Daniel 7

Daniel 7:1-12

Glorification: The Coming of Christ (Daniel’s Private Visions) - There are two main divisions to the book of Daniel. Daniel 1-6 is primarily narrative material and emphasizes Daniel’s ministry to the kings of Babylon and Media. In these passages he interprets two dreams and the writing on the wall for two kings. This division as well contains three stories of the captivity and persecution of Daniel and his three friends. However, the visions recorded in Daniel 7-12 were not for the kings. Rather, they are a collection of private visions of apocalyptic in nature that Daniel received from the Lord regarding the Time of the Gentiles and the Last Days.

They were not delivered to the kings under whom he served, but were initially private in nature. Their emphasis is not on the nation of Israel; but rather, upon the fulfillment of the Times of the Gentiles. The fact that the first section was written in Aramaic and the second section in Hebrew suggests that there were initially two different intended recipients. The Babylonian Jews would have found comfort in both divisions as they saw the sovereign power of God at work in their midst and as they understood by prophecy that God had not forsaken the nation of Israel. Note that this second section has been arranged in chronological order independently of the first section’s chronological arrangement. Daniel 7-12 is a collection of private visions given to Daniel concerning the future glorification of Jesus Christ and His children and the Great White Throne Judgment of the nations. The redemptive role of Jesus Christ is clearly predicted as the Son of Man comes upon the clouds and approaches the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13) and He establishes the everlasting Kingdom of Heaven (Daniel 7:14).

Daniel 7:15-28

The Interpretation of Daniel’s Vision – In Daniel 7:15-28 Daniel is given the interpretation of his vision, which parallels many aspects of the book of Revelation. This interpretation can as well be applied to the fulfillment of Psalms 2 in which God crushes the rebellion of the nations and sets His Son upon the throne.[110] [110] John E. Goldingay, Daniel, in Word Biblical Commentary: 58 Volumes on CD-Rom, vol. 30, eds. Bruce M. Metzger, David A. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker (Dallas: Word Inc., 2002), in Libronix Digital Library System, v. 2.1c [CD-ROM] (Bellingham, WA: Libronix Corp., 2000-2004), 149.Daniel 7:22 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. Daniel 7:22 — “Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High” – Comments - Some translations read, “and judgment was given in behalf of the saints…” Thus, some scholars suggest that this phrase is a reference to Christ’s first coming when He was offered in judgment on Calvary in behalf of mankind. NIV, “until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High” Daniel 7:22 — Comments - Daniel 7:22 refers to the time of Jesus’ Second Coming when He shall judge those who have persecuted the Church and the saints shall enter in the Millennial Reign with Him and shall rule and reign with Christ forever. We find a similar description of the thrones being set up at the Great White Throne Judgment and judgment given to the saints in Revelation 20:4, “And 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.” Daniel 7:25 And 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 7:25 — “and think to change times and laws” – Comments – The times refers to seasons of God’s plan of redemption for mankind. During the last two thousand years, the world has been on a Roman calendar. The antichrist, also called the son of perdition, will attempt to change the times on this calendar that the world now follows. The Tribulation Period will culminate with the world being ushered into the thousand-year Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth and the times and laws will be changed. At that time God Himself will take the world into a new era and change the times and laws; for only God can do what the antichrist will attempt to do (Daniel 2:21). The antichrist will attempt to do the same because he senses the change in seasons on the earth. Daniel 2:21, “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:” Daniel 7:28 Hitherto 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 — Comments - Daniel 1-6 emphasizes Daniel’s ministry to the kings of Babylon and Media. But the visions recorded in Daniel 7-12 were not for the kings. Rather, they are a collection of private visions that Daniel received from the Lord regarding the Time of the Gentiles and the Last Days. Thus, he writes in Daniel 7:28 that he kept this vision in his heart.