Daniel 7 is the seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. It is the last chapter written in Aramaic before it continues again in the Hebraic Masoretic text of the next chapter. This chapter begins the first series of apocalyptic visions that Daniel receives and is given cryptic interpretations for a portion of them.
The chapter includes visions that Daniel receives of four beasts coming out of the sea, as well as a vision of "one like the Son of Man" coming up to the Ancient of Days. Some interpretation of these visions is given to Daniel, but no beast is clearly identified with any specific kingdom. However, some Christian theologians since the second century have connected the eagle winged lion with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonia, a matter still open to considerable debate. One traditional interpretation of these four beasts is that, in order from first to last, they are Neo-Babylonian Empire, followed by Achaemenid Empire (which was made up of Medes and Persia, with one being stronger than the other), then the Macedonian Empire and the Roman Empire.
Medieval Christian writers, especially in Apocalyptic accounts, often identified the beasts with later empires, closer to their own times, believing that Daniel's prophecy had yet to be fulfilled; the rapid rise of the Islamic Caliphate in and around traditionally Christian lands made its identification with the last beast attractive.
Engraving by Matthäus Merian of Daniel's vision of the four beasts, 1630. Each beast is labelled with the empire represented: Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome.
Daniel's first vision[2] is that of four beasts and he asks for an interpretation of them. He is told that the four beasts represent Four monarchies to appear on Earth. Unlike Chapter 2, only the latter half of this vision, beginning with the fourth beast, is given a textual interpretation.
Beast like a lion
The first beast is like a lion with eagle’s wings, in which they are torn off. It is then standing on two feet and given a man’s heart.
Beast like a bear
The second beast is like a bear, raised up on one side, and has three ribs in its teeth. He is told to gorge himself on flesh.
Beast like a leopard
The third Beast is like a leopard with four wings and four heads is given authority to rule.
Fourth beast
The fourth beast is a terrifying, powerful beast, unlike any other, crushes and devours the whole earth with its iron teeth—trampling it down.
Vision
7 After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
Textual interpretation
23 The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom.
8 While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.
Divine judgment
9 As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him;ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
26 But the court will sit,
Execution of judgment
11 "Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
Final kingdom
13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.
Parallels with Daniel 11
Just as scholars and theologians since the 2nd Century have considered the visions of Chapter 2 and Chapter 7 parallel, so too, Chapter 8 and Chapter 11 were considered parallel with the other two.[citation needed]
He will vent his fury against the holy covenant (11:30)
The Godly and wise people who resist him, will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. (11:32-33)
He will try to change the set times and the laws (7:25)
He will vent his fury against the holy covenant (11:30)
He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant (11:30)
He will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did (11:24)
The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time (7:25)
It shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished (11:45-12:7)
He is the last king before the end of time (Daniel 7:26-28)
He is the last king before the end of time or persecution (11:45-12:7)
Contemporary views
See also: Prophetic beasts of Daniel (Appendix)#Daniel chapter 7
There is general agreement among modern scholars[3] that the four beasts represent Babylonia, Medes, Persia, and Alexander's Greek empire.[4] The ten horns represent the kings from Alexander on through the Seleucid kingdom:[4][5]
Seleucus IV’s infant son Antiochus (puppet for Heliodorus).
The last three "horns" had to fall to make way for the "little horn" Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his arrival on the throne, effectively by usurpation.[6]Daniel 7:25 is a reference to the persecutions of Antiochus, his suppression of the Jewish religion, and his attempt to force the Jews to adopt the Greek customs.[5][7][8]
Historicist views
Just as scholars note parallels between the prophetic chapters, so too have historicists since the Protestant Reformation. "The Reformation ... was really born of a twofold discovery--first, the rediscovery of Christ and His salvation; and second, the discovery of the identity of Antichrist and his subversions."[9] "The reformers were unanimous in its acceptance. And it was this interpretation of prophecy that lent emphasis to their reformatory action. It led them to protest against Rome with extraordinary strength and undaunted courage. ... This was the rallying point and the battle cry that made the Reformation unconquerable."[10] The following is a historicist-based illustration of the parallels.
Chapter
Parallel sequence of prophetic elements as understood by Historicists[11][12]
Rock
God's unending kingdom
left to no other people
Daniel 7
Winged Lion
Lopsided Bear
4 Headed/4 Winged
Leopard
Iron toothed beast
w/Little Horn
Judgment scene
Beast slain
A son of man comes in clouds
Given everlasting dominion
He gives it to the saints.
Concerning the "little horn", interpreters of the Historicist school (e.g. Adventist) identify the "little horn" as Papal Rome that came to power among the 10 Barbarians tribes (the 10 horns) that had broken up the Pagan Roman empire. The reference to changing "times and law" (Daniel 7:25) refers to the change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. The "time, times and half a time" (Daniel 7:25) was the 1260 years spanning 538 CE and 1798 CE, when the Roman Church dominated the Christian world. (See Day-year principle for details) However there are various groups who disagree with this interpretation of the fourth beast because the Roman Empire did not desecrate the Temple but simply destroyed it. Recently this interpretation is attributed to Islam because of its long domination over the Holy Mountain and because Islam proclaims throughout all Middle east celebration of Friday as day of rest and also is based on a different lunar calendar. Interpretation of the fourth beast is a very delicate subject since Daniel suggests that each beast conquered and subdued all territories of the previous beast... The fact that Daniel mentioned this beast "different" than other three is what gave scholars to substitute the meaning of it towards a "religious" power .. The entire vision and prophecy is from the start about what military empire will dominate the world. Rome today is not a superpower that dominates the territories of the previous Alexandrian Empire. Rome today does not dominate the middle east. The Roman Empire did occupied all the territories of the previous Greek empire and this contradicts exactly the next chapter of Daniel where it is written that the horn of Antichrist is one of the four kingdoms which the Greek empire was broke later. Since a fourth part of the Greek empire can not be greater than the Greek empire itself,then the attribution of Rome as the fourth beast is counted as error. Another important point that contradicts this interpretation is the fact that the capital of the Roman Empire was not Rome but Constantinopole.
Adam Clarke's commentary written in 1836 supports the interpretation that the little horn is Papal Rome by this comment "Among Protestant writers this is considered to be the popedom."[13]
Futurist views
In the Futurist view, the "little horn" is identified as the future antichrist who will rise to power through the "revived Roman Empire"(the fourth beast). The "time, times and half a time" (Daniel 7:25) is taken as a literal 3½ year period corresponding to the last half of the 7 year tribulation within the 70th week of Daniel 9:24-27.
Over the centuries Bible Scholars have identified specific kingdoms as fulfillment of the beast and horn symbols as illustrated in the following table.
Interpretations of the kingdoms of Daniel 7 by Biblical expositors from the 1st to 19th centuries
Prophecy of Beasts in Daniel 7
Biblical Expositors of the Early Church Period: 100-457 AD[14]
^Collins, edited by John J.; VanEpps, Peter W. Flint ; with the assistance of Cameron (2002). The book of Daniel : composition and reception ([Reprint] ed.). Boston: Brill Academic Publishers. p. 295. ISBN 0391041282.
^ After the Battle of Magnesia, Antiochus IV Epiphanes lived in Rome as a hostage in connection with the reparations his father Antiochus III the Great had to pay. In 175 BC, he was released by the intervention of his brother Seleucus IV Philopator who substituted his own son Demetrius I Soter as hostage. While Antiochus IV Epiphanes was at Athens, Seleucus IV Philopator was assassinated by his chief minister Heliodorus who then seized the throne. Antiochus IV Epiphanes with the military sanction of Pergamon monarch Eumenes II expelled Heliodorus and usurped the throne to the exclusion of Demetrius and the late king's younger son, Antiochus, still a baby in Syria. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Bromiley, 145)
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Engraving by Matthäus Merian of Daniel's vision of the four beasts, 1630. Each beast is labelled with the empire represented: Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome.
