Four Beasts - Interpretation
The vision of the fourth beast, its arrogant “little horn” and the war it waged on the saints is interpreted by an angelic being - Daniel 7:15-28.
While the “Son of Man” received everlasting
dominion over all the nations, in the vision’s interpretation, the “saints
of the Most-High” received sovereignty and “possessed the kingdom.”
- (Daniel 7:15-18) - “The spirit of, me, Daniel, was grieved in the midst of the sheath, and the visions of my head terrified me. I drew near to one of them who stood by and made exact inquiry of him concerning all this, so he told me, and the interpretation of the things made he known to me. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings who shall arise out of the earth; but the saints of the Highest shall receive the kingdom, and shall possess the kingdom for the age, yea, for the age of ages.”
The four “beasts” represented four
kings and their kingdoms. In the vision, the “beasts” were ascending “from
the sea,” but in the interpretation, “kings” were ascending
“from the earth.” The interpretation moves out of the
symbolical and into the historical. The “earth” represented the peoples
from which the four kingdoms had “arisen.”
- (Daniel 7:19-23) - “Then desired I to be sure concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were iron, and his claws of bronze, he devoured, brake in pieces, and the residue with his feet he trampled down; also concerning the ten horns, which were in his head, and the other, which came up and there fell from among them that were before it three, and this horn which had eyes and a mouth speaking great things, and his look was more proud than his fellows: I continued looking, when this horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them: until the Ancient of Days came, and justice was granted to the saints of the Highest, and the time arrived that the saints should possess the kingdom. Thus, he said, the fourth beast is a fourth kingdom which shall be in the earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour all the earth, and shall trample it down and break it in pieces.”
Each “beast” represented a “king”
and its “kingdom.” Collectively, the four “beasts” were contrasted
with the “saints of the most-high” who were destined to receive the “everlasting
kingdom.”
The interpretation focuses on the fourth “beast,”
especially its “little horn.” It appeared “stouter than its
fellows” - the “ten horns” of the fourth “beast” - and it became
more prominent than the others. It then made “war with the saints
and prevailed against them.” Thus, before receiving the kingdom, the “saints”
must endure this assault by the “little horn.”
This corresponds to the description of the fourth
beast that “trampled the remnant with its feet,” the “remnant”
being identical with the “saints.” This understanding is confirmed in
the next paragraph when the horn “spoke words against the Most-High and wore
out his saints.”
- (Daniel 7:24-28) - “And the ten horns of that kingdom are ten kings who will arise, and another will arise after them. And he will be diverse from the former ones, and three kings will he cast down, and words against the Most-High will he speak, and the saints of the Highest will he afflict, and will hope to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand for a season and seasons and the dividing of a season, but judgment will take its seat, and his dominion will they take away to destroy and make disappear unto an end. And the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Highest, his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions to him will render service, and show themselves obedient. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, greatly did my thoughts terrify me, and my bright looks were changed upon me, but the matter in mine own heart I kept.”
The “little horn” symbolized the
malevolent king who attempted to destroy the “saints,” and for a time, he
prevailed over them “until the Ancient
of Days arrived, and justice was granted for the saints.” Only
when God intervened did the “saints” receive the kingdom.
In the vision, the “ten horns”
represented ten kings. The “little horn” was distinct from them and rose
to prominence after three “horns” had been “removed.” The “little
horn” then spoke “words against the Most-High and wore out the saints.”
This expands on the earlier description of its mouth “speaking great things,”
and suggests royal edicts intended to harm the “saints.” And it attempted
to “change times and the law,” thus, trespassing on the divine prerogative. As
Daniel previously declared, God alone “changes times and seasons” - (Daniel
2:21).
 |
| Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash |
“Times” is a generic term that may refer to time delimited in several ways - weeks, months, and years, for example. The Septuagint Greek version translates the word with kairos, meaning “season, set time.” In view were the annual feasts and rituals from the Levitical regulations that the “little horn” attempted to change - (Leviticus 23:1-4).
The “war” against the saints would
last for a “time, times, and a dividing of time.” The Aramaic text is
not precise, and more correctly reads - “time (singular), times (plural),
and part of a time.” The last clause can mean any portion of a
full “time,” however long or short.
The four beastly regimes “were given a lengthening
of life for a season and a time.” Since the same temporal terms are applied
to the first three kingdoms, and since each endured for a different length of
time, the “season and time” does not represent a literal number. Each realm
was “given” dominion and life by God, the one who changes “times and
seasons” - (Daniel 2:21).
The period of a “time, times and part of a
time” does not refer to the length of this king’s reign, but it defines the
period during which it “speaks words against the Most-High,” wages war against
the “saints,” and attempts to “change times and the law.”
That things were “given into his hand”
signified that God remained in control of events. The period of suffering would
come to an end at the appointed time. In contrast, the victory of the saints would
endure forever. The “little horn” would lose its dominion and be “consumed
and destroyed.” The oppression of the “saints” was part of the process
necessary for establishing the kingdom of God, otherwise, why did God “give”
persecuting power to this malevolent creature?
The “kingdom and dominion” were given
to the “people of the saints.” In the vision, the kingdom was given to the
one “like a son of man,” but in the interpretation, to the “saints.”
In verse 27, the plural pronoun gives way to a singular. It is “his kingdom” and “all dominions will serve him”. The
singular pronouns refer to the “son of man.” Thus,
the “Son of Man” represents the saints, their fates are inextricably
linked.
The chapter concludes with Daniel troubled
and terrified by his vision, indicating that he did not understand it. But he
kept the matter in his heart. This sets the stage for further illumination that
will be provided by the next vision.
Comments
Post a Comment
We encourage free discussions on the commenting system provided by the Google Blogger platform, with the stipulation that conversations remain civil. Comments voicing dissenting views are encouraged.