READ Daniel 7:9,10 - 'I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the (1)______ 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. 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 depiction of judgment. We NEED to comprehend the judgment because we are ALL to be judged!
A more majestic description of a majestic scene is not to be found in the English language. But not only on account of the amazing imagery introduced should it capture our attention; the nature of the scene itself demands the most serious contemplation. The Judgment is brought to view, and whenever the Judgment is mentioned it should take an irresistible hold on those listening, reading, for every human being has an interest in its eternal message.
First we have to note verse nine- a different translation is closer to the meaning to be conveyed-
(ASV) 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.
'cast down' 'were placed' - The thrones were placed… gives the correct meaning.
Dr. Clarke says that the word 'might be translated erected; so the Vulgate, positi sunt [were placed], and so all the versions.' The Septuagint has eteqhsan (etethesan), which is defined to mean "'to set, put, place; to set up; to erect." The thrones are not the thrones of earthly kingdoms, which are to be thrown down at the last day, but thrones of judgment, which are to be " placed," or set up, in the court of God on high just before the end.
The "Ancient of days," God the Father, takes the throne of judgment.
Note the description of God here. We can't imagine him as impersonal can we, not in this setting.
There are thousands and thousands ministering to Him, ten thousand times ten thousands standing before Him. These aren't sinners, but heavenly beings waiting in attendance on God. It's amazing!
To really understand these verses we need to understand a bit about the sanctuary subject. The end of the ministering of Christ as our Great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary is the scene being discussed here. The investigative judgment. The book are opened, the lives of all people are on display to determine who will receive eternal life when the Lord returns to Earth for His people. John in the book of Revelation writes of this same place, he saw the same number of heavenly beings before God involved in investigative judgment. Reading Revelation 4 and on into Revelation 5 verse 11 we read this--
READ Revelation 5:11 'And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands'
READ Daniel 7:10 '...the judgment was set, and the books were opened.' The books are opened and the judgment set to begin. It will appear from the testimony of Daniel 8:14, that this investigative judgment is even now transpiring in the sanctuary above.
READ Daniel 7:11,12 '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 (2) _____. 12. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.'
The FOURTH beast continues without change of character, and the LITTLE HORN continues to SPEAK its blasphemies, and hold its millions of worshippers in the bonds of a blind superstition, till the beast is given to the burning, flame; and this is not its conversion, but its destruction.
READ 2 Thess. 2:8 'And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.'
The fourth beast doesn't live long after its dominion is gone, unlike the previous beasts. Their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season. The territory and subjects of the Babylonian kingdom still existed, though made subject to the Persians. So of the Persian kingdom in respect to Grecia, and of Grecia in respect to Rome. But what succeeds the fourth kingdom? NO government or state in which mortals have any part. Its ends in the lake of fire, and it has no existence beyond.
The lion was merged into the bear, the bear into the leopard, the leopard into the fourth beast, and the fourth beast into what? NOT into another beast. It is cast into the lake of fire. No one should talk of probation, or a mixed millennium AFTER the Lord comes, it's just NOT Biblical.
The adverb then, in the sentence, "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake," seems to refer to some PARTICULAR TIME.
The work of the investigative judgment is introduced in the previous verses; and this verse would seem to imply that while this work is going forward, and just before this power is destroyed and given to the burning flame, the LITTE HORN UTTERS ITS GREAT WORDS AGAINST THE MOST HIGH.
Let's take a moment to reflect before continuing in our next study… we're reflecting on the fact that ROME changed from a dominating authority which ruled with an iron fist to a land divided into ten principle kingdoms. ALL Historically proven! Out of pagan Rome came a papal Rome. Papal Rome used the power given to it uproot three of the ten kingdoms that stood in its way of achieving still greater power. We have had so many historical references to the Papacy, and today in 2022 as I add this to my previous study, we've had many television shows on the Papacy as well- a lot of it fictionalize, but even fictionalize they've taken much from true history of the Papacy's rule. Today, the Papacy and the millions who still follow this religion, admit to their sordid past even as they hold fast to many of their beliefs that have been shrouded in the blinding deception. They don't want truth. I've been personally attacked for believing this, by those who hold fast to Papal deceptions. It breaks my heart to know that the refusal to look at history, at prophecy, at God's entire word of truth, to witness how Satan can so completely and utterly blinded people, is a reality in our world. I CANNOT JUDGE A SINGLE PERSON'S ETERNAL LIFE! I am not the JUDGE! I can judge right from wrong, truth from lies, all by the grace of God. I will not condemn ANYONE, because I have no right to. I don't know if a person at their death bed might embrace the truth they've denied through the years, God alone knows this! God alone knows the thoughts of the heart. I have to study the truth, and proclaim it as God leads, that's all I can do. If any of the Papal followers are reading this now and want to lash out at me, please don't. Just stop reading my studies if your sole reason for doing so is object to them, or write in your own study refuting everything I'm saying with your own facts, your own history, your own beliefs. When I'm faced with things that are contrary to my beliefs and the Bible truths I hold dear, I quickly stop reading them as soon as they prove to be against God's word. I don't want to fight with anyone at all, I won't fight. I won't answer objections with verbal sparring. Read or don't read. God help us all!
Answers to question blanks.
(1) Ancient - Daniel 7:9
(2) flame - Daniel 7:11
From Daniel -
(Quick synopsis #1) The FIRST beast, the FIRST kingdom, the HEAD of GOLD, the LION with EAGLE WINGS, wings to be plucked, the lion made to assume an upright position unable to hunt, run, a lion whose strong heart was replaced by a much weaker human heart- BABYLONIAN KINGDOM, strong and fierce eventually replaced as its rulership weakened, by the next kingdom. This is historically proven, historically realized as truth. This prophecy came to pass.
(Quick synopsis #2) The SECOND beast, the SECOND kingdom- ARMS and CHEST of SILVER- MEDO-PERSIA, a BEAR - raised up one side stronger than the other, three parts of this kingdom caught in the bear's teeth, historically Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt were brutalized as Persia rose up stronger than the Medes. Historically proven.
(Quick Synopsis #3) The THIRD beast, the THIRD kingdom- BELLY and THIGHS of BRASS, LEOPARD with four wings extremely swift conquest by GREECE, four heads eventually divided kingdom to Alexander's four generals Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, Seleucus.
(Quick Synopsis #4) The FOURTH beast, the FOURTH kingdom- LEGS of IRON. Dreadful, terrible, very strong, IRON TEETH, devoured residue, DIFFERENT than the other BEASTS- HAS TEN HORNS. Historically the ROMAN KINGDOM came after Greece and fits this prophecy perfectly.
LITTLE HORN AMONG TEN HORNS- 3 HORNS PLUCKED UP.
TEN KINGDOMS- 1) Huns 2) Ostrogoths 3) Visigoths 4) Franks 5) Vandals 6) Suevi 7) Burgundians 8) Heruli 9) Anglo-Saxons 10) Lombards
THREE PLUCKED UP- 1) Heruli, 2) Ostrogoths, 3) Vandals
Historically proven!
THREE PLUCKED UP by the LITTLE HORN- the LITTLE HORN Papal Rome. Those 3 were opposed to papal teachings and fell in its wake as it rose to power. HISTORY not conjecture!
(LITTLE HORN) EYES of a MAN, MOUTH SPEAKING GREAT THINGS- Papal Rome- Papacy.
To Be Continued…