John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night , etc.] He declared he had had a vision by night, and this was the substance of it: and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea : the east, west, north, and south winds, broke out from each of their quarters, and rushed in upon the great sea; either the Mediterranean, so called in comparison of the sea of Sodom, and the sea of Tiberias in Judea; or upon the waters of the main ocean, and raised up its waves, and seemed as it were to be striving and fighting with them, and put them into a strange agitation; by which may be meant the whole world, and the kingdoms and nations of it, because of its largeness, inconstancy, instability, and disquietude; (see Revelation 17:15 Isaiah 57:20), and by the “four winds” some understand the angels, either good or bad, concerned in the affairs of Providence on earth, either by divine order or permission; or rather the kings of the earth raising commotions in it, striving and fighting with one another, either to defend or enlarge their dominions; and which have been the means in Providence of the rising up of some great state or monarchy, as after appears.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Daniel's vision of the four beasts. (Dan. 7:1-8) and of Christ' kingdom. (Dan. 7:9-14) The interpretation. (Dan. 7:15-28)
Dan. 7:1-8 This vision contains the same prophetic representations with Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The great sea agitated by the winds represented the earth and the dwellers on it troubled by ambitiou princes and conquerors. The four beasts signified the same fou empires, as the four parts of Nebuchadnezzar's image. Mighty conqueror are but instruments of God's vengeance on a guilty world. The savag beast represents the hateful features of their characters. But the dominion given to each has a limit; their wrath shall be made to prais the Lord, and the remainder of it he will restrain.
Dan. 7:9-14 These verses are for the comfort and support of the people of God, in reference to the persecutions that would come upon them Many New Testament predictions of the judgment to come, have plai allusion to this vision; especially Rev. 20:11,12. The Messiah is her called the Son of man; he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, an was found in fashion as a man, but he is the Son of God. The grea event foretold in this passage, is Christ's glorious coming, to destro every antichristian power, and to render his own kingdom universal upo earth. But ere the solemn time arrives, for manifesting the glory of God to all worlds in his dealings with his creatures, we may expec that the doom of each of us will be determined at the hour of ou death; and before the end shall come, the Father will openly give to his incarnate Son, our Mediator and Judge, the inheritance of the nations as his willing subjects.
Dan. 7:15-28 It is desirable to obtain the right and full sense of what we see and hear from God; and those that would know, must ask be faithful and fervent prayer. The angel told Daniel plainly. He especially desired to know respecting the little horn, which made wa with the saints, and prevailed against them. Here is foretold the rag of papal Rome against true Christians. St. John, in his visions an prophecies, which point in the first place at Rome, has plain referenc to these visions. Daniel had a joyful prospect of the prevalence of God's kingdom among men. This refers to the second coming of ou blessed Lord, when the saints shall triumph in the complete fall of Satan's kingdom. The saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdo for ever. Far be it from us to infer from hence, that dominion is founded on grace. It promises that the gospel kingdom shall be set up a kingdom of light, holiness, and love; a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which shall be the earnest and first-fruit of the kingdom of glory. But the full accomplishment will be in the everlasting happiness of the saints, the kingdom that cannot be moved The gathering together the whole family of God will be a blessedness of Christ's coming _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ענה6032 דניאל1841 ואמר560 חזה2370 הוית1934 בחזוי2376 עם5974 ליליא3916 וארו718 ארבע703 רוחי7308 שׁמיא8065 מגיחן1519 לימא3221 רבא׃7229