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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 In the first year of Bel-shazzar 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. |
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| 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heavens brake forth upon the great sea. |
My vision – Containing a great political chart of the world's history. R662:1*
Such visions are sometimes counterfeited by Satan and made to seem ordinary by cataleptic sleeps and hypnotic trances. R2033:2
Four winds – The great time of trouble, also pictured as a tidal wave, a whirlwind and a great fire. R5863:6; D528
Of the heaven – The higher, or ruling, powers. R318:3
Upon the great sea – The restless masses of mankind. A318
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| 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. |
Four great beasts – Representing the Gentile governments as ferocious, destructive, beastly and selfish, from the standpoint of the Lord and his people. A261; R166:2; PD50/61
Beastly because the base of action for every carnal man is pure self-interest. R1189:3
Indeed beastly. How perfectly they represent, in their evil and death-dealing power, their master, the devil. R419:6
The sea – The masses of mankind, not under religious restraint. R318:3; A318
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| 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 to stand upon two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it. |
First was like a lion – Babylon. R318:3; A257; OV270:6
The earth – The people, under or obedient to the ruling powers. R318:3
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| 5 And, behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. |
Second, like to a bear – Medo-Persia. R318:3; A257; OV270:6
Three ribs Three kingdoms it subdued. HG48:4
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| 6 After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon its back four wings of a bird; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. |
Like a leopard – Greece. R318:3; A257,; OV270:6
Four wings – Representing the rapidity of the movements under Alexander the Great. HG48:4
Alexander's kingdom was divided by his four generals-- Seleucus, Philopater, Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolemaus Philomater--and broken into fragments. C27, C28
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| 7 After this I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, a fourth beast, fearful and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. |
A fourth beast – The Roman empire. A257; C76; OV270:6
No descriptive name given, because it was so ferocious and hideous that none of the beasts of the earth could be compared with it. A258
The same as the dragon of Rev 13:1, 2. R318:3, R420:1
Stamped the residue – Nothing could withstand its power. OV83:6
It had ten horns – The ten divisions of the Roman empire. A258
Kingdoms. R318:5, R3359:4*
Babylon is represented as being divided into ten different wards, each of which represents one of the kingdoms of Christendom, and which corresponds to the ten horns of the symbolic beast. Compare Rev. 11: & Dan. 7:7. SM405:4
Corresponding to the ten toes of the image of Dan. 2. PD50/61; OV83:7; HG20:4; R3359:4*
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| 8 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. |
There came up – In 539 AD. C76, C95
Another little horn – The Abomination of Desolation, the Papacy (Matt. 24:15); that Wicked One (2 Thess. 2:8); the Man of Sin (2 Thess. 2:3); the Mystery of Iniquity (2 Thess. 2:7); the Antichrist (1 John 2:18); the Son of Perdition (2 Thess. 2:3); the Beast (Rev. 13:1). A258; B271; 272; 277; C64; 76; 95
Papacy, the Leopard Beast of Rev. 13, containing certain qualities resembling the first three beasts combining certain leading characteristics of the preceding empires, uniting them in the power of the last. R318:3
Representing ecclesiastical power enthroned amid political power. PD50/61
Before whom – In 476, 489 and 539 AD, respectively. C76, C77, C95
There were three – The Western empire, the Heruli and the Ostrogoths. (The Western empire was an exarchate of the Eastern empire.) A258; C76, C77
Lombardy, Romania and Ravenna--since then the church element has worn the three-crowned hat. HG65:3
Of the first horns – Powers. C76
Plucked up – The Western empire by the Heruli, the Heruli by the Ostrogoths and the Ostrogoths by Justinian on behalf of the Papacy, which actually held the city and suburbs of Rome continuously from AD 539. C76-C79
Were eyes – Representing intelligence and a farsighted policy. A258; B305
And a mouth – Representing Papal utterances and claims. A258; R1732:5
Claiming to be the vicar of Christ. He assumed to speak as the mouthpiece of God. R388:3*
The power of the Papacy has been that of its mouth, guided by its knowledge. B305
"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things ... and he opened his mouth in blasphemy." (Rev. 13:5, 6) "And he shall speak gre B305
Speaking great things – But not saying whether they are great truths or great untruths. In Revelation also, Papacy is described and its language quoted without adverse criticism. R1732:5
Illustrated by the boastful words of Pope Martin V. HG269:6
Making boastful claims. It should not surprise us that God should ordain, as part of its reward, that it should eat its own words. R509:6
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| 9 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. |
Till the thrones – Governments, rulerships. A92
Were cast down – The thrones of earth will be cast down and the dominion transferred to the great Prophet and Judge. R893:2, R2609:1
Head like the pure wool – Suggestive and symbolic of venerableness, of knowledge, experience, wisdom. R2826:4
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| 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of 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 issued – Symbolic of severe judgments--a time of trouble. C302; R668:5
During the time when rich men weep and howl (Jas. 5:1-3; Zeph. 1:18); when the nations are angry (Rev. 11:18); when the stone smites the feet of the image (Dan. 2:34); when the kings of the earth make war with the lamb (Rev. 19:11-21). R668:5 [R853:78 - site Editor]
Thousand thousands – Not only of his saints, but of numerous other agents and agencies. C302
Times ten thousand – All mankind. C302
Judgment was set – It has already begun upon the institutions of nominal Christendom and will spread to all the nations, living and dead. C302
And the books – Of the divine revelation. C302
Were opened – Made plain as never before. C302
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| 11 I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. |
I beheld then – After the decree against the Papacy; after its judgment had begun; after its dominion was gone and it was powerless longer to crush the Truth and power of the holy people. C68; A260; HG93:6
Of the great words – "There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things." (Rev. 13:5) B305
Illustrated by the claim of infallibility, made in 1870. A259
Which the horn – Papacy. C64, C76, C95
I beheld even – That it got no power over the holy saints, but it did have another effect. C68
Till the beast – The remnants of governments in the old Roman empire, represented by its horns. C68; A259
Was slain – By the rising of the masses. A259
As a result of the misleading influence of Papacy's continued bombastic utterances, even after its dominion is gone. C68
Signifies the overturn of the civil and religious systems of our day. OV83:8
His body destroyed – Their organizations as governments. OV83:8
Although the nations shall never rise up again, yet the people who compose the nations shall come forth from the grave to be blessed by God's kings and priests. R2338:5
The burning flame – To general anarchy. C68
Utter destruction. R2338:5; A260
The fourth beast will lose dominion and life at once. A260
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| 12 And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. |
Rest of the beasts – Babylon, Persia and Greece. A260
Their dominion – Universal dominion of earth. A260
Their lives were prolonged – Sir Isaac Newton observed: "All the four beasts are still alive, though the dominion of the first three be taken away." HG74:2
A season and time – Their lives as nations did not cease immediately. A260
Not so with the Roman empire, the fourth and last. A260
It will lose dominion and life at once, with all the others. A260
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| 13 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. |
The Son of man – Greek: the Son of the man (Adam). E150, E153
The seed of Adam, through Eve. E152
Does not imply that the life of this Son would come either through Adam, Abraham, David or Mary. E152
Messiah. E150; SM595:2; R3788:1
The Scriptures identify the Son of Man with the Lord of Glory and with the 'man Christ Jesus, and with the pre-human Logos. E150
The Jews understood the term as synonymous with Messiah. R943:6*, R3788:1
Not in the sense of being a man, but because he was the son of the man David with whom Jehovah made an everlasting covenant, perpetuating the throne to him and his seed forever. R944:1*
With the clouds – Clouds of trouble. R1796:6
The kingdoms become his when he comes "with the clouds" and not his coming as the "man of sorrows." HG79:6
Ancient of days – Jehovah. A261
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| 14 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. |
There was given him – "Whose right it is." (Ezek. 21:27) R2609:1; D12
At the end of the Times of the Gentiles. OV115:3; A270
The Christ, Head and Body, complete. A260
By Jehovah, the great King. A261, A308
Dominion – The present dominion of earth will be transferred to the great Prophet, Priest, King and Judge. R2609:1, R893:2
A kingdom – When he appears in power and great glory. R2361:1, R4715:1
The Kingdom of God for which we pray, "Thy Kingdom come." (Matt. 6:10) R1776:5; D429
Should serve him – At present they do not; they must be brought by chastisement to submission. R268:5, R592:3, R409:3
His dominion – He shall take dominion, associating with him his faithful followers. R799:1
The winepress of the wrath of God must first be trodden. R3359:6*
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| 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. |
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| 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. |
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| 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth. |
Out of the earth – At best they are but kingdoms of this world. A270
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| 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. |
The saints – The Little Flock, the Royal Priesthood. R1855:3, R2490:2
Under the new rule there will be new rulers. R268:5
Shall take – Forcibly. D518
Not by poor human efforts. R658:5, R414:5
To "smite in pieces as a potter's vessel," (Psa. 2:9) intimating that, in some sense, the Lord will take possession of them before they are completely overthrown. R5631:6
The kingdom – Dominion. R268:5, R409:3
The fifth universal empire, the Kingdom of God. R307:5, R1776:5, R2145:1
Under which "all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen. 12:3; Gen. 28:14) R1195:4
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| 19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding fearful, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of copper; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; |
Know the truth – The nature and length of the dominion. C67
The fourth beast – The Roman empire. A257; C76; PD50/61
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| 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. |
And of the other – The Papacy. C76, C95
Which came up – In 539 AD. C76
And before whom – In 476, 489 and 539 AD, respectively. C76
Three fell – The Western empire, the Heruli and the Ostrogoths. A258; C76
Mouth that spake – Papal system making boastful claims. R509:6
See also comments on Dan. 7:8.
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| 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; |
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| 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. |
Judgment – The judgment against the "thrones" of the present time follows speedily upon the introduction of the Millennial reign. R893:2, R2609:1
The saints – The Little Flock, the Royal Priesthood. R1855:3, R2490:2
The kingdom – A strong government, in order to control the avarice and discontent and to cause the bounties of divine providence to minister blessings to every creature. R2145:1
"They shall reign with Christ a thousand years." (Rev. 20:6) R654:6
To bless all the families of the earth; the resurrected dead as well as those nations then living. R1195:4
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| 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon the 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. |
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| 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. |
Another shall rise – The beginning of this temporal power of the popes was gradual, from AD 539, but it was fully established in AD 800 when Charlemagne, king of France, was crowned by Pope Leo III. R1093:6
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| 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 two times and half a time. |
And he – The Papacy, the Man of Sin. C64; R665:5
Speak great words – "There was given him a mouth speaking great things." (Rev. 13:5) B305
Against the most High – Every tide of the true Christ and every prophecy describing his future glorious Kingdom, have been applied by the popes to themselves and their Antichrist reign. R1093:6; B307
And shall wear out – By the Confessional, the Inquisition and by persecutions, such as were inflicted upon the Waldenses, Albigenses, Wycliffites and Huguenots. B328, B329, B334-341
To change times – By establishing the Church in power before the Lord's time. B310; R5911:3
And laws – The divine laws, by modifying them to suit his own schemes. B310; R5911:3
Into his hand – Like Elijah's three and a half years of hiding in the wilderness from Queen Jezebel, these correspond to the 1260 years of the true Church in the wilderness condition where she had fled from the antitypical Jezebel. R5857:4
Dividing of time – In the Bible a "time" is used in the sense of a year. A symbolic year as used in prophecy is reckoned on the basis of a lunar year--12 months of 30 days each, or 360 days--each day representing a year. B89; CR140:2
Three and a half times or years (360 x 3 ½ equals 1260 days; symbolic time, 1260 literal years), from 539 to 1799 AD, the period of Papacy's power. C64, C68; R5857:4
There is abundant proof that this is the way God intended us to calculate symbolic time. (See Rev. 11:2, 3, 9, 12; 12:6, 14) R389:3*
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| 26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. |
Away his dominion – Papacy's dominion, and ecclesiastical domination in general. D37
To consume – Gradually from 1799 AD onward. D37; A259
This was the point and edge of all the preaching of the Reformation. R307:3
Unto the end – Showing that the judgment was to sit on that power and take away its dominion before the end. HG21:1
Final complete destruction. C50, C95; D37
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| 27 And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens, 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. |
Kingdom – This Messianic Kingdom is to be established to bring mankind back into harmony with the divine arrangement. R5181:2
The golden age of prophecy. R2361:1
For which our Redeemer taught us to watch and pray. R1776:5, R1855:2
The fifth universal empire. R307:5
It is the Kingdom of God--the Kingdom of Allah! CR113:3
It is in that Kingdom only that the saints have their citizenship; it alone they recognize. R318:6
The Church with her Lord is to constitute that Kingdom, and it cannot be established until the gathering of the elect from the world has been accomplished. CR21:5
Dominion – This dominion Jehovah will wrest by force from the "prince of this world," Satan, and will give it to his Son, whose Bride will share her Bridegroom's Kingdom. R5574:1
But they will not need the dominion, having attained the divine nature. Therefore the Kingdom of earth will be eternally the portion of perfected mankind. CR426:5
Under the whole heaven – Under a heavenly or spiritual ruler. SM502:1
Worldwide. R5181:2
Upon the completion of the election of the saints. R4812:2
Full liberty to do right will be firmly and forever established by earth's new King. R683:6
Shall be given – Some of the kingdoms represented in the Gentile image will be remaining at that time. R5631:5
Transfer will be accomplished in a great time of trouble which is to end the present world. R5574:1
Is Christ to have dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all nations should serve him? The same is given to the saints. R30:6*
When he gives the saints, with Christ their Lord, the heathen for an inheritance. (Psa. 2:8) R414:5, R658:5
People of the saints – The Kingdom class will consist only of our Lord and his "elect" of this Gospel age. D618; A261
God's faithful ones who suffer now, subject to the powers that be. R5574:1, R507:2
"The upright (saints) shall have dominion over them in the morning." (Psa. 49:14, 15) R2600:2
Who are to "dash them (beastly kingdoms) in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Psa. 2:8, 9) R5631:5
"To execute upon them the judgment written; this honor have all his saints." (Psa. 149:9) A261
Not by going into earthly politics. R2145:1
Whose kingdom – The first step in the setting up of this Kingdom was the raising of the sleeping saints of the Gospel age. R5631:6
Everlasting – The Kingdom of earth will be eternally the portion of perfected mankind. CR426:5
Because being of God's appointment; not by poor human efforts. R318:6, R414:5, R658:5
And all dominions – Christ's Kingdom is ultimately to be something more than a work of grace in the hearts of believers. A282
Shall serve and obey – Become subject to Christ. D12
First they must be brought to submission by chastisement. R592:3
His reign will be "the desire of all nations." (Hag. 2:7) R5204:4
As New Creatures prove their love for the Lord by suffering with him now; so the "earthly" must show their love and obedience to the same Lord when he is reigning with his saints. R1149:5*
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| 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. |
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