A river of fire was flowing out from before the throne of God the Father, probably symbolizing judgment proceeding from Him. Those attending Him were evidently angels (cf. Deuteronomy 33:2). The court (cf. Daniel 7:26) seems to be a heavenly venue in which God renders judgment on rulers and their nations based on their deeds (Job 1-2; Isaiah 65:6; Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12; cf. Matthew 25:31-46). read more
The return to prose language signals the shift in Daniel’s observation from heaven to earth, and the content of the revelation confirms this change. The boastful words of "the horn" (Daniel 7:8) kept attracting Daniel’s attention. God passed judgment on the fourth beast and destroyed it along with all its horns (cf. Luke 21:24-27; Revelation 19:20). Similarly, the stone cut out without hands crushed the toes of the image in chapter 2-suddenly and violently. read more
The end of the prior three empires contrasts with the end of this fourth one. God took away the dominion of each of the earlier three kingdoms one by one, but they continued to exist, as realms of the kingdom that overcame them, for some time. However, God will cut off the fourth empire completely, and it will continue no longer (Daniel 7:11). Thus the end of the fourth kingdom will result in a totally new condition on the earth: Messiah’s thousand-year reign (cf. Revelation 19:19 to Revelation... read more
Daniel again saw something happening in heaven (cf. Revelation 5:1-10). One like "a son of man" was brought before the Ancient of Days. The angelic attendants in heaven’s court probably ushered Him forward. This description glorifies the Ancient of Days, who then proceeded to give this Person authority to rule on earth (cf. Psalms 2:6; Psalms 110:1-2). The One like the son of man has similarities with human beings, as the title "son of man" implies. However, He comes with clouds of heaven,... read more
3. The Son of Man’s kingdom 7:13-14 read more
Now this Son of Man became the prominent Person in the vision. He received dominion and glory and a kingdom from the Ancient of Days."This refers, not to his inherent sovereignty over the universe as God the Son (as consubstantial and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit), but to his appointment as absolute Lord and Judge by virtue of his atoning ministry as God incarnate-the one who achieved a sinless life (Isaiah 53:9), paid the price for man’s redemption (Isaiah 53:5-6), and was... read more
Even though Daniel understood all kinds of visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17), much of what he had just seen baffled and alarmed him (cf. Daniel 7:28). He now saw himself participating in the events of his vision. He evidently addressed his question to an angel (cf. Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21). The fourth beast, and particularly the little horn, were the parts of the vision that he could not understand and most interested him. read more
4. The interpretation of the four beasts 7:15-18 read more
The interpreter gave Daniel a general answer to his question. He stressed that each of the four beasts represented a king (or kingdom, cf. Daniel 7:23). They arose from the earth’s population, which is what the sea symbolized (Daniel 7:2; cf. Isaiah 17:12-13; Isaiah 57:20-21; Jeremiah 46:7-8)."The ’four kings’ obviously refer to four kingdoms, as the beasts represent both a king and a kingdom." [Note: Walvoord, Daniel . . ., p. 172.] read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 7:9-12
2. The Ancient of Days and the destruction of the fourth beast 7:9-12 read more