| THE VISION IS EXPLAINED |
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| The four beasts, introduced in Dan 7:1-8, are explained here, and the expression “time, times, and half a time” is introduced. The saints will be given into the hands of the Antichrist, through the power of the Bishop of Rome, for “a year, 2 years, and a half a year,” in days as years, from A.D. 193 AD until A.D. 1471. |
| 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. |
| Dan 7:16 I came near to one of those who stood by – an Angel. |
| 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth. |
| Dan 7:17 four kings – which are four kingdoms, as explained in verse 23. The first three kingdoms are represented by 3 kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great. The last King is “the Ruler of this world” (John 14:30), who will eventually rule through the Beast. |
| 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. |
| Dan 7:18 possess the kingdom forever – after the beast has been judged; Dan 7:10, Dan 7:26. |
| 19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows. |
| Dan 7:19-20 the description from Dan 7:7-9 is repeated. |
| 21 I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; |
| Dan 7:21 the same horn was making war against the saints and prevailing – Satan was winning the battle against the saints. |
| 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. |
| Dan 7:22 until the Ancient of Days came – as we mentioned in verse 10, the wrath of the Ancient of Days begins in Rev 5:1, with the unrolling of the scrolls. The Ancient of Days, God, is the one who “sits on the throne,” from whose right hand, the Lamb takes the scroll. |
| 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. |
| Dan 7:23 shall devour the whole earth – the might of the Roman Empire is described as “exceedingly fierce” and represented in Revelation by Satan as the Red Dragon. Dan 7:24 the ten horns are ten kings – they are also kingdoms, the Ten European states. Some have imagined them as ten kings who shall arise from the Roman Empire, and tried to count ten Emperors. However, the true understanding of these as ten kingdoms explains how the beast continued, even though one of its heads was crushed (Rev 13:3), ie, the fall of the Roman Empire. another will arise after them – the working of the Antichrist, the little horn, most certainly preceded the ten states of Europe. But the Bishop of Rome, in the “political” realm did not become a political force among the states of Europe until after the European states were established. One of the most visible evidences of his power was seen in A.D. 800, when the Pope crowed the Frankish King Charlemagne as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. he shall be different from the first ones – he is not the king of a state. shall subdue three kings – which are the three Latin states of Spain, France and Italy. The beast is described by the number 666, meaning “Lateinos.” See explanation under Dan 7:8.  |
| 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. |
| Dan 7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the most High – in Rev 13:5, these are called “great things and blasphemies.” persecute the saints – all of these beasts persecuted the saints, and Satan is “the last of the transgressors” (Dan 8:23). shall intend to change times and law – the word for “time” is plural (zimnin), the singular is zimna. We cannot say “change time” refers exclusively to the Sabbath day. But this is a challenge to God who “changes the times and the seasons,” Dan 2:21, see also Acts 1:7. Satan, through the beast wants to make himself as high as God, see also Dan 11:37, Isa 14:14, and 2 Thess 2:4. for time, times and half a time – being 3 1/2 years, 1 + 2 +1/2. Jesus Christ taught for three and a half years. The false Christ corrupted the gospel in three and a half years, which are 1278 days as years, from 193 to 1471, when the first Protestant Church broke free from the Papacy. |
| 26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. |
| Dan 7:26 But the court shall be seated – See Dan 7:9, “I watched til thrones were put in place.” This is the judgment by the Martyrs in Rev 20:4, “and judgment was given to them.” they shall take away his dominion – through the plagues of the first four trumpets, we shall see in Revelation Chapter 8. to consume it forever – see Rev 19:20, the beast is ultimately cast into the lake of fire. |
| 27 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole the sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. |
| Dan 7:27 And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven – fulfilled in the LORD’s Day, see Zech 14:9, and Rev 11:15. shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High – after “the beast” was destroyed by the Reformation, democracy replaced the Kingdoms of Europe. The saints will rule untill Christ has put all things under His feet (1 Cor 15:24). |
