Daniel 7:15-28 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Daniel 7:15-28. Let’s go!
Daniel 7:15-18 (NIV)
15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.
16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:
17 ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.
18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever–yes, for ever and ever.’
On verses 15-18: Still within his own dream, Daniel inquires as to their meaning of the visions he saw. He is given a short explanation: the four great beasts he saw represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth (v17). In the end, however, it is God’s people (“the saints of the Most High” – v18) who will prevail and receive a kingdom that will last forever.
Daniel 7:19-25 (NIV)
19 “Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws–the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.
20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell–the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them,
22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.
24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.
25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.
On verses 19-25: Daniel seems especially terrified by the fourth beast he saw. He asks specifically about the fourth beast and is told that it will be different from all the other kingdoms (v23) and will rule over the whole earth (v23). Interestingly, Revelation 13 talks about a beast coming out of the sea that has 10 horns (Revelation 13:1) and in different parts resembles a leopard, a bear and a lion (Revelation 13:3).
Some scholars equate this fourth beast with Rome while others see this fourth beast as having a double meaning of ancient Rome as well as a kingdom that will arise in the future. Daniel is told that the ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom (v24). The little horn that rose up among the ten horns is another king that will ascend from insignificance to defeat three of the ten kings. This little horn king will speak against God and oppress God’s people (“his saints” – v25) for “a time, times and half a time” (which scholars believe means 3.5 years; i.e. “a time” is one year, “times” is two years and “half a time” is half a year). Many scholars believe that this little horn king is the Antichrist that 1 John 2:18 refers to, the beast that Revelation 13:1 refers to and the man of lawlessness that 2 Thessalonians 2:3 refers to.
Daniel 7:26-28 (NIV)
26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
On verses 26-28: Despite the havoc and destruction that this “little horn’ king will cause, his power will eventually be taken away and destroyed forever (v26). All the kingdoms, including those that the little horn king had ruled, will be handed over to God’s people (v27). And God’s kingdom will reign forever, with all rulers worshiping Him (v27).
What can we learn from this all this? Powerful kings and kingdoms will come and go, but it is God who prevails in the end and we as God’s people get to reign with Him forever.
Father, thank You that in the end Yours is the only kingdom that will last forever. Thank You that You invite all of us to reign with You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
