Daniel begins by telling us that it was the first year of Belshazzar’s reign. In chapters 5-6 we read of the end of Belshazzar’s reign and the end of the Babylonian empire. Therefore, we are backing up in time somewhat as we read this chapter. Daniel tells us that what he is about to relate to us was a dream and visions of his head.
The first thing Daniel sees is the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea. The winds of heaven typically refer to the winds of judgment from God (Revelation 7:1; Isaiah 29:6). These winds are seen stirring the great sea. Large seas refer to nations, societies, or all humanity (Revelation 13:1, 11; Isaiah 57:20). We seem to be reading of the stirring of the nations by the hand of God. From the sea appeared four great beasts, all different from the other (vs. 3). The first beast is a lion with eagles� wings. The second beast is a bear with three ribs in its mouth. The third beast is a leopard with four wings and four heads. These Beasts usually represent the following Kingdoms 1) Babylonia, (2) Media, (3) Persia, and (4) Greece
Finally, Daniel sees a fourth beast that is indescribable. All that Daniel can say is that it is terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. This beast has great iron teeth, devouring and breaking into pieces, then stamping out what is left. The kingdom that arose after Greece was Rome . This description matches the description previously given in Daniel 2:40. Further, this beast is described as having ten horns. Among the horns a little horn rises up, plucking out other horns and speaking blasphemous, pompous words. One must note the similarity between this description and the description of the beast in Revelation 13 They are clearly the same.
While Daniel is looking at this fourth terrifying and dreadful beast, Daniel looks and sees that thrones were placed and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing is white as snow and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire came out before him and tens of thousands served him. Daniel now sees the throne room of God. The Lord sits down on the throne to bring forth judgment. In verse 9 we see that his throne has wheels which are of burning fire. This should remind us of what Ezekiel saw when he saw in a vision the throne room of God. The fire coming out from before him indicates that God is executing judgment. Many immediately assume that we are looking at the final judgment. We make a foolish error if we always assume the scriptures are talking about the final judgment when we read about the judgments of God. But we need to look at the context to determine what judgment we are looking at. Verses 11-12 tell us what judgment is being seen by Daniel. Verse 11 tells us that the judgment we are seeing is upon the fourth beast, as Daniel sees it killed, its body burned, and given over to be burned with fire. This is a judgment against the Roman Empire that is being seen by Daniel, not an image of the end of time.
As for the first three beasts that have been revealed to Daniel, their dominion was taken away but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. As we have noted earlier in this chapter and also in chapter 2, each kingdom took over the previous kingdom. Medo-Persia conquered Babylon , Greece conquered Medo-Persia, and Rome conquered Greece . Though their dominion was removed, each empire was absorbed by the next. Each succeeding nation ruled over the same peoples and lands, and thus they continued to live for a time. But with the judgment against Rome, the world empires are put to an end. No world empire arose again after the destruction of the Roman Empire.
While all of this is going on, Daniel sees with the clouds of heaven one like the son of man coming to the Ancient of Days. To the son of man was given dominion, glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. The dominion the son of man was given was an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed. I believe that to understand the image we need to look at a few things When was all this taking place, we know that it was during the time of the destruction of the Roman Empire so, what we are seeing in this passage is the ascension of Jesus Christ as He returns to the Father in heaven. Notice Acts 1:9, “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” The apostles watched Jesus ascend in a cloud to heaven (Acts 1:11 ). In Daniel 7, we are seeing the Father’s perspective as Jesus returns in a cloud to the Father in heaven.
At seeing all of these images, Daniel is greatly troubled and alarmed. So Daniel approaches one of those standing there and asks to know the truth of the things he has just seen. The main message of the visions is presented for us in verses 17-18. but Daniel specifically inquires about the fourth beast which was exceedingly different from all the rest. In verse 21 we are provided a little more description about what this fourth beast is doing. Daniel reveals that the horn is making war with the saints and prevailed over them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given for the saints.
The explanation is given concerning the fourth beast in verses 23-27. This is again the same description of the Roman Empire given in Daniel 2:40. As for the ten horns, these represent ten kings and another shall arise after them that will be different from the former ones. This one horn speaks words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints, who will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Verse 24 tells us that these are kings and there is another that will arise that will be different. Some suggest that the horns are a reference to all the emperors under the Roman Empire . The horn that rises up to wear out the saints is considered to be all the emperors who caused persecutions against the Christians. This interpretation fits Revelation 13 where we see the great power of the Roman Empire being used to cause people to worship themselves and not God. The Roman emperors would kill those who would not worship them and blasphemed the name of God. Another reasonable suggestion is that these ten emperors can be numbered and therefore Daniel is receiving a specific answer about the horns. The ten rulers of Rome are: 1) Augustus; 2) Tiberius; 3) Caligula; 4) Claudius; 5) Nero; 6) Galba; 7) Otho; 8 ) Vitellius 9) Vespasian; and 10) Titus. Therefore the horn that would rise up after them is Domitian, the eleventh emperor of Rome . Emperor Domitian fits the descriptions given, for he made claims of personal deity, demanded people to worship him, and persecuted the saints of God.
Some people argue that this horn is the Antichrist that has not appeared yet. The problem is that this text is dealing with events in the days of the fourth kingdom and not things over 2700 years later. it seems to me that this passage is referring to Domitian and intensification of persecution that he would bring against Christians. Other emperors had at times persecuted Jews and Christians (like Nero), but the persecutions became severe from Domitian to the time of the destruction of Rome . This seems to exactly fit the message of Daniel 7:24-26.
At the hearing of these things, Daniel is still greatly alarmed at the knowledge that he has received about things to happen to the saints of God in the future. However, he kept the matter in his heart.
As a challenge to us Daniel Saw God judging Millions of people as they stood before him. We all must stand before God and give him an account of our life, if you were to be judged by God today what would he say about it? How would he measure it against his word? As we look towards God�s Judgement, we should ask ourselves what would we like him to see at that time,=. Then we should live that way today!