Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 7

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  Daniel's vision of the four beasts,
9  and of God's kingdom.
15  The interpretation thereof.
Verse 1

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Cir
A.M. 3449. B.C. 555. Belshazzar.
5:1,22,30, 8:1, Jeremiah 27:7
Daniel
2:1,28,29, 4:5, Numbers 12:6, Job 33:14-16, Jeremiah 23:28, Joel 2:28, Amos 3:7, Acts 2:17,18
had
Chal. saw. visions.
7,13,15, Genesis 15:1, 46:2, Job 4:13, Ezekiel 1:1, 2 Corinthians 12:1
he wrote
Isaiah 8:1, 30:8, Habakkuk 2:2, Romans 15:4, Revelation 1:19, 10:4
matters
or, words.
Verse 2

Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
the four
Revelation 7:1
the great
Revelation 17:15
Verse 3

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
four
Four kingdoms, (ver. 17,) called beasts, from their tyranny and oppression, emerging from the wars and commotions of the world.
2:32,33,37-40, Zechariah 6:1-8
beasts
4-8,17, Psalms 76:4, Ezekiel 19:3-8, Revelation 13:1
Verse 4

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
like
Deuteronomy 28:49, 2 Samuel 1:23, Isaiah 5:28,29, Jeremiah 4:7,13, 25:38, 48:40, Lamentations 4:19, Ezekiel 17:3, Habakkuk 1:6-8, Matthew 24:28
the wings
4:31-33, Jeremiah 50:30-32
and it
or, wherewith it, etc. lifted.
4:30, 5:18-23, Isaiah 14:13-17, Jeremiah 25:9-26, Habakkuk 2:5-10
and a
4:32,36, Job 25:6, Psalms 9:20, Ezekiel 28:2,9
Verse 5

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
another
2:39, 8:3, 2 Kings 2:24, Proverbs 17:12, Hosea 13:8
itself on one side
or, one dominion.
5:28, 8:4, 11:2
three ribs
Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt.
Arise
Isaiah 13:17,18, 56:9, Jeremiah 50:21-32, Ezekiel 39:17-20
Verse 6

After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
lo
2:39, 8:5-7,20,21, 10:20, 11:3-20, Hosea 13:7, Revelation 13:2
another
The Greek empire, founded by Alexander the Great.
four wings
4, Ezekiel 17:3
four heads
Divided into 4 parts by Alexander's generals.
8:8,22, 11:4-20
Verse 7

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
I saw
2,13
a fourth
The Roman empire, which destroyed the Grecian, and became mistress of the world.
19,23, 2:40, 8:10, 2 Samuel 22:43
and it had ten
24, 2:41,42, Revelation 12:3, 13:1, 17:7,12
Verse 8

I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
another
20-25, 8:9-12, Revelation 13:11-13
eyes like
8:23-25, Revelation 9:7
a mouth
25, 11:36, 1 Samuel 2:3, Psalms 12:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, 2 Timothy 3:2, 2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:16, Revelation 13:1,5,6
Verse 9

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
till
2:34,35,44,45, 1 Corinthians 15:24,25, Revelation 19:18-21, 20:1-4
the Ancient
13,22, Psalms 90:2, 102:24,25, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, Habakkuk 1:12
whose
Psalms 45:8, 104:2, Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:3, Philippians 3:9, 1 Timothy 6:16, 1 John 1:5, Revelation 1:14
his throne
Acts 2:30,33, 2 Thessalonians 1:7,8, 2 Peter 3:7-10
and his wheels
Psalms 104:3,4, Ezekiel 1:13-21, 10:2-7
Verse 10

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
fiery
Psalms 50:3, 97:2,3, Isaiah 30:27,33, 66:15,16, Nahum 1:5,6
thousand thousands
Deuteronomy 33:2, 1 Kings 22:19, Psalms 68:17, Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 25:31, Hebrews 12:22, Jude 1:14, Revelation 5:11
the judgment
Psalms 96:11-13, Malachi 3:16-18, Revelation 20:11-15
Verse 11

I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
the voice
8,25, 2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:16, Revelation 13:5,6, 20:4,12
even
26, 8:25, 11:45, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 18:8, 19:20, 20:10
Verse 12

As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
the rest
4-6, 8:7
their lives were prolonged
Chal. a prolonging in life was given them.
Verse 13

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
one like
Psalms 8:4,5, Isaiah 9:6,7, Ezekiel 1:26, Matthew 13:41, 24:30, 25:31, 26:64, Mark 13:26, 14:61,62, Luke 21:27,36, John 3:13, 5:27, 12:34, Acts 7:56, Philippians 2:6-8, Hebrews 2:14, Revelation 1:7,13,18, 14:14
the Ancient
9,22
and they
Psalms 47:5, 68:17,18, Jeremiah 49:19, Ephesians 1:20,21, 1 Timothy 6:16, Hebrews 9:24
Verse 14

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
given
27, Psalms 2:6-8, 8:6, 110:1,2, Matthew 11:27, 28:18, Luke 10:22, 19:11,12, John 3:35, 5:22-27, 1 Corinthians 15:27, Ephesians 1:20-22, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Peter 3:22, Revelation 3:21
that all
3:4, Psalms 72:17, Isaiah 60:12, Revelation 11:15, 17:14
an everlasting
18,27, 2:35,44, 4:3, 6:26, Psalms 45:6, 145:13, 146:10, Isaiah 9:7, Obadiah 1:21, Micah 4:7, Luke 1:33, John 12:34, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Hebrews 12:28
Verse 15

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
was grieved
28, 8:27, Jeremiah 15:17,18, 17:16, Habakkuk 3:16, Luke 19:41-44, Romans 9:2,3, Revelation 10:9-11
body
Chal. sheath.
2 Peter 1:14
the visions
2:1,3, 4:5, Genesis 40:7,8, 41:8
Verse 16

I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
one
10, 8:13-16, 10:5,6,11,12, 12:5,6, Zechariah 1:8-11, 2:3, 3:7, Revelation 5:5, Revelation 7:13,14
Verse 17

These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
great
3,4, 2:37-40, 8:19-22
out
3, Psalms 17:14, John 18:36, Revelation 13:1,11
Verse 18

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
the saints
22,27, Psalms 45:16, 149:5-9, Isaiah 60:12-14, 2 Timothy 2:11,12, Revelation 2:26,27, Revelation 3:21, 5:10, 20:4
most High
Chal. high ones, that is, things, or places.
Ephesians 1:3, 6:12
Verse 19

Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
the fourth
7, 2:40-43
the others
Chal. those.
Verse 20

And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
the ten horns
The ten kingdoms into which the western Roman empire was divided; which were primarily, according to Machiavel and Bp. Lloyd, 1. The Huns in Hungary, A.D. 356. 2. The Ostrogoths in Moesia, 377. 3. The Visigoths in Pannonia, 378. 4. The Sueves and Alans in Gascoigne and Spain, 407. 5. The Vandals in Africa, 407. 6. The Franks in France, 407. 7. The Burgundians in Burgundy, 407. 8. The Heruli and Turingi in Italy, 476. 9. The Saxons and Angles in Britain, 476. 10. The Lombards, first upon the Danube, 526, and afterwards in Italy. Though the ten kingdoms differed from these in later periods, and were sometimes more or less, yet they were still known by that name.
8,11,23, 8:9-11
whose look
11:36,37
Verse 21

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
8:12,24, 11:31, 12:7, Revelation 11:7-9, 12:3,4, 13:5-7,8-18, 17:6,14, 19:19
Verse 22

Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
the Ancient
9-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 11:11-18, 14:8-20, 19:11-21, 20:9-15, 18, Isaiah 63:4, Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:29,30, 1 Corinthians 6:2,3, Revelation 1:6, 3:21, 5:10, Revelation 20:4
Verse 23

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
the fourth
7, 2:40, Luke 2:1
Verse 24

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
the ten
20, Revelation 12:3, 13:1, 17:3,12,13,16-18
another
This evidently points out the papal supremacy, in every respect diverse from the former, which from small beginnings thrust itself up among the ten kingdoms, till at length it successively eradicated three of them, the kingdom of Heruli, of the Ostrogoths, and of the Lombards.
8,20, 8:9-12, 11:36, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10, 1 Timothy 4:1-3
Verse 25

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
he shall speak
In assuming infallibility, professing to forgive sins, and to open and shut heaven, thundering out bulls and anathemas, excommunicating princes, absolving subjects from their allegiance, and exacting obedience to his decrees in open violation of reason and Scripture.
8,20, 8:24,25, 11:28,30,31,36,37, Isaiah 37:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13:5,6,11
shall wear out
By wars, crusades, massacres, etc.
Revelation 6:9,10, 11:7-10, 13:7-10, 14:12, 16:6, 17:6, 18:24
and think
Appointing feasts and fasts, canonizing saints, etc.
2:21, 11:31,36-38, 12:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Revelation 13:15-17
a time
That is, three years and a half, or, reckoning thirty days to a month, 1,260 days, equal to the same number of years in prophetic language; which, dated from the decree of Phocas constituting him the supreme head of the church, A.D. 606, terminated in 1866.
4:25,32, 12:7,11,12, Revelation 11:2,3, 12:6,14, 13:5,7
Verse 26

But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
10,11,22, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 11:13, 20:10,11
Verse 27

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
the kingdom and
14,18,22, Psalms 149:5-9, Isaiah 49:23-26, 54:3, 60:11-16, Zephaniah 3:19,20, Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 20:4
whose kingdom
2:44, 4:34, Psalms 145:13, Isaiah 9:7, Luke 1:33, John 12:34
and all
Psalms 2:6-12, 22:27, 72:11, 86:9, Isaiah 60:12, Obadiah 1:21, Revelation 11:15
dominions
or, rulers.
Revelation 17:14, 19:16
Verse 28

Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
the end
8:17,19, 11:27, 12:9,13
my cogitations
15, 8:27, 10:8
but
Genesis 37:10, Mark 9:15, Luke 2:19,51, 9:44

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