B Z1 7:1-28. The Vision of the 4 Beasts. (1st year.) Z2 8:1-27. The Vision of the 2 Beasts. (3rd year.)
Z1 A1 C1 1-8. The 4 Beasts.
D1 9-14. The judgment of the Son of Man.
B1 15,16. Daniel's perturbation and inquiry.
A2 C2 17. The 4 Beasts.
D2 18. The judgment of the Son of Man.
B2 19-22. Daniel's inquiry.
A3 C3 23-25. The 4th Beast.
D3 26,27. The judgment of the Son of Man.
B3 28. Daniel's perturbation.
429 B.C.
Daniel 7)
1 In the first year of Belshazzar (this was 429 B.C. Daniel was 84 years old. The years before the events of ch. 6. Cp. 5:30,31, and the notes on the other dates. 8:1; 9:1; 10:1 11:1,&c. This vision is still in Chaldea [the Gentile language], because it is the continuation of 2:41, and shows what will take place in "the days of those kings" before the stone strikes the image. It brings us up to the end of the Gentile dominion over Israel. Chapter 8 is in Hebrew, because it specially concerns Israel. It is written of "Daniel the prophet" [Matt. 24]. This is directly stated by the our Lord, Who, 7 times in the Gospel of John, that what He spake were not His own words, but the Father's [John 7:16; 8:28,40,47; 12:49; 14:10,24; 17:8. Cp. Deut. 18:18 and Isa. 51:16. It consists of 2 visions. Each is distinct and complete in itself. The dream of Nebuchadnezzar [ch.2] was interpreted to him by Daniel; wile the vision of Daniel was interpreted by the Angel. The former referred to the beginning and duration of the Gentile dominion over Israel; the later concerns the end of it The 2nd was given 2 years later than the 1st, and is subsequent to the 1st, giving further details concerning "the latter time of their dominion [i.e. that of the 1st 4 beasts of the 1st vision in ch. 7]. Further details are given in ch. 9,11, and 12. The interpretation is given in vv.17,18; and shows these versions are still future, and are not therefore to be connected with the dream of ch. 2. The interpretations given us of these 2 separate visions need no further interpretation also. They are for us to understand and to believe. We may comment on the interpretation given, but but not interpret them) king of Babylon (Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon. Until 1854, when Sir .H.C. Rawlinson discovered the cuneiform texts, all was speculation. An inscription belonging to the 1st year of Nabonidus, his father, calls him his "firstborn son" and gave him his name Bel-sarra-uzer = "O Bel defend the king". There are frequent references to him in contracts and similar documents. He was the last king of Babylon. See 5:7) Daniel beheld a dream (1 of 20 recorded dreams. See Gen. 20:3) and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream (this is to be noted, as it was afterward "told" in speech), and told the substance of the words.
2 Daniel spoke and said, "I was looking in my vision during night, and, behold, the four winds (ruach. All blowing at the same time and producing the 1 result described in vv.3-8) of the heaven broke forth against the great sea. (Denoting the people of the earth. See Rev. 17:15)
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea (these are not the 4 dominions of ch. 2. They stand up 1 after another, and each stands successively, in the place of the other. These are to rise in :the days of" those last "ten kings" of Dan 2:44. These continue the last of Nebucadnezzar's last dominion, and do exist together. See v.12), diverse one from another. (Cp. Rev. 7:1. Ezek 37. Media has conspiracy to destroy monarchy with little clues dropped. Everybody wants to see the monarchy done in. Do you? These are lies. But they keep planting the seeds. The British don't, America doesn't. Why do they keep saying this? Why are they so tainted by the monarchy? Pat of Satan's pumping up and part of the 4 hidden dynasties. Shows you how a lie is believed if repeated enough.)
4 The first (this cannot be Babylon, for this had already risen, and was within 2 years of its end. Daniel could not see that kingdom arise now. He had said, "You are this head of gold"; but Nebuchadnezzar himself had been dead 23 years, and these are "four kings which shall rise" [v.17]. Therefore Babylon is not included) was like (these descriptions will be easily recognized by those who shall see them rise) a lion, and had eagle's wings: I continued looking till that the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the two feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear (Russia, i.e. communism), and it raised up itself (or, was made to stand) on one side (i.e. partially), and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it (this is not interpreted by the angel. Supposition - [1] U.S.A.; [2] U.K.; [3] Germany): and they said thus to it, 'Arise, devour much flesh.' (Deadly wound, spiritually.)
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard (Kenites, the sons of Cain), which had upon the back of it four wings of a bird; the beast had also four heads (4 hidden dynasties. [1] Political; [2] Economy; [3] Education; [4] Religion); and dominion was given to it.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast (not Rome, for it has the "ten horns" when it is 1st seen. Moreover, these 10 horns are not seen till the time of the end. This 4th beast therefore belongs to the time of the end. The beast of Rev. 13:1-10 combines in himself all these resemblances), dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the rest (i.e. the other 3 beasts which will co-exist. They do not destroy or succeed one another, like the kingdoms in ch.2; but are trampled by the 4th beast, see v.12) with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were in front of it it; and it had ten horns. (These are the same as Rev. 17:12, and represent the 10 contemporaneous kings at the time of the end. See vv.8,24. Cp. Rev. 17:10,11, the one world order)
8 I was considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn (= a horn of small beginnings. It is Satan. This identifies this vision with those of chs. 8,9,11,12. The first 12 titles given to the power commonly known as "the antichrist"; it is used again in 8:9. Cp. 11:21-30. Note the other titles; "the king of Babylon" [Isa. 14:4]; "the Asyrian" [Isa. 14:25]; "Lucifer, sun of the morning", in opposition to "the bright and morning star" [Isa. 14:12]; "the Prince that shall come" [Dan. 9:26]; "the king of fierce countenance" [Dan. 8:23; "the vile person" Dan. 11:21]; "the willful king" [Dan. 11:36]; "the man of sin" [2 Thess. 2:3]; "the son of perdition" [2 Thess. 2:3]; "that lawless one" [2 Thess. 2:8.Rev. 13:8]; "the beast with ten horns" [Rev. 13:1]), before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a mortal man, and a mouth speaking great things. (This is a further development, explained in vv.11,20,25; 8:11; 11:36,37. 2 Thess. 2:3,4. Rev. 13:5,6)
9 I beheld till that the seats for judgment were set (the seats of Orientals are cushions laid, not "set", but "cast down". The reference to this, in Rev. 4:2. Cp. Pss. 9:7; 29:10. Isa. 28:6), and the Everlasting One (cp. Ps. 90:2. Rev. 4:12) took His seat, Whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool (cp. Rev. 1:4. Purity): His throne was like the fiery flame (God is a consuming fire. The Holy Spirit touches and warms you, but it gets hot for those don't believe. Heb. 12), and the wheels thereof (i.e. of the throne) as burning fire. (Highly polished bronze. Cp. Ezek. 1:15-20; 26-28; 10:9-13. Circular vehicle.)
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands were ministering to Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before Him (indicating readiness for service): the Judge took His seat, and the books were opened. (All the way to the end, the Great White Throne judgment)
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn kept speaking (back to the antichrist): I beheld even till the beast was slain (at length we learn who "the [little] horn" is See v. 8 and Rev. 19:20), and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. (Not Satan destroyed, but his role as Anti-Christ. Cp. 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8.)
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts (i.e. the 3 mentioned in vv.4-7 as co-existing), their dominion was caused to pass away: yet a lengthening of their life was given to them (i.e. the remaining 3 after the 4th has been destroyed) for a season and time. (i.e. for an appointed time. To the 2nd death. They will have a chance.)
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man (Ps. 8:4. Matt. 8:20. Rev. 14:14) was coming with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him.
14 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 (Ps. 45:6; 145:13; 146:10. Isa. 9:7. Obad. 21. Mic. 4:7. Luke 1:35. John 12:34. Heb. 1:8), which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (1st day of the Millennium, every knee shall bow.)
15 I Daniel was grieved (because he did not understand. Therefore ch. 7 cold not be identified with ch. 2, because he had interpreted that already to Nebuchadnezzar) in myself in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
16 I came near to one of them (angels) that were standing by, and made exact inquiry of him the certainty about all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
17 'These great beasts, which are four (4 stages), are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. (The 2 which had already arisen cannot therefore be included: namely Babylon, and Med-Persia, which almost [at this time] equaled Babylon in extent. The vision is not continuous history, but the prophecy of a crisis: and refers to the 10 toes of the 5th power of Dan.2. In this, and in each successive summation. Cp. v. 26; 8:17-19; 11:40; 12:4,9,13. Matt. 24:14,15)
18 But the the holy ones (i.e. God's People Israel.) of the most High (= Messiah Himself in relation to dominion in the earth. V.27 shows that a Person is intended, not a place) shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.' (We win)
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his claws of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; (the one world political and religious system destroy the minds of the world with lies.)
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other (i.e. the little horn, which is still future) which came up, and before whom three fell (the deadly wound); even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. (Looked and talked like the Lamb. Rev. 13:11-13. He makes people believe lies.)
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints (this connects "the little horn" with Rev. 13:7, and shows it to be still future), and prevailed against them; (Mark 13)
22 Until the Everlasting One came, and judgment (or vindication) was given to the saints of the Most High (they were given discernment of those who like to get lied to); and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Thus he said, 'The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. (This hasn't happened yet, its a religious take over, i.e. false religion.)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings (see v.7) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he (the little horn) shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (See v.8. New world order, United Nations, one world order . See Rev. 10:13)
25 And he (false Christ) shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall afflict the saints of the Most High (catch them off guard), and think to change times and law (to make that which is wrong right, and make right wrong): and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (i.e. 3 1/2 years = 1/2 of the "one week" of Dan. 9:27. It is repeated as 42 months [Rev. 11:2], and as 1,260 days [Rev. 11:3]. Shortened to 5 month period in Rev. 9:5. The elect will be delivered up for a testimony with the Holy Spirit speaking through them.)
26 But the Judge will take His seat, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. (This is the determining factor of the interpretation. God will do nothing unless He warns the prophets. Do you understand the prophets? If you do you will never be deceived)
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints (set aside ones) of the Most High, Whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'
28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled (or baffled) me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. (This ends the portion of the book written in the Chaldea [or Gentile] tongue, the language of the captivity.)