Dan. 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days
did sit, whose garment was white as
snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Dan. 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand
thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before
him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Daniel is telling us that his vision allowed him to see
through to the point where these kings/kingdoms are judged by Almighty
God. It’s a scene of a holy and pure God
sitting in judgment in a heavenly courtroom.
No mercy is to be found in this judgment. It is witnessed by a number beyond Daniel’s
ability to express—“thousand thousands…and ten thousand times ten thousand.”
“thrones were cast down” – The Aramaic and the context
indicate that these thrones are being positioned as part of the heavenly
courtroom. Could this be a reference to
the 24 elders in Revelation 4? (See
comments in journal on Revelation.)
Ray Stedman notes:
“When history reaches its lowest ebb, when the sin of man breaks forth
in its most vulgar and most evil forms, then God intends to intervene once
again.”
“the books
were opened” – This is evidently a record of indictment against those being
judged. (There are several records/books
kept in heaven. See topical study on the
“Book of Life.”)
Scripture
reveals that God the Father has delegated all judgment to the Son.
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all
judgment unto the Son….
In my simple
mind, I have no problem with “the Ancient of days” referencing Jesus as well as
God the Father, although in verse 13 below we are told that this is definitely
referring to the Father. It appears that
the Father will personally pass judgment on Antichrist and the Son will execute
it.
The phrase
“the books were opened” seems to be a reference to the great white throne
judgment described in Revelation 20. A
question arises because this seems directly connected to verse 11 which is
describing the destruction of the Antichrist, and this happens prior to the
1000 year reign of Christ—the great white throne judgment happens after the
1000 years. I resolve this in my mind by
realizing that the prophets were not always given inspiration according to
chronological fulfillment. On the other
hand, prophecy of the scripture doesn’t cover every event in history, and this
could represent a special judgment of the Antichrist and his false prophet.
Dan. 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the
horn spake: I beheld even till the
beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
I think Daniel is still describing the judgment he sees
taking place.
Even as judgment is being passed, the “horn,” now
identified as “the beast” continues to blaspheme Almighty God. “Great” words make reference in the Aramaic
to domineering in character.
The beast, the Antichrist, will be killed and thrown into
the lake of fire.
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that
wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the
mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast
alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Dan. 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion
taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
“rest of the
beasts” – Only four beasts have been identified—the lion, bear, leopard and the
diverse beast that represents Antichrist.
After the destruction of the Antichrist, the other three are allowed to continue
on the world scene for a time. The word
“season” is a reference to an appointed time.
The word “time” refers to a set time or year. In other words, these three kingdoms will be
allowed to exist for a period of time already predetermined by the LORD. In my thinking, that would be until the
judgment of the sheep and goats that determines who will get to enter the
millennium, the 1000-year rule of Jesus as the King of kings over the whole
earth.
Revelation 19
tells us that the Antichrist and his armies are killed by the word of Jesus at
the final battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 19:19-21 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their
armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and
against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that
wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the
mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast
alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the
sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth:
and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Dan. 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to
the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan. 7:14 And there was given him dominion, 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 that
which shall not be destroyed.
After the destruction of Antichrist, we are given a
picture of the Son of man (Jesus, God’s son) coming in the clouds of heaven and
being ushered into the presence of His Father.
“Son of man” was Jesus’ favorite way to reference Himself. He used it in reference to His return to
earth as the King of kings.
Matthew 24:30
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all
the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
He also used it in response to the high priest when asked if He was
the Messiah, the Son of God. In fact, I
think he was referencing these very verses in Daniel.
Matthew
26:63–64 “But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto
him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the
Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I
say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand
of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
This reference to the “clouds of heaven” is one that I
think could possibly be associated with the “cloud of witnesses” referenced in
Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses….
This is when Jesus is
given His rightful position as ruler of this world; a position that Satan, through
deceit, had been allowed to usurp temporarily.
The word for “serve”
includes the idea of worship. Jesus’
position as King is eternal; His kingdom will last forever. It is clearly linked to God’s kingdom as referenced
in Daniel 2.
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. 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head
troubled me.
Dan. 7:16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the
truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the
things.
Daniel awoke
from his dream and was grieved (felt a piercing) in his spirit because of what
he had witnessed in his vision. He
noticed some other beings close by and moved closer to talk to one of
them. He asked him if he knew the truth
about all that he had seen. (I can’t
help but wonder how he chose the person to ask and why he thought he might know
more than Daniel did.) I would assume it
was an angel that answered him and interpreted for him (as did Gabriel in 8:16
and 9:21).
I am reminded
that in chapter 1 we were told that Daniel “had understanding in all visions
and dreams” (vs. 17). Obviously, that
understanding came through revelation from God.
It seems, however, concerning Daniel’s own dreams and visions that God chose
to make that revelation through angels.
It seems
clear to me that Daniel did not make a connection to his dream and
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
Dan. 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which
shall arise out of the earth.
Dan. 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and
possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Note that the angel declares that the four kings “shall
arise.” In other words, the four beasts
were four kings that were yet to arise—so Nebuchadnezzar could not be one of
them.
Bullinger comments:
“The two which
had already arisen cannot therefore be included: Babylon and Medo-Persia, which
almost (at this time) equalled Babylon in extent. The vision is not continuous
history, but the prophecy of a crisis: and refers to the ten toes…of Daniel 2.”
The interpreter first clarifies that the four beasts in
Daniel’s vision represent four earthly kings.
Their kingdoms are doomed to destruction, however, since “the saints of
the most High” (those dedicated, consecrated, sanctified by God) will take
possession of kingdom earth. Even though
the millennial reign (the initial 1000 years) of Christ’s rule on earth will be
interrupted by the creation of new heavens and earth, the kingdom will continue
on into eternity after that wonderful event that eliminates forever the curse of
sin in God’s creation.
(to be continued…)
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