The Book of Daniel

Chapter 7

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1984-2001 by Dr. Richard W. Fry Published by Promise of Life Ministries. Printed in the United States Of America. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system or database, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, photocopying, recording, manual, or otherwise, or disclosed to third parties without the express written consent of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Making copies of any part of this publication for any purpose other than your own personal use is a violation of United States copyright laws.

1. In the first six chapters, the material is mainly historical. It is now, and through the end of the book, mainly predictive.

2. Until now, Daniel has been God’s agent in revelation, interpreting others’ dreams. Hereafter, an angel interprets Daniel’s own dreams and visions (7:16; 8:15-17; 9:20-23; 10:10-14).

3. In the previous chapters, the author has reported in the third person; hereafter he writes in the first, giving a much more intimate report of his experiences.

4. We see a transition from prophecy centered in Gentile nations to Jewish-centered prophecy taking place with the entrance of the “holy people” (rendered “saints” vv. 18,22,25). The Jews are the center of interest to the book’s end.

The same succession of kingdoms that was found in chapter 2 appears here; four Gentile empires, then the kingdom of Messiah. The four Gentile kingdoms are:

• Babylon

• Medo-Persia

• Greece

• Rome

  • The fifth kingdom is Messiah’s kingdom.

Verse 1

The First Year Of Belshazzar: 

This takes place about  fourteen years before the events of chapter 5, in 553 BC. Belshazzar ruled as a coregent with his father, Nabonidus, but, apparently, Nabonidus ruled for the first three years, from 556-553 BC.

Verse 2

Four Winds: 

The winds represent God’s providential power by which he controls the nations, setting them in commotion or settling them in peace. Cf. Rev 7:1-3; Jeremiah 23:19; 49:36; 51:1; Zechariah 6:1-6, 7:14.

The Great Sea: 

The sea always symbolizes Gentiles peoples and nations. In this particular case, The Great Sea is literally the Mediterranean Sea (Numbers 34:6,7; Joshua 1:4; 9:1; 15:11,12,47; 23:4; Ezekiel 47:10-15, 19,20; 48:28).

Verse 3

Four Beasts: 

From Daniel chapter 2 we see three kingdoms arising after the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 2:32,33  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,  His legs iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

• The head is Nebuchadnezzar in his Babylonian rule.

• The breast and arms represent the Medo-/Persian empire.

• The belly and thighs represent the Greek empire.

• The legs and feet represent the Roman empire.

  • See Revelation 13:1-7

Verse 4

Like A Lion: 

The lion symbolizes Babylon here and also in Jeremiah 4:6,7.

• The eagle’s wings speak of swiftness, as the lion of strength. These are natural symbols and need no explanation.

  • This would be the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream from chapter 2.

Verse 5

Like To A Bear: 

The bear is an appropriate symbol of the Medo-Persian kingdom.

Strength and ferocity play a part in almost every Biblical use of the bear. The bear’s great bulk fits the massive Persian armies. Xerxes is said to have moved two and one-half million men to attack Greece.

 Duality may be suggested by reference to the beast’s side.

This would be the  Medo-Persian empire currently in power.

Verse 6

Like A Leopard: 

The four-winged leopard speaks, without doubt, of Alexander’s Grecian (Macedonian) kingdom.

This is the Greek empire which will shortly overthrow the Medo-Persian empire.

Verse 7

As we saw in chapter 2, the fourth stage of empire is Roman. Since this kingdom must prevail until the destruction of Antichrist (the little horn) and the establishment of the eternal, final, visible kingdom of Christ (cf. Rev 19:11-20:4), it must be regarded as prevailing yet today.

• This is the final empire before the coming of Christ to establish his eternal kingdom.

  • This is the Roman empire.

The term, “revived Roman empire,” is actually a misnomer. The Roman empire has never actually died off. Its spirit is just as strong today as ever it was. The proper term here would be, “revised Roman empire.”

Ten Ten Horns: 

Whenever you see the term, “ten horns”  in scripture, it refers to the antichrist. Ten horns is always the antichrist.

Verse 8

The ten-fold form of the final stage, possibly suggested by the ten toes of chapter 2, is clearly taught here and confirmed by Revelation 17:3ff. Later in the chapter the little horn is identified with Antichrist.

Little Horn: 

See 8:9

Verse 9

Verse 9-14 are intended for the comfort and support of the people of God in reference to the persecutions they were likely to sustain these beasts, and from all enemies of the children of God in every age.

Till The Thrones Were Cast Down: 

This might just as well read, “I beheld until the thrones were set up.” Once all earthly rule is eliminated, God will sit in judgment and Christ will commence his earthly reign.

One throne will be set up for Christ and one throne for his Father. This judgment is already set v. 10.

Verse 10

Fiery Stream: 

This fiery stream is a dreadful thing to the wicked. The same fire that softens wax, hardens clay.

This fire will destroy the wicked, but the same fire will purify and perfect the saints.

• F     Deuteronomy 4:24

• F     Deuteronomy 9:3

• F     Isaiah 33:14

• F     Hebrews 12:29

Verse 11

The beast is not speaking these great words in the presence of God. God is now casting the beast alive into the lake of fire because of the things said by the beast earlier (v. 8). See Revelation 19:20.

Verse 12

The power of the other kingdoms was taken away, but the life of them was prolonged for a time and a season.

This implies a set time, the bounds of which may not be passed.

Verse 13

One Like The Son Of Man: 

Jesus’ favorite term for himself is “Son of man.” He seems to refer to his particular passage when he speaks to the Jews seeking to stone him in John 5:27:

“And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”

The Son does not judge, the Father judges. The Father renders the judgment, the Son executes that judgment using the power of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 14

The start of the Millennial Kingdom.

Verse 15

Obviously the vision made a devastating impact on Daniel.

Grieved In My Spirit: 

Daniel is not physically troubled. It is his spirit which is grieved.

Man is like a sword. The blade is like the spirit of man. The hilt is like the soul of man. The scabbard is like the body of man.

The spirit is sheathed within the body or scabbard, but one does not directly touch the spirit or blade. The spirit is wielded by the soul or the hilt.

Verse 16

Here Daniel is not seen interpreting the vision himself, but he enlists the aid of an angel to interpret the vision for him.

Verse 19

The first three beasts do not trouble Daniel. He seems to grasp their significance readily enough. But Daniel wants greater clarification concerning the fourth beast.

This seems to be the thing that has Daniel grieving. The fourth beast is different from the rest.

• It was exceeding dreadful.

• Its teeth were iron.

In metaphors iron is used as a symbol of hardness and strength and durability (Deuteronomy 33:25; Job 40:18; Jeremiah 1:18; Dan 2:40). A neck with iron sinews signified obstinacy (Isaiah 48:4); a sky like iron and the earth like bronze, hopelessness (Leviticus 26:19; cf. Deuteronomy 28:23); and an iron yoke (Deuteronomy 28:48; Jeremiah 28:13-14) and iron chains (Psalm 105:18; 107:10; 149:8), harsh servitude and imprisonment. Messiah will rule the earth with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9; Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15), a just rule that will allow no opposition.

• Its nails were brass.

  • Brass symbolizes judgment, e.g., the brazen altar of sacrifices for sin where God judged the sins of Israel.

• It devoured and broke in pieces.

• It stomped on what little remained.

Verse 20

Ten horns is always the antichrist.

Three Fell: 

• Babylon

• Medo/Persia

• Greece

The horn symbolizes the power of rulership (kingship).

Verse 21

Here we have a reversal in the chronology of events. The beast is alive and making war against the saints; prevailing against them. It is crucial that you see the saints have been prevailed upon. See Matthew 16:18

There is no church during the tribulation period, but there are tribulation saints.

Verse 25

The wearing out of the saints would be done through persecution with the intention of complete annihilation. Revelation 13:7.

And Think To Change Times And Laws: 

This is just another attempt at trying to set self up as God.

Daniel 2:21

A Time And Times And The Dividing Of Time: 

3½ years (Revelation 13:7)

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