Daniel 7
Summary for Dan 7:1: 7:1–12:13 a The second half of the book features visions given to Daniel. These visions showed Daniel and his people, both those in exile and those who had returned to Judea, that the future is securely in God’s hands. All empires will ultimately fall before the Kingdom of Heaven. Daniel’s people will be rescued from all their troubles (12:1-3 b), and God will resurrect and judge all humankind (see 12:13 c). Daniel interpreted these visions with help from divine messengers (7:10 d; 8:15 e; 9:22 f; 10:14 g; 12:7 h).Summary for Dan 7:1-28: 7:1-28 i This chapter contains a terrifying vision (7:2-14 j) and its interpretation (7:17-27 k). The sequence of kingdoms recalls Nebuchadnezzar’s dream some forty-five years earlier (2:1-45 l). 7:1 m Earlier: This vision occurred before the events in ch 6 n.
• Daniel wrote down this vision.
7:2 o The sea is an image of evil or chaos in the Old Testament (see Ps 89:10 p; Isa 5:30 q; 57:20 r), as it was throughout the ancient Near East.
Summary for Dan 7:3-7: 7:3-7 s The kingdoms of the world are represented as four huge beasts (7:17 t; cp. Rev 13:1-2 u).
7:4 v The lion and eagle are dignified rulers in their realms. Lions featured prominently in ancient art and architecture. Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon are represented as a lion and an eagle attacking Edom (Jer 49:19 w, 22 x).
• This beast became like a human being and was given a human mind: Nebuchadnezzar had taken on the mind of a beast (Dan 4:16 y, 32-33 z), but then he was restored and learned to acknowledge the Most High God (4:34-37 aa).
7:5 ab The second beast probably represents Persia (2:34-40 ac; 6:9 ad, 12 ae, 15 af; 8:20 ag).
• The bear was known for its vicious attacks (Prov 28:15 ah). Three ribs may refer to Babylon, Media, and Lydia, all of which Cyrus conquered.
• many people: God called Cyrus and Persia to conquer many nations (Isa 41:2-3 ai; 44:28 aj; 45:1 ak, 13 al; 46:11 am).
7:6 an The leopard was known for its speed and agility (Hab 1:8 ao). Four bird’s wings and four heads indicate the scope and speed of this fierce nation’s military campaigns. Greece conformed to this symbolism well, especially under Alexander the Great, whose kingdom was divided into four parts following his death in 323 BC.
7:7 ap The fourth beast was different in kind, not just degree. It was made of nonliving metal. It was hardly animal; it was impersonal, utterly violent, and merciless, and even its iron teeth were a perfect killing machine. Most commentators, both ancient and modern, find this fourth beast best embodied in the Roman Empire and its kings.
• ten horns: In this kind of apocalyptic literature, horns can stand for kings, power, and strength.
7:8 aq Many believe that the fourth kingdom was only partially and preliminarily represented in Rome. Another more brutal kingdom beyond Rome, but like it, would come through the dominion of a final little horn, a human being with great power and arrogance (cp. 8:9-12 ar, 23-25 as; 9:25-27 at; 11:36-45 au; 12:1-7 av).
Summary for Dan 7:9-10: 7:9-10 aw The kingdoms of the world are represented by fierce animals; the Kingdom of God is represented by a divine-human figure (also in 7:13-14 ax) and by holy people.
• the Ancient One: This name is a circumlocution for God, whose existence preceded all the nations and peoples of the earth.
• White ... hair and clothing represent wisdom and purity. The river of fire speaks of God’s purifying presence.
7:10 ay Taken together, the millions and many millions indicate numbers beyond calculation.
• the books: God keeps records and uses them as the basis for his judgment (cp. 10:21 az; 12:1 ba; Exod 32:32 bb; Pss 69:28 bc; 139:16 bd; Mal 3:16 be; Phil 4:3 bf; Rev 20:12 bg, 15 bh; 21:27 bi).
7:11 bj God’s judgment brought about the destruction of the fourth beast ... by fire.
7:12 bk a while longer: God, the Judge of the nations, can extend the lives of nations and individuals (cp. 4:27 bl). Defeated nations who have lost their political and military hegemony can continue to live on culturally and ethnically, and can retain their national identities. This happened with the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, and the Greeks.
Summary for Dan 7:13-14: 7:13-14 bm This being like a son of man, unlike the arrogant little horn, did not boast and was not violent. He did not violently overthrow other kings, and he received God’s favor and blessing. He was led into God’s presence and was presented to him. God gave him kingship and a kingdom. This figure is the Messiah, God’s chosen and anointed King. 7:13 bn like a son of man: He was like a human being (cp. 3:25 bo).
• His coming with the clouds of heaven suggests that he was a divine being (cp. Pss 68:4 bp; 97:2 bq; Matt 24:30 br; 26:64 bs; Mark 13:26 bt; 14:62 bu; Luke 21:27 bv; 1 Thes 4:17 bw; Rev 1:7 bx).
7:14 by Unlike the rulers and kingdoms of the earth, which pass away, his rule is eternal and will never be destroyed. His kingdom is given to the holy people of the Most High (7:27 bz), and it “fills” the earth (2:35 ca, 44-45 cb).
Summary for Dan 7:15-16: 7:15-16 cc Daniel dared to approach the beings standing beside the throne of God, and he was helped, not harmed.
7:17 cd beasts represent ... kingdoms: God gave Daniel a vision of the course of history, a feat no human could accomplish. These kingdoms from the earth (cp. 7:2 ce) are not heavenly kingdoms but human kingdoms of this world.
7:18 cf The holy people (also in 7:21-22 cg, 25 ch, 27 ci) are people who belong exclusively to God and share his character. In Daniel’s era it referred to the people of Israel.
• Only the Most High God can declare what the end of history will be. Other ancient writers spoke of the ages or eras of earthly history, but none knew how it would all end.
Summary for Dan 7:19-28: 7:19-28 cj Daniel requested and received more information about the fourth beast, the ten horns, and the little horn.
7:21 ck The object of the little horn’s hatred and arrogance was God’s holy people. In this, the little horn was like Pharaoh and Haman (see Exod 1:22 cl; Esth 3:8-9 cm; cp. Dan 11:36-40 cn).
7:22 co The Ancient One turned the tide of the battle when he judged in favor of his holy people. In God’s time, his people would take over the kingdom with their King (7:13-14 cp).
Summary for Dan 7:24-25: 7:24-25 cq Its ten horns are ten kings: This number might refer to ten specific individuals, or it might be a symbolic number meaning that this kingdom lasted through the reigns of many kings (cp. Rev 13:1 cr).
• Then another king, who corresponds to the “little horn” (Dan 7:21 cs), will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people by blaspheming the Lord, trying to interfere with worship of the Lord, trying to make the holy people follow his religion, and subjecting them to constant threats.
• a time, times, and half a time: The text is not explicit as to the length of time. Nonetheless, the period of oppression for the holy people would be limited and would end suddenly and unexpectedly.
7:26 ct God’s court has the authority to pass judgment and the power to remove and destroy this arrogant king.
7:27 cu When this arrogant king has been destroyed, God’s kingdom will be established forever over all the kingdoms under heaven (cp. Ps 2 cv; Isa 9:6-7 cw). The holy people of the Most High are officers of God’s kingdom (cp. Luke 22:29-30 cx; 1 Cor 6:2-3 cy; Rev 3:21 cz; 20:4 da).
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