II. DANIEL THE PROPHET--Chapters 7-12
A. His Vision of Future World History--7:1-28
3. The interpretation of the four
beasts--vv. 15-28
a. The four beasts
considered 7--vv. 15-18
(I)
Daniel's reaction--v. 15
(A) "By being 'grieved' Daniel indicates his distress; by 'spirit'
he refers to his whole personality. The
expression in the midst of my body,
literally 'in the midst of the sheath,' compares the soul in the
body to a sword in its sheath." (Walvoord, 171;
italics are his.)
(B) The same figure is seen in Job 27:8.
(II)
Daniel's request--v. 16
(A) The request is made to one standing by which is generally
considered to be an angel.
(B) "When Daniel inquired concerning what truth was being revealed
by this vision. the interpreter made
known the meaning of his vision.
Although this aspect of the vision increases the critical questions
of
those who do not accept Daniel as a sixth- century
prophetic book, because Daniel could not himself
interpret the vision, there is nothing unusual
about this situation." (Ibid.)
(III)
Daniel's reply--vv. 17, 18
(A) The four beasts are four kings--v. 17
(1) "Liberal scholars have criticized the fact
that the verse state twice that the beasts were four, and
Charles states, 'The words
"which are four" are omitted by the Septuagint. They are
certainly
unnecessary; for the seer
knows perfectly well the number of the kingdoms.' The repetition
of the
number, however, is to make
clear that the four beasts, each individually, represent a king.
The
'four kings' obviously
refer to four kingdoms, as the beasts represent both a king and a
kingdom."
(Charles, Robert Henry, The
Book of Daniel. The New Century Bible, ed. Walter F.
Adeney.
New York: H. Frowde,
Oxford U., n. d., 79; quoted in Walvoord, 172)
(2) They shall arise out of the earth.
(a) Critics as usual make
an issue of this--Charles says, "The words 'shall arise out of the
earth' are
certainly
corrupt. According to vii.3, they arise out of the sea: . . .
." "By a careful study of
the LXX and
Theod. we arrive at the following text: 'These great beasts are four
kingdoms,
which shall
be destroyed from the earth.'" (Ibid.)
(b) The answer--"What Charles
does not take into consideration is that the sea represents
symbolically
the nations covering the earth, and what is symbolic in Daniel 7:3 is literal
in Daniel
7:17."
(Ibid.)
(B) The saints of the most High--v. 18
(1) They take the kingdom.
(a) Some say it is probably
better rendered receive the kingdom--"'But the saints of God
shall
receive
the kingdom which shall have an everlasting duration.' [They give the actual
Hebrew or
Aramaic word]
Receive; not found and establish by their own might, but receive through
the Son
of man,
to whom God (ver. 14) has given it." (Keil, 239; italics are his.)
(b) Here again is making
a mountain out of a mole hill; in order to receive something, it is
necessary
to take it.
It is simply a matter of emphasis; in either case the saints
have possession of the
kingdom.
(c) "Although there has been
considerable discussion as to the reference of 'the saints,' it would
seem to include
the saved of all ages as well as the holy angels which may be described
as 'the
holy ones.'"
(Walvoord, 172)
(d) It might be questioned as to
whether the angels are included; Old Testament saints probably will
be so in view
of Matthew 27:52, 53.
(2) The most High--"The reference to 'the most
high,' from the Aramaic Elyonin, is a translation of a
plural noun which could mean 'high
ones' or 'high places.' Young is correct, however, in identifying
this as God, with the plural expressing
majesty." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(3) Possess the kingdom for ever--"The kingdom
possessed by saints of the most High, while eternal in
its characteristics and sovereignty,
may without difficulty include the millennial kingdom and the
eternal rule of God which
follows." (op. cit., 173)
b. The fourth beast further
examined--vv. 19-28
(I)
Daniel requests for further enlightenment--vv. 19-22
(A) Daniel repeats the particulars of the beast--"Daniel also
adds particulars not previously indicated in his
recital of the vision, that the nails were
of bronze, that the little horn was stronger than the other
horns, that the little horn made war with the
saints and prevailed against them (. . .), and that
judgment.was given to the saints of the
most high." (Ibid.)
(B) The raising of questions by Daniel concerning the fourth
beast
(1) Critics take this as proof of the
late date for Daniel--"They argue that if Daniel actually lived in
the
sixth century B. C., as conservative
scholars maintain, he would have also been very curious about
the first three beasts.
Montgomery, for instance, states, 'The seer's contemporary interest
is
revealed by his inquisitiveness
concerning the last beast and the judgment which hitherto had been
hid in figures.'" (Montgomery,
309; quoted in Walvoord, 173)
(2) No justification for the critics position
(a) His vision emphasizes
the importance of this fourth beast.
(b) "Whereas only three verses
are given to the first three beasts, the remaining twenty-one verses of
the chapter
concern the fourth beast and his era; and Daniel, in his recital of the
vision uses eight
verses to describe
the details. If this is genuine prophecy, it is also true that
Daniel is being
guided
providentially to that which is important from God's standpoint. Even
from a human
standpoint,
the end of the ages with the triumph of the saints would be a
matter of primary
concern to
Daniel. The argument of the critics is dissipated by their own
premise that even the
fourth kingdom
was already history at the time a second-century writer recorded it, and
in that
case Daniel’s
curiosity would have to be faked in seeking the interpretation of history
rather than
a prophetic
vision. There is no indication whatever in the text that Daniel thought
the fourth beast
already had
been fulfilled in history." (op. cit., 174)
(C) The judgment given to the saints.
(1) Some say that this should he rendered, "Judgment
was given in behalf of the saints."
(2) Thus, the idea of the KJV is to be
opposed--“This interpretation is opposed to the context,
according to which it is God Himself
who executes judgment, and by that judgment justice is done to
the people of God, i.
e. they are delivered from the unrighteous oppression of the
beast, and
receive the kingdom.”
(Ibid.; italics are his.)
(3) Here again the opposition to the KJV rendering is
unnecessary; though it may be true that God
"executes judgment, and by that
judgment justice is done to the people of God," nevertheless, the
saints also enter into the judgment
also.
(4) Notice that the saints are to reign with Christ.
(a) Cf. 2 Timothy 2:12
(b) 1 Corinthians 6:2
(II)
The explanation of the fourth beast--vv. 23-25
(A) The fourth kingdom is earthly.
(1) "The interpreter of the vision states
plainly in verse 23 that the fourth beast represents the fourth
kingdom, an earthly kingdom which
will be different from the preceding kingdoms and will devour the
whole earth, that is, be worldwide
in its sway. In the process, it will tread down and break in pieces
the preceding kingdoms. By
so much, the interpretation eliminates the idea that the fifth kingdom
refers to the rule of God
in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev 21 and 22) or that it is merely
a
spiritual kingdom which gradually
gains sway by persuasion, such as the kingdom of God in the earth
at the present time." (op.
cit., 174-5)
(2) This makes the fifth kingdom an earthly kingdom,
too.--"By its terminology the interpretation of
verses 23-27 demands that, for the
fifth kingdom to overcome the fourth, the fifth must be basically a
sovereign and political kingdom,
whatever its spiritual characteristics. By so much, it also demands
that this be a future fulfillment,
inasmuch as nothing in history corresponds to this." (Walvoord, 175)
(B) The ten horns
(1) Stated to be ten kings
(2) Said that they will arise
(3) "They clearly are simultaneous in their reign
because three of them are disrupted by the little horn
which is another ruler, but not
given the title of king here. He also will be different from
the first, that
is, from the ten horns, and shall
subdue three of them." (Ibid.)
(4) The critics again fail to properly explain them--"The
endless explanation of critical scholars
attempting to find these ten kings
in the history of the Grecian Empire or to find them later in Rome,
by their very disagreement among
themselves demonstrate the impossibility of satisfactorily
explaining this verse as past history."
(Ibid.)
(5) The proper explanation is that they are ten rulers
who will arise at the end of the age.
(a) Corresponds to the ten kings
of Revelation 13:1and 17:1
(b) Therefore, still future
(c) "The fact that they appear
in the book of Revelation, written long after the fall of the
Grecian
Empire, plainly relates
them to the Roman Empire in its final stage." (Ibid.)
(C) The little horn
(1) "Just as there is special emphasis upon the fourth
beast in the vision, so in the prophetic interpretation
particular attention is given to
the little horn, the outstanding personage at the end of the age, who
will be destroyed with the inauguration
of the kingdom from heaven." (Ibid.)
(2) Rise is subtle--"At his first appearance, he appears
relatively insignificant, as suggested by this
appellation in verse 8: 'There
came up among them another little horn.' The inference seems to be
that he will not burst upon the
world with any great outward demonstration of that power which will
ultimately be his universally.
Instead, by cunning deception and fraud he will come perhaps rapidly
but unobtrusively to the forefront
of world affairs, probably because of the radically different
methods and approach which he will
employ (v. 24: 'he shall be diverse from the rest,')." (Newell,
86)
(3) What he is
(a) A man
((I)) "First
of all, we read in verse 8 that the little horn has 'eyes like the
eyes of a man,' and the
existence of these eyes is also noted in verse 20. They
suggest tremendous personal
magnetism and dominance." (op. cit., 87)
((II)) J. N. Darby
states--"This power is clear-sighted and penetrating in its intelligence.
It not
only
possesses strength but it has thoughts and plans besides those of ambition
and
government. It is a beast that works morally, that occupies itself
with knowledge, set itself up
with
pretensions full of pride and daring. It has a character of
intelligence, moral and
systematic (in evil), and not merely the strength of a conqueror.
This horn has the eyes of a
man." (op. cit., 87-8)
(b) A blasphemer
((I)) Note what he
speaks
((A)) Great things--v. 8
((B)) Very great things--v. 20
((C)) Great words against the Most High--v. 25
((II)) Cf.
((A)) Revelation 13 :5, 6
((B)) 2 Thessalonians 2:4
((C)) Matthew 24:15
((III)) "With all
the remarkable and persuasive oratorical gifts which he will possess added
to his
penetrating, commanding look (v. 20: 'More stout than his fellows'),
multiplied a billionfold by
the
mechanical ubiquity of modern television, it does not seem strange
that 'all the world'
wondered after the beast . . . . and all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship him, whose
names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb'
(Rev. 13:3, 8)." (op. cit., 88)
(c) A persecutor
((I)) Note verse
21
((II)) "He will be
divinely permitted to succeed in this, as to physical overcoming.
Comparison of
these words with our parallel passage in Revelation 13:7 reveals emphatic
confirmation of
this." (Newell, 89)
((III)) Revelation
13:7
(d) A changer of customs and
laws
((I)) "To change
times of religious observances and religious traditions such as
characterize those
who
worship God." (Walvoord, 175)
((II)) "To
reorganize all aspects of human existence on entirely new and utterly
different bases, in
order to obliterate the past. With respect to his proposed change
of the 'times,' this may have
reference both to the established calendar of Jewish feasts,
prescribed in Leviticus 23, and
also
to the present method of dividing and calculating time, based upon
the movements of the
heavenly bodies." (Newell, 93-4)
((III)) There have
been numerous attempts to change the calendar to some universal one as well
attempts to have the United States change to the metric system (Already
most newer cars
have
both miles per hour and kilometers per hour on their
speedometers.).
((IV)) Changes
laws--"Besides the 'times,' Antichrist will think to change the law
(the word is in
the
singular). By this there seems to be intended, not the Mosaic Decalogue,
but the
fundamental basic conditions of human society, which even in
our own day, are all in obvious
process of disintegration." (op. cit., 94)
((V)) Look what has
been occurring in this United States with the courts
MAKING laws instead of
making decisions based on the Constitution.
(4) His war with the saints
(a) Who are the saints?
((I)) Like any term
the word saints has different connotations in different contexts.
((II)) The basic
meaning of the word is holy ones or set apart ones.
((III)) "A human
being who has been redeemed from his lost condition with the precious blood
of
Christ (I Peter 1:19), having been born again, 'not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible, by
the
word of God' ([1 Peter 1] v. 23), and in whom the Holy Spirit of God
has performed the
supernatural work of conversion to God, 'by grace through faith'
in the Lord Jesus Christ."
(Newell, 92)
(b) "This 'war with the saints'
arises out of the demand of Antichrist that he be worshiped as
God
(. . .), which seems
to have its first public expression in his blasphemous appearance in the
holy
place of the
then rebuilt Jewish temple." (op. cit., 89)
((I)) 2 Thessalonians 2:4
((II)) Revelation 13:14,
15
((III)) Matthew 24:15
(c) "There will also then be, as we see
from Revelation 13:16, 17, a universal economic boycott to
prevent even the most ordinary
commercial transactions without that mark which shall attest
submission to the beast."
(Ibid.)
(d) They will be given into his hand.
((I)) Refers to the saints--"The
duration of the power of the little horn over the saints and
the
world
is described as continuing 'until a time and times and the dividing of
times." (Walvoord,
175)
((II)) Refers to the changes
he makes--"All of these things, (the 'times' and the 'law') are to
be
given
into the hand of the Man of Sin, 'until' a time and times and
the dividing of time,"
(Newell,
95)
(5) His time
(a) Stated as a time, times, and half a
time (or dividing of time)
(b) The terms
((I)) Actually are indefinite
terms
((II)) The terms themselves
((A))
Time--1 period
((B))
times--2 periods
((C))
Dividing of time--1/2 period
(c) The term time is generally
considered to be one year.
((I)) Thus times
would be two years.
((II)) Half time
would be 1/2 year.
((III)) Phrase is thus
equivalent to 3 1/2 years.
(d) The proofs
((I)) Time honored
interpretation
((A))
follows LXX
((B))
Follows Josephus
((C))
Follows many ancient interpreters
((D))
Of course, this does not prove its truth.
((II)) Daniel 4:25, speaks
of seven times.
((A))
Daniel 4:28, 29 speaks of twelve months.
((B))
Thus, one year seems to be in view there.
((C))
Therefore, seven times would be seven years.
((III)) "The term is identical
with the half-year week of 9:27 [Which] equals three and one-half
years."
(Walvoord, 176; brackets are his.)
((IV)) "The meaning seems
clearly to refer to the last three and one-half years preceding the
second
advent of Christ, which will bring in the final form of the kingdom
of God on earth.
The
three and one-half year computation is confirmed by the forty-two months,
or three and
one-half
years, in Revelation 11:2 and 13:5, and the 1260 days of Revelation
11:3. Daniel also
refers
to 1290 days in 12:11 and 1335 days in 12:12 which apparently includes the
establishment of the fifth kingdom as well as the destruction
of the beast." (Ibid.)
(III)
The destruction of the fourth empire--v. 26
(A) "As Daniel has previously indicated, the interpreter now
confirms the significance of the vision as
describing judgment upon the fourth beast and
its ruler, the taking away of his power to rule, and how
he is destroyed in the end, that is, either at
the end or destroyed eternally." (Ibid.)
(B) Probably the same judgment as mentioned in verse 10--"This
is undoubtedly the judgment which
concludes the career of the little horn,
and to apprehend its various implications we must have an
intelligent understanding of those who
occupy the thrones in this judgment scene." (Newell, 96-7)
(C) Daniel 7:9, 10, 13, 14 is identical to the scene in Revelation
4 and 5.--"Having, then, identified this
scene in Daniel 7 with its enlarged presentation
in Revelation 4 and 5 and identified Him who occupies
the central throne, our next inquiry concerns
those who sit upon the four and twenty thrones
surrounding, 'clothed in white raiment; and .
. . . on their heads crowns of gold.'", (op. cit., 98)
(D) "Now we know from Revelation 19:20 that Antichrist and his
false prophet are to be 'cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone' at
the beginning of the Millennium, where they are seen at its close.
(Rev. 20:10) when Satan is also consigned to
the fiery lake. Since this casting into the lake of fire
constitutes the final, irrevocable execution
of judgment upon the damned, as we see from the terrible
Great White Throne of Judgment of
Revelation 20:12-15, 'the books' are opened in order to
vindicate publicly before the universe, the perfect
righteousness and justice of God in executing such
eternal doom. And a thousand years before
this final judgment upon the lost, the first two members of
the human race to be cast into the lake of
fire are also 'judged out of those things which were written
in the books, according to their works,' which
apparently necessitates this preliminary opening of those
books, as recorded in Daniel 7:10." (op.
cit., 104-5)
(IV)
The establishing of the eternal kingdom--vv. 27, 28
(A) The establishment itself--v. 27
(1) "At the destruction of the fourth empire,
the kingdom then becomes the possession of 'the people
of the saints of the
most High.' This does not mean that God will not rule as verse 14 plainly
states
that dominion is given to
the Son of man, but it does indicate that the kingdom will be for the
benefit
and the welfare of the
saints in contrast to their previous experience of persecution. In
contrast to
the preceding kingdoms which
terminated abruptly by God's judgment, the final kingdom will be an
everlasting kingdom, and
in it all powers and peoples will serve and obey God." (Walvoord, 176)
(2) "The third group before us here, in Daniel
7:27, the people of the saints of the Most High, do not
have judgment committed
to them, but rather 'the greatness of the kingdoms under the
whole
heaven,' which suggests at
once their identification as restored national Israel,again occupying the
place upon earth (in the
new earth of Rev. 21:1, of course) which was promised them long
ago." (Newell, 106; italics
are his.)
(B) Daniel's reaction--v. 28
(1) Daniel expresses again how his thoughts troubled
him, his countenance changed, but he kept the
matter in his heart, that
is, did not reveal it to others." (Walvoord, 177)
(2) "The gigantic, inclusive issues before us
in this great chapter of Daniel's book are of solemn
import, indeed. As
even a faint apprehension of their meaning came to the prophet as a
result of
the angelic interpretation,
we are not surprised at his admission that 'my cogitations much troubled
me, and my countenance change
in me.'" (Newell, 107)
(3) However , today we have a different
prospective.--"In the sovereign counsel of our gracious God,
it has pleased Him that we
should live in these enlightened days since Calvary and since Pentecost,
and be able to understand
the identity of these figures in the visions and dreams which our
prophet
was given upon his bed.
And since 'we have the word of prophecy made more sure' (II
Peter
1;19), we are able to rejoice
in the further unspeakable thrilling realization that we are living,
indeed,
on the very threshold of
the final, concluding events of this age of the dispensation
of the grace of
God." (op.
cit., 108)