And He Shall Reign Forever and Ever: Daniel's Vision of the Kingdom of God
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I. Some Clues
I. Some Clues
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.
Daniel 7:1
This was written about 14 years before the fall of the Babylonian empire. Belshazzar began his reign in the third year of his father’s rule, according to an ancient text [ANET 313], which would have made it about 553 BC.
This is a vision, not a story. the Book of Daniel shifts here from narrative as in the first half, to prophecy of the future. Some of the most detailed prophecies of the future are found in the book of Daniel. Yet this chapter connects with the previous story of Daniel in the Lion’s den because it is written in Aramaic, but the next chapter switches to Hebrew. Aramaic was spoken by nearly everyone in that part of the world, even if it wasn’t their native language. In that respect it was kind of like how English functions today. English doesn’t have the most speakers of any language - that would be Mandarin. And many people who do speak it do so as a second language. But so many people speak English that you can go to nearly any country in the world and find someone to talk to. I think Daniel wrote the book in Aramaic because this chapter concerns all the nations of the world, not just Israel.
The four great beasts represent four successive earthly kings, all of which are now known to history.
‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
Daniel 7:
‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
4. The Kingdom that comes after these kingdoms is the Kingdom of God. It lasts forever and the humans that help run it are God’s Holy Ones.
The Kings represent separate kingdoms
“Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
We have seen a list of kingdoms in a vision before. Back in .
II. The Four Kingdoms of Earth
II. The Four Kingdoms of Earth
The First Beast: Babylon
The First Beast: Babylon
The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.
This beast first had his wings plucked then he lost his beastly nature and was given the mind of a man. The earthly Kingdoms of this world are beastly in that they all operate with selfish cruelty. But Nebuchadnezzar lost his sanity and was given the mind of a beast in chapter 4. After this he became a worshipper of God just before he died. So his kingdom was briefly God-honoring and compassionate - thus he started acting truly humane [human].
We have seen a list of four kings/
The Second Beast: Medo-Persia
The Second Beast: Medo-Persia
And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’
The Second Beast is a bear. Like a bear it was strong and fierce, but not particularly agile or fast. It is raised up on one side because while the Medes asserted themselves first, the Persians eventually so dominated the empire that it simply became known as the Persian empire. The three ribs either represent the three kingdoms that came before - Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon - or it represents the three primary nations conquered by the Persians - Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt. It was commanded to conquer (devour flesh), which means its power came by God’s appointment.
The Third Beast: Greece
The Third Beast: Greece
After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
as Greece. This empire was a leopard because it was so fast, and had four wings for even more speed. Alexander the Great
The Empire that followed Persia was Greece. This empire was a leopard because it was so fast, and had four wings for even more speed. Alexander the Great
The empire that followed Persia was Greece. This empire was a leopard because it was so fast, and had four wings for even more speed. Alexander the Great conquered everything from India to Europe in just 12 years, only to die at the age of 33 in 323 BC. His empire was split up by his four generals, which is why Daniel has the leopard with four wings. Again dominion is given to Greece by God - Greece won because God wanted Greece to win.
The Fourth Beast: Rome
The Fourth Beast: Rome
Daniel 7:7
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different 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 horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
The empire that followed Greece was Rome. Daniel gets extra informations about this empire. It is so hideous that he could only say it was terrifying and strong. In other words, this is the nightmare monster, not an animal. It had iron teeth, and didn’t just conquor, it totally destroyed the other nations. Rome was a force that could not be stopped. Yet there are features here that don’t fit the historical Roman empire —
III. Final Feature: The ten horns
III. Final Feature: The ten horns
In chapter two, the last part of the image is made of Iron, with the toes partly of Iron partly of clay. It has ten toes, so the number ten is pretty important since Daniel mentions it twice. the Horns clearly refer to specific Kings, and there is another king that comes after them
I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
To make sure we don’t miss the point, Daniel rehearses the same information about the fourth beast again when he asks the angel to interpret the vision for him in . Except here we learn more about them
and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.
So the little horn is a great speaker and unusually boastful. It destroys three kings to make way for his own power, and is greater than the ten kings. So that we can’t possibly miss the significance of the ten horns, Daniel tells us what the angel interpreted for him
“Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.
He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
So there can be no doubt that the ten horns represent ten kings, and that somehow they arise out of the Roman Empire. Yet the Roman Empire never had ten kings ruling at once. The solution is that the ten kings haven’t happened yet. The Apostle John wrote Revelation in the late first century, and he still talks about the ten horns as something future. He mentions them several times - in his vision of the Woman clothed with the sun (); in the vision of the seven-headed/ten-horned beast (). But the most important mention is in vision of the woman who sits on a scarlet beast (). There he specifically interprets the ten horns
And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
Revelation was the very last book of the New Testament to be written, so when the NT closed, the ten kings were still not around. The solution to the riddle of the ten kings is that they are still future. The Roman Empire did not fall in the same way as the other nations fell - the other three nations were defeated by the nation that came after them, but Rome collapsed from the Inside. As late as the 19th century, Paris was supposed to be the “third capital of the Roman Empire”. So in a very real way, the nations of Europe are the Roman Empire still. I would also add that other nations colonized by Europeans are also Roman in this sense. America, Australia, and New Zealand. So even though the Roman Empire is no more, the “fourth beast” is still active. The ten kings are probably ten European Kingdoms that give their authority to the other figure- the little horn. Since it hasn’t happened yet, I have no idea which ten European kingdoms that might be. Some people used to think that the European Union was the ten kings, but there are more than ten nations now, so that doesn’t work. It is unwise to try to interpret prophecy using the current state of world affairs. If Jesus comes back today then that will work, but if he chooses to wait longer, you will end up looking crazy and making the Bible look crazy along with you. Since the ten kings are still future, the little horn that replaces three of them is also future. The little represents the most famous evil man of prophecy - the AntiChrist.
The Little Horn = the AntiChrist
The Little Horn = the AntiChrist
This figure will hate all who truly worship God and will try to destroy them
Dan 7:
As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
He will prosper for 3.5 years in the end times.
He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Revelation tells us that this person will deceive the world so that they will all worship him
Rev 13:3
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
Yet the AntiChrist will only prosper because God will let him
“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.
As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
the rest of the beasts endure for a while, because even though they are conquered by the other beasts, the other beasts do not totally destroy them, but assimilate aspects of them. Do you know why we have 60 minutes to an hour? That system of numbering is leftover from the Babylonians. Every succeeding nations borrowed some elements from the nations it conquered. But the Kingdom of God will not be like that. God will judge the antiChrist and will totally destroy his kingdom.
Daniel 7:26
But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
IV. The Everlasting Kingdom: The Kingdom of God
IV. The Everlasting Kingdom: The Kingdom of God
Both verse 27 and verse 18 tell us that the Saints of the Most High will receive the Kingdom. But they are not the supreme ruler. Instead, God will rule
“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
The Ancient of Days is obviously God himself. See how the scene is vastly more magnificent than any earthly King. Fire consumes his throne and goes out before him. Countless hosts serve him. Judgment is issued, and the kings of earth are utterly without power to say anything against it as they are judged.
I should point out that the Kingdom of God replaces real physical kingdoms. Babylon was a real empire. Persia was a real empire. Greece was a real empire. Rome was a real empire. So the Kingdom of God succeeds them in the same way that Rome followed Greece which followed Persia which followed Babylon. Now God has always been King of the Universe, yet here the Kingdom of God comes after the Kingdoms of this earth. This is because the Kingdom of God will be a visible kingdom. God was always in control no matter which kingdom was in charge. He gave Nebuchadnezzar the human heart. He allowed the Persians to take over. He gave dominion to Greece. He will allow the AntiChrist to rule. But when the Kingdom of God comes, he will reign directly and visibly. But he will not reign alone. I come to the most exciting part.
The Son of Man
The Son of Man
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
We have already learned that the Ancient of Days is God. “Son of Man” is only a way of describing a human being. But the authority given to this one is far beyond any man in history. He will have an eternal kingdom with all the power of God himself. So who is this Son of Man?
But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The answer to the question “are you the Messiah” is “I am the Son of Man that Daniel predicted.” He promised that he would be seated at the right hand of God and that he would come in the clouds to reign. That’s why “Son of Man” is one of Jesus’ favorite titles for himself. He uses the phrase about himself some 82 times in the New Testament.
When Jesus returns, he will rule as the supreme King in God’s Kingdom, since he is himself God. Yet because he became a man, he can also be the mighty Son of Man.