DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 7.15

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Seven

Daniel’s Vision Interpreted

 

Overview

Daniel was a Hebrew prophet and received a special revelation from God for Israel. During Belshazzar’s reign, like Nebuchadnezzar (2:1), Daniel was troubled by his dream and visions as he lay on his bed. In Daniel’s visions, he saw the climax of world history – the end of the Times of the Gentiles – as four great world powers had passed away.

 

In verse 14, Daniel also envisioned an everlasting Kingdom. However, the Messianic Kingdom will not appear until after the fourth kingdom when Antichrist is judged and slain (7:9-14, 21-27).

 

After Daniel gave an account of his vision, his reaction is recorded…

 

 

1. The Introduction (v. 1)

2. The Intervention from God (Vv. 2-7)

3. The Innovation of the Little Horn (v. 8)

4. The Intercession of the Ancient of Days (Vv. 9-14)

5. The Inquiry of Daniel (Vv. 15-16)

(Verse 15)

 

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

 

Despite his vision of the reality of the fourth empire, Daniel was grieved regarding the suffering his people would endure. The verb to grieve indicates distress. He was troubled, alarmed, or pained. In Aramaic, the rendering is, “I am troubled in my sheath.”

 

A sheath is a case or receptacle for a knife, sword, or blade. Interestingly, the word is used to describe his body in the sheath, i.e., the body was regarded as a sheath for the soul (cf. Job 27:8).

 

 

(Verse 16)

 

I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

 

Being perplexed and unsatisfied with his interpretation of the dream and visions, Daniel needed additional help in its understanding, namely because what he saw had not yet come to pass. Thus, he approached one of the angelic beings standing by and asked for further clarification and wisdom. Many believe it was the angel, Gabriel since he became Daniel’s interpreter throughout the rest of the book (cf. 8:16ff; 9:21).

 

Interpreting Angels

In apocalyptic literature, angels commonly give interpretations to prophets of God, for example:

1. Ezekiel identified an angelic being as a man holding a measuring rod who explained to him the measurements of the Millennials Temple:

Ezekiel 40:3ff. - He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway…

 

2. An angelic being described to Zechariah the meaning of the lampstand and the two olive trees:

Zechariah 4:1ff. - And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,...

 

3. An angel showed the Bride of Christ to the Apostle John:

Revelation 21:9ff. - And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the Bride, the Lamb's Wife…

 

Thus, Gabriel further clarified the interpretation to Daniel…

 

 

6. The Interpretation of the Vision (v. 17)

(Verse 17)

 

These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth

 

Summary Statement

In alignment with Daniel’s vision (Vv. 3-7), the angelic being informed Daniel the four beasts are representative of four kings. Later, in verses 18, 22, 25, and 27, the word kingdom is used, supporting the fact these are earthly empires. Hence, they are kings ruling over their empires.

 

Recall that the kingdoms discussed were once part of Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (2:32 - 40):

1. Babylon, the head of Gold under Nebuchadnezzar coincides with the lion having eagle's wings

 

2. Medo-Persia, the breast and arms of silver under Darius and Cyrus coincide with the bear

 

3. Greece, the belly and thighs of brass coincide with the leopard

 

4.   Rome, the legs of iron, its feet part iron and part clay under the Caesars coincide with the terrible nondescript beast

 

The term shall arise, meaning destined to rise out of the earth is in the future tense, i.e., something that will take place in human history. Recollect, at the time of his writing, Daniel was a retiree in Belshazzar's regime which had not yet fallen (cf. 7:1).

 

Also, the phrase out of the earth corresponds with up from the sea (v. 3). The sea symbolically represents nations covering the earth (cf.v.2; Isaiah 17:12-13; 57:20-21). Hence, The sea is symbolic in 7:3 and the earth is literal in 7:17.  

 

 

7. The Insurance from God (v. 18)

(Verse 18)

 

But the saints of the Most High shall take the Kingdom, and possess the Kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

 

Saints of the Most High

The title for God, the Most High, stresses not only His sovereignty but also His eternality. Daniel has consistently used this term thus far (cf. 3:26; 4:2, 17, 24-25, 32, 34: 5:18, 21).

 

The word saints appear both in the Old and New Testaments:

1.         Saints are those believers of the Old Testament, i.e., Israel (cf. Exodus 19:6; Psalm 16:3). Note: The church saints (holy ones) are not in view here, particularly because the existence of the Church was not revealed in the Old Testament

 

2.         Saints are those who are saved in the Church Age (cf. Matthew 27: 52 – 53; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; etc.)

 

3.         Saints are those who receive Christ during the Tribulation (cf. Revelation  13:7; 14:12)

 

When Christ comes to earth at the Second Coming, He will set up His Kingdom. We will then reign and enjoy the Millennium and the eternal state that follows:

Revelation 20:6 - Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

 

The saints…shall take the Kingdom, and possess the Kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever

Eternal Rule

Believers, the remnant of all ages, will occupy and rule as priests both in the Kingdom and eternal state. And, we shall reign with Him forever and ever. In addition, the restoration of the theocratic Kingdom of Israel is in view. Revelation clarifies:

Revelation 1:6- And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

8. The Inquisition of Daniel (Vv. 19-22)

(Verse 19)

 

Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet.

 

The Description of the Beast

Daniel had understood the meaning of the first three beasts, but not the exact meaning of the fourth. This one was harder to figure out. So, he explains the details of the fourth beast to the angelic being in this manner:

1. The fourth beast was different from all the others

2. The fourth beast was exceedingly terrifying

3. The fourth beast devoured its victims

a.  With his teeth of iron

4. The fourth beast broke its victims into pieces

a.  With his claws of bronze

5. The fourth beast trampled what was left

a.  With his feet

Accordingly, the specifics stressed the violent nature of the fourth beast in Daniels's vision.

 

 

(Verse 20)

 

And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout (larger, visible, forceful, stronger)  than his fellows.

 

The Description of the Other Horn

Verse 20 continues the features of the fourth beast given by Daniel. Furthermore, he adds there were ten horns (a ten-nation confederacy) on its head. And, from the ten horns (nations), a little horn emerged, overpowered, and uprooted three of the ten (nations).

 

Note: It is believed by many:

1.  The ten horns represent the revived Roman Empire

2.  The little horn represents the Antichrist during the Tribulation

 

Characteristics of the little horn include:

1. The little horn had eyes

a.  Reference is made to the eyes of the Antichrist being piercing  and penetrating  as of a man (cf. 7:8)

2. The little horn had a mouth

3. The little horn arrogantly spoke great things

a.  Its speech was powerful (cf. 7:8)

4. The little horn was larger in appearance than the others

 

 

(Verse 21)

 

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them.

 

The War Against the Saints

As Daniel kept on looking or continued to watch, he comes across a significant point that transpires during the last half of the Tribulation. The same horn (Antichrist) was permitted to overcome God's people. And, he will prevail until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 11:7 – And when they (the two witnesses) shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

 

Revelation 13:7 - And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

 

 

(Verse 22)

 

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.

 

The Fate of the Little Horn

The little horn’s reign was short-lived. Daniel beholds the Ancient of Days arriving and sitting as a judge (cf. 7:9). This time, however, God will secure justice for the saints, and judgment was committed into their hands (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:2). By that judgment, Justice is finally accomplished for the people of God:

1. They are delivered from unrighteous oppression by the beast

2. They receive the long-awaited millennial Kingdom of God

 

Revelation 20:4 - And I (John) saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

 

 

After inquiring for further clarification of his vision, the angelic being proceeds to reveal to Daniel a full explanation. This will be discussed in the following study.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. What did Daniel see in his visions?

2. Why was Daniel so troubled?

3. Whom did Daniel consult for further explanation?

4. What do the four beasts represent?

5. What is so unique about the fourth beast?

6. What is the reward of the saints of God?

7. What is the fate of the little horn?

8. What is unique about Christ’s Kingdom?

 

 

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