Verse by verse exegesis of Daniel 7. This is meant for the beginners, easy to follow and non-offensive.

1. DANIEL 7 EXEGESIS
By
P.T. Khumalo
Revere God Ministries

2. Introduction
• This chapter is closely linked to chapter 2
• This contains a better details of the succession of kingdoms.
• We shall not concern very much about the year in which the
vision was received (553 B.C. according to most historians.)
• We are going to do an EXEGETICAL view of this chapter, verse
by verse.
• It is important to keep your prophetic keys handy.

3. Verse 1
• If the date is indeed 553 B.C. and Babylon fell in 539 B.C.
• Then it took some 14 years before this vision was fulfilled.
• Consider then, the 43 years of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, basically
43 years less 3 years! Isa. 42:9
• This is telling me that it wasn’t Nebuchadnezzar’s might that he
clung to power all these years without defeat!
• Somebody had given him this time to rule, Isa. 48:3-6.
• Through the mouth of Jeremiah God said: “Now I will hand ALL
your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. All
nations will serve him and his son and his grand son until… Jer.
27:6,7.

4. Verse 2
• “… the four winds…” This is a prophetic key symbolising war,
strife or political turmoil (bloodshed and destruction). Jer.
25:32-33; Eze. 7:1-2.
• The sea or many waters, stands for masses of people (especially
non God fearing) Isa. 17:12,13; 8:7,8; 60:5
• When many waters is put together with wind, then the message
is: “Nations fighting for political domination”.
• One should note that the beasts arise from the SEA while the
WINDS are blowing hard.
• According to God’s time table, it was time for change! Jer. 49:36;
Rev. 7:1-4

5. Verse 3
• Though short, it has several lessons for us:
1. What the 4 beasts represent, 4 kings or 4
kingdoms? Study Daniel 2:37-39;
7:17,23; 8:20-22 very carefully.
2. Why God uses animals now not metals?
Animals are by nature very protective of
their domains and fight vigorously for it,
so are the nations!
3. The fulfilment of this prophecy, according
to Ps Bohr, started from East to West.
4. It is note worthy again that the river
Euphrates, is in the East, which will be
dried up in preparation for Armageddon.
Rev. 16:12.

6. Verse 4 • NB: The LION here does not represent
Nebuchadnezzar, but Babylon as an
empire or kingdom!
• All the nations of the world had been
subjected to Babylon, Jer. 27:6, thus
fitly represented by the king of the
jungle.
• Archaeological excavations have
confirmed that sphinx were common in
ancient Babylon.
• Jeremiah confirms that Babylon was
represented by a Lion, Jer. 4:7; 50:17.
• “WINGS” in Bible prophecy stands for
speed. Eze. 17:3,12; Lam. 4:19; Hab.
1:6-8.
• Plucking of wings = loss of speed. NB:
It is neither wind nor other beasts that
strip this lion off its wings!

7. Verse 4 Cont.
• Made to stand on two feet: changed from “king of the jungle” to
ordinary.
• “Heart of man” Humans now generally fear, whereas lions are
feared. This then makes this once “brave” kingdom to be now
cowards and fearful.
• This cowardice was exhibited clearly by king Belshazzar in the
night Babylon fell into the hands of the Medes. Dan. 5:6.
• More than anything, please note the use of the passive verbs in
this verse! “wings were torn off”; “it was lifted up…”; “ was
given…”
• This clearly demonstrates that God is above the affairs of men
and is ruling and controlling them. He is THE RULER!

8. Verse 5 • According to Daniel 2, the next metal
was silver.
• This was the next kingdom – of 2
arms in the chest!
• This kingdom here is represented by
a BEAR with one side “lifted up” or
“raised”.
• The “RAISED” side means it’s going
to be a “SHARED” government.
• The 3 “RIBS” (As in human body, ribs
are the strength of the skeleton, so
these “ribs” were the strength of the
“devoured” kingdom.
• These were provinces of Babylon,
Lydia and Egypt.
• Notice again that this “animal” is told
to “get up and eat…” The question
then is “who is giving the
instructions?” a vote?

9. Verse 6
• The LEOPARD = Greece (Brass
kingdom).
• Notable with this kingdom is the speed.
• Whereas a leopard is fast by nature, it is
given yet more speed “Wings”, not 2, but
4 wings! Explained in verse 4.
• History says that Alexander the Great
conquered the whole of near East (from
Egypt to Indus Valley in India) in just 3
years whereas Nebuchadnezzar took 13
years just to reach Tyre.
• Note that both the lion and the Leopard
had wings! But the Leopard took only 8
months to conquer Tyre where Babylon
failed in 13 years.
• HEADS = rulers or kings “You are the
head of gold” Dan. 2:38
• Although Daniel here said it had 4 heads,
further details of their growth will be
furnished in chapter 8.

10. Verse 7
• The “Nameless Beast” = Roman Empire (168
B.C. – 476 A.D.)
• Edward Gibbon, in “The History of the Decline of
The Roman Empire”, vol. 4. p161 says: “This
monarchy came to be known as the “iron
monarchy of Rome.””
• We note some similarities that identify it with iron
in Dan. 2.
• Had IRON Teeth.
• Had strength of an IRON meaning very
powerful!
• Notable again is CRUELTY “devoured and
trampled” upon its victims.
• This is the kingdom that invented crucifixion as a
method of slow, painful death.
• We are noting again a shift from identifying
“limbs” as an indication of a division in the
kingdom.

11. Verse 7 • Heads have been introduced as a
division in the 3rd beast.
• Horns are now introduced as an
indication of a disunity in the kingdom.
• The prophet specifies a marked
difference in this beast, besides a
number of horns! “It was different
from all former beasts…” before
adding “it had ten horns.”
• This is note worthy as we shall see in
chapter 8 how this kingdom began,
differently from all others, and quickly
usurped power through cruelty,
intolerance and intimidation.
• Historians identify the 10 horns on
this beast as the kings of these
nationalities: The Lombard's, Franks,
Burgundians, Ostrogoths, Visigoths,
Vandals, Heruli, Sueves, Huns and
Saxons.

12. Verse 7
• From this picture or clip on the left, we can clearly
identify the TEN HORNS.
• Please NOTE that this is ONLY talking about the
6 of the 10 “HORNS”
• We can also see the results of a further division in
pursuit of “DEMOCRACY.”
• This further proves the Bible to be correct and
precise.
• “Moreover the fourth kingdom, which plainly pertains
to the Romans, is the iron which breaks in pieces and
subdues all things. But its feet and toes are partly of
iron and partly of clay, which at this time [note that
Jerome was living when this was happening] is most
plainly attested. For just as in its beginning nothing
was stronger and more unyielding than the Roman
Empire, so at the end of its affairs nothing is weaker.”
(Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, comments on 2:40,
column 504).
https://www.friesian.com/germania.htm

13. Verse 8
“The Little Horn”
• 11 Identifying and distinguishing marks of this
horn:
1. The little horn arises from the fourth beast
(7:8). The fourth beast represents Rome, so the
little horn must be a Roman power.
2. The little horn arises among the ten horns. The
ten horns are the divisions of western Europe, so
the little horn must arise in western Europe
(7:8).
3. The little horn rises after the ten horns (7:24).
According to historians, the ten horns were
complete in the year 476 A. D., so this must
mean that the little horn was to arise to power
sometime after 476 A. D.
4. The little horn was to pluck up three of the
first [ten] horns by the roots (7:8). This means
that these three nations would be uprooted from
history.
5. The little horn was to speak great words
against the Most High (7:21, 25). Revelation
13:5 explains what these words would be,
namely, blasphemy.

14. Verse 8 “The Little Horn”
6. The little horn was to be a persecuting power. This is stated in Daniel
7:21 and repeated in verse 25.
7. The little horn would think it could change God’s “times”, that is to
say, God’s timetable of prophetic events. (Daniel 2:21).
8. The little horn would even have the audacity to THINK that it could
change God’s holy law. (7:25).
9. The little horn would be different that the ten horns. It would be an
amalgamation of church and state (7:24)
10. This power would govern for a time, times and half a time (7:25). This
comes out to 42 months or 1260 days (see, Revelation 13:5-6; 12:6, 13-
15).
11. The little horn had eyes like a man. In Bible Prophecy, eyes are a symbol
of wisdom (see, Ephesians 1:18; Revelation 5:6). Even today, an owl is a
symbol of wisdom because of its large eyes. In other words, this power
was to depend on human wisdom.

15. Verse 9,10 “The Judgment”
• Almost ALL Bible Commentaries agree that the little horn is the
religious system of the 4th kingdom.
• It is important to note that the sooner the little horn started to speak
boastfully, the Judgment began in Heaven.
• We studied in Dan. 4:30 that the sooner king Nebuchadnezzar spoke
boastfully, he met his judgment.
• The difference in this case is that judgment was temporal and pertained
to the individual whereas the judgment in this case pertains to a system
and is eternal.
• After a short description of the Ancient of Days, His Throne and Throne
room, the prophet says “… the court was seated, and the books were
opened.”
• One should remember at this point Malachi 3:16 as one other verse that
talks of the books.

16. Verse 11 “The Judgment” Cont.
• The Prophet said: “I continued to watch… the horn was
speaking.”
• One cannot help but notice the tense, past continuous time!
• That gives an indication that this judgment sat for as long as the
horn was speaking, not once off.
• That is consistent with Malachi 3:16 which records in the book
what God’s people are doing for as long as they are doing it.
• He prophet says he kept looking UNTIL the BEAST was slain…
thus confirming to us that the little horn belongs to the 4th beast.
• He tells us the ultimate end of the BEAST, hell fire!

17. Verse 12
• This verse is not part of the prophecy, but a comment by the
scribe.
• We see this in two ways:
• Other version put it in italics
• Others put it within brackets, e.g. NIV.
• The “Time” in this verse should not bother us as it is not part of the
prophecy.

18. Verse 13
• Note that this is the ONLY part of the
OT that gives reference to THE SON OF
MAN as we know Him in the NT.
• The record of Matthew 26:64 agrees with
this verse.
• One needs to go back to the THRONES
that were set because THE SON OF
MAN is seen as approaching THE
ANCIENT OF DAYS meaning He wasn’t
on the Throne!
• We are told that the Son of Man was led
into the presence of The Ancient of Days,
as the Judgment was in session.
• It should be remembered that while on
Earth, Jesus said He came to do the will
of Him that sent Him. John 6:38 NIV.
• But it does not look like this is the second
coming, because He came with the clouds
of Heaven, in Heaven!

19. Verse 13
• Obviously this is the time of the ascension Acts 1:9,11.
• We learn that the “cloud” that came to receive Him were the
Angels, one of them assured the Disciples of His return.
• It then stands to reason that Daniel the Prophet was shown this
coronation after the ascension.

20. Verse 14
• This verse confirms our
assertion that this was at the
time of Jesus’ coronation.
• This verse again confirms the
STONE Kingdom as belonging
to Christ, my Christ and His God
(His Father). Dan. 2:44
• More than that, this verse dispels
the TRINITY heresy as a
doctrine of the BEAST and its
little horn.
• This false doctrine teaches that
Christ and His Father are equal,
when Christ says plainly that His
Father is greater than He. John
14:28 NIV.

21. Verses 15 – 17 Perplexity
• It is noted that only after the 4th beast and its little horn, its
activities and cruelty towards God’s people was he confused.
• In this vision, the prophet wasn’t alone, for, he approached
someone who was there with him, verse 16.
• This person, the prophet believed could have answers to his
concerns or troubles, hence he decided to approach.

22. Verses 17, 18
• These verses show human weakness in not addressing our
REAL concerns and assume that somebody else knows what we
are talking about.
• The prophet asked “about the true meaning of all this.” Verse 16b
• The answer he was given was: “the 4 great beasts are 4 kingdoms that
will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive…”
which indeed is the summary of “all these things” as he asked.
• Our take home here is ALWAYS BE SPECIFIC as Jesus said
“Ask and it shall be given to you…” Matt. 7:7 – 11 which closes
with a statement on precision: “9Which of you, if his son asks for
bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give
him a snake?”

23. Verses
19 – 22
• When the prophet was specific about his
perplexities, he got a precise answer as well!
• His confusion was on the 4th beast, he
understood about the other beasts.
• What about the 4th beast did he not
understand?
• This beast was different from all previous
ones.
• It was terrifying and had iron teeth,
bronze claws, crushed its victims and
trampled them under its feet.
• The 10 horns on this beast.
• The little horn that uprooted 3 other horns
before it.
• The little horn that was more imposing
than all others and had eyes and a
mouth, and that spoke pompous words
against the Most High.
• This horn that waged war against the
Saints of the Most High and defeated
them.

24. Verses 19 – 22
• This defeat of the
Saints until the Ancient
of Days came and
pronounced judgment
in favour of His Saints.

25. Verses
23 – 28
• We have referred to verse 23 earlier
on in this study while dealing with
verse 8.
• The difference is in that the previous
3 were just empires, but this one
included a religious system in it.
• History has it that Roman conflicts
on religious grounds killed more
people than world wars 1 and 2 put
together.
• A “temporary” defeat will be granted
this horn over the Saints but
VICTORY WILL BE THEIRS AT
LAST.