(Luke 21:24; Daniel
7:1-28)
This chapter gives us the
second prophecy concerning “The Times of the Gentiles.” We have studied this
prophecy as it was presented to us in Daniel,
chapter two, and now we will study it as it is recorded in Daniel, chapter seven.
1. The similarities between the
dream of chapter two of Daniel and the vision of chapter seven of Daniel
a. Both deal with “The Times of
the Gentiles” (that period of time between the close of “The Old
Testament Historical Kingdom” and the setting up of “The Old Testament
Prophetical Kingdom”)
b. Both reveal four successive
Gentile world kingdoms which will exist during “The Times of the Gentiles”
c. Both reveal a final
end-time form of the fourth kingdom (in chapter two, this final form is
symbolized by the feet and the ten toes and in chapter seven it
is symbolized by the ten horns and the little horn)
d. Both reveal a fifth
heavenly kingdom which will destroy and replace the other four kingdoms
(in both the dream and the vision the destruction and replacement of these
kingdoms is sudden and decisive, not gradual and imperceptible.)
e. Both emphasize the final
form of the fourth kingdom and its destruction by the fifth kingdom
(that is, both emphasize the portion of the prophecy that deals with
eschatology)
2. The dissimilarities between the dream of chapter two of Daniel and the vision of chapter seven of Daniel
a. The dream views the four
Gentile world kingdoms from man’s viewpoint while the vision views them from
God’s viewpoint (the one views them as glittering and glorious while
the other views them as beastly and cruel)
b. The dream does not reveal
the end-time Antichrist while the vision does reveal this person (Daniel, chapter seven, gives the Bible’s
first revelation of “the Little Horn,” the end-time Antichrist)
c. The dream does not reveal
the kingdom of the Antichrist as being in conflict with the saints of Israel
but the vision does speak of this thing (the people of Israel are
mentioned at the close of chapter seven as the Gentile section of Daniel,
chapters 2–7, shades off into the Jewish section, chapters 8–12)
THE RECIPIENT OF THIS PROPHECY (Dan. 7:1)
God now reveals the times of
Gentile political supremacy, not through a
heathen king as he did in chapter two, but through a Jewish exile, His servant Daniel.
Daniel, possibly the morning
after the prophecy was given in a night vision, recorded the prophecy as
regards its essential features.
THE CONTENT OF THIS PROPHECY (Dan. 7:2–14)
Daniel saw the four winds of
heaven striving upon the great sea and then he saw four great beasts
successively come up out of the sea, each of them different from the others.
The first beast was like a
lion and it had eagle’s wings. The wings were plucked and the beast was lifted
up from the earth and made to stand upon its feet as a man and a man’s heart
was given to it. The second beast was like a bear and it raised itself up on
one side and it had three ribs in its mouth. The third beast was like a leopard and it had four
wings and four heads.
The fourth beast was dreadful,
terrible, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth and ten horns and it
devoured, crushed, and stamped all of its opponents. A little horn then came up
among the ten horns, this little horn having the eyes of a man and a mouth
speaking great things. This little horn then plucked up three of the ten horns.
Daniel beheld until The Ancient of Days set up a judgment, destroyed the fourth
beast and set up a universal and eternal kingdom under the Son of man.
THE INTERPRETATION OF THIS PROPHECY (Dan. 7:17–27)
((1) “The four winds of the heaven”—In Rev. 7:1, these “winds” are
called “the four winds of the earth.” These “winds” are earthly forces which
stir up trouble and strife among the nations, these forces being controlled
either directly or indirectly from heaven; (2) “the great sea”—This term has reference to the nations of the
world, always in a state of turmoil, Isa. 17:12, 13; (3) “four great beasts”—The term “beasts” refers to this world’s
fierce, cruel, and selfish civil governments; (4) “up from the sea,” 7:3, and “out
of the earth,” 7:17—These terms are synonymous terms with differing
emphases, the one referring to the fact that the four kingdoms are of men and not of God, and the other referring to the fact that these four
kingdoms are of the earth and not of heaven. Compare Rev. 13:1 with Rev.
13:11; (5) “king”—In both Daniel and Revelation, the term “king” often refers, not to an individual king, but to a kingdom, 7:17; and (6) “horn”—This
term has reference to a ruler and it emphasizes his power.)
The general interpretation (Dan.
7:16–18)
During “The Times of the
Gentiles” four great, fierce, Gentile world powers will arise one after the
other and will exercise dominion over the people of Israel until the Second
Advent of Christ, at which time these Gentile world governments will be
destroyed and replaced by the kingdom of The Most High, a kingdom which will
exercise its rule through the Jewish saints and which will continue on for ever
and ever.
2. The detailed interpretation
a. The beast like a lion
(Dan. 7:4)—This has reference to The Babylonian Empire, 605–538 b.c., the empire pictured by “the head
of gold” ’ in Daniel, chapter
two.
(1) It “had eagle’s wings”—This
speaks of Nebuchadnezzar’s power and rapid conquests, Jer. 4:7, 13.
(2) “The wings thereof were
plucked”—This symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity, Dan. 4:33.
(3) “It was lifted up from the
earth … and a man’s heart was given to it”—This speaks of
Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration to sanity and to his throne, Dan. 4:34–36.
b. The beast like a bear
(Dan. 7:5)—This speaks of The Medo-Persian Empire, 538–333 b.c., the empire pictured by “the breast
and arms of silver” in Daniel,
chapter two, and by “a ram which had two horns” in Dan. 8:3–7.
(1) “It raised up itself on one
side”—This predicts the eventual supremacy of the Persians over the
Medes in this empire made up of Medes and Persians.
(2) “It had three ribs in the
mouth of it between the teeth of it”—This pictures the Medo-Persian
conquest of the remnants of the three former world empires, The Egyptian Empire, The Assyrian Empire,
and The Babylonian Empire.
c. The beast like a leopard
(Dan. 7:6)—This refers to The Grecian Empire, 333–63 b.c., the empire referred to in Daniel, chapter two, by “the belly and
the thighs of brass” and in Dan. 8:5–14 by “an he goat.”
(1) It had “four wings of a
fowl”—This has reference to Alexander the Great’s speed of conquest.
(2) It had “four heads”—This
has reference to Alexander’s four generals, Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus,
and Ptolemy, who after Alexander’s death divided his empire into four parts, Greece and Macedonia, Thrace and Asia Minor,
Syria, and Egypt, and then each
of them exercised dominion over their portion of the empire.
d. The beast of iron and brass
(Dan. 7:7, 8)—This symbolizes The Roman Empire, 63 b.c. to the Second Advent of Christ, the
empire symbolized in Daniel, chapter two, by “the legs of iron” and “the feet
part of iron and part of clay.”
(1) The beast of iron and brass
without the ten horns (the ten horns came out of this kingdom, Dan.
7:24, so this kingdom for a time existed without the ten horns)—This symbol
pictures The Roman Empire in its historical form, 63 b.c. a.d. 476.
This empire, The Historical
Roman Empire, crushed the remnants of the former world empires and then
exercised rule over the whole known civilized world. It brought about “the Pax
Romana” (the Roman peace) and enforced this peace for a period of over 200 years
(31 b.c.-a.d. 180). After a.d.
180, The Historical Roman Empire began to decline and the western division of
this empire came to an end in a.d.
476 (the year of the fall of Rome) but the eastern division of the empire
continued on until a.d. 1453 (the year
of the fall of Constantinople).
Although this empire (in its
western division) came to an end in a.d.
476, the empire has lived on in the memory of the peoples of the western world
and six major attempts have been made during the past fifteen centuries to
revive this empire (because men yearn for a reestablishment of “the Pax
Romana”).
(2) The beast of iron and brass
with the ten horns—This symbol pictures The Roman Empire in its
revived form, from the beginning of the Seventieth Week of Daniel to the Second
Advent of Christ.
(a) The identity of this empire
The empire pictured by the
beast of iron and brass with the ten horns is The Revived Roman Empire.
The beast of Rev. 13:13 has
seven heads (picturing the six former world empires, The Egyptian Empire, The Assyrian Empire, The Babylonian Empire, The
Medo-Persian Empire, The Grecian Empire, and The Historical Roman Empire, plus The Revived Roman Empire). One of these heads was wounded to death
but its deadly wound was healed. This pictures the death blow given The
Historical Roman Empire in a.d.
476 and the revival of this empire in eschatological times (at the beginning of
The Seventieth Week of Daniel).
So the beast of iron and brass
with the ten horns pictures the revived form of the fourth empire seen in
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel,
chapter two, and in Daniel’s vision, Daniel,
chapter seven.
(b) The time of this empire
It will exist during the seven
years of The Seventieth Week of Daniel. The Roman Empire will be revived at the
beginning of The Seventieth Week, Rev. 6:2, but it will not become a world-ruling empire until the mid-point
of The Seventieth Week. In Rev. 13:1–10, when the word “beast” has reference to
a kingdom, it has reference to the world-wide form of The Revived Roman Empire,
its form during the last 3 ½ years of The Seventieth Week.
(c) The form of this
empire
During the first one-half of
Daniel’s Seventieth Week, this empire will be a federation of ten kingdoms. Ten
kings will unite their kingdoms to form The Revived Roman Empire. These kings
are pictured by “ten toes,” Dan.
2:41, 42, by “ten horns,” Dan. 7:7,
24, by “ten horns” capped with “ten
crowns,” Rev. 13:1, and again by “ten
horns,” Rev. 17:3, 12, 13, 16, 17.
(e) The ruler of this empire (1). His identity
He will not be unveiled until
after the Rapture of the church, 2 Thes. 2:3. 8, and no man can know his
identity until after his unveiling. We do know that whatever his name is, the
sum total of the numerical value of the letters of his name is six hundred and
sixty-six, Rev. 13:18.
The Bible gives many names to this end-time ruler:
a). “The little horn,” Dan. 7:8;
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f). “The son of perdition,” 2 Thes. 2:3
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b). “The prince that shall come,” Dan. 9:26
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g). “That wicked one,” 2 Thes. 2:8
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c). “The desolator,” Dan. 9:27
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h). “Antichrist,” 1 Jn. 2:18
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d). “The willful King” Dan. 11:36
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i). “The beast out of the seas,” Rev. 13:1
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e). “That man of sin,” 2 Thes. 2:3
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j). “The first beast,” Rev. 13:12
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Antiochus Epiphanes, the ruler
of Syria (175–164 b.c.), is
generally recognized by Premillennial Bible scholars as being a type of “the
Beast,” the ruler of The Revived Roman Empire. The prophecies of Dan. 8:9–14
and the interpretation of these prophecies in Dan. 8:23–26 have a double
reference, that is, these prophecies and their interpretation have reference
both to Antiochus Epiphanes and to his antitype, the Antichrist. In Daniel,
chapter eleven, we have a prophetic projection from Antiochus to the Antichrist
(verses 21–35 speak of Antiochus and verses 36–45 speak of the Antichrist).
In Daniel, chapters 8 and 11,
the actions of Antiochus picture the actions of the end-time Antichrist. The
one is the type of the other.
(4). His rise to world power
During the first 3 ½ years of
The Seventieth Week of Daniel, the “little horn” will use many means in the
realization of his desire for world supremacy: (1) He will uproot three of the ten kings (“horns”), Dan. 7:8, 24, and apparently will replace them with kings who
are more subservient to him; (2) he
will promise peace and safety, 1 Thes. 5:3; (3) he will use flattery, bribery, and diplomacy, Dan. 11:21–24, 39;
(4) he will marry the false (Lacdicean)
church, Rev. 17:3; and (5) he will
make a treaty with the nation of Israel, Dan. 9:27
(5). His supremacy over “the ten horns”
His look will be “more stout
than his fellows,” Dan. 7:20. He will uproot and replace three of the ten
horns, Dan. 7:8, 20. God will cause the final ten horns (kings) to give their
kingdoms to “the little horn” (the beast) and to agree to do the will of “the
little horn,” Rev. 17:17.
(6). His blasphemy of God
He, during the last 3 ½ years
of Daniel’s Seventieth Week, will announce himself as God, Dan. 11:36, 37; 2
Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:11–17, and will speak words of great blasphemy against the
true God, Dan. 7:8, 20, 25; 11:36; 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:5, 6.
(7). His persecution of
the saints
During the last 3 ½ years of
Daniel’s Seventieth Week, the period of “The Great Tribulation,” the beast, the
world dictator, will persecute all “the saints,” especially the Israelitish
saints, Dan. 7:21, 25; Matt. 24:9; 25:34–40; Rev. 6:11; 11:7; 12:17; 13:7, 8,
11–17. Those who refuse to take “the mark of the Beast” and to worship the
Beast will be slain, if they can be found, Rev. 13:15–17.
He, during his reign as the
world’s supreme ruler, will try to change the traditional times of worship
and the traditional ways of worship, Dan. 7:25.
Near the close of the 3 ½
years allotted to “the little horn,” Dan. 7:25, a judgment throne will be set
(not “cast down”) in third heaven and “The Ancient of Days” (God the Father),
sitting in great glory and ministered to by myriads of angels, will command the
books (containing the records of the misdeeds of “the little horn” and his
empire) to be opened that judgment might be decreed upon “the little horn” and
his kingdom. Then “the Son of Man” (Christ) will be brought before “The Ancient
of Days” that the “Ancient of Days” might give Him authority to execute the
judgment decreed upon “the little horn” and his kingdom and to set up a kingdom
of His own to replace the destroyed kingdom of “the little horn,” Dan. 7:9–14,
22, 26, 27.
During the 30 days following
the three-and-one-half years’ reign of “the little horn,” Christ will pour out
seven vials of God’s direct wrath upon “the little horn” and his kingdom (see
Dan. 12:11 for the 30 days and see
Rev., chapters 15, and 16, for the pouring
out of the seven vials of wrath). The seventh vial of wrath will be poured
out at Christ’s Second Advent, Rev. 16:13–21, at which time: (1) the kingdom of the Beast (“the little horn”)
will be destroyed, Dan. 7:11; (2) the
capital city of the Beast, Babylon, will be destroyed, Rev. 16:19, chapter
18; (3) the armies of the Beast will be
destroyed, Zech. 12:1–9; 14:1–15; and (4) the Beast Himself will be destroyed, Dan. 7:11; 9:27; 2 Thes. 2:8;
Rev. 19:20.
To complete this judgment upon
the Beast and his kingdom, Christ, shortly after His Second Advent, will gather
the dispersed Israelites who survived The Great Tribulation and will destroy
from among them all the unbelievers (those who have followed the Beast), Ezek.
20:33–38; 34:11–16, and then He will gather the Gentiles who survived The Great
Tribulation and will destroy from among them all the unbelievers (those who
have followed the Beast), Matt. 25:31–46.
Daniel 7:11, 12 says that the
Beast and His kingdom will be completely destroyed, whereas the former beasts
(The Babylonian Empire, The Medo-Persian Empire, and The Grecian Empire) had
their dominion taken away but had their lives prolonged for a season. This may
be explained as follows: The former world empires had, each in their turn, lost
their political dominion but had their lives, their civilizations and their
cultures, perpetuated in the kingdoms which succeeded them, Dan. 2:35; Rev.
13:2. But this will not be true of the fourth beast in its final form. The
kingdom of the Beast (“the little horn”), at The Second Advent of Christ, will
have not only its political dominion but also its life taken away (its
civilization and culture will not be perpetuated in the succeeding kingdom, The
Kingdom of the Son of man).
(1) The time of this kingdom—It is an eschatological kingdom, a kingdom yet
future, a kingdom which will be established by Christ shortly after His Second
Advent, Dan. 7:26, 27; Rev. 19:11–20:4.
(2) The giver of this kingdom—It will be given to Christ by God the Father, “The
Ancient of Days,” Psa. 2:8, 9; Dan. 7:9–14; 1 Cor. 15:28. So it is “The Kingdom
of Heaven,” Matt. 5:20; 8:11.
(3) The ruler of this kingdom—It is Christ’s kingdom, given to Him by God, and it
will be ruled by Him, Psa. 2:8, 9; Dan. 7:13, 14; Matt. 19:28; Rev. 3:21.
(4) The possessors of this kingdom—It will be possessed by the “saints,” Dan. 7:22, 27.
That is, it will be a kingdom composed of saints, ruled by saints (under
Christ), and enjoyed by saints.
(5) The names of this kingdom—It is “The Old Testament Prophetical Kingdom”; “The
Kingdom of Heaven,” Matt. 4:17; “The Kingdom prepared … from the foundation of
the world,” Matt. 25:34; “The Kingdom … promised to them that love Him [God],”
James 2:5; and “The Millennial Kingdom.”
(6) The universality of this kingdom—“The smiting stone,” Christ’s kingdom, descending out
of the heavens, will grow and become a great mountain, filling the whole earth,
Dan. 2:35. Christ’s kingdom will grow during the Millennium and will finally
embrace all nations and all peoples, Isa. 9:7; Dan. 2:35; 7:14, 27.
(7) The perpetuity of this kingdom—It is an eternal kingdom, Isa. 9:7; Dan. 2:44; 7:14,
27. Christ will rule this kingdom for a thousand years, Rev. 20:4, until He has
subdued all of God’s enemies (either by saving them or destroying them), 1 Cor.
15:24–28, and then He will deliver up the kingdom to God, merge His Millennial
Mediatorial Kingdom with God’s Eternal Kingdom, and then, under God, rule on
forever over God’s Eternal Kingdom, Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:13, 14; Lu. 1:33.[1]
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