Daniel 7: 1-8 HCSB
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary of his account. 2 Daniel said, "In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea. 3 Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4 "The first was like a lion but had eagle's wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind. 5 "Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.' 6 "While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads and was given authority to rule. 7 "While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns. 8 "While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man's, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
For research into the interpretation of the rest of Daniel I will be consulting several well know biblical commentaries, including Matthew Henry, the Jamison-Faucette-Brown Commentaries, Adam Coffman's commentary. and other sources.
In Daniels dream, just as in Nebuchadnezzar's dream in chapter 2, is a representation of the four Kingdoms that would come before God sets up his final kingdom. The first beast represents Babylon. Babylon is also referred to as a lion in prophecy in Jeremiah 4: 7. The eagles wings represent the speed at which Babylon becomes a world power, and then looses its ability to continue conquests as the Medes and Persians begin to rise and when Nebuchadnezzar looses his mind.. This is also referred to in prophecy in Jeremiah 4: 13, Isaiah 46: 11, Lamentations 4:19, Habakkuk 1:6, and Jeremiah 48: 40. Being lifted like a man and being given a human mind refers to God's restoring of Nebuchadnezzars mind and how this affected his kingdom. since Daniel received this dream during the rule of Belshazzar, these are all events that had already happened, the rest of the prophecy deals with things that had not yet happened at that point.
The second beast, the bear, represents the Medo-Persian empire, known for its power and brutality. Isaiah 13 also refers to the rise of this empire and their defeat of the Babylonians. Raise up on one side in Hebrew is "raised one dominion" which would be a reference to the combining of the two kingdoms. The three ribs are Babylon, Lydia and Egypt, , the three kingdoms it subdued. devour much flesh means that God has granted them the ability to overtake the region.
The third beast, the leopard, represents the Macedonian-Greek empire of Alexander the great, who defeats the Persians and becomes the next world power. once again wings represent speed of conquest twice as fast as the Babylonians. After the death of Alexander, the kingdom is co-ruled by four rulers who each control a different province, Greece, Bythia, Egypt, and Syria, hence the four heads. on the statement "Given the authority to rule", It is actually recorded by the ancient historian Josephus that Alexander had great respect for the Jewish priests and had seen a vision of their God promising him success in battle.
The fourth beast represents Rome more powerful and brutal than all the others, hence the iron teeth and crushing. Rome was divided into ten provinces, which matches with the ten toes from chapter 2. As to the meaning of the little horn there is a great deal of debate. Different commentators and scholars name this as possibly many different people, from Roman Cesar's to later historical figures such as various popes and even Napoleon Bonaparte, this part of the prophecy is also also associated with Revelation 13 any many think is referencing a coming Antichrist. I personally think that this is a reference to events during the Roman empire, due to the way the narrative has flowed thus far, chronologically from kingdom to kingdom, and the little horn is still represented as a part of the Roman empire.
Daniel 7: 9-14 HCSB
9 "As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands served Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. 11 "I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. 13 I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. 14 He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
We are now introduced to the heavenly perspective of the vision as God appears on his throne. The little horn is destroyed by God, and the four beasts are judged, and then "one like the son of man" arrives, which symbolises Christ, who is given authority and power over the nations. There is some debate among scholars and commentators as to whether this is a reference to the first or second coming of Christ. I personally think it is a reference to his first coming and the establishing of his earthly kingdom in the heart of believers due the chronological nature of the vision to this point.
Daniel 7: 15-28 HCSB
15 "As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me, and the visions in my mind terrified me. 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things: 17 'These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.' 19 "Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. 20 [I also wanted to know] about the 10 horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell-the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that was more visible than the others. 21 As I was watching, this horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom. 23 "This is what he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 The 10 horns are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever. 27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.' 28 "This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.
Daniel approaches what is apparently an angel within the vision for the meaning of what he has seen. Each beast represents a kingdom, but Daniel is most interested in the fourth one. Based on the description given here, it my personal opinion that the little horn represents at least one if not several of the more oppressive Roman rulers just after the death of Christ, when both Jewish and Christain believers endured extreme persecution. Christianity spread despite persecution, to the point where it eventually took over as the dominant faith of the empire near it's end with the rule of emperor Constantine.
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