The Dream

Daniel 7:1-3

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

This is understood as the parallel to Daniel 2.  Daniel 2 was Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, this is Daniel’s.  While Nebuchadnezzar saw the kingdoms, Daniel apparently sees the spirits of the kingdoms.  The four winds church the great sea, and four distinct beasts came up out of it.

The First Three Beasts

Daniel 7:4-6

The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.

And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’

After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

The first three beasts are all described as animals.  A Lion, a Bear, and a Leopard, with modifications.  The first was Babylon, the second Medo/Persia, and the third, Greece.  As this began in Nebuchadnezzar’s time (Daniel 2, that is), his reign is described in the book of Daniel itself.  The second and third are described elsewhere in Daniel.

The Fourth Beast

Daniel 7:7-8

After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

The fourth beast is described as “different”.  Terrifying, Frightening, Powerful.  It’s image is not described (see photo above), but certain characteristics are pointed out.  It’s teeth were iron, and it was very dominating.  It’s ten horns cause Daniel to think about them.  Another horn came, which threw out three of the others.  It had the eyes of a man and a mouth, speaking boastfully.

Thrones Set in Place

Daniel 7:9-10

As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.

His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

The court was seated, and the books were opened.

After viewing the fourth beast, Daniel watched as thrones came, and God came and sat.  He is described, along with His throne, with its wheels, and the fire and attendance that surrounded him.  Of note was the court, the heavenly judgement, along with the books that were opened.

The Beast Slain and the Son of Man

Daniel 7:11-14

Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Apparently, the court sat in judgement of the fourth beast, or perhaps in judgement over all four.  Three things apparently happened to the fourth beast.  It was killed, it’s body was destroyed (different than being killed), and it was thrown into the burning fire (as if the first two weren’t enough).  The first three were allowed to continue to live, but were stripped of their authority.

After this, one like the Son of Man, Jesus, came with the clouds.  He went to the Father, and into His Presence.  This must be Jesus at His ascension, after the crucifixion.  No human man before Him had gone into His presence.  In Matthew 28:18, He had then all authority in Heaven and in Earth.  Further, receiving glory is the fulfillment to the prayer in John 17:5, to be restored the glory He had with Him before the world began.  Philippians 2:9 also indicates this, where “exalted” is a past tense event in Paul’s writing.  “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.”  If Jesus was given all authority, glory, and power then, what more could be given at a future date?

Again, His name is above every name that can be given, both in this age and in the age to come (Philippians 2:9), and His Kingdom is Eternal in the Heavens.  This must be understood as the primary, and most truest reckoning of Christ’s Kingdom, the spiritual one, for, if Heaven and Earth pass away, His Kingdom does not.  Though all else fail, His Word will never fail.

Today, we see men of every nation worshipping Him.  His dominion, in the Kingdom in which He reigns, will never pass away, or be destroyed.

The issue at hand is the Kingdom.  What is the Kingdom?  Jesus said His Kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).  That was its state then.  This must be understood as the nature of Christ’s Kingdom.  This is not the same as allegorization.  This is what the Kingdom is, the same Kingdom that healed the blind man, cleansed the leper, raised the dead, and cast out demons.  This is the Kingdom that had come upon those in Jesus’ day (Matthew 12:28).

This, in fact, does not lessen it, but heightens it, as the unseen is more real than the seen (Hebrews 11:3).  The whole nature of the Kingdom is that which cannot be seen without the eyes of Faith (Hebrew 3:3).  To rule and to reign in this Kingdom does not change the nature and structure of the kingdom, nor does it lessen the direct and literal interpretation of what the Scripture says.  Unless the Kingdom is understood as to be the Kingdom of the Heavens, the realm of the heavens, the domain of the Spirit, its very nature is missed.  This also is quite capable of encompassing the “Throne of David”, which is to be occupied.  As Jesus is both the Root and offspring of Jesse, so to say that David’s throne, as he ruled Israel is the same Kingdom, spiritually, that Jesus is ruling in now, is not out of the question by any means.  Even as John the Baptist cried out, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” (John 1:15).  And, although it will only be for a temporal period of time, meaning it will end, it does also appear that this Kingdom will be restored to Israel as a nation at some point (Acts 1:6).  Yet, again, even in this passage, the Kingdom and the nation are defined as separate things, for the disciples inquiry is to restore the one to the other.  By interpretation, this is most probably the national revival of Israel prophesied by Paul in Romans 11:26.

This was Jesus’ primary application of the Kingdom in His ministry.  The fact that a carnal man expected an earthly rule does not change the original promise, from God, who is Spirit (John 4:24).  The fact that a student of the Word who does not understand the spirit realm does not understand the Kingdom of Heaven is predicted (1 Corinthians 2:14).  Again, as has been pointed out before, if by “Kingdom”, what you mean is something that any sinner could see and understand, it is not it (John 3:5).

The heavenly Kingdom always has direct effect on the physical reality (at all levels!).  Spirituality, for men, is linked to the physical creation, at least for now.  Dominion in the Spirit precipitates breakthrough in the natural.  It is the battles won in the unseen realm, that facilitate those in the visible.  It is precisely in the realm of the Spirit, where Christianity is lived, and its outflow and demonstration is immediately witnessed in the physical creation.  That is to say, the miracles are not the Kingdom, but are the demonstrations of it.  The Kingdom itself is like the wind, and the miracles like the things it blows away.

Consider this as you study the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), or the parables of the Kingdom.  The Kingdom of the Heavens is described, and, although it is only talked about, it always evokes a reaction in the Earth.  Rightly living in the Spirit yields a life that conforms to the eight “happy’s” of Matthew 5:3-11.  Wrong living will always, predictably and invariably deviate from God’s perfect law, usually in one of the ways directly described in the Sermon on the Mount.  The most simple of which is in anger.  Ungodly anger is always an indicator of something wrong on the inside, and is always an indication of living out of something other than the Kingdom of God, hence, His Spirit.  If we would understand that we cannot live any other way that how God planned, and that we cannot live that way through any other means other than by His Spirit, we would appropriate unto ourselves that which is fully provided for in the Gospels, which is, namely, His Kingdom.  Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:16).

The pure heart is the strongest heart, and the only thing recorded in scripture as being as powerful as death itself, and as unyielding as the grave, is love (Song 8:6).  This is more than simply pretty poetry.  If you are looking to survive, it is truly your life line.  Anything else, whether it be world-overthrow, demonic infrastructure upheaval, or world-ruler displacement (recommended reading would be Rees Howells: Intercessor), while a demonstration and an outflow of the Kingdom, depends upon this basis, this foundation, this love.  Without this love, everything else is meaningless.  With it, with faith working through it, it is powerful and effective in the pulling down of strongholds and destroying the works of the enemy.

The biggest mistake a study in the Kingdom is to look at the coming of the Son of Man as anything but stemming from this.  While His robe is dipped in blood, it is only in divine perfection of judgement, stemming from a perfect heart of love, that kingdoms are overthrown and wine-press of wrath pressed out.  The nature of the Kingdom will never change, while the expression, the things being particularly done as visible in the Earth, are dependent upon the factors making up the current situation.

God could choose to invade at any time, throw out the serpent, and simply take over.  He has the power, and probably the right.  Yet, the foundation of His throne and rulership is righteousness and justice.  It is only by His perfect Wisdom that He administers the whole, and to separate that from any view of the Kingdom, or to assume that things are motivated out of any other place than where it all began, is in error.  This was the mistake of the Pharisees, then and today.

The Interpretation of the Dream

Daniel 7:15-18

I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this.

So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

The dream is interpreted by one standing there.  The beasts are kingdoms, as in Daniel 2.  But, the good news, the gospel, is that the saints will receive the Kingdom and possess it forever.  For, most happy are the poor in Spirit, for theirs IS the Kingdom of Heaven…  And, most happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs IS the Kingdom of Heaven.  Both present tense.

Of note, the YLT translation of “receive the kingdom and will possess it forever” reads , “and receive the kingdom do the saints of the Most High, and they strengthen the kingdom unto the age, even unto the age of the ages.” (Daniel 7:18 YLT).  Here, receiving the kingdom is described, followed by its strengthening to unto the age and the age of the ages (sum of all ages).  The fact that things will get better is not the issue.  The question is whether in some form the Kingdom is here already, to which we MUST say yes, that it is today “set up”.  The Kingdom had come upon them.  It’s progression into maturity, to finally a full head of grain, however, come from the original seed, and not as a derivative or from other source.  The entire tree is contained within the single acorn, simply add time, water, and sunlight with some good soil.  We are not looking for another Kingdom, were are simply looking for the rock to be the mountain.  It is still possible that “set up” could refer to a later, more complete consummation of all things, such as the resurrection, but even as that is so, it would also be expedient to note that Jesus spent His entire ministry teaching on the Kingdom, and telling us how to make it “ours” (Matthew 5:3, 10).  If we neglect what we have, it will be taken from us, but if not, more will be given.  While “set up” could possibly refer to a greater setting up in the future, of assurance, Jesus came and “set up” and put the saints in possession of, His one and only Kingdom.

The Fourth Beast Explained

Daniel 7:19-25

Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

The fourth beast is explained, as well as its horns and horn.  It devours the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.  There are 10 plus 1 kings, and they will do as written.  He will be handed over for, as it is, 3.5 years.  If one wants a preterist (past-fulfillment) interpretation of this horn, there are plenty that would suffice.  Vespasian or Titus would do.  Fitting all the details of this horn from Chapter 7 is not my speciality, whereas other people much more versed in this specific history have done so to satisfy the criteria in their eyes.  Critics will always disagree, but, as always, my focus is the Kingdom.  My only real question is, despite the issues in the world, and despite all the rest, is this:  is the spiritual beast of Rome still devouring the whole Earth?  To this question, as compared to the year, say, 50BC, or even 50AD, I would have to answer a resounding “no”.  It was spiritually broken some time ago, and was scattered by the wind until no place was found for it.  There is no Rome or any world-ruling power in the Earth today, nor has there for some 1500 years.

We may have remnants of it here and there, and there are forms of the Babylonian, Medo/Persian, and Grecian systems prevalent throughout the world, and it is not by accident that nations, even America, adopt strong Greek typology in the founding of their nation, but, as is said, its world-wide dominion has been stripped, exactly as predicted.  We might see the first three beasts still, but not as they were.

Court Judgement

Daniel 7:26-28

‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

Finally, there is the court judgement.  It isn’t clear how often the court sits.  Why this has to be interpreted by some as a one-time event is beyond me.  I would hope that judgments are proceeding regularly from the throne, especially as its foundation is righteousness and justice.  I have no fear of being overlooked, of course, even if in this life I do not see my justice, because I know that He is faithful, and He is a debtor to no one.  But, why a court wouldn’t sit whenever there was a trial is unknown to me.

As for the rest, the sovereignty, power, and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven behing handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High.  The fact that Christ is reigning now, seated at the right hand of the Most High is evident.  He is the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, and there is none other.  As Paul wrote, “For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26).  Christ is reigning.  What is He reigning in?  His Kingdom, of course!  The YLT reads “kingdom, dominion, and greatness”.  While it may not be in its fullness, and under total dominance, they are under our jurisdiction, as Jesus instructed Peter, “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18).

Growth is expected, enemies are determined to be defeated before us.  The reign will continue until the last enemy, death, is defeated, and then Christ Himself will subject Himself to the One who subjected all things to Him, the Father.  When a prayer-less church decides that we have no authority over sickness and disease simply because they have not seen it in their lifetime, contrary to what the Word says, they are in error and are deceived.  Despite how things look to the natural eye, the Word is the standard.  Despite martyrdoms, trials, and other persecutions, Jesus said that nothing would by any means harm us (Luke 10:19).  Regardless of anyone’s personal experience, the truth of scripture remains the Truth, and must not ever be compromised.

The truth of the matter is, that as we submit to His Spirit and faith in His name, all of the Earth responds.  We are not primarily moved by the situation in the natural, but by faith.  If it is true, as it is said, that we don’t have any problems, all we need is faith in God, then the reason for the lack, for the blockage, and for the unkingdom-like appearance of the Earth falls somewhere in the domain of responsibility of us.  This is by no means to say that the world will be perfected through us unless God so decides, but rather that which was stated to Peter.  What we bind, is bound, and what we lose is loose.  Jesus said the limit was our faith, plain and simple, and any explanation of the lack of Kingdom that does not include an exposition of faith lacks the context of the Spirit that Jesus gave it for us.  Lest we forget, Jesus also lived in perfect faith and got crucified, but this was both in accordance with the perfect will of the Father, and is not the end of the story.  What looked like defeat turned into the greatest victory of all time!

His Kingdom is Eternal, and as I read my Bible, all authority in Heaven and Earth, so long as I am in Christ, belong to me (Matthew 28:18).