DANIEL — LESSON 9

Scriptures for this lesson are taken from Daniel 7.

In Lesson 8 Daniel Chapter 7, we studied about Daniel’s dream vision given to him by God about 14 years before the fall of Babylon. In this vision Daniel sees four great beasts depicting four nations that would rule over the Nation of Israel. This vision is the same vision given to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel Chapter 2. Nebuchadnezzar’s vision was of a giant statue made of gold, silver, bronze and iron with feet made of a mixture of iron and clay, with a stone not cut by man hitting the statue on the feet. This vision also represented the four great nations, Babylon, Medes and Persians, Greece and Rome. The fourth world empire represented Rome and then a new Rome that will rise up in the end times. This beast had ten horns and then one horn rose up in the middle with the face of a man and took three of the ten horns. This horn, like a man represented the Antichrist that will come.

Daniel was very troubled by this vision and asked for an explanation. In the second half of Daniel Chapter 7 a heavenly messenger is sent to explain to Daniel the meaning of the vision. Daniel’s vision moved to a scene in heaven where he saw God on his throne and judgment books were opened. A man came through the clouds and approached the throne of God who Daniel described as the son of man which is the name that Jesus used for himself. This man was given authority, glory and sovereign power over all people and all nations on the earth.

[Daniel 7:15-16] (15) I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. (16) I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things.”

Daniel 7:10 tells us that ten thousands upon ten thousands stood before the throne of God. Daniel in his vision approached one of those standing before God and asked if he could explain the meaning of his vision. This is most likely an angel. The angel, Gabriel, will come to Daniel in chapters 9 and 10 to explain another vision.

[Daniel 7:17-18] (17) ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. (18) But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever — yes, for ever and ever.’

The angel told Daniel that the four great beasts are kings or kingdoms that would reign on the earth, kingdoms that would reign over Israel. But the holy people of God would possess and rule on the earth. Who are the saints of the Most High? The Nation of Israel, God’s holy people. Here in verse 18, the angel interpreter gave to Daniel a brief overall meaning of the beginning to the end of the vision. In verse 19, he began to focus on the conflict leading to the end.

[Daniel 7:19-22] (19) Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws — the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. (20) I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell — the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. (21) As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, (22) until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

Daniel added some details about his vision that he had not told before. He said that nails were made of bronze, that the little horn was stronger than the other horns, the little horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them, and that judgment was given to the saints of the Most High. The angel explains this part of the vision to Daniel in the next few verses.

[Daniel 7:23-25] (23) He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. (24) The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. (25) He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

The angel explained to Daniel that the fourth beast is a fourth kingdom, which we identify as Rome. The ten horns will come from the territory of this kingdom or the old Roman Empire. The other beasts, representing the former kingdoms continue to survive today in some form. Greece was absorbed by Rome in 146BC, but it became a nation in 1830. Lysimachus’ kingdom was taken by Rome in 133BC, but it became Turkey in 1924. Seleucids’ kingdom made up of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Babylonia, Persia, Afghanistan and Pakistan were part of the Roman Empire but are independent nations now. Afghanistan became a nation in 1919, Lebanon 1943, Jordan in 1950, Pakistan in 1947 and Israel in 1948. Ptolemy’s Egypt was taken by Rome in 31BC and became a nation in 1922. Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonia became Saddam Hussein’s Iraq with the same symbolism of the lion with wings of an eagle in 1932. So we see that the European kingdoms of ancient Rome are still with us today. Daniel’s vision shows us that the prophecy of the ten horns will be a kingdom or nation that will come out of the area of ancient Rome.

The king that will arise and subdue three of the kings of this later kingdom is described as a blasphemer who “will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws.” He will speak against God and persecute the people of God. He will change or forbid Jewish religious services traditions and feasts. Critics of these prophecies relate these activities to Antiochus Epiphanies who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175 to 164BC. His actions against the Jews and what he did in Jerusalem are indeed described in Daniel’s prophecy. Antiochus Epiphanies’ real name was Mithradates but he changed it to Antiochus Epiphanies which means “God Manifest.” As did the Caesars of Rome, he declared himself to be a god. He was in Egypt when a rumor was spread that he had been killed.

[Daniel 7:25] (25) “The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.”

The period of time is generally accepted to be three and a half years and seems to be a reference to the last half of Daniel’s seventieth week, which we will deal with in chapter-9.

[Daniel 7:26-28] (26) “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. (27) Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ (28) “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

The court, is the judgment seat of God (Daniel 7:22). The “little horn” or antichrist will be judged and his power taken away. He received his power from Satan who is going to be thrown into the abyss for a thousand years. This was the end of Daniel’s vision. He was so concerned that he turned pale and told no one.

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