Segment 3 - Daniel 7
God is Sovereign
page 2 of 7
____________________

page l 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l

Part Two: Medo-Persia

And behold another beast, a second, like a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it; and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. (Daniel 7:5, KJV)

Comments on Part Two

Two features stand out about this ferocious bear. First, Daniel observed that one shoulder rose higher than the other. This feature corresponds with the fact that the Persians became the dominant side of the Medo-Persian Empire. (An interesting parallel can be found in the metal man from Daniel 2. The chest of silver had two arms, suggesting this kingdom could have two armies.) Second, the three ribs represented the carcasses of Lydia, Egypt and Babylon. After the Medes and Persians subdued these three governments, they controlled the world. Isaiah foretold the rise of the Persians more than a hundred years before Cyrus was born. Notice this prophecy: “This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.” (Isaiah 45:1-4)

Part Three: Grecia

After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had the back of its four wings of a foul; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. (Daniel 7:6, KJV)

Comments on Part Three

The third beast, the leopard, is a swift and cunning hunter that easily kills prey larger than itself. The leopard in this vision had four wings indicating its conquest would be incredibly swift. The leopard represented the kingdom of Grecia, the empire that swallowed up Medo-Persia. Historians’ marvel at the swiftness of Grecia’s first king, Alexander the Great. He conquered the Medo-Persian Empire in a mere ten years!

When considering the geographical scope of his conquests and the fact he did this on horseback, there is no doubt that God empowered Alexander to accomplish this military feat. At the peak of his conquests and military prowess, Alexander died of “swamp fever” (probably malaria) at the age of 33. Interestingly, his offspring did not inherit his kingdom. It was eventually divided between his four leading generals: Ptolemy, Cassander, Lysimachus and Seleucus. The four heads of the Leopard represent these four kings.

Part Four: The Monster Beast

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold 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 its feet of it; and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 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 a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:7,8, KJV)

Comments on Part Four

Historians generally agree that the Grecian empire ended with the battle of Pydna in 168 B.C. With this victory, the Romans finally gained control of the world. The Roman military was known for its use of iron and its scorched-earth policy. Did you notice the fourth beast has teeth of iron? This metallic feature parallels the “legs of iron” mentioned in Daniel 2. Unlike King Nebuchadnezzar who took captives to Babylon and trained them for government service, the Romans took few prisoners. (True to form, when the Romans burned Jerusalem to the ground in A.D. 70, they took everything of value, but few prisoners.) The term, “iron age,” accurately describes Rome’s extensive use of this metal. The Romans were skillful manufacturers of iron weapons. Their ironclad warriors and chariots of iron were legendary. As a world empire, Rome endured for almost 650 years (168 B.C. to 476 A.D.), but like its predecessors, Rome fell. After a series of civil wars within its borders, the empire crumbled during the last half of the fifth century A.D. As the Roman Empire fractured, ten ethnic nations within the former empire rose to power. The ten horns of the fourth beast represent these ten nations. Daniel was told, “The ten horns are the ten kings who will come from [within] this kingdom.” (Daniel 7:24, insertion mine) These tribal-nations have been generally identified as the Ostrogoths, Heruli, Franks, Vandals, Lombards, Visigoths, Suevi, Burgundians, Alamanni, and the Anglo-Saxons.

Conflicting Interpretation

Many prophetic commentators claim the ten horns on the fourth beast represent ten nations that will belong to a future European Union. (Currently, fourteen nations belong to the EU.) This interpretation is faulty because it does not satisfy all of the prophetic specifications given in Daniel and Revelation about the ten horns. The ten horns cannot be ten nations of a future European Union for several reasons. These reasons will be explored in Part Nine of this chapter.

Even though Daniel observed four beasts in this vision, he was particularly distressed and awed by the fourth beast, because it was different from the other beasts. As Daniel watched this monster beast, he noticed a little horn that began to grow out of its forehead. As it grew, the little horn became great and it uprooted three of the original ten horns by their roots. This little horn had eyes and a mouth that spoke very boastful things! Even though Daniel did not comprehend the vision, he became very alarmed as he watched the ferociousness of the little horn. He could see that it was grossly evil and it wielded absolute power for a period of time, but he did not know what it represented.

Part Five:

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down [arranged or set in place], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool: his throne was like a fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 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 open. (Daniel 7:9,10 KJV, insertion mine)

Comments on Part Five

Suddenly, while Daniel was watching the antics of the little horn on Earth, his attention was directed to a glorious scene-taking place in Heaven. Daniel saw several thrones (notice that the word is plural) arranged for a great convocation. The Aramaic word remah means “to place or arrange” or “to set up.” It can also mean, “to throw,” as in throwing a ball. The KJV translators may have chosen to translate the words “thrones were cast down” because they were thinking that the thrones of the beasts were “thrown down” when the Ancient of Days took His seat. The Septuagint, or the LXX, as it is sometimes called, is a Greek version of the Old Testament translated by seventy-two Jewish scholars about 280 years before Jesus was born. The translators of the LXX converted the Aramaic word remah to the Greek word tithemi that means “to set up” or “to arrange or erect.” This Hebrew to Greek translation, translated two and a half centuries after Daniel’s death, is very helpful. The context of this passage also gives us additional help. Therefore, it is not surprising that many Bible translators today reflect the Greek translation of the remah. The result is that Daniel saw thrones arranged or put into place. According to Revelation 4 and 5 (which also describes this scene in Daniel 7), there are a total of twenty-five thrones. Twenty-four thrones encircle the throne of the Father. As Daniel watched this scene, he saw the Father come into the previously arranged courtroom and take His seat. (The title; “The Ancient of Days,” only occurs in Daniel 7 and it indicates the Father existed before time began.) A numberless multitude of angels rose to their feet as the Father entered the courtroom, and the Bible says, “The court was seated, and the books were opened.” What is this court scene all about? When does it occur? What books were opened? What does the court scene have to do with the terror caused by the little horn on Earth?

The Pre-Advent Judgment of Mankind

Reread Daniel 7:9,10 at the beginning of Part Five. God lifted Daniel’s eyes from Earth, while he was watching the little horn, to see something that would take place in Heaven’s courtroom. God showed Daniel the pre-Second Coming judgment of mankind. The billions of angels can measure the seriousness and importance of this great convocation in attendance. According to Revelation 4 and 5, the Father, the Son, the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders and billions of angels are all present. This convocation began in 1798, and one of the items on the agenda was the judgment of human beings. Before Jesus returns to Earth, He will judge the people of Earth and determine who will participate in His eternal kingdom. For reasons that will be presented later, this judgment began in 1844. Presently, this great convocation has been underway for more than 150 years! Can you imagine a meeting that has been in session for 150 years! Sure, you can! Sessions of the United States Congress has been meeting for more than two hundred years, and Congress will continue to meet for as long as the United States exists!

Warning! Prerequisites needed: The pre-advent judgment scene described in Daniel 7:9,10 is a topic that requires a basic understanding of two Bible truths. First, you have to understand what the Bible says about the state of man in death. Therefore, I hope you have studied the Five Essential Bible Truths in the reading room. Second, the concept of a pre-advent judgment requires a basic understanding of the doctrine of parallel temples. This topic is covered in the Bible study room in this web site. If you understand these two doctrines as I do, my comments about Daniel 7:9,10 will make a lot of sense.

The All Important Linkage

At first glance, the courtroom scene in Heaven seems out of context in a vision that concentrates on four beasts and the little horn power on Earth. God associated these disconnected elements in this vision to draw attention to their timing. In other words, the timing of certain events on Earth is associated with the timing of certain events in Heaven. As we will see, the timing of the wounding of the little horn power on Earth and Christ’s pre-advent judgment are inseparably linked together. Since we cannot see events occurring in Heaven, God associated the great convocation scene in Heaven with the wounding of the little horn power on Earth.  This linkage enables students of prophecy to determine the timing of the Heavenly event. God is so clever! The rise and fall of empires are historically documented and the timing of the little horn’s wound is well documented. Therefore, we can date the convocation and judgment bar scene in Heaven, even though we cannot see into Heaven! God has linked prophetic events on Earth with prophetic events in Heaven. I like to call this linkage, “The Heaven-Earth-Linkage Law.”

The Judgment Bar of Christ

Perhaps the easiest way to explain the pre-advent judgment process is a short illustration. When Cain was born, an angel was given the responsibility to accurately record everything Cain knew, everything Cain said, Everything Cain thought, and everything Cain did. (Perhaps the angel used a “heavenly camcorder.”) Because Heaven’s technology far exceeds paper and ink, the record of Cain’s life is all-inclusive. In fact, Heaven’s record of every life is a true reflection of that life. (See Ecclesiastes 12:14, Malachi 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Psalm 34:15 and 2 Chronicles 16:9)

Even before sin began, God ordained there would be a judgment bar imposed upon mankind to determine who will receive eternal life and who will receive eternal death. (Acts 17:31; 24:25; Ephesians 1:4,5; 2 Corinthians 5:10) Since Jesus is the Judge of mankind (John 5:22), He alone decides the fate of each person. Even though Jesus passes judgment upon each person, Heaven’s assembled host closely studies the process of judgment. The first man to die was Abel. So, let us assume for a moment that when the books of record were opened in 1844, Jesus began to investigate the recording of the first man to die. Because Abel’s eternal destiny will be determined from his life’s record, we can be sure the record of his life is perfect and complete. (Ecclesiastes 12:14) Before Jesus makes a determination on Abel, the attending host reviews Abel’s life on the equivalent of a big TV screen. Everyone hears Abel speak, and they see Abel’s motives and actions just as they happened. After the movie of Abel’s life ends, Jesus defends Abel’s faith in God before the assembly by highlighting Abel’s actions. (James 2:26) Given the evidence of Abel’s faith, and the stipulation that salvation comes through faith, Jesus declares Abel will be granted eternal life at the first resurrection, which occurs at the Second Coming, and the gavel comes down. (John 6:39-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) Eventually, the life of Cain comes up in the judgment process and it is given the same treatment. After reviewing the record of Cain on the big screen, let us assume that Jesus has no option but to condemn Cain for his faithless life, and Jesus justifiably sentences Cain to eternal death. (Revelation 22:15) This is a brief scenario explaining how the judgment of the dead is accomplished. (The judgment of the living occurs during the Great Tribulation. The living will be tested to see who will obey God and trust in Him. People who pass the test will be sealed with a nature free from sin. For further explanation on this study, go into the Bible study room, under “The Sealing.”

After Jesus has judged everyone on Earth, the Second Coming occurs. Jesus will appear in the clouds of glory and will resurrect Abel and all those determined to be righteous. He will take them to Heaven at that time along with the righteous living that is translated without seeing death. (John 14: 1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4”16,17) Cain, however, will not be disturbed from his sleep through the Second Coming. In fact, billions of wicked people will sleep through the Second Coming. The wicked who are alive at the Second Coming will be destroyed by a command that comes out of Jesus’ mouth and they will sleep for the next thousand years. After the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 passes, Jesus will return to Earth with all the redeemed and He will resurrect Cain and all of the wicked so that they can face their Judge and receive their sentence for the wages of sin. The wicked will be put to death by execution. (Revelation 20:5,9) After the wicked are annihilated by fire, sin and sinners will be no more.

page l 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l