Daniel 7

Daniel’s dream of four beasts

In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel, on his bed, had a dream and visions came to his mind. Then he wrote down the dream, relating the substance of the words.

2 Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision at night, and there appeared the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea.

7:2 The great sea here may indicate the Mediterranean, but it could indicate the nations and people of the world (compare v 17 – “out of the earth”, and Isa 17:12-13; Rev 13:1; 17:1, 15).⚜

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

4 “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on its feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

7:4 The first beast symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian empire. The prophets spoke of Nebuchadnezzar as both a lion and an eagle (Jer 4:7; 48:40; 49:22; 50:17; Ezek 17:3, 12).⚜

5 “And then appeared another beast, a second, like a bear; and it raised itself up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And this was said to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

7:5 The bear symbolizes the empire of the Medes and Persians. The bear was raised up on one side – that is, Persia was the more dominant power in this alliance. The three ribs may symbolize the three principal kingdoms conquered by the Medes and Persians – Lydia, Egypt, and Babylon.⚜

6 “After this I looked, and another beast appeared, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. Also the beast had four heads; and dominion was given to it.

7:6 The leopard symbolizes Alexander’s Greco-Macedonian empire. The leopard is a swifter beast than the others mentioned and the four wings add to the suggestion of very rapid movement. Alexander’s swift conquests were a marvel in the ancient world.⚜

7 “After this I was watching in the night visions, and then a fourth beast appeared, dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong, and it had great iron teeth. It was devouring and crushing, and trampling what remained with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that preceded it; and it had ten horns.

7:3-7 The four beasts symbolize four kingdoms (v 17). They seem to be the same four kingdoms king Nebuchadnezzar saw in the form of a statue (chapter 2). In this vision God caused them to appear as wild beasts. By this symbolism something of their true nature is revealed. The following interpretation of the identity of these kingdoms is the one taught by most commentators who believe the book of Daniel. It seems more likely to be the right one than any other interpretation. For a possible reason why God gave different dreams about the same kingdoms see Gen 41:32.⚜

7:7 This beast symbolizes the Roman Empire, the same kingdom symbolized by the legs and feet of the image of chapter 2. Just as in chapter 2 it is the fourth kingdom to arise beginning with Babylon. Other features of its description also suggest its identity with the fourth kingdom of chapter 2.⚜

8 “I considered the horns, and then another horn, a little one, appeared, which came up among them. Before it three of the first horns were uprooted. And eyes appeared in this horn like a man’s eyes, and a mouth speaking big things.

7:8 The ten horns are kings (v 24), so it is safe to assume that this “little horn” symbolizes a king. Though he is called “little” he is “more imposing” than the others (v 20. The Hebrew means “in sight greater”), and evidently he soon becomes the dominant figure (v 21). “Little” may indicate lowly beginnings or the comparative insignificance of the kingdom from which he comes. The eyes of a man suggest intelligence or cunning. The mouth that speaks boastfully suggests the person described in 2 Thess 2:4 and Rev 13:5-6, the antichrist who will arise at the end of this age and be the ruler of the Roman Empire in its final form.⚜

9 “I watched until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days sat down. His garment was as white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was like a fiery flame, and its wheels like blazing fire.

10 A stream of fire came out, issuing from his presence. Thousands upon thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court of judgment was seated, and the books were opened.

11 “I watched then because of the sound of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched until the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the blazing flame.

7:11 God’s judgment will result in the total destruction of the fourth beast and the fiery punishment of the little horn who will head it up (Rev 19:20).⚜

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

7:12 Before the death of the fourth beast the first three beasts (vs 4-6) lost their power one by one, but the nations they symbolized were not immediately destroyed.⚜

13 “I watched in the night visions, and then one like the Son of man appeared, coming with the clouds of heaven; and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And dominion, and glory, and a kingdom were given to him, so that all peoples, nations, and those of all languages, would serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one which will not be destroyed.

7:9-14 Here is a picture of judgment. With the brutal and boastful form of the fourth beast man’s kingdoms will come to an end. These verses refer to the same time period as Dan 2:34, 44, 45.⚜

7:14 This receiving of sovereign power seems to be at the time of the destruction of the 4th beast at the end of this age. It corresponds with the events described in Dan 2:34-35, 44. Revelation chapter 5 seems connected with these same events. It is true that the Lord Jesus has already received authority (Matt 28:18) and His kingdom is established in the hearts of His people. But the time to come to earth and reign openly as king has not yet come. He still waits until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet (Acts 2:35; Heb 10:13). When the time comes for man’s kingdoms to be judged and destroyed He will come and openly set up His own kingdom (Dan 2:45; Rev 19:11-16).⚜

The interpretation of the dream

15 “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within me, and the visions coming to my mind troubled me. 16 I approached one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth about all this.

So he told me, and made known to me the interpretation of these things:

17 “‘These great beasts, which are four, are four kings who arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High will take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’

19 “Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and whose nails were of bronze, which devoured, crushed, and trampled what remained with its feet; 20 and of the ten horns which were on its head, and of the other horn which came up, and before whom three fell, that horn which had eyes and a mouth that spoke big things, whose appearance was more imposing than his associates. 21 As I watched, the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them,

7:21 Verse 25; Matt 24:21; Rev 13:7, 15.⚜

22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

7:22 The antichrist will persecute and slay God’s saints until the second coming of Christ. The “horn” can defeat the saints, but not their Lord.⚜

23 “‘He said this, “The fourth beast will be the fourth kingdom on earth. It will be different from all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and crush it.

7:23 Verse 7.⚜

24 And the ten horns are ten kings who will arise from this kingdom, and another will arise after them; and he will be different from the earlier ones, and he will subdue three kings. 25 And he will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High, and plan to change times and laws. And they will be given into his hands until a time and times and half a time.

26 “But the court of judgment will sit, and they will take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it forever. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens, will be given to the saints, the people of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; and all dominions will serve and obey him.’

7:27 The kingdoms of the world are not said to be destroyed, but handed over to the saints. They will reign with Christ (references at v 18).⚜

28 “This is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and the expression on my face changed, but I kept the matter in my heart”.