Pt. 18e Daniel’s Concluding Prophetic Visions
![Pt. 5, Serving Faithfully in Exile - Daniel
Pt. 18e, the Biblical Story: Daniel’s Concluding Prophetic Visions
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© September 7, 2014
www.pastorkennedy.com
Understanding the Dreams and Visions in the Book of Daniel
• Were the dreams and visions from God revealed in the book of Daniel so that the Nation of Israel would understand what her place would be in the world, after her exile, and what would happen in the end of times?
• Were these dreams and visions given so God’s Children throughout the ages would understand the “times of the Gentiles” and God’s dealing with the Nation of Israel – up until the “times of the end”?
I believe so.
Consider these verses, regarding the “Times of the Gentiles” in the Political history of the world – and in relationship to Israel…
Luke 21:24
24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. – Jesus, to His disciples…regarding Israel, Jerusalem and the “end times”
Daniel 12:7
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. – Angelic being speaking to Daniel
Romans 11:25
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. – The Apostle Paul
Israelites were obsessed with the desire to know when God would restore the kingdom to Israel.
• The Disciples had asked Christ numerous times about their place in His Kingdom (Matt. 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45).
• Peter, James and John had this on their mind when they witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1-13, see vs. 10-11; Mark 9:9-13).
• The Disciples had the “restoration of Israel” on their mind following Christ’s resurrection…just before He ascended into heaven!
Acts 1:6–9
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (see also Lk 19:11 Acts 3:19-21)
Daniel was seriously concerned for his nation and people.
The dreams and visions given to Daniel by God were centered on what God was going to do in the world and what was going to happen to Israel when it seemed they would be swallowed up by the Gentile world. God was revealing to Daniel the “Times of the Gentiles.”
In the End of the Age, there will come a day when the “Times of the Gentiles” will be finished, and all of Israel will turn to Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
Jesus Christ will be King of kings over all the earth, the Nation of Israel will be the dominant nation, and Jerusalem will be the center for Jesus Christ’s Throne.
Daniel 9:24
The Seventy Weeks
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place….”
– the angel Gabriel to Daniel
Zechariah 12:10–13:1
Him Whom They Have Pierced
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.
13 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”
We can see from this passage in Zachariah that Israel will one day repent; but, during “the Times of the Gentiles” Israel would continue in unbelief of her Messiah and there would be many terrible things happen to Israel before she turns to Christ.
In Luke 21, Jesus tells His disciples about the coming destruction of Jerusalem.
• In Luke 21, Jesus continues his discourse on when Jerusalem is surrounded by “armies” that “its desolation has come near”, with terrifying signs happening in the heavens, the “distress of nations,” and “roaring of the sea and the waves”, which is concluded with the “Coming of the Son of Man in a cloud, in power and glory”! That did not happen in AD 70 when Titus destroyed Jerusalem.
Luke 21:20–28
Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man follows “the Time of the Gentiles”
Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The “Times of the Gentiles” is Concluding!
• Was Jesus telling them about what was going to happen in AD 70, when the Roman Emperor Titus destroyed Jerusalem? Or, was Jesus speaking of a much more distant future event – an end of the world event?
• When Titus destroyed Jerusalem, the Roman army was the only conquering and destroying army present. Zechariah 14 speaks of “all the nations of the world” gathering against Jerusalem.
o In Luke 21:20, Jesus spoke about “armies” – plural, surrounding Jerusalem.
o In Zechariah 14:2 and Joel 3:2 the prophets speak about “all the nations” coming against Jerusalem to battle.
Zechariah 14:2
2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Daniel’s Concern for His People Israel
The Prophet Daniel was deeply concerned about his people, the Jews, during their time of exile in Babylon. We can see that great concern in his prayer for the Israelites in Daniel 9:1-19.
The Babylonian Exile
God’s Revelation of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
The Great Image formed from Four Metals Depicting Four Kingdom Empires that Rise to Dominate Control of the World
The Head of Gold – The Babylonian (Assyrian) Kingdom
• Chest and Arms of Silver – Medo-Persia
• Middle and Thighs of Bronze – Greece
• Legs of Iron – Roman Empire
o Feet and 10 Toes of Iron and Clay – End of Days Empire
• “A Stone” cut from a mountain without human hands (Christ, the Son of God, Dan. 7:13-14), which strikes the image on the feet, obliterating all the earthly kingdoms, bringing them to an end, and establishing God’s Eternal Kingdom.
God’s second confirmation of these four Gentile kingdoms through another prophetic vision to Daniel
Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts - Daniel 7:2-28
A beast like a lion with two wings (v. 4). (Consistent with the “head of gold” Babylonian Empire.)
A beast like a bear – leaning, with three ribs in his mouth (v. 5). (Consistent with the chest and arms of “silver” in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the Media-Persian Kingdom.)
A beast like a leopard with four wings (v. 6). (Consistent with the Middle and Thighs of Brass, in the Kingdom of Greece, initially under Alexander the Great, and subsequently divided to his four generals at Alexander’s death.)
A dreadful, terrifying and extremely strong beast with large iron teeth. (Consistent with the “Iron” legs of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the Roman Empire. The “End Time” era of this kingdom depicts 10 horns – 10 end-time kings (like the statue’s 10 toes) out of which a dominant world leader (little boastful horn, Dan. 7:20) arises - that many theologians identify as the “Antichrist” (2 Thess 2:3-4; Da 7:25; Da 8:25; Da 11:36; 2 Th 2:8; Re 13:5 ).
At the conclusion of each of these dreams and visions is “End of Times” with Christ’s Eternal Kingdom being established. There is no other revelation of other “kingdoms” (Daniel 7:21-22, 27-28).
Daniel 8 – an additional vision of the kingdoms of Media-Persia (Ram with “two horns” – Dan. 8:3) followed by Alexander the Great, of Greece (Goat with one conspicuous horn – Dan. 8:5) and then the continuation of Greece’s domination through the division of Alexander’s kingdom to his four generals (four wings on the leopard-beast - Dan. 7:6), the four horns which came up when the one horn was broken – Dan. 8:8.
A clear interpretation of the vision regarding Media-Persia and Greece is given in Daniel 8:20-22.
Daniel 8:20–22
20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power.
Daniel’s Prayer in Daniel 9 reveals the understanding he had of the completion of the 70 years of discipline prophesied by Jeremiah.
Daniel 9:2
2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
Daniel implores God to forgive the sins of the Israelites and restore them into the land…since Jeremiah had prophesied that after 70 years there would be those returning to the Promised Land (Dan. 9:3-19; Jeremiah 25:12).
The Jews were allowed to return and build the Temple and, eventually, the City of Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1 – see the books of Ezra and Nehemiah). This lasted until the temple Herod renovated was destroyed in AD 70.
But instead of confirming Israel’s return to the Promised Land after the 70-year discipline, God, through His angel Gabriel to Daniel revealed something even more critical about Israel’s final restoration – the “70-sevens” decreed for the nation (Daniel 9:20-27). [There are many good Biblical scholars who have detailed expositions on Daniel 9:20 to the end of the book of Daniel. I would encourage your reviewing several. A recommended source would be The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures Edited by J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck.]
Daniel’s vision with the prophecy given him in Daniel 11 reveals intricate details of what happened during the “silent years” before the Suffering Messiah is revealed to the world.
The 400 “Silent” Intertestamental Years following the Babylonian and beginning Media-Persian Empires
God revealed to Daniel what He was going to do in the world, and how that would relate to Israel through the 400 “silent years” from the last Old Testament Prophet, Malachi, until John the Baptist’s proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God and Messiah (John 1:29). There were no prophets recorded during those “Intertestamental” years (God’s 400 years of “silence” between the Old Testament and the New Testament). But, God’s revelation to Daniel gave the needed understanding to His People during that “silence”. The visions God gave Daniel speak to these years God was in complete control…even though there were those who questioned that God was watching over His People.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah comes. God Speaks through His Son. The New Testament is written.
The Church Age “Gap” – The Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to all the world.
After the Intertestamental Period, Daniel’s Visions Skip over the 2,000-year Church Age, when “the Gospel of Jesus Christ” is preached to all the world. Then Daniel’s visions link up again to speak of the times of the end, most likely during the “Tribulation Period”. The multiple visions fuse into one, regarding the final “10 Toe” clay mixed with iron kingdoms (which rise from the iron “legs” of the Roman Empire), and the “little horn’s” (antichrist’s) genealogical roots rising out of the four horns (Grecian Empire from the four generals of Alexander), together with the beast John saw in Revelation 13.
Daniel 8:9–12
9 Out of one of them (the 4 horns) came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. 11 It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper.
Daniel 8:22–25
22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.
Daniel 7:25
25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (3 ½ years/42 months)
Daniel 9:27
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
Daniel 11:36
36 “And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.
2 Thessalonians 2:3–4, 8
3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God….
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
Revelation 13:5 (read about the beast like a leopard [Dan. 7:6 - Greece] with 10 horns and 7 heads – Rev. 13:1-10)
5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
Daniel is also given a revelation of the times of the end.
Gentile Kingdoms Dominate until Christ’s Final Kingdom Comes
Gentile kingdoms, having domination over Israel, then the end of kingdoms of the world conclude and Christ’s Kingdom rules, in fact, over all the world.
Daniel 7:27-28a
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 shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
28 “Here is the end of the matter”….
There will come a day when the “times of the gentiles” will come to an end, and all of Israel will turn to Jesus Christ as their Messiah and He will be their Eternal King.
• Israel, as a nation, will turn to Jesus Christ at the 2nd Coming of Christ (following the Tribulation period) (Zechariah 12:10–13:1).
• The Millennial Kingdom will begin (following the Tribulation period), during which Jesus Christ will begin His rule as King over all the earth; ruling with “a rod of iron” (Dan. 2:44-45; Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15; 20:4). (See notes on the Millennium.)
• At the close of Christ’s Millennium Kingdom, the earth will be renovated by fire; the curse of sin (Rev. 22:3) and death (Rev. 21:4) will be destroyed; and there will be a “new heaven and a new earth” (2 Peter 3:10; Is. 65:17; Is. 66:22; Rev. 21:1 ).
• Jesus Christ will reign forever and ever over the new heaven and new earth in the New Jerusalem (Dan. 8:13-14; Is. 9:6 -7; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 21-22).
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me,
to repay each one for what he has done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.”
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.”
And let the one who hears say, “Come.”
And let the one who is thirsty come;
let the one who desires take the water of life
without price.
Revelation 22:12–13, 17](Pt._18e,_Daniels_Concluding_Prophetic_Visions_files/shapeimage_1.png)
