The vision that we are about to read has to do with who will really rule the world! We have world governments that are depicted as animals with their unique characteristics described. Next, we see a judgment occurring with God sitting down and deciding who was going to receive the rulership of his kingdom. An unfavorable judgment has now been rendered to the Small Horn, then he faces destruction. Next, we see the Son of Man being brought before the Almighty God and to him there were given the kingdom and the rulership, yes come Lord Jesus.
Daniel 7:1-3… In the first year of Belshazzar the king of Babylon, Daniel himself beheld a dream and visions of his head upon his bed. At that time, he wrote down the dream itself. The complete account of the matters he told. 2 Daniel was speaking up and saying: “I happened to be beholding in my visions during the night and see there! the four winds (Revelation 7:1) of the heavens were stirring up the vast sea. 3 And four huge beasts were coming up out of the sea, each one being different from the others.
Revelation chapter 7 also speaks of four angels holding back the winds of destruction. Whereas Revelation 13 speaks of a beast coming out of the sea but notice the characteristics of this beast when compared to these four beasts of Daniel.
Revelation 13:1-2… And it stood still upon the sand of the sea (The Dragon). And I saw a wild beast ascending out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and upon its horns ten diadems, but upon its heads blasphemous names. Now the wild beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were as those of a bear, and its mouth was as a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave to [the beast] its power and its throne and great authority.
Daniel 7:4… The first one was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle (Babylonian). I kept on beholding until its wings were plucked out, and it was lifted up from the earth and was made to stand up on two feet just like a man, and there was given to it the heart of a man. (That Kingdom ended in October 539 BCE)
The first Kingdom in the vision is Babylonian it existed between 1895 – 539 BCE, this is also the first Kingdom that God let rule over the Jewish people. When Daniel received the vision, he was part of the exiled people that were living in and under the control of Babylon.
Daniel 7:5… And see there! another beast, a second one, it being like a bear (Medo-Persia / Iranian). And on one side it was raised up, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and this is what they were saying to it, ‘Get up, eat much flesh.’ (That Kingdom ended in October 331 BCE)
The Medo-Persian Empire existed between 550 BCE – 331 BCE and in the vision was depicted as a bear. This kingdom was used by God to help free his people and reestablish the temple in Jerusalem.
Daniel 7:6… After this I kept on beholding, and see there! another [beast], one like a leopard (Greece as Alexander the great with his 4 Generals), but it had four wings of a flying creature on its back. And the beast had four heads, (Enoch 56:1-8) and there was given to it rulership indeed. (That first Kingdom ended in September 281 BCE, the last Seleucid rule end around 69 BCE)
In this vision Greece is depicted as a leopard but in a previous vision given to Daniel it was depicted as a one horn, he-goat, it lasted from 331 BCE – 69 BCE. We also find that during this rule by the Seleucid Empire a cruel king Antiochus IV Epiphanes was allowed to defile the temple in Jerusalem 167 BCE.
At this point I can’t help but notice that all three of these beast kingdoms ended at the time of the fall festivals of Israel. Also, the time span of their existence has been shortened, but a different kind of kingdom is getting ready to emerge.
But before going there I would like to introduce a very interesting passage of Scripture in Enoch where it speaks about a clashing of the Titans, the East against the West.
Enoch 56:1-8… There I saw hosts of the angels of punishment, as they went, and they were holding chains of iron and bronze. 2 Then I asked the angel of peace, who went with me, “To whom are those angels who are holding the chains going?” 3 He answered, “To their chosen and loved ones, so that they may be thrown into the chasm of the valley’s abyss, 4 and then that valley will be filled with their chosen and their loved ones, and the days of their life will be at an end, but the days of their leading astray will be innumerable. 5 “In those days, the angels will assemble, and will throw themselves toward the east, (Jeremiah 51:11) on the Parthians and Medes. They will stir kings, so that a spirit of unrest comes on them. They will fling them from their thrones, and will spring out like lions from their dens, like hungry wolves in the middle of the flock. 6 They will go up and trample underfoot the land of his chosen ones, (Daniel 11:1-12:3) and the land of my chosen ones will become a threshing floor and beaten path in front of them. The land of their chosen ones will be in front of them. 7 But the city of my just ones will hinder their horses. They will begin to fight amongst themselves, and their own right hand will be strong against them. (Isaiah 13:9-20) A person will not acknowledge their friend or sibling, or a child their father or mother, until the number of the corpses is fulfilled, and their punishment will be not in vain. 8 In those days Shaol will open its mouth, and they will be swallowed up in it and destroyed. Shaol will swallow up wrongdoers in the presence of the chosen.”
I cannot help but to question the timing of this prophecy of Enoch with that of Daniel. Did this event happen during the time of the destruction of Jerusalem? Is this some future event or is it going now? When we look at the events surrounding the war in Syria, I cannot help but wonder. I am not sure about the timing, but this Scripture definitely has a tie-in with Daniel chapter 7.
Back to the Daniel chapter 7 verse by verse discussion.
Daniel 7:7… After this I kept on beholding in the visions of the night, and see there! a fourth beast, (United Rome) fearsome and terrible and unusually strong. And it had teeth of iron, big ones. It was devouring and crushing, and what was left it was treading down with its feet. And it was something different from all the [other] beasts that were prior to it, and it had ten horns (ten kings).
What was it that defined the Empire of Rome as different from other kingdoms? Rome was a Republic; it was governed by the Senate of older rich landowners. There was a poor group of men who form the Tribune, and they had less power than the Senate. In a time of crisis, the Senate would elect someone who would become Caesar to direct the affairs for the better interest of all till the threat to Rome was gone, then they would step down. Eventually Rome came to have a Caesar all the time. Every time Rome would conquer its enemy, they invited the people to become part of its United group a Federation of countries.
The Roman Empire eventually split into an Eastern and Western Kingdom.
The Western Empire eventually became a religious entity trying to control the affairs of the governments all around it. The Eastern Roman empire ended with the Byzantine Empire as it fell to the Muslims, many of its people moved to Eastern Europe under Russian control. The Royal Court for the Byzantine Empire even married into the Russian Czar family. Because of this Russia considered itself the last vestige of the holy Roman empire and in the 1800s Moscow is considered the seat of the holy Roman Empire.
It should be noted that the countries in Europe that made up the previous Roman empire continue to make alliances today referring to them as federations or Unions so that a common interest could be maintained, that of Commerce, Power of Authority, and Peace. We could call these Unions by some other synonym, sure we can even describe them like a Commonwealth, Globalization, United Nations, or a One World Order.
In many ways the Roman Empire through its 10 heads and its horns has never stopped ruling. The United States government is set up in a very similar format like that of the Roman Empire, as it sprang from the United Kingdom and existed with the help of France and other European countries. It was one of the Horns that has brought into being the United Nations.
Now back to the verse-by-verse discussion of Daniel chapter 7.
Daniel 7:8-10… I kept on considering the horns, and look! another horn, a small one, (United Kingdom) came up in among them, and there were three of the first horns that were plucked up from before it (Spain, Netherlands, and France). And look! there were eyes like the eyes of a man in this horn, (United Kingdom and United States) and there was a mouth speaking grandiose things. I kept on beholding until there were thrones placed and the Ancient of Days sat down. His clothing was white just like snow, and the hair of his head was like clean wool. His throne was flames of fire; its wheels were a burning fire. 10 There was a stream of fire flowing and going out from before him. There were a thousand thousand’s that kept ministering to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand that kept standing right before him. The Court took its seat, (Strong’s #H1780) and there were books that were opened. (Enoch 47:1-4)
Strong’s concordance H1780 refers to the Judgment Seat. Also, in the book of Enoch chapter 47 it speaks of the Ancient of days sitting down but we will look at that Scripture a little later on.
Daniel 7:11-12… “I kept on beholding at that time because of the sound of the grandiose words that the horn was speaking; I kept on beholding until the beast was killed and its body was destroyed, and it was given to the burning fire. (Revelation 19:19-20) 12 But as for the rest of the beasts, their rulership’s were taken away, and there was a lengthening in life given to them for a time and a season.
So, have you been at able to identify this wild beast? Could it be the United States? Maybe it’s Russia or is it some other entity like United Nations or NATO?
Scripture always backs up Scripture so, let’s look up about the destruction of wild beast.
Revelation 19:19-20… And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army. 20 And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with Sulphur.
Who is the false prophet? Have you received the mark from the wild beast?
Back to our verse-by-verse discussion Daniel chapter 7.
Daniel 7:13-14… “I kept on beholding in the visions of the night and see there! With the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man happened to be coming; (Enoch 46:1-6) and to the Ancient of Days he gained access, and they brought him up close even before that One. 14 And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups, and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.
Now let’s look at the book of Enoch and see how the same subject matter is spoken of there. Then ask yourselves what extra details can we extrapolate from Enoch?
Enoch 46:1- 47:4… There I saw the Ancient of Days, whose head was like white wool, and with him another, whose appearance looked like a human’s. His appearance was very elegant, like one of the sacred angels. 2 And I asked the angel who went with me, and he explained the secret things to me, about that human, who he was, and where did he come from, and why did he go with the Ancient of Days. (Daniel 7:13-14) He answered me, 3 “This is the human, to whom justice (righteousness) belongs, and with whom justice lives. He will reveal all the treasures of that which is hidden, for the Lord of spirits has chosen him, and because of his justice, his share has surpassed all others in the presence of the Lord of spirits forever. 4 (Hebrew 1:8-14) “This human, who you have seen, will stir up kings and the powerful from their dwellings, and the strong from their thrones, will loosen the reins of the strong, and break the teeth of the wrongdoers. 5 He will throw kings from their thrones and their kingdoms, because they do not exalt and praise him, and do not respectfully acknowledge the source by which their kingdoms were granted to them. 6 He will throw down the appearance of the strong and fill them with shame. (Psalm 2:9-10) Darkness will be their dwelling, and worms will be their bed. They will have no hope of being raised from their bed, because they have not praised the name of the Lord of spirits. 7 “They will judge the stars of heaven and will lift up their hands against the Most-High. They will tread on and inhabit the earth, exhibiting all their wicked actions. Their power rests on their wealth, and their faith is in the gods whom they have formed with their own hands. They deny the name of the Lord of spirits, 8 and will expel him from his assembly places, and with him the faithful, who depend on the name of the Lord of spirits.”
This human known as the Son of Man was able to approach God and request a kingship in which he now brings into subjection all things in heaven and upon earth. He brings about judgment as those who did not glorify God or acknowledge where their authority comes from.
Enoch 47:1… In those days the prayer of the sacred and the blood of the just (righteous) will ascend from the earth into the presence of the Lord of spirits. 2 In those days the sacred ones, who live above the heavens, will unite with one voice, and petition, pray, praise, extol, and bless the name of the Lord of spirits, because of the blood of the just which has been shed, and so that the prayer of the just will not be in vain in the presence of the Lord of spirits, and so that justice may be done for them, and so that they don’t have to wait patiently forever. 3 In those days, I saw the Ancient of Days while he sat on his splendid throne, and the books of the living were opened in his presence, (Revelation 6:9-11) while his entire host in the heavens above and his council stood around in his presence. 4 The hearts of the sacred (holy) ones were very happy that the number of the just had been reached, (Revelation 3:5) and that the prayer of the just had been heard, and that the blood of the just had not been required in the presence of the Lord of spirits. (Revelation 20:12)
Can you see how the reading of Enoch 46:1 – 47:4 ties in with the reading of Daniel? The reading of these next passages of Scripture found here in Daniel 7 reveal more information about the kingdom of God and the Son of Man and a timeline of those who will receive the blessing.
Daniel 7:15-18… As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within on account of it, and the very visions of my head began to frighten me. 16 I went up close to one of those who were standing, that I might request from him reliable information on all this. And he said to me, as he went on to make known to me the very interpretation of the matters, 17 As for these huge beasts, because they are four, there are four kings that will stand up from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Supreme One will receive the kingdom, and they will take possession of the kingdom for time indefinite, even for time indefinite upon times indefinite.
Who are the holy ones of the Supreme one? First the Supreme one is referring to the Most-High God. And the holy ones are the ones that have pursued his righteousness and they have washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb. These are the ones who submitted to God’s righteousness and sought out his justice and accepted the son of the living God.
Daniel 7:19-22… Then it was that I desired to make certain concerning the fourth beast, which proved to be different from all the others, extraordinarily fearsome, the teeth of which were of iron and the claws of which were of copper, which was devouring [and] crushing, and which was treading down even what was left with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] that came up and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking grandiose things and the appearance of which was bigger than that of its fellows. 21 I kept on beholding when that very horn made war upon the holy ones, and it was prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment itself was given in favor of the holy ones of the Supreme One, and the definite time (Strong’s #H6166 appointed period) arrived that the holy ones took possession of the kingdom itself.
Daniel continues to ask for clarification, and he receives it, so more detail is given toward the end of this reading then at the beginning. So, we see that before the holy ones receive the blessing of the kingdom, they have to endure a time of harassment a time of spiritual war.
Daniel 7:23-25… This is what he said, As for the fourth beast, there is a fourth kingdom that will come to be on the earth, that will be different from all the [other] kingdoms; and it will devour all the earth and will trample it down and crush it. 24 And as for the ten horns, out of that kingdom there are ten kings that will rise up; and still another one will rise up after them, and he himself will be different from the first ones, and three kings he will humiliate. 25 And he will speak even words against the Most-High, and he will harass continually the holy ones themselves of the Supreme One. And he will intend to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand for a time, and times and half a time.
The time times and half a time is the same time span as the 1260 days as found in Daniel 12:7 and then also in Revelation 12:6, 14. We know that because of what we can read as it pertains to the woman and were she goes into the wilderness, see in verse 6 and then compare it to verse 14 of Revelation chapter 12.
Let’s finish up looking at Daniel chapter 7.
Daniel 7:25-27… And the Court itself proceeded to sit, and his own rulership they finally took away, in order to annihilate [him] and to destroy [him] totally. 27 And the kingdom and the rulership and the grandeur of the kingdoms under all the heavens were given to the people who are the holy ones of the Supreme One. Their kingdom is an indefinitely lasting kingdom, and all the rulership’s will serve and obey even them.
This should be our takeaway from reading Daniel chapter 7. That God’s kingdom is to be given to the Son of Man and there will be those who inherit the kingdom with him, they will be those who are declared righteous, holy, the chosen ones and the bless ones of the supreme one. But before they receive this inheritance into the kingdom of God, they will have to endure time of tribulation by the Horn with eyes, and that tribulation will last three and half years.
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