Daniel 7

When I first started studying Bible prophecy, the main focus of the interpretation of Daniel 7 was comparing it to Daniel 2, a series of nations through history leading to the final kingdom. In the interest of presenting the sides I know, I’ve left the old version of the page at the bottom here. However, let’s just look at the chapter and I’ll explain why my view changed.

Contemporaneous Nations View

While the number 10 and elements like the fourth kingdom in Daniel 2:40 being strong as iron, subduing and breaking to pieces and Daniel 7:7 with the iron teeth of the fourth beast devouring and breaking to pieces, it should be noted that this similarity is due to this fourth kingdom and fourth beast being the same, the rule of the Antichrist. However, this doesn't mean then that the previous three kingdoms in Daniel 2 and the previous three beasts in Daniel 7 are necessarily related.

There are several things from Chris White’s Bible studies that have changed my view, primarily an obvious part of the passage I completely glossed over in the past. It seems pretty clear from this one verse, when taken in context, that these four beasts are contemporaneous, not a series of nations through history leading up to the fourth kingdom as with Daniel 2. The context of Daniel 7:9-12 is that of Christ's return, ending the Antichrist's reign, judging him and the falst prophet and then taking the throne ruling the earth for 1,000 years.

Now look at how John's vision in Revelation depicts the time just after Christ's return. If this beast represents the Antichrist kingdom, then they would be considered the armies gathered against Christ at His return.

So it would seem these four beasts from the sea, lion with plucked eagle wings, bear with 3 ribs devouring flesh, the leopard with four wings and four heads and the dreadful beast with iron teeth and 10 horns, are all existing at the same time. However other passages like Revelation 13:1-8 seem to focus on just this fourth dreadful beast. With Daniel 2, he was given a vision of a historical arch of time, a zoomed out view. I think Daniel 7 may be similar except not a zoomed out view of history, but rather of the state of the world just before and during the antichrist's reign.

It's clear the Antichrist's kingdom is referenced many times split into 10 with the Antichrist taking the helm. But what if that is just regional and not a global view? Perhaps Daniel 7 is speaking to 4 regional powers of the earth during the end times, of which the most powerful becomes the fourth beast and to which the other three capitulate and follow after the abomination of desolation. In fact these same beasts are depicted as one beast coming from the sea in Revelation together representing the Antichrist kingdom with the dragon giving it power and authority. This would be after the death and resurrection of the Antichrist. Revelation 13:12

As Chris White pointed out in his exposition on Daniel 7, this could also explain why in Revelation the fourth seal the rider was only given power over 1/4 of the earth, because the wars of the Antichrist depicted in Daniel 11:40-44 are focused on that region of this fourth beast from the sea.

Historical Nations View

As I already mentioned, I no longer connect Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 as far as tying the first 3 kingdoms and first 3 beasts together. I do agree the fourth kingdom and beast are speaking of the same final kingdom of the Antichrist, however I don't feel there is enough to associate the previous 3 kingdoms with the previous three beasts.

Belshazzar was the king of Babylon whose reign ended with the capturing of Babylon by the Persians around 540 years before Christ. This is the same king who saw the writing on the wall just before Babylon’s fall.

He too had a dream interpreted by God through Daniel and written in scripture for God’s glory. This amazing chapter covers ancient history for us and yet our near future also!

Four beasts from the sea representing four kings in history

Is Daniel 7:4 Referring to Ancient Babylon?

Nebuchadnezzar’s pride is brought low when he is made to be like the beasts of the field for seven years. After that time, he is again given his human faculties and resumes reigning Babylon.

There is the aspect of timing since this vision in Daniel 7 is after Nebuchadnezzar’s reign is over.

Shall Rise (H6966)
qûm (koom)
(Chaldee); corresponding to H6965: - appoint, establish, make, raise up self, (a-) rise (up), (make to) stand, set (up).

(H6965)
qûm (koom)
A primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literally, figuratively, intensively and causatively): - abide, accomplish, X be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure (-ly), (be) up (-hold, -rising).

Does this necessarily mean they were all future kingdoms? Or could it be that even though Daniel received this vision past Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, the prophecy is given regardless of time? He would certainly understand and recognize Daniel 7:4 as having happened before, giving him some grounding in the present for what was to come in the future. The idea of appointing is related to these four kings.

It seems to me that the story of Nebuchadnezzar being made low as a beast after his god-complex in order to be made a humble man giving glory to God seems to fit the idea used in other Biblical illustrations of those making their nests in the heights of the eagles, the proud, being brought low. This seems to be exactly what Daniel 7:4 is talking about.

From Winged Lions: The Gate of Xerxes at Perespolis shows that the Winged Lion was placed at the corner of one entrance. When you stood in front of the gate you saw a lion with four legs and when you were inside the gate you saw a lion with four legs.

The Winged Lion of Babylon
Human-headed winged lion (lamassu), 883859 B.C.;
Neo-Assyrian period, reign of Ashurnasirpal II
Excavated at Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern Mesopotamia
Alabaster (gypsum); H. 10 ft. 3½ in. (313.7 cm)
Gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr., 1932 (32.143.2)

Other views:

Herb L. Peters:

...What I quoted above from my overview is basically the dispensational view of Bible prophecy. So, there are many areas where I agree with Dispensationalism. But, as I said before, there are some areas where I disagree. What first caught my attention was apparently finding a different order of events in Daniel from that which strict Dispensationalism taught. In chapter seven of the book of Daniel we read about the prophet Daniel seeing the four beasts rising from the sea. The forth beast was different from the other beasts and it trampled down and devoured the first three. It also had 10-horns -- identifying it as the same beast that John saw rising from the sea in Revelation 13. Daniel sees a little horn appear among the 10 horns and uprooting three. And, Daniel sees this little horn possessing a mouth and boasting great things (Daniel 7:7-8).

So far nothing appears out of order from strict Dispensationalism. However, what comes next is. In the next verse we find the same throne room scene that we find in Revelation 4. And, in the following verses (Daniel 7:9-11), we see some of the same things happen that occur in Revelation 4 through Revelation 19. For me, the implications were obvious. Although the dispensational view teaches that Revelation chapter four marks the beginning of Israel’s final seven-year period, the book of Daniel appears to teach that Revelation chapter four marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, which is only a 3 ½ year period. You see, Daniel places the throne room scene of Revelation chapter four happening after the Antichrist is boasting great things. And, from other related passages, we know that this boasting occurs in the middle of the seven-year period -- when the Antichrist goes into the Temple and declares himself to be God.

At first I pretty much kept my new thinking to myself. Then, I ran across something that gave the idea further support. I read a piece by an expert on the original languages who pointed out that John in Revelation was making direct word connections back to the book of Daniel. As an example, he said that the book that was sealed in Daniel 12 should be understood as the scroll with seven seals in Revelation 5.

If that’s truly the case, once again it suggests that the events unleashed by the breaking of the seven seals on the scroll could happen over a 3½ year period, not seven. That’s because, in Daniel 12 where the book is sealed, an angel asks how long until the end of these wonders. The reply is, time, times and a half time (3½ years), until the power of the holy people is shattered.

I began finding other Scripture that supported the 3½-year idea. For example, we read that the Antichrist and his 10 kings will be given authority to wage their war against the saints for 3½ years. And, when the first seal on the scroll is broken, we read that the rider on a white horse is given a crown and then he goes fourth to conquer. Once again, the passage may suggest the beginning of the foretold 3½ year period, not seven. You see, when the rider is given his crown, he may be receiving his authority to act -- or make war -- for forty-two months (3½ years). And, in Revelation 13, when the 10-horned beast rises from the sea, it has 10 crowns -- meaning the 10 kings now have their authority to act for 3½ years too.

I now have more reasons why I believe the events that begin in Revelation 4 may occur over a 3½ year period. For example, with my new way of thinking, I can even see the Scripture that I quoted at the beginning suggesting a 3½ year period for the scroll now too. Let’s look at it again.

Daniel 9:27 (NASB)
And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.

Notice the part I highlighted. In ancient times, a scroll in the hand of someone sitting on a throne represented a king issuing a decree. So, even here, in the passage that’s referred to by Jesus in Matthew 24:15, we can find it being suggested that the seven-sealed scroll in Revelation isn’t opened, and it’s judgments poured out, until after the Antichrist has been revealed in the Temple in the middle of the seven-year period.

As I said before, what I have presented above is not intended to be an academic argument. It’s only my attempt, in simple fashion, to explain the how and why of what I have come to believe.

1whowaits:

It is interesting to consider what Daniel saw in chapter 7. Daniel was lying on his bed and he had a vision at night and the 4 ‘winds of heaven’ were churning up the ‘great sea’. In the Babylonian culture the ‘great sea’ was not just a body of water but it also described the night sky, the ‘sea’ of the stars and constellations.

And the Babylonian Zodiac did have a constellation pictured as a lion with eagles wings. It also had a leopard, and as the Bear has been in the constellations from the ancients (noted in Job), they likely had the Bear constellation also.

And there is a constellation that is different from the others, it is the largest of all and is known as the Hydra. Today the Hydra is pictured as a multi-headed serpent, but in the Babylonian zodiac it appears to be a conglomeration of beasts, a dragon body with fore legs and an unusual head, it is not recognizable as any particular animal, but is the largest.

The same beasts are associated with the ‘beast out of the sea’ in Revelation 13, the multi-headed beast (hydra) that resembles a leopard, has the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. This also appears to be a reference to the beasts of the night sky, the constellations.

We have always assumed that the beast that comes out of the sea comes out of the gentile nations or the water, but the ‘sea’ may be a reference to the stars. This could be consistent with Satan’s being cast down to earth, when he gives his power to the AC at the midpoint of the 70th week, which would appear to be an arrival from the stars. As the AC receives his power from Satan, as the world follows the beast and worships the dragon, as it is likely that Satan posses the AC, the AC could be seen as coming from the stars if he is embodied by Satan, the one who falls from the sky.

These beasts are all associated with the throne room scene which appears to parallel that in Revelation 4. The first 3 beasts are still in existence when the AC comes to his end, which occurs at Armageddon, suggesting that the first 3 beasts are still in existence at Jesus’ return. As the 4th beast is clearly the kingdom of the AC, which is a future kingdom, it is highly likely that the first 3 beasts of Daniel 7 are modern kingdoms that exist now.

Christian Media Network

Beginning with Babylon [Daniel 2 vision), all four kingdoms dominated the people of Israel. The fourth kingdom (the legs of iron), the Roman empire, presided over the destruction of Israel in 70 AD. The fourth kingdom also provided the countdown to the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Conversely, the four beast kingdoms function in reverse as they provide the historic countdown to the resurrection of the state of Israel; and once again these empires also serve as a sequential countdown to the second coming of Christ. Because the fourth kingdom is the empire that catapults The Antichrist to power, our identification requires a global perspective. Every verse in the Bible implies he is a global figure. Speaking of his confederate The False Prophet, the text does say “...he causes ALL to receive a mark....” 11.

The word all would appear to imply far more than Europeans. Indeed a quick bit of research in practically any Encyclopedia will find the European Community listed under regional organizations. Yet, to this day, the vast majority of prophecy teachers confidently and categorically state that the European Community is the final empire that will host The Antichrist.

There is only one global political entity of a lasting consequence in the world today. It was founded between 1945 and 1948. It has claimed absolute authority in establishing jurisdiction over the historic land called Palestine. Its power and political reach is now reaching overwhelming proportions as its members include virtually every government on the face of the Earth.

The United Nations IS the prophesied one world government so frequently mentioned in the Bible. The recognition of the intermediate American hegemony that is presently being manifested only serves as a ‘red herring’ in understanding how these kingdoms fit into the scriptural account. In many respects, America and the United Nations are alter egos of each other. The US created the UN as a vehicle to draw in the rest of the world’s nations to the construct the American government intended to engineer.

At the very same time the UN was formed (1947), the United States implemented the National Security Act which formed the National Security State the US has become. By slowly ceding power to it’s own creation, the US is transitioning its power base into world government and the UN is the heir apparent. There are some very important details to this process that are found in our study on The Beast with Seven Heads — however, those are beyond the scope of the present exposition. For the present, suffice it to say that the United Nations is the designated entity for world government and significant elements of the US and the UN may be seen in the description of the fourth Beast of Daniel Seven.

NCBreeze:

This is an alternative view of Daniel 7 (it says the same 4 kingdoms of Daniel 2 will be reconstituted in the latter days, having direct conflicts with Israel).. e.g. Babylon (Iraq), Persia (Iran), Greece and Rome. (However, I don’t see any signs that Greece will arise again, in the latter days.. ??) This analysis justifies it by the fact that Daniel 8 defines the third kingdom as Greece. I confess, I’m stumped at this point. What do you make of Greece, in this analytical point of view? How could it possibly be reconstituted as a world power?

Kingdom Baptist - It appears there is no great agreement on the 3rd kingdom. Some say it is Germany, others say France, and Beirnes says it is an “Arab Federation.” This is precisely one thing that is wrong with this whole methodology. Once we have left the Bible’s own interpretation of these kingdoms, “anything goes!” Sir Robert Anderson was perhaps one of the first to suggest that the kingdoms of Daniel 7 were not identical with those of r. It is clear that he erred because he did not see that these same four kingdoms would be revived in the latter days. I believe G.H. Pember (“The Great Prophecies of the Centuries Concerning Israel and the Gentiles”) and William Kelly are both much more sound on Daniel 7 (at least in regard to the identity of the 4 kingdoms). Kelly writes: “Accordingly the Spirit again goes over the ground of the four great Gentile empires, as well as the fifth empire, the kingdom of heaven, to be introduced by our Lord Jesus. But all is presented, though, of course, with perfect consistency, from a different point of view. It is not now a great image, beginning with that which was gorgeous...Here we have ravening wild beasts. The very same powers are meant [as in Daniel 2], but it is another aspect of them....it is now God’s view of these same powers, and their relation to His people.” (“Notes on Daniel,” 1902)