# Daniel Chapter 7

> The four beasts from the sea, the little horn, and the judgment seated before the Ancient of days.

- Source: https://timeisathandlive.org/studies/daniel/chapter-7
- Site: Time Is At Hand Evangelistic Ministries (https://timeisathandlive.org)
- Topics: Bible study, Daniel, Prophecy
- Licence: free to read, quote and share, with attribution.

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## Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

In the light of prophecy, we can see the hand of God guiding and overruling throughout history. The sure word of prophecy outlines the course of this world’s history and sets up way marks along the path that leads to the everlasting kingdom of God.

The seventh chapter of Daniel is one of four visions giving an outline of worlds history from Daniel’s time until the end of the world. The first one is the vision of the great image given to Nebuchadnezzar in chapter two. The next is the vision of the ram and the he goat in chapter eight that outlines world history starting with the kingdom of the Medes and Persian. The next one is chapters eleven and twelve that outlines the leagues and conflicts and other events from Darius until the end of the world. These prophecies reveal to us the effort of satan to gain control over the world-with the use of political, military, and ecclesiastical systems. At times it seems as if satan is conquering- for 1260 years his power of darkness prevailed- but the prophecies reveal to us that in the end CHRIST will establish His everlasting kingdom.

The first six chapters of Daniel recount Daniel’s intervention in the lives of kings and God’s intervention in the lives of Daniel and his fellow captives. In the first six chapters we can see Daniel’s interpretations of the visions and dreams of Babylon’s leaders; chapters seven through twelve recount specific prophetic visions that God revealed directly to Daniel. Daniel seven runs parallel with chapter two -highlighting the rise and fall of world empires.

> **Daniel 7:1** — In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

Daniel was now about seventy years. This was about nine years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar-about 553 B.C- the first year of Belshazzar his grandson.

This chapter features the first recorded account of Daniel himself having a dream or a vision. When he awoke, Daniel recorded the details of the vision because he knew the importance of it- he accurately documented what God had revealed through this prophetic vision. It outlines the Political, military and ecclesiastical History of the world. He wrote the dream lest he should forget it and he told the sum of the matters to his brethren the Jews, and gave it to them in writing, that it might be communicated to generations after him.

This sure word of prophecy has outlined the course of this world’s history, and sets up way marks along the path that leads to God’s everlasting kingdom. We can see the hand of God guiding the affairs of this planet in preparation for the coming of CHRIST.

This historical prophecy reveals Satan’s efforts to gain control of the world and his successive defeat-As the end approaches-he doubles his effort. 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Revelation 12:12 …. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

In the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, recorded in the second chapter of Daniel, the Lord revealed in brief but graphic details the course of history from the days of Babylon until the end of the world. The four great world monarchies were represented by various parts of the metallic image.

That prophecy described in particular the division of the Roman Empire into the kingdom of western Europe. Special emphasis is placed on the fourth great kingdom-especially its divided state; for the events taking place at this time (our time) are of deepest eternal interest to all people.

In Daniels vision of the four beasts, we are taken over the same course of history with more precise details. One after another the symbolic beasts arose, did their work, and gave way to the next scenes in history. The angel clearly explained the meaning of the dream to Daniel so that we can understand it today. Special emphasis is placed on the fourth great kingdom-especially its divided state; for the events taking place at this time (our time) are of deepest eternal interest to all people.

> **Daniel 7:2** — Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

Winds are used as a symbol for war (Jeremiah 25:31-33), and sea or water (Revelation 17:15) denotes peoples or nations. This imagery of winds used to accomplish God’s purposes appears in other scriptural texts as well, and usually signals God’s approaching judgment upon rebellious nations (Jeremiah 49:36-37; 51:1)Daniel saw the clashing of nations in war, and out of these conflicts arose the kingdoms described in this prophecy.

The emphasis on these winds being “of heaven” implies that they were both monitored and controlled by God Himself to fulfil His providential will. Left alone, they would be most destructive and successful in wiping out the religion of God, but God keeps them under control.

> **Daniel 7:3** — And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Four great symbolic beasts (literal kingdoms) arose from the sea (among people), each beast varied one from the other but they all came from the same place (among the people).

> **Daniel 7:4** — The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

As the lion is king of the beasts- this was a fitting symbol of Babylon at the time of its glory. Isaiah 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 13:20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

As the king of the beasts, the lion was a fitting symbol of Babylon “the glory of kingdoms” The first beast of the vision is a symbol of Babylon. A lion denotes strength, and the eagle’s wings represents speed. Lions tear at their prey with their sharp claws and powerful jaws, and their teeth can slice through the toughest flesh. The eagle’s wings (depicts) rapidity of movement and far-reaching conquest. The prophet Habakkuk had this to say of this great kingdom: Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

Habakkuk 1:8 (KJV).

The lion is the king of all beasts, and the eagle is the king of all birds. Since ancient times, the eagle has symbolized courage and power. It possesses superb aerial skills. The bird’s wings give it the ability to flee danger but also to swiftly attack its prey.

This first beast, which looked like a lion with the wings of an eagle, had four feet, yet stood upon its hind legs as a human upon his feet. Daniel’s observations of this beast indicate that it had been weakened considerably. First, the feathers of its wings were “plucked off,” thereby stripping the beast of its swiftness. Secondly, the beast was forced to “stand on two feet like a human,” so it was unable to utilize its full potential of power. Finally, it no longer had the strong, courageous heart of a lion. Instead, it was given the weak, timid, and fearful heart of man. This depicts a weakened kingdom.

The Babylonian king conquered Egypt, Syria, Arabia, and all the kingdoms that reigned before it. But, at the time of this vision – the kingdom was falling apart. The lion heart was gone, the eagle’s wings were plucked- within a short period after the vision- Babylon was overthrown. Babylon became weak and fell prey to a more inferior kingdom-(the Medo-Persian Kingdom).

> **Daniel 7:5** — And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The predatory agility of a bear lacks in comparison to a lion’s coordination. A bear moves awkwardly; therefore, it must conquer with its crushing brutal strength. This profound strength can literally obliterate anything in its path, so the bear’s presence poses a threat and must never be underestimated. When a bear attacks, it mauls and rips the flesh of its prey. This bear is symbolic of Media-Persia.

The Medes and Persian overthrew Babylon. Media-Persia was a dual kingdom, lifting itself up on one side. History shows that the Median branch was stronger, then the Persian, under Cyrus and his successors rose higher fulfilling the vision. The two-sided characteristic is a distinguishing mark in the prophecy. It had three ribs in its mouth-a symbol of three principal powers that formed alliance against Persia, but were subdued (Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt).

This symbolic bear should arise and devour much flesh describing the victorious conquest of that kingdom over its opponents.

> **Daniel 7:6** — After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

A leopard is a fierce creature—slim and swift yet strong and agile. It cunningly calculates an attack, so that when it does attack, its movements are swift and sure, leaving its prey no time to react. This strange symbolic leopard-like beast typifies rapid conquests, it has four-heads and four wings on its back.

Despite the leopard’s great speed and agility-the symbolic vision described it as having four wings-depicting incomparable speed.

Daniel explains that it has four heads-a symbols indicating that this kingdom would be ruled by four heads simultaneously. This beast power was also given dominion, which reveals it to be a dominant world power. This third beast is a symbol of Grecia under the leadership of Alexander- the four heads represent the kingdom in its divided state under the leadership of four generals of Alexander. After conquering the world- Alexander the so called great died and because he never had children- his kingdom was divided between his four generals.

> **Daniel 7:7** — After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

The fourth beast is not likened to any creature in the natural world- according to Daniel it is terrible and dreadful. It had iron teeth, it devoured and break in pieces and stamped the residue and it was diverse from all the other beast that were before it and it had ten horns. This fourth beast represents the same iron power portrayed in Nebuchadnezzar dream. The four kingdoms of Daniel seven runs parallel with the image of chapter two-therefore the ten horns must also parallel with the ten toes of iron mixed with clay- the divided kingdoms. The empire of Rome suffered a series of upheavals and invasions from barbarian tribes- during that it disintegrated into ten independent states. According to chapter two-it is in the days of these kings when they are trying to bring about a united empire Christ will come.

> **Daniel 7:8** — I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Out of the division of the Roman Empire emerged a little horn- which became stouter than its fellows. Amongst the independent states were three (Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths), that embraced Arianism (a rival of Catholicism)and they stood in the way of the papacy’s rise to power. They were destroyed both root and branches.

The first barbarian tribe to be rooted up (the first horn), is the Heruli who antagonized the Catholics by his acceptance of the Arian faith. The pope invoked the aid of Zeno, the Eastern empire, who permitted the Ostrogoth, Theodoric, to invade Italy and establish the Ostrogothic kingdom in A.D 493.

The next horn power was the Arian who offended the papacy by persecuting the Catholics. Justinian, Emperor of the east, sent an army at the pope’s request. Carthage was sacked in A.D 534 and the vandal power utterly destroyed.

The final horn power to be uprooted was the Ostrogoths. Theodoric lost favour when he persecuted the Romanists in his dominion. Again, Justinian came to the rescue in AD 533, he pronounced the pope as head over all bishops and corrector of heretics. The little horn got rid of its rivals and became stouter than its fellows. After some years of conflict, the Ostrogoths were finally expelled, and the pope was left without a rival in Rome (538 A.D. the beginning of the 1260 years rule). and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

The prophecy tells us that another horn was to arise after Rome had been divided into ten divisions- that horn is the papacy. The new power was to rise from within the empire of Rome after it was divided. This little horn power is to come from the same source as the other ten horns, or kingdom. It would only come up after three of the ten horns (kingdoms) were destroyed. This horn would be diverse in nature from the others. Although, a kingdom, it would be a different kind of kingdom. The others were civil-this one would be civil-religious. This new horn power would look stouter than his fellows. It speaks through the mouth of a man, In it were eyes like man and a mouth speaking great things. A man was to be at the head of this power, a man with eyes and a human mouth.

The Ancient of Days Reigns Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Daniel watched this scene of the dreadful beast with the ten horns and the little horn until the thrones were cast down. These thrones of authority belong to the kingdoms and empires represented by the beasts described in the previous verses. The Ancient of days is God the father- this descriptive expression is used to highlight the infinitude of God the Father. Psalm 90:2 (KJV) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

We must exercise great caution when it comes to symbolic visions. John 1:18 (KJV) No man hath seen God at any time…Daniel only saw a representation of the father in vision. In this case His white garment is a symbol of purity-His hair, white as wool, depicts His wisdom, glory, and authority. God is seated upon His white throne in all of His beauty, majesty, and holiness as king over all -must have been an incredible sight to behold in vision. Revelation 4:2-4, And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

> **Daniel 7:10** — A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

A fiery stream flowed from the throne of the Ancient One, and a vast multitude waited upon Him. Ten thousand times ten thousand, stood in awe before the holiness of the Lord God Almighty. 1Timothy 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Daniel 7:10…. the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

This has to do with the pre-advent judgment (Investigative Judgment or the anti-typical day of atonement).The pre-advent judgment is a belief that the final judgment will occur before the second coming (or advent) of Christ. This concept is different from the common belief that the judgment takes place after the second coming. According to scripture a pre-advent judgment started in the year 1844, (Daniel 8:14) it is known as the investigative judgment. It will conclude at the close of probation before the return of Christ. Rev. 22:12 (KJV) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. When He comes He will give rewards, not to conduct judgment.

> **Daniel 7:11** — I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

The judgment is designed to vindicate God and render justice to those who suffer for the cause of God. Those who suffered under the power of the little horn power. If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth… Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecclesiastes. 8:11. Daniel observed the little horn because of the words it was speaking-he watched until the beast was slain, and his body destroy by burning. The papacy will be finally destroyed at the end.

> **Daniel 7:12** — As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. Of the three preceding beasts, unlike the final beast, these remained awhile after their dominions were taken away. They lost their power but continued for some time. But after the fourth beast and the little horn- there is no more word kingdom nor state in which mortal rule-they ended in a lake of fire.

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Daniel 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, 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.

This scene describes one like the Son of man receiving His kingdom, from the father before He comes to earth. Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us.

Luke 19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Daniel's Vision Interpreted Daniel 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

Seeing the Son of Man and the Ancient of days did not trouble Daniel. His distress resulted from his uncertainty, specifically the last beast and the little horn. Daniel did not fully understand the symbolic meaning of the bests, but he knew the vision was of great significance.

> **Daniel 7:16** — I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

Daniel approached someone standing nearby, this being is not identified- but Daniel asked the meaning of the things he observed Whenever we sincerely inquire of the Lord for spiritual enlightenment- He has one standing by to help us, (Hebrew 1:14).

> **Daniel 7:17** — These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. The beasts are symbols of world kingdoms with kings or rulers ruling them, Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

The saints, those throughout the ages who are redeemed through the atonement blood of Christ and faith in God, “the Most High,” will inherit the final kingdom, which is eternal. What a great promise that we are given in this verse-the blessed assurance of every believer’s inheritance of God’s everlasting kingdom, a world without end. All earthly kings and governments will pass away, but the kingdom of God will endure forever. The monopoly and misrule of unreasonable men will only be for a while but will soon come to an end. This earth will finally be restored to God the rightful owner- and He will share His kingdom with the saints. Isaiah 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. Isaiah 51:11 (KJV) Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

> **Dan 7:19** — Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; Having resolved the matter of the previous three beasts - Daniel sought to understand the meaning of the fourth beast. This beast represents the fourth major kingdom of the world, the Roman Empire, which continues as a model for present-day governmental systems.

Rome was the seat of Satan. The kingdom was always under his control. Daniel 8:24 (KJV) And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

It was the fourth kingdom (Imperial Rome), and the events that followed it, that mostly captured the interest of Daniel. He wanted to know the truth about it and the angel explained it for him.

> **Daniel 7:20** — And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Daniel was keen to understand the meaning of the Ten horns that protruded from the head of the fourth beast. Of which three of the ten horns fell when “the other,” the little horn with the eyes of a man, arose. He interested to know about the little horn that spoke with a mouth, and had much influence with his words, and appeared greater than the other horns.

> **Daniel 7:21** — I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; The prophet beheld the division of the Roman Empire into ten lesser states. Then springing up among these kingdoms, he saw the little- horn power subduing three of the ten kingdoms. He saw the same little horn (the Papacy) speaking blasphemy and making war with the people of God. The little horn power ruled over the kings of the earth and assumed religious dominion over the faith and conscience of all people.

History has provided us with enough evidence, pointing to the papacy as the only power that occupied the seat of Imperial Rome. This ecclesiastical power rose to supremacy 538AD – it held sway over all the other kingdoms of divided Rome- exalting itself above them with a look- more stouter than its fellows. Papal Rome is the only power that totally match this description in every detail- speaking great words and making war with the people of God. Search through history and you’ll find no other power rising at that time and in that place which correspond with the prophecy. Daniel saw that the little horn would attack the saints and overpower them for a period of time. “It was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them.

> **Daniel 7:22** — 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.

In the previous verse the saints were defeated by the little horn and depicted as victims, yet in this verse the saints ruled as victorious conquerors because God’s judgment had vindicated their suffering. This sudden and absolute turn of events did not come to pass due to any military strategy of the saints but, because of the judgment of God the Ancient One, Who will ultimately give His saints possession of the earth. The eternal kingdom of God will manifest itself at that point with the reign of the Lord Christ. At that time the saints will get a chance to assist with the judgment as the fate of the wicked is determined (I Cor. 6: 2,3).

> **Daniel 7:23** — Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

Imperial Rome is the fourth beast according the vision.

> **Daniel 7:24** — And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

The ten-independent states of Europe are the ten horns out of which the papacy came after destroying three of them and fixing itself as the eight.

> **Daniel 7:25** — And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

According to the angel the papacy was to have supremacy over the saints and would attempt to change times and laws. The papacy brought about many changes to times and laws that caused great confusion in the world. The start of the year from springtime to winter (March-April to January). They changed the start time of the day from sunset to mid-night. They are now trying to change the first day of the week to Monday in order to get Sunday to be the seventh. They started Sunday worship in place of Sabbath on the seventh day of the week. T

The prophecy foretold a long period of time of 1260 (Time equals 360+times720+half a time180=1260) years during which the papal power would continue its dominance. According to the word of the angel to Daniel, there was to be a period during which, the Papacy was to hold supremacy over the saints and the times and the laws of the Most High. "They shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." In prophecy the word "time," used in this manner, means a year: Therefore a time (one year) and times (two years) and the dividing of time (half a year) means three years and a half. The same period is mentioned twice in the twelfth chapter of Revelation, once (verse 14) as "a time, and times, and half a time," and again (verse 6) as "a thousand two hundred and threescore days." In this symbolic representations of time in prophecy, a day stands for a year (see Eze. 4:5, 6, and other scriptures). Thus the prophecy foretold a long period of 1260 years during which papal supremacy would continue.

When did this supremacy begin? what would mark the rise of the Papacy to acknowledged supremacy? and what events mark the ending of the 1260 years? In AD533 the emperor Justinian promulgated a letter, having the force of an imperial decree, recognizing the absolute headship of the Bishop of Rome over the churches. It declared: "We have been sedulous to subject and unite all the priests of the Orient throughout its whole extent to the see of Your Holiness.... For we do not suffer that anything which is mooted, however clear and unquestionable, pertaining to the state of the churches, should fail to be made known to Your Holiness, as being the head of all the churches. For, as we have said before, we are zealous for the increase of the honor and authority of your see in all respects."—Cod. Justin., lib. 1, title 1, Baronii "Annales Ecclesiastici," Tom. VII, an. 533, sec. 12 (Translation as given in "The Petrine Claims," by R.F. Littledale, p. 293).

From this decree the Roman authorities date the official recognition of the supremacy of the Papacy. Just here we find the Papacy lifted definitely into acknowledged supremacy. Imperial Rome had already left its ancient seat to the Papacy, the imperial throne being no longer maintained at Rome. The Bishop of Rome was left the chief figure in the vacant ancient seat of the Cæsars. The prophecy of Rev. 13:2 had said of the relation of the old imperial power to the Papacy, The seat was given, and now imperial Rome was to give to papal Rome the definite recognition of its supreme power and "great authority."

The "great authority" had been recognized. But at this time the Arian powers compassed the papal seat about. The Arian Vandals were persecuting Catholics in Africa, Corsica, and Sardinia, and an Arian Gothic king ruled Italy from Ravenna, his capital. In 533-534 Justinian's famous general, Belisarius, uprooted the Vandals.

The war for the faith and the empire was carried into Italy also, against the Arian Goths. In 536 Belisarius, unopposed, entered Rome at the invitation of the Pope. But the next year the Goths rallied all their forces to retake the city. Though the conflict went on for years before the Goths were rooted up, this defeat of 538 was a crucial hour in history- which marked the start of the 1260 years. Exactly 1260 years later, in 1798, came the notable decree of the Papacy's once powerful supporter, France,—"the eldest son of the church,"—aiming to abolish church and religion, followed by a decisive stroke with the sword at Rome against the Papacy, in 1798. The pope was captured and died and taken into exile.

> **Daniel 7:26** — But dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

This will be the culmination of Satan’s evil reign on this planet-his seat (the Vatican) will cease to reign over the kingdoms of the world. God offers assurance that the awesome dominion of the kingdom of heaven will be granted to His saints. After judging the little horn, God will present the earth to His faithful followers, and all creation will dwell under the perfect authority of Christ Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Daniel had a panoramic view of the end of the world. He witnessed the turmoil that would befall mankind, but He also saw the glorious outcome. Fortunately, the persecution of God’s people will only last for a time, and then every ruler and dominion will bow to the Most High. God’s saints will finally unite with Him to abide forever in His heavenly kingdom.

> **Daniel 7:28** — Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

Daniel concluded his account by conveying all that needed to be said on the matter. As he considered these things laid before him in the vision, Daniel’s outward appearance changed because he felt burdened by knowing such momentous events. Daniel literally saw in vision, the devastation that awaited mankind. Nevertheless, he “kept the matters in his heart.” He did not tell anyone about his vision or its interpretation.