Daniel Chapter 7

Daniel

chapter 7: Four Wild Beasts

Daniel uses the term "uprooted" to describe how the coming world leader will remove three kings or rulers from power to take over their nations. The same word is used again in chapter 12.

The term "uprooted" represents a gradual process, like the way we might gently pry a weed out of the ground to ensure that we get all the roots. It isn't a rapid, sudden forceful event. This implies a political process rather than a military one, and fits with the description of the so-called "Antichrist" as someone who appears peace-loving in the eyes of the world before showing his true colors.

Now Daniel's attention is moved to a higher level, from the earth to heaven.

Daniel 7:9

As I looked thrones were set up, and the Ancient of days sat down, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame, and its wheels like burning fire.

There are other places where Jesus Christ and God the Father are described in similar terms. See Revelation 4 and 5. In this particular case it refers to God the Father.

The "blazing" wheels of the throne of God are also described by Ezekiel. It's hard to fully understand their appearance.

Daniel 7:10

A fiery stream flowed from before him. Millions ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court of judgement was set, and the books were opened.

Fire is a common metaphor for judgement.

Note the reference to more than one book. We know of the "Lamb's Book of Life" in which are recorded the names of those who follows Christ, but there are several others mentioned in the Bible:

The Book of Evil Deeds is mentioned in Isaiah 65:6
The Book of Remembrance is mentioned in Malachi 3:16. This reference suggests that every time you think about God or do something as a result of your love for God an entry is made. Could this be the source of the reward talked about by Jesus Christ?
There is an unnamed book mentioned in Exodus 32:32,33 and the Book of Truth is mentioned later in Daniel.

Daniel 7:11-12

I continued to watch because of the voice of the boastful words which the horn spoke. As I looked the beast was slain and his body destroyed and thrown into the burning flame.

The rest of the beasts had their authority taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

The other beasts, representing the former kingdoms, continue to survive in some form. Note that virtually all of the nations making up those ancient empires have been revived in recent decades:

Greece was absorbed by Rome in 146BC, but re-emerged as a nation (though not an empire) in 1830

Lysimachus' kingdom was taken by Rome in 133BC, yet Medea re-emerged as Turkey in 1924

Seleucus' kingdom -- Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Babylonia (Iraq), Persia (Iran), Afghanistan and Pakistan -- were absorbed by Rome in 64BC but these nations have emerged again. Afghanistan in 1921; Iran 1925; Lebanon 1930; Jordan 1946; Pakistan 1947; Israel 1948

Ptolemy's Egypt was taken by Rome in 31BC, yet re-emerged as a nation in 1922

Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonia re-emerged as Saddam Hussein's Iraq with even the same symbolism of a lion with the wings of an eagle!

Daniel 7:13-14

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

And there was given to him authority to rule 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 is one that will never be destroyed.

Jesus Christ receives the Father's gift as described in Psalm 2:6-9. He will rule over all nations as described in Psalm 72:11; Revelation 19:15-16.

Daniel was first to use the term "Son of man" in reference to the Messiah.

Note the reference to "coming with the clouds of Heaven." There are many references to Jesus coming with the clouds of heaven at the time of his return. See Matthew 17:5; 24:30; 26:64; Mark 14:61,62; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:9,11; 2Thessalonians 2:6-10 and Revelation 19, 20:1-4.

Who will sit on the heavenly thrones?

Daniel sees that there are many thrones set up in heaven, but only God, "the Ancient of Days," is seated at this point.

Later in Revelation we see these thrones occupied by Jesus and the 24 elders, which appear to be a reference to the raptured church. The disciples of Jesus also seemed to understand that the thrones in heaven were to be occupied by saints like themselves, and even argued about the seating arrangements.

Scripture sets up a clear distinction between priests and kings. Besides Jesus Christ and the priest-king named Melchizedek, only we (the church) are described as being both kings and priests simultaneously. In Revelation chapter 5 the 24 elders refer to their salvation.

Depending on the Bible translation you use, this may not be clear. See the KJV or NKJV translations for clarity on this issue, as Westcott/Hort used manuscripts with different wording and many Bible translators have grown accustomed to using Westcott and Hort as their authority. While good scholars, these men didn't support key doctrinal issues such as the inerrancy of Scripture. They insisted that the Alexandria manuscripts were the "most accurate" available when in fact they were not the most accurate but merely the most complete. This has led to many of the inconsistencies seen in various Bibles.

The church is hidden in the Old Testament according to Matthew 13:34,35 and Ephesians 3:5,9 so it wasn't revealed to Daniel. Thus, it would be no surprise that when the vision was given to Daniel nobody was yet seated on the other thrones.