Daniel 7 Study

             Paraphrased

     With Suggested Interpretation

                           ~ * ~

This story actually precedes Daniel chapter 5 which was the handwriting on the wall chapter, which concerned Belshazzar king of Babylon. (Note: Prophecy often is a repeating pattern.)

     In the first year of Belshazzar, Daniel had a dream and “visions of his head”. So he wrote down the dream. 2 ..In my vision by night, I saw the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea. (These following kingdoms were around the Mediterranean Sea.) 3 And out of the sea (of humanity) came up four great beasts (empires) each different from the others. 4 The first was like a mighty lion with the wings of an eagle. But then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was made to stand upon legs like a man. And the mind of man was given to it. (Babylon and Babylon humbled from its high mystical reputation.) 5 And behold, another beast, a second one. It was like a bear. And it was raised up on one side and had three ribs between its teeth. It was told to, “Arise, devour much land.” (Persia came after Babylon, or actually Media-Persia did, but the Persian ‘side’ surpassed Media, and spread widely. The ribs in its teeth are said to be Babylon, Egypt and Lydia.) 6 After this I looked, and behold, another beast! This one was like a (swift) leopard, but it had four wings of a bird upon its back. And the beast also had four heads. Dominion was given to it. (Greece and its four divisions after Alexander.) 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast. This one was more terrifying and dreadful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth (Roman columns?) with which it devoured and broke in pieces. (The iron, see chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream statue.) Then it stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from the beasts that came before it. It had ten horns [Rev.13:1]. (It ended up birthing a cluster of ten?) 8 As I was wondering about the horns, behold, coming up among them was another horn, a little one (a little brother? ..from my own studies, Rev.12:14 inserted) before which three of the first horns were pulled up by the roots (out of the land). This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man, and  a mouth that began to speak great pompous things. (This later horn ends up producing the last days a.c.)

      9 Then as I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. (“All the world is a stage” - Shakespeare.) His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire, and its wheels were great fiery swirls. 10 A stream of fire issued from before him, and a thousand thousands served him. Ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before him. The court was seated for judgment, and the books were opened.

     11 I looked then because of the fierceness of the words the horn was saying. But as I looked, the beast (the many headed and many horned geopolitical beast of the hour) was killed. It’s body was destroyed and given over to be consumed by fire. (Effects of war.) 12 As for the rest of the beasts (nations of earth) their rulership was taken away, but their lives continued for a season and a time.

     13 As I was watching in the night visions, behold, with the clouds of heaven came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and was brought before him. 14 And was given to him a kingdom, and dominion and glory, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not come to ruin.

     15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was troubled, for the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 So I approached one of those nearby and asked him the truth concerning the vision. So he made known to me the interpretation, saying, 17 “These four great beasts are four kings/kingdoms which will arise out of the earth. 18 But it’s the saints of the Most High who will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever/age to age.” 19 Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from the others, very terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze (Greece) which devoured and broke in pieces with its teeth, and trampled what was left with its (bronze) feet. (Greece subdues what Rome doesn’t break; a ‘world’, then entity/institution with Roman/Graeco foundations.) 20 And I asked about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that came up later, before which three of them fell (after Rev.12:14) the horn that had eyes and a mouth and was (or that is, ended up) speaking pompous and great things. - (This is the same office that is/was pinpointed by the Rev.13:13 event.) - Which horn seemed (to end up) greater than its companions. 21 And then as I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them! 22 That is, until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given for (on the side of) the saints [qaddish - sacred, holy] of the Most High, and the time came for possessing the kingdom.

     23 The angel said, “As concerning the fourth beast, there will be a fourth kingdom of earth. It will be different from all the kingdoms/nations, and it shall eat up all the earth, and trample and break to pieces. (Mighty “iron fisted” Rome.) 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings/royalties shall arise (arose) and then another after them, which will be different from the ten, and shall put down, overcome three. (By its expansion.) 25 But it shall (come to) speak pompous words against the Most High and shall weary the faithful (Rev.12:14 and worldwide) and shall think to change the times [zeman - time, epochs] (history?) and laws. And they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (Rev.13:5,6). — 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, and utterly consumed and destroyed. (Apocalypse.) — 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the faithful of the Most High. And his kingdom shall be an enduring and unfading kingdom, within which all dominions will serve and obey him.”

     28 So here is the end of the matter! As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my face paled, but I kept the matter close to heart.

Previous parts of this study:

Intro Before Study

Summaries Chapters 1- 6

Chapters Remaining, 8 - 12

FROM THE PROPHETS - Daniel

 📜 Part 2 - Snipped and Paraphrased

        (King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream)

     • From chapter 1 - In the third year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.. some of the articles from the temple of God.. he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. Then ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility, young men without handicap, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. And assigned them daily food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Among those chosen from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names - Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to eat the rich royal food and wine. God had caused the official to show favor to Daniel but the official said, “I’m afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking unfit? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel said, “Please test your servants for ten days. Give us nothing but vegetables and water. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food. At the end of ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

    To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, so they entered the king’s court. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his court and kingdom. Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

   • From Chapter 2, 1-23 — In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, his spirit and sleep was troubled. So he sent for the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell to him his dream. So they came in ..the king said, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” But the king answered, “The word from me is firm, if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be tossed to the lions, and your houses laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you’ll receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” They answered again, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” But the king was firm. The Chaldeans said, “There’s no one who can meet the king's demand not even for a great and powerful king, nor has anyone asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter or Chaldean. No one can show the dream to the king but the gods!”

   The king was furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be executed. 13 So the decree went out, and when the wise men were about to be killed they came looking for Daniel and his companions. 14 Then Daniel talked to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard asking, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” (Or “what’s up with the king’s decree?”) Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. So Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king. And Daniel went home and he made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so they not be destroyed, along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. And Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel said,

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to Him belongs wisdom and might! He changes times and seasons, takes down kings and sets up kings, he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding, he reveals deep and hidden things, he knows every mystery. Light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you give wisdom and might, and you have made known to us the king's matter.”

            Part 1— study notes

          before beginning Daniel

      Technical but stick with it 🤪🤓

598bc babylonia conquers Judah (Israel has already been carried off to Assyria)

586bc Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem, carried many off to Babylon.. Babylon later fell to Persia:

    Nabonidus; Belshazzar - the writing on the wall king; Darius the Mede “received the kingdom” (under?) Cyrus the Great of Persia 550bc to 538bc - Cyrus decreed all Israel in all his kingdom should go home, and some/many did, led by Zerubbabel, and they began to “rebuild the TEMPLE” (and at the time of Cyrus’ proclamation, the massive empire included once again Assyria)

           — — — — —

Then there’s 3 kings (Dn.11:2) Cambyses; Smerdis; Darius the Great

516bc the rebuilt temple is dedicated

Note - “the captivity” and resulting “diaspora/dispersion” is when synagogues were first established, they were needed for observing the Sabbath, and for holy days, etc, and this is when **prayers were substituted for temple sacrifices** (a biblically repeated theme..)

            — — — — —

(4th king, Dn.11) 486bc Xerxes, great and famous war against Greece …non-consequential reigns are left out of the prophecy list. Alexander such a while later said his war against Persia was in revenge, then he died, the kingdom going to four of his generals.. which became the wars of the Ptolemies (Egypt) and the Seleucids (Syria) up to Antiochus Epiphanes the villain, super persecuter, in the prophecy’s immediate, more ‘micro’ fulfillment, and of course in the Maccabean account.

            — — — — —

464bc to 425bc Artaxerxes (son of Xerxes) ruled the Persian empire, Esther was one of his queens, it was from his court, around 440bc that Ezra and Nehemiah traveled from Persia to Jerusalem to start rebuilding the rubble that was Jerusalem’s WALLS - Artaxerxes’ decree to - rebuild Jerusalem - fulfilled part of Daniel’s 70 weeks (of years) prophecy (very technical, um, code?) 9:25 - from the decree (and support) to rebuild aNd restore Jerusalem - until the coming of Messiah/an anointed one (on Palm Sunday, the declaration of) - there will be seven weeks (of years, 49 years of building, until the 16th year of Darius the Great, lion’s den account, the ancient Persian empire was at its largest) and (then) sixty-two (more) weeks (of years, 7x62/434 years) until Messiah (entered Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry).

     So, the prophecy was 7 weeks of years (49 weeks) of rebuilding Jerusalem, then 62 more weeks of years, which is 434 years, to Messiah’s Triumphal Entry.

     49 plus 434 is 483, so in prophecy, leaving one week of years (left) - 7 years of the total 490.

           — — — — —

I’m hoping Part 2 starts with Daniel 1:1 - though I have more notes.. Should I include them here? After all anyone can read or not read.. For the sake of Part 2, even though the book of Daniel is pretty complicated and intense:

Every part of the study will be included below the new parts. So this can always be read later.

                      - - -

The first two of the large prophetic visions in Daniel, end with obvious, last days fulfillment. These two visions are, first, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream statue of earth empires (Dn.2 and 2) which impressive statue is struck upon the feet (the ten toes/divisions called kings of the last hour in Rev.17:12,16) with a stone, so that the statue topples, and the stone (kingdom) becomes a great mountain/kingdom that fills the earth.

     And the second vision, of the four, succeeding one another beasts, the last one “more terrible”  - with the iron and bronze-7:7,19 & Rev.13:1 - of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream statue. The iron and bronze representing the empires of Rome and Greece, that shatters/roman and subdues/greek - also - concludes with an obvious last days reference, as it ends with — as Daniel watched “thrones were set in place and the ancient of days took his seat”. (All the world is a stage - Shakespeare.)

     So in the same pattern (?) a third vision. In chapter 8. And we know the ram is the same old (Media) Persia, and the goat that charges at it is Greece - so maNy wars! Spanning so long - Xerxes.. Alexander.. Antiochus Epiphanes (who claimed he was Zeus incarnate) —> to today? As west against east.. Verse 23, the power of the west (of today, goat which charged so far east) becomes diluted by breaking off (dividing, division) into four different powers. Or two powers (the liberal and conservative of the west?) - but each with their extremes.. Making four. Weakness, division. BUT one of them, portrayed as “a horn with eyes” will rise.. (A SAME seat/oFFice, which Revelation, verse 13:13 pinpoints/pinpointed. Not yet? pointing to an individual.)

                    - - -

History, thus prophecy, repeats. Having a more or less immediate ‘micro’ fulfillment, and then later a culmination of all history macro fulfillment - 9:26 - “After the sixty-two ‘sevens’ (weeks of years) the Anointed One will be put to death and will (appear to) have nothing. (After that) The people of the ruler/prince (Caesars, emperors) who will come, will destroy the city and the sanctuary (70A.D.). The end will come like a flood.

Julius who wasn’t an emperor; Augustus first Roman emperor, Luke 2:1 - “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered” - just before Jesus was born; Tiberius; Caligula; Claudius under whom the Jews thus Priscilla and Aquila had to leave Rome, Acts 18:2; Nero; Galba; Otho; Vitellius; Vespasian; Titus who sacked Jerusalem as a general under Vespasian before he (Titus) became emperor; Domitian who banished disciple/apostle John to Patmos — Note: Napolean Bonaparte crowned himself an emperor of a Roman Empire.

   War will continue - until, the end. And desolations are decreed [decided] (made into laws?) 

The 70th week starts when the ‘prince’/a.c. of-the-day, makes and confirms a strong covenant with many for one week.

(Rev.13:1-5)  Daniel 9:27 - In the middle of the week he will “put an end to sacrifice” (of prayers?) in 12:11 it’s worded as “takes away the perpetual sacrifice” — oR (current) place of? Lk.19:41,44.

     …will put an end to sacrifice and offering. [Yes, did occur under Antiochus Epiphanes whom the Maccabees valiantly fought and routed.]

      Dn.12:11 - ..Will end/prohibit/take away the perpetual sacrifices. And on the wing of abominations (as one exceeding them all, of that day?) will set up an abomination that causes desolation.

     Dn.12:11 - “From the time that the daily (hebrew, perpetual) sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12 - Blessed are they who wait and come to the 1,335 days.”

     So what is set up lasts/runs for 45 days? Escalating the last “ten days”? Rev.2:10.

     The abominations in the past- which desolated, had to do with the temple(s). The brick and mortar temple. Could the final one have to do with the human temple made for God’s Spirit/Presence?

     “..Until the end [kalah: the completion, consummation]” 9:27 - “And on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, until the decreed destruction is poured out (upon him).”

     Rev.15:1, 16:1 - “..seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last.. Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

      Verse 9:24 (at day 1,335) Jesus returns and anoints a holy place..