15 “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’”
7:15
I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel now turns to interpret the meaning of the four beasts (7:15-18). The vision bewildered him.
7:16
I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:
There was a mystery to what Daniel saw. He sees himself in the vision, interacting with someone who interpreted the dream for him.
7:17
“Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.
The interpreter clearly says that the “beasts” are “four kings.” The kings represent four kingdoms.
7:18
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.”
The interpreter continues by explaining the fifth kingdom of the Son of Man, a kingdom that lasts “forever, even forever and ever.” This is a promise to Israel of an earthly, literal kingdom that displaces the previous earthly Gentile kingdoms. The “saints” are believing Jews.
PRINCIPLE:
The ultimate hope for man lies not in the nations of this world but the kingdom of Christ.
APPLICATION:
Although man has accomplished great achievements, he has not dealt with the sin capacity in man. Human reform cannot change man but regeneration can transform him from within. We will continue to see brutality and depravity in man until that happens.
God permits the nations of the world to act beastly toward one another only for a time. Their coercive, wanton, and cruel acts toward each other will end with God’s power. God is preparing a kingdom that will have no cruelty. In the final consummation, the kingdoms of the earth will become the kingdom of King Jesus. He will reign forever and ever, world without end. World empires exist only as long as God permits them to exist.
The believer should not look for the ultimate hope of world peace via nations of the world. If he or she looks to national entities to resolve the problems of man, then that will end in despair. We look for a different King and kingdom.
“This world is not my home;
I’m just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me
From earth to heaven’s shore,
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore.”
