Dan. 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was
diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his
feet;
Dan. 7:20 And of the ten horns that were
in his head, and of the other which
came up, and before whom three fell; even of
that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Daniel was
greatly interested to know more about the fourth beast that was so terrifying
that it couldn’t even be compared to a known animal with similar power and
strength. I liked the wording of the NIV
for the last part of verse 19: “…the beast that crushed and devoured its
victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.”
This beast
has ten horns on his head to begin with, but another horn comes up that causes
three of the first ten horns to fall. This
seems to indicate that the “little horn” (cf verse 8) begins his rise to power
and the establishment of his kingdom by conquering three of the ten. His kingdom will eventually expand to include
the first three beasts as noted in the comments under verse 7-8 above.
It is at this
point that Focht made another important point.
The Aramaic for the word “before” is not a reference to a preceding
point in time; it means “in the face of” of “in front of.” In other words, all four kings would face
each other at the same time.
The Aramaic
for the word “look” indicates that the Antichrist will have an intimidating
demeanor; and his speech will be intimidating as well according to the Aramaic
for “great things”
Dan. 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them;
The ruler represented by this last horn is able to exert
physical power over the saints (those who are sanctified by God; believers). This is information that was not included in
the description of the vision at the beginning of the chapter.
Stedman notes
that from this “we learn that the time of these four nations arising
together will be a time of great and intense religious persecution, a time when
war will be made against the saints, and quite successfully.
I think this
verse corresponds specifically to Revelation 13:7.
Revelation 13:7 “And it was given unto
him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them...”
I am reminded
that scripture declares that the gates of hell will not prevail against the
church.
Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it.”
This seems to
be another affirmation that the church is not present at this time. The saints of this time have become believers
during the 70th week that is designated as part of God’s plan for
Israel as explained in chapter 9.
Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined
upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to
make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in
everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to
anoint the most Holy.”
Context of
Revelation 13:7 is in reference to the beast that rises up out of the sea, the Antichrist. It also describes him as having ten horns as
described in verse 20 above.
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out
of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns….
Dan. 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the
saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the
kingdom.
The power of this “horn” will be for a limited time—“until
the Ancient of days came.” I believe
this is a reference to the second coming of Jesus to set up His earthly
kingdom. The saints, those who have
placed their trust in Jesus, will rule with Him.
1Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the
world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall
reign on the earth.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given
unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of
Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither
his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their
hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Dan. 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon
earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole
earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
In verse 17 the fourth beast is called a king and in this
verse it is said to be referencing the kingdom of the beast. (Just as we would equate a country today with
its ruler.) This fourth kingdom will be
different from all the previous kingdoms.
I think the description of the beast that rises out of the sea in
Revelation 13 testifies to the fact that the kingdoms of the first three beasts
will become part of the empire of the Antichrist. Whether he conquers them or they join
willingly is not addressed. We do know,
however, that he will eventually devour the whole earth through great
destruction.
Revelation 13:7-8 “…and power was given him over all kindreds,
and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him….”
Dan. 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall
arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the
first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Dan. 7:25 And he shall speak great
words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High,
and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until
a time and times and the dividing of time.
“time” = a
set time, technically, a year
“times” = two
years
“dividing” =
a half
This fourth kingdom will eventually emerge as a
confederation of ten kings. After these
ten kings are established, another king, the Antichrist, will come on the scene
that will be unique in comparison to the first ten. He will humble or put down three of the first
ten kings. I believe this is saying that
he will establish prominence by “humbling” or “abasing” three of the kingdoms
under his leadership.
This king will be outspoken against the God of heaven and
will “wear out” (mentally afflict) those who believe in God. Satan and his followers always take pleasure
in blaspheming God.
Revelation
13:4–6 “…they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And
there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against
God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”
Psalms
74:10 “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme
thy name for ever?”
Psalms
74:18 “Remember this, that the
enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that
the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.”
Ray Stedman posits an interesting possibility: “The
Hebrew [my note: Aramaic] word that is used for "wear out" is a most
remarkable word. It means literally "to afflict," and always with a
mental application. It means, therefore, to afflict mentally, and it very
strongly suggests the brain-washing techniques which are now being widely
developed, using serums and drugs by which the mind, the thinking, is actually
changed.
The Antichrist will establish himself in place of God by trying
to “change times and laws.” Daniel had
already declared that it is only God’s prerogative to change times and seasons.
Daniel 2:20-21 “Blessed be the name of God for ever and
ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth
kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to
them that know understanding….”
Note that the power and
authority of Antichrist will be “given” to him for 3.5 years—“a time and times and the dividing of time.”
This timeframe is confirmed by Revelation 13:5; it states
that the Antichrist will be in power for 42 months or 3.5 years. This corresponds to the time that the remnant
of Israel is protected in the wilderness during the tribulation for 1260 days
or 3.5 years. It also corresponds to the
fact that He breaks the covenant with Israel at the midpoint of the 70th
week, which is 7 years long, which corresponds to the last 3.5 years of that week
that commences when he declares himself to be God (cf notes at Daniel 9:27). Paul tells us about this in his letter to the
Thessalonians.
2
Thessalonians 2:3–4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or
that is worshipped; so that he as God
sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
Dan. 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy it
unto the end.
After the 3.5
years, the dominion/authority of this king will be completely destroyed. I think this is a direct reference to verses
9-10.
Dan. 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom
under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most
High, whose kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
After the destruction of the kingdom of Antichrist, the
kingdom of the “most High” (Jesus) will be established as an everlasting (time
out of mind, to the vanishing point, eternity) kingdom. He will delegate ruling authority to the
saints (believers), all of whom will serve (worship) and obey Him.
Stedman notes: “It
is the Son of man who comes and takes the kingdom, but then he gives it to the
saints of the Most High who join him in ruling over the earth.”
The “everlasting kingdom” mentioned here is directly
connected to the “everlasting kingdom” referenced in Daniel 2:44.
Daniel
2:44 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom,
which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other
people, but it shall break in
pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
Dan. 7:28 Hitherto is the end of
the matter.
The interpreter has completed his interpretation.
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