A number of years ago I downloaded an app that when you took a picture of a leaf, it helped you identify the plant. So I went out to the garden, found a bush with a leaf, and ran it through the app. It gave me a number of different options it could be and I was perplexed as I studied the different options.

After a few minutes of intensive scrutiny, I backed up from the plant and then laughed. I was very familiar with the plant and its flowers. It was a hibiscus! How could I miss it?

The problem was that I focused so hard on the small details I missed the big picture. Not that the small details aren’t important. They are. But sometimes we become so focused we miss the point.

That’s the way it is with Daniel 7. It’s easy to get so caught up in what this and what it all means that the point is missed.

What Daniel sees is a vision of 4 beasts. The first 3 beasts, while scary, are identified clearly, especially in ch 2 and 8. These are the kingdoms of Babylon, the Medo-Persians, and the Greeks. But it’s the 4th beast that changes everything. It is not identified.

Worse, the 4th beast is very scary. It destroys everything in its path. On it’s head are 10 horns that represent 10 kings. Then an 11th little horn that violently displaces 3 horns. This little horn is wicked, evil and persecutes the saints for times, times and half a time.

Daniel is terrified and asks for the meaning of these.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ¹⁷ ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’ – Dan 7:17-18

This was not an angel that was chatty. But did you see it? the point?

¹⁸ But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

Daniel isn’t thinking on the point. Much like us, he is like, “you’ve got to explain this more.”

So the angel tells him:

²³ “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. ²⁴ The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. ²⁵ He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

And thus, we have an avalanche of interpretation.

• Who are the 10 kings?
• Who is the little horn?
• Who are the 3 kings violently subdued?
• Is this in the past, already happened, or the future?
• What is this text about?

It seems like the second round of the angels explanation causes more questions even than the first. And yet did you see it? Again? The point of this vision? We’ll get to in a minute.

While we know 100% sure the identity of the first 3 kingdoms, we don’t have identified the other pieces of imagery. Most assume the fourth beast is Rome as that is the kingdom that conquered the Greeks, the third beast.

But who are the 10 kings? We don’t historically know of 10 kings. Here are some of the things people are “sure” it’s about:

• A future rule of revived Roman empire, 10 kings, and the anti-Christ
• The papacy with the Pope as the evil king
• 10 Syrian Nations
• 10 Emperors
• 10 European modern nations (France, Italy, Spain, etc..)
• The USA

How you interpret the 10 kings directly affects what one thinks is the little horn. And it’s an obsession in the prophetic world. For sure. Everyone has their confident interpretation that they see as right.

So how do we approach this?

First and foremost with humility. People are sure of their interpretations but the truth is, almost everyone did not get the prophecies correct concerning Jesus. So much so that they missed him when he came.

Secondly we see in this text the placement of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man.

The Horn–> Ancient of Days will bring judgment

The Horn –> The Son of Man, coming with the clouds, led into the presence of the Ancient of Days, HE was given authority, glory, sovereign power, the worship of all men, an everlasting dominion, an eternal kingdom. The horn does not have the authority but only temporarily.

Third we see the focus of these verses as announced by the angel after each explanation of the vision. He mentions the point twice. It’s important. It’s the point of the text:

• ¹⁸ But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
  
• ²¹ As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, ²² until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom
  
• ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

The point being that this is about kingdoms. They belong to the Son of Man and to the holy people. Not the beasts, the 10 kings or the little horn.

Fourth we see how Jesus interpreted chapter 7.

We see that Jesus used this phrase “Son of Man” for himself more than any other title (list from Christiandefense.org).

• The Son of Man has authority “to forgive sins” (Matt. 9:6)
• The Son of Man is “greater than the temple” (Matt. 12:6)
• The Son of Man is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matt. 12:8)
• The Son of Man is the King of a kingdom and the angels and elect are His indicating that He rules over them (cf. Matt. 13:41)
• The Son of Man is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:13-17; Mark 14:61-62)
• The Son of Man as to be killed and physically raised (resurrected) from the dead (cf. Matt. 17:9, 26:2; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; John 2:19-22)
• The Son of Man gave His “as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)
• The Son of Man “descended from heaven” (John 3:13)
• All who believe in The Son of Man will have eternal life (cf. John 3:14-15)
• The Son of Man accepted religious worship (cf. John 9:35-38)

Daniel	Jesus in the New Testament
7:13 “there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven”	“But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” Mt 26:64
7:14 “all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him”	“They worshiped him” Mt 28:17
7:14 – The Son of man – “he was given authority”	“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” Mt 28:18

There are many more verses but clearly Jesus is identifying himself as the Son of Man who comes on the clouds and was given all authority.

So…what is the significance of this?

Certainly we know that Jesus is the Messiah of Daniel 7.

But the big point is this, Jesus was the one given authority. Evil would be conquered. God’s eternal kingdom would reign. Forever.

Fifth, we see that Jesus has announced the kingdom of God. Jesus spoke often of the kingdom. It is both a “now” and “more to come” kind of kingdom.

—–

So who are the 10 horns and little horn?

The way this Scripture seems to read is that it has already taken place, all power and authority was given to Jesus, and his kingdom is now here. Yet it will be fully realized at a later time.

My own personal take is that this is probably Antiochus Epiphanes as there are too many similarities with ch 8 with the little horn, the defeat of 3 kings, etc..

But no one can say without absolute certainty. But the big point is this:

• Kingdoms will come and go and they will be evil
• Persecution will come but only for a time
• God will pass judgment on evil
• The kingdom and power and glory belong to Jesus
• His kingdom is forever
• You who are his saints will possess this kingdom