Last time we were given a portion of Daniel’s vision the explained what would happen to the empires of that day. Four beasts representing different empires were seen in his vision. Those things that Daniel saw in this vision have actually already occurred in history. But the vision or prophecy is not over yet. We pick up the study in verse 8.
Daniel 7:8. Suddenly, Daniel saw a little horn arise from among the ten horns of the fourth beast which was the Roman empire. The ten horns had actually captivated Daniel's attention, because he says that he was staring and thinking about them when the little horn suddenly appeared among them. He stressed that, in the beginning, the little horn was very small but it eventually became so dominant that it either destroyed or subjected the other horns. We will see later in this chapter that the little horn represented the last world ruler, the antichrist. (Rev. 13:1-10)
Daniel described three significant features about the little horn.
? First, the little horn uprooted three horns, which means that the Antichrist will conquer three of the nations that belong to the federation of 10 nations. It says that it will uproot which suggests by force, violently overthrowing these nations. When we get to verse 20, we will see that he became far more stout, greater than the other 10 horns or federation of nations. Therefore, he was able to conquer three of them and to subdue the others, subjecting them under his authority.
? Second, the little horn had the piercing eyes of a man, eyes that could scan the horizon, observe, gain knowledge, and become more and more intelligent.
? Third, the little horn spoke mostly against the most-high God, which suggests that he was arrogant and self-exalting. He will fill the world with his boasting, cursing, and blasphemy, exalting himself above every God on earth and speaking unheard of things against the Lord himself.
By comparing Scripture, the little horn is clearly identified as the antichrist. In the last days of human history, this ruler will appear as he is described—that man of sin or the man of lawlessness or the son of perdition. He will oppose and exalt himself above everything that is called God or that is worshiped.
Daniel 7:9-12. Daniel saw an awesome site, the Ancient of Days took his seat up on the throne of judgment. The Ancient of Days is God who has no beginning or ending and who oversees all the days from eternity past through the eternal future. Here Daniel describes four features.
1. Daniel saw thrones that had been set in place, not cast down as the King James version translates. Other Scriptures identify these thrones as the thrones upon which believers will sit (Rev. 4:1-5:14; Rev. 20:4). One of the great promises of God to believers is that we will be exalted as kings. We will rule and reign with Christ and oversee the universe in his behalf. (Rev. 3:21-22)
2. Daniel saw the eternal God take His seat upon the throne of judgment. His clothing was as white as snow and his hair was as pure as wool. Both of these symbolize the Lord's purity, his Holiness and righteousness. God's throne and its wheels were blazing with flaming fire, which symbolizes God's justice to be executed at the great white throne judgment of God. (Rev. 20:11-15) Flowing out from God's holy presence was a river of fire or lava, a symbol of his holy wrath to be poured out upon all the wicked of the earth, in particular upon the little horn or the beast. (Rev. 20:9-10).
3. Daniel saw and described the courtroom scene where the judgment is to take place. Millions of angels ministered to the eternal God and hundreds of millions stood before the Lord. Then Daniel saw the court convene, and the books opened. The fact that a complete set of books was opened indicates that this is to be the final judgment not only of the Antichrist but also of all the wicked and the believers of the world.
As Daniel indicates, the judgment of the Antichrist will take place immediately prior to the coming of Christ and the establishment of his eternal Kingdom on earth. other scriptures tell us that the great white throne judgment is the judgment that will follow the millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. (Rev. 20:7-10) In that day the Lord will open the complete set of books in which all the deeds of the people have been recorded, and all believers will face the perfect justice of God. (Rev. 20:11-15)
4. Daniel saw and described the judgment of the Antichrist and all who followed his deceptive ways. Up until the very last moment the little horn spewed out his boastful, defiant blasphemy against the Lord. Suddenly, the Lord pronounced judgment upon him and snatched his life away. His body was thrown into the blazing fire. Revelation says that he will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. (Rev. 20:9-10). He will be tormented day and night throughout all eternity.
The other beasts or world powers that have ruled on earth down through the centuries, both their wicked rulers and citizens, will also face the judgment of God. Their authority to rule and live upon earth will be stripped away. But they will be allowed to live for a period of time. God will preserve them someplace in the spiritual world or dimension of being until the day of final judgment, which is known as the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20.
Daniel 7:13 - 14. The Son of Man and His eternal Kingdom will be the 5th and final Kingdom to be established upon earth. God's kingdom will come to earth when Christ returns to rule in the millennium and throughout eternity.
Daniel described three significant features about the Son of Man.
1. The son of man entered the throne room of God in the magnificent clouds of heaven. The term Son of Man means that Jesus Christ is not only what an ordinary man is, a son of man, but also what every man should be, the Son of Man himself. He is the ideal man. The perfect man. Everything that God wants a man to be is seen perfectly in Jesus Christ. When Daniel said that he saw a person who looked like a son of man, he meant that he was far more than merely a man in human form, he was a Divine being. When Daniel said he saw this person coming with the clouds of heaven, he was indicating that this person was coming out of heaven to earth. He was in heaven with God, but he was now leaving his presence to come to earth.
There is no doubt that Jesus Christ is the Son of Man. In the gospels alone He is called the Son of Man over 80 times. The fact that He will return in the clouds of heaven is also continually referred to both by Christ and others.
2. Daniel says the Son of Man was given eternal dominion over all the nations of the earth and was worshiped by all peoples and languages. Daniel saw the Son of Man approach the Ancient of Days to receive the reward of eternal dominion over all the peoples and nations of the world. This scene is described in detail in Revelation 5:1-4, 5-14). Christ is to receive the kingdoms of the world because of his atoning death on behalf of humanity. After his death on earth, Jesus ascended to heaven where he is seated at the right hand of God the Father. There he will remain until he comes in the clouds of glory to establish God's Kingdom on earth.
3. Daniel also says that the Son of Man will rule a kingdom that will never be destroyed. History has witnessed one bloody war after another. But war with all its devastation and death is coming to an end. When Christ returns to set up God's Kingdom on earth, he will set the whole universe free from the bondage of sin and corruption. At last, peace and righteousness will fill the whole universe. And all beings in both heaven and Earth will love, worship, and serve the Son of Man forever.
This is the first of several visions that Daniel was given. Next time we will see that an angel interprets some of this for Daniel. Much of that interpretation we did tonight.
