Reading:  Daniel 7-9
Posted:  September 23, 2014

Chapter 7:   the dream is interpreted for us, so there is no need to speculate about what it meant.  We know what it meant.  But that doesn't mean there isn't some room here for mystery.   For instance:  After the 4th beast (which is the Roman Empire) a small horn becomes large and begins to boast,  Popular thought is that this refers to Antiochus IV, who oppressed the Jewish people during the intertestamental period.   He decided to punish the people by offering pigs as sacrifices inside the temple.  That was the last straw for a guy named Judas Maccabeus, who then led a revolt.   that event takes us almost to the time of Christ.    So, when Daniel speaks of the court being seated, and the Ancient of Days taking his place, you could say that this refers to the time just before Christ.

However, the idea that "books are opened" and the beast is thrown into a blazing fire, coupled with one who looks like a "son of man" all lead us to believe that this is referring to end times.

Are verses 25-26 of Chapter 7 talking about the tribulation?   That seems logical, given what we just discussed, but a case could be made to support the point that all the other events here are long past, and were specific to the time of the Roman Empire, and those who immediately followed.

I choose to believe that Daniel saw the near future, but that he also caught glimpses of the distant future as well.    It seems right to assume that Antiochus was a foreshadowing of the beast who appears at the end of time.    God seems to be fond of foreshadowing significant events in human history.

In Chapter 8 the goat that comes and crushes the ram is Alexander the Great.   Alexander died while he was still young, and upon his death he gave authority and rule over his kingdom to his four generals.  They are the four horns that replace the first.

In Chapter 9 I want to highlight two different things;  1.  Daniel was a man of prayer and study, and he knew from reading Jeremiah's prophecy that the 70 year tribulation was about to end.  So he prayed accordingly.  I doubt that he would have done that had he known the exile would last another 50 years.   Knowing what is coming up, and praying  that it would unfold just as God promised is a noble endeavor.    We can be praying about the last days and the spread of the gospel message right now.

Secondly, the 70 sevens.  This is a little confusing, and probably disputed as well.   69 of the "sevens" are 483 years...that's how long it was between Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilding the temple and Jesus' birth.     That leaves one "seven"  which would mean 7 years and it's cut in half.....so 3 1/2 years.   That's the same amount of time that the saints are handed over to the king who subdues three other kingdoms in 7:25.  (a time, times and half a time = 3 1/2 years).   We generally accept that the coming tribulation will last 3 1/2 years, and quote this passage as our proof text.

I have always wondered why we accept so readily that there is such a large amount of time between the 69 "sevens" and the last "seven".    So far, I haven't found an answer, and it seems to be a very popular interpretation.

PR