Daniel 7

In this chapter Daniel tells us his dream, than an angel tells him what he saw, then the angel interprets the dream.



The first year of Belshazzar (Bel’s dad was alive at this time, but he had no interest in ruling. He was an archeologist and spent his time digging in the dirt. Belshazzar ruled for him.)



1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions of his head upon his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.

2 Daniel spake and said: “I saw in my vision by night and behold the four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea.



3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. the sea.



17 The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.



4 The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.



Nebby after his time as a beast of the field.



5 A second beast was like a bear. It raised itself up on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth between its teeth: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.



Persia under Cyrus destroyed Lydia (546 BC), Babylon (539 BC), and Egypt (535 BC). All three completely ended as world powers at this point.



6 Another beast, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a fowl. The beast had four heads; and dominion was given to it.



Alexander and his kingdom which was divided after his death. This division took seven years of war between his four generals. The general who became the Egyptian king gave part of his kingdom to his favorite general who defeated one of the other kings and took his territory as well as part of Egypt’s.



7 A fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it. And it had ten horns.



19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws- the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.



23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth (land), and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.



This fourth beast is the kingdom of Syria, specifically the family of the Seleucids. Josephus and the Maccabees tell us the Seleucids were very cruel to the Jews. Their armies (the iron teeth) horribly mistreated the people.



The ten horns are ten kings that reigned successively in Syria.



The Syrian empire covered at least as much territory as Rome, including the whole area of the Babylonian Empire, the country Daniel was writing this from; “whole earth” means “whole kingdom,” in the original language. In Daniel’s case, that would mean Babylon.



20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head…



24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:



1. Ptoemy Lagi gave Syria to his general, Seleucus.

2. 312-281 Seleucus I Nicator

3. Ptolemy Soter of Egypt controlled Israel for a time.

4. 281-261 Antiochus I Soter

5. 261-246 Antiochus II Theos

6. 246-225 Seleucus II Callinicos

7. 225-223 Seleucus III Ceraunos

8. 223-187 Antiochus III The Great

9. 187-175 Seleucus IV Philopater (Antionchus IV brother)

a. Heliodorus (the tax collecter)

10. Seleucus IV son who never really ruled but should have.



175-164..... Antiochus IV Epiphanes



This was the Syrian empire in full force. They totally destroyed everyone they conquered. Rome didn’t usually destroy total countries. They usually just subdued them and then left them alone as long as they paid their taxes and didn’t cause too much trouble. This wasn’t true of Syria. They were down right mean.



8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

…and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell- the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.



21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them,



The little horn is Antiochus Epiphanes, the last of the ten kings. He got the throne by having his nephew kept captive in Rome and having a buddy depose the murderer of his brother (who he had backed). He was a man of great ingenuity, and therefore is said to have eyes like the eyes of a man; and he was very bold and daring, had a mouth speaking great things.



Antiochus IV was the only king the in the history of Israel who demanded they leave their God, not just incorporate his own. In fact, he commanded his entire kingdom, including his own country, to worship Jupiter instead of their native gods.



Antiochus IV used deceit, flattery, and bribes to get and establish his kingdom.



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 (True lovers of God) possessed the kingdom (of God).



The Ancient of Days pronouncing judgment was Antiochus’ death. The Jews ruled themselves (more or less, off and on, until Rome conquered them; about a hundred years.)



24… and another shall rise after them (Antiochus Epiphanes); and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.



Brother, nephew, general



25 And he (the horn) 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 (the Jews) shall be given into his (the horn's) hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.



Antiochus tortured Israel about three and a half years. He thought himself to be a god and changed the calendar.



26 But the judgment shall sit, and they (the Jews) shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end (of the time of the Jews).



The Maccabees kicked him out.



Some assign this beast to Rome and this horn to Nero, but that is problematic. Nero was the sixth or seventh (depending on if you count the general who ruled for Tiberius for a short time) ruler of the Roman Empire. The tenth emperor was Vespasian who was the emperor from AD 69- 79, but he was not a proud boaster, nor did he in anyway fit the description of the little horn. (His son, Titus, became emperor after him in 79). If you do count the ruling general, the tenth emperor was Vitelius who ruled a whole year and did nothing remarkable except fight for the throne with Otho for half that time. In fact, if you don’t count Otho or the general, the tenth emperor was Titus who was a relatively meek (though quite unlucky) emperor (there were earthquakes and volcanoes and the plague during his two year reign). Augustus, the second Emperor of Rome, was the one who changed the calendar.



However, the character of the little horn describes Antiochus IV perfectly.



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.



God on the throne.



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.



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. (Christ)



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.



The kingdom of heaven which began at Calvary.



18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever- yes for ever and ever.



27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.



Daniel is shown up to the time of Christ and His victory- the institution of the Kingdom of God. His attention, however, goes back to the little horn.



11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: (back to Antiochus IV) I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.



The Roman army under Pompey destroyed the Syrian Empire in 63BC.



12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.



These nations still exist, more or less, in a VERY reduced state; Iraq [Babylon], Iran [Persia], and Greece