Daniel7

Daniel 7 records Daniel's dream of four great beasts emerging from the sea, symbolizing four successive earthly kingdoms. This vision culminates in the Ancient of Days sitting in judgment, where the fourth beast is destroyed. Subsequently, one like the Son of Man receives an everlasting dominion, and the interpretation reveals that the saints of the Most High will ultimately possess an eternal kingdom.

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Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

¶ In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

The Judgment of the Ancient of Days

¶ I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

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

The Son of Man Receives Everlasting Dominion

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Daniel Seeks Interpretation

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

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

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

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Detailed Interpretation of the Fourth Kingdom

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

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

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

Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Conclusion of the Vision

Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

Study Notes for Daniel 7

Verse 1

This vision, dated to the first year of Belshazzar (before Dan. 5), marks the beginning of the prophetic section (Chs. 7–12) and is written in Aramaic. Daniel now receives the revelation directly, paralleling Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Chapter 2.

Verse 2

The 'great sea' often symbolizes the chaotic, restless Gentile nations from which earthly power arises (cf. Rev. 13:1). The 'four winds' suggest that these historical events are ultimately controlled by God.

Verse 3

These four beasts represent the same succession of world empires depicted by the statue in Daniel 2: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and a final powerful kingdom (likely Rome and its successors).

Verse 4

The lion with eagle's wings represents the Babylonian Empire, known for its rapid expansion and majesty. The plucking of the wings and the giving of a 'man's heart' may symbolize the humbling and sanity restored to Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4).

Verse 5

The bear represents the Medo-Persian Empire, powerful but slower than Babylon. Raising itself on one side signifies the dominance of the Persians over the Medes. The three ribs likely represent three major conquests that fueled the empire’s expansion (e.g., Lydia, Babylon, Egypt).

Verse 6

The leopard with four wings signifies the extreme swiftness of the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great. The four heads represent the division of the empire among his four leading generals (the Diadochi) after his premature death.

Verse 7

The fourth beast, terrifying and indescribable, is generally identified as the Roman Empire. Its iron teeth recall the iron legs of the statue (Dan. 2), emphasizing its immense, destructive power. The ten horns foreshadow later rulers or divisions arising from this empire.

Verse 8

The 'little horn' is a key prophetic figure, symbolizing a final, tyrannical ruler who is intelligent ('eyes like the eyes of man') and supremely arrogant ('a mouth speaking great things'). Historically, this figure anticipates Antiochus IV Epiphanes, but also points toward the eschatological Antichrist.

Verse 9

The 'Ancient of days' is a title for God the Father, emphasizing His eternal nature and role as the supreme, righteous Judge. The imagery of fire, white garments, and the throne establishes a solemn, divine courtroom setting.

Verse 10

The 'thousand thousands' attending God’s court highlight the scale of divine sovereignty and the universality of the judgment. The opening of the books signifies that justice will be administered based on established records and divine law.

Verse 11

The judgment scene focuses on the destruction of the fourth beast because of the blasphemous pride of the little horn. This confirms that all earthly power structures that oppose God will ultimately be annihilated.

Verse 12

While the fourth beast is utterly destroyed, the earlier beasts (kingdoms) merely lose their dominion, suggesting that their influence or cultural remnants may persist, though their political power is broken.

Verse 13

The 'one like the Son of man' is a pivotal messianic figure, denoting one who is both human and divine. This passage is the origin of Jesus' favorite self-designation, emphasizing His glorious and authoritative destiny (cf. Matt. 26:64).

Verse 14

The Son of Man receives a kingdom that is universal (all peoples), permanent (everlasting dominion), and indestructible, standing in absolute contrast to the temporary, violent kingdoms of earth.

Verse 15

Daniel’s distress highlights the terrifying reality of the beasts, particularly the fourth. He understands that the vision concerns a period of great earthly upheaval and severe suffering for God’s people.

Verse 16

Daniel appeals to an angelic guide who provides the formal interpretation, shifting the focus from symbolic imagery to explicit historical and eschatological realities.

Verse 17

The interpretation confirms that the beasts represent four successive 'kings' or kingdoms, reinforcing the link between this vision and the prophecy of Daniel 2.

Verse 18

This verse offers the theological climax: the temporary dominion of the beasts will be replaced by the eternal, unshakeable kingdom given to 'the saints of the most High'—the redeemed people of God.

Verse 19

Daniel’s specific focus on the fourth beast confirms its unique terror and importance in the sequence of world history. It represents the ultimate expression of human opposition to God.

Verse 21

The little horn is identified as the primary antagonist against the community of faith, making war and temporarily prevailing against the saints before the divine judgment intervenes.

Verse 22

The intervention of the 'Ancient of days' reverses the persecution, bringing justice to the saints and inaugurating their permanent reign—the central message of hope in this vision.

Verse 24

The ten horns are ten kings (or kingdoms) arising from the fourth empire. The little horn (the eleventh) rises later and violently subdues three predecessors to solidify his power.

Verse 25

The little horn's blasphemy includes attempting to 'change times and laws,' an act of supreme arrogance aimed at usurping divine authority over the cosmic and social order. The phrase 'time and times and the dividing of time' (three and a half years) denotes a limited, fixed period of intense persecution.

Verse 26

The judgment is certain and final. God will intervene to strip the little horn of his dominion, leading to his complete and permanent destruction.

Verse 27

This concluding interpretation reiterates the kingdom's ultimate destiny: it belongs to the people of the Most High, establishing an eternal, universal kingdom that supersedes all earthly authority.

Verse 28

Daniel’s troubled heart reflects the profound horror of the vision, particularly the suffering of the saints, even though he understands the ultimate victory. Keeping the matter 'in his heart' signifies the seriousness and weight of the revelation.

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Daniel7

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

The Judgment of the Ancient of Days

The Son of Man Receives Everlasting Dominion

Daniel Seeks Interpretation

Detailed Interpretation of the Fourth Kingdom

Conclusion of the Vision

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