LESSON FOURTEEN

---

Scripture to read: Daniel 7

Building upon Nebuchadnezzar’s dream interpreted by Daniel's vision in chapter 2, this next prophecy reveals more detail about the realms that would rule over God's people from Daniel's day until the second coming of Christ. 

“2Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: 5And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, 6after this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, 7after this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth, and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots.” 

A little horn on the fourth beast becomes the focal point, which is explained as a unique power that speaks against God, changes God's law (Ten commandments), is pompous and prevails against the saints for a certain time. This is followed by a court scene with a multitude of heavenly beings where the Ancient of Days sits and books are examined and judgments rendered, which brings an end to the little horn's power and enables the saints to possess the kingdom.

There will only be four realms that rule where the large part of God's people dwell, until God's everlasting kingdom. We know from history and other Bible verses the identity of the four kingdoms. They parallel the same four kingdoms outlined in the prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's Image in Daniel 2.

Realm #1: Babylon the Lion (605 to 539 BC)

4 “The first was like a lion and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.”

This first beast resembles a lion, which is thought of as the most powerful animal (king of the beasts), just like Babylon (also the head of gold in Daniel 2) was the greatest kingdom. The Bible specifically says that Babylon is the only power that is represented by the head of gold. However, Babylon is somewhat inclusive of the two world powers that preceded it. We see Babylon’s successor, Medo-Persia, whose symbol is a bear having three ribs in its mouth. The ribs indicate the remains of what was demolished. In this manner, we can almost say that Babylon was inclusive of three world powers. The head of gold, in a sense, includes Egypt and Assyria. 

The Babylonians launched attacks swiftly, symbolized by the eagle's wings. However, the advancement of their conquest was stayed, as represented by the wings being plucked. Giving the lion a man's heart symbolizes the change in Babylon's character from its initial fierceness under Nebuchadnezzar to its later relative calmness and rationality under later rulers. Being made to stand up as a man after being on all fours as a powerful beast symbolizes a change in the realm to comparable weakness after Nebuchadnezzar's death. 

Realm #2: Medo Persia the Bear (539 to 331 BC)

5 “And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.”

An imbalance of power (Persia was stronger than the Medes). The three main entities Medo-Persia conquered: Lydia (546 BC), Babylon (539 BC) and Egypt (525 BC). Cyrus the Great, of Persia, conquered the middle east. His son, Cambyses, extended the kingdom, also capturing Egypt. We understand that one of the ribs represents Babylon’s leftovers and the other two ribs represent the leftover of the world powers that preceded Babylon—Egypt and Assyria.

Realm #3: Greece the Leopard (331 to 168 BC)

6 “After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.”

The leopard is known for its speed and it's four wings represent the legendary extreme swiftness with which Alexander the Great conquered the mighty Persians and united Greece. The four divisions of political power into which Greece divided after Alexander died: Ptolemy (Egypt, Palestine and parts of Syria), Lysimachus (Thrace and a large part of Asia minor), Cassander (Macedonia and some interest in Greece) and Seleucus (Persian Empire, part of Asia Minor, Northern Syria, Mesopotamia and the east).

Realm #4: Rome the Beast (168 BC to Second Coming)

7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.”

The fourth beast is not associated with any specific animal. It is wholly unique and unlike the others. The fourth beast seemed too terrible to describe! The kingdom that followed Greece was Rome, which was strong (symbolized by iron teeth, just like the iron legs in Nebuchadnezzar's image in Daniel 2). The fourth realm, Rome, divides into 10 kingdoms (horns), just like the legs of iron divided into 10 toes in Daniel 2. Many of them were integrated into the army, to such a degree, that they gradually rose to fill positions of high command. Imperial power deteriorated, and in 410 A.D, Rome was looted, which led to the establishment of puppet emperors of German commanders. Eventually the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustus, was deposed in 476 AD and the last western Roman military commander was overthrown in 486 AD. 

8 “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, 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 man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

The story of the four Beasts refers to the succession of kingdoms, but once that story ends, the prophecy then zooms into that fourth beast to expound upon the kingships that are contained within that Beast. The Ten Horns and the Little Horn represent expanded detail into the career of the fourth Beast—a detail that wasn't provided for any of the other kingdoms. Thus, the Little Horn and the Ten Horns represent an additional narrative of Rome's kingship—a kingship that includes kings, emperors, and Popes. Once we understand that, spiritually, all the kingdoms from Egypt to Greece are found in the Roman Empire, we can begin to better understand Daniel 7's narrative.

Although Rome existed from the year 753 BC, Rome didn't become a superpower until around the second century BC. If we recall, Greece was the previous superpower; however, after Alexander the Great died, the Empire was divided into four kingdoms. The Bible illustrates this historical fact by a four-headed leopard.

According to the historical record, in 294 BC, Demetrius I, son of Antigonus (another one of Alexander's former generals) would conquer Macedonia from Cassander's lineage. Then, in 281 BC, Seleucus would defeat Lysimachus at the Battle of Corupedium. Seleucus would then also attempt to conquer Macedonia, but he would be assassinated before completing the task. By the 3rd century BC, the four territories were ruled by three kings: The Antigonid dynasty ruled Macedonia in the west, the Ptolemies ruled Egypt in the south, and the Seleucids ruled Syria and parts of Asia Minor in the east and the north. The three remaining kings of Alexander's divided Greek Empire were the three remaining horns Rome conquered in order to rule the known world! 

There were other groups within the Roman Realm, however, they did not become established in a way to qualify as a kingdom when Rome decentralized. Some were being ruled by one of the ten kingdoms. The prophecy is focused on the western Roman Empire. The eastern half had been set up in the 4th century and gradually became a completely separate entity. Though it still called itself Roman, by the 8th century it was a distinct realm, a Greek realm, separate from the western Roman realm and with no political authority in the west. Western Rome is where the division into ten kingdoms occurred. Once we understand that the previous seven horns had already lost their dominion, we can now see that Rome as the Little Horn rose up after the ten kingships.

25“And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”

The Dreadful Beast grew a mysterious horn, which becomes a focal point in the prophecy. Many identifying characteristics of this Little Horn are provided in the prophecy, which all fit the very influential and prominent Church of Rome in the Middle Ages. The papacy would rule ecclesiastically for 1260 years, from 538 to 1798 AD.

9 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.”

Here is a glimpse into heaven where we see the throne of God and the workings of His government. This description has similarities to the amazing accounts in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4 where more details are given. The word translated to "Ancient" is only used here in Daniel 7. It depicts someone very aged in years who is overseeing this court scene. Clothing symbolizes character and white symbolizes the purity of the character. Jesus is also described as having white hair like wool in Revelation 1:14.

In verse 13-14 one like the son of man is given a kingdom by the Ancient of days. It is God the Father who gives Jesus the kingdom. After Jesus was resurrected, He ascended to heaven and works at the right hand of God the Father. We know that God the Father gave all judgment to the Son, so we see here that God the Father is the one presiding over the court. This judgment occurs where the "Ancient of days" sits down and has a throne. His throne is described as a fiery flame and his wheels burning fire. This describes a Cherubim, an unstoppable, stay-out-of-the-way, efficient, apparatus that transports God or Jesus upon their throne. A divine being presides over this court and it is in heaven. The holiness and purity flow forth from God to do its work. 

10 “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”

The prophecy in Daniel 7 places great emphasis on a heavenly court scene. This court is focused on judgment. There is a time of presenting evidence as the books are opened, a deliberation and announcing a verdict. The language points us to a time when an investigation of evidence and a verdict occurs in a heavenly court. The descriptions related to the judgment show not only the condemnation of the beast, but the justification of the saints. Unlike modern concepts of judgment, in Biblical times judgment always involved both parties, resulting in vindication of one and punishment of the other. Those on the right will be proven right and announced to be right. 

The verdict is achieved by examining the books which are opened before thousands and thousands of heavenly beings, the most impressive court room in history. The fiery stream that is before the throne is the sea of glass described in Revelation. This sea of glass is where we will stand in judgment (fiery) and where we are cleansed by a heavenly baptism. The court scene reveals that there is a time of judgment that occurs before Jesus receives the kingdom and returns to earth with His people. 

"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" Ecclesiastes 12:14

"But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" Matthew 12:36-37

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" Hebrews 9:27

"Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world" Acts 17:31

Daniel is shown the final judgment of the little horn which will happen when the fifth and final kingdom reigns.

11 “I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.”

The first three beasts (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece) already had their dominion taken away years ago, but the 4th beast doesn't lose dominion until the second coming. At that point, all the kingdoms of earth are destroyed (burned) at Jesus' second coming.

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” 

Jesus moves to a new location in heaven to signify a new phase of His ministry. After Jesus rose from the grave, He went to heaven (1 Peter 3:22) and has been ministering for us as High Priest until he receives the kingdom and returns to earth a second time. This new phase, or location, of Jesus' ministry involves looking at books of record. 

14 “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

As a result of investigating the books, the decision is announced that Jesus receives the kingdom. Human probation closes, and all other earthly realms are destroyed.

Realm #5: Jesus & the Saints (Second Coming to Eternity)

18 “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever.”

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 of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”

When Jesus returns to earth, He destroys all earthly powers (note that this corresponds to the time when the stone strikes the image in Daniel's first vision). Jesus' realm is the last realm on earth, because it continues forever. Extraordinarily, He shares it with the saints. The final realm on this earth will have Christ for its ruler and those who choose to follow Him will be the ones entrusted with governing this everlasting kingdom. 

Foot note:  I am aware of who is depicted in this vision of Daniel—standing before the throne in judgment—and when Jesus shall receive His kingdom. Yet, it is vital to see the complete picture to understand fully, so I must withhold that information for a time. Continue your studies to find the answer.