Verse 27
The fifth kingdom, under the Son of Man’s leadership (Daniel 7:14), will then commence. This fact argues for the normative dispensational interpretation, which understands the kingdom of God on earth as beginning with Christ’s second coming, rather than with His first coming (cf. Daniel 2:44). The angel again stressed the role that the saints will have in this kingdom. The phrase "the people of the saints of the Holy One" (NASB) is unusual. This may indicate a particular group of the saints (believers), probably the Jews who, according to other Scripture, will be God’s focus of blessing during His earthly kingdom. However, the rendering "the saints, [namely,] the people of the Most High" (NIV) is a good translation. In this case it is the saints generally who are in view, not a special group of them. [Note: Cf. Barker, pp. 139-43.]
The Son of Man’s kingdom will be endless and worldwide. Notice that the titles "Highest One" (God the Father) and "His [the Son of Man’s]" are interchangeable, pointing to the deity of the Son of Man. This verse also clarifies that the saints are not the same as the Son of Man, "saints" being plural and "His" and "Him" singular. The kingdom is not just the rule of the saints; it is the rule of the Son of Man in which the saints participate.
"It is not difficult to see that Daniel more than almost any other author is concerned with the kingdom theme." [Note: Merrill, "Daniel as . . .," p. 225.]
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