Bible Commentaries
Daniel 7

Verse 2

great sea

The "sea" in Scripture imagery stands for the populace, the mere unorganized mass of mankind Matthew 13:47; Revelation 13:1.

Verse 5

three ribs A reference to the three-fold dominion of the second empire, Media, Persia, Babylonia.

devour i.e. Lydia, Babylonia, Egypt, etc.

Verse 6

leopard

Swiftness of Alexander's conquests.

Verse 7

horns

A horn symbolizes a king. Cf. Revelation 17:12.

Verse 8

little horn

The vision is of the end of Gentile world-dominion. The former Roman empire (the iron kingdom of Daniel 2:33-35; Daniel 2:40-44; Daniel 7:7 will have ten horns (i.e. kings, Revelation 17:12 corresponding to the ten toes of the image. As Daniel considers this vision of the ten kings, there rises up amongst them a "little horn" (king), who subdues three of the ten kings so completely that the separate identity of their kingdoms is destroyed. Seven kings of the ten are left, and the "little horn." He is the "king of fierce countenance" typified by that other "king of fierce countenance," Antiochus Epiphanes, Daniel 8:23-25 the "prince that shall come" of Daniel 9:26; Daniel 9:27 the "king" of Daniel 11:36-45 the "abomination" of ; Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15 the "man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians 2:4-8 and the "Beast" of Revelation 13:4-10. See "Beast" ; Daniel 7:8; Revelation 19:20.

Verse 13

and they

This scene is identical with that of Revelation 5:6-10. There the ascription of praise of the "kings and priests" (cf. Daniel 7:18; Daniel 7:18 ref. a) ends with the words, "and we shall reign on the earth." Revelation 6:0. opens the "vexing" of Psalms 2:5 introductory to setting the king on Zion ; Psalms 2:6; Revelation 20:4. The vision Daniel 7:9-14 reverses the order of events as they will be fulfilled. Verse 13 describes the scene in heaven (cf) Revelation 5:6-10 which, in fulfilment, precedes the events which Daniel sees in vision in Daniel 7:9-12. The historic order will be:

(1) The investiture of the Son of Man with the kingdom Daniel 7:13; Daniel 7:14; Revelation 5:6-10

(2) the "vexing" of Psalms 2:5; Psalms 2:5 fully described in Matthew 24:21; Matthew 24:22 Re 6.-18.

(3) The return of the Son of Man in glory to deliver the "smiting" blow of Daniel 2:45; Daniel 7:9-11 Revelation 19:11-21.

(4) The judgement of the nations and the setting up of the kingdom Daniel 7:10; Daniel 7:26; Daniel 7:27; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:1-6.

Verse 14

him

Daniel 7:13; Daniel 7:14 is identical with Revelation 5:1-7 and antedates the fulfilment of Daniel 2:34; Daniel 2:35. ; Daniel 7:13; Daniel 7:14; Revelation 5:1-7 describe the investiture of the Son of Man and Son of David with the kingdom authority, while Daniel 2:34; Daniel 2:35 describes the crushing blow (Armageddon, Revelation 16:14 which destroys Gentile world-power, thus clearing the way for the actual setting up of the kingdom of heaven. ; Daniel 2:34; Daniel 2:35; Revelation 19:19-21 are the same event.

Verse 17

beasts

The monarch vision of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:0) covers the same historic order as the beast vision of Daniel, but with this difference: Nebuchadnezzar saw the imposing outward power and splendour of the "times of the Gentiles" Luke 21:24; Revelation 16:19 while Daniel saw the true character of Gentile world-government as rapacious and warlike, established and maintained by force. It is remarkable that the heraldic insignia of the Gentile nations are all beasts or birds of prey.

Verse 18

saints vs. Daniel 7:18; Daniel 7:22; Daniel 7:25; Daniel 7:27. That church saints will also share in the rule seems clear from ; Acts 16:17; Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:10-12; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4-6.

Verse 19

know the truth of the fourth beast See note 4, (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 26

and they shall

The end of Gentile world-power.

(1) In the beast vision of Daniel 7:0. the fourth beast is declared to be "the fourth kingdom," i.e. the Roman empire, the "iron" kingdom of Daniel 2:0. The "ten horns" upon the fourth beast (Roman empire), Daniel 7:7 are declared to be "ten kings that shall arise" (Daniel 7:24) answering to the ten toes of the image vision of Daniel 2:0. The ten kingdoms, covering the regions formerly ruled by Rome, will constitute, therefore, the form in which the fourth or Roman empire will exist when the whole fabric of Gentile world-domination is smitten by the "stone cut out without hands" == Christ ; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 2:45; Daniel 7:9.

(2) But Daniel sees a "little horn" rise up and subdue three of the ten kings Daniel 7:24-26. His distinguishing mark is hatred of God and of the Saints. He is not to be confounded with the "little horn" of Dan. 8.--a prophecy fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes. (See Scofield "Daniel 7:24-27.7.26- :") . In Revelation 13:0, additional particulars of the "little horn" of Daniel 7:0. are given. See Scofield "Daniel 7:0- :".

Verse 27

everlasting kingdom See, 2 Samuel 7:16; Psalms 89:35-37; Daniel 4:3; Daniel 7:13; Daniel 7:14; Luke 1:31-33.