Daniel, like most of the major and minor prophets, was of the lineage of Judah. Daniel and Zechariah are considered “end time prophets” by most Bible teachers. Daniel is the most acceptable book of the Bible according to most scholars, both religious and secular. Daniel’s prophecies went from the time of Babylon to the end of this age. We will only be dealing with the prophetic issues of this book, nothing more!
In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon in 586 BC, had a dream and could find no one to interpret it. God gave Daniel “learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshaz′zar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery which the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnez′zar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
Daniel 2:26-28
“You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it smote the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces; then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Daniel 2:31-35
...you are the head of gold. After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things; and like iron which crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the FEET AND TOES partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a DIVIDED KINGDOM; but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, SO THEY WILL MIX WITH ONE ANOTHER IN MARRIAGE, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever;
Daniel 2:37-44
Most theologians believe the iron mixing with the clay to be mixed marriages of various nationalities and/or religions. I would like to enter another theory on the subject. Perhaps it is the marriage between humans and angels. The word “Beast” in this book, when not referring to a beast of the field, is referring to a creature half human and half angelic, as with the anti-Christ (the first Beast).
As I looked, THE BEAST was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for THE REST OF THE BEASTS, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Daniel 7:11-12
Notice the ten toes being of iron mixed with clay referring to the ten kings as do the ten horns. Daniel links:
In the days of those kings...
Daniel 2:44
...with the rest of the beasts..
As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Daniel 7:12
...suggesting it is the kings that mix in marriage — not people of the Kingdom. The ten kings may be the product of the Nephilim (fallen angels - Genesis 6:4) and human females of their choice! At any rate, our Heavenly Father will use His Messiah to wipe out any trace of the kingdoms that once ruled this planet.
The 7th chapter of Daniel.
Daniel had a dream one night, and four beasts came up out of the sea (multitude of people). The first was like A LION with eagle’s wings, losing the wings and standing on his feet, was actually Nebuchadnezzar being changed back from a beast to a man (Daniel 5:20-21).
The lion represented Babylon as did the head of gold on the image in chapter 2. The second beast was like A BEAR; it had three ribs in its mouth. The bear represents Media-Persia, as did the breast and arms of silver on the image. The three ribs represent the conquering of Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt. The third beast was A LEOPARD with 4 wings and 4 heads. The leopard represents Greece (Alexander the Great) as did the belly and thighs of bronze on the image. The 4 heads and 4 wings represent the 4 captains of Alexander that killed him and divided his kingdom into 4 parts: Greece, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt.
The FOURTH BEAST was terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it; AND IT HAD TEN HORNS (ten kings). I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, A LITTLE ONE, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and A MOUTH SPEAKING GREAT THINGS.
Daniel 7:7-8
This fourth beast is obviously the Roman Empire. The ten horns and the little horn speak of a futuristic Roman Empire (Rome revived)(Revelation 17).
“As for the ten horns, OUT OF THIS ONE KINGDOM ten Kings shall arise, AND ANOTHER (the little horn/anti-Christ) shall arise AFTER THEM. He shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings, he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints (those who trust in God) of the Most High, and shall think to change the seasons and the law; and THEY SHALL BE GIVEN into his hand for A TIME, TWO TIMES AND HALF A TIME.”
Daniel 7:24-25
The 8th chapter of Daniel says basically the same as the 7th but using different beasts as symbols.
“He said, behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the LATTER END of the indignation; for it pertains to the APPOINTED TIME OF THE END. As for the ram which you saw with two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia, and the he-goat is the king of Greece; and the great horn between his eyes is the first king.As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation (Greece, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt) but not with his power. At the latter end of their rule, when the transgressors have reached their full measure, a king of bold countenance (the little horn) who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great, and he shall cause fearful destruction, and shall DESTROY MIGHTY MEN AND THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS. By his cunning, he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall magnify himself. Without warning, he shall destroy many; and he shall even rise up against the Prince of Princes, but by no human hand shall he be broken.
Daniel 8:19-26
The 9th chapter of Daniel:
“SEVENTY WEEKS OF YEARS are decreed concerning your people (Israel) and your Holy City (Jerusalem), 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 One. Know therefore and understand that FROM THE GOING FORTH OF THE WORD to restore and rebuild Jerusalem TO THE COMING OF AN ANOINTED ONE (Nehemiah the prophet), a Prince, THERE SHALL BE SEVEN WEEKS (49 years). Then FOR SIXTY-TWO WEEKS (434 years) it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, AN ANNOINTED ONE (Christ) shall be cut off and have nothing; and the people of THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME (first Beast or anti-Christ) shall destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary. And he shall make a strong covenant with many (7 kings and their followers) for one week (7 years) and for half of that week (first 3 ½ years) he shall cause sacrifice and offering to cease; and upon the wing of abomination shall come ONE WHO MAKES DESOLATE (SATAN), until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
Daniel 9:24-27
The 11th chapter of Daniel:
“Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute through the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given; he shall come in without warning and OBTAIN THE KINGDOM BY FLATTERIES. Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, and THE PRINCE OF THE COVENANT ALSO. And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully; and he shall become strong with a small people.
Daniel 11:20-23
...He shall turn back and give heed to THOSE WHO FORSAKE THE HOLY COVENANT. Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, AND SHALL TAKE AWAY THE CONTINUAL BURNT OFFERING. AND THEY SHALL SET UP THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKES DESOLATE.
Daniel 11:30-31
See also:
“So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
Matthew 24:15
and...
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.
Luke 21:20
He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant; but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And those among the people who are wise shall make many understand, though they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder, for some days. WHEN THEY FALL THEY SHALL RECIEVE A LITTLE HELP. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery; and some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine and to cleanse them and to make them white, until the time of the end, for it is yet for the time appointed.
“And the king shall do according to his will; he shall exalt himself and MAGNIFY HIMSELF ABOVE EVERY OTHER GOD, and shall speak astonishing things AGAINST THE GOD OF GODS. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is determined shall be done. He shall give no heed to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women; he shall not give heed to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these; a god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god; those who acknowledge him he shall magnify with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.
“At the time of the end the king of the south shall attack him; but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall follow in his train. But tidings from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go forth with great fury to exterminate and utterly destroy many. And HE SHALL PITCH HIS PALATIAL TENTS BETWEEN THE SEA AND THE GLORIOUS HOLY MOUNTAIN; yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.
Daniel 11:32-45
The 12th chapter of Daniel:
“At that time shall arise Michael, THE GREAT PRINCE THAT HAS CHARGE OF YOUR PEOPLE.
The Archangel who is General over the fighting forces or Angelic Army of God.
And THERE SHALL BE A TIME OF TROUBLE, SUCH AS HAVE NEVER BEEN since there was a nation till that time...
Daniel 12:1
See Matthew 24:21, the first 3 1/2 year period of Daniel's week BEFORE the outpouring of God's wrath in the last 3 1/2 years.
But at that time your people will be delivered, everyone whose name is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt. But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
Daniel 12:1-4
Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. AND FROM THE TIME THE CONTINUAL BURNT OFFERING IS TAKEN AWAY, AND THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKES DESOLATE IS SET UP, THERE SHALL BE 1,290 DAYS...
..the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week.
BLESSED IS HE WHO WAITS AND COMES TO THE 1335 DAYS...
..or 45 days more! Could this be the mid-week Rapture of the Bride, where Christ appears on the heavens, sending His Angels forth; casting Satan and his boys to earth, slaying the Beast, sealing the 144,000 Jews and picking up the Elect, His Bride, on the way back?.
...But go your way till the end; and you shall rest, and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”
Daniel 12:10-13
I have commented as little as possible feeling that most of the prophecies are self explanatory. I tried to emphasize the importand scriptures with capitals and inserted parenthesis for clarity. You must realize that the Most High (Yawheh) almost alwasy speaks in allegroical phrases and uses His own symbolism. He hardly ever writes in swquence, which disturbs and confuses those who aren't used to His methods. In order to understand his methodology, you must learn how to divide the Word of Truth, which is accomplished with the help of the Holy Spirit. He sometimes reaches in both directions: 1000 B.C. and ties the incident to 2000 A.D., e.g. The Beast which has not arrived as yet, will come forth from on of the four kingdomes spawned by the four captains of Alexander the Great, some 800 years B.C. When He pepeats a prophecy three times as He did in Daniel chapters 2, 7 and 8, although each was different but said the same thing, it becomes "chiseled in stone". There is only one prophetic book I know of that reads in sequence like a novel, that is Ezekial chapters 36 through 39.