Chapter 7 begins the second half of the Book of Daniel. The first half provided hope and inspiration from stories of God’s protection of His children who were faithful under good and evil leaders. The remaining chapters detail prophecies given to Daniel, building out elements of the last days prophecy studied in Revelation. These prophecies are a combination of visions Daniel experiences with interpretation added for clarity.
19Then 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 – Daniel 7:19 KJV
Daniel’s vision of the fourth beast is the final rising of the Babylonian kingdom on earth with the final ruling king.
20And 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. 21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22Until 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. – Daniel 7:20-22 KJV
These verses describe the final kingdom and give an order of operation for the rise of the final king. The kingdom will:
- Be exceedingly dreadful
- Devour
- Have 10 horns, 10 kings
- Have an 11th horn, an 11th king, rise and 3 of the 10 original horns, 3 of the 10 original kings, will fall
The final king will:
- Have “eyes”, have great insight into earthly things
- Have “a mouth that spake very great things”, blasphemes God
- Have appearance “whose look was more stout”, be small in stature
- Make “war with the saints, and prevailed against them”
- Reign
- “Until the Ancient of days came”,
- “judgment was given to the saints”
- “the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”
The final verse in this passage, verse 22, speaks to the coming of the “Ancient of days” and judgment being given to the saints. The scripture in Revelation speaking to the saints standing in judgment is at the point of the first resurrection, when Christ is with His saints. Those who lose their lives standing for Christ are together in the temple with Christ and are given a role in the judgment process.
4And 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. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. – Revelation 20:4-5 KJV
Let’s bring these two passages together:
- Make “war with the saints, and prevailed against them”
- Beheading for the witness of Christ, forcing worship of the beast, his image and taking the mark.
- Reign
- “Until the Ancient of days came”
- Jesus Christ returns
- “judgment was given to the saints”
- “Judgment was given unto them”, who were beheaded for witness of Jesus, did not worship the beast or his image, nor received the mark
- “the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”
- they lived and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years
- the 1st resurrection
- “Until the Ancient of days came”
The interpretation of Daniel’s vision continues, reinforcing steps in the rise of the final king whose heart is against God and His saints.
24And 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. 25And 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. – Daniel 7:24-25 KJV
The words “wear out the saints” reflect a level of oppression against the followers of God and Jesus Christ that some will not be able to withstand.
The final king will:
- Be “diverse from the first”
- “subdue three kings”
- “speak great words against the most High”
- “wear out the saints of the most High”
- Seek to “change times and laws”
Notice the repetition in these verses. This evil king will blaspheme God and Christ, wear out the saints, seek to change the times and laws and will be given power over the saints for “a time and times and the dividing of time.”
Some refer to the 11th king that rises as the antichrist. I have been hesitant to use this terminology, as it is not found in the book of Revelation in any of the KJV, NKJV, NIV or ESV versions. Using a concordance, I did find one reference in the KJV.
18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. – 1 John 2:18 KJV
This verse also speaks to the final king that will arise as the final antichrist that will come after many other antichrists. And his rise will let us know he is the final king of the fourth and final Babylon. So, from here forward, the king that rises and subdues three others will be referred to in this study as the antichrist.
The amount of time the antichrist will have power over the saints, “a time and times and the dividing of time” represents a period of 3.5 years. But the ultimate victory will be to Jesus Christ and the saints of the most High. All glory and dominion will be to Christ and God in the eternal kingdom.
The final verse of this chapter is sobering.
28Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. – Daniel 7:28 KJV
What Daniel saw was so troubling to him that his “countenance changed.” This too feels like a message to us, a warning for what will be experienced in the last days for those willing to stand for Christ and ultimately reign with Him in the temple. Like Adam and Eve, when we are faced with the magnitude, vulgarity and complete grotesqueness of evil existing on earth, we should be prepared to trust more deeply in the Lord as our countenance can be expected to change too.
Two years after the vision just discussed, Daniel has another vision of the last days. Chapter 8 opens with a vision of confrontation between a ram and a goat.
9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 10And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 11Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. 13Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. – Daniel 8:9-14 KJV
Reading this group of verses, we see alignment to scripture from Revelation12. The little horn is the antichrist on earth who will become indwelled by the dragon who falls from heaven.
The little horn, the final king will:
- Be great on earth, going against “the pleasant land” (Israel)
- Go against the host
- Cast down some of the stars, the angels
- Magnify himself
- End the daily sacrifice
- Prosper through lies
- Have power over the sanctuary and the host for 2,300 days
Remember from heaven in Revelation, the dragon’s tail sweeps a third of the stars, the angels, with him. He battles against Michael, the archangel, the prince of the host, and is cast out of heaven to earth.
Gabriel, a messenger angel, is given authority to explain the vision to Daniel. Upon sight, Daniel falls in fear of the supernatural presence of God’s creation. This experience is so unique from what Daniel is used to. He is faced with a mighty ambassador of God carrying great strength. We can all agree being given a message from God is a great thing. But the mechanism for delivery may bring fear into our fragile human state. Look at this as one more element to prepare for as a last days saint.
20The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
21And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. – Daniel 8:20-22 KJV
The kingdoms of Media and Persia from the Bible are located in the land that is modern day Iran. Grecia is modern day Greece. Later in chapter 10 the “prince of Persia” is mentioned. For now, we will focus on the fourth kingdom that will rise to power, the final version of Babylon.
23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. – Daniel 8:23-25 KJV
These verses reiterate many elements called out previously of the “fourth beast”, the 11th horn that subdues 3 others, the antichrist.
The final king will:
- Be of “fierce countenance”
- Understand “dark sentences”
- Have “mighty” power
- Act “not by his own power” (Revelation tells us there will be a time the dragon gives over his power to the antichrist.)
- “destroy wonderfully”
- Destroy “the holy people”
- Establish policy that causes “craft to prosper”, witchcraft and the wicked prosper
- “magnify himself in his heart.”
- Destroy many by “peace”
- Go against the “Prince of princes”, Jesus Christ
- Be broken easily by the power of Jesus Christ!
The timing of the rise of the final king will be when “transgressors are come to the full”. The wicked on earth will be at an all time high. The king “shall destroy the mighty and the holy people” and he will “by peace shall destroy many.” We see this today with many being willing to give up their freedoms in the hope of peace. They are being deceived by satan. This king too is a liar, a great deceiver, and he has no intention of bringing peace. His goal is to control all and keep them from worshipping the one true God Almighty. Discernment and wisdom of God and His ways will be critical to avoid deceptive traps.
27And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it. – Daniel 8:27 KJV
What Daniel saw and heard made him faint and become physically ill. The times of the antichrist will be evil greater than we can imagine, making it increasingly important for us to know God, stay in close relationship with Him, trust in His ways, and seek His comfort as we face truths that will astonish us and at ties change our countenance.
Remember, God always brings hope for His children and He does it here too. The final evil leader on earth will “stand up against the Prince of princes”, Christ, and “shall be broken without hand.” Christ will win easily and will reign for eternity and we saints have the hope of being with Him in the temple!