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Daniel 7:15–28 (The vision interpreted)

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Stories and Visions, and we have been exploring Daniel’s remarkable vision here in chapter seven. The vision unfolds in three distinct sections. We looked at the first two sections the past two weeks, and today we come to the third and final section. (Read Daniel 7:15–18 and pray.)

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As we’ve mentioned before, Daniel 7 is the central chapter of the book. It is one long vision presented in three movements, and in this final movement we are given the meaning of the earlier parts. Taken together, these visions teach us that the kingdoms of this world are in conflict with the kingdom of God. This conflict continues throughout history and will culminate in a final showdown intensified by the Antichrist, who is represented here by the horn with eyes like a man and a mouth that speaks boastfully.

When we look across history, we see that all this is absolutely true. The kingdoms of this world are mostly interested in power and acquisition for themselves. By and large, they do not acknowledge, worship, or serve the true God over all.

So we have this clash of kingdoms, and as believers we are often caught right in the middle of it. Daniel 7 gives us courage to stand strong in the midst of conflict as we look to God’s final victory when Christ returns.

I. The meaning of the vision (15–18)

Let’s begin with the meaning of the vision. Once again, this is the third part of Daniel’s vision. In the first part, Daniel saw the vision of the four beasts and the little horn. In the second part, he saw the vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. Now in this third part, he asks someone in the vision for the interpretation even as the vision continues. In that sense, the vision is somewhat like a lucid dream. Daniel is not only watching events unfold; he is interacting with others who are part of the vision. Look at verses 15–18:

“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’” (Dan. 7:15–18)

Daniel is greatly disturbed by these visions, so he asks “one standing there” (most likely an angel) for the true interpretation. The interpreter begins by giving him the overall meaning of the vision.

   A. Four kingdoms that will rise from the earth (15–17)

First, he confirms that the four beasts are four temporal, earthly kingdoms that will rise from the earth. We have already seen that they represent Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.

   B. God’s kingdom that will last forever (18)

And then he affirms that the saints will receive the eternal heavenly kingdom. In Daniel, the “saints” refer to the faithful people of God. In Daniel’s time, that meant the faithful people in Israel and those who joined with Israel to worship Israel’s God. In the New Testament, the definition expands to include all who belong to Christ. The saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever.

II. The meaning of the fourth beast and its horns (19–27)

So that’s the overall meaning of the vision. Next let’s look more specifically at the meaning of the fourth beast and its horns.

   A. More details please! (19–20)

Once again, this has been a very disturbing vision, so Daniel asks for more details. Look at verses 19–20:

“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. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head 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.” (Dan. 7:19–20)

Daniel is not satisfied with the short answer. First, he wants more information about the fourth beast, the one that was different from the others. It was certainly the most terrifying. Here we get a new detail about the beast: it not only had iron teeth, but bronze claws, and so it seems to have absorbed some of the characteristics of the earlier kingdoms from the statue vision in chapter two.

Daniel also wants to know more about the ten horns and especially the “other horn” that grew up later and displaced three. Notice this other horn has grown from being a “little horn” to a “more imposing horn.” Daniel repeats the detail that this horn had eyes like a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

   B. War against the saints (21–22)

Even as he asks, the vision continues, and he watches as the horn wages war against the saints.

As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. (Dan. 7:21–22)

Not only is the horn waging war against the saints, but it is winning. It is defeating them. This speaks of a great persecution of God’s people that will take place in the end times. The important word here is that little word “until.” This only happened until the Ancient of Days intervened, ruling in favor of the saints and giving them the kingdom.

   C. Blasphemy and persecution (23–25)
      – Dan. 2:21; Matt. 24:21–22; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:1–7

Daniel had asked for more details, and the interpreter now gives him the fuller meaning of all these things. Look at verses 23–25:

“He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.’” (Dan. 7:23–25)

Daniel had specifically asked about the fourth beast and the ten horns. The interpreter explains that the fourth beast represents a fourth kingdom that was different from the others. This one was especially violent and oppressive and would take over the whole earth. We’ve already seen how the fourth beast, like the fourth section of the statue in chapter two, represents the kingdom of Rome.

The ten horns represent ten kings or kingdoms that will arise after the fourth beast. Ten is the number of fullness in Scripture. After the decline of Rome as the last world empire, smaller kingdoms would spring up all over the world, but they would share the spirit of the fourth beast in their opposition to God.

Daniel had also asked about the little horn. The interpreter explains that this is yet another king. Just as the fourth beast was different from the previous beasts, so this other king will be different from the ones before him. He may be a little horn, but he is powerful, as he subdues three kings.

This is a picture of the Antichrist at the end of time—whether we interpret it as an actual individual or the spirit of opposition to Christ in the world (as John writes about in 1 John 3:18,22). The Antichrist here in Daniel’s vision is marked by three characteristics:

   1. blasphemy — he speaks against God;
   2. persecution — he oppresses God’s people;
   3. self-glorification — he acts as God and tries to change the set times and laws.

Contrast this last description with what Daniel said about God back in Daniel 2:21, where Daniel said that God is the one who changes times and seasons. Now the Antichrist tries to change the set times and laws. The fact that the saints are “handed over” to him shows that God is sovereign throughout all that takes place here. The enemy has no power except that which God grants him. This is similar to what we see in the book of Job when Satan had to ask God’s permission before he could attack Job. God is the one who is sovereign and in control.

These descriptions in Daniel accord well with other descriptions of the Antichrist in Scripture. For example, the apostle Paul describes a man of lawlessness who “will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thess. 2:4). The man of lawlessness here in 2 Thessalonians is the same as the little horn in Daniel 7.

In Revelation, John describes “a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion” (Rev. 13:1–2). Notice how the beast in Revelation shares characteristics with all four beasts in Daniel: the lion, the bear, the leopard, and the beast with ten horns. (Note: This agrees with Daniel 7:12, where Daniel tells us the other beasts were allowed to live for a period of time. The people of those kingdoms lived for awhile, and the spirit of those kingdoms continued, but when God destroys the Antichrist, it’s over. The worldly kingdoms will be done for good.)

Notice this beast in Revelation is different from the beast in Daniel. The beast in Daniel is the Roman Empire. That beast had ten horns, and out of those horns came up a little horn that displaced three. That little horn represented the Antichrist. So the little horn in Daniel is the same as this new beast here in Revelation.

John goes on to say about this new beast (who is the same as the little horn): “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them” (Rev. 13:5–7).

This confirms several more details from Daniel’s vision. The beast utters proud and blasphemous words. That’s the little horn. He wages war against the saints and defeats them. That’s also the little horn. He exercises this authority for forty-two months, which corresponds to the time, times, and half a time of Daniel 7 (forty-two months = three and a half years = one year + two years + half a year = a time, times, and half a time). This could refer either to an actual three-and-a-half-year period, or it could be symbolic of a limited time of persecution that is suddenly cut short (the “half a time”).

Once again, this victory over the saints only takes place until — until the Ancient of Days intervenes and pronounces judgment in favor of the saints. Jesus says something almost identical in Matthew 24: “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (Matt. 24:21–22). Just as God pronounced judgment in favor of the saints, so the days of persecution are cut short for the sake of the elect.

III. The end of the matter (26–28)

We now come to the end of Daniel’s long vision in Daniel 7. And what is the end of the matter? The interpreter continues:

“‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’” (Dan. 7:26–27)

   A. The court will sit (26)

Here we return to the court imagery from earlier in the chapter where thrones were set in place and the Ancient of Days took his seat. The court will sit, the power of the Antichrist will be taken away, and he will be completely destroyed, never to rise again.

   B. The kingdom will be given to the saints (27)

Then the power and authority of all the kingdoms of the earth will be handed over to the saints. This is now the third time the interpreter has told Daniel that the kingdom will be given to the saints (verses 18, 22, 27).

This is the main theme of the whole chapter. This is what God wants you to take away from the chapter. The kingdom will be given to the saints. The saints win because God wins. Notice the contrast between the Antichrist’s limited time of power (“time, times, and half a time”) and God’s kingdom, which lasts forever.

   C. Troubled thoughts (28)

This ends the interpreter’s words, and now we come to Daniel’s response. Daniel writes in verse 28:

“This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” (Dan. 7:28)

Many people are troubled when they read about these visions in the books of Daniel and Revelation. If these things trouble you, you’re in good company. Daniel is one of the most godly men you will find in Scripture, and even he was troubled by these visions. His face turns pale as he thinks of this clash of kingdoms that’s going to take place, and especially of this fourth kingdom unlike any of the other kingdoms, and this king unlike any of the other kings who will persecute the saints and even have victory over them for a period of time. Daniel’s heart is troubled, but he keeps the matter to himself for the time being.

CONCLUSION: Daniel 7 is a picture of the whole of human history from Daniel’s time to the end of time. The first part of the vision focuses on the earthly empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome (verses 1–8). The second part of the vision focuses on Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension securing final victory (verses 9–14). The final section focuses on the kingdoms that follow and the many antichrists who will come, culminating in the final Antichrist and severe persecution before God rescues the saints and brings in the kingdom (verses 15–28).

It’s disturbing to think of persecution, but Daniel was written to let us know that the power of the enemy is limited, the time of persecution will be cut short, earthly powers and kingdoms will all fade away with time, but God’s kingdom lasts forever. And we will share in that kingdom. Three times we are told the kingdom is given to the saints. Yes, there will be suffering, but suffering is followed by reward. Therefore, we are encouraged to be faithful.

We should not be surprised when the kingdoms of this world speak against God and Christ or persecute the followers of Christ. We should not be surprised, but we should not be discouraged either. Yes, it is troubling to think of persecution, and it is disturbing when evil seems to be winning, but the enemy’s power is limited and so is his time. The enemy will have power for a time, times, and half a time, but God’s kingdom lasts forever.

So don’t be surprised or discouraged by persecution. This clash of kingdoms has been going on for a long time, but God is in control. One day all evil will be judged, and those who belong to Christ will reign with him forever. That is the hope God gave Daniel, and gives us, in this amazing passage of Scripture.

© Ray Fowler

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