Bible Commentaries
Daniel 7

Verse 1

Dan 7:1, With this chapter the book takes on a different characteristic and will be made up almost entirely of prophecies. However, since the chapters are not chronological as to dates, it will be necessary for the author to make reference to some of the visions of Daniel in connection with their his storicai settings. Some of them occurred while the Babylonian Empire was yet in power, while others came to him after the Persians took over. The vision of this chapter came to Daniel in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon. That takes us back a number of years prior to the fall of Babylon. God has used various methods in making revelations of his purposes to the world (Heb 1:1), Sometimes He will cause a heathen to become the instrument for service and give him a vision or dream. Sometimes the prophet will be given the dream and be enabled to explain it to the proper persons. Such was done In this and other chapters of this book.

Verse 2

Dan 7:2. Prophecies are frequently made in symbols and the interpretation consists in determining what the symbols stand for. It is not so difficult to do that if we may find the history of such prophecies as have been fulfilled. Four winds signifies the whole world is to be involved because there are four directions on the compass. Strove is from giyach and Strong defines it, "To push forth," which means to cause some commotion or movement. Since the outcome of this rushing will result in something pertaining to human beings, we know the great sea means the inhabitants of the civilized world that were to become subjects of this empire.

Verse 3

Dan 7:3. When this great sea of humanity was stirred up by the four winds it brought forth four great beasts. They correspond to the four world kingdoms of chapter 2: 3640. These kingdoms were diverse one from another, which means that although the four governments were alike in that they were world powers in their scope, yet each had characteristics peculiar to itself.

Verse 4

Dan 7:4. The first beast (Babylon) was like a lion which indicates strength. (See chapter 2: 37.) It bad eagle's wings which indicates the ability to soar and cover the whole area of mankind. (See chapter 2: 38.) Man's heart given to it signifies the beast, referred to something composed of intelligent, human beings, which was true of the Babylonian Empire.

Verse 5

Dan 7:5. The second beast (Medo Persia) was like to a bear. That animal is cruel and vicious (2Ki 2:24), and likewise the Persians were a cruel people. See the comments on chapter 6: 24, and note that women and children were east together into the lions’ den. The three ribs denotes a devouring disposition, and it was told to devour much flesh, which means this kingdom would conquer many people. The beast raised itself up on one side. It was composed of the Medes and Persians (two sides), and one side (the Persians) rose higher as a political institution than the Medes. To verify this I shall quote some history. "Although the Persians were destined to become the dominant tribe (emphasis mine, E.M.Z.) of all the Iranian Aryans, still the Medes were at first the leading people."- Myers' Ancient History, page 88. This statement is verified also by Herodotus, Part 1, section 130.

Verse 6

Dan 7:6. A leopard is of the same family of beasts as the lion (the cat), but is smaller and apparently with less prospect of accomplishing much in the world. But it is a swift animal (Hab 1:8) and can make up in speed what it lacks the size of body to perform. This feature of the beast will be described soon. The kingdom represented by the leapard was the Greek or Macedonian (two names applied interchangeably to the same government). This empire was started by Philip of Macedon, but its worldwide proportions were accomplished by his son, known in history as Alexander the Great. In 12 years he covered the territory of the MedoPersian Empire and brought It under the control of the Grecian, and by such swift military accomplishments justified the comparison to the leopard made by the prophet Habakkuk. Four wings and four heads refers to the four divisions into which the conquests of Alexander fell upon his untimely death. This great event is well described by the historian from whom I shall quote. "There was no one who could wield the sword that fell from the hand of Alexander. It is said that, when dying, being asked to whom the kingdom should belong, he replied ‘to the strongest,' and handed his signet ring to his generat Perdiecas. But Perdic cas was not strong enough to master the difficulties of the situation. Indeed, who is strong enough to rule the world? Consequently the vast empire created by Alexander's unparalleled conquests was distracted by the wran glings and wars of his successor's, and before the close of the fourth century B.C, had become broken into many fragments. Besides minor states, four monarchies rose out of the ruins,”- Myers’ Ancient History, pages 286, 287.

Verse 7

Dan 7:7. The fourth beast (Roman) is described as dreadful and terrible. The first word is from an original that means to look dangerous; the second is defined in the lexicon as “mighty,” and both of these characteristics were true of the Roman Empire as history abundantly shows, iron, teeth is explained by the comments and history quoted at chapter 2: 40, and also are devoured and brake. I trust the reader will see that place before going further with the study of this verse. The ten harm corresponds to the ten toes in the 2nd chapter that belonged to the' giant man in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. They refer to ten European governments that Were within the Roman Empire and whose kings or other heads ruled their dominions in subjection to the great head in the city of Rome. It does not mean that just that number was all of such governments that existed, but they were representative of the group of local powers that made up the fourth and last world empire. The reason for selecting the number of ten is that the initial symbol for the subject was a human form which would call for ten since that is the proper number for the toes. The ten governments are, England, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium. Austria. Switzerland, Portugal, and Spain,

Verse 8

Dan 7:8. Religion was a state affair in the world empires, and the success or failure of any conflict between church and state depends on which was the stronger at any given time. The ten horns of the fourth beast were the temporal powers named in the preceding verse, and each of them had some jurisdiction over the religious lives of its subjects. A9 a rule that jurisdiction was exercised in harmony with the will of the beast to which the horn belonged. But in time a little horn sprang up among these temporal powers, and it also had a religious theory, and there was some kind of conflict between it and the temporal powers and the result was that three of them were subdued or plucked up. The little horn was the papacy that started with anmll proportions but expanded as the years went by. There is some uncertainty as to which temporal powers were the three and I shall not attempt to determine it. But the purposes of this commentary do not require any definite conclusion here. The characteristics of eyes of a man and mouth speaking great things identify the horn as the papacy.

Verse 9

Dan 7:9. Not only was religion a state affair in the world empires, but that religion was forced upon the subjects without regard for their personal convictions. As long as that condition existed, such institutions as world empires could exist also. But God pur possed to introduce an institution into the midst of "these kings" (chapter 2: 44) that was to change things and teach the principle of individual responsibility that would result in the downfall of these world powers. That is the prediction in the words till the thrones ive.re cast down In this verse. The Ancient of days is the same being as is called Ihe God of heaven in chapter 2: 44,

Verse 10

Dan 7:10. Fiery stream is a symbol ot the forceful discharge of truth that proceeds from God. The many thousands refers to the extent of God's dominion over the lives of mankind. Judgment set; hooks opened indicates that God is about to put into execution His determination to overthrow the reign of the world empires. The words italicized are used for this great revolution because such is the usual procedure when anyone or any group is to be brought to a test. In its fulfillment it refers to the predictions made by both Ezekiel and Daniel previously that the dominating world powers were to be overthrown by the influence of God’s teaching on individual responsibility.

Verse 11

Dan 7:11. Two creatures or institutions are referred to in this verse, and they seem to be in collusion for the one purpose of depriving men of their personal liberty of thought and action. Those two creatures are the horn and beast, The first is the papacy and the second is the world empire ot Rome. We do not usually think of these as being in the same class, for one is political and the other is religious; yet they both were opposed to the personal liberty mentioned a few lines above. It is true that the papacy was formed many years after the kingdom was started that the God of heaven was to set up. And it is true also that the beast (Rome) continued many years after it was Btarted, But it received the "death stroke” when that heavenly kingdom was set up and some time was required for it to succumb to the stroke. But knowing that it would do so, God directed a vision that is to be dated according to the time of the "stroke," some more particulars of the same which will be seen in the following verses. Beast was slain is the event resulting from the "death stroke” stated above, and the turning flame is the fiery stream, of verse 10,

Verse 12

Dan 7:12. Best of the beasts refers to the same as the ten horns. When the world empires were made to be a thing of the past, the kings of those governments lost the position they once held (had their dominion taken away) as part of such an empire. Yet their lives prolonged is a figurative way of saying they would not be entirely blotted out. When the next great event occurs, soon to be predicted, these governments will find that their existence as temporal institutions, independent of the world monarchies, will be recognized and encouraged.

Verse 13

Dan 7:13. The Scot of man is Christ and the Ancient of days is God bis Father. Near before him denotes the close association of these two divine Beings in bringing into the world the principles destined to accomplish the things just predicted.

Verse 14

Dan 7:14. This verse predicts the same things as Dan 2:44, slightly different terms being used. Given him means that God was to work through his Son in “setting up" the kingdom that wan never to be destroyed. 41! people were to serve Him even as all nations of them had been under the sway of the world empires. But those empires dominated the people by their political control to such an extent that they perverted even their religious conduct. The kingdom of the God of heaven (the church) was to rule all who became its subjects with the rod of divine truth, which would give to each man the liberty of conscience and conduct that is in harmony with individual responsibility under the principles of that divine truth.

Verse 15

Dan 7:15. Up to this verse the chapter is describing the dream or vision that Daniel had. The interpretations and comments that I have been giving on the verses are not those of the prophet, for he had not known them himself as yet, but is soon to learn them through another. My comments are based partly on some of the statements of one of them that stood by (verse 16), and partly on the facts and truths of history as quoted. We may note here that Daniel was not given the interpretation of his dream along with the vision itself, as was done in other cases, but he must obtain that information from another. So it is another instance of the “divers manners" spoken of in Heb 1:1. After having this vision, the prophet was grieved and troubled because he did not know what it meant. However, upon awaking he recalled it and made a record of it, "wrote the dream,” and also “told the sum” of it (verse 1),

Verse 16

Dan 7:16, This verse tells ns to whom Daniel told his dream; it was to one of them that stood by. This was evidently some person sent by the Loi’d to explain to Daniel the interpretation of his dream. It is true that God could have inspired the prophet with the interpretation also even as he did in other instances, but He has not always done his work after the same maimer (Heb 1:1). After the one that stood by had given to Daniel the interpretation of the dream he disappeared from the scene and the rest of the chapter will be the direct words of Daniel, repeated, of course, after the interpretation as he received it. We may be sure that the Lord will give the prophet whatever help is necessary to assure a correct report of that given him.

Verse 17

Dan 7:17. I shall avoid lengthy or unnecessary repetition of Interpretations that have been given in the forepart of the chapter. The four kings are the same as the four great beasts in verse 3, and the four kingdoms of Dan 2:38-40.

Verse 18

Verse 18. Saints of the Most High are members Of the kingdom that the God of heaven was to set up. Take the kingdom is equivalent to "break in pieces and consume these kingdoms*' in chapter 2: 44. possess . , . for ever and ever means the overthrow of world empires by the Influence of the church, and this influence was to last always.

Verse 19

Dan 7:19-20. Tile one that stood by at first gave Daniel a brief interpretation of the four great beasts, that they represented four kings who were to arise, and then he added that the saints of the Most High would take the kingdom, indicating that this particular prediction pertained to only one of them, and naturally it would be the fourth and last one. Just then he recalled that in his dream he saw much more concerning it than of any of the others. That caused him to ask tor the interpretation of those events, and to make sure that his inquiry was appreciated he repeated the description and doings of the fourth beast; such is the subject matter of these verses.

Verse 21

Dan 7:21. It is not an unusual thing for a prophecy in the Bible to have a twofold application, or for it to have its original application extended so as to include other things farther in the future, and that was done in this prediction. But to get the background that leads up to this extended application I must take the reader back to a word in the beginning of verse 19 which is the word truth. We know Daniel was not in any doubt as to whether anything the one standing by said would be true, hence we must look for a special meaning of the word. It is derived from yatsab which Strong defines, "A primitive root; to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively to station, offer, continue.” The last word in the definition is the one for our use here. It signifies that Daniel wanted to know the application of the prophecy so that it ‘'continued” until it included the horn (the papacy). Continuing his inquiry of the man, he saw some additional symbols, and they are the things of the present verse and others to follow. The war this horn made against the saints was the persecution of Christians by the church of Rome, that received such strong support from the empire of Rome (the fourth beast) before that beast was overthrown.

Verse 22

Dan 7:22, The war mentioned in the preceding verse was to continue until God gave his saints some relief from the persecutions they were enduring. This general prediction will become more specific a little farther down.

Verse 23

Dan 7:23. For some reason the prophet goes hack to an earlier time and repeats some things about the fourth beast, describing it. as a world power and devouring men,

Verse 24

Dan 7:24. The story continues on with the inclusion of the ten horns which have been previously explained to be the ten European governments that were a part of the Roman Empire. Perhaps we can see (he logieai connection between this and what is soon to come before the chapter is concluded. It was among or out of “these kings,” including the ten horns, that another “little horn” was to arise which was the papacy. It was necessary to refer anew to this institution in order to connect the story up with the important revolutionary events yet to be foretold.

Verse 25

Dan 7:25. The pronoun he stands for the “tittle horn” which is the papacy or church of Rome, and the passage is a description of the character and conduct of that institution through a Jong period of years. Wear but the saints is a repetition of the “war with the saints” in verse 21. Think to change times and laws is still a prediction of the church of Rome which was to be in cooperation with the fourth beast, the Roman Empire; as long as that government existed, and tile two thus united composed what is known in history and prophecy as Babylon the Great, otherwise described as the union of church and state. The words italicized means the church of Rome boastfully will claim authority to regulate public matters the same as if it were God. (See a like prediction of this institution in 2Th 2:4.) Shall be given into his hand means they will be persecuted and suppressed during the period soon to be described. That period is known in the language and literature of Christian teachers as the Dark AgeB. and its length Jb acknowledged to have been 1260 years. But the period here is stated in symbols, and we know that all inspired symbols must be interpreted in harmony with the known facts of history. So the symbols denote the following: A time (the Original for which Strong defines, “a eet time; technically a year”), times (which would require at least 2 years), and the dividing of time (which would be haif a year.) Altogether there would he three and a half symbolical yars. In prophecy or symbols a day stands for a year. There are 360 days in a prophetical year: multiply 360 by three and a half and we get 1260, the number of years of the Dark Ages. This is not simply an arbitrary conclusion of a devoted advocate of the Bible, but even the historian Edward Gibbon, who was an infidel as regards the Bible, gives us in round numbers the same period for the reign of the church of Rome, and I shall quote a paragraph from his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chapter 28. as follows: "In the long period of twelve hundred years, which elapsed between the reign of Constantine and the reformation of Luther [which are the beginning and ending dates of the Dark Ages according to Christian scholars], the worship of saints and relics corrupted the pure and perfect simplicity of the Christian model; and some symptoms of degeneracy may be observed even in the first generations [See 2Th 2:7] which adopted and cherished this pernicious innovation.”

Verse 26

Dan 7:26. This verse Is a prediction of the period in history known as the Reformation, started by Martin Luther and conducted in cooperation with others of that time. Take aioay his dominion means the union of church and Slate was to be dissolved as a result of the Reformation, for that event overthrew the despotic rule of the church of Rome over the lives of men in both public and private life.

Verse 27

Dan 7:27. The language of this verse is similar to that of chapter 2: 44, and it is fitting that it should be. Each passage had to do with the perpetuity of the church or kingdom Of Christ. In the first place the teaching of that church resulted in the overthrow of the world empires, and in the second it resulted in the downfall of Babylon the Great, and in spite of a'l the tests its enemies forced upon it, the kingdom of Christ stood and ia still standing.

Verse 28

Dan 7:28. Hitherto is the end means that Daniel has related the whole story of this dream. Cogitations is defined by Strong as, "a mental conception.” The prophet repeats what he said in verse 15, that what he saw in the vision troubled him. Yet he was able to keep the matter in his heart and relate it to the one who stood by.