Interpretative Outline of Daniel 7

INTERPRETATIVE OUTLINE OF DANIEL 7

God’s Plan to Establish His Kingdom on Earth as It Is In Heaven

Daniel 7:1-14 Details of the Vision Predicting World History (2 parts)

V. 1-8 Daniel’s vision (Part 1): Four wild beasts each symbolizing world empires

V. 1-3 Introduction: this is the first of four visions in the book of Daniel (see Dan 8; 9; 10-12)

V. 1 Date of the vision:

553 BC

(encouraging the captives 14 years before their release)

V. 2 Four winds stirring the Mediterranean Sea: turmoil (combining God, satan, man’s sin)

V. 3 Four wild animals causing great turmoil in the Mediterranean area (anti-Semitic; Rev 12)

V. 4-6 First 3 beasts symbolize the three dominant empires in the Mediterranean area (605-146 BC)

V. 4 First beast (lion with eagles wings):

Babylon Empire

(605-538 BC) – Iraq

V. 5 Second beast (bear with 3 ribs in his mouth):

Persian Empire

(538-331 BC) – Iran

V. 6 Third beast (leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads):

Greek Empire

(331-146 BC) – Greece

V. 7-8 Fourth Beast:

Roman Empire in 3 stages

: Ancient; Democracy (10 kings); Dictatorship (antichrist)

V. 7

Ancient Roman Empire

(146 BC-476 AD): type of antichrist’s empire (Dan 2; Rev 13; 17)

V. 7-8

End Time Roman Empire under 10 kings later usurped by the antichrist

(little horn)

V. 9-14 Daniel’s vision (Part 2): God’s leadership in the End Times (judgment on nations)

   V. 9-10 God enthroned in majesty: Divine Court in session as the books are opened (Jer 23:18-20)
   V. 11-12 Destruction of the antichrist and his Roman Empire at the Second Coming (Rev 19:11-21)
   V. 13-14 Jesus’ heavenly coronation as King over the Millennial earth (Ps 2:6; Rev 5:12; Phil 2:10)

Daniel 7:15-28 The Angel’s Interpretation of the Vision (3 parts)

V. 15-18 Interpretation (Part 1): Victory Assured (after the crisis of 4 beast empires)
   V. 15 Daniel grieved/perplexed: over the fourth beast’s power, violence and arrogance (v. 7-8)
   V. 16 Daniel’s 1st question: a request for ‘all the truth’ (implications) of the vision (v.2-14)
   V. 17 Interpretation of the 4 beasts (v.3-8): they are 4 kings (including their kingdoms V.19-20, 23, 24)
   V. 18 New info: after the crisis, the beasts are replaced by the saints as world rulers (Millennium v. 14)

V. 19-22 Interpretation (Part 2): Purpose of Martyrdom (prepares saints for world government)
   V. 19-20 Daniel’s 2nd question: 4th beast (End Time empire), 10 horns (10 kings), Horn (antichrist)
   V. 21 New info: antichrist permitted to kill End Time saints (Cross necessary for victory, power 12:10)
   V. 22 New info: God suddenly reverses all things: purified saints are now ready to rule the whole earth

V. 23-27 Interpretation (Part 3): 4th beast (End Time empire), 10 horns (10 kings), Horn (antichrist)
   V. 23 Fourth beast (End Time Roman Empire): unique in power and cruelty that devours the whole earth
   V. 24 Ten horns (10 kings): 10-nation power base the antichrist takes over (he kills the 3 resistant kings)
   V. 25 Horn (antichrist): blasphemy, murder, social domination: fully manifest for limited time (3 ½ years)
V. 26-27 Main Theme: God’s plan to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). The saints
are prepared (under wicked governments) by suffering (martyrdom) to permanently replace the beast empires through
history (v 3-8) in leading all world government (Millennium, then new Heaven and earth)

V. 28 Daniel’s prophetic response: fully engaged with God’s End Time purpose
   V. 28a Daniel is troubled: eschatological revelation grips his heart (absence of passive indifference)
   V. 28b Daniel kept his heart filled with End Time truths (7:16; 8:15; 9:3, 20-23; 10:3, 12; 12:8)

I   DANIEL 7:9-10 THE KING IS UPON HIS THRONE FULLY IN CHARGE

I watched till thrones were put in place, and the

Ancient of Days

was seated; his garment was white as snow,

and the hair of His head was like pure wool.

His Throne

was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery

stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; 10,000 times 10,000

stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)

II ALL EARTHLY KINGDOMS ARE GIVEN TO JESUS AS A JEWISH MAN (Daniel 7:13-14)

I was watching in the night visions, and behold,

One like the Son of Man

, coming with the clouds of heaven!

He came to the Ancient of Days

(Father),

and they brought Him

(Jesus)

near before Him. Then to Him was

given dominion and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.

His

dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not

be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)

III THE FATHER GIVES THE KINGDOM TO THE BRIDE (DANIEL 7:18, 27)

The

saints

of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and

possess the kingdom forever

… (Daniel 7:18

Then the kingdom and dominion, and the

greatness of the kingdoms

(world empires)

under the whole heaven,

shall be given to the people, the saints

of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all

dominions shall serve and obey Him. (Daniel 7:27)

IV THE FATHER RAISES UP AN ADVERSARY TO TRAIN THE BRIDE (DANIEL 7:23-25)

The 4th beast shall be a 4th kingdom … which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour

the whole earth, trample

it and

break it in pieces

… he

(antichrist)

shall be different from the first ones …

he shall …

persecute the saints

… the saints shall be given into his hand (Daniel 7:23-25)

V THE END TIME MARTYRDOM OF THE SAINTS (DANIEL 7:21, 25; 12:7; REV. 13:7)

The same horn

(antichrist)

was

making war against the saints, and prevailing against them

… 25 He shall

speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High … Then the saints

shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:21, 25)

I heard the man clothed in linen

(angel)

… held up … his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives

forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time

(3 ½ years)

; and

when the power of the holy people

has been completely shattered,

all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

VI MAKING THE BRIDE WORTHY TO RULE THE EARTH IN BEING REFINED AND PURIFIED

Those of the people who understand

(forerunners)

shall instruct many … 35 some of those understanding

shall fall

(martyred)

, to r

efine them, purify them, and make them white

, until the time of the end; because it is

still for the appointed time. (Daniel 11:33-35)

Many shall be

purified, made white, and refined,

but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked

shall understand,

but the wise

(forerunners)

shall understand

. (Daniel 12:10)

In this vision, Daniel sees four winds stirring the Mediterranean Sea bringing great upheaval to the nations. These winds
symbolize spiritual forces (angels, demons). From the sea, four wild animals arose, each representing an empire (in
Mediterranean area) that persecuted Israel (Revelation 12). LION: Babylonian Empire 605-538 BC (Iraq). BEAR:
combined empire of Media and Persia 538-331 BC (Iran). LEOPARD: Greek Empire 331-146 BC, broken into four
empires. DREADFUL BEAST: ancient Roman Empire 146 BC-476 AD, a prophetic picture in scripture of the antichrist’s
End Time empire (Revived Roman Empire) made up of ten nations from Europe and the Middle East as symbolized by its
ten hors (Daniel 2:41-42; 7:7, 20, 24; Revelation 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 12, 16). First year of Belshazzar’s reign (553 BC):
14 years before Israel was freed (unto assurance and patience).

Daniel 7:1-14 Details of the Vision Predicting World History (2 Parts)

v. 1-8 Daniel’s vision (Part 1): Four wild beasts each symbolizing world empires.

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream … 2 saying, “I saw in my vision … the four winds
of heaven (angel, demon activity) were stirring up the Great Sea (Mediterranean). 3 Four great beasts (4 world
empires)came up from the sea. 4 The first (Babylonian Empire) was like a lion (strong, majestic), and had eagle’s
wings (military speed) … its wings were plucked off (humbled); and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand
on two feet like a man (lion on 2 feet cannot conquer), and a man’s heart was given to it (losing its lionhearted
courage being domesticated/weakened). 5 Suddenly another beast (Medo-Persian Empire), a second like a bear
(fierce, slow military progress). It was raised up on one side (Persian dominance over Media), and had three ribs in its
mouth (nations conquered as it rose up: Babylon, Turkey, Egypt) … They said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much
flesh! (keep conquering) 6 “…there was another (Greek Empire), like a leopard (fierce, agile, fast, cunning), which
had on its back four wings of a bird (double military speed). The beast (Alexander the Great) also had four heads
and dominion was given to it (after Alexander’s death his empire was divided by four top generals). 7 I saw … a fourth
beast (Roman Empire in 3 stages: Ancient; End Time Democracy (10 kings) then Dictatorship (antichrist), dreadful and
terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the
residue ( of nations) with its feet. It was different (unique in history in size, cruelty, power, i.e., military, economics,
demonic) from all the beasts (empires) that were before it, and it had ten horns (End Time 10-nation confederation).
8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one (antichrist starting small as a regional leader),
coming up among them (growing in political authority), before whom three of the first horns (prominent) were
plucked out by the roots (antichrist kills 3 kings). In this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man (Intelligence), and a
mouth speaking pompous words (arrogance).”

V. 9-14 Daniel’s vision (Part 2): God’s Leadership in the End Times (judgment on nations)

9 “I watched till thrones (governmental roles in heaven) were put in place (established), and the Ancient of Days
(Eternal God) was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His Throne
was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand
thousands ministered to Him; 10,000 times 10,000 stood before Him. The court was seated; the books were opened
(Court in session for Rev. 6-19). 11 I watched because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn (antichrist)
was speaking (deceiving nations); I watched till the beast was slain (killed at Second Coming, Rev 19), and its body
destroyed and given to the burning flame (Lake of Fire). 12 As for the rest of the beasts (Other kingdoms), they had
their dominion (political authority) taken away, yet their lives (people in their region) were prolonged for a season and
a time (until Matthew 25 judgment of nations). 13 I was watching … behold, One like the Son of Man (Jesus’ humanity)
coming with the clouds of heaven (His deity)! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before
Him (heavenly coronation as King, Psalm 2). 14 To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom (Millennium,
Rev 20), that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him (Rev 5:12). His dominion is an everlasting
dominion (Millennium then new Earth, Rev. 21) … His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.”

Daniel 7:15-28 The Angel’s Interpretation of the Visions (3 parts)

V. 15-18 Interpretation (Part 1): Victory Assured (after the crisis of four beast empires)

15 “I, Daniel, was grieved in spirit within my body (by antichrist’s power/violence, v 7-8), and the visions of my head
troubled (perplexed) me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by (angel), and asked him the truth of all this
(full implications). So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 (Angel’s answer)
‘Those great beasts (empires of v3-8), which are four, are four kings (Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander the Great,
antichrist) which arise out of the earth (involving sinful processes). 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive
the kingdom (saints replace history’s beast empires in governing the whole earth) and possess the kingdom (govern
every area of society with Jesus during Millennium, v 14), forever, even forever and ever (starting in Millennial Kingdom
then extending to the New Heaven and Earth in Rev 21-22).”

V. 19-22 Interpretation (Part 2): Purpose of Martyrdom (prepares saints for world government)

19 “Then I wished to know the truth (Daniel’s second question with three specific requests) about the fourth beast
(End Time Roman Empire: last evil world empire), which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with
its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue (of nations that
resist) with its feet; 20 and the ten horns that were on its head (10 nation confederation) and the other horn
(antichrist) which came up, before which three fell (3 kings murdered in the antichrist’s process of usurping power
v 8, 24), namely, that horn which had eyes (supernatural intelligence) and a mouth which spoke pompous words
(speech based in satanic arrogance, Rev 13), whose appearance was greater than his fellows mightiest dictator in
history. 21 I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing (antichrist given
power to kill End Time saints) against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days (God) came, and a judgment was made in
favor of the saints of the Most High (God suddenly reverses all), the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom
(purified saints now ready to rule all nations).”

V. 23-27 Interpretation (Part 3): 4th beast (End Time empire), 10 horns (10 kings), Horn (antichrist)

23 “Thus he (angel) said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth End Time revived Roman Empire), which
shall be different (unique in power, cruelty, size, etc) from all other kingdoms (largest in history), and shall devour the
WHOLE earth, trample it and break it in pieces (its rule and cruelty assaults the whole earth). 24 The ten horns are
ten kings (ruling the second stage of the Roman Empire together as a democracy in the End Times, Rev 17:12-17) who
shall arise from this kingdom (region of the ancient Roman Empire: Europe/Middle east). And another shall rise after
them (antichrist comes after the ten kings are in positions of power to usurp their authority); he shall be different (fully
man and fully demon) from the first ones (10 kings), and shall subdue three kings (murders the 3 resistant kings).
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High (satanic empowered blasphemy), shall persecute murder)
the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law (dominate all social and spiritual institutions).
Then the saints shall be given into his hand (new international laws that permit killing the saints) for a time and times
and half a time (God given time limitation of 3 ½ years). 26 But the court shall be seated (activity in heavenly courts of
v. 9-12, is related to prayer: Rev 6:10; 8:1-6; 22:17), and they shall take away his dominion (God suddenly reverses
things), to consume and destroy it forever (antichrist and his beast-empire will be destroyed at Jesus’ Second Coming).
27 Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to
the people, the saints of the Most High (saints replace the beast empire (v. 3-8) in leading the world government:
Millennial Kingdom (v. 14). His kingdom (v 14) is an everlasting kingdom (saints’ role of government extends past the
Millennium to the new Heaven and Earth, Rev. 21), and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ 28 “This is the end
of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me (pained and stirred with End Time Reality), and
my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart (gripped with the importance of the End Time saints
being prepared for this hour, so he keeps his heart filled with these truths).”