The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com
Daniel Chapter 7
great sea
The "sea" in Scripture imagery stands for the populace, the mere unorganized mass of mankind (Mat 13:47); (Rev 13:1).
three ribs
A reference to the three-fold dominion of the second empire, Media, Persia, Babylonia.
devour
That is, Lydia, Babylonia, Egypt, etc.
leopard
Swiftness of Alexander's conquests.
horns
A horn symbolizes a king.
Compare (Rev 17:12).
little horn
The vision is of the end of Gentile world-dominion. The former Roman empire (the iron kingdom of (Dan 2:33-35); (Dan 2:40-44); (Dan 7:7) will have ten horns (that is, kings, (Rev 17:12) corresponding to the ten toes of the image. As Daniel considers this vision of the ten kings, there rises up amongst them a "little horn" (king), who subdues three of the ten kings so completely that the separate identity of their kingdoms is destroyed.
Seven kings of the ten are left, and the "little horn." He is the "king of fierce countenance" typified by that other "king of fierce countenance," Antiochus Epiphanes, (Dan 8:23-25) the "prince that shall come" of (Dan 9:26); (Dan 9:27) the "king" of (Dan 11:36-45) the "abomination" of; (Dan 12:11); (Mat 24:15) the "man of sin" of (Th2 2:4-8) and the "Beast" of (Rev 13:4-10).
See "Beast"; (Dan 7:8); (Rev 19:20).
and they
This scene is identical with that of (Rev 5:6-10). There the ascription of praise of the "kings and priests" (Compare (Dan 7:18); (Dan 7:18); ref. A) ends with the words, "and we shall reign on the earth." Revelation 6. opens the "vexing" of (Psa 2:5) introductory to setting the king on Zion; (Psa 2:6); (Rev 20:4). The vision (Dan 7:9-14) reverses the order of events as they will be fulfilled. Verse 13 (Dan 7:13) describes the scene in heaven (cf) (Rev 5:6-10) which, in fulfilment, precedes the events which Daniel sees in vision in (Dan 7:9-12). The historic order will be:
(1) The investiture of the Son of Man with the kingdom (Dan 7:13); (Dan 7:14); (Rev 5:6-10).
(2) the "vexing" of (Psa 2:5); fully described in (Mat 24:21); (Mat 24:22) Revelation 6-18.
(3) The return of the Son of Man in glory to deliver the "smiting" blow of (Dan 2:45); (Dan 7:9-11); (Rev 19:11-21).
(4) The judgement of the nations and the setting up of the kingdom (Dan 7:10); (Dan 7:26); (Dan 7:27); (Mat 25:31-46); (Rev 20:1-6).
him
(Dan 7:13); (Dan 7:14) is identical with (Rev 5:1-7) and antedates the fulfilment of (Dan 2:34); (Dan 2:35); (Dan 7:13); (Dan 7:14); (Rev 5:1-7) describe the investiture of the Son of Man and Son of David with the kingdom authority, while (Dan 2:34); (Dan 2:35) describes the crushing blow (Armageddon, (Rev 16:14)) which destroys Gentile world-power, thus clearing the way for the actual setting up of the kingdom of heaven. (Dan 2:34); (Dan 2:35); (Rev 19:19-21) are the same event.
beasts
The monarch vision of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2) covers the same historic order as the beast vision of Daniel, but with this difference: Nebuchadnezzar saw the imposing outward power and splendour of the "times of the Gentiles" (Luk 21:24); (Rev 16:19) while Daniel saw the true character of Gentile world-government as rapacious and warlike, established and maintained by force. It is remarkable that the heraldic insignia of the Gentile nations are all beasts or birds of prey.
saints
Verses (Dan 7:18); (Dan 7:22); (Dan 7:25); (Dan 7:27). That church saints will also share in the rule seems clear from; (Act 16:17); (Rom 8:17); (Ti2 2:10-12); (Pe1 2:9); (Rev 1:6); (Rev 3:21); (Rev 5:10); (Rev 20:4-6).
know the truth of the fourth beast
See note 4,
(See Scofield) - (Dan 7:17).
and they shall
The end of Gentile world-power.
(1) In the beast vision of Daniel 7, the fourth beast is declared to be "the fourth kingdom," that is, the Roman empire, the "iron" kingdom of Daniel 2. The "ten horns" upon the fourth beast (Roman empire), (Dan 7:7) are declared to be "ten kings that shall arise" (Dan 7:24) answering to the ten toes of the image vision of Daniel 2. The ten kingdoms, covering the regions formerly ruled by Rome, will constitute, therefore, the form in which the fourth or Roman empire will exist when the whole fabric of Gentile world-domination is smitten by the "stone cut out without hands", signifying Christ; (Dan 2:44); (Dan 2:45); (Dan 7:9).
(2) But Daniel sees a "little horn" rise up and subdue three of the ten kings (Dan 7:24-26). His distinguishing mark is hatred of God and of the Saints. He is not to be confounded with the "little horn" of Daniel 8 -- a prophecy fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes.
(See Scofield) - (Dan 8:9).
In Revelation 13, additional particulars of the "little horn" of Daniel 7 are given.
(See Scofield) - (Rev 13:1).
everlasting kingdom
See (Sa2 7:16); (Psa 89:35-37); (Dan 4:3); (Dan 7:13); (Dan 7:14); (Luk 1:31-33).