The Divine Commentary on The Book of Daniel - Ch 07 (26.3.11)

Dan 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.

Divine commentary –

“This is the record of the dream and visions of Daniel,

                                                                                My prophet.”

Dan 7:2 Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.

Divine commentary –

“The angels of heaven troubled the waters of the deep.”

Dan 7:3 "And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

Divine commentary –

“Then the beasts arose from slumber,

                                                as the four kings of the earth –

                                                                                   each with its own qualities.”

Dan 7:4 "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

Divine commentary –

“The first king had great strength inherent in his army with the ability to move it quickly,

                but this ability was lost as its pace was slowed by all which it encountered.

                              Then was the king and his army stood upon their feet –

                                              to be subjected to great exertion as they walked the land.”

Dan 7:5 "And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!'

Divine commentary –

“Then,

         without delay,

                 a second king arose,

                         more massive than the first,

                                  who lumbered with a gait that limped.

                 His appetite for blood was fed by the lives of many,

                          who came within his reach –

                                  as slaughter with decimation became the order of the day.”

Dan 7:6 "After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

Divine commentary –

“Then Daniel saw another king,

                 nimble and well-fed,

                                  who controlled four princedoms within his bounds,

                                  who had four princes who paid him homage.”

Dan 7:7 "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

Divine commentary –

“So the visions continued and Daniel beheld the king which ruled through war,

                                                                                                 knew no mercy,

                                                                                                 overcame all he encountered.

                                           He had an appetite which could not be quenched,

                                                                          consuming all that was laid before him:

                                                                                                                as he divided,

                                                                                                                as he conquered,

                                                                                                                as he trampled underfoot.

                                           This king differed from the other three for his authority was established via ten power-bases spread throughout his kingdom.”

Dan 7:8 "I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

Divine commentary –

“Then a new small power-base developed in the midst of the ten,

                                                  growing and developing as it flexed its muscles.

                              Then three power-bases,

                                           which ultimately stood before it in its way,

                                                          were uprooted,

                                                          were over-run,

                                                          were blended-in,

                                                                             by the smaller power-base so filled with aspirations.

             So its king spoke pompous words which preened his palace in its solitude,

                                                                                                 his courtiers in their huddles,

                                                                                                 his citizens as feathers.

             So the power-bases of the king reduced to eight to form the basis of the coming of a new beginning.”

Dan 7:9 "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;

Divine commentary –

“Daniel observes the preparation of the thrones,

             observes the seating of God upon His throne,

             observes His appearance of light,

             observes the presence of His throne of fire.”

Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.

Divine commentary –

“The refining fire of judgement issued forth from before Him.

                                                                                 So a very great multitude ministered to Him;

                                                                                 so a hundred-fold stood before Him;

                                                                                 so the court was duly seated;

                                                                                 so the books were duly opened.”

Dan 7:11 "I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

Divine commentary –

“So Daniel watched as he heard the pompous words of the usurper of a power-base,

               saw the end of the fourth king together with the destruction of his remaining power-bases,

                                including that of the usurper,

               as they were placed within the jurisdiction of the refining fire of judgement.”

Dan 7:12 "As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

Divine commentary –

“The kings had come,

   the kings had conquered,

   the kings had left the playing-fields –

                                              as they survived their kingdoms –

                                              as they dwindled into obscurity.”

Dan 7:13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

Divine commentary –

“Daniel was favoured to behold The Lord coming,

                                                              with the hosts of heaven,

                                                                    into the presence of The Father on His throne;

                                                                    then the hosts of heaven brought Him near before Him.”

Dan 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

Dan 7:15 "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

Dan 7:16 "I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:

 

Dan 7:17 'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.

Divine commentary –

“So Daniel sought an interpretation.

  So an angel of The Lord,

                        assigned to keep Daniel company,

                                 disclosed to him,

                                           within the will of God,

                                                         a mystery of God.”

Dan 7:18 'But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'

Divine commentary –

“The angel of The Lord emphasized the souls of God –

                                                           the souls who sought His presence,

                                                           the souls known before His throne –

                                      shall receive the kingdom given to The Lord,

                                      shall possess the kingdom as their inheritance,

                                      shall be freed from time’s existence on the plane of their being.”

Dan 7:19 "Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;

Divine commentary –

“So Daniel’s visions of the night are recited,

                                                     so they are described,

                                                     so they are made known.”

Dan 7:20 "and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.

Divine commentary –

“So this usurper of a power-base,

                                                he who has become dominant among the eight,

                                                he who has become a force not easily overcome,

                                                he who has become a threat to all within his sphere of influence:

                          looks beyond his boundaries.”

Dan 7:21 "I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,

Divine commentary –

“So this usurper of a power-base wars against the souls of God as he strives in overcoming them,”

Dan 7:22 "until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

Divine commentary –

                  “until The Father comes to make a judgement entered in favour of the souls of man –

                                                                    those who become the souls of The Most High;

                                                                    those who are known as the disciples of The Lord;

                                                                    those who are dressing as the bride;

                                                                    those who are awaiting the coming of the bridegroom;

                                                                    those who are possessing the kingdom of their God.”

Dan 7:23 "Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.

Divine commentary –

“So it is described,

   so it has been made known,

   so it no longer stands before the eyes of man.”

Dan 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.

Divine commentary –

“So ten power-bases were established,

  so a usurping one pushed through the shield by the subduing of three others.

  So the power-bases were reduced to eight within the nations of the earth.”

Dan 7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

Divine commentary –

“So the usurper of three power-bases did speak pompous words against The Most High God;

                                                            did persecute the saints of The Most High God,

                                                            did intend to change the attitudes of the times and of the law.

                   Then were the saints of God put under his control for a time and times and half a time.”

Dan 7:26 'But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever.

Divine commentary –

“Then at the seating of the court,

                         did the usurper lose his dominion:

                                                whereupon his power-base was consumed,

                                                                            to be destroyed for ever.”

Dan 7:27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'

Divine commentary –

“For now the bounds of the usurper,

                                              together with the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,

                                    have been given to the saints of the Most High God:

            He whose kingdom is everlasting –

                                          so all dominions shall serve in obedience as they bow before Him.”

Dan 7:28 "This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart."

NKJV Footnotes:

        * (7:1) Literally the head (or chief) of the words

        * (7:10) Or judgment

        * (7:17) Representing their kingdoms (compare verse 23)

        * (7:25) Literally wear out

        * (7:28) Literally the word