Daniel 7.12-The Dominion of First Three Beasts Was Taken Away But an Extension of Life Was Granted Them For an Appointed Period of Time
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday May 16, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 7:12-The Dominion of First Three Beasts Was Taken Away But an Extension of Life was Granted Them For an Appointed Period of Time
Lesson # 211
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 7:1.
Daniel 7:1 During Belshazzar’s, Babylon’s king, first year, Daniel saw a dream specifically visions in his mind on his bed. Then, he wrote down the dream. He declares the beginning of the account. 2 Daniel began to speak and said, “I was in a trance like state, staring because of my vision during the night as behold the heaven’s four winds were blowing violently against the great sea. 3 Then, four great beasts, one different from the other, came up out from the sea. 4 The first beast was like a lion with eagle’s wings attached to it. I was in a trance like state staring when its wings were torn off. Then it was lifted up from the ground for the purpose of it standing on two feet like a human being. A human mind was also given to it. 5 Next, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear with it raised up to one side with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. Then, they issued orders to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ 6 After this, I was staring in a trance like state as behold, another one, was like a leopard with it having four bird’s wings on its back. Also, the beast had four heads. Indeed, governmental dominion was given to it. 7 After this, I was continuing to stare in a trance like state because of these night visions as behold, a fourth beast, intimidating, yes even terrifying as well as extremely powerful, possessing two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the rest with its feet. Indeed, it was characterized as different from all the beasts which were before it in the sense of possessing ten horns. 8 I was contemplating in a trance like state because of these horns as behold, another little horn emerged out from among them. Then, the first three originating from the horns was torn out by being in the presence of it. In fact, behold, on this horn, were eyes like a human being’s eyes as well as a mouth speaking boastfully. 9 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state when thrones were set up. Then, the One Ancient in Days sat. His clothing was white like snow. Also, the hair of His head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was fiery flames. Its wheels were a blazing fire. 10 A river composed of fire was flowing, yes issuing forth from His presence. A thousand times a thousand were continually rendering worshipful service to Him. In fact, ten thousand times ten thousand were continually standing in His presence. The court convened resulting in scrolls being opened. 11 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state at that time because of the sound coming from the boastful words which the horn was making a habit of speaking. I was continuing to stare in a trance like state when the beast was killed. In fact, its body was destroyed. Specifically, it was given over to the consuming fire.” (My translation)
Daniel 7:12 “As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.” (NASB95)
This verse stands in contrast with the previous statements in Daniel 7:11, which record the fourth beast being killed and its body destroyed as a result of being burned with fire.
So there is a contrast between the two statements because the fourth beast was said to be killed where the other three beasts were not killed but were permitted to exist for an appointed period of time.
“The rest of the beasts” is a reference to the first three beasts in Daniel’s vision which represent Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece.
“Their dominion” is composed of the masculine singular construct form of the noun šā∙leṭān (שָׁלְטָן) (shol-tawn´), “dominion” which is modified by the third person masculine plural pronominal suffix him∙mô (הִמֹּו) (him-mo´), “their.”
The noun šā∙leṭān means “governmental dominion” referring to supreme, sovereign authority or power which was given to the first three beasts, which represented by Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece respectively.
It refers to the period of time when each assumed the position of a world-empire.
“But an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time” is a concessive clause indicating that despite the fact that the first three beasts had their world-wide governmental dominion taken away from them, they were permitted to exist for an appointed period of time.
“An extension of life” is composed of the feminine singular noun ʾǎr∙ḵā(h) (אַרְכָה) (ar-kaw´), “an extension” which is followed by the preposition b- (בְּ־) (beh) “of” and its object is the masculine plural noun ḥǎy (חַי) (khah´ee), “life.”
The noun ʾǎr∙ḵā(h) means “an extension” since it refers to a prolongation of a period of time in which something takes place and here it denotes an extension of life was granted to the first three beasts.
The noun ḥǎy means “life” in the sense of the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body.
It refers to the principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings.
This noun is the object of the preposition b- which is a marker of a state or condition and here marks the state or condition of being alive.
“For an appointed period of time” is composed of the preposition ʿǎḏ (עַד) (ad), “for” and its object is the masculine singular form of the noun zemǎn (זְמַן) (zem-awn´), “an appointed period” and then we have the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), which is not translated and followed by the masculine singular form of the noun ʿid∙dān (עִדָּן) (id-dawn´), “time.”
The noun zemǎn is in the singular and means “duration of time” or “period of time” referring to how long the three beasts will be permitted by the Ancient of Days to exist.
The noun ʿid∙dān is in the singular and means “appointed time” in the sense that the Ancient of Days sets a specific time when these three beasts will live and when they will die.
The noun zemǎn is the object of the preposition ʿǎḏ which is a marker of a duration of time with reference to another period of time.
The two points of time are the birth of these beasts and their death.
Thus this prepositional phrase indicates that the Ancient of Days granted an extension of life for an appointed period of time.
The conjunction wa is used to join these two words in order to communicate one idea, which is called “hendiadys.”
Here in Daniel 7:12, the noun ʿid∙dān intensifies the meaning of zemǎn.
Therefore, these two words express one idea, namely that these three beasts were granted an extension of life by the Ancient of Days for “a period of time, yes an appointed period of time.”
This figure emphasizes the terrifying nature of the sovereignty of the Ancient of Days over these three beasts, which symbolize Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece.
Daniel 7:12 “On the other hand, the rest of the beasts, their governmental dominion was taken away, though for their benefit an extension of life was granted for a period of time, yes an appointed period of time.” (My translation)
Daniel contrasts the killing of the fourth beast with the first three beasts whose governmental dominion was taken away by the Ancient of Days, though an extension of life was granted to these beasts for an appointed period of time.
Though the first three beasts were permitted to live for an appointed period of time by the Ancient of Days, this does not imply that the first three beasts continued to live after the death of the fourth beast since each beast continued to exist in the beast which followed it.
The empires of Babylon, Medo-Persian and Greece which are represented by the first three beasts were absorbed into the Roman Empire represented by the fourth beast.
So the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece continued to exist in some form in the Roman Empire though they were no longer world-empires.
The customs, ideologies, religions and philosophies of Babylon were absorbed into the Medo-Persian Empire when the latter conquered the former.
In the same way, the customs, ideologies, religions and philosophies of Medo-Persia were absorbed into Alexander’s Greece when the latter conquered the former.
The customs, ideologies, religions, and philosophies of the Greeks were absorbed into the Roman Empire.
The customs, ideologies, religions and philosophies of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome will be found to some extent in the Revived Form of the Roman Empire which will exist during Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
Therefore, when the final form of the Roman Empire appears during Daniel’s Seventieth Week in the future, the remnants of Babylon, Medo-Persian and Greece will be destroyed along with it.
This corresponds to what we read in Daniel chapter two where the rock struck the iron and clay feet of the statue and not only crushed the iron and clay feet but also the gold head, silver chest and arms, the bronze belly and thighs and the iron lower legs.
This not only represents Jesus Christ destroying the Revived Form of the Roman Empire under Antichrist at His Second Advent as well as His millennial kingdom erasing completely any reminder of the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome but it also indicates that remnants of these four kingdoms will be found in the Revived Form of the Roman Empire.
That remnants of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome will be found in the Revived Form of the Roman Empire during Daniel’s Seventieth Week under Antichrist is indicated by the fact that the body of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream emphasized the continuity and integral relationship of the kingdoms represented in the statue.
This means that though one kingdom might pass away, elements of it would be found in the kingdom, which follows it.
History records that the Roman Empire and civilization incorporated much of the Greek culture, even identifying their gods with those of the Greeks.
Also Persian and Babylonian cults and customs spread throughout the Roman Empire.
The Greek language became the language of trade, commerce and government communication in the eastern half of the Roman Empire and even in the city of Rome itself.
The fact that the iron lower legs belong to the statue indicates that Rome represented by the iron lower legs would incorporate the language, customs, culture and gods of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece.
Thus, in a sense these three previous kingdoms in a sense were not completely destroyed.
However, Christ’s Second Advent will destroy any remembrance of these former kingdoms as depicted in the rock cut out of a mountain without human hands striking the image on the feet and destroying the entire image.
Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ’s victory over this ten-nation confederacy under Antichrist during Daniel’s Seventieth Week will be total and complete but also it will be total and complete over all these previous Gentile kingdoms.
His Second Advent will result in the destruction of any remnants of these previous Gentile world powers.
Furthermore, His millennial government will cause these other forms of government to be totally and completely forgotten.
So Daniel is telling the reader in Daniel 7:12 that in contrast to the fourth beast representing Rome, the first three beasts representing Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece will have their world-wide governmental dominion taken away from them one by one and will be permitted to exist in the kingdom which succeeds it as a world-wide empire.
In other words, unlike the first three beasts, the fourth beast will not have its world-wide governmental dominion taken away from it and given to another Gentile kingdom and then be permitted to exist in a Gentile kingdom which succeeds it.
Thus, the Roman Empire’s demise will not result in another Gentile power succeeding it and remnants of it will not be absorbed into another world-wide Gentile power as was the case with Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece.
The death of the Roman Empire will bring about the demise of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece since remnants of it were absorbed into the Roman Empire.
Unlike Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, the final world-wide Gentile power, the Revived Form of the Roman Empire will be destroyed by Jesus Christ Himself.
Therefore, in Daniel chapter two, we read that when the rock struck the feet of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the entire statue was destroyed.
This as we noted teaches in symbolic terms that when the Second Advent of Christ destroys Antichrist and the Revived Form of the Roman Empire, all remnants of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome will be destroyed as well.
Since Daniel chapter two speaks of the Times of the Gentiles from the human perspective and chapter seven from God’s perspective, we can infer that the destruction of the fourth beast in chapter seven corresponds to the rock striking the feet of the statue in chapter two.
In chapter two the destruction of the feet of the statue was followed by the millennial kingdom and in chapter seven the destruction of the fourth beast was followed by the millennial kingdom as made clear by the interpretation given to Daniel in Daniel 7:15-27.