Matthew 16:27-28 - For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.

 

Matthew 19:28 - And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

Matthew 25:31 - When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the Throne of His glory.

 

There are many other terms Jesus could have used in these passages such as KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS, referring to His Second Coming. However, it is highly believed Jesus deliberately used this title so that it would connect Him specifically with Daniel’s prophecy.  

 

The Clouds of Heaven

Clouds are characteristic of deity. The Son of Man also arrived with the clouds of the sky. Recall, at His Ascension Jesus, went up in a cloud:

Acts 1:9, 11 - And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight...Ye Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven (the sky)? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.

 

At the time of the Rapture, all the saints will be caught up and meet Him in the air:

1 Thessalonians 4:17 - Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

Next, Daniel sees myriads of attending angelic beings escorting Jesus Christ from Earth to Heaven into the presence, face to face, of the Ancient of Days. Ancient of Days is a title for God only found three times in Daniel 7 (literally, advanced in days, not that He is old but eternal. He existed in eternity past).

 

Here, the Son of Man is seen coming in the clouds to take his rightful inheritance. In Psalm 2, God the Father is seen giving the Son of Man the nations:

Psalm 2:7-8 - I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee (become Your Father). Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen (nations) for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts (ends) of the earth for Thy possession.

 

In addition to Jesus receiving the earthly Millennial Kingdom, He will also be given universal authority on David’s Throne, awaiting the commencement of His earthly reign (see 2 Samuel 7:4-16; 1 Chronicles 17:3-15). So, at His Second Coming, Christ will be seen by everyone coming down with the clouds:

Revelation 1:7 - Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.

 

 

(Verse 14)

 

And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom, that all people, 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.

 

The Everlasting Kingdom

Given to Jesus Christ by the Ancient of Days were three things:

1. Christ receives Dominion

a.  Dominion in Aramaic is sholṭân, meaning sovereignty, or absolute ruling authority

                                        i.    He will rule with a pure dictatorship

                                     ii.    He will have an absolute monarchy

                                   iii.    He will be omnipotent – All-powerful

 

2. Christ receives Glory

a.  Glory in Aramaic is yek-awr', meaning honour and esteem from those over whom He rules

                                        i.    Men’s hearts will esteem Him

                                     ii.    Men will praise Him

                                   iii.    Men will glorify Him

 

3. Christ receives a Kingdom

a.  Kingdom (malkûw) is a form of government. It is the power, realm, or reign of a supreme administration, i.e., the universal dominion of God 

b.  When we pray, we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven…For Thine is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

 

A Kingdom, that all people, 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

The Millennial Kingdom

The Kingdom Christ receives will be a worldwide Kingdom on earth, superior to all previous kingdoms. In the Kingdom on earth (the Millennial Kingdom) everyone will serve Christ with joy and gladness:

Micah 4:2 - And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

 

In contrast to the previous four kingdoms:

1. His Kingdom will be united

a.  All people

b.  All nations

c.  All languages

2. His dominion is an eternal dominion

3. His Kingdom shall never see its destruction

Revelation 7:9 - After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.

 

Additionally, and ultimately, it will be a restoration of the theocratic Kingdom of Israel.

 

 

In the successive study, Daniel inquired what the truthful meaning was of what he saw from one of the attending angels standing near him. The angel proceeded to reveal the interpretation of His vision. Read ahead.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. What happens to the first three beasts?

2. Why does Jesus use the title Son of Man?

3. How does His name relate to humankind?

4. How does Jesus arrive on Earth?

5. What is His inheritance?

6. At what point in future history does this event transpire?

7. What is unique about Christ’s Kingdom?

 

 

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