Commentary: Daniel

The Book of Daniel is regarded as the cornerstone of Revelation, as both prophetic books are highly esteemed within distinct theological scholarship as the chief writings of the Apocalypse.

Nonetheless, there is current digression within biblical scholarship and teaching which questions Daniel’s cohesiveness and trustworthiness due to its literary composition and prophecies. Some theological schools of thought even categorize this book as a work of fiction.

Many of the things we know with assurance about the End Time is dependent upon Daniel. In fact, without the prophetic book of Daniel, Revelation would hold no truth.

The things we understand about the ancient world from the time of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (modern-day Iraq) to the Roman Catholic Empire, and Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection to His second return, Armageddon and His Millennial Reign (the latter of which) recorded in the book of Revelation is ingrained within Daniel.

Hence, the authenticity of both the Old and New Testaments is rooted within the book of Daniel.

This means to question Daniel’s validity is to also question Jesus Christ’s very existence and ministry, as He referenced Daniel in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 while speaking about the end time.

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Background Information: Daniel was a young Jewish teenager who was taken into Babylonian captivity during King Nebuchadnezzar’s first invasion of Jerusalem around 606 B.C. He remained in Babylon during the reign of Kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, Artaxerxes, and Cyrus of Persia.

Daniel wrote the book of “Daniel” in Babylon around 530-540 BC. Many of its prophecies have already come to past with impeccable precision, while others are expected to come to past in the very near future. One interesting fact is that Daniel wrote this book in two languages: Hebrew and Aramaic (the language of that age).

Chapter One is written in Hebrew and is a historical account of Daniel’s experiences in Babylon. However, Chapters 2-7 are composed in Aramaic because the content concerns the nations of the world (Gentile nations) and their futures with relevance to Israel.

Chapters 8-12 are written in Hebrew since they pertain to Israel and their relationship with the Gentile world and the Lord’s predetermined future for them.

Daniel is famously known for his God-given gift of interpreting dreams and visions. Hence, the significance of the book of Daniel is Yahweh’s unveiling of the Apocalypse to him through dreams and visions.  

Daniel Chapter 2

Synopsis: King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream about an image made of gold, silver, brass, and iron which deeply troubled him. When he awakened, the dream had slipped from his memory. So, he called upon his warlocks and sorcerers to tell him what he had dreamed, but they were unable to discern the dream.

The king became enraged and ordered the death of all the wise men in Babylon, including Daniel. When Daniel learned of the decree, he prayed petitioning the Lord to show him the king’s dream. In a night vision the Lord revealed to Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation.

Daniel immediately sought Arioch, Captain of the king’s bodyguards, and requested to go before the king. Arioch granted Daniel his request and brought him before Nebuchadnezzar.

Not only did Daniel provide the interpretation of the king’s dream, he communicated the dream with impeccable detail.

The core of Daniel Chapter 2 centers on how God used a statue in a dream to show King Nebuchadnezzar the four governmental empires that would dominate the world from the time of his reign (Babylon) to Christ’s Millennial Reign upon the earth. These four empires would rule in succession leading humankind to the Messianic Times, with the consummation of fifth and final Kingdom, The Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Please read Daniel 2:1-49.
Verses 31 thru 35: Description of the soldier image.
Verses 36-43: Image defined.

Verses 32 & 37-38: Head of gold: (1) The Babylonian Empire – King Nebuchadnezzar
Vs 32 & 39 – Silver breast and arms (2) Medo-Persian Empire – Kings Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, and Cyrus.
Vs 32 & 39 Brass belly and thighs: (3) Greece – Alexander the GreatVs 33a & 40 – Legs of iron:
(4) The ancient Roman Empire, evolving into the revived Roman Empire.

• As stated above, these empires ruled in sequence. Each metal represented the empires’ strength (i.e., silver is stronger than gold; bronze is stronger than silver; and iron is stronger than gold, silver and bronze), illustrates that each empire would be more advanced and powerful militarily than the previous.

Vs 33a & 40: Legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. The legs of iron is the ancient Roman Empire. The feet partly of iron and clay is the revived Roman Empire that will emerge during the seven year Tribulation Period Recorded in Revelations Chapters 6-18.

Let’s read verse 40 – “The fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron. Iron can break anything into pieces, pulverize it and crush it. So just as iron can crush anything, this kingdom will conquer and destroy the previous kingdoms.

• The Roman (Catholic) Empire or fourth kingdom ruled the known world during Julius Caesar and the “Caesars,” and King Herod–during the time of Jesus, Paul, and the Apostles. After the death and ascension of Jesus Christ, the empire progressively became weak due to political and economical turmoil and was divided into two parts, Eastern & Western Europe, which is illustrated by the “legs of iron” in verse 33. Around 476 AD, the Roman Empire fell and was no longer a world dominator.

Verses 41 thru 43: Finally, you saw the feet and toes made partly of pottery clay and partly of iron; (Vs42) Just as the toes of the feet were part iron and part clay, this kingdom will be diverse (in ethnicity) and will not fully operate in synchrony.

(Vs 43) You saw the iron mixed with clay, which signifies alliances by intermarriages; but they won’t stick together any more than iron blends with clay.”

• Feet part iron and clay: We see the picture of the Roman Empire that has risen again. The feet and toes comprised of iron and clay symbolizes a revived Roman Empire, not geographically reflected as the former, but this “revived” Roman Empire is a federation consisting of all nations globally, satanically re-imagined through a 10-nation geo-political powerhouse birthed by the United Nations. These 10 Super Nations/ Kingdoms are:

1. USMCA (America, Canada and Mexico
2. The E.U. – countries of the European Union, Western Europe as a whole
3. Japan
4. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa
5. Eastern Europe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and the former countries of the Soviet Union
6. Eastern Europe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and the former countries of the Soviet Union
7. Central and South America, Cuba and Caribbean Islands
8. The rest of Africa, except South Africa
9. South and Southeast Asia, including India
10. China (Mongolia is now included with China) The islands of the seas

    Please cross reference with Revelation 13:1 and 17:12-13.

Revelation 13:1 – “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast (the Antichrist) rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”

Revelation 17:12-13 – “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. (vs13) These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast (Antichrist).

• The ten horns in both of these texts reference the Revived Roman Empire constituting the above geo-political nations of the rising New World Order/One World Government system that will be fully implemented during the 7-Year Tribulation Period.

Let’s continue to Vs 44: “In those days of those kings the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not pass into the hands of another people. It will break to pieces and consume all those kingdoms; but it, itself, will stand forever.”

The Kingdom of God will be established upon the entire earth through Christ Jesus,  the King of kings. The Kingdom of God is the fifth and final kingdom that will rule the earth eternally.

(vs45) Like the stone you saw, which, without human hands, separated itself from the mountain and broke to pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold.

• The Kingdom of the Most High God, Jesus Christ, will utterly destroy the governmental power of all the previous empires, reigning preeminent in power and authority.

Daniel Chapter 7

Daniel has a dream that illustrates the same prophecy as Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Chapter two, but in a different way. The explanation of this dream is given as you read the entire chapter.

Verses 3 to 6 “Four beasts” – Lion (Babylon) Bear (Medo-Persia) Leopard (Greece) Unidentified Beast (Revived Rome-)

Verse 7 “and it (Revived Roman Empire) had ten horns” – this is the 10-nation super empire or the revived Roman Empire. Please see Revelation 13:1 and 17:12-13.

Verse 8 – little horn w/eyes like a man/mouth speaking great things is the Antichrist (also referred to as the World Political Leader, the Beast, and the son of perdition). The three horns that were plucked up by their root signifies that he will lead or be the foreperson over three nations.

This text is also explaining the Antichrist will rise to power as the World Political Leader before the coming New World Order. Revelation 13:1 reads, “And I stood upon the sand of the sea (the political landscape), and saw a beast (Anti-Christ) rise up out of the sea.

Verses 9-14: We know who the Ancient of Days is! Christ will destroy the Antichrist, and the Kingdom of God rules forever. You can cross reference this scripture with Ezekiel 38:20 and Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21.

Verse 18 & 22 The saints of the Lord will enforce his laws upon the earth.

You can now interpret Daniel Ch 7 from Ch 2.

Let’s look at Daniel 7:23-27.

Verse 23 “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.” The Revived Roman Empire/10 nation confederacy is composed of many ethnicities (diverse). As relating to government, military, and economic influence, it is controlling the world’s affairs (“shall devour the whole earth, tread it down, break it in pieces”).

Verse 24 “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise.” This text refers to the 10 kingdoms, or 10 political territories and their leaders of the Revived Roman Empire.

Verse 24 continued “And another shall shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” The World Leader will be different, appealing to all ethnic groups. This is part of his appeal, deception, and bait. “And he shall subdue three kings:”

Verse 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 hands until a times, and times, and the dividing of time.”

• The Antichrist/World Leader of the New World Order shall blaspheme the Lord Jesus Christ and seek to kill His followers—those who were either left behind during the Rapture (the removal of the Church) or newly converted, and the Jews. The saints will be persecuted for 3 1/2 years during the Great Tribulation. Please reference Revelation 13:5 and 12:14.

The meaning of the World Leader “changing times and laws” means that he will achieve monumental success through which laws and regulations will be enforced which were not possible before. These laws will be enacted through the global governance of the United Nations to ultimately benefit his world domination.

Verse 26 “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” The saints of God will overthrow the World Leader’s dominion, when Jesus Christ destroys him at the Battle of Armageddon, ushering in His kingdom upon earth.

Verse 27 The Kingdom of God comes to the earth. Cross reference with Revelation 20:6, “But they (the saints) shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Jesus Christ will literally and physically rule the earth from Jerusalem for 1,000 years.

Daniel 8

This chapter also parallels with chapters two and seven using animals as metaphors. The difference is only two ancient empires are highlighted.

Verses 3-4 Daniel sees a ram having two horns—one higher than the other. This is the Medio-Persian Empire. The higher horn represents Persia (modern day Iran), as this nation was the stronger of the two. The ram used to be Persia’s national symbol.

Verses 5-7 The he goat is the Grecian Empire, or Greece (the goat was the national symbol of Greece). The notable horn in verse five is Alexander the Great, who captured the Medio-Persian Empire and conquered most of the western world.

Verse 8 “Therefore the he goat waxes very great.” The Grecian Empire grew strong. “And when he was strong, the great horn was broken.” Alexander the Great died at the age of 33. “And for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.” Alexander appointed no successor, so his four generals divided the empire into four regions—Egypt, Turkey, Syria, and Macedonia/Greece.

Verse 9-12 This is where the prophecy jumps thousands of years to our time. “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxes exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” This is the Antichrist or World Political Leader, who will dominate all nations (the New World Order- Revelation 13:7).

The noteworthy phrase in verse nine is “And out of one of them came forth a little horn.” The Islamic religion has dominated Egypt, Turkey and Syria (remnants of the Grecian Empire) for many years.

• Could the Antichrist be of Islamic/Muslim descent?

Verse 11 The Antichrist stops the daily sacrifices in Israel.

Let’s pause: The Sanhedrin has re-instituted the ritual of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins. We know that this is the only way the Jews know, since most did not receive Christ when He came. Well, the World Leader will stop the daily sacrifices in the temple. This will take place in the middle of the Tribulation Period—the last 3 1⁄2 years. Verse 12 indicates that he will have support in this effort.

Verse 13 – A saint inquires about the duration of these things and the rule of the Anti-Christ, referred to as “the desolation” (Cross-reference with Matthew 24:15).

Verse 14 – 2,300 days is the answer given. This is approximately 7 years. There are 360 days in a Prophetic Year and the Hebrew Calendar Year.

Verses 20-22 Gabriel explains the vision to Daniel.

Verses 23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to a full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.” During the end time (now), the Antichrist will emerge, being very evil and deeply involved in the occult, extremely deceptive and unrecognizable.

Verses 24-25 The Antichrist/World Leader will become very powerful because of demonic possession and the casting of incantations (curses/spells) on the minds of the people on earth to deceive them. He will be full of pride, thinking himself to be god. “And by peace shall destroy many.” He will enslave the nations, kill, and destroy in the name of peace and a unified world. He will oppose the Lord Jesus, but will in the end be destroyed.

Daniel 9

Verses 1-20 This text records Daniel praying and repenting for the sins of his people.

The 70 Weeks Prophecy – Divided Into “3” Time Frames

Verse 24 This verse defines the events of this prophecy: From the time Israel returned to Jerusalem after Babylonian captivity; the time of Israel’s sins and in rejecting Christ as their Messiah has been fulfilled; to the time of Christ’s return during Armageddon, after which He will rule from Jerusalem (anoint the Most Holy) during the Millennial reign.

Verse 25: This one verse contains much information! “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be (1) seven weeks (7), and threescore and two weeks (62 weeks): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times (Totaling 69 Weeks).

The explanation to “restore and to build Jerusalem” is found in Ezra 6:3 – “In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, “Let the house be builded . . .” Also Ezra 7:1-6 & Nehemiah 2:1.

We must stop here and examine.

There were two expeditions to Jerusalem after Babylonian Exile – The first recorded in Ezra Chapters 1 through 6, where a remnant returned under the leadership of (1) Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple, and Ezra Chapters 7 through 10 under the spiritual headship of (2) Ezra–Nehemiah returned with Ezra, who restored worship and ordinances, along with the rebuilding of the wall (Ezra 7:1-6 & Nehemiah 2:1). **So, the events in this scripture (Daniel 9:25) have already happened.

Verse 26 (2) Sixty-two (62) weeks, Christ is crucified; Jerusalem and 2nd temple destroyed by the Romans; future 3rd temple destroyed (Jews preparing to rebuild as we speak); Armageddon and destruction of Antichrist (end of the war desolations).

Verse 27 – “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for (3) one week (equivalent to seven years)–(3^rd part of the 70 Weeks), and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease . . . The Antichrist will sanction the Middle East Peace Treaty between Israel and the Palestinians for seven years (the Tribulation Period). But after 3 1⁄2 years, he will break the treaty, stopping the daily sacrifices in Israel (Daniel 8:11).

Let’s illustrate the 70 Weeks – 3 Time Frames

Seven (7) Weeks plus (+) 62 Weeks: Christ Died/Ascended totaling 69 Weeks

Between the 69^th and 70^th Week is the Church Age (Now)

Also, between the 69^th and 70^th Week, the Rapture takes place!

◆ When the peace agreement  between Israel and Palestine is ratified by Antichrist, the 70^th week will begin, marking the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation Period.

◆ The identity of the Antichrist will be revealed with the global sanctioning of the peace agreement through the United Nations, as he will sit as the Chairman of the Security Council.

In the middle of the 70^th week—translated as the last 3 1⁄2 years of the Tribulation Period, called The Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will cut off the peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians and rule with fury when Satan inhabits his body.

He will begin to persecute the Jews. When the 70 weeks are accomplished, the Lord will return with His saints and destroy the Antichrist, ending Armageddon (Verse 27). The events in Ezekiel 39:9-29 & Chapter 40, Zechariah 14:8-21 and Revelation Chapters 20-22 begin.

Daniel 11

Beginning at Dan. 11:36, we see the Antichrist during the Tribulation Period who is successfully ruling the entire world (Middle East Peace Treaty already signed). Verse 38 lets us know that he will lend much confidence to his military and weaponry power.

Please note Verse 39 “. . . and shall divide the land for gain (profit).”

We must pause to examine this text The World Leader will divide Israel for profit. This has much to do with oil and massive trade. Israel is located beside the Sinai Peninsula, which connects Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Africa/Egypt.

The Suez Canal lies along the western border of the Sinai Peninsula, and is the body of water that connects to the Mediterranean Sea, which is a major transport vessel of European and Middle Eastern trade.

Whoever controls Israel will control the trade industry and the world, as Israel is strategically located in the center of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Arab Nations.

Please be cautious as many maps have been redesigned because this truth is not to be uncovered. By yielding Jerusalem to Arabs/Muslims, the Lord will not be pleased.

Let’s continue.

Verse 40 “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships.” The phrase “push at him” suggests rebellion. The king of the south is an African-Arab alliance, including Egypt and Yemen. The king of the north is Russia, the lead country of Armageddon, who will come against Israel and the Antichrist’s armies, rebelling against his world domination. Russia’s military regime will encompass an Arab-African-Asian alliance.

Go to verse 44 “ But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him (the World Leader): therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. This is the 2^nd and last invasion of the Russian Alliance, which will include an Asian army, namely China, referred to as the “kings of the east” in Revelation 9:16 and 16:12.

Let’s pause to discuss China

Revelation 9:16 foretells an Asian militia fortified with a 200 million man army.

For years, the Chinese government controlled the number of females in the country by enforcing a law limiting women to one child, with a cultural preference for males. If a woman had more than one child, the government upheld the authority to kill the female babies through legalized abortion. About ten years ago, there were approx. 126 males to every 100 females. According to nature’s balance system, this is a harsh imbalance. From childhood, boys are raised and trained to be military fighters. China has over 1.3 billion people. This number represents 20% of the world’s population. Right now, the nation has enough males to form a 200 million man army prophesied in Revelation 9:13-16.

Let’s continue.

The Lord will draw the Antichrist and all of the world’s militias to come together against Israel in one place, called Megiddo or Armageddon. Zechariah 14:1-5 declares that the Lord will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; then Jesus Christ will come and fight against those nations, killing their armies and the Antichrist, thus saving Israel (Ezekiel 38:21-23; Zechariah 12:2-4;14:1-5; Revelation 16:14&16; 19:11-16).

Let’s pause for a moment.

One of the reasons why the Lord is going to destroy the Antichrist/World Leader is found in Daniel 11:39 “. . . and shall divide the land for gain (profit).” We mentioned previously that the World Leader will divide Israel for profit, yielding part of the land God promised the Jews (in the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to Arab/Muslim nations.

God says in Joel 3:2, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat (Armageddon region), and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, who they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Daniel 11:21b reads, “but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (Vs23) And after a league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. (Vs24) He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province”

Let’s continue

Verse 45 – This verse tells us the World Leader/Antichrist will set himself up as god in the temple in Jerusalem. Being filled with much pride, he comes to his end. Please refer to New Testament book II Thessalonians 2:3-4.

Daniel Chapter12

Verse 1 The Arch-Angel Michael, assigned to the Jews, will go and fight the demonic hosts that have come against Israel (through the above armies). “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to the same time” refers to the last 3 1⁄2 years of the Tribulation, called the Great Tribulation (Matt 24:21). The rest of this verse is telling us that the Lord Jesus Christ will save His people who are written in the Book of Life for eternity (Revelation 20:12).

Verse 2 Refers to Judgment Day in Revelation 20:12-13.

Verse 3 The Lord’s people are rewarded eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Verses 4-10 Daniel is receiving instruction from the angel to “seal the book, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

Verse 11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolation set up, there shall be a thousand two-hundred and ninety days (1,290). Translation? From the time the Antichrist becomes World Leader to the time he stops the daily sacrifices in Israel, thereby breaking the Peace Treaty will be approximately 3 1⁄2 years. Remember there are 360 days in a Prophetic Year (360 x 3.5 = 1260).

Verse 13 The angel tells Daniel to go on with his life because he wouldn’t live to see the majority of this prophecy come to past, as it is set aside for the end time. Yet Daniel would receive his heavenly reward and rule with Christ and His saints during the Millennial Reign (Daniel 7:27; Zechariah 14:5-21; Revelation 20:6).