Daniel 7:15-28, The Interpretation of the Vision

Twice Daniel mentions how concerned, “anxious,” “alarmed,” and frightened he is of this vision of the four beasts. This must be due, in part, to the other unique aspect of this vision, which is the inclusion of the believers’ part in God’s plan. They will receive God’s forever kingdom, but only after the “little horn” that arises out of the fourth kingdom “wears out” the saints.

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’

Here the beasts are identified as four kings, though just a few verses later the fourth beast is called a kingdom (v.23). Despite the attempts of these four kings/kingdoms to conquer and control the earth, their kingdoms will, it is implied, fail, and instead the “saints of the Most High” will “receive” God’s kingdom which never fails. All who believe in Yahweh will reign with Him forever.

19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 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. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 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.

Daniel is especially concerned with the fourth beast, which we have identified as Rome, because it is even more terrifying and destructive than the previous three. But we must conclude that this fourth beast, which did meet its end, must have a resurrection, since the succession of events leads to the Ancient of Days judges it for its sin against believers and He gives the kingdom to His saints, something that hasn’t happened yet, of course. This resurrection seems to involve the ten horns that “arise” out of this kingdom (v.24), with a little horn displacing three of them. This may also be the identification of the ten toes in the feet made of iron and clay in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision (ch. 2). It seems most likely that this last empire will be one seeking to dominate the world (maybe a confederation of ten nations), led by the antichrist, and that nearly succeeds when it conquers “Babylon” (Revelation 17,18) and sets its site on Israel at the end (Revelation 19).

23 “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.
24 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.
25 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.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
27 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.’

28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

The little horn (v.8), who seems to have control of this revived Roman empire or fourth beast, has three-part evil agenda: (1) to trample the whole earth (gain world domination), (2) defame the name of God, and (3) destroy the saints. Part of accomplishing this agenda will include changing the times and the law, two divinely established acts of God designed to help us survive in God’s world (our seven day week based in creation, for example, and laws of right and wrong encoded to give us moral direction). However, the little horn’s attempt will only see three and a half years (Revelation 12:12-13:5) before the Son of Man (“his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom” v.27) comes and defeats him (Revelation 19).

Randall Johnson

About the Author

Randall Johnson

A full-time pastor since 1979, Randall originally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) in 1979 and from Reformed Theological Seminary (DMin) in 1998. He is married with four grown children and a pile of epic grandchildren.

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