Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 17

 Daniel's Vision Interpreted

These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. Dan. 7:17

These great beasts... The 11th prophecy in Daniel (Dan. 7:17-27: Dan. 7:17, 7:19, 7:23 are fulfilled; Dan. 7:18, 7:20-22, 7:24-27 are unfulfilled). Next, Dan. 8:3.

are four kings... Fifteen-fold Interpretation

1. The four beasts are four kings or kingdoms in succession (Dan. 7:17, 7:23-24; 2:39-43; 8:20-23; Rev. 17:9-11).

2. The God of heaven will set up a kingdom in the days of the ten kingdoms and the little horn (Dan. 7:18, 7:27; 2:44-45; Rev. 17:8-17).

3. The kingdom of heaven and of God will be given to the saints to rule over (Dan. 7:13-14, 7:18, 7:27; Mat. 13:41-50; 25:31-46; Rom. 8:17-18; 1Co. 6:2; 2Tim. 2:12; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 11:15; 20:4-6; 22:4-5).

4. The reign of Christ and His saints will be eternal (Dan. 7:14).

5. The subjects of the eternal kingdom will be the coming eternal generations of natural people of all races (Dan. 7:14).

6. The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom, the old Roman Empire which shall devour the territories of the first three beasts (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:19, 7:23).

7. The ten horns are ten kingdoms out of the fourth kingdom, the old Roman Empire territory. They are yet to be formed (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:20, 7:23-24; Rev. 17:9-17).

8. The little horn is the Antichrist who will come up among the ten kingdoms and after they are formed (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:20, 7:23-24; Rev. 17:8-17).

9. The little horn shall be different in power from the ten kingdoms (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:20, 7:23-24; 8:20-23; 11:35-45; Rev. 13:1-18; 17:8-17).

10. The little horn shall subdue three of the ten kingdoms in his rise to power over them (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:20, 7:23-24; 8:20-23; 11:35-45; Rev. 13:1-18; 17:8-17).

11. The little horn shall speak great things.

12. The little horn shall make war on the saints (Dan. 7:21, 7:25; 8:23-25; 9:27; 11:35-45; 12:7; Rev. 11:7; 13:7; 14:9-11; 15:2-4; 20:4-6). He shall prevail against them, until 3 things happen:

(1) Until the Ancient of Days comes to the earth with Christ at the second coming to defeat and destroy the little horn (Dan. 7:21-22, 7:26-27; 8:23-25; 9:27; 11:40-45; 12:7; Rev. 17:8-17; 19:11-21).

(2) Until judgment is given to the saints (Dan. 7:22; 2Co. 6:2).

(3) Until the time for the saints to possess the kingdom (Dan. 7:18, 7:22, 7:27; Mat. 25:31-46; Luke 22:30; Rom. 8:17-18; 2Tim. 2:12; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 11:15; 20:4-6; 22:4-5).

13. The little horn shall change times and laws for three and a half years (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 13:5).

14. The little horn shall come to an end when the Ancient of Days comes and the judgment is held (Dan. 7:26; 8:25; 9:27; 11:40-45; 12:7; Rev. 19:11-21).

15. The kingdom of the little horn, and all other world kingdoms shall be given to God, Christ and the saints of the Most High to become the kingdom of God on earth forever (Dan. 7:13-14, 7:18, 7:27; 2:44-45; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-10; Zec. 14:1-21).

When Will the Kingdom Be Set Up?

1. At the return of the King from glory (Mat. 25:31-46; Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14; 8:18-22; Zec. 14:1-21; 2Th. 1:7; Jude 1:14; Rev. 17:14; 19:11-20:7).

2. When Jerusalem is surrounded by armies (Zec. 14:1-21).

3. After the church is raptured (1Cor. 15:51-58; 1Thes. 4:13-17), for the church comes back to earth with Christ to help Him set up the kingdom and reign over the nations (Zec. 14:1-5; Jude 1:14; Rev. 1:4-5; 5:10; 17:14; 19:11-21). It is not until after the days of the church that Christ comes to build again the house of David (Acts 15:13-18; Isa. 9:6-7; 11:11; Hos. 3:4-5; Luke 1:32-35). The church is raptured before the coming of the Antichrist (2Thes. 2:7-8) and Antichrist makes his appearance before Christ comes (2Thes. 2:1-6), so Christ’s kingdom cannot be set up until these events take place.

4. After the future tribulation, for Christ does not come to the earth with the saints until then (Mat. 24:15-31; Zec. 14:1-21; Dan. 12:1-13; Rev. 19:11-21).

5. After the great apostasy and the revelation of the Antichrist, for Antichrist is destroyed at Christ’s second coming to earth, so he must be here when Christ comes (2Thes. 2:1-12; Rev. 19:11-21; Dan. 7:18-27; 8:16-27; 9:27; 11:36-12:13).

6. At the time the Antichrist is destroyed and Satan is bound for 1,000 years (Rev. 5:10; 20:1-7). During the Church Age and the future tribulation period Satan is loose (1Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:12-17; 13:1-8; 20:1-7). The devil is still loose, so we are still in the Church Age and will be until Christ comes in the clouds.

7. After the first resurrection, for the saints reign with Christ on earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 5:9-10; 20:1-6). Therefore, the saints must first be resurrected. This is the period of suffering for Christ, not the period of reigning with Him (Rom. 8:18; 1Cor. 15:20-58; 2Cor. 5:6; Phlp. 1:23; 3:20-21; Col. 1:24; 2Tim. 2:12; 3:12). The 1,000 years are between the resurrection of the righteous and that of the wicked (Rev. 20:4-6, 20:11-15).

8. At the time Ezekiel’s temple is built (Eze. 40:1-43:7). The reign of Christ will be set up in Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s temple (Eze. 43:7); therefore, the kingdom cannot be set up until then. Christ will build this temple when He comes, but the kingdom naturally will not and cannot be set up in the temple until it is built (Isa. 9:6-7; 52:1-8; 62:6-12; Eze. 36:24-36; 41:1; 43:7; Zec. 6:12-13; Zec. 14:1-21; Luke 1:32-35; Act. 15:13-18).

9. After Israel is gathered back from all countries (Eze. 20:33-36; 36:17-38; 37:1-28; Hos. 3:4-5; Dan. 9:27).

10. When Israel is repentant (Zec. 12:10-14; 13:1-9; 14:1-21; Mat. 23:37-39; 24:15-31; 25:31-46; Rom. 11:25-29).

11. When the Jews are delivered from the armies of the nations and become a blessing to all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:1-3; Psm. 2:6-8; Isa. 9:6-7; 25:6-9; Zec. 9:9-11; 14:1-21; Acts 15:13-18; Luke 1:32-35).

12. In the days of the ten kings of Revised Rome and Revived Grecia (Dan. 2:40-45; 7:18-28; Rev. 17:8-18).

13. At the end of the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:20-24; Rom. 11:25-29; Acts 15:13-17).

14. When it is God’s time to put down rebellion on earth (Acts 1:7-11; 3:19-21; 1Cor. 15:24-29).

15. At the destruction of the earthly kingdoms of Daniel and Revelation (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14; Zec. 14:1-21).

16. After all of Rev. 4-19 is fulfilled, for Christ comes in Rev. 19-20 to set up the kingdom.

According to these facts mentioned above the kingdom is yet in the future and will follow all these events. Christ Himself taught in the following passages that the kingdom would follow His second coming (Mat. 16:21-27; 19:28; 20:20-23; 23:37-39; 24:3-31; 25:31-46; 26:29, 26:64; Acts 1:6-7; 3:19-21; John 14:3; Luke 9:26; 19:11-27; Rev. 5:9-10; 11:15; 20:1-7). The apostles also taught that the kingdom was to be in the future following the second coming of Christ (Acts 1:7-11; 1Pet. 1:7; 5:4; 2Pet. 1:16; 3:3-4; Jas. 5:7; 1Jhn. 2:28; Jude 1:14; 1Tim. 6:14-15).

Ten Proofs that Earth will not be Desolate during the Millennium:

1. The Greek word for "bottomless pit" is abussos, and means an unmeasured abyss. It is translated "bottomless pit" (Rev. 9:11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1-3) and "deep" (Luke 8:31; Rom. 10:7). It is insensible to teach the abyss beneath is the surface of the earth, as can be seen by these passages. It is in the lower parts of the earth. Satan is already on the earth when he is cast into the pit (Rev. 20:1-3). In Rev. 12:7-14 it states that he will be cast out to earth and will be here during the last 3 1/2 years of this age, until Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-20:7).

2. The prophets foretold a literal earthly kingdom to be set up at the second coming, not after the Millennium (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:9-14, 7:18-27; Isa. 32:1; 35:1-10; Jer. 31:27-40; 32:37-44; Eze. 37:1-28; Joel 3:1-21; Zec. 14:1-21; Luke 1:32; Mat. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; Acts 15:13-18; Jude 1:14; Rev. 11:15; 19:11-21; 20:1-15). If there is to be an earthly kingdom, then there will be subjects for Christ to reign over during this time.

3. The kingdom will be on earth and saints will reign on earth, not in heaven: "the kingdom UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN shall be given to the saints ... The Lord shall be king OVER ALL THE EARTH ... we shall reign ON THE EARTH" (Dan. 2:35, 2:44-45; 7:13-14, 7:18, 7:26-27; Zec. 14:1-21; Mat. 25:31-46; Isa. 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 11:15; 20:1-10).

4. The disciples understood it to be a literal earthly kingdom (Luke 19:11; 22:29-30; Acts 1:7; Mat. 25:31-46; Rev. 1:5; 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 11:15; 1Cor. 6:2-3; 2Tim. 2:12).

5. At the end of the Millennium Satan will be set loosed out of the abyss "to deceive the nations WHICH ARE IN THE FOUR QUARTERS OF THE EARTH" where they have been the whole 1,000 years (Rev. 20:7-10; Zec. 14:16-21; Isa. 2:2-4; Dan. 7:14).

6. Jesus taught that saints would not judge and separate the righteous from the wicked (Mat. 13:49-50; 24:31; 25:31-46). It is, therefore, folly to talk about the examination of sins of men by the saints as being a kingdom.

7. Christ reigns on earth for the purpose of ridding the earth of rebellion. So, there must be people here to reign over (1Cor. 15:24-28).

8. God promised that He would never make the earth desolate again (Gen. 8:22; 9:12, 9:16; 17:7, 17:19; 2Sam. 7:1-29; Psm. 89:3-4, 89:35-37; Isa. 9:6-7; Eze. 43:7; Luke 1:32-33; 1Ch. 17:7-15, 17:22-27; 22:10).

9. There are Facts about the Millennium, which prove the earth to be inhabited during that time.

10. The many promises of eternal generations of natural people from Noah’s time into eternity prove there will not be a period of 1,000 years desolation on the earth.

These empires (great beasts) depicted by the lion, bear, leopard, and bizarre animal are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The kings are the most notable leaders over these empires, such as Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander the Great and finally the “little horn” (Antichrist).

It was explained that the four great beasts represent four kingdoms. As stated earlier, the four kingdoms are Babylon, represented by the lion; Medo-Persia, represented by the bear raised up on one side; Greece, represented by the winged leopard with four heads; and Rome, represented by the mongrel beast.