Daniel 7:9 Commentary and Bible Study

Now the original could read either ‘the thrones were set’, or ‘they were cast down.’ Our King James translators have chosen ‘cast down’, which suggests to us that the throne and the Ancient of days came when the four beasts were defeated, but it's equally likely that it should read ‘I beheld till the thrones were set’, so that a courtroom is now being described, a scene of judgment. One of the occupants of the throne is going to be the Ancient of days. Other thrones – we are not told who occupies them. Perhaps it may be the Son of man, who is introduced shortly. Perhaps it may be the cherubim of justice. They're not mentioned with regard to an occupant, but anyway it's a courtroom more likely that's being described. ‘I beheld [peered, looked] till thrones were [set down] and the Ancient of days didst sit, whose garment was white as snow,’ – the purity of God, God the Father – ‘and the hair of his head like the pure wool’ – depicting his being from everlasting, and the wisdom that we associate with age. Of course God cannot be seen by Daniel; he can only be represented in a vision in this way. ‘His throne was like the fiery flame’, the flame of judgment. ‘His wheels’ – this throne is rather like a chariot, and it’s going to depict the wisdom of God: he can go anywhere to apply his judgment and none can shut him out.‘A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him’, which may be a description of the angelic host which follow, or it may depict the invincibility of God acting in judgment. Then you read about the ‘thousand thousands’ ministering unto him, ‘and ten thousand times ten thousand’ standing before him. The angels are present here as ministers of God, as well as those who are to be judged. If these empires are so vast, God has far more angels serving him than all the armies of heaven. It’s a tremendous scene, overwhelming for Daniel in the vision. It is the Day of Judgment when all that human justice has inadequately punished, or completely failed to punish, or even counted righteous when it was in fact evil – ‘the secrets of men’ (Romans 2:16); all will be addressed by God. Only the Day of Judgment can be a proper divine response to the history of the world. God’s attribute of justice has been in partial suspense all this time. Now justice will be poured out undiluted. But at the same time mercy will be poured out on the saints, on all who have repented of their sins and trusted in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘And the books were opened’, the books of all human deeds. In Revelation 20:12 John refers to the same books and says, ‘and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books.’ This, of course, is a figure; God forgets nothing, and does not need to write anything down in order to remember it, but divine justice is represented in terms of human justice in order to help us capture the scene in our minds. Men record things to ensure that everything is accurate and nothing is changed, and so it will be here. Every human conscience will confirm what is written in the books as we stand naked before God. John tells us another book was also opened, and this may be included here in Daniel: ‘and another book was opened, which is the book of life’, and the apostle Paul refers to the same (Philippians 4:3). It is the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27), the names of all those for whom Christ died. It contains the names of the elect of God, those saved from all nations in all generations. It was written before the foundation of the world, for God knew even before he created the world whom he would call to life. ‘I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake.’ This virulent anti-Christian voice, this one who speaks great swelling words and is so proud: he is berating the faith and people of God, the Lord and his word, right up until the time of judgment, to the very end. In fact his voice becomes louder as you draw to the end. Who is this horn? It is the little horn, the last horn spoken of in verse 8, who we have already been told has ‘a mouth speaking great things’, proud things, boastful things, against Almighty God. This mouth is full of blasphemy (Revelation 13:5-6). This is the voice of antichrist. He continues opposing God’s people for forty-two months (Revelation 13:5), the symbolic time period representing the gospel age. John explains, ‘Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time’ (1 John 2:18). And Paul says, ‘Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ⁴ Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. ⁵ Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? ⁶ And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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: ⁹ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders’ (2 Thessalonians 2:3-9). This mouth will be hard for the people of God to resist, and they must be faithful unto death. Nevertheless, when Christ is revealed from heaven, the beast and the horn that speaks for him will be slain. As Luther’s hymn tells us, ‘The ancient prince of hell, Hath risen with purpose fell; Strong mail of craft and power, He weareth in that hour; On earth is not his fellow … And let the prince of ill, Look grim as e’er he will, He harms us not a whit: For why? His doom is writ; A word shall quickly slay him.’ Whatever power antichrist and the kingdom of darkness seems to have, Christ will quickly destroy them with the word of his mouth, and every blasphemy will be called to account.‘I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.’ What else could happen to such words spoken in the presence of God? Does that mean that the beast, the Roman Empire, will last until the judgment day? No it doesn't. It is just that the account is somewhat telescoped in this verse – it is drawn out again as we proceed further on. It means that all these empires will fall in their day, but their judgment and their final end is reserved until the Day of Judgment. ‘As concerning the rest of the beasts,’ the other three, ‘they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.’ So these beasts fall. One replaces the other, but the nations that were empires continue to exist. Their dominion is removed; their glory is taken away, but they don't vanish.