Sermon Tone Analysis

Wenstrom Bible Ministries

Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom

Wednesday June 19, 2013

www.wenstrom.org

Daniel: Daniel 7:26-The King Represented By the Little Horn Will Be Judged By God and Destroyed Forever

Lesson # 225

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.

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.’

19 Then, I desired to know the meaning concerning the fourth beast which was different from all the others, extraordinarily intimidating, its two rows of teeth composed of iron as well as its claws composed of bronze.

It devoured as well as crushed.

Specifically, it violently crushed the rest with its feet.

20 Also, I desired to know the meaning concerning the ten horns which were on its head as well as the one which emerged and in addition three fell by being in the presence of it.

Specifically, that horn possessing eyes as well as a mouth making it a habit of speaking boastfully.

Indeed, its appearance was more distinguished than its contemporaries.

21 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state as that horn was continually waging war against the saints so as to overpower them 22 until the One Ancient in Days intervened.

Specifically, He rendered judgment in favor of the Most High’s saints.

Then, the moment arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

23 Thus, he said, ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all these kingdoms in the sense that it will devour the entire earth.

Specifically, it will trample it down so that it crushes it.

24 Also, the ten horns are ten kings who will arise from this kingdom.

Then, another will arise after them.

However, he will be different in comparison to the previous ones.

Specifically, he will conquer three kings.

25 Furthermore, he will issue statements against the Most High.

Also, he will make it his habit of persecuting the Most High’s saints as well as attempting to change the times, yes even the Law.

Indeed, they will be given into his power for a period of a time, times and a half a time.’”

(My translation)

Daniel 7:26 “‘But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.’”

(NASB95)

“But the court will sit for judgment” stands in contrast to the previous statements in Daniel 7:25.

Therefore, the contrast is between the king represented by the little horn, who is Antichrist, opposing God and His people and persecuting His people and God judging the Antichrist and destroying him forever.

The contrast is between the sinful actions of the Antichrist and his being held accountable by God for his actions.

“The court” is the masculine singular noun dîn (דִּין) (deen), which means “the court” referring to a session of the heavenly court which was conducted by the Ancient of Days who we know is God the Father.

It literally means “the judgment” sat which in a figurative sense means that the court was convened by the Ancient of Days.

“Will sit for judgment” is the third person masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal stem) passive imperfect form of the verb yeṯiḇ (יְתִב) (yeth-eeb´), which literally means “to be seated, to sit.”

This indicates that the judgment sat but in a figurative sense it means that the court was “convened” in the sense that Daniel saw a vision of the One Ancient in Days, the Father convening a session in the courtroom of heaven.

“And his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever” presents the result of the previous statement that the court was convened in heaven.

“His dominion” is the masculine singular construct form of the noun šā∙leṭān (שָׁלְטָן) (shol-tawn´), “dominion” which is modified by the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), “his.”

The noun šā∙leṭān means “governmental dominion” referring to supreme, sovereign authority or power which was given to the king by God who is represented by the little horn who is the Antichrist.

“Will be taken away” is the third person masculine plural hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil) active imperfect form of the verb ʿǎḏā(h) (עֲדָה) (ad-aw´), which means “to take away” and is used with regards to the governmental dominion of the king represented by the little horn who is the Antichrist.

The third person masculine plural form of the verb means “they” and is a reference to the Son of Man who is called the Most High in Daniel chapter seven and the saints who will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Therefore, this verb denotes that the world-wide governmental dominion of the Antichrist “will be taken away” from him by the Son of Man and His saints after his reign of terror against God’s people which will take place during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

“Annihilated and destroyed” is composed of the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) and its object is the hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil) active infinitive construct form of the verb šemǎḏ (שְׁמַד) (shem-ad´), “annihilated” which is followed by the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “and” which is followed by the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) and its object is the hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil) active infinitive construct form of the verb ʾǎḇǎḏ (אֲבַד) (ab-ad´), “destroyed.”

The verb šemǎḏ means “to completely destroy” and is used of the king represented by the little horn who we know as the Antichrist indicating that God “will completely destroy” him.

The preposition lĕ is prefixed to the infinitive construct form of this verb and governs it.

Together, they are used in an explanatory sense meaning that this verb explains in detail what Gabriel meant when he informed Daniel that the king represented by the little horn will have his governmental dominion taken away from him by Jesus Christ and His saints.

He will have it taken away from him “by” God completely destroying him.

The verb ʾǎḇǎḏ means “to execute, put to death, kill” and is used of the king represented by the little horn who we know as the Antichrist indicating that God “will kill” or “will execute” him.

The preposition lĕ is prefixed to the infinitive construct form of this verb and governs it.

Together, they are used in an explanatory sense meaning that this verb explains in detail what Gabriel meant when he informed Daniel that the king represented by the little horn will have his governmental dominion taken away from him by the Son of Man, Jesus Christ and His saints.

He will have it taken away from him “by” Jesus Christ, the Son of Man killing or executing him.

The conjunction wa is used to join these two words in order to communicate one idea, which is called “hendiadys.”

This figure emphasizes the certainty that God will judge the Antichrist for his sinful and rebellious actions against Him and His people during his three and a half year reign of terror.

“Forever” is composed of the preposition ʿǎḏ (עַד) (ad) and its object is the masculine singular form of the noun sôp̄ (סֹוף) (sofe), which together are translated “forever.”

The noun sôp̄ means “the end” referring to an end of a period of time, which in our context would be the end of the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

This word is the object of the preposition ʿǎḏ, which means “at” since it is used in a temporal sense marking the death of the Antichrist as taking place “at” the end of the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

Daniel 7:26 “‘However, the court will be convened with the result that they will take away his governmental dominion by destroying, yes, by killing him at the end.’”