Major Themes in Daniel 7:
God’s Plan To Establish His Kingdom on Earth
I. THE CENTERPIECE OF GOD’S PURPOSE: BRING HEAVEN AND EARTH TOGETHER
9 Having made known to us the mystery (hidden plan) of His will, according to His good pleasure which He
purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one
ALL things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. (Ephesians 1:9-10)
A. The centerpiece of God’s purpose is for Jesus to come back to fully establish His Kingdom over all nations as He
joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. Heaven speaks of the supernatural spirit realm where God’s presence is
openly manifest. Earth speaks of the physical realm as the place where human process, emotions and physical sensation
reach their fullest expression. These two dimensions must come together to fully express God’s personality and purposes.
B. The New Jerusalem descends to the Millennial earth creating a new situation in which the spiritual and physical
realm come together on earth. The New Jerusalem descends to earth in two stages. Stage one is partial yet substantial
at the Second Coming or at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 21:10; 3:12). Stage two is total and
ultimate after the Millennium (Revelation 21:2).
II. THE FATHER AS KING OVERSEES HIS PLANS FOR WORLD HISTORY (DANIEL 7:9-12)
9 I watched till thrones (of the resurrected saints Revelation 20:4-6) were put in place , and the Ancient of
Days (the Father) was seated; His garment was white as snow (pure), 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 (river of fire, NAS) 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. 11 I watched then because of the sound of the pompous
words which the horn (Antichrist) was speaking; I watched till the beast (Antichrist) was slain (Revelation
19:20), and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts (Gentile
nations of Daniel 7:1-8), they had their dominion taken away... (Daniel 7:9-12)
19 I saw the beast (Antichrist), the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war
against Him (Jesus) who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with
him the false prophet…These two were cast alive into the lake of fire… (Revelation 19:19-20)
III. ALL EARTHLY KINGDOMS ARE GIVEN TO JESUS AS A JEWISH MAN (DANIEL 7:13-14)
13 I was watching…behold, One like the Son of Man (Jesus in His humanity), coming with the clouds of
heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days (Father)…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…shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)
15 The seventh angel sounded: there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have
become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever!" (Revelation 11:15)
11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him. (Psalm 72:11)
A. God’s plan was to establish a human heir (Jesus) to rule the world (Psalm 2:8-9) and to restore the Father’s original
plan that began in the Garden of Eden. Jesus’ earthly rule begins at the Second Coming when He will take everything
good in heaven and earth and bring them fully together.
20 He may send Jesus... 21 whom heaven must receive (retain, keep) UNTIL the times of restoration of all
things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His prophets... (Acts 3:20-21)
B. After Jesus’ Second Coming, He will sit on His Throne of Glory to judge all nations (Matthew 25:31; Jeremiah 3:17;
Ezekiel 43:4-7; Zechariah 6:12-13).
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the Throne
of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him… (Matthew 25:31-32)
12 Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, the Man (Jesus) whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He
shall branch out, and He shall build the Temple of the LORD 13…He shall bear the glory, and shall rule on
His Throne; He shall be a priest on His Throne…" (Zechariah 6:12-13)
IV. THE FATHER WILL GIVE THE KINGDOM TO JESUS AND HIS PEOPLE (DANIEL 7:18, 27)
18 The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever... (Daniel 7:18)
27 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)
4 I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus…who had not worshiped the
beast (Antichrist)…and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years...6 they shall be priests of
God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
9 For You (Jesus) were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood…10 and have made us kings and
priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10)
A. God as a Father and Jesus as a Bridegroom have a burning desire to rule the earth forever in partnership with
believers who were faithful (in love, holiness, meekness) while they were on earth.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
21 Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many
things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. (Matthew 25:21)
B. God’s plan is to raise up a people who have total victory over Satan and his evil works. They will replace the
wicked governments of the earth at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
C. Paul wrote about being delivered and preserved in the very chapter that he spoke of his martyrdom.
6 I am already being poured out (imprisonment) as a drink offering, and the time of my departure (death) is at
hand…16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them…
18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil work (temptation and persecution) and preserve me for His
heavenly (supernatural) Kingdom. (2 Timothy 4:6-18)
V. GOD RAISES UP AN ADVERSARY TO TRAIN THE BRIDE (DANIEL 7:21, 25; 12;7; REVELATION 13:7)
21 I was watching; and the same horn (Antichrist) was making war against the saints, and prevailing against
them (martyrdom), 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints…and
the time came for the saints to possess the Kingdom (at the Second Coming). 23 Thus he (angel) said, “The
fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different (demonic) from all other kingdoms,
and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces…25 He (Antichrist) shall speak pompous
words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints…the saints shall be given into his hand (killed) for a
time and times and half a time (3½ years). (Daniel 7:21-25)
5 He (Antichrist) was given a mouth speaking…blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for 42
months (3½ years)…7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them (martyrdom).
Authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Revelation 13:5-7)
A. God has chosen an on-the-job training strategy to equip the saints to defeat Satan. The saints overcome Satan
spiritually (loving Jesus/resisting sin) while Satan overcomes them physically by killing them.
11 They (saints) overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and
they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11)
B. Principle: God uses the least severe mean to reach the greatest number of people at the deepest level of love
without violating anyone’s free will in training the future governors of the earth.
21 Then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this
time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved (saved from
being killed); but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
C. God’s plan is to have a prepared Bride as Jesus’ eternal companion who will rule the earth with Him (Revelation
19:7; Ephesians 5:27; 4:13; Matthew 16:18). They must faithfully resist sin and Satan while on earth as God’s requirement
to ruling the very earth that they chose to love and obey Jesus in. God’s plan is to train His End-Time saints in context to
the fires of the Tribulation (which lasts 3½ years).
7 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 (3½ years); and when the power of the holy people has
been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12: 7)
D. God will establish Jesus’ eternal value system in the Bride. The revelation of eternity and the age-to-come is an
essential part of our preparation. God will raise up the Antichrist as an adversary whose rage against the saints will be the
context in which they are prepared. God will give him authority for 3½ years to kill the saints (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:13-14;
9:21; 13:7, 10; 16:6; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2; Daniel 7:21, 25; 8:24; 11:33-35; 12:7, 10; Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:12, 16-17).
33 Those of the people who understand (forerunners) shall instruct many...35 some of those of understanding
shall fall (martyred), to refine 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)
10 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)
E. The Church must also stand with Israel in persecution (Romans 10:19; 11:11, 14; Matthew 25:32; Revelation 12:17).
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 4 visions in the book of Daniel (see Daniel 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; Revelation 12)
v.4–6 First 3 beasts symbolize the 3 dominant Empires in the Mediterranean area (605-146 BC)
v.4 First beast (Lion with eagle’s 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 (Daniel 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 (Jeremiah 23:18-20)
v.11-12 Destruction of the Antichrist and his Roman Empire at the Second Coming (Revelation 19:11-21)
v.13-14 Jesus’ heavenly coronation as King over the Millennial earth (Psalm 2:6; Revelation 5:12; Philippians 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, 23b, 24b)
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)
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 (3½ 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 governments (Millennium, then on the new 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)