24/04/22 – Daniel 7:23-28
Daniel 7:23 – 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.
he – see Daniel 7:16.
shall tread it down – trample down; thresh; tread down.
This is the final one of the four beasts of Daniel’s dream as per Daniel 7:1-8. It is also the iron legs of the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:40-43). This includes the ten toes of iron and clay, the revived Roman empire of the end times, noting the ten horns of Vs 24 below. Daniel 7:8 also notes those ten horns, the equivalent of the ten toes of the great image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
“and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns.” Daniel 7:8 also describes the brutal strength of this fourth beast.
“and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces” (Daniel 7:8)
In its day, the Roman empire took heavy-handed control of the “civilised” world at that time. It was the fourth of the beasts of Daniel 7:3. It was also the fourth and final empire of those represented by that great image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. (The others were the Babylonian/Chaldean, the Medo-Persian and the Greek empires.)
shall be diverse – to be altered, to be changed. While the empires noted in Daniel 7:3 were each different in their own ways, a major attribute of the Roman empire is that it would be different in all its ways. It is likely that this referred to its superiority (due to its brutality) in conquest over all other nations. While other empires tended to permit conquered nations to live their own lives under empire rule, the Roman empire demanded that its citizens submit to Roman requirements or else be destroyed. The Romans made every effort (trampling on them, breaking them in pieces, etc) to force subject nations to fit into the Roman mould or else not exist at all! This was “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;” (Romans 7:19)
shall devour the whole earth – Shall take over (by brutal force) the whole of the earth. For the initial Roman empire, this meant the whole of the known world at that time, but in the end times still ahead of us, it will literally mean that every effort will be made to “devour” the whole earth (with those nations not submitting being threatened with being trampled and broken into pieces – see further on this in Vs 24 below). In that final 7 years known as the great tribulation, the antichrist (as leader of the revived Roman empire) will seek to take control of the whole world by brutal force: submit or die by starvation or execution.
Daniel 7:24 – 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.
This relates to the end-times antichrist beast of Revelation 13:1 (And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.) In these approaching end-times, there will arise ten significant kingdoms or nation clusters, which the antichrist will seek to use to catapult himself into becoming the leader of the world. (Revelation 17:12-13)
another shall rise after them – These ten kingdoms will exist in some form before the antichrist arises to take his position as their leader.
While these ten kingdoms might already exist today, it will only be when the antichrist seeks to establish his revived Roman empire that they will become the ten kingdoms of the end-times. They will not be as we know them right now, but will take their place in world politics alongside the beast (the antichrist). It will be in partnership with the antichrist that they receive their power as end-times kingdoms under the antichrist (Revelation 17:12 – And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.) And note that it will be difficult to predict before the end-times just who the antichrist himself will be, as he will not be revealed until that which withholds or restrains him (“that man of sin, …. the son of perdition”) is removed (usually accepted to be the rapture or snatching away of the Church – see 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9).
the first – or perhaps “the former”. This could mean either the first (or former; earlier) 3 beasts, or, more logically given the context, the 10 horns that arise before him.
he shall be diverse from the first – The antichrist will be notably different from the other ten kings who rise before him. He will be supremely arrogant (see Vs 25 below), especially against God (“the most High”), vicious, brutal, a bully, in fact, the ultimate supreme dictator. Anyone who gets in his way will not get the chance to do so again!
The antichrist’s influence will establish their kingdoms according to his requirements and they in turn will give their allegiance to the antichrist.
Revelation 17:12-13 – 12And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
he shall subdue three kings – The ten horns are these ten kings and their kingdoms. They might have given their support (“power and strength” – Revelation 17:13) to the antichrist, but he will demand their absolute allegiance and obedience. No disobedience at all will be tolerated; even the slightest infraction will be dealt with harshly. Three of these kings will have some objections to the way the antichrist runs (or desires to run) his world empire. Those same three kings will be removed! We aren’t told how they are removed or what happens to them, but we can be sure that they wouldn’t have had any need to collect their retirement pensions; only the living need pensions!
The ten horns/kingdoms are whittled down to seven in many places in the Bible.
And of the ten horns that [were] in his head, and [of] the other which came up, and before whom three fell; (Daniel 7:20)
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: (Daniel 7:8)
I …. saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns (Revelation 13:1)
behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Revelation 12:3) Also Revelation 17:3
These ten kingdoms that are cut down to seven kingdoms clearly refers to a time yet in the future when the antichrist seeks to control the whole world, but fails.
(It is interesting that the term “antichrist” is not actually mentioned in Revelation where he is instead called the “beast”. It is clear, however, that what we call “the antichrist” is this beast with seven heads and ten horns of Revelation 13:1, and also satan (the “great red dragon” of Revelation 12:3).
Daniel 7:25 – 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 [great] words against the most High – He will speak blasphemous words against God and His name. This is satan’s evil nature, to oppose God, and the antichrist will be literally a tool used by satan to blaspheme God.
Daniel 7:8 – 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.
Revelation 13:5-7 – 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
shall wear out – to wear away; wear out; to
constantly harass. It has the idea of wearing something out by constant use, to use up
completely.
the saints – Those who are set apart for God’s service; holy ones. The term
includes all genuine born-again Christians, although in the tribulation setting
here, it will actually refer to those among Israel who have returned to God
according to
Ezekiel 37:26-27 – 26Moreover
I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant
with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary
in the midst of them for evermore. 27My tabernacle also shall be
with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(Note: It is difficult to avoid the implications for Israel here. An
everlasting covenant is forever, and for evermore has no ending. Israel has
never been permanently cast aside, but will be brought back to God for that
final seven years for cleansing and renewal. Israel will always be the nation
that God chose for His people.
shall wear out the saints of the most High – The antichrist will concentrate his fury upon those who dare to worship God whom he declares to be his enemy. They are no longer of this world and therefore are hated just as the world hated Jesus.
John 15:18-19 – 18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
a time and times and the dividing of time – This is generally accepted to mean a year plus two years plus half a year, thus 3˝ years. Revelation 13:5 says it will be for 42 months (= 3˝ years). This will be the second half of the seven-year tribulation when the antichrist sets himself up in the temple (at the midpoint of those seven years to be worshipped as God.
“and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate” (Daniel 9:27)
This fleeing into the mountains in turn relates to the escaping of Israel into the wilderness when the abomination sits in the temple to be worshipped.
Revelation 12:6 – And the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days (1260 = 3˝ years or 42 months!). (The Jewish year was 360 days.)
Revelation 12:14 – And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time (3˝ years), from the face of the serpent.
Jesus referred directly to this event in Revelation 12:6&14 in the following:
Matthew 24:15-16 – 15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of
desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet (in Daniel 9:27), stand in the holy
place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16Then
let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
and think to change times and laws – God has set out His laws in His word. God is creator and has every right to determine how His creation should be run (His laws). He has also made clear His prophetic timeline in the Bible (God’s times); this will not change.
The antichrist cannot win the battle by sticking to God’s laws. If he wants to win, he has to rewrite the rule book so that he takes control from God. God’s law would have to be perverted in order to permit satan to win. Unless satan (via his antichrist beast) can “change times and laws”, there is no hope of victory for satan and his antichrist otherwise.
When Jesus rose from the dead, He demonstrated His victory over satan.
John 12:31 – Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Satan knows quite well what God’s prophecy says: that he will lose the battle and be condemned to the everlasting fire for eternity. But it is clear that satan thinks that if he can gain the worship of all mankind on earth, then he might be able to swing a deal that gives him some rights. To this end, satan (through his antichrist) will try to force all on earth to worship him, and disposing of (executing) all those who will not bow to him. In the middle of this seven-year period, the antichrist will place himself in the temple to be worshipped (the abomination which Jesus spoke about). He will try to force Israel to bow down to him or execute those who will not. But God causes Israel to flee to the wilderness for 3˝ years during this time (Revelation 12:6&14), thus robbing satan of his desired worship. In the end, satan (via his antichrist) decides to amass all the world’s armies and take control of Jerusalem, including the temple, and force Israel (which is now back in Jerusalem for Armageddon) to worship him. But just as the antichrist appears to get within reach of his goal, Christ the Messiah returns to save His people and to set up His millennial reign. Satan and his antichrist will never be able to rewrite the rule book to swing victory their way, but they still hope against hope that God might have missed out on something! Satan will never change the “times and laws” as set out by sovereign God. He will be found guilty and finally cast into the everlasting fires of hell.
Revelation 19:20 – And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 20:10 – And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
God’s law demands this and His prophecies as stated will come to pass!
and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time – It is Israel which is to be given into the hand of the antichrist beast because this will be Israel’s final week of years as per Daniel 9:24-27, in the midst of which the antichrist becomes an abomination in the temple (Daniel 9:27). It is for the purifying of Israel from her unrighteousness that God permits this savage persecution for 3˝ years.
Isaiah 48:10 – Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Zechariah 13:9 – And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The Lord [is] my God.
The church will not be present as such for it will have handed over its mantle of being God’s people back to Israel. The church will have been taken away from this world before the tribulation commences, with salvation returning to Israel. Note that “fulness” in Romans 11:25 refers to everything on the chip’s manifest being on board so that the ship may sail.
Romans 11:25-27 – 25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
This is what God has stated will happen, and therefore it will happen!
Thus it will be Israel who will be front and centre stage when this final week of years commences (as per Daniel 9:24-27). And it is Israel who will be the main target of the antichrist’s fury against God’s people. This will include all who harbour any of Israel during this time. The antichrist will not tolerate any opposition at all. The antichrist will be permitted to savagely attack (constantly harass and wear out literally to death) God’s people who are pictured as martyrs slain for the word of God under God’s altar.
Revelation 6:9-11 – 9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.
The tribulation will be for 7 years in all, but it will be the second half during which the antichrist will seek furious vengeance against God’s people (after placing himself in God’s place in the temple).
2 Thessalonians 2:4 – Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
However, it is this second half (3˝ years) during which God hides and looks after His people, Israel, in the wilderness. Those who do not run for the mountains but go back for favourite possessions etc are likely to be executed, according to Jesus’ teachings.
Matthew 24:16-21 – 16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Daniel 7:26 – But the
judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to
destroy [it] unto the end.
But not one shall escape the judgment. Judgment is certain for all! All will face judgment, both good and evil.
John 5:26-29 – 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Note “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;” (John 6:37) That is, literally, “All that the Father has given by His authority into My hand for judgment will be present; not one will be permitted to be absent.”
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Daniel also wrote of the judgment which would include all, including the antichrist.
Daniel 7:10 – 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.
The dominion which the antichrist has during that seven years will be taken away when he is judged. Such dominion was never a reality because satan and his demons cannot have dominion over the earth independently of man. Man was given dominion over all the earth; this is God’s law (Genesis 1:26-28). The antichrist can only have dominion through those he controls, and if he cannot control all mankind, then he can never have absolute dominion. This is what will drive the antichrist to seek the worship of all on earth, thinking that if all can worship him, then he might just be able to claim absolute dominion. But he will never achieve this because God has won the victory on the cross already.
to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end – That is, forever. The destruction of the beast’s dominion will be permanent. His dominion over the saints was only permitted for 3˝ years (see Vs 25 above) and was only temporary at best!
Daniel 7:27 – 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 everlasting kingdom and dominion will be given to Christ the Messiah and His people. When Christ returns to take victory over the forces amassed against His people at Armageddon, He then takes dominion over all nations on earth under the whole heaven, and will then give that dominion to those saints whom the antichrist wore down (constantly harassed, even unto death) during his brief dominion during that seven years, particularly the second half. It is a classic example of poetic justice: those who are wronged will have the victory in the end.
whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom – The antichrist’s kingdom will last for only seven years; Christ the Messiah’s kingdom will last forever! The contrast is stark.
All dominions shall serve and obey him – The key word here seems to be “All”, as opposed to the limited extent and duration of the antichrist’s reign of terror. That which eluded the antichrist – the service and obedience of all people on earth – will be Christ’s forever, for all eternity.
This relates to Daniel 7:18 where it is the saints who will take and possess the kingdom for ever and ever. (But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.) So, while it is Christ’s kingdom, it will be given by Christ to the saints of God to possess and rule forever. It is likely that Vs 27 above could read: “whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey it”. We have been talking about the limited kingdom of the antichrist, which will then become the unlimited (over all the earth) kingdom of God’s saints. All dominions shall obey and serve the kingdom that is ruled by God’s saints under the authority of Christ the Messiah.
Daniel 2:44 – And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Ephesians 1:19-23 – 19And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Daniel 7:28 – 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.
cogitations – thoughts; vexations.
my cogitations much troubled me – Daniel’s thoughts much (greatly) troubled (alarmed; dismayed) him. Note “Then the king’s (Belshazzar’s) countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.” (Daniel 5:6) Belshazzar’s thoughts alarmed him, yet here Daniel’s thoughts greatly alarmed him.
countenance – brightness; splendour. Previous uses of this term suggest that it refers to a person’s face going pale with fear or alarm. (Daniel 5:6, 9, 10)
Daniel’s worry may have caused his facial expression to be altered such that it was clear that something was really worrying him.
It does sound like it is the end of the matter for now, yet Daniel continues to be vexed over what he has found out regarding the future. He puts it aside for a while, but it is still kept in his mind, in his thinking, to consider.
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