Daniel 7.18-The Saints of the Highest One Will Receive and Possess the Kingdom Forever
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday May 30, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 7:18-The Saints of the Highest One Will Receive and Possess the Kingdom Forever
Lesson # 217
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. 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. 13 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state because of these visions as behold One like a Son of Man was coming upon the clouds of heaven. Specifically, He went up to the One Ancient in Days in the sense that He approached His presence. 14 Then, governmental dominion was given to Him as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him. His governmental dominion is an eternal governmental dominion which can never be taken away so that His kingdom is one which can never be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my soul was distressed in the midst of my body. Specifically, the visions in my mind caused me to be terrified. 16 I went up to one from those standing nearby in order to request from him the truth regarding all this. Consequently, he spoke to me in order to make known to me the interpretation of these events. 17 ‘These great beasts which are four in number are four kings who will arise from the earth’s inhabitants.’” (Author’s translation)
Daniel 7:18 ‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’ (NASB95)
“But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom” stands in contrast to the previous statement in Daniel 7:17 which records the angel Gabriel telling Daniel that the four great beasts in his vision represent four kingdoms arising from the earth’s inhabitants.
Therefore, the contrast is between the temporary and transitory nature of the four kingdoms represented by the four beasts who originate from sinful humanity with the eternal nature of the kingdom the saints of the Most Highest will receive and possess, whose origin is from God.
“The saints” is the masculine plural construct form of the adjective qǎd∙dîš (קַדִּישׁ) (kad-deesh´), which functions as a substantive and means “saints” describing those Jews and Gentiles who are regenerated through faith and as a result of have been set apart to serve the God of Israel exclusively.
“The Highest One” is the masculine plural form of the adjective ʿěl·yôn (עֶלְיוֹן) (el-yone´), which means “the Most High” referring of course to the God of Israel and specifically the Son of Man.
“The kingdom” is the feminine singular construct form of the noun mǎl∙ḵûṯ (מַלְכוּת) (mal-kooth), which refers to God’s kingdom which will be manifested on the earth during His Son Jesus Christ’s millennial reign.
“And possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come” is advancing upon and intensifying the previous statement, which tells the reader that the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom.
Therefore, the advancement and intensification is that the interpreter goes from telling Daniel that the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom to informing him that they will possess it throughout eternity.
“Forever, for all ages to come” is composed of the preposition ʿǎḏ (עַד) (ad) and its object is the masculine singular noun ʿā∙lǎm (עָלַם) (aw-lam´), which together are translated “forever” and they are followed by the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), which is not translated and followed once again by the preposition ʿǎḏ (עַד) (ad) “for” and its object is the masculine singular construct form of the noun ʿā∙lǎm (עָלַם) (aw-lam´), which is followed by the masculine plural form of the noun ʿā∙lǎm (עָלַם) (aw-lam´), which together are translated “all ages to come.”
The masculine singular form of the noun ʿā∙lǎm means “forever” referring to eternity and its the object of the preposition ʿǎḏ, which is used as a marker of duration without reference to points of time indicating that the saints of the Most High will possess the kingdom “throughout” eternity or in other words forever.
This time the conjunction wa is emphatic meaning that the word is introducing a statement that is advancing upon and intensifying the previous statement, which tells the reader that the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom.
Therefore, the advancement and intensification is that the interpreter goes from telling Daniel that the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom to informing him that they will possess it throughout eternity.
Once again, we have the masculine singular construct form of the noun ʿā∙lǎm means “forever” referring to eternity and its again the object of the preposition ʿǎḏ, which is used as a marker of duration without reference to points of time.
This indicates that the saints of the Most High will possess the kingdom “throughout” eternity or in other words forever.
The construct state of the noun ʿā∙lǎm means that it is governing the masculine plural form of ʿā∙lǎm, which follows it, expressing a genitive relation.
The genitive relation is appositional meaning that the plural form of the word stands in apposition to the singular form of the word, specifying the duration of the saints reign.
When he says eternity, Gabriel is speaking of the ages to come in the future.
Daniel 7:18 “‘However, the saints belonging to the Most High will receive the kingdom. Indeed, they will possess the kingdom throughout eternity, yes throughout eternity, the ages.’” (My translation)
“The saints belonging to the Most High” refers to regenerate Jews and Gentiles from every dispensation and not merely regenerate Israel.
This indicates that the church would be among the saints mentioned here in Daniel 7:18 since the Holy Spirit is providing the interpretation of the vision through the angel Gabriel and the Holy Spirit would be of course knowledgeable about the church.
However, from Daniel’s perspective he would not be thinking of the church since the church age is a mystery dispensation meaning it was not known to Old Testament saints like Daniel.
The interpreter of course does not mention the church.
The revelation concerning the church age would be provided through the Lord Jesus and His apostles.
Who is the Most High and who is the Ancient of Days here in Daniel 7:22?
Is the Most High the Father and the Ancient of Days the Son or the other way around or are they both referencing the Son or are they both referencing the Father?
There are several indications from the context that the Ancient of Days in verse 22 is a reference to the Father and the Most High is a reference to the Son of Man who is God the Son according to the verses 13-14.
First of all, we know that the Ancient of Days is a reference to the Father throughout chapter seven since in verse 13, Daniel describes one like a Son of Man was coming upon the clouds of heaven.
Specifically, He went up to the Ancient of Days in the sense that He approached His presence.
Then, in verse 14, he tells the reader that the Ancient of Days gave governmental dominion to this Son of Man as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him.
The Son of Man’s governmental dominion is described as an eternal governmental dominion which can never be taken away so that His kingdom is one which can never be destroyed.
These verses make clear that the Son of Man possesses the prerogatives of God.
He is sovereign like God and He is eternal like God since His kingdom He received from the Ancient of Days is described as eternal and indestructible.
So it is clear that the Son of Man receives a kingdom from the Ancient of Days.
The New Testament identifies verse 13 as the ascension and session of Jesus Christ and verse 14 describes Jesus Christ’s millennial kingdom on planet earth.
Now, in verse 22, the saints are said to take possession of the kingdom, which is a reference to the kingdom given to the Son of Man by the Ancient of Days as made clear by verses 13-14.
Then, in verse 27, Daniel says that the sovereignty, dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High (“Highest One” NASB95).
Next, he says in the very next sentence that “His” kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.
“His” would then have to be the Son of Man since the Ancient of Days gave the Son of Man a kingdom and sovereign authority over the inhabitants of all the earth as we noted in verses 13-14.
Verse 27 describes the kingdom of the “Highest One” or “Most High” as everlasting which parallels the description in verse 14 that the Son of Man’s governmental dominion is eternal.
Verse 27 also says that all the dominions will serve and obey the “Highest One” or “Most High.”
This parallels Daniel’s statement in verse 14 that the Ancient of Days gave governmental dominion to the Son of Man as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him.
Throughout chapter seven, the Ancient of Days is the sovereign judge over the nations of the earth including Antichrist and the final form of the Roman Empire.
The Most High is always associated closely with the kingdom received from the Ancient of Days as well as with the saints throughout the chapter (verses 18, 22, 25, 27).
The saints are closely associated with the Most High because they will reign with the Most High and if they will reign with the Most High, the Most High must be the Son of Man since the Ancient of Days conferred an eternal kingdom upon the Son of Man who we know is Jesus Christ.
Therefore, when Daniel says in verse 22 that the Ancient of Days rendered judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, the Most High must be a reference to the Son of Man since the Most High is associated with the kingdom and the Son of Man received the kingdom from the Ancient of Days.
Consequently, in verse 25, when Daniel says that the little horn spoke out against the Most High and wore down the saints of the Most High, the Most High would be the Son of Man.
The fact that the Son of Man is described as the Most High throughout the chapter indicates that He is deity.
Of course, Jesus Christ who calls Himself “the Son of Man” in the Gospels is also identified in the New Testament as the “Son of God.”
“The kingdom” is a reference to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ who is represented in the vision by “the Son of Man.”
The saints of the Most High are described as receiving the kingdom, which of course is through faith in the God of Israel.
Not only are they said to receive the kingdom but they will possess the kingdom through all of eternity, which speaks of course of the eternal nature of the kingdom.
“They will possess the kingdom throughout eternity, yes throughout eternity, the ages” implies that these saints have eternal life since they could not possess it forever without eternal life and speaks of the eternality of God’s kingdom.