What I Noticed Today (Daniel 7-9)
Daniel 7
In verses 1-8, Daniel records a vision he had during the first year of the reign of Belshazzar (553 B.C., he was about 67 years old, and had been in captivity about 36 years).
Note: This vision came about 14 years prior to the Lion’s Den, which occurred about 539 B.C.
Daniel describes the four winds stirring up the seas. The word for “winds” can also be translated “spirits” meaning angels and is often used in conjunction with God interceding through angels.
Four great beasts came out of the sea. Each beast represented a kingdom (Daniel 7:17).
- The first beast was a lion with wings of an eagle. Two symbols associated with Babylon are the lion and the eagle.
- The second beast was a bear. The bear was known for its strength, and it had three ribs in its mouth. This may represent the Medo-Persian kingdom, and the three ribs may represent Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon which preceded the Medo-Persian Empire. Or they may represent Egypt, Babylon, and Lydia which they conquered.
- The third beast was like a leopard, known for its swiftness and agility. This beast had four wings like a bird and four heads and was given authority to rule. This may represent the kingdom of Greece which conquered the Medo-Persian Empire.
- The fourth beast was a combination of a lion, bear, and leopard represents the Roman Empire. It had large iron teeth and ten horns. Another smaller horn emerged and when it grew it uprooted three of the larger horns. This beast had the eyes of a man and spoke boastfully. (Horns most often refer to kingdoms.)
In verses 9-12, the vision continues as Daniel sees the judgment throne of the Ancient of Days (a reference to God and His eternal nature). Thousands served him, and tens of thousands stood before him as He sat in judgment and the books were opened (in Revelation 20:12 the opening of books is a reference to the judging of individuals).
As Daniel was listening to the little horn that was boasting, the fourth beast was killed and thrown into the fire (indicating the end of the Time of the Gentiles, Luke 21:24). The other three beasts were stripped of their power but allowed to continue living for a time.
In verses 13-14, the Son of Man (Jesus) came to the Ancient of Days (God the Father). When he approached, He was given dominion over all peoples, nations, and languages, and they worshiped Him. His dominion is everlasting, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.
In verses 15-28, Daniel explains the vision of his dream. He was anxious and perplexed by this vision. He called on one standing nearby (from Daniel 8:16 we learn it was the angel Gabriel). The angel described the four beasts as four kingdoms that will rise up, but in the end times, the saints of the Most High God will receive the kingdom forever.
Daniel asked specifically about the fourth beast, the ten horns, and the little horn that grew up. This little horn will persecute the saints of the Most High until the Ancient of Days comes. The Ancient of Days will judge the saints, and the kingdom will be given to them.
The angel describes the fourth beast as one who devours the whole earth breaking it into pieces (a description of the one-world order and government).
The angel described the ten horns as representing ten kingdoms that will arise after the fourth beast. The little horn will arise after them and destroy three of the ten kings. He will speak against the Most High God and His saints. The saints will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (3-1/2 years of the Great Tribulation, see 1,260 days of Revelation 12:6). But this little horn will be brought to judgment and his dominion (kingdom) taken away, and he will be destroyed (Christ’s return or second advent). This kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve them.
This vision so disturbed Daniel that he said nothing about it to anyone.
Daniel 8
Daniel 8 reverts back to Hebrew (recall Daniel 2:4b-7:28 were written in Aramaic).
In verses 1-2, this vision came to Daniel in the third year of Belshazzar (2 years after the vision in chapter 7). In the vision, he saw himself in Susa the capital city of Elam, by the bank of the Ulai Canal.
Note: Susa is located 200 miles east of Babylon where 100 years later the events of Esther took place, and Nehemiah served as Artaxerxes’ cupbearer.
In verses 3-4, he saw a ram by the bank of the canal. The ram had two horns; one was larger than the other, and the larger one came up last. The ram charged west, north, and south. Wherever it charged, it conquered. He did as he pleased and became very great.
In verses 8-14, a goat came from the west. He came so fast his feet did not touch the ground. He had a single horn between his eyes. The goat charged the ram and broke both his horns and trampled him. The goat became great, but when he was strong, his great horn was broken and in its place grew four horns pointed toward the four winds of heaven.
Out of one of the four horns came a little horn which grew toward the south, east, and the glorious land (Israel). It grew even to the host of heaven when some of the host and some of the stars threw it down. He became great comparing himself to the Prince of Host (God referred to Himself as the Prince of Princes in Daniel 8:25). The sanctuary was overthrown. He prospered and despised the truth of God’s Word (throw truth to the ground). Another angel spoke to the other angel who was revealing the vision asking how long this would continue and the revealing angel said for 2,300 evenings and mornings, and after that, the sanctuary would be re-consecrated.
In verses 15-18, Daniel could not interpret this vision, so Gabriel was called to interpret its meaning. Daniel referred to him as “a son of man” (not to be confused with Jesus “the son of man”). Gabriel explained this vision was in regards to the “time of the end.”
Note: This vision has a double fulfillment. Antiochus was the little horn described in Daniel 8, and he fulfilled these prophecies in the second century. However, this reference to the events pertaining to the end times will be fulfilled by the Antichrist during the Tribulation period.
In verses 19-26, the angel explained that the ram with the two horns were the kings of Media and Persia. The goat is the king of Greece, and the horn between his eyes is the first king (Alexander). When this horn was broken, it was replaced by four kingdoms. Alexander had no children, so he was replaced by his four generals, but this divided the kingdom, and they never had the power that existed under Alexander. Some time later, a king (horn) arose who was a master of deceit (Antiochus IV Epiphanes). He oppressed the people of Israel and came against their God (the Prince of Princes). He was removed from power by supernatural means.
Daniel was so upset by the visions that he remained in bed sick for several days.
Note: The 2,300 mornings and evenings in which the temple remained desecrated was 1,150 days (if the “mornings and evenings” were references to sacrifices then the desecration lasted 1,150 days. This is the exact time between Antiochus’s desecration of the temple on December 16, 167 B.C. and the restoration of the temple in 163 B.C.
Daniel 9
In verses 1-2, the first year of the reign of King Darius the Mede, son of Ahasuerus, was 539 B.C. Daniel had been in exile 66 years. Daniel knew from the scripture (Jeremiah) that 70-years must pass before the end of the exile, so he knew the exile was nearly over.
In verses 3-19, Daniel prayed with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes (three ways of demonstrating mourning or sorrow).
Note: Daniels uses the Hebrew name of Yahweh (translated LORD) in verses 3-14).
Note: Some translations capitalize LORD when translating Yahweh. Other translations do not.
Daniel refers to the covenant promise God made Abraham (Genesis 12:1-7) while admitting that the people had sinned greatly. It was due to their sin that God had removed them from the land as prescribed in the Law (Leviticus 26:27-33). Even after being exiled, the people remained in sin having turned away from God.
David petitions the Lord (vv. 15-19) to remember the people. He asked the Lord to turn away from His wrath and restore them, not because of their righteousness, but because of His mercy.
In verses 20-23, in the midst of Daniel’s prayer, the angel Gabriel came at the time of the evening sacrifice to explain the vision.
Note: The evening sacrifice is mentioned only as a reference to the time of day. The sacrifices to God had not been made during the entire time the people were in exile in Babylon. Perhaps this is one of the three times a day, Daniel chose to worship the Lord.
In verses 24-27, Gabriel explains the vision and the meaning of the 70-weeks. The word translated “weeks” can also mean “sevens.” 70 “sevens” would be 490-years.
Note: The case for considering the 70 sevens to refer to years is consistent with Daniel’s reference when he meant weeks he said “three sevens of days” or three weeks in Daniel 10:2-3. Also, since Israel had failed to keep the Lord’s required Sabbath rest for the fields every seven years, the Lord required 70 Sabbaths of rest (Leviticus 26:34-35) or 490 years!
At the end of this period of time (490 years), God will end the time of Israel’s sin with the second coming of Christ. God will issue a decree, and then Israel will be restored to the land and Jerusalem rebuilt. The 490-year period is divided into three periods: 49 years (7 “sevens”), 434 years (62 “sevens”) and seven years (1 “seven”). The rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem will occur in the first period of 49 years. The second period of 434 years runs until Messiah is cut-off (crucified).
Note: These two periods ran consecutively for a total of 483 years from March 5, 444 B.C. to March 30, A.D. 33.
Gabriel explained that at the end of the 62 sevens, the anointed one would be cut off and have nothing.
Note: The Hebrew word translated “cut off” is used in reference to a criminal’s death sentence.
The people who serve the prince (Antichrist) will destroy the city (the little horn of Daniel 7:8).
In verse 27, the 70th seven years will begin after the rapture of the church. The Antichrist will make peace with the people, but Jesus described this time as a time of great distress (Tribulation). This will last for 3-1/2 years. The Antichrist will break his covenant and begin ruthless persecution of the Jewish people and Jesus’ followers. During this time, the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices and commit abominations (Matthew 24:15). The Antichrist’s desolation will end at the end of the seven years.
The image below provides an excellent graphical representation of the “weeks” of Daniel 9 (from www.thesecondcomingofchrist.org) :
