Biblical Research Studies Group- Studies In The Book Of Daniel-The Fourth Vision


	Studies in the Book of Daniel Installment IX THE FOURTH VISION "I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed" (Dan. 7:13,14). After the Almighty pronounces His judgment upon the Antichrist, one "like unto the son of man" comes, even before the Judge of the universe, the Ancient of Days. He is at this time invested with authority and power to reign over all peoples, nations, and languages upon the face of the globe. His dominion will be an everlasting one which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Who is this one "like unto a son of man," appearing before the Ancient of Days and receiving universal sway? Our passage does not give any hint as to His identity; but, when we study such a prediction as Isaiah 7:14, which foretells the virgin birth of the Messiah, we see that this King is God in human form. Many are the passages throughout the Old Testament which show that the Messiah is the God-man, which present His entire career, and which foretell His incarnation, life's work, sufferings, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God while He awaits the time when God will put His enemies under His feet. The counterpart to this teaching is found in the New Testament. When one studies both the Old Testament predictions and the New Testament account of Jesus of Nazareth, together with the prophecies found therein, one is immediately convinced that this one, "like unto a son of man," can be none other than Jesus of Nazareth, the God-man who has fulfilled the Old Testament program to date, and who is awaiting the development of events of the end-time when He will, in fulfillment of the fourth vision of Daniel 7, go into the presence of the Almighty and be invested with world dominion and power. When He does that, He will return and establish His reign of righteousness upon the earth. All these facts are in perfect accord with the parable of our Lord, recorded in Luke 19:11f. Because He was drawing near to Jerusalem and because the people thought that the kingdom of God in its glorified form was to be established immediately, Jesus spoke the parable of the pounds, saying that the kingdom of God is like unto a man who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return, but before making his departure he delivered to his servants his goods, to each one a pound. To them he gave instructions that they should use this money in a profitable way. Then the nobleman went into the far country. When he received his kingdom, he returned and rewarded his servants according to their works. Jesus is the nobleman of the parable. Heaven is the far country. Believers are the servants who should now be using their pounds for the glory of God and the blessing of humanity. Jesus is still in heaven awaiting the development of the events of the end-time when the Father will take His seat upon the throne, in fulfillment of Daniel 7:9-12, and pronounce judgment upon the Antichrist. By the time He does this, He will have put Messiah's enemies under His feet (Ps. 110:1,2). As soon as this is done, the Son will appear before the Father and receive authority to establish His reign of righteousness upon earth (Dan. 7:13,14). When this program is compared with the many passages bearing upon this subject, it is seen that all relevant matter harmonizes with it. Special Points Regarding the Four Beasts I have already called attention to the fact that one is acting arbitrarily if he assumes an interval of time between the kingdoms symbolized by the various metals of the image vision or by the beasts of Daniel 7. It is unthinkable to assume that the gold of the head did not reach to the silver of the chest. The same thing is true with reference to the silver of the chest and the brass of the belly. In the same manner we are forced to believe that the brass of the belly made contact with the iron of the legs. There was no break in the continuity as indicated by the metals of the image. This same unbroken continuity is likewise indicated by the beasts, each coming up immediately after its predecessor. Moreover, each beast remained upon the stage after its appearance until it was replaced by the next one. The lion-like beast set forth the Babylonian Empire throughout the period of its existence--until it went down under the Medo-Persia power. The same thing is true of the bear-like beast symbolizing Medo-Persia. This animal represented that empire throughout its entire career--from the time it succeeded the Babylonian Kingdom until it went down under the Greeks. The same principle is maintained with reference to this empire, which was succeeded, as all historians avow, by the Roman Empire. If we accept this sane, sound course of reasoning with reference to the fourth beast, we are to understand that it represents the Roman Empire from the time that it succeeded the Greeks until the Ancient of Days takes His seat upon the throne at the end of this age and passes judgment upon its last emperor, the Antichrist. Absolute confirmation of this interpretation is found in the actual text. In Daniel 7:9 we have these words: "I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire." Daniel beheld "till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit." What did Daniel behold? When one reads verses 7 and 8, he sees that Daniel was looking at the nondescript beast, the fourth one. Hence his statement, "I beheld till thrones were placed," means that he saw the beast when it arose and kept looking at it until the judgment was placed in heaven, which, as has been stated and as all know, will be at the end of this age. Thus, Daniel tells us that he saw the rise of this beast and that he observed its developments and movements throughout its entire existence--from its rise until the Ancient of Days takes his seat upon the throne. This language is absolute and positive proof that the fourth empire, Rome, which succeeded Greece, appeared on the historical scene and has remained in full view through the centuries and will continue thus until the Ancient of Days takes his seat upon the throne. To bring this thought out more graphically, let us again imagine that we are looking at a moving picture. We see the waters of the great sea troubled. Presently there emerges from the surging billows a terrible beast which cannot be compared with any known animal. It comes upon the shore, and it takes possession of countries and extends its borders far and wide. It is master of all it surveys. Daniel sees the picture before him. He notices every motion and all developments. This picture remains before the prophet's gaze from the time it is first thrown upon the screen until the Ancient of Days pronounces judgment upon it. It may seem needless to emphasize the negative part of this proposition; yet it might be beneficial to some. This fourth beast never disappears from sight from the time that it comes upon the screen until the judgment scene is thrown upon the upper screen, which represents the courtroom in heaven. These facts show that the government which is thus symbolized makes its appearance upon the historical arena and never disappears until the end of this age when the Almighty pronounces judgment upon it. Then its last emperor is cast into a place to be burned with fire. From all the facts we have ample Scripture proof to warrant the belief that Rome was the kingdom which succeeded Greece historically and that it has continued through the centuries to the present time and will remain here until the Almighty pronounces judgment upon it at the very end of the Tribulation. This evidence is in perfect harmony with that which is set forth by the legs of the image. As we have seen in our investigation, the legs are attached to the body of the image and continue all the way downward to the feet. This fact indicates that, after Rome was divided in 285 A.D. by Diocletian, as we know, it would continue in its outward form through the centuries until it reaches the toe-stage in the very end of the age. We know that Rome succeeded Greece as a world empire, that it reached the point when it was divided as indicated by the legs, and that according to the prediction it continues through the centuries to the end-time. In this connection let me again remind the reader that it is the perpetuity of the type of government that is affirmed here. We have already noticed in the study of the image vision that the continuity is in the type of government (the legs of iron and feet of iron and miry clay) and is not to be thought of in terms of local boundaries. A failure to recognize these important truths has led many excellent Bible teachers into serious misconceptions concerning the Roman Empire. Rome Will Yet Become A Universal Empire (Daniel 7:15-28) "As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 25 And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart." The angel, as we see in verse 17, explained the significance of the four beasts; namely, that they symbolize either the sovereign or his empire. Though Daniel was interested in all the beasts, the fourth one especially attracted his attention. Hence he asked concerning it. From verse 21 it seems that the vision of the fourth beast was again presented to the prophet. This is very easy for us to understand when we remember that a moving picture film, after it has been shown, might be run a second time in order to bring out or emphasize some point that was passed over at first. We might think of the portion of the vision that pertained to the fourth beast as being again, figuratively speaking, presented on the screen for a second study. When this was done, the interpreting angel explained the significance of the fourth beast's devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping the residue with its feet. Hence he declared, "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces" (verse 23). I wish the reader to note the fact that, according to the angel, this beast is to devour the whole earth. When the Lord said the whole earth, He meant exactly what He said and said what He meant. Let us recall that, when the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, we are to seek no other sense. The plain sense of this statement makes good sense. We are, therefore, to seek no other sense unless there is positive evidence in this context indicating differently, or unless it contradicts the teaching found in other passages. In verse 27 the angel informed Daniel that "the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High." Note the language: "the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven." This shows that there is to be a world kingdom and an international dominion, but this kingdom consists of sub-kingdoms. In other words, it will be the union of all the kingdoms of the world under one centralized government--all kingdoms under the whole heaven. This is a fundamental teaching of the Scriptures and must be so recognized by all prophetic students; otherwise construed, there can result nothing but confusion and discord. But one might, in rebuttal, call attention to the decree issued by Caesar Augustus, "that all the world should be enrolled" (Luke 2:1). Does this expression, "all the world," mean the entire world or the Roman world? God expects people to use common intelligence as they read His Word. When the King of England issues a proclamation, do those outside of his realm have to obey? The answer is. No. Orders by kings and emperors are to their subjects and not to those without their realms and jurisdiction. The facts of history and of common sense and experience show us that the expression "all the world" in this passage refers to the Roman world only. This same word, however, occurs in Romans 10:18 with a different connotation. The apostle in speaking of the gospel declared that "Their sound went out into all the earth," and, as a complementary statement in this "Hebrew parallelism," said, "and their words unto the ends of the world." When we recognize that the second statement is a comment upon the first, we see that the very word used by Luke, when employed by Paul, indicates the entire earth. This same usage one sees in Hebrews 2:5-7. An examination of the context shows that the writer is talking about the entire earth in the Millennial Age. I could examine every occurrence of this expression in the Greek New Testament. In each instance the facts of the context indicate its meaning. As another counter-argument to the position which I am advocating, our attention is called to such a passage as Acts 2: 5 where we are told that there were Jews dwelling in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven. Is this statement, "from every nation under heaven," to be taken literally? or in a limited sense? The facts of the context alone can decide. If one will only read Acts 2:5-13, he will see that Luke was not using this language in the absolute sense of the term, for he limits its meaning by calling attention to the various nations represented in the multitude. Thus arguments based on Luke 2:1,2 and Acts 2:5,6 and similar ones to show that "the whole world" in Daniel 7:23 does not mean literally what it says are seen to have no bearing on the issue whatsoever. Let us always remember that words have various shades of meaning and that there is a relative as well as an absolute use of language. The facts of each context must determine the significance of a term in any given case. Since there is nothing in Daniel 7 to indicate that "the whole earth" is not to be taken literally, we shall do well to accept it at its face value. Moreover, we are forced to acknowledge the correctness of this position since positive evidence in the form of verse 27 shows that this fourth kingdom is to devour the whole earth--it is to be "the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven." Furthermore, we must remember that there are other predictions in the Word which show that the Roman Empire is to be a universal one in every sense of the term. For instance, John in Revelation 13, speaking of the beast, said, "And there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation." What does this language mean? There is but one interpretation possible, which is that every nation upon the face of the globe will be incorporated in this kingdom in the end-time. Additional proof of this position is seen in Revelation 11:15 which asserts that there were great voices in heaven saying, "The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever." The Authorized Version speaks of "the kingdoms of the world" in this passage, but the American Revised Edition, following the Greek accurately, speaks of "the kingdom of the world." The existence of one universal kingdom in the end-time is in perfect alignment with the teaching of Haggai 2:20-22. The Lord in speaking to Zerubbabel, the Governor of Judah, after the return of the exiles from Babylon, foretold the shaking of the heavens and the earth, which prediction we know refers to the time of the Tribulation, saying, "... and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them" etc. Here we see "the throne of kingdoms"--different kingdoms but one throne controlling them. In view of this plain teaching, we therefore are forced to believe that the fourth beast, the symbol of Rome, will, as Daniel asserts, devour the whole earth, will tread it down, and will break it in pieces. According to verse 23, this fourth beast, which succeeded the third one, devours the whole earth. As has been shown, Rome has never swallowed up the earth in fulfillment of this passage. Has the Word of God failed? Positively not. Since it was foretold that she will devour the whole earth, and since she has not done so, we may be absolutely certain that she will yet play the role here foretold. But did not Rome follow Greece and did she not disappear from the historical scene? These are pertinent questions that must have a candid and full answer. As was suggested above, Daniel beheld the fourth beast when it came forth out of the troubled waters of the sea. He saw it come upon the land; he continued to look upon it until the Ancient of Days took His seat upon the throne and passed judgment upon it. These facts show that, according to the prophetic vision, Rome was not to disappear after its historic rise but is to continue through the centuries until it devours the entire earth at the end-time. When I speak of Rome, I refer to political Rome. I mean the type of government that first found expression in the reign of the ancient Caesars. That type came up in fulfillment of the prediction, has persisted through the centuries, and will yet assert itself, become dominant, and swallow up the entire earth. From this conclusion there can be no possible escape, the Word of God being true.