Daniel 7 Study

              Paraphrased

     With Suggested Interpretation

                           ~ * ~

This story actually precedes Daniel chapter 5 which was the handwriting on the wall chapter, which concerned Belshazzar king of Babylon. (Note: Prophecy often is a repeating pattern.)

     In the first year of Belshazzar, Daniel had a dream and “visions of his head”. So he wrote down the dream. 2 ..In my vision by night, I saw the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea. (These following kingdoms were around the Mediterranean Sea.) 3 And out of the sea (of humanity) came up four great beasts (empires) each different from the others. 4 The first was like a mighty lion with the wings of an eagle. But then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was made to stand upon legs like a man. And the mind of man was given to it. (Babylon and Babylon humbled from its high mystical reputation.) 5 And behold, another beast, a second one. It was like a bear. And it was raised up on one side and had three ribs between its teeth. It was told to, “Arise, devour much land.” (Persia came after Babylon, or actually Media-Persia did, but the Persian ‘side’ surpassed Media, and spread widely. The ribs in its teeth are said to be Babylon, Egypt and Lydia.) 6 After this I looked, and behold, another beast! This one was like a (swift) leopard, but it had four wings of a bird upon its back. And the beast also had four heads. Dominion was given to it. (Greece and its four divisions after Alexander.) 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast. This one was more terrifying and dreadful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth (Roman columns?) with which it devoured and broke in pieces. (The iron, see chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream statue.) Then it stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from the beasts that came before it. It had ten horns [Rev.13:1]. (It ended up birthing a cluster of ten?) 8 As I was wondering about the horns, behold, coming up among them was another horn, a little one (a little brother? ..from my own studies, Rev.12:14 inserted) before which three of the first horns were pulled up by the roots (out of the land). This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man, and  a mouth that began to speak great pompous things. (This later horn ends up producing the last days a.c.)

      9 Then as I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. (“All the world is a stage” - Shakespeare.) His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire, and its wheels were great fiery swirls. 10 A stream of fire issued from before him, and a thousand thousands served him. Ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before him. The court was seated for judgment, and the books were opened.

     11 I looked then because of the fierceness of the words the horn was saying. But as I looked, the beast (the many headed and many horned geopolitical beast of the hour) was killed. It’s body was destroyed and given over to be consumed by fire. (Effects of war.) 12 As for the rest of the beasts (nations of earth) their rulership was taken away, but their lives continued for a season and a time.

     13 As I was watching in the night visions, behold, with the clouds of heaven came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and was brought before him. 14 And was given to him a kingdom, and dominion and glory, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not come to ruin.

     15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was troubled, for the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 So I approached one of those nearby and asked him the truth concerning the vision. So he made known to me the interpretation, saying, 17 “These four great beasts are four kings/kingdoms which will arise out of the earth. 18 But it’s the saints of the Most High who will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever/age to age.” 19 Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from the others, very terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze (Greece) which devoured and broke in pieces with its teeth, and trampled what was left with its (bronze) feet. (Greece subdues what Rome doesn’t break; a ‘world’, then entity/institution with Roman/Graeco foundations.) 20 And I asked about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that came up later, before which three of them fell (after Rev.12:14) the horn that had eyes and a mouth and was (or that is, ended up) speaking pompous and great things. - (This is the same office that is/was pinpointed by the Rev.13:13 event.) - Which horn seemed (to end up) greater than its companions. 21 And then as I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them! 22 That is, until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given for (on the side of) the saints [qaddish - sacred, holy] of the Most High, and the time came for possessing the kingdom.

     23 The angel said, “As concerning the fourth beast, there will be a fourth kingdom of earth. It will be different from all the kingdoms/nations, and it shall eat up all the earth, and trample and break to pieces. (Mighty “iron fisted” Rome.) 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings/royalties shall arise (arose) and then another after them, which will be different from the ten, and shall put down, overcome three. (By its expansion.) 25 But it shall (come to) speak pompous words against the Most High and shall weary the faithful (Rev.12:14 and worldwide) and shall think to change the times [zeman - time, epochs] (history?) and laws. And they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (Rev.13:5,6). — 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, and utterly consumed and destroyed. (Apocalypse.) — 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the faithful of the Most High. And his kingdom shall be an enduring and unfading kingdom, within which all dominions will serve and obey him.”

     28 So here is the end of the matter! As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my face paled, but I kept the matter close to heart.

Previous parts of this study:

Intro Before Study

Summaries Chapters 1- 6

Chapters Remaining, 8 - 12