My recent foray into studying the book of Daniel has given me a heightened interest in eschatology. I plan on recounting some of my thoughts here, but first some things warrant mentioning.
- Even Daniel did not fully understand these things. The Bible tells us at the end of Daniel 7 that they disturbed him deeply, but he kept the matters in his heart. I don’t think we, as Christians, can ever hope to fully understand (or even begin to understand) prophecy unless God gives us understanding. To that end spend some time in prayer before you begin reading, I always find that I never learn much of anything without asking God for knowledge.
- Special care must be taken to try not to bring in any outside material. I know it is tempting, especially in a Christian society so pervaded by materials on the rapture and tribulation to draw inferences from something “we think we heard.” This is a focus on the words of the Bible. If your conclusions on the end times are based on scripture or has strong scriptural evidence then it can be considered.
Let’s begin: Our journey begins in Daniel 7. Daniel has a vision a year after Belshazzar takes power where he sees a sea shaken by winds from heaven. Out of that turbulent sea four animals come out.
The first is like a lion and has wings; it loses the wings and gains the mind of a man. The second is a bear that is already devouring flesh and is told to do so still. The third is a four headed leopard with four wings and it is given dominion.
The last is a beast that has little description other than being terrible and having ten horns. From those a little horn comes and displaces three of the ten horns. This little horn has eyes and a mouth and we are told that it is “speaking great things.” (v. 
That is the setting; next we see seats put out and the “Ancient of Days” (God for those of you who are unsure). Takes his seat, we get a brief description of him and his dominance and we learn that this is a court and God is taking a seat in judgment.
The last beast is then killed and burned. The other three lose their power but are allowed to stay alive for awhile. Then the “son of man” (should be a familiar term for those of you who have read the gospels) takes rulership and his kingdom lasts forever.
That is exactly what we are given in terms of the actual content of the dream. Daniel, who is as disturbed as most people who read this asks a nearby person what this all means.
He is told that the beasts are Kings (note that) and at the end of days the saints will have the kingdom that the beasts had.
Daniel asks about the fourth beast and the horn that seemed to take center-stage. Note in verse 21 that the little horn fights the saints and wins! He rules over them and is given dominion over them until God comes back. This isn’t to say we as Christians shouldn’t fight for what we believe in, but it does raise the issue that the only time our victory is assured is when God grants it. (This is already common knowledge it seems, but still important to remember).
Moving on, Daniel learns that the fourth beast is a kingdom. I find this interesting especially since it was referred to a king earlier. This may seem like an unimportant distinction but the fate of a nation and the fate of a ruler are very different things. For purpose of argument I will say that the terms are interchangeable and that the four beasts can be considered nations.
This fourth kingdom destroys the planet and all other kingdoms. There is either a ruling council of ten or a dynasty of ten kings. However, we know at least some of these rulers coexist because the little horn overthrows three of them.
Then this little horn, who is a ruler, (further evidence that the beasts represent kingdoms) speaks out against God and wears down the saints. This man will want to change the law and the times. I want to refrain from bringing political ideology into the discussion, but I think it is important to note that the ruler will be trying to do things a new way. The Bible than says that the saints will be given into his hand. Again, be ready for this. There is nothing wrong with being politically active, but I think Christians shouldn’t fool themselves. At some point we lose and the only thing that keeps us from being completely overcome is God’s intervention.
The Bible than refers back to the court of the most high who will judge the fourth beast and destroy him. It says his kingdom will be given to the saints.
Final point on this vision in Daniel; I do not believe that this kingdom refers to heaven. This is the kingdom that was ruled by the fourth beast. I do not believe we can theologically assert that the fourth beast who blasphemes God will ever rule in the kingdom of heaven. To my mind this is evidence for a period of rulership here on earth given to the saints.
Now. I wanted to keep away from “established” theories on eschatology until I reached the end of the chapter. I think the kingdom referred to here is referencing the millennial reign of God’s people, at some point.
I also note here that I see no evidence of rapture or that God’s people are not present for this persecution, popularly termed “tribulation.”
As my studies in eschatology continue I will not hesitate to compare the scripture to existing theories, but support for the traditional view of pre-tribulation rapture and then the millennial reign, I just don’t see it here.
