Luke 7: 9 – 28
The Time Traveler
9 “ 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; 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand 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 was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 “ 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, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 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. 15 “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ 19 “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, 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 with its feet; 20 and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. 21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. 23 “Thus he said: ‘ The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. 25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. 26 ‘ But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. 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. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 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, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
For all the prophecy people we have been enjoying our review so far of the first 8 verses of chapter 7. We noted that mankind has looked upon the 4 empires that existed in the world as precious metals. However, our Holy Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High – looks at these kingdoms from His Holy Perspective and He sees them as beasts. The fourth beast changes from a political empire to a different type of Empire compared to the other three in that it not only maintained the political aspect but incorporated a religious control. This change into a different Empire from what the Roman Empire began is referred to in verse 8 by Daniel as a ‘little horn’. It grew out of the fourth empire.
The Roman Empire continued to exist but moved its headquarters from Rome to Constantinople. The Emperor left control of all the Eastern European Countries. The Bishop of Rome stepped in and decided that he would rule both politically and religiously. This little city would in effect be its Empire – The Holy Roman [one city] Catholic [universal] Church.
Up to now some may be thinking, ‘Where’s God in all of this’. Well, be comforted dear believer for our Holy El Shaddai – God Almighty – has not only been witnessing all this craziness, in Heaven, They are having a court hearing to determine its judgment.
9 “ 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; 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
First of all I want you to take a look at Daniel’s statement – ‘I watched.’ Another way to say this is, ‘I went on dreaming until I saw.’ I find this fact very amazing, Daniel had a dream and in this dream our Holy Master was giving him different visions. He would be having a vision in his dream and then our Holy God would give him another vision, almost like rapid fire.
Our Precious Lord now interrupts and Daniel now sees what God doing all the while the empires on earth, raged on.
Please remember a very significant point – our Holy Supreme Ruler not only created time, He Is outside time. It says in the book of Isaiah chapter 46 verse 10, that He is able to, “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ Yes, You will oh Precious Lord.
For example, we study the bible and interpret the judgment scenes in having and assign a time value, such as they occur in the future. For our Holy God there is neither past nor future that operates in His domain. This is why as we see in Daniel the nations having a court hearing on their criminal charges.
Let’s take a look at Heaven’s court room and see some more awesome sights - 9 “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; 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.’
Here we have a blurry picture of our Adoni Yahweh, our Heavenly Father, and what He looks like. He Is referred to as the ‘Ancient of Days.’ He Is dressed all in white and has pure white hair. These descriptions are always the symbols of wisdom, righteousness, and purity. Thrones were placed in the court room for Him and as we will see for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For your own personal understanding please make note that the book of Daniel is a book of prophecy. The book of Revelation expands and fulfills what Daniel was told by the Holy Spirit. For example, let us look at the book of Revelation and pick up chapter 4 and find further description of the real picture of Heaven’s Throne Room.
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “ Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “ You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
We see here in Revelation the expanded version of what we read about in Daniel. Now back to our story.
11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Note, though our Amazing Holy One is going to cause the information to go backward. First the fourth beast is dealt with and then moving backward in time the other three beasts are dealt with.
Our Holy Lord Is a great librarian. We read that the judgment was set against these empires all the accumulated records were opened. The truth is examined and known by our Blessed Holy Trinity. All information has been recorded throughout the existence of these empires.
Daniel sees that the fourth empire is dealt with first then the previous three are spoke about. Please notice the statement that these three were preserved f or a season and a time. In other words there were people who have live and still live in Iraq, Iran, and Greece. They just did not continue to be the world power. Once this fourth beast, specifically the ‘little horn’ which is the Papacy in the city of Rome is finally destroyed, then all the other three will be dealt with also.
13 “ 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, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 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 now receives a new vision of Heaven and he sees Adoni Yeshua, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Lord when He walked this earth took on this title and all the religious scholars missed out what was really happening. When He ascended into Heaven on clouds and has received dominion, glory, and a kingdom. He will return again a second time on the clouds.
Have you ever just wanted to wake up when you are having a dream. If I was Daniel I would have wanted to wake up now. However, that is not the case and his dream with visions continue.
15 “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
Daniel was able to see into the future and the fourth beast really troubled him. Daniel saw how this beast grew out of both Christianity [followers of our Lord Jesus Christ] and out of the Roman Empire. He was able to see how this one leader changed to a religion. He saw how these once disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ became lovers of the world and had a form of dedication to the Creator of the World but now lacked the love and commitment to the One Who Is Lord of Lords and King of kings. These individuals took on the worship of idols and other pagan deities such as the queen of heaven. They changed the Lords Commandments. And the horror of Daniel’s sight was now the murder of all those who still wanted to devote their love to our Lord Jesus Christ. No wonder he was so upset.
19 “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, 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 with its feet; 20 and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. 21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. 23 “Thus he said: ‘ The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. 25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. 26 ‘ But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. 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. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 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, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Please notice that we read here the expansion of what Daniel prophesied in chapter 2, “20 Daniel answered and said: “ Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. 23 “ I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king’s demand.” 24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.” 25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: 29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. 30 But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. 31 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37 You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold. 39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Daniel had a hard time both emotionally and physically having seen the future. He was sick and horrified at what lay ahead for God’s people. Yet, as an obedient servant of Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High – he wrote down for our benefit the information our Precious Holy God gave to him.
