Daniel 7:9-14

The first six chapters of Daniel is a chronology of events which transpired over a seventy year period that serves as a record of the workings of God in Daniel’s life. Chapters 7 through 12 is also a chronology. It consists of prophecies which the Lord gave to Daniel beginning in the first year of Belshazzar and extending through the third year of Cyrus king of Persia. Secular historians date Belshazzar’s reign to be from 553 B.C to 539 B.C.

The first of Daniel’s prophecies has elements which are identical to portions of the vision which troubled Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2. Both Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 prophesy the establishment of four kingdoms, the endings of each, and the coming of a kingdom which the Lord God would establish. The vision which Daniel received is different from Nebuchadnezzar’s in that it provides more detail concerning the termination of the last kingdom and the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom. Both visions describe events which would be realized in the far future.

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down . . .” (v. 9). That which Daniel beheld before the thrones were cast down is partly described in verses 7 and 8. Daniel saw a small horn (a king of little power) become great and displace three of the ten kings who ruled over the fourth prophesied kingdom (see v. 7). After the thrones were cast down, Daniel saw the Ancient of days. The title Ancient of days appears in scripture three times (Dan. 7:9, 13, 22) and the word which is translated as ancient carries the meaning of being without time or beyond time. The Ancient of days is eternal. The Ancient of days radiates purity. His garments are white as snow; the hair of his head is as pure wool. God’s throne is not static; it is dynamic and is described as a fiery flame. A flame influences everything in its proximity, but God’s throne reaches to every place; it sits upon wheels of fire. All that exists is subject to Him and must answer to Him.
The scene which Daniel saw in verses 10-12 is recorded in New Testament scripture. Daniel was given a preview of that which is recorded in Revelation 20:1-15. The books of verse 10 are the books which shall be opened before the great white throne of God (Rev. 20:11-12). Revelation 20 reveals that the little horn of Daniel 7 is “the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan” (Rev. 20:2).

The fullness of that which Daniel beheld includes the destruction of the little horn and the little horn’s destroyed body being given to “the burning flame” (v. 11). The burning flame is described as the lake of fire in Revelation 20:14. Nebuchadnezzar’s vision provides little detail but reveals that the last kingdom will be destroyed by a stone “cut out without hands” (Dan. 2:34).

Daniel’s vision provides details of God’s coming kingdom which are not seen in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision. The Son of Man shall have everlasting dominion over the kingdom and all people of every nation shall serve Him (v. 14). The imagery of the stone cut without hands links the Son of Man in the Old Testament to Jesus Christ. Psalm 118:22 speaks of the rejected stone that shall be made head of the corner. The rejected Messiah (Isa. 53:3) would suffer death yet live and “the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (Isa. 53:10). In Matthew 21:42, Jesus makes it clear that He is the rejected stone which was sent by God the Father. Jesus, born of woman, was like a son of man but was, in actuality, the promised Son of Man to whom dominion, glory, and the everlasting kingdom were given (v. 14).

Verse 12 states that dominion (power) shall be taken away from the rest of the beasts but their lives shall be prolonged for a season and a time. If the opening of the books of verse 10 are the opening of the books of Revelation 20:12 (and they are), that which Daniel saw in verse 10 shall transpire after the season and the time of verse 12 and after Daniel saw the Son of man come with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days (v. 13).

All scripture, including prophecy, is given by God for His purposes. New Testament believers read Daniel 7:13 and rejoice because we know the Son of Man. We know the Son of Man to be “my righteous servant” (Isa. 53:11) who would justify many. The Comforter (Jn. 14:26) has revealed the Son of Man to us. The Comforter teaches us all things, even the purpose for which the Lord spoke to Daniel (and Nebuchadnezzar). The vision which Nebuchadnezzar saw resulted in Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being placed in positions which allowed them to declare the one and only God to many. God desires that all men should know and believe Him.

Daniel’s vision also serves as a platform from which we (New Testament believers) might declare the Son of Man who was the Word, and was with God, and was God, and was in the beginning God (Jn. 1:1-2). In Daniel’s vision, we see the fulfillment of Psalm 2. We see the Lord set “my king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Ps. 2:6). The Comforter (the Holy Spirit) has made these things known to us for God’s purposes. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 2:9).

All believers are called to share the truth which we have received. God the Father would have all men know the Son of Man.