John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And four great beasts came up from the sea , etc.] Which are afterwards interpreted of four kings or kingdoms, ( Daniel 7:17), which rose up in the world, not at once, but successively, and out of the sea or world, through the commotions and agitations of it; and these are the four monarchies, Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman; compared to “beasts”, because of the rapine and violence, cruelty, oppression, and tyranny, by which they were obtained, set up, supported, and maintained; and to “great ones”, being not like single separate kingdoms, as the kingdom of Israel, and the like, but consisting of many kingdoms and nations, and so like beasts of an enormous size: diverse one from another ; in their situation, language, manner, strength, and power; hence expressed by divers sorts of beasts, as the lion, bear, leopard, etc.; as in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream by different metals, gold, silver, brass, and iron.
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 וארבע703 חיון2423 רברבן7260 סלקן5559 מן4481 ימא3221 שׁנין8133 דא1668 מן4481 דא׃1668
