The book of Daniel is widely known and acclaimed by scholars for it’s prophetic visions concerning the Messiah and the end of the age. Especially chapters seven through twelve record four eschatological visions, in which, chapter eight found partial fulfillment in Antiochus Epiphanies and even Hitler. Daniel chapter seven encompasses Daniel’s vision of four beasts, which each represent a world empire. These four rise up from the Mediterranean Sea after four winds stir the waters. The sea is seen as symbolic of humanity and the winds representative of spiritual activity, probably demonic. The first beast is a lion with eagle’s wings and represents the Babylonian Empire (modern day Iraq), the second is a bear with ribs in it’s mouth and represents the Persian Empire (modern day Iran), the third beast is a leopard with four wings and represents the Greek Empire (modern day Greece), and the fourth beast is a beast like no other and represents the Antichrist rising up from the Roman Empire (there is no modern day equivalent, but scholars believe there will be a rebirth of an empire in the likeness of the cruel Roman Empire, or will have roots in the old Roman Empire). This fourth beast is “dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.” (Dan. 7:7, NKJV) The ten horns represent ten kings or kingdoms. Within Daniel’s vision, an eleventh horn rises up that was smaller than the rest, yet it plucks out the first three horns by the roots, and the horn had human eyes and “a mouth speaking pompous words.” (Dan. 7:8)

Daniel 7:13-14 align with the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24-25 and the book of Revelation and, therefore, this vision concerns the end of the age and the events surrounding the Second Coming. Not only this, but the prophesies are self-disclosed as eschatological (Dan. 8:19, 10:14) Later, in this same chapter, the angel interprets the dream for Daniel and it is revealed that the fourth kingdom, that was like no other, was made up of ten kings, one smaller king rises up after the ten and overthrows the first three kings and rises above, as head of the whole ten-nation confederation. It is clear that this little horn speaks of the Antichrist, for the same character is spoken of in Daniel chapter eight and nine, in even greater detail and is referenced by Jesus himself in the Olivet Discourse while discussing the end of the age. 

This main character who is a representative of Satan and was foreshadowed by Judas, who is seen in the eschatological passages, is termed “Antichrist” or “son of perdition” (Jn. 17:12; 2 Thess. 2:3;  1 Jn. 2:18, 2:22, 4:3; 2 Jn. 1:7). Along with this main leader will be “many antichrists” and Jesus’ first warning in his Olivet Discourse is, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (1 Jn. 2:18; Mt. 24:4-5) In chapter eight, the Antichrist is described as persecuting the Jews and Christians. In chapter nine, the seven year covenant, or peace treaty, between the Antichrist and Israel takes place until the abomination of desolation which occurs after three and a half years; after three and a half more years is the Second Coming (Dan. 9:24-27). These periods are divided into four sections in Matthew 24 as “the beginning of sorrows”, “the tribulation”, “the great tribulation”, and “the sign of the Son of Man” and finally described is the rapture and the resurrection. Although no one knows the day or the hour, Jesus commands his followers to discern the season. (Mt. 24:32-44)

The abomination of desolation is a singular event within a drawn out timeline, in which, the Jews make a peace treaty with the Antichrist, essentially receiving him as their messiah, the temple is rebuilt and sacrifices begin again, and three and a half years after the covenant, the Antichrist breaks his agreement with Israel, and desecrates the temple and makes himself out to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 writes of this event, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (NKJV) These two events were spoken of by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse (directly referencing the book of Daniel) as well as the book of Revelation in which the tribulation and the great tribulation, until the Second Coming last for a seven year period. (Dan. 7:25, 9:25-27, 11:29-32, 12:7-12; Mt. 24:15-21; Mk. 13:5, 14-19; Rev. 11:2-3, 12:6, 14, 13:14-15; 2 Thess. 2:3-4)

Of course, the issue with the Temple and the return of the Sacrificial system within the New Testament Dispensation creates major questions; however, these events are not about salvation, they are surrounding Israel’s election or calling (as well as their fall from grace as a nation), that is irrevocable (Romans 9-11; See: Romans 9-11 Outline). Israel is wrong in re-building a Temple and returning to the sacrificial system and accepting the Antichrist as messiah, culminating in the worship of Satan (via his world leader, the Antichrist who shares Satan’s throne and power, as it were, at least to a higher degree than any other man); indeed, it is within the frame of this depth of depravity, and only when this false messiah is revealed as Israel’s enemy, that the return of Christ is ushered in and Israel finally accepts Jesus as their true Messiah (Mt. 23:39 and all of chapter 23). 

The vision continues with the Antichrist persecuting the saints and the Jews for three and a half years, then the Antichrist being destroyed at the Second Coming of Jesus, then the other “beasts” or kingdoms being given some more time, and at last, the final judgement. Victory is assured through the judgement of God, though only after much destruction and persecution of the saints. Indeed, in chapter seven is seen the Father and Jesus, called, “the Ancient of Days” and “the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven!” enthroned and, “The court was seated, And the books were opened.” (Dan. 7:9, 13) The descriptions perfectly line up with those of Revelation and Matthew (Mt. 24:30; Mk. 13:26; Rev. 1:7, 14; also, Dan. 7:22, 26; Rev. 11:18, 20:4).

This begins the Millenial Kingdom (1,000 year period in which the saints in Christ are resurrected and given dominion over the earth with Jesus who is enthroned in Jerusalem, healing flows to the nations from Israel, a sacrificial system is put in place again, possibly for the remembrance of the cross and the sanctification of land, etc., and those who were neither in the kingdom of the Antichrist nor of God are given time to live and accept Christ; Rev. 20:4).

This vision of Daniel seven lines up perfectly and brings interpretation to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan. 2), wherein four kingdoms are represented, and the kingdom of God. Viewing with two visions together gives greater insight of how the kingdoms relate and in which way they are destroyed. If chapter seven were taken from the prophetic accounts, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream would have been left somewhat obscure; furthermore, chapter seven was given near the end of Daniel’s life and after King Belshazzar began to rule in Babylon and reveals that the vision and collection of visions have to do with not just Nebuchadnezzar, but “an appointed time”, as Daniel 8:19 states, “. . . Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.” The vision of the horns and the eleventh horn rising up give impeccable details to the events surrounding the rise of the ten-nation confederation and the rise of the Antichrist and so, allow interpretation of events as they unfold. 

This message should mark the believer with urgency in prayer and fasting to be able to grow in knowledge and stand at the end of the age, as well as to teach these things that are so crucial to being prepared for the persecution, the judgements of God on the earth, and the Second Coming with an un-offended heart. The revelation of the imminent victory that God will provide after such a time, provides hope and endurance for the people of God.

““At that time Michael shall stand up,

⁴ “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

As a side note, Daniel 12:4 is not speaking of the concealing of knowledge, but of Daniel’s job to write down and secure the vision.