Daniel:7

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed : (note :)Whereas the people of Israel looked for a continual peace , after the seventy years which Jeremiah had declared , he shows that this rest will not be a deliverance from all troubles , but a beginning . And therefore he encourages them to look for a continual affliction until the Messiah is uttered and revealed , by whom they would have a spiritual deliverance , and all the promises would be fulfilled . And they would have a certain experience of this in the destruction of the Babylonian kingdom .(:note ) then he wrote the dream , [and ] told the sum of the matters . * Daniel spake and said , I saw in my vision by night , and , behold , the four winds of the heaven strove upon (note :)Which signified that there wold be horrible troubles and afflictions in the world in all corners of the world , and at various times .(:note ) the great sea . * And foure great beastes came vp from the sea one diuers from another . * The first [was ] like a (note :)Meaning the Assyrian and Chaldean empire , which was most strong and fierce in power , and most soon to come to their authority , as though they had wings to fly : yet their wings were pulled off by the Persians , and they went on their feet , and were made like other men , which is meant here by man 's heart .(:note ) lion , and had eagle 's wings : I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked , and it was lifted up from the earth , and made stand upon the feet as a man , and a man 's heart was given to it . * And behold another beast , a second , like to a (note :)Meaning the Persians who were barbarous and cruel .(:note ) bear , and it raised up itself on They were small in the beginning , and were shut up in the mountains , and had no strength . one side , and [it had ] three ribs in the That is , destroyed many kingdoms and whose hunger could not be satisfied . mouth of it between the teeth of it : That is , the angels by God 's commandment , who by this means punished the ingratitude of the world . and they said thus unto it , Arise , devour much flesh . * After this I beheld , and lo another , like a (note :)Meaning Alexander the king of Macedonia .(:note ) leopard , which had upon the back of it That is , his four chief captains , which had the empire among them after his death . Selencus had Asia the great , Antigonus the less , Cassander and after him Antipater was king of Macedonia , and Ptolemeus had Egypt . four wings of a fowl ; the beast had also four heads ; and It was not of himself nor of his own power that he gained all these countries : for his army contained only thirty thousand men , and he overcame in one battle Darius , who had one million , when he was so heavy with sleep that his eyes were hardly open , as the stories report : therefore this power was given to him from God . dominion was given to it . * After this I saw in the night visions , and behold a (note :)That is , the Roman empire which was a monster , and could not be compared to any beast , because there was no beast that was even comparable .(:note ) fourth beast , dreadful and terrible , and strong exceedingly ; and it had great Signifying the tyranny and greediness of the Romans . iron teeth : it devoured and brake in pieces , and stamped That which the Romans could not quietly enjoy in other countries , they would give it to other kings and rulers , so that whenever they wanted to , they might take it again : which liberality is here called the stamping of the rest under the feet . the residue with the feet of it : and it [was ] diverse from all the beasts that [were ] before it ; and it had That is , various and different provinces which were governed by the deputies and proconsuls : and each one of these might be compared to a king . ten horns . * I considered the horns , and , behold , there came up among them another little (note :)Which is meant of Julius Caesar , Augustus , Tiberius , Caligula , Claudius , and Nero , etc ., who were as kings in effect , but because they could not rule , except by the consent of the senate , their power is compared to a little horn . For Muhammad did not come from the Roman Empire , and the pope has no vocation of government : therefore this cannot be applied to them , and also in this prophecy the Prophet 's purpose is chiefly to comfort the Jews until the revelation of Christ . Some take it for the whole body of antichrist .(:note ) horn , before whom there were Meaning a certain portion of the ten horns : that is , a part from the whole estate was taken away . For Augustus took from the senate the liberty of choosing the deputies to send into the provinces , and took the governing of certain countries to himself . three of the first horns plucked up by the roots : and , behold , in this horn [were ] These Roman emperors at the first used a certain humanity and gentleness , and were content that others , as the consuls , and senate , should bear the names of dignity , so that they might have the profit . And therefore in election and counsels they would behave themselves according as did other senators : yet against their enemies and those that would resist them , they were fierce and cruel , which is here meant by the proud mouth . eyes like the eyes of man , and a mouth speaking great things . * I beheld till the (note :)Meaning , the places where God and his angels would come to judge these monarchies , which judgment would begin at the first coming of Christ .(:note ) thrones were cast down , and the That is , God who was before all times , and is here described in a way such that man 's nature is able to comprehend some portion of his glory . Ancient of days did sit , whose garment [was ] white as snow , and the hair of his head like the pure wool : his throne [was like ] the fiery flame , [and ] his wheels [as ] burning fire . * A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him : thousand thousands ministered unto him , and ten thousand (note :)That is , an infinite number of angels , who were ready to execute his commandment .(:note ) times ten thousand stood before him : the judgment was set , and the This is meant of the first coming of Christ , when the will of God was plainly revealed by his Gospel . books were opened . * I beheld then (note :)Meaning that he was astonished when he saw these emperors in such dignity and pride , so suddenly destroyed at the coming of Christ , when this fourth monarchy was subject to men of other nations .(:note ) because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake : I beheld [even ] till the beast was slain , and his body destroyed , and given to the burning flame . * As (note :)As the three former monarchies had an end at the time that God appointed , even though they flourished for a time , so will this fourth have an end , and they that patiently wait for God 's appointment , will enjoy the promises .(:note ) concerning the rest of the beasts , they had their dominion taken away : yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time . * I saw in the night visions , and , behold , (note :)Which is meant of Christ , who had not yet taken upon him man 's nature , neither was he yet the son of David according to the flesh , as he was afterward : but he appeared then in a figure , and that in the clouds , that is , being separated from the common sort of men by manifest signs of his divinity .(:note ) [one ] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven , and That is , when he ascended into the heavens , and his divine majesty appeared , and all power was given to him , in respect that he was our mediator . came to the Ancient of days , and they brought him near before him . * And there was given him (note :)This is meant of the beginning of Christ 's kingdom , when God the Father gave unto him all dominion , as the the Mediator , with the intent that he would continually govern his Church which is here on earth , until the time that he brought them to eternal life .(:note ) dominion , and glory , and a kingdom , that all people , nations , and languages , should serve him : his dominion [is ] an everlasting dominion , which shall not pass away , and his kingdom [that ] which shall not be destroyed . * I Daniel was (note :)Because of the strangeness of the vision .(:note ) grieved in my spirit in the midst of [my ] body , and the visions of my head troubled me . * I came near unto (note :)Meaning one of the angels , as in {{See Dan_7:10 }}(:note ) one of them that stood by , and asked him the truth of all this . So he told me , and made me know the interpretation of the things . * These great beastes which are foure , are foure Kings , which shall arise out of the earth , * But the saints of the (note :)That is , of the most high things , because God has chosen them out of this world , that they should look up to the heavens , upon which all their hope depends .(:note ) most High shall take the Because Abraham was appointed heir of all the world , ( Rom_4:13 ), and in him all the faithful , therefore the kingdom of him is theirs by right , which these four beasts or tyrants would invade , and usurp until the world were restored by Christ . And this was to strengthen and encourage those that were in troubles , that their afflictions would eventually have an end . kingdom , and possess the kingdom for ever , even for ever and ever . * Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast , which was (note :)For the other three monarchies were governed by a king , and the Roman empire by consuls : the Romans changed their governors yearly , and the other monarchies retained them for term of life : also the Romans were the strongest of all the others , and were never at peace among themselves .(:note ) diverse from all the others , exceeding dreadful , whose teeth [were of ] iron , and his nails [of ] brass ; [which ] devoured , brake in pieces , and stamped the Read ( Dan_7:7 ). residue with his feet ; * And of the ten horns that [were ] in his head , and [of ] the other which came up , and before whom three fell ; even [of ] that horn that had eyes , and a mouth that spake very great things , whose (note :)This is meant of the fourth beast , which was more terrible than the others .(:note ) look [was ] more stout than his fellows . * I beheld , and the same (note :)Meaning the Roman emperors , who were most cruel against the Church of God , both of the Jews and of the Gentiles .(:note ) horn made war with the saints , and prevailed against them ; * Until (note :)Until God showed his power in the person of Christ , and by the preaching of the Gospel gave unto his own some rest , and so obtained a famous name in the world , and were called the Church of God , or the kingdom of God .(:note ) the Ancient of days came , and judgment was given to the saints of the most High ; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom . * Then he said , The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdome in the earth , which shall be vnlike to all the kingdomes , and shall deuoure the whole earth , and shall treade it downe and breake it in pieces . * And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are ] ten kings [that ] shall arise : and another shall rise after them ; and he shall be diverse from the first , and he shall subdue (note :){{See Dan_7:8 }}(:note ) three kings . * And he shall speak [great ] words against (note :)That is , will make wicked decrees and proclamations against God 's word , and send throughout all their dominion , to destroy all that did profess it .(:note ) the most High , and shall wear out the saints of the most High , and think to These emperors will not consider that they have their power from God , but think it is in their own power to change God 's laws and man 's , and as it were the order of nature , as appears by Octavius , Tiberius , Calligula , Nero , Domitianus , etc . change times and laws : and they shall be given into his hand until a God will allow them to rage in this way against his saints for a long time , the time and times , but at length he will soften these troubles , and shorten the time for his elect 's sake , ( Mat_24:22 ), which is here meant by the dividing of time . time and times and the dividing of time . * But the (note :)God by his power will restore things that were out of order , and destroy this little horn in such a way that it will never rise up again .(:note ) judgment shall sit , and they shall take away his dominion , to consume and to destroy [it ] unto the end . * And the (note :)He shows why the beast would be destroyed , that is , so that his Church might have rest and quietness , which though they do not fully enjoy here , yet they have it in hope , and by the preaching of the Gospel enjoy the beginning of it , which is meant by these words , «under the whole heaven ». And therefore he speaks here of the beginning of Christ 's kingdom in this world , which kingdom the faithful have by the participation that they have with Christ their head .(:note ) kingdom and dominion , and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven , shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High , whose kingdom [is ] an everlasting kingdom , and all That is , some of every type that rule . dominions shall serve and obey him . * Hitherto [is ] the end of the matter . As for me Daniel , my (note :)Even though he had many motions in his heart which moved him to and fro to seek out this matter curiously , yet he was content with that which God revealed , and kept it in memory , and wrote it for the use of the Church .(:note ) cogitations much troubled me , and my countenance changed in me : but I kept the matter in my heart .

---