THE APOCALYPTIC VISION OF DANIEL 7

Daniel 7 begins by describing “a dream and visions” that Daniel had in the “first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon” (v. 1). From a historical standpoint that is a disheartening beginning, since there never was a Babylonian king named Belshazzar. But that’s one of the problems ancient authors had when claiming to be someone living centuries earlier. It is hard to get all those names and dates straight.

The point of the chapter is not the name of the king, however, but the “night vision” itself (v. 2). Daniel sees the four winds of heaven whipping up “the great sea” (i.e., the Mediterranean), and out of it emerge four horrible beasts, one after the other (see also Revelation 13). The first is like a lion with eagle’s wings; its wings are plucked off and it is made to stand on the ground like a human (v. 4). The second is like a bear raised up on one side, with three tusks in his mouth along with its teeth; it is told: “Devour many bodies” (v. 5). The third is like a leopard with four bird wings on its back and four heads; it is given “dominion” (v. 6). Finally, Daniel sees the fourth beast, “terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong” (as opposed to the others? v. 7). This one is the worst of the lot; it has iron teeth and it devours, breaks into pieces, and stomps whatever is left. The beast has ten horns, but as Daniel looks on, another small horn comes up, and three of the original horns are plucked out to make room for it. This small horn has eyes and a mouth that speaks arrogant things and makes “war on the holy ones” (v. 21).

As Daniel looks on, he has a vision of God, “the Ancient One” (or “an Ancient of Days”), in his throne room in heaven. God is said to have pure white hair, a throne of flames with a stream of fire flowing from it, and many, many thousands of people around to serve him (see also Revelation 4). While Daniel observes this magnificent sight, he hears the arrogant words the small horn keeps speaking. But then the fourth beast is destroyed and burned with fire (see Revelation 19:17-21); the other beasts are also removed from power but not yet terminated. Finally, Daniel sees “one like a human being”—literally “one like a son of man” (see Revelation 1:12-16)—coming with the clouds of heaven. This one appears before the Ancient of Days, who gives him “dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed” (vv. 13-14).

As often happens in these apocalypses, the seer, Daniel, can’t make a bit of sense out of what he has just seen. But as also often happens, a divine figure is standing by an angelic being who can explain everything. The explanation is simple, at least in principle. The four beasts represent “four kings [that] shall arise out of the earth” (v. 16). Who, then, is the “one like a son of man”? He represents “the holy ones of the Most High” who shall “receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever” (v. 17).

I will unpack what all that means in a moment. But first, it is important to see how the chapter ends. Daniel is especially interested in the fourth beasts, more horrifying and powerful than the others, and in the horns of its head, in particular the little horn that speaks arrogant words. The angel tells him that this beasts is a “four kingdom” that will ruthlessly devour and trample the whole earth. The horns represent ten kings who will arise to rule the kingdom, and the little horn will be a final king who will usurp the others. And the “arrogant words”? They are most important of all, as they provide a key to interpreting the passage:

He [the final king] shall speak words against the Most High,

shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High,

and shall attempt to change the sacred seasons and the law;

and they shall be given into his power for a time, two times, and half a time. (v. 25)

But God will enter into judgment with the beast and all dominion will be taken away from this little horn, and he will be completely destroyed. Then:

The kingship and dominion

and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven

shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. (v. 27)