Daniel 7: Daniel 7:27-The Most High and His Saints Will Assume Rulership of Planet Earth

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1 Daniel 7:27-28 Daniel 7:27-The Most High and His Saints Will Assume Rulership of Planet Earth The Saints of the Most High Will Rule the Earth Daniel 7:27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. (NASB95) Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One is composed of the conjunction wa ( (ו (waw), and which is followed by the feminine singular noun mǎl ḵû (מ ל כוּ) (mal-koo ), the sovereignty and then we have the conjunction wa ( (ו (waw), which is not translated and followed by the masculine singular form of the noun šā l e ṭān (שׁ ל ט ן) (shol-tawn ), dominion and then we have the feminine singular form of the noun r e ḇû (ר בוּ) (reb-oo ), the greatness which is followed by the particle dî (דּ י) (dee), of and then we have the feminine plural construct form of the noun mǎl ḵû (מ ל כוּת) (mal-koo), the kingdoms and then we have the preposition t e ḥôṯ (תּ ח ות) (tekh-ōth ), under and then we have the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כּ ל) (kole), the whole which is modifying the masculine plural dual noun š e mǎ yin (שׁ מ י ן) (shaw-mah yin), heaven which is followed by the third person feminine singular peʿil (Hebrew: qal passive) perfect form of the verb y e hǎḇ (י ה ב) (yeh-hab ), will be given and then we have the preposition lĕ ( (ל (leh) to and its object is the masculine singular construct form of the noun ʿǎm (ע ם) (am), the people of which is followed by the masculine plural construct form of the adjective qǎd dîš (kad-deesh ), the saints of and then we have the masculine plural form of (ק דּ ישׁ) the adjective ʿěl yôn (ע ל יוֹן) (el-yone ), the Highest One. wa The conjunction wa is a marker of a sequence of closely related events meaning that it is introducing a statement that marks the next event that took place after the events recorded in Daniel 7:26. Thus, this conjunction denotes that after the Supreme Court of Heaven convened resulting in the Most High and His saints taking away the governmental dominion of the Antichrist by destroying, yes, by killing him, the Most High and His saints assumed the rulership of planet earth. As 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 we noted the Son of Man is called the Most High in Daniel chapter seven and the Ancient of Days is a reference to the Father. mǎl ḵû The noun mǎl ḵû means sovereignty which denotes the sphere of authority or control of the different nations of the earth over those residing in their respective geographical areas and political boundaries, which were determined by the extent to which these nations exercise their authority. The term sovereignty indicates the complete power of the nations of the earth over the inhabitants under their jurisdiction, so that these nations exercise their will absolutely over those under their jurisdiction, without any necessary conditioning by a finite will or wills. This term means sovereignty rather than kingdom since the terms mǎl ḵû, šā l e ṭān and r e ḇû are all possessed by the kingdoms of the earth. Thus, if the singular form of mǎl ḵû means kingdom it would mean that the kingdom, governmental dominion and greatness of the kingdoms of the earth were given to the Son of Man and the saints. It makes better sense that mǎl ḵû means sovereignty since this would make better sense. It would mean that the sovereignty, governmental dominion and greatness of the kingdoms of the earth were given to the Son of Man and the saints. It doesn t make sense to say that the kingdom of the kingdoms of the earth were given to the Son of Man and the saints but does make sense to say that the sovereignty of these kingdoms were given into their hand. wa The conjunction wa is epexegetical meaning that it is defining specifically for the reader what the interpreter specifically means by the term sovereignty. šā leṭān The noun šā leṭān means governmental dominion referring to the supreme, sovereign authority or power which is exercised by the nations on planet earth. r e ḇû The noun r e ḇû means greatness and is used to describe the nations on the earth. The word means greatness in the sense that these nations are large in number and preeminent over the rest of God s creatures and superior in character and quality to the rest of God s creatures on the earth William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 wa This time the conjunction wa is a marker of result since it is introducing a word which is presenting the result of the Most High and His saints being given sovereignty, specifically governmental dominion over the nations of the earth. It is introducing the term r e ḇû means greatness which means that the Most High s kingdom will be distinguished and eminent throughout the earth so that it stood above all the other kingdoms of the earth. Therefore, this is the result of the Son of Man and the saints receiving sovereignty, and specifically governmental dominion over the entire earth. dî The particle dî is a marker to show the genitive relationship between the nouns mǎl ḵû, the sovereignty, šā l e ṭān, governmental dominion and r e ḇû, the greatness and the plural form of the noun mǎl ḵû, the kingdoms. The genitive relationship is possession indicating that this sovereignty, governmental dominion and greatness belongs to all the kingdoms on the earth. mǎl ḵû The noun mǎl ḵû is in the plural and means kingdoms referring to the various kingdoms on the earth when Jesus Christ comes back at His Second Advent. The construct state of the term indicates that it is governing the prepositional phrase under the whole heaven, which follows it. This prepositional phrase acts the genitive. The genitive here is possession indicates that these kingdoms belong to the earth. t e ḥôṯʹ kāl š e mǎy yā(ʾ)ʹ The dual noun š e mǎ yin means heaven referring to the earth s atmosphere, i.e. the expanse of space that contains oxygen and seems to be over the earth like a dome. This word is modified by the singular construct form of the noun kōl which functions as an adjective because Aramaic nouns, like Hebrew nouns in construct relationship to one another, function the same as the English adjective all or every. This word kōl means all of and refers to everything and everyone without exception indicating that the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven were given to the Son of Man and the saints with no exceptions. The dual noun š e mǎ yin is the object of 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 the preposition t e ḥôṯ, which means under since it is marking the position below another spatial position. Therefore, this prepositional phrase means that the sovereignty, governmental dominion and greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven were given to the Son of Man and the saints. y e hǎḇ The verb y e hǎḇ means to give in the sense of imparting something to someone or bestow something upon someone. Here the word is used with the nouns mǎl ḵû, the sovereignty, šā l e ṭān, governmental dominion and r e ḇû, the greatness as its subject and the Son of Man and the saints are the word s indirect object. Therefore, it denotes that the Ancient of Days gave the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven to the Son of Man and the saints. The peʿil (Hebrew: qal passive) stem of this verb is fientive expressing an action. Here it denotes the action of the Son of Man and the saints being given the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven by the Ancient of Days. The passive voice of the verb means that the subject receives the action of the verb from an expressed or unexpressed agency. Here the subject is the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven and the unexpressed agency but implied agency, is the Ancient of Days. Thus, the passive voice denotes that the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven received the action of being given to the Son of Man and the saints by the Ancient of Days. The perfect conjugation of the verb is future perfect referring to a future state resulting from an action that will have been completed by that time. The future state is that of the Son of Man and the saints possessing the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven. The action is that of the Ancient of Days giving the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven to them. ʿǎm The noun ʿǎm is in the singular and means nation in the sense of a large group based on various cultural, physical and geographical ties. It refers to a large group that is larger than a tribe or clan but smaller than a race. This word speaks of a national entity which is composed of the saints or in other words those regenerate human beings who will belong to Jesus Christ s millennial kingdom. The construct state of the word denotes it is governing the word qǎd dîš, the saints which 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 follows it, expressing a genitive relation. This is an explicative genitive specifying the identity of those who compose this nation which will be given the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven. It will be given to a nation which is composed of the saints. The noun ʿǎm is the object of the preposition lĕ, which is marking this word as the indirect object of the verb y e hǎḇ meaning that it is receiving the direct objects of this verb indicating that the saints of the Most High received the sovereignty, yes governmental dominion, and thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven. qǎd dîš The adjective qǎd dîš functions as a substantive and means saints describing those Jews and Gentiles who are regenerated through faith and as a result of have been set apart to serve the God of Israel exclusively. Though Daniel was a Jew and would know nothing of the church and the church age dispensation, this word qǎd dîš is a reference to both regenerate Jew and Gentiles in every dispensation including the church age. The Holy Spirit, who inspired this vision and prophecy and provided the interpretation of the vision for the angel Gabriel, would be referring to church age believers and regenerate Gentiles from every dispensation along with of course regenerate Israel. We must remember the interpretation is from God s perspective and not Daniel s frame of reference. Thus the saints here in Daniel 7:18 would be from every dispensation, both regenerate Jews and Gentiles. Of course, Daniel would have no knowledge of church age believers since the church age was a mystery dispensation meaning that it was not known to Old Testament saints like Daniel. The construct state of qǎd dîš means that it is governing the adjective ʿěl yôn, which follows it. The construct state is expressing a genitive relationship which is a genitive of possession meaning that these saints belong to the Most High God. ʿěl yôn The adjective ʿěl yôn means the Most High referring of course to the God of Israel, and specifically the Son of Man who is called the Most High in Daniel chapter seven. Jesus Christ interpreted the Son of Man as a reference to Himself. The Most High s Kingdom is Eternal Daniel 7:27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. (NASB95) His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom is composed of the feminine singular construct form of the noun mǎl ḵûṯ (מ ל כוּת) (mal-kooth), kingdom which (הוּא) hû(ʾ) is modified by the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix (who), His and then we have the feminine singular construct form of the noun mǎl ḵûṯ (מ ל כוּת) (mal-kooth), kingdom which is modified by the masculine singular form of the noun ʿā lǎm (ע ל ם) (aw-lam ), everlasting. Asyndeton The interpreter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is employing the figure of asyndeton in order to emphasize the statement here at this point in verse 27, which tells the reader that the Most High s kingdom will be an eternal kingdom. The Holy Spirit wants the reader to meditate upon this statement since it will serve as an encouragement to God s people during times of great adversity. mǎl ḵûṯ The noun mǎl ḵûṯ means kingdom and refers to the kingdom of the Most High in the sense of the sphere of His authority or control over the saints. It is used to designate the territorial sphere of His kingdom, which is all of creation. The term refers to the boundaries of this authority and control, which were determined by the extent to which the Most High exercises His authority, which is all of creation. It is modified by the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ), which means His referring to the Most High and is functioning as a possessive personal pronoun. Ellipsis So next, we have the figure of ellipsis meaning that the third person masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active imperfect form of the verb h ǎ wā(h) (ה ו ה) (havaw ) is deliberately omitted yet implied. The word means is and is functioning as a copula meaning that it is uniting the subject with the predicate. The word indicates that the Most High s kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem of the verb is stative meaning that the kingdom of the Most High will exist in the state of being eternal in nature. The imperfect conjugation is expressing this event in the future where from the perspective of Daniel in the sixth century B.C William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 ʿā lǎmʹ mǎl ḵûṯʹ The noun mǎl ḵûṯ means kingdom but this time it is modified by the noun ʿā lǎm which means eternal. Therefore, this expression means that the kingdom of the Most High will be an eternal kingdom. This would indicate that Jesus Christ s kingdom will be infinite in duration. This in contrast to the kingdoms of Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome and the Revived Form of the Roman Empire under Antichrist which were represented by the four beasts in the vision and were temporary. All Governmental Dominions Will Serve and Obey the Most High Daniel 7:27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. (NASB95) And all the dominions will serve and obey Him is composed of the conjunction wa ( (ו (waw), and which is followed by the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כּ ל) (kole), all which is modifying the masculine plural form of the noun šā l e ṭān (שׁ ל ט ן) (shol-tawn ), the dominions and then we have the preposition lĕ ( (ל (leh) to and its object is the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), Him and then we have the conjunction wa (waw), and which is followed by the third person masculine plural hitpaʿʿal (ו ( (Hebrew: piel) middle imperfect form of the verb š e mǎʿ (שׁ מ ע) (shem-ah ), obey. wa This time the conjunction wa is emphatic meaning that it is introducing a statement which is advancing upon and intensifying the first statement in verse 27. The conjunction is introducing a statement which tells the reader that each and every one of the governmental dominions will serve and obey the Most High. So the advancement and the intensification is that the nations of the earth will not only be under the rulership of the Most High but they will also serve and obey Him. šā leṭān Once again, we have the noun šā leṭān which means governmental dominion referring to the supreme, sovereign authority or power which is exercised by the nations on planet earth. This word contains the figure of synecdoche of the whole, which means, that the governmental dominions on the earth during Jesus 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 Christ s millennial reign are being put for the persons, who belong to each of these governmental dominions. This word is modified by the singular construct form of the noun kōl which is used in a distributive sense meaning each and every one of the governmental dominions on the earth will serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ with no exceptions. p e lǎḥ The verb p e lǎḥ means to serve deity implying submission and thus giving honor and worship. This verb makes clear that the Son of Man is deity since the Most High here in Daniel chapter seven is a reference to Him. The Lord Jesus Christ interprets the Son of Man in this chapter as a reference to Himself. Thus, the verb denotes that each and every one of the governmental dominions on the earth will serve Him. This verb affirms that the Son of Man is God. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem of the verb is fientive expressing an action. Here it is expressing the action of each and every one of the governmental dominions on the earth during Christ s millennial reign serving Him. The imperfect conjugation is expressing this event in the future where from the perspective of Daniel in the sixth century B.C. š e mǎʿ The verb š e mǎʿ means to obey and refers to each and every one of the people belonging to the governmental dominions who will be on the earth during Jesus Christ s millennial reign hearing and responding in obedience to His commands and prohibitions. The hitpaʿʿal (Hebrew: piel) stem of this verb is iterative referring that is done multiple times. Here it denotes nations of the earth will habitually obey the Lord Jesus Christ during His millennial reign. The middle voice denotes that this will be for their own benefit that they obey Him. The imperfect conjugation of the verb is a habitual imperfect expressing the same idea as the stem. wa The conjunction wa means when or as since it is used as a temporal marker relating points of time. The first point of time is the nations of the earth serving Jesus Christ during His millennial reign and the second is the nations of the earth making it their habit of obeying Him. Therefore, this word indicates that each and everyone of the people belonging to the governmental dominions will serve Jesus Christ during His millennial reign when or as they make it their habit of 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 obeying Him. Thus, this word is marking the relationship between service and obedience in that serving the Lord is based upon obedience to His commands and prohibitions. lēhʹ The third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) means Him referring to the Most High, who the book of Revelation reveals is the Lord Jesus Christ. The word is the object of the preposition lĕ ( (ל (leh) which is marking this word as the direct object of the verbs p e lǎḥ and š e mǎʿ meaning that this pronominal suffix is receiving the action of these two verbs. It denotes that the Lord Jesus Christ will be recipient of the worshipful service and obedience of the nations of the earth during His millennial reign. Translation of Daniel 7:27 Daniel 7:27 Then, the sovereignty, specifically, the governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven were given to a nation which is composed of the Most High s saints. His kingdom will be an eternal kingdom. Indeed, each and every one of the people belonging to these governmental dominions will serve Him as they make it their habit of obeying. Exposition of Daniel 7:27 In Daniel 7:26, the angel Gabriel informed Daniel that the Antichrist will be killed and his Revived Form of the Roman Empire will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Advent, which terminates Daniel s Seventieth Week as well as the Times of the Gentiles. Immediately following this, the angel tells Daniel that the sovereignty, and specifically the governmental dominions and thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the saints of the Most High. The angel then says that His kingdom will be an eternal kingdom. Who is the His referring to? It must the Most High since He is the antecedent of this word which would indicate that the Son of Man is being referred by the term Most High here in Daniel 7:27. The Most High could not be a reference to the Ancient of Days or God the Father but rather it must be a reference to the Son of Man who is God the Son according to the Daniel 7: This is indicated by several factors in the context. First of all, we know that the Ancient of Days is a reference to the Father throughout chapter seven since in verse 13, Daniel describes one like a Son of Man 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 was coming upon the clouds of heaven. Specifically, He went up to the Ancient of Days in the sense that He approached His presence. Then, in verse 14, he tells the reader that the Ancient of Days gave governmental dominion to this Son of Man as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him. The Son of Man s governmental dominion is described as an eternal governmental dominion which can never be taken away so that His kingdom is one which can never be destroyed. These verses make clear that the Son of Man possesses the prerogatives of God. He is sovereign like God and He is eternal like God since His kingdom He received from the Ancient of Days is described as eternal and indestructible. So it is clear that the Son of Man receives a kingdom from the Ancient of Days. The New Testament identifies verse 13 as the ascension and session of Jesus Christ and verse 14 describes Jesus Christ s millennial kingdom on planet earth. Now, in verse 22, the saints are said to take possession of the kingdom, which is a reference to the kingdom given to the Son of Man by the Ancient of Days as made clear by verses Then, in verse 27, Daniel says that the sovereignty, dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High ( Highest One NASB95). Next, he says in the very next sentence that His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. His would then have to be the Son of Man since the Ancient of Days gave the Son of Man a kingdom and sovereign authority over the inhabitants of all the earth as we noted in verses Verse 27 describes the kingdom of the Highest One or Most High as everlasting which parallels the description in verse 14 that the Son of Man s governmental dominion is eternal. Verse 27 also says that all the dominions will serve and obey the Highest One or Most High. This parallels Daniel s statement in verse 14 that the Ancient of Days gave governmental dominion to the Son of Man as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him. Throughout chapter seven, the Ancient of Days is the sovereign judge over the nations of the earth including Antichrist and the final form of the Roman Empire. The Most High is always associated closely with the kingdom received from the Ancient of Days as well as with the saints throughout chapter (verses 18, 22, 25, 27). The reason why the saints are closely associated with the Most High is because they will reign with the Most High and if they will reign with the Most High, the Most High must be the Son of Man since the Ancient of Days conferred an eternal kingdom upon the Son of Man who we know is Jesus Christ. Therefore, when the interpreted makes mention of the Most High in Daniel 7:27 and then says that His kingdom is eternal, the Most High must be a reference to 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 the Son of Man since the Most High is associated with the kingdom in chapter seven and the Son of Man received the kingdom from the Ancient of Days. The fact that the Son of Man is described as the Most High throughout the chapter indicates that He is deity. Of course, Jesus Christ who calls Himself the Son of Man in the Gospels is also identified in the New Testament as the Son of God. The term saints could be rendered holy ones referring to those individuals who are set apart to serve the God of Israel exclusively as a result of exercising faith in the God of Israel. Their faith in Him has resulted in their being sanctified. The purpose of this sanctification is to reproduce the holiness of God in these believers. So the millennial kingdom will be characterized by holiness since believers are sanctified as a result of their faith. The saints are believers from every dispensation including both regenerate Jews and Gentiles. They would also include the elect angels. Daniel 7:27 is a reference to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. The angel Gabriel makes clear that the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ will be absolute. He will have no rivals. He also makes clear that the saints will rule with Him. The saints are under His authority of course but they will rule with him since he informs Daniel that the sovereignty, the governmental dominions and greatness of the kingdoms of the earth will be given to a nation which is composed of the saints of the Most High. The implication which is confirmed by the New Testament is that the saints will possess sovereignty, yes governmental dominion over the nations of the earth. The New Testament teaches that church age believers who are faithful and are thus described as overcomers will be rewarded with authority over the nations. Revelation 2:26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS. (NASB95) Revelation 3:21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (NASB95) Revelation 20:4 teaches that those regenerate Jews and Gentiles who were put to death by Antichrist for not taking the mark of the beast or worshipping the Antichrist or His image will reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years. The fact that these believers are said to reign with Christ indicates clearly that these are some of the saints who will rule the nations of the earth during Christ s millennial reign. King David will be a co-regent with Jesus Christ in Israel during the millennium (Ezekiel 34:24; 37:24-25). The fact that the angel tells Daniel in Daniel 7:27 that the kingdom of the Most High, Jesus Christ is eternal indicates that it will never be overthrown by another 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 kingdom which stands in direct contrast to the Gentiles kingdoms represented by the four beasts in Daniel s vision. We must remember the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ is the Father s kingdom on earth. This millennial kingdom will merge into the eternal kingdom of the Father (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:27-28). Daniel 7:27 tells the reader that the nations of the earth will serve and obey Jesus Christ. Those believers who are in resurrection bodies and those who become believers during the millennium will serve and obey because they love Him whereas those who are unregenerate will obey Him because they fear Him since Revelation 2:27, 12:5 and 19:5 tell us that Jesus Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron, which speaks of capital punishment. He will have the power of life and death over all the inhabitants of the earth. Thus, the unsaved will live in fear of Him because of this. To rule the nations with a rod of iron means that Jesus Christ will wield absolute governmental authority over the entire earth during His millennial reign and will require all men to conform to His righteous and just standards and that He will not tolerate lawlessness or injustices. It speaks of Christ acting the part of a shepherd by destroying the enemies of the sheep. Jesus Christ will replace Satan who is temporarily the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). The saints will replace the fallen angels who are presently under Satan s authority ruling the nations and deceiving them. During the millennial reign, Satan and the fallen angels will be imprisoned. Jesus Christ and the saints will replace them as the rulers of planet earth William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 Daniel 7:28-The Vision Ends and Troubles Daniel But He Keeps the Matter to Himself The Vision Ends Daniel 7:28 At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself. (NASB95) (ע ד) At this point the revelation ended is composed of the preposition ʿǎḏ (ad) which is followed by the adverb kā(h) (כּ ה) (kaw), which together are translated at this point and then we have the masculine singular form of the noun sôp (ס וף) (sofe), ended which is followed by the particle dî (דּ י) (dee), which is not translated and followed by the feminine singular form of the noun mil lā(h) (מ לּ ה) (mil-law ), the revelation. Asyndeton Daniel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is employing the figure of asyndeton in order to emphasize the statement here in verse 13. ʿǎḏ kā(h)ʹ The preposition ʿǎḏ is employed with the adverb kā(h) to form a compound prepositional phrase which means here, at this point since it marks the point in time when the vision Daniel received from God had ended. It marks the point in the narrative in which Daniel s account of this revelation from God had come to its conclusion. sôp The noun sôp means end, conclusion since it is a marker of a point of time related to a duration of time. Here it is used with reference to the vision Daniel received from God, which is recorded in Daniel 7:2-27. This word is marking the point in time in which Daniel s account of this revelation from God had come to an end. dî The particle dî is a marker to show the genitive relationship between the nouns sôp, ended and mil lā(h), the revelation. The genitive relationship is 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 possession indicating that this conclusion belongs to Daniel s account of the vision he received from God which is recorded in Daniel 7:2-27. mil lā(h) The noun mil lā(h) means account since it refers to the written record of the revelation that Daniel received from God through visions in a dream which is recorded in Daniel 7:2-27. Ellipsis Next, we have the figure of ellipsis meaning that Daniel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is deliberately omitting the third person masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active imperfect form of the verb h ǎ wā(h) (ה ו ה) (hav-aw ). However it is implied indicating that here at this point in the narrative is the end of the account. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem of the verb is stative meaning that at this point in the narrative, the account of Daniel s vision exists in the state of being ended. The imperfect form of the verb is stative expressing the same thing. Daniel s Thought Alarm Him Daniel 7:28 At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself. (NASB95) As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me is composed of the first person singular personal pronoun ʾǎnā(h) me (an-aw ), as for (א נ ה) which is followed by the masculine singular proper noun dā niy yē(ʾ)l (דּ נ יּ אל) (dawnee-yale), Daniel, which is followed by the masculine singular adjective śǎg gî(ʾ) (שׂ גּ יא) (sag-ghee ), greatly and then we have masculine plural construct form of the noun rǎʿ yôn (ר ע י ון) (rah-yone ), thoughts, which is modified by the first person singular pronominal suffix -î ( י) (ee), my and then we have the third person masculine plural paʿʿel (Hebrew: piel) active imperfect form of the verb b e hǎl (בּ ה ל) (bĕ-hal ), were alarming which is followed by the first person singular pronominal suffix -î ( י) (ee), me. Asyndeton Once again, Daniel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is employing the figure of asyndeton in order to emphasize with the reader that Daniel is now transitioning from telling them the account of the vision was ended to telling them 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 how it affected him emotionally and physically. It emphasizing that the account of the vision is over and now telling is presented to the reader a postscript to the vision account. ʾǎnā(h) The independent personal pronoun ʾǎnā(h) functions as the subject of the verb b e hǎl, were alarming indicating that it is performing the action of this verb. It emphasizes the emotion of fear which this vision produced in Daniel. This word functions as a nominative absolute, which serves to highlight or focus upon one element of the main clause. It emphasizes that this vision distressed Daniel s soul because it terrified him. Thus, we will render the word as for me. dā niy yē(ʾ)l The proper noun dā niy yē(ʾ)l refers of course to the author of this book that bears his name and which book testifies to the fact that he was a Jewish captive, of noble descent, who was carried off to Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar s first conquest of Jerusalem in 605 B.C., which was the third year of Jehoiakim s rule, after the Babylonians defeated the Egyptians. Daniel 1:7 records that Ashpenaz gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar. rǎʿ yōn The noun rǎʿ yôn is in the plural construct form and means thoughts in the sense of contemplation or reasoning with focus on the content of Belshazzar s thought. This noun is modified by the first person singular pronominal suffix -î which means my since it functions as a possessive pronoun referring of course to Daniel. b e hǎl The verb b e hǎl means to cause one to be terrified indicating that the visions Daniel received from God the Holy Spirit caused him to be terrified. The paʿʿel (Hebrew: piel stem) of the verb denotes the subject causing its direct object to enter a state that can be described by the verb in the qal. Here the subject is the Daniel s thoughts which were produced by the vision he received from God which are recorded in Daniel 7:2-27 and its direct object is Daniel. Therefore, this stem denotes that Daniel s thoughts which were the result of this vision, caused him to enter the state of being terrified. The imperfect form of the verb speaks of this 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 action of this as taking place in past time from the perspective of the writer, Daniel. Therefore, we will translate this verb, cause to be terrified. śǎg gî(ʾ) The adjective śǎg gî(ʾ) is modifying the verb b e hǎl and means extremely, very referring to a very great degree on a scale. Here it describes Daniel as becoming extremely terrified as a result of his thoughts which were the result of receiving this vision from God. î The first person singular pronominal suffix î ( י) means to me referring of course to Daniel and is the direct object of the verb b e hǎl. Daniel s Face Grows Pale Daniel 7:28 At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself. (NASB95) And my face grew pale is composed of the conjunction wa ( (ו (waw), and (ז יו) which is followed by the masculine plural construct form of the noun zîw (zeev), face which is modified by the first person singular pronominal suffix -î (ee), my and then we have the third person masculine plural third person ( י) masculine plural Itpa al (also written Hithpa al or Eṯpa al) (Hebrew: piel or pual) middle imperfect form of the verb š e nā(h) (שׁ נ ה) (shen-aw ), grew pale which is followed by the preposition ʿǎl (ע ל) (al) which is not translated and its object is the first person singular pronominal suffix -î ( י) (ee), which is also not translated. wa The conjunction wa is a marker of result meaning that it is introducing a statement which presents the result of the previous statement that Daniel s thoughts caused him to become extremely terrified. zîw The noun zîw means countenance since it refers to the appearance of one s face. Here it is used of Daniel s countenance. The word is modified by the first 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 person singular pronominal suffix î, which means my since it functions as a possessive personal pronoun referring of course to Daniel. š e nā(h) The verb š e nā(h) means to change and refers to his facial appearance or countenance changing as a result of becoming extremely terrified because of his thoughts which were the result of the vision he received from God regarding His will for planet earth. The third person masculine plural form of the verb refers to Daniel s thoughts. The eṯpa al (Hebrew: piel or pual) is factitive meaning that the subject of the verb in the eṯpa al is caused to enter a state that can be described by the same verb in the peʿal (Hebrew: qal). Here the subject is Daniel s countenance. Therefore, this stem denotes that Daniel s thoughts caused his countenance to enter the state of being changed. The imperfect form of the verb speaks of this action of this as taking place in past time from the perspective of the writer, Daniel. î The first person singular pronominal suffix î ( י) means to me referring of course to Daniel and is the object of the preposition ʿǎl, which means on since it is marker upon the surface of an object, which in context is Daniel s body. Daniel s Keeps the Vision to Himself Daniel 7:28 At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself. (NASB95) (ו ( wa But I kept the matter to myself is composed of the conjunction (waw), but which is followed by the feminine singular form of the noun (בּ ) b- (mil-law ), the matter and then we have the preposition (מ לּ ה) mil lā(h) (beh) to and its object is the masculine singular construct form of the noun l e ḇǎḇ (leb-ab ), which is not translated and followed by the first person singular (ל ב ב) pronominal suffix -î ( י) (ee), myself and then we have the first person singular active perfect form of the verb n e ṭǎr (נ ט ר) (net-ar ), I kept. wa The conjunction wa is employed here in an adversative sense meaning that it is introducing a statement which stands in contrast to the previous statement that 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 Daniel s thoughts caused him to become terrified so that his countenance on him was changed. The conjunction wa is introducing a statement which records Daniel keeping the matter of this vision to himself. Therefore, the contrast is between Daniel mentally and physically affected by the revelation God gave him in a vision and Daniel keeping the matter to himself at that time. n e ṭǎr The verb n e ṭǎr means to keep in the sense of preserving information in one s mind, implying guarding such information until the proper time in which to reveal this information. Therefore, this verb denotes that Daniel kept the matter of the vision to himself. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) is stative expressing a state or condition. Here it denotes that Daniel existed in the state of keeping the matter of the vision to himself The perfect conjugation is also stative expressing the same thing as the stem. mil lā(h) This time the noun mil lā(h) means the matter and refers to the revelation Daniel received from God in a vision regarding the future of planet earth. The word is the direct object of the verb n e ṭǎr. l e ḇǎḇ The noun l e ḇǎḇ means mind referring to that aspect of the human soul where a person s mental activity takes place. It is the place of the soul where a person does their thinking. It is the place of the soul in which analysis and reasoning is found. Therefore, this word refers to that aspect of Daniel s soul, which circulates his thought or mental activity. This noun is modified by the first person singular pronominal suffix î ( י) means my since it is functioning as a possessive person pronoun referring of course to Daniel. It is also the object of the b-, which is a marker of location indicating that Daniel kept the matter of the vision in his mind. Translation of Daniel 7:28 Daniel 7:28 Here, at this point is the account s end. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts caused me to be extremely terrified so that they caused my countenance to be changed on me. However, I kept the matter in my mind William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18

19 Exposition of Daniel 7:28 Daniel informs the reader that his account of the revelation that he received from God in a night vision had come to an end. He then briefly provides the reader with a short postscript which describes the emotional and physical toll this revelation had on Daniel. The vision affected Daniel mentally or emotionally because his thoughts about the vision caused him to become extremely terrified. It affected him physically because these thoughts of the vision caused his countenance to be changed on him. This implies his face became pale as result of being stricken with fear. Instead of sharing this information with anyone he kept the matter of the vision in his mind, which implies he did not immediately put it down in writing which obviously he did later since we have the account of this vision in Daniel chapter seven. Daniel s account of his reaction to the vision parallels Daniel 7:15. The fact that Daniel did not share this vision with anyone suggests a couple of things. First of all, it could indicate that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were all dead by the time of the first year of Belshazzar s reign when Daniel received this vision. Or, these three might no longer have resided in the province of Babylon with Daniel. It seems highly unlikely that he would not share this with his three friends. However, Daniel might not have felt obliged to share such information with these three. He undoubtedly was having a hard time wrapping his mind around this revelation and thus did not feel confident that he could accurately convey it to others at that time. Since we now have it writing, Daniel must have come to a point where he could grasp this revelation so as to communicate it in writing to others. Therefore, this revelation from God regarding the future of planet earth made an enormous impression on Daniel since it greatly affected him emotionally and physically. From his perspective in the sixth century B.C. Daniel had received from God a panoramic view of future world events. The Holy Spirit communicated to Daniel in a vision the Father s will for planet earth which is to establish His kingdom through His Son Jesus Christ, who was identified in the vision as the Son of Man. God had told Daniel that He will establish His kingdom on earth through the God-Man who is the Lord Jesus Christ. However, four great Gentile worldempires would denominate world history up to the establishment of God s kingdom on earth, which theologians call the Times of the Gentiles, which began in 605 B.C. with Nebuchadnezzar s invasion of Israel and will end with the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. Daniel chapter seven would serve as an encouragement to the faithful Jewish remnant in exile in Babylon. It would also serve as a warning to the Gentile nations that the God of Israel is sovereign over them. This vision in Daniel chapter seven 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 19

20 continues to encourage today God s people which would be the church. It would also serve to encourage God s people during Daniel s Seventieth Week as they endure persecution at the hands of the Antichrist. Daniel chapter seven would serve as a warning for Antichrist and those who follow him during Daniel s Seventieth Week that they will be judged by the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ. Daniel 7:28 completes the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. As we noted in the introduction, during the sixth century B.C., Aramaic was the lingua franca of the day and was the most convenient language and was used in international business and diplomacy. The book of Daniel was written in two languages. Daniel 1:1-2:4a and chapters 8-12 are written in Hebrew. Daniel 2:4b-7:28 is written in Aramaic, which was also called Chaldee or Syriac. This use of the two languages appears in Ezra 4:8-6:18, 7:12-26 and Jeremiah 10:11. The reason for this unusual feature is that Daniel was writing for two different audiences. Aramaic was the language of the Gentile world when the book of Daniel was written. Hebrew was still the language of Israel at that time as well. Thus, the book has two major divisions. The first is related to God s program for the Gentiles. The second is His program for the Jews. Therefore, Daniel 2:4b-7:28 was written for the Gentile world in Daniel s day and Daniel 1:1-2:4a and 8-12 was written for the Israelites. So the message and prophecies that appear in the Aramaic portions of Daniel are addressed to the Gentile world in their language whereas the message and prophecies that appear in the Hebrew portion of the book of are addressed to the nation of Israel. Daniel chapter seven thus completes God s message to the Gentiles. The message to both the Jew and Gentile in the sixth century B.C. is that the God of Israel is sovereign over them all. Time of Vision Daniel 7:1 During Belshazzar s, Babylon s king, first year, Daniel saw a dream specifically visions in his mind on his bed. Then, he wrote down the dream. He declares the beginning of the account. (Author s translation) Daniel 7:1 records that during the first year of Belshazzar s co-regency with his father in 553 B.C. Daniel received prophetic revelation from God in a dream, which the rest of the chapter reveals was concerning the future of planet earth and parallels the prophetic revelation that God gave Nebuchadnezzar as recorded in Daniel chapter 2. Like the revelation Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel here in chapter seven received a prophetic revelation in a dream which was concerning the future of the empires of Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome, the Revived Form of the Roman Empire and its wicked ruler, who we know from the book of revelation as the Antichrist. This revelation also points to the ascension and session of Jesus Christ at His Father s right hand as well as the destruction of the final form of the 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 20

21 fourth empire by the Lord Jesus Christ and in addition, it speaks of His Messianic Kingdom. Like the prophetic revelation that Nebuchadnezzar received, Daniel also received prophetic revelation regarding the Times of the Gentiles. Nebuchadnezzar s revelation dealt with the Times of the Gentiles from the perspective of man whereas Daniel s revelation of the Times of the Gentiles was from God s perspective. Daniel 7:1 tells the reader that Daniel received a dream from God, which emphasizes the unity of this revelation. In this dream, he saw visions which emphasizes the successive stages in which the revelation was given to Daniel. Visions describes an appearance of something in Daniel s mind that was a supernatural revelation to communicate a truth to him, not seen as a sensory perception. Visions were often a revelation of the future plans of God, which could involve either judgment or blessing. Visions speaks of revelation from God the Holy Spirit with regards to the Father s will for planet earth. It denotes that God gave Daniel revelation with regards to His future plans for planet earth. Daniel received this revelation from God while he was in a trance. This is distinguished from the possession trance and dreams since it is an altered state of consciousness in which extrasensory audiovisual experiences, which are revelatory in character, are perceived in private by individuals. Here this word denotes that Daniel was in an altered state of consciousness in which God revealed what will take place in the future with regards to planet earth. Theses visions were prophetic in that they tell Daniel about the future of planet earth. They were also symbolic as indicated by the fact that the four kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and the Revived Form of the Roman Empire are represented by wild beasts. These visions were also oracles of assurance since Daniel is assured that God will rule this earth through His Son Jesus Christ which acknowledges that God is sovereign over the earth and sovereign of history. These revelations Daniel received from God regarding the future of planet earth were designed to direct him, the Jews and the Gentiles to submit to God s will and to teach them and the reader that God s authority is over every ruler and every nation and over history itself. Daniel s Account of the Vision Daniel 7:2 Daniel began to speak and said, I was in a trance like state, staring because of my vision during the night as behold the heaven s four winds were blowing violently against the great sea. (Author s translation) The four winds of heaven refer to literal wind in this vision which is symbolic of Satan and his angels causing unrest among the nations of the earth, which results in four great empires, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 21

22 which are characterized by evil. The final form of the fourth empire which will take place during Daniel s Seventieth Week will be the worst since it will produce the Antichrist. Though Satan is deceiving the nations and will continue to do so up until the Second Advent of Jesus Christ which terminates Daniel s Seventieth Week, God is still sovereign as demonstrated by the fact that God s kingdom which He will establish through His Son will destroy these other heathen empires at His Son s Second Advent who will at that time establish His millennial reign upon the earth. The great sea here in Daniel 7:2 refers in a literal sense to the Mediterranean Sea since throughout the Old Testament it is identified as such (Numbers 34:6-7; Joshua 1:4; 9:1; 15:12, 47; 23:4; Ezekiel 47:10, 15, 20; 48:28). The Mediterranean was called the great sea in the Old Testament because it was situated geographically in the center of the earth and borders on so many large continents. The great sea in Daniel 7:2 also has of course a figurative sense referring to the heathen nations of the earth since Daniel 7:3 and 7:17 makes this clear. Both verses reveal that the four great beasts who are identified as four great heathen empires, which history tells are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. This would make clear that the great sea refers to unregenerate mankind since these empires are composed of unregenerate men and women. Revelation 17:5 also supports this interpretation (cf. Isaiah 8:6-8; 17:12-13; 57:20; 60:5; Jeremiah. 6:23; 46:7-8; 47:2; Matthew 13:46; Luke 21:25; Revelation 13:1; 17:1; 21:1.). Daniel describes the four winds of heaven blowing violently against the great sea, which is symbolic Satan and his kingdom causing violent conflict among the inhabitants of the nations. This suggests that Satan and his kingdom is the source of the four great heathen empires in history, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome and final form of the Roman Empire which will produce an evil dictator which the book of Revelation identifies as the Antichrist. Four Great Beasts Daniel 7:3 Then, four great beasts, one different from the other, came up out from the sea. (Author s translation) After seeing in his vision, the four winds of heaven blowing violently against the great, Daniel saw four great beasts, which were different from each other, coming up out from the sea. These four beasts in Daniel chapter seven correspond to the enormous gold statue of a man in Nebuchadnezzar s vision recorded in Daniel chapter two. Daniel 7:17 tells us that these four great beasts are kings. The ancient Orientals regarded kings and kingdoms synonymously. In Scripture, heathen nations are often depicted by wild beasts in order to express the animal like character of these nations which are unregenerate and 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 22

23 deceived by sin and Satan. Here in Daniel chapter seven the Holy Spirit is depicting the unregenerate heathen nations as wild animals in order to convey to the reader God s viewpoint of these nations. These four beasts in Daniel chapter seven correspond exactly to the four metals in the image of Nebuchadnezzar s vision in Daniel chapter two. Like the prophecy in Daniel chapter two, the prophecy that appears in Daniel chapter seven also deals with the Times of the Gentiles from God s perspective. The First Beast: Babylon Daniel 7:4 The first beast was like a lion with eagle s wings attached to it. I was in a trance like state staring when its wings were torn off. Then it was lifted up from the ground for the purpose of it standing on two feet like a human being. A human mind was also given to it. (Author s translation) The first beast symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar s Babylon since it corresponds to the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two, which Daniel identified as being Nebuchadnezzar s Babylon (See Daniel 2:37-38). Further confirmation comes from history itself since both the lion and the eagle were both national symbols of Babylon (See Jeremiah 4:7, 13; Ezekiel 17:3). Nebuchadnezzar is elsewhere compared to both the lion (Je. 4:7; cf. 49:19; 50:44) and the eagle (Ezk. 17:3, 11 12). Cf. v 4 with 4: Just as gold is the most precious metal on earth so the lion is the king of the wild beasts of the earth. The fact that this first beast was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and was given a human mind indicates that this refers to the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar after being humbled by God and in particular its speak of him after being disciplined by God for seven years and being restored to power by God (Daniel 4). Though the king became a believer as a result of God miraculously delivering Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from his power, Nebuchadnezzar was still thinking arrogantly and conducting himself as an unregenerate person in rebellion against God. The discipline broke this arrogant mentality and sinful behavior in rebelling against God. That this description of the first beast in Daniel 7:4 as standing on two feet like a human being and being given a human mind is a reference to Nebuchadnezzar thinking and acting in accordance with the will of God as a believer. This is indicated by the fact that of all four beasts, the first beast was distinguished as having its beast-like character transformed into a human being. Remember, the four beasts all describe the empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome as beasts in order to convey God s viewpoint of these nations. In Scripture, heathen 1 New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer & G. J. Wenham, Ed.) (4th ed.) (Da 7:1 14). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 23

24 nations are often depicted by wild beasts in order to express the animal like character of these nations which are unregenerate and deceived by sin and Satan. Here in Daniel chapter seven the Holy Spirit is depicting the unregenerate heathen nations as wild animals in order to convey to the reader God s viewpoint of these nations. Therefore, the fact that these four empires are described as beasts emphasizing their unregenerate character and the first beast was transformed from a wild beast to a human being would indicate that Nebuchadnezzar was not only saved but he was obedient to God and no longer in rebellion against him after being disciplined for seven years. The description of the first beast as being transformed from a wild beast to a human being here in Daniel 7:4 indicates that Nebuchadnezzar after the discipline was loving his neighbor as himself after this discipline in contrast to the kings of these heathen empires which followed Babylon. The tearing off the wings of the first beast would be a reference to the end of the discipline administered to him by God as a believer since the eagle s wings correspond to the description of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:33 when he was disciplined by God for seven years. If you recall, Daniel 4:32 tells the reader that Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from mankind so that his dwelling place was among the beasts of the field. He even ate grass like cattle for seven years until he acknowledged that God was sovereign over him. Daniel 4:33 records that Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from mankind and even habitually ate grass like cattle. Furthermore, he was continually drenched with the dew from heaven until his hair became extremely long like eagle s feathers likewise his nails like a bird s claws. This description in Daniel 4:33 would indicate that the eagle s wings on the first beast speak of Nebuchadnezzar being disciplined and the tearing off the wings would indicate the end of that discipline after seven years. Second Beast: Medo-Persia Daniel 7:5 Next, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear with it raised up to one side with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. Then, they issued orders to it, Arise, devour much flesh! (Author s translation) The bear symbolizes Medo-Persia since she conquered Babylon according to Daniel chapter five and human history. It corresponds to the silver arms chest of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two. In Daniel 2:39, Daniel informed Nebuchadnezzar that after his kingdom there will arise another kingdom which will be inferior to his kingdom. Since Daniel told the king at the end of Daniel 2:38 that he was the head of gold of the statue in his dream, this second kingdom is represented by the silver arms and chest of the statue. History records that this part of the statue represented the Medo-Persian Empire. It was 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 24

25 inferior since it lacked the inner unity of Babylon because the Medes and the Persians, though united, never fused into one people. Daniel chapter five and human history record Medo-Persia conquered Babylon and absorbed this nation into its empire and replaced Babylon as a world-wide empire. In Daniel chapter five, the God of Israel sent a message to Belshazzar through Daniel that his empire was being handed over to the Medes and Persians. This took place that very night. The fact that the bear was raised up on one side refers to the one-side merging of the Median and Persian empires in that over time Persia became more dominant over Media (Daniel 10:13). The three ribs in the mouth of the bear represent the kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria and Babylon, which had preceded the empire, represented by the bear and were conquered by Medo-Persian Empire. Like a bear, the Medo-Persian army was powerful and fierce (Isaiah 13:15-18). The commands to arise, devour much flesh indicates that the Medo-Persian empire was under the sovereign authority of God. It implies that God has sovereignly ordained the Medo-Persian Empire continue its conquests over the nations of the earth. These commands portray the Medo-Persian Empire conquering many nations and peoples to extend its domain. Those commanding the bear must refer to the Trinity since the interpretation of the vision indicates that the God of Israel is sovereign over the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, which are depicted as a lion, bear, leopard and a non-descript beast respectively. Third Beast: Greece Daniel 7:6 After this, I was staring in a trance like state as behold, another one, was like a leopard with it having four bird s wings on its back. Also, the beast had four heads. Indeed, governmental dominion was given to it. (Author s translation) The leopard represents Greece since it corresponds to the bronze belly and thighs of Nebuchadnezzar s image in Daniel chapter two and was noted for its speed and cunning in attacking its prey, which characterized Alexander the Great s conquests that were without precedent in the ancient world. The four wings on this leopard emphasizes a speed beyond its capacity, which characterized Alexander the Great s lightening fast conquest of the civilized world from Macedonia to Africa and eastward to India. The four heads depict the four-fold division of Alexander s empire after his death between four of his generals (Daniel 8:8, 22). The fact that governmental dominion was given to this kingdom indicates that it did not achieve its conquests by ordinary means but that it achieved its rapid success because of the God of Israel. This would indicate that Alexander was truly 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 25

26 a man of destiny and that God gave him is rapid success so that the world was at his feet by the age of 32. Fourth Beast: Rome Daniel 7:7 After this, I was continuing to stare in a trance like state because of these night visions as behold, a fourth beast, intimidating, yes even terrifying as well as extremely powerful, possessing two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the rest with its feet. Indeed, it was characterized as different from all the beasts which were before it in the sense of possessing ten horns. (Author s translation) The fourth beast if you notice is not likened to some known animal but rather is non-descript and distinct from the previous three beasts. Daniel describes this fourth beast as intimidating, even terrifying as well as extremely powerful, possessing two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the other three beasts. In fact, Daniel says that it was characterized as different from the other three beasts which appeared before it in the sense it possessed ten horns. This fourth beast represents the Roman Empire since it corresponds to the legs of iron in the image that appeared in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two, which we noted represented the Roman Empire. The mention of this fourth beast possessing large iron teeth and violently crushing the other three beasts characterized the Roman Empire. The Roman armies were known for their iron armor which led some to refer to them as the Iron Legions of Rome, emphasizing their strength and invincibility. The Roman armies were also known for violently crushing countries and civilizations enslaving many peoples. Daniel describes this fourth beast as having ten horns, which makes this beast different from the previous three. These ten horns refer to ten kings according to Daniel 7:24. These ten horns correspond to the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar s image in Daniel chapter two that referred to the Revived Roman Empire that will consist of a ten nation confederation during Daniel s Seventieth Week. The ten horns do not represent a fifth kingdom but rather they grow out of the head of the fourth kingdom and are the last development of the fourth beast, which corresponds to the ten toes on the image in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two. The Roman Empire broke into pieces and shattered to pieces more kingdoms and brought them into greater subjection than Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. The Roman Empire deserved its representation as the iron empire since it subdued and destroyed the remnants of the preceding empires as well as many other nations William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 26

27 The ten horns mentioned in Daniel 7:24 correspond to the toes in Daniel 2:42 and were ten kingdoms, out of which one horn will arise who will destroy three of the other kingdoms and lead the other seven and persecute believers in Jesus Christ. Daniel 7:26 says that this one horn called the little horn will be destroyed by God. Daniel 2:44-45 teaches that this ten nation confederation depicted as ten toes of the feet of the statue will be destroyed by the Second Advent of Christ, which is depicted as a stone cut of the mountain without hands. The ten toes of the image indicated that the final stage of the Roman Empire will consist of a ten-division federation. Daniel 7:23-24 signifies that eventually the Roman Empire will consist of a federation of ten divisions with ten equal rulers (See Revelation 17:12). Since the Roman Empire has never in its history consisted of a ten-division federation with ten equal rulers, we can conclude that this stage of the Empire s existence will take place in the future during the Tribulation period. Also, Daniel 2:45 records that in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, i.e. the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, which has never taken place in history but is yet future. Therefore, sometime in the future, after the rapture of the church, a revived form of the Roman Empire will be established. The Little Horn: Antichrist Daniel 7:8 I was contemplating in a trance like state because of these horns as behold, another little horn emerged out from among them. Then, the first three originating from the horns was torn out by being in the presence of it. In fact, behold, on this horn, were eyes like a human being s eyes as well as a mouth speaking boastfully. (Author s translation) Daniel continues his description of the fourth beast by telling the reader that a little horn emerged out from among the ten horns of the fourth beast. He then describes the first three of the ten horns were torn out by being in the presence of the little horn. He continues to describe this little horn as possessing eyes and a mouth like a human being. It spoke boastfully with its mouth. The little horn refers to the Antichrist since it is identified with the Revived Roman Empire and in Daniel 7:19-26, he is described as waging war against God s people up to the time of the Second Advent of Christ, which corresponds to the depiction of the Antichrist in Revelation (Daniel 7:11, 20-26; 8:25; Revelation 13:1-10; 19:20). The Ancient of Days Daniel 7:9 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state when thrones were set up. Then, the One Ancient in Days sat. His clothing was white like 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 27

28 snow. Also, the hair of His head was like lamb s wool. His throne was fiery flames. Its wheels were a blazing fire. (Author s translation) After describing four great beasts in verses 1-8, which represent the worldempires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, the scene shifts in verse 9 where Daniel describes the Father as sitting on His throne in judgment. This indicates that despite the ferocity of these four great world-empires, the Father is sovereign over all of them. This scene in verse 9 reminds the reader that God is still sovereign over the nations of the earth. In fact, He has permitted these four great world-empires to appear in the pages of history. Also, this verse is reminder to the reader that the little horn which speaks of the Antichrist who will rule the final form of the Roman Empire during Daniel s Seventieth Week is also under the sovereign authority of God. He will be permitted to come to world-power because the Father has sovereignly decided that he will do so. Therefore, we can see that Daniel 7:9 serves as an encouragement to God s people during the Times of the Gentiles, which will come to an end at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. God s wants His people during the dispensations which take place during the Times of the Gentiles to know for certain that He is in control and that none of these tyrannical empires and their rulers can rule without His say so. The One Ancient in Days is a reference to the Father. This expression appears only in the book of Daniel (7:9, 12, 22) and is not intended to suggest that God ages. Instead it expresses the qualities of wisdom and venerability which one who is advanced in days would possess. It also speaks of the eternality of God the Father and His authority over every creature and all creation (cf. Job 36:26). This expression the One Ancient in Days refers to God the Father since in Daniel 7:13 one like a Son of Man came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. The Ancient of Days is said to give the Son of Man dominion and an eternal kingdom. The Gospels record the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ employing the title Son of Man with regards to Himself (Matthew 9:6; 11:19; 12:32; 13:37; 17:22; Mark 2:28; 8:31; 10:33; 13:26; Luke 9:22; 11:30; 12:8; 21:27; 24:7; John 3:13; 6:53; 12:23; 13:31). The New Testament teaches that the Father rewarded His Son Jesus Christ with authority over every creature and all of creation and to judge both men and angels (Ephesians 1:20-22; Colossians 1:16-18; Philippians 2:6-11). Thus, the Ancient of Days or the One Ancient in Days must be a reference to the Father. His clothing was white like snow speaks of the holiness of the Father and the statement the hair of His head was like lamb s wool speaks of the Father s infinite wisdom. In Daniel 7:9, the statements His throne was fiery flames and Its wheels were a blazing fire both speak of the Father as having the authority to judge His creatures, both men and angels. They speak of judgment because fire in the bible is 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 28

29 associated with judgment (Revelation 1:14-15; cf. Exodus 3:2; Deuteronomy 4:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; 1 Timothy 6:16; Hebrews 12:29). The wheels on the Father s throne recall the description of the glory of God which Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 1:4-28. They are symbolic of the fact that God s execute His judgments swiftly. It also speaks of the fact that His judgment is universal in creation. There is no creature who is not accountable to Him. The Throne of the Ancient of Days Daniel 7:10 A river composed of fire was flowing, yes issuing forth from His presence. A thousand times a thousand were continually rendering worshipful service to Him. In fact, ten thousand times ten thousand were continually standing in His presence. The court convened resulting in scrolls being opened. (Author s translation) In Daniel 7:9, Daniel presents to the reader a description of the Ancient of Days, who is the Father whereas here in Daniel 7:10 he presents a description of the scene around the throne of the Ancient of Days, which is composed of four statements. Since this scene appeared to Daniel in a vision, these statements are describing in symbolic terms that the Father is the judge of all His creatures. Thus, they also emphasize in symbolic terms that He is sovereign over all of His creatures and all of His creation. The first statement describes in symbolic terms that the Father issues judgments of nations and people. Men are raised up by God to be a ruler of a nation and they are deposed by the Father as well. Nations rise and fall and this too, is due to the judgments of the Father. The second statement also describes symbolically that the Father receives worshipful service from an innumerable amount of individuals whose identity is not revealed to Daniel. The third statement intensifies and advances up this second statement and describes symbolically that another host of innumerable unidentified individuals are standing around the throne of the Father waiting to render Him worshipful service as well. The fourth and final statement describes the Supreme Court of Heaven being convened resulting scrolls being opened which contain information regarding the evidence against an individual who Daniel 7:11 reveals is the little horn, who we noted is the Antichrist. This evidence against the Antichrist would be the record of his blasphemous actions during Daniel s Seventieth Week and his persecution and murder of God s people. Therefore, since Daniel 7:11 speaks of God judging the Antichrist, this scene described in Daniel 7:10 is that of the Father passing judgment against the Antichrist. Also, since Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 13:1-10 make clear that Antichrist will be the leader of ten-nation European confederacy and eventually a world-wide ruler during the Seventieth Week of Daniel, the scene described in 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 29

30 Daniel 7:10 is also during the same period of time. Daniel 7:10 is thus describing in symbolic terms a future event that will take place at the end of Daniel s Seventieth Week in which the Father will pass judgment on the Antichrist which will result in his death and being deposited in the eternal lake of fire. So the scene described in symbolic terms Daniel 7:9-10 is of future events that will take place at the end of Daniel s Seventieth Week. In fact, these verses are describing symbolically the events will take place which will bring to an end the Times of the Gentiles, which will be followed by Jesus Christ s judgment of the Jews followed by the Gentiles. At His Second Advent just prior to His millennial reign, the Lord Jesus Christ will first judge Israel when He lands on planet earth. This judgment involves the removal of unregenerate Israel from the earth leaving only regenerate Israel to enter into the Millennial reign of Christ (Ezek. 20:37-38; Zech. 13:8-9; Mal. 3:2-3, 5; Matt. 25:1-30). This will be immediately followed by the Lord Jesus Christ judging the Gentiles, which involves the removal of unregenerate, anti-semitic Gentiles from the earth (Matt. 25:31-46). Also, since Daniel 7:9-10 records events in symbolic terms which will take place at the end of Daniel s Seventieth Week, the innumerable unidentified individuals rendering worshipful service to the Father and those standing around His throne waiting to do so must be both regenerate human beings and elect angels. Those who are regenerate human beings would include regenerate Israel from Old Testament dispensations including Daniel s Seventieth Week. It also would include regenerate Gentiles from every dispensation up to and including Daniel s Seventieth Week. Lastly, it would also include elect angels as well. Therefore, Daniel 7:9-10 does not describe the Great White Throne Judgment of all unbelievers throughout human history recorded in Revelation 20:11-15 since this takes place after the millennial reign of Christ and Satan s final rebellion which occurs just after the millennium. The events in Daniel 7:9-10 take place immediately prior to the Second Advent of Christ which terminates Daniel s Seventieth Week. In fact, Revelation 19:20-21 record Antichrist and the false prophet being thrown into the Lake of Fire. Then, Revelation 20:1-4 records Satan being imprisoned during the millennial reign of Christ. Revelation 20:7-10 records the final rebellion of Satan which takes place after the millennium followed by Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and the false prophet are still alive and suffering punishment. Then, Revelation 20:11-15 records the Great White Throne Judgment in which every unregenerate person in history is thrown alive into the eternal lake of fire. So the chronology of these events in Revelation indicates quite clearly that Daniel 7:9-10 records in symbolic terms the scene prior to the judgment of Antichrist at the end of Daniel s Seventieth Week and prior to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, which brings to completion the Times of the Gentiles. Obviously 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 30

31 the Antichrist is unregenerate and like every unregenerate human being exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ but rejects it in unbelief he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire because of this rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior. The Destruction of the Fourth Beast Daniel 7:11 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state at that time because of the sound coming from the boastful words which the horn was making a habit of speaking. I was continuing to stare in a trance like state when the beast was killed. In fact, its body was destroyed. Specifically, it was given over to the consuming fire. (Author s translation) Following the vision of the Ancient of Days in verses 9-10, Daniel receives further revelation regarding the little horn and the fourth beast from which he came from. Here in verse 11, Daniel resumes a discussion of the little horn which he left off describing in verse 8. Daniel tells the reader in verse 11 that he was continuing to stare in a trance like state at that time because of the sound coming from the boastful words which the little horn was speaking. This parallels his last statement at the end of verse 8 in which he emphatically state that this little horn had eyes like a human being s eyes as well as a mouth speaking boastfully. So this would indicate to the reader that verses 9-10 are parenthetical. These verses are also indicating to the reader who is behind the destruction of the fourth beast and the little horn, namely the Ancient of Days. Then, in verse 11, after telling the reader he was continuing to stare in trance like state because of the sound of the boastful words which the little horn was making it a habit of speaking, he describes the destruction of the fourth beast, from which the little horn had originated. Daniel describes the beast being killed. Then emphatically states that its body was burned and specifically it was given over to the consuming fire. Remember that this fourth beast had ten horns from which emerged the little horn. So when this fourth beast is killed and burned with fire, all the horns including the little horn perished as well since they were attached to this fourth beast. The fact that a river of fire was coming out from throne of the Ancient of Days and that the body of this fourth beast was given over to the consuming fire makes clear that the destruction of the fourth beast and the little horn was the direct result of the Ancient of Days judging them. As we have noted in previous studies, the Ancient of Days describes in symbolic terms God the Father. The little horn is a reference to the Antichrist. The fourth beast is the Roman Empire and specifically the final form of this empire since the Antichrist will rule this final form of the Roman Empire during Daniel s Seventieth Week. Daniel 7:11 does not speak of the death of the Antichrist because 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 31

32 Revelation 19:11-21 makes clear that he will be taken alive at the Second Advent of Christ and deposited into the Lake of Fire. Rather, it speaks of the destruction of the final revived form of the Roman Empire during Daniel s Seventieth Week. This description of the fourth beast in Daniel 7:11 corresponds with the destruction of the image in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two (Daniel 2:34-35; cf. 44:45). Specifically, it corresponds to the supernatural rock striking the feet of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar s dream. In Daniel 2:34-35, Daniel describes for Nebuchadnezzar the statue in his dream being destroyed by a rock cut out but not by human hands, which resulted in the rest of the image becoming like chaff from the summer threshing floors. The iron, clay, bronze, silver and gold which composed this enormous statue were crushed as one when the rock hit its feet. As we noted the feet were composed partly of iron and partly of clay which is symbolic of the final form of the Roman Empire which will be prominent during Daniel s Seventieth Week. In Daniel 2:44-45, Daniel says that this supernatural rock crushed into pieces the iron, bronze, clay, silver as well as gold, which represents Jesus Christ destroying the Revived Form of the Roman Empire under Antichrist at His Second Advent, as well as any remembrance of the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Jesus Christ s victory over these previous Gentile kingdoms will be total and complete but also it will be total and complete over all these previous Gentile kingdoms. His Second Advent will result in the destruction of any remnants of these previous Gentile world powers. Furthermore, His millennial government will cause these other forms of government to be totally and completely forgotten. Therefore, Daniel 7:11 and Daniel 2:34-35 and Daniel 2:44-45 are describing in symbolic or apocalyptical terms the Lord Jesus Christ destroying the Revived Form of the Roman Empire under Antichrist at His Second Advent, which terminates not only Daniel s Seventieth Week but also the Times of the Gentiles. In Daniel chapter 2 and 7, the Holy Spirit through Daniel is describing a violent overthrow and destruction of Antichrist and the final form of the Roman Empire. This indicates that Jesus Christ will violently overthrow and destroy this final form of Gentile power. The Life-Span of First Three Beasts Daniel 7:12 On the other hand, the rest of the beasts, their governmental dominion was taken away, though for their benefit an extension of life was granted for a period of time, yes an appointed period of time. (Author s translation) 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 32

33 Daniel contrasts the killing of the fourth beast with the first three beasts whose governmental dominion was taken away by the Ancient of Days, though an extension of life was granted to these beasts for an appointed period of time. Though the first three beasts were permitted to live for an appointed period of time by the Ancient of Days, this does not imply that the first three beasts continued to live after the death of the fourth beast since each beast continued to exist in the beast which followed it. The empires of Babylon, Medo-Persian and Greece which are represented by the first three beasts were absorbed into the Roman Empire represented by the fourth beast. So the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece continued to exist in some form in the Roman Empire though they were no longer world-empires. The customs, ideologies, religions and philosophies of Babylon were absorbed into the Medo-Persian Empire when the latter conquered the former. In the same way, the customs, ideologies, religions and philosophies of Medo-Persia were absorbed into the Alexander s Greece when the latter conquered the former. The customs, ideologies, religions, and philosophies of the Greeks were absorbed into the Roman Empire. The customs, ideologies, religions and philosophies of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome will be found to some extent in the Revived Form of the Roman Empire which will exist during Daniel s Seventieth Week. Therefore, when the final form of the Roman Empire appears during Daniel s Seventieth Week in the future, the remnants of Babylon, Medo-Persian and Greece will be destroyed along with it. This corresponds to what we read in Daniel chapter two where the rock struck the iron and clay feet of the statue and not only crushed the iron and clay feet but also the gold head, silver chest and arms, the bronze belly and thighs and the iron lower legs. This not only represents Jesus Christ destroying the Revived Form of the Roman Empire under Antichrist at His Second Advent as well as His millennial kingdom erasing completely any reminder of the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo- Persia, Greece and Rome but it also indicates that remnants of these four kingdoms will be found in the Revived Form of the Roman Empire. That remnants of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome will be found in the Revived Form of the Roman Empire during Daniel s Seventieth Week under Antichrist is indicated by the fact that the body of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar s dream emphasized the continuity and integral relationship of the kingdoms represented in the statue. This means that though one kingdom might pass away, elements of it would be found in the kingdom, which follows it. History records that the Roman Empire and civilization incorporated much of the Greek culture, even identifying their gods with those of the Greeks. Also Persian and Babylonian cults and customs spread throughout the Roman Empire. The Greek language became the language of trade, commerce and government 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 33

34 communication in the eastern half of the Roman Empire and even in the city of Rome itself. The fact that the iron lower legs belong to the statue indicates that Rome represented by the iron lower legs would incorporate the language, customs, culture and gods of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. Thus, in a sense these three previous kingdoms in a sense were not completely destroyed. However, Christ s Second Advent will destroy any remembrance of these former kingdoms as depicted in the rock cut out of a mountain without human hands striking the image on the feet and destroying the entire image. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ s victory over this ten-nation confederacy under Antichrist during Daniel s Seventieth Week will be total and complete but also it will be total and complete over all these previous Gentile kingdoms. His Second Advent will result in the destruction of any remnants of these previous Gentile world powers. Furthermore, His millennial government will cause these other forms of government to be totally and completely forgotten. So Daniel is telling the reader in Daniel 7:12 that in contrast to the fourth beast representing Rome, the first three beasts representing Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece will have their world-wide governmental dominion taken away from them one by one and will be permitted to exist in the kingdom which succeeds it as a world-wide empire. In other words, unlike the first three beasts, the fourth beast will not have its world-wide governmental dominion taken away from it and given to another Gentile kingdom and then be permitted to exist in a Gentile kingdom which succeeds it. Thus, the Roman Empire demise will not result in another Gentile power succeeding it and remnants of it will not be absorbed into another world-wide Gentile power as was the case with Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. The death of the Roman Empire will bring about the demise of Babylon, Medo- Persia and Greece since remnants of it were absorbed into the Roman Empire. Unlike Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, the final world-wide Gentile power, the Revived Form of the Roman Empire will be destroyed by Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, in Daniel chapter two, we read that when the rock struck the feet of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar s dream, the entire statue was destroyed. This as we noted teaches in symbolic terms that when the Second Advent of Christ destroys Antichrist and the Revived Form of the Roman Empire, all remnants of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome will be destroyed as well. Since Daniel chapter two speaks of the Times of the Gentiles from the human perspective and chapter seven from God s perspective, we can infer that the destruction of the fourth beast in chapter seven corresponds to the rock striking the feet of the statue in chapter two. In chapter two the destruction of the feet of the statue was followed by the millennial kingdom and in chapter seven the destruction of the fourth beast was 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 34

35 followed by millennial kingdom as made clear by the interpretation given to Daniel in Daniel 7: The Son of Man Daniel 7:13 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state because of these visions as behold One like a Son of Man was coming upon the clouds of heaven. Specifically, He went up to the One Ancient in Days in the sense that He approached His presence. (Author s translation) On the heels of the destruction of the fourth beast and the little horn associated with this beast, Daniel sees a vision of one like a Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven, going up to and approaching the presence of the Ancient of Days. This is symbolic of the Lord Jesus Christ and His ascension (Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 4:10; Hebrews 4:14; 9:24) and session (Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:3) at the right hand of the Father 40 days after His resurrection. The Lord Jesus Christ s interprets this vision as being a reference to Himself (Matthew 24:30; 24:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27). The noun bǎr means son but in the sense of a divine being, who does not originate from planet earth. This noun describes the familial relationship with the Ancient of Days. This is indicated by the fact that this person described by Daniel in his vision was coming with the clouds of heaven. This implies deity since the clouds of heaven are often referred to the Old Testament as signifying God s presence (Exodus 13:21ff. 1 Kings 8:10ff.; Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 4:13; Nahum 1:3; Ezekiel 10:4; Psalm 18:10, 12; 97:2-4; 104:3ff.). Leupold writes the clouds are the mark of both the heavenly and the divine. 2 The incarnate Son of God Jesus Christ describes Himself as coming with the clouds at His Second Advent (Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7). Lastly, Daniel 7:14 describes this Son of Man as receiving an eternal kingdom from the Ancient of Days and Daniel 7:27 describes this son of man as the Highest One whose kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom. Therefore, the noun bǎr, Son denotes the divine nature of this person coming upon the clouds of the earth s atmosphere. The noun bǎr is the object of the preposition k-, which is used as a marker of comparison indicating that it is comparing this person to a son or divine being. It is also in the construct state meaning that it is governing the noun ʾěnāš, which means man describing this divine person coming with the clouds of heaven as a human being. Thus, these two words signify that Daniel is describing someone who is 2 Leupold, H.C. Exposition of Daniel; page 308; Baker Book House; Grand Rapids, Michigan; 1949; Reprinted 1969 by Baker Book House Company William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 35

36 both divine and human. The construct state of bǎr indicates a genitive relationship. Specifically, it indicates a type of attributive genitive used in conventional idioms of construct forms with some noun in the genitive case to represent the nature, quality, character or condition of a person. Therefore, this construction indicates that this son, who was a divine person, was a human being as well. This construction could be rendered literally a son of man or human son, a son who is a human being. Therefore, this expression Son of Man indicates that Daniel is describing a person who is both divine and human approaching the Ancient of Days in order to receive an eternal kingdom on the earth. It is speaking of the hypostatic union of Jesus Christ. So this scene in Daniel 7:13 is actually symbolically describing what took place after Jesus Christ s death, resurrection and ascension. It thus precedes the Second Advent of Christ and His subsequent millennial reign since Daniel 7:14 records the Son of Man receiving an eternal kingdom from the Ancient of Days after coming with the clouds of heaven and entering the presence of the Ancient of Days. Jesus Christ ascended into heaven upon the clouds of heaven and He will return at His Second Advent in the same manner (Acts 1:9-11). The Son of Man s Kingdom Daniel 7:14 Then, governmental dominion was given to Him as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him. His governmental dominion is an eternal governmental dominion which can never be taken away so that His kingdom is one which can never be destroyed. (Author s translation) After one like a Son of Man was coming upon the clouds of heaven and approached the presence of the Ancient of Days, Daniel tells the reader governmental dominion, honor as well as sovereignty was given to the Son of Man by the Ancient of Days. The purpose of which was so that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities and language groups on earth would worshipfully serve Him. Then, Daniel tells the reader that the governmental dominion of the Son of Man is an eternal one which can never be taken away from Him by any of God s creatures with the result that His kingdom is one which is indestructible. So this vision Daniel received as recorded in Daniel 7:14 teaches us that the Lord s governmental dominion and kingdom will not only be universal in the sense that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities and language groups on the earth will worshipfully serve Him but it is also eternal in nature William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 36

37 Thus, as Daniel states it is indestructible. The New Testament teaches that the Father rewarded His Son Jesus Christ with authority over every creature and all of creation and to judge both men and angels (Ephesians 1:20-22; Colossians 1:16-18; Philippians 2:6-11). Daniel 7:14 also reveals that God will restore the rulership of the earth to a human being of His own choosing, namely the Lord Jesus Christ, which will fulfill His purpose for mankind. Daniel s Reaction to the Vision Daniel 7:15 As for me, Daniel, my soul was distressed in the midst of my body. Specifically, the visions in my mind caused me to be terrified. (Author s translation) Daniel shares with the reader the emotional affect that these visions produced in his soul. These visions he received from God the Holy Spirit caused his soul to be distressed because of the four beasts. Daniel 7:19-21 indicates that Daniel was primarily occupied with the ten horns of the fourth beast and specifically the little horn. He sensed that these beasts and the little horn represented some type of evil. The vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man would have caused reverential fear in Daniel since he would have sensed these two subdued to the four beasts and the little horn. These visions would have distressed the soul of Daniel because they were a supernatural revelation from God regarding the future of planet earth. They were revelation regarding the future of his people the Jews as well as the Gentiles. God the Holy Spirit was giving Daniel a composite picture of the future of planet earth and didn t know it until an elect angel interpreted the vision for him. So in effect, Daniel is telling the reader that he was emotionally and intellectually and spiritually overwhelmed by what he saw in the visions. He did not know what they meant which leads to his asking an elect angel to give him the interpretation of these visions. Daniel Finds an Interpreter Daniel 7:16 I went up to one from those standing nearby in order to request from him the truth regarding all this. Consequently, he spoke to me in order to make known to me the interpretation of these events. (Author s translation) The visions which Daniel received as recorded in Daniel 7:2-14 caused him distress in his soul and specifically caused him to be terrified as recorded in Daniel 7:15. This resulted in Daniel seeking an interpretation or the meaning of this vision he received from God. Here in Daniel 7:16, he tells the reader that he went up to an unidentified individual who was from those standing nearby the throne of the 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 37

38 Ancient of Days in this vision in order to request the interpretation of the vision. This individual as one of the innumerable individuals standing before the throne of the Ancient of Days who are mentioned as appearing in the vision in Daniel 7:10. Since Daniel 7:9-10 records events in symbolic terms which will take place at the end of Daniel s Seventieth Week, the innumerable unidentified individuals rendering worshipful service to the Father and those standing around His throne waiting to do so must be both regenerate human beings and elect angels. Those who are regenerate human beings would include regenerate Israel from Old Testament dispensations including Daniel s Seventieth Week. It also would include regenerate Gentiles from every dispensation up to and including Daniel s Seventieth Week. Lastly, it would also include elect angels as well. Daniel does not identify for the reader this individual who gave him the interpretation of the vision but it would appear to be the elect-angel Gabriel since he is the one who gives him the interpretation of the visions recorded in Daniel chapter eight (see 8:16, 21). Gabriel also appears to Daniel to give him the prophecy of the seventy weeks in Daniel chapter nine (see 9:21). So in Daniel 7:16, this unidentified individual who is more than likely the elect archangel Gabriel spoke to Daniel in order to make known to him the interpretation of the events which appeared to him Daniel in the vision. The interpretation is recorded in Daniel 7: The Summary Interpretation of the Vision Daniel 7:17 ʻThese great beasts which are four in number are four kings who will arise from the earth s inhabitants. (Author s translation) We must remember that the ancient Orientals regarded kings and kingdoms synonymously. This is made clear to the reader in Daniel 7:23 which records the angel telling Daniel that the fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth. He does this after telling him here in Daniel 7:17 that the four great beasts represent four kings. Thus, a comparison of these two verses supports the idea that in the mind of Daniel, kings and kingdoms were synonymous. The interpreter s statements in Daniel 7:17-18 serve as a summary interpretation of the vision, or in other words, they summarize the interpretation for Daniel. Then, in Daniel 7:19-27, in response to Daniel s request, Gabriel gives more details regarding the fourth beast and the significance of the ten horns and the identity of the little horn. In Scripture, heathen nations are often depicted by wild beasts in order to express the animal like character of these nations which are unregenerate and deceived by sin and Satan. Here in Daniel chapter seven the Holy Spirit is depicting the unregenerate heathen nations as wild animals in order to convey to 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 38

39 the reader God s viewpoint of these nations. Therefore, the fact that these four empires are described as beasts emphasizing their unregenerate character and the first beast was transformed from a wild beast to a human being would indicate that Nebuchadnezzar was not only saved but he was obedient to God and no longer in rebellion against him after being disciplined for seven years. Daniel 7:18 However, the saints belonging to the Most High will receive the kingdom. Indeed, they will possess the kingdom throughout eternity, yes throughout eternity, the ages. (Author s translation) Daniel 7:17-18 summarize the interpretation of the vision which is recorded in Daniel 7:2-14. Here in Daniel 7:17-18, the interpreter of the vision contrasts the temporary and transitory nature of the four kingdoms which originate from sinful humanity with the eternal nature of the kingdom the saints of the Most Highest will receive and possess, whose origin is from God. The saints belonging to the Most High refers to elect angels, regenerate Jews and Gentiles from every dispensation and not merely regenerate Israel. This indicates that the church would be among the saints mentioned here in Daniel 7:18 since the Holy Spirit is providing the interpretation of the vision through the angel Gabriel and he would be of course knowledgeable about the church. However, from Daniel s perspective he would not be thinking of the church since the church age is a mystery dispensation meaning it was not known to Old Testament saints like Daniel. The interpreter of course does not mention the church. The revelation concerning the church age would be provided through the Lord Jesus and His apostles. The term saints could be rendered holy ones referring to those individuals who are set apart to serve the God of Israel exclusively as a result of exercising faith in the God of Israel. Their faith in Him has resulted in their being sanctified. The purpose of this sanctification is to reproduce the holiness of God in these believers. So the millennial kingdom will be characterized by holiness since believers are sanctified as a result of their faith. The saints are believers from every dispensation including both regenerate Jews and Gentiles. They would also include the elect angels. The Most High is a reference to the God of Israel who is identified by the New Testament as Father, Son and Spirit. This title signifies that the God of Israel is superior to the gods the pagans worshipped. It expresses the fact that the God of Israel is the only true God. The kingdom is a reference to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ who is represented in the vision by the Son of Man. The saints of the Most High are described as receiving the kingdom, which of course is through faith in the God of Israel. Not only are they said to receive the 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 39

40 kingdom but they will possess the kingdom through all of eternity. This speaks of course of the eternal nature of the kingdom. They will possess the kingdom throughout eternity, yes throughout eternity, the ages implies that these saints have eternal life since they could not possess it forever without eternal life and speaks of the eternality of God s kingdom. Daniel s Desire for More Information Regarding Fourth Beast Daniel 7:19 Then, I desired to know the meaning concerning the fourth beast which was different from all the others, extraordinarily intimidating, its two rows of teeth composed of iron as well as its claws composed of bronze. It devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the rest with its feet. (Author s translation) After the unidentified interpreter informed Daniel that the four beasts in his vision represented four kings/kingdoms but in contrast to these beasts, the saints of the Most High will possess the kingdom throughout eternity, Daniel tells the reader that he desired to know the meaning of the fourth beast. As he did in verse 7, here in verse 19 Daniel presents to the reader a description of the fourth beast. However, verse 19 gives information about the fourth beast, which was not provided in verse 7 while on the other hand, verse 7 provides information which does not appear in verse 19. In both verses, Daniel describes the fourth beast as intimidating. However, unlike verse 7, in verse 19, he states that it was extraordinarily intimidating. In verse 7, he describes the fourth beast as terrifying as well as extremely powerful whereas in verse 19, he does not mention these things, though they could be implied from the information given in verse 19. Then, in verse 7, Daniel describes as possessing two large rows of iron teeth while on the other hand in verse 19, he simply says that this beast possessed two rows of iron teeth mentioning that they were large. In verse 19, Daniel describes the fourth beast as possessing iron claws, which he does not mention in verse 7. However, in verse 7, he tells the reader that this fourth beast devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the rest of the other three beasts with its feet. He uses this exact same language in verse 19 to describe this beast. Lastly, in verse 7, Daniel completes his description of the fourth beast by informing the reader that it was characterized as different from the other three beasts in the sense that it possessed ten horns. On the other hand, in verse 19, he begins his description of the fourth beast by telling the reader that it was different from the other three beasts, but unlike verse 7, he mentions nothing about the horns which he does though, in verse William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 40

41 Therefore, a comparison of both verses reveals that verse 19 summarizes verse 7 but gives an added detail (bronze claws). However, both verses emphasizes that this fourth beast was superior to the three beasts preceding it in that it destroyed the other beasts by violently crushing them with its feet. Of the four beasts, the fourth receives the longest description from Daniel because it was unique from the other beasts and destroyed the other beasts. Daniel 7:19-20 indicates that one of the reasons why Daniel was greatly disturbed by the fourth beast was that it destroyed the others. The other reason he was greatly disturbed by the fourth beast was its ten horns and in particular the little horn which emerged on the fourth beast, which Daniel mentions in verse 20. As we noted in Daniel 7:7, this fourth beast represents the Roman Empire since it corresponds to the legs of iron in the image that appeared in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two, which we noted represented the Roman Empire. The mention of this fourth beast possessing large iron teeth and violently crushing the other three beasts characterized the Roman Empire. The Roman armies were known for their iron armor which led some to refer to them as the Iron Legions of Rome, emphasizing their strength and invincibility. The Roman armies were also known for violently crushing countries and civilizations enslaving many peoples. Daniel s Desire for More Information Regarding Ten Horns and Little Horn Daniel 7:20 Also, I desired to know the meaning concerning the ten horns which were on its head as well as the one which emerged and in addition three fell by being in the presence of it. Specifically, that horn possessing eyes as well as a mouth making it a habit of speaking boastfully. Indeed, its appearance was more distinguished than its contemporaries. (Author s translation) Daniel continues to focus upon the fourth beast by requesting that Gabriel tell him the meaning of the ten horns of this beast as well as the horn which emerged among these ten and three horns fell by being in the presence of this horn. Daniel 7:8 describes this horn which destroyed three others as a little horn. As was the case in this verse, here in Daniel 7:20, Daniel describes this little horn as possessing eyes and a mouth speaking boastfully on a habitual basis. He then summarizes the appearance of this little horn as being more distinguished than the other ten horns because it possessed eyes like a human being and a mouth speaking boastfully. Daniel describes this fourth beast as having ten horns, which makes this beast different from the previous three. These ten horns refer to ten kings according to Daniel 7:24. These ten horns correspond to the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar s 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 41

42 image in Daniel chapter two that referred to the Revived Roman Empire that will consist of a ten nation confederation during Daniel s Seventieth Week. The ten horns do not represent a fifth kingdom but rather they grow out of the head of the fourth kingdom and are the last development of the fourth beast, which corresponds to the ten toes on the image in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two. The description of this little horn in Daniel 7:8 and 20 makes clear that it is symbolic of a human being who is a ruler of a kingdom. The little horn refers to the Antichrist since it is identified with the Revived Roman Empire and in Daniel 7:19-26, he is described as waging war against God s people up to the time of the Second Advent of Christ, which corresponds to the depiction of the Antichrist in Revelation (Daniel 7:11, 20-26; 8:25; Revelation 13:1-10; 19:20). The description of the little horn in Daniel 7:8 and 20 indicates that the Antichrist will start off as an insignificant world ruler among ten other rulers of kingdoms but will defeat three of these ten kingdoms and emerge as a world ruler. The eyes of the little horn speak of the faculty of careful observation implying that the Antichrist will be extremely intelligent. The boastful speaking indicates that the Antichrist will be a great speaker who in the judgment of God is arrogant in his words. In Daniel 7:25, the interpreter tells Daniel that the little horn will speak out against God Himself so when Daniel says that the little horn was speaking boastfully in Daniel 7:8 and 20, it is in relation to God. Little Horn Wages War Against Saints and Overpowers Them Daniel 7:21 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state as that horn was continually waging war against the saints so as to overpower them. (Author s translation) Daniel continues to describe the little horn and specifically its actions. As we noted in previous studies in this chapter, the description of this little horn in Daniel 7:8 and 20 makes clear that it is symbolic of a human being who is a ruler of a kingdom. In Daniel 7:19-26, he is described as waging war against God s people up to the time of the Second Advent of Christ, which corresponds to the depiction of the Antichrist in Revelation (Daniel 7:11, 20-26; 8:25; Revelation 13:1-10; 19:20). The term saints in Daniel 7:21 is a technical term for regenerate human beings who are declared justified by God through faith. The saints who are mentioned in Daniel 7:21 refer to both regenerate Jews and Gentiles who will be living during the Seventieth Week of Daniel since the Antichrist will be a worldruler at that time. The Scriptures make clear that Antichrist will be waging war against the Jewish nation as well as all those who trust in Jesus Christ as their 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 42

43 Savior. He will persecute and kill both Jewish and Gentile believers. Those regenerate Gentiles who aid regenerate Jews will be put to death by the Antichrist. In Revelation 13:7, the Antichrist, who is depicted by the first beast in Revelation 13, is described in this verse as waging war against the saints who would be both regenerate Gentiles and Jews since Revelation 14:6 says that the gospel will preached to both Jews and Gentiles during Daniel s Seventieth Week. Furthermore, Revelation 7:9-17 records that from every nation and people will be a multitude killed by the Antichrist during Daniel s Seventieth Week who worship God. Therefore, when Daniel 7:21 says that the little horn will be waging war against the saints he is speaking of regenerate Jews and Gentiles living during the tribulation period of Daniel s Seventieth Week. Some argue that Daniel would be thinking of only regenerate Jews. However, Daniel knew from the prophets of Israel like Isaiah that the Gentiles would trust in the Jewish Messiah. The term saints in Daniel 7:21 would not include the church for the simple reason that she will be removed from the earth at the rapture or resurrection of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; John 14:1-3). Furthermore the church age was a mystery meaning that it was not known to Old Testament saints like Daniel but was made known to the apostles of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:25-27). Revelation 13:5 says that the dragon will give authority to the first beast. The dragon is Satan and the first beast of Revelation 13 is the Antichrist. Therefore, this verse teaches that Satan, who is the temporarily the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), will give authority to Antichrist. Revelation 13:7 says that Antichrist wages war against the saints and overcomes them, which is what Daniel 7:21 says as well. The Antichrist becomes a world ruler because of Satan giving him the power and authority to do so. Therefore, this war against the saints mentioned in Daniel 7:21 and Revelation 13:7 is Satanic in origin. The Intervention of the Ancient of Days Daniel 7:22 Until the One Ancient in Days intervened. Specifically, He rendered judgment in favor of the Most High s saints. Then, the moment arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. (Author s translation) Daniel describes in Daniel 7:21 the little horn continually waging war against the saints so as to overpower them. This is a picture of Antichrist waging war against regenerate Jew and Gentiles during the Tribulation portion of Daniel s Seventieth Week which occurs during the last three and a half years of this seven year period. Now, in Daniel 7:22, Daniel says that the little horn will be waging war against the saints so as to overpower them until the Ancient of Days 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 43

44 intervened. He identifies specifically what he means by this divine intervention by telling the reader that the Ancient of Days rendered judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High. Who is the Most High and who is the Ancient of Days here in Daniel 7:22? Is the Most High the Father and the Ancient of Days the Son or the other way around or are they both referencing the Son or are they both referencing the Father? There are several indications from the context that the Ancient of Days here in verse 22 is a reference to the Father and the Most High is a reference to the Son of Man who is God the Son according to the verses First of all, we know that the Ancient of Days is a reference to the Father throughout chapter seven since in verse 13, Daniel describes one like a Son of Man was coming upon the clouds of heaven. Specifically, He went up to the Ancient of Days in the sense that He approached His presence. Then, in verse 14, he tells the reader that the Ancient of Days gave governmental dominion to this Son of Man as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him. The Son of Man s governmental dominion is described as an eternal governmental dominion which can never be taken away so that His kingdom is one which can never be destroyed. These verses make clear that the Son of Man possesses the prerogatives of God. He is sovereign like God and He is eternal like God since His kingdom He received from the Ancient of Days is described as eternal and indestructible. So it is clear that the Son of Man receives a kingdom from the Ancient of Days. The New Testament identifies verse 13 as the ascension and session of Jesus Christ and verse 14 describes Jesus Christ s millennial kingdom on planet earth. Now, in verse 22, the saints are said to take possession of the kingdom, which is a reference to the kingdom given to the Son of Man by the Ancient of Days as made clear by verses Then, in verse 27, Daniel says that the sovereignty, dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High ( Highest One NASB95). Next, he says in the very next sentence that His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. His would then have to be the Son of Man since the Ancient of Days gave the Son of Man a kingdom and sovereign authority over the inhabitants of all the earth as we noted in verses Verse 27 describes the kingdom of the Highest One or Most High as everlasting which parallels the description in verse 14 that the Son of Man s governmental dominion is eternal. Verse 27 also says that all the dominions will serve and obey the Highest One or Most High. This parallels Daniel s statement in verse 14 that the Ancient of Days gave governmental dominion to the Son of Man as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 44

45 Throughout chapter seven, the Ancient of Days is the sovereign judge over the nations of the earth including Antichrist and the final form of the Roman Empire. The Most High is always associated closely with the kingdom received from the Ancient of Days as well as with the saints throughout chapter (verses 18, 22, 25, 27). The reason why the saints are closely associated with the Most High because they will reign with the Most High and if they will reign with the Most High, the Most High must be the Son of Man since the Ancient of Days conferred an eternal kingdom upon the Son of Man who we know is Jesus Christ. Therefore, when Daniel says in verse 22 that the Ancient of Days rendered judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, the Most High must be a reference to the Son of Man since the Most High is associated with the kingdom and the Son of Man received the kingdom from the Ancient of Days. Consequently, in verse 25, when Daniel says that the little horn spoke out against the Most High and wore down the saints of the Most High, the Most High would be the Son of Man. The fact that the Son of Man is described as the Most High throughout the chapter indicates that He is deity. Of course, Jesus Christ who calls Himself the Son of Man in the Gospels is also identified in the New Testament as the Son of God. In Daniel 7:22 when Daniel tells the reader that the Ancient of Days rendered judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, he is referring to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. This event will not only bring about the end of Daniel s Seventieth Week and the Times of the Gentiles but also result in the imprisonment of Satan for a thousand years. It will also result in the Antichrist being thrown alive into the eternal lake of fire along with the false prophet. This interpretation is indicated by Daniel s statement in verse 26, which tells the reader that the little horn will have his dominion taken away, and will be annihilated and destroyed forever. Also, Revelation 19:11-21 makes clear that Antichrist will be taken alive at the Second Advent of Christ and deposited into the Lake of Fire. So Daniel 7:22 speaks of the destruction of Antichrist and the final revived form of the Roman Empire, and which empire he will be the head of during Daniel s Seventieth Week. Therefore, in Daniel 7:22 when Daniel says that the Ancient of Days will render judgment in favor of the saints, it will result in the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. After this the saints take possession of the kingdom, which is a reference to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Thus, Daniel is a premillennialist. Interpretation of Fourth Beast Daniel 7:23 Thus, he said, The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all these kingdoms in the sense that it 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 45

46 will devour the entire earth. Specifically, it will trample it down so that it crushes it. (Author s translation) Daniel does not identify for the reader this individual who gave him the interpretation of the vision but it would appear to be the elect-angel Gabriel since he is the one who gives him the interpretation of the visions recorded in Daniel chapter eight (see 8:16, 21). Gabriel also appears to Daniel to give him the prophecy of the seventy weeks in Daniel chapter nine (see 9:21). So in Daniel 7:23, this unidentified individual who is more than likely the elect archangel Gabriel spoke to Daniel in order to make known to him the interpretation of the fourth non-descript beast. Gabriel informs Daniel that this fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom which will be different from the three world-empires preceding it which were Babylon, Media-Persia and Alexander the Great s Greece, which were represented in the vision by the first three beasts. History tells us that this fourth kingdom was of course the Roman Empire. The angel tells Daniel that this Rome would be different than these previous three world-empires in that sense that it will devour the entire earth. Specifically, it will trample down the inhabitants and nations of the earth so that it crushes the inhabitants and nations of the earth. This fourth beast represents the Roman Empire since it corresponds to the legs of iron in the image that appeared in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two, which we noted represented the Roman Empire. The mention of this fourth kingdom here in verse 23 as devouring the entire earth and specifically trampling down the inhabitants and nations of the earth so that it crushes the inhabitants and nations of the earth characterized the Roman Empire. Daniel 7:23 corresponds with Daniel 2:40 since Gabriel tells Daniel that Rome would be different than these previous three world-empires in that sense that it will devour the entire earth. Specifically, it will trample down the inhabitants and nations of the earth so that it crushes the inhabitants and nations of the earth. This description in Daniel 7:23 is a perfect characterization of the Roman Empire, which had superior military power than Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece. In fact, as we noted in Daniel chapter two, since the metals of the statue in the vision of Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter two decrease in value but increase in strength, the iron lower legs of the statue indicate that the character of the authority in rulership of the Roman Empire was inferior to Alexander s Greece, Media- Persia and Nebuchadnezzar s Babylon. However, its military power or strength was superior to these three. In Daniel 7:23, Gabriel tells Daniel that this fourth kingdom which history records as Rome will be different than the world-wide empires which preceding it in history. Rome was different than Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece in the sense that it devoured the entire earth and treads it down as well as crushed it. It would 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 46

47 be different in the sense that it would be much more powerful than the three previous kingdoms. Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece were all world-wide empires like Rome. However, the manner in which they became a world-wide empire makes it unique than the other three since the other three are never said to devour the entire earth, and tread it down and crush it. However, this was the case with Rome. So Rome is different from these three world empires in that it not only ruled the earth but did so in a much ferocious, ruthless and destructive manner. Daniel 7:24 also indicates that this fourth kingdom would be different than the other three kingdoms in that it would have at some point in its history a ten nation confederacy which will be led by a man who will be against God and His people but will be judged by God. Nowhere in the history of Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece did any of these empires have such a confederacy of ten nations in which three would be destroyed by a ruler who stridently opposed God and His people and then was destroyed by God. Elements of Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece were absorbed into the Roman Empire and were never destroyed by God. However, the Roman Empire will be destroyed by God, which will result in the destruction of the other three kingdoms which were absorbed into it. When Gabriel informs Daniel that this fourth kingdom will devour the entire earth, this indicates that it will subjugate its inhabitants and consume its resources for its own benefit. Therefore, the fourth kingdom s reign upon planet earth will be total and complete in the sense that every person will be under its jurisdiction. The angel describes this fourth kingdom as trampling down the entire earth which speaks of the fourth kingdom exercising overwhelming military power against the nations of planet earth so as to bring them into subjection to itself. The fourth kingdom is said to crush the earth which speaks of the Roman Empire crushing the nations of the earth in the sense of subduing them completely. This fourth kingdom is pictured as a wild animal trampling upon people with the result that it crushes these people. The picture here in Daniel 7:23 is that this fourth kingdom will totally and completely conquer and bring into subjection to itself the nations of the earth and its inhabitants with overwhelming military power. It will have no rivals on the earth which can challenge it. Now, when the Old Testament uses the phrase entire earth it is not referring to all of planet earth but rather to the territory of the Near and Middle East which in some respect relates to Israel and Jerusalem. However, the ten horns of this fourth beast refer to the Revived Form of the Roman Empire during Daniel s Seventieth Week under Antichrist. Also, Revelation 13 says that this empire led by Antichrist will rule the entire earth. Thus, we can conclude that when Gabriel tells Daniel in Daniel 7:23 that this fourth kingdom will devour the entire earth he means the entire earth literally and not just the region of the Near and Middle East 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 47

48 as related to Israel. The Old Roman Empire devoured and trampled down so as to crush the nations of the Near and Middle East but not the entire globe. However, the final form of the Roman Empire during Daniel s Seventieth Week under Antichrist will in fact rule the entire earth (cf. Revelation 13:7). Interpretation of Ten Horns and Little Horn Daniel 7:24 Also, the ten horns are ten kings who will arise from this kingdom. Then, another will arise after them. However, he will be different in comparison to the previous ones. Specifically, he will conquer three kings. (Author s translation) Gabriel proceeds to the interpretation of the ten horns of this fourth beast. He tells Daniel that the ten horns represent ten kings who will ascend to power from this fourth kingdom which is the Roman Empire. This indicates that at some point in the future, the Roman Empire will be re-emerge or be revived but it will not be as unified as the Old Roman Empire. Daniel 7:23-24 signifies that eventually the Roman Empire will consist of a federation of ten divisions with ten equal rulers (See Revelation 17:12). Since the Roman Empire has never in its history consisted of a ten-division federation with ten equal rulers, we can conclude that this stage of the Empire s existence will take place in the future during the Tribulation period. Also, Daniel 2:45 records that in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, i.e. the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, which has never taken place in history but is yet future. Therefore, sometime in the future, after the rapture of the church, a revived form of the Roman Empire will be established. These ten kings in Daniel 7:24 do not refer to ten kingdoms that originated from Alexander the Great s Empire since the fourth beast from which the ten horns originate will be destroyed by God Himself. Revelation it will be accomplished through Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the fourth beast actually refers to the Roman Empire as we noted and not the Greek Empire since the description of this fourth beast corresponds to what history tells us about Rome rather than Greece. In fact the description of the third beast fits Alexander s empire perfectly since its conquests were fast like the conquests of a leopard over its prey. Rome crushed nations like iron crushes which corresponds to the description of the fourth beast. The little horn which emerges from the fourth beast destroys three of the ten kings and then is destroyed himself by Jesus Christ s Second Advent. This has never taken place in history. Thus, exegetically it is untenable to interpret the ten kings of Daniel 7:24 are referring to the ten Seleucid kings. In Daniel 7:24, Gabriel tells Daniel that another king will arise or ascent to power after the ten kings ascend to power who are represented by the ten horns of 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 48

49 the fourth beast. However, the angel tells him that this king will be different in comparison to these ten kings. Then, he begins to explain to Daniel why this king will be different than the ten. First of all, he says that this king will destroy in war three of the ten kings. In Daniel 7:25, Gabriel continues to explain why this king represented by the little horn will be different than the ten preceding him by informing Daniel that this king will speak arrogantly against God and kill the saints of God. He will even make alterations in times and in law and these will be given into his power for a three and a half year period. So this king represented by the little horn will be different than the ten kings represented by the ten horns in that he will have a war-like character and will openly oppose God and His people. He will also be different because of his enormous power over all the earth s inhabitants. So the description of this little horn in Daniel chapter 7 makes clear that it is symbolic of a human being who is a ruler of a kingdom. The little horn refers to the Antichrist since it is identified with the Revived Roman Empire. Also, in Daniel 7:19-26, he is described as waging war against God s people up to the time of the Second Advent of Christ, which corresponds to the depiction of the Antichrist in Revelation (Daniel 7:11, 20-26; 8:25; Revelation 13:1-10; 19:20). Interpretation of Little Horn Speaking Boastfully and Waging War Against Saints Daniel 7:25 Furthermore, he will issue statements against the Most High. Also, he will make it his habit of persecuting the Most High s saints as well as attempting to change the times, yes even the Law. Indeed, they will be given into his power for a period of a time, times and a half a time. (Author s translation) Gabriel informs Daniel that this king will issue statements against the Most High. This interprets the statement in Daniel 7:8 and 20 that the little horn spoke boastfully. The angel then tells Daniel that this king will make it his habit of persecuting the saints of the Most High. This interprets the statement in Daniel 7:21 that the little horn was continually waging war against the saints. Then, Gabriel informs Daniel that this king will attempt to change the times, yes even the Law. This does not appear to interpret anything from Daniel s vision but is additional information which will be further developed in Daniel 9:27. It is a reference to abolishing the various Levitical sacrifices which are related to the worship of Yahweh and replacing them with those pertaining to the worship of the Antichrist. This is supported by the fact that this statement does not interpret anything in Daniel s vision in chapter seven but is in addition which is developed further by Daniel 9:27, which says that Antichrist will put an end to these sacrifices. In Daniel 7:25, the noun dāṯ means law referring to the Mosaic Law 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 49

50 and specifically to the Levitical laws concerning sacrifices since Daniel 9:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 and Revelation 13:1-8 indicates that Antichrist will put an end to the Levitical sacrifices in order to establish the worship of himself during Daniel s Seventieth Week. The angelic interpreter s last statement in Daniel 7:25 is emphatic informing Daniel that the saints of the Most High will be given into the power of this king represented by the little horn, who we know as the Antichrist. This interprets the statement in Daniel 7:21 that the little horn will overpower the saints. This refers to God s people being killed by the Antichrist. Then, Daniel is told that this will take place for three and a half years which is a reference to the last three and a half years of Daniel s Seventieth Week, which constitutes the tribulation portion of this seven year period. These three and a half years correspond with the for a time (one year), times (two years), and a half time (six months) in Daniel 7:25 and the one thousand two hundred and sixty days in Revelation 12:6 and the fortytwo months in Revelation 11:2. This three and a half year period is also not an interpretation of anything in Daniel s vision in chapter seven but is added by the angel. It is looking ahead to Daniel 9:27, which is a reference to the Seventieth Week of Daniel in which these future events described by the angel in Daniel 7:23-25 will take place. The Judgment of the Little Horn Daniel 7:26 However, the court will be convened with the result that they will take away his governmental dominion by destroying, yes, by killing him at the end. (Author s translation) In Daniel 7:26, the angel tells Daniel that in contrast to this war that the little horn will wage against God and His people, the Ancient of Days who represents the Father will convene the Supreme Court of Heaven. This will result in the Most High, Jesus Christ and His saints, taking away his governmental dominion. They will do this by destroying him, yes by killing him at the end of the last three and a half years of Daniel s Seventieth Week. These statements by the angel Gabriel interpret Daniel 7:11, which records Daniel telling the reader the fourth beast will be killed and its body destroyed by fire. It is also interprets Daniel 7:22 which says that the Ancient of Days who is the Father will intervene on behalf of the saints of the Most High who is the Son of Man who Jesus interprets as being a reference to Himself. Daniel 7:26 also corresponds to Daniel 2:45, which records Daniel interpreting the rock in Nebuchadnezzar s vision which was cut out from a mountain but not by human hand which crushed to pieces the statue in this dream. So Gabriel is telling Daniel that the Antichrist will be killed violently, which will be the death of the fourth beast in Daniel s vision which we know is the 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 50

51 Roman Empire. The Revived Form of the Roman Empire represented by the ten horns on the head of the fourth beast along with the little horn will be destroyed by God. Revelation makes clear that he will be killed violently by Jesus Christ Himself, whose interprets Himself as being the Son of Man in Daniel chapter seven who is also described as the Most High in this chapter. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 19:20 speak of Jesus Christ killing the Antichrist Himself. Thus, by killing the Antichrist, God will bring an end to the Roman Empire and specifically the Revived Form of the Roman Empire which will be in existence during Daniel s Seventieth Week. The Reign of the Most High and the Saints Daniel 7:27 Then, the sovereignty, specifically, the governmental dominion, thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven were given to a nation which is composed of the Most High s saints. His kingdom will be an eternal kingdom. Indeed, each and every one of the people belonging to these governmental dominions will serve Him as they make it their habit of obeying. (Author s translation) In Daniel 7:26, the angel Gabriel informed Daniel that the Antichrist will be killed and his Revived Form of the Roman Empire will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Advent, which terminates Daniel s Seventieth Week as well as the Times of the Gentiles. Immediately following this, the angel tells Daniel that the sovereignty, and specifically the governmental dominions and thus the greatness belonging to the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the saints of the Most High. The angel then says that His kingdom will be an eternal kingdom. Daniel 7:27 is a reference to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. The angel Gabriel makes clear that the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ will be absolute. He will have no rivals. He also makes clear that the saints will rule with Him. The saints are under His authority of course but they will rule with him since he informs Daniel that the sovereignty, the governmental dominions and greatness of the kingdoms of the earth will be given to a nation which is composed of the saints of the Most High. The implication which is confirmed by the New Testament is that the saints will possess sovereignty, yes governmental dominion over the nations of the earth. The fact that the angel tells Daniel in Daniel 7:27 that the kingdom of the Most High, Jesus Christ is eternal indicates that it will never be overthrown by another kingdom which stands in direct contrast to the Gentiles kingdoms represented by the four beasts in Daniel s vision. We must remember the millennial kingdom of 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 51

52 Jesus Christ is the Father s kingdom on earth. This millennial kingdom will merge into the eternal kingdom of the Father (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:27-28). Daniel 7:27 tells the reader that the nations of the earth will serve and obey Jesus Christ. Those believers who are in resurrection bodies and those who become believers during the millennium will serve and obey because they love Him whereas those who are unregenerate will obey Him because they fear Him since Revelation 2:27, 12:5 and 19:5 will tell us that Jesus Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron, which speaks of capital punishment. He will have the power of life and death over all the inhabitants of the earth. Thus, the unsaved will live in fear of Him because of this. To rule the nations with a rod of iron means that Jesus Christ will wield absolute governmental authority over the entire earth during His millennial reign and will require all men to conform to His righteous and just standards and that He will not tolerate lawlessness or injustices. It speaks of Christ acting the part of a shepherd by destroying the enemies of the sheep. Jesus Christ will replace Satan who is temporarily the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). The saints will replace the fallen angels who are presently under Satan s authority ruling the nations and deceiving them. During the millennial reign, Satan and the fallen angels will be imprisoned. Jesus Christ and the saints will replace them as the rulers of planet earth. Correspondence between Daniel Chapters Two and Seven These four beasts in Daniel chapter seven correspond exactly to the four metals in the image of Nebuchadnezzar s vision in Daniel chapter two. Image in Daniel 2 Four Beasts in Daniel 7 Nations Designated Head of Gold Lion Babylon Arms of Silver Bear Medo-Persia Sides of Brass Leopard Greece Legs of Iron Beast with Iron Teeth Rome 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 52

53 2013 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 53

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