But I believe Daniel is all about the never-ending love of God for his children.
Both chapters begin with what Daniel literally sees in his visions. He is completely overwhelmed and cannot understand. But in both cases, God includes an interpreter within the vision to clarify what God is saying, both to Daniel’s suffering people and to those of us who patiently await the return of Jesus Christ.
So rather than beasts and horns and clipped wings, let’s focus on how the interpreters within the visions brought beauty and hope into the meaning of it all:
“These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth, but the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever” (7:17-18, ESV).
“…the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom” (7:22).
“And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; the kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (7:27).
Two years later, in another vision, the archangel Gabriel himself appears to console a terrified Daniel:
“’Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end…Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end…for it refers to the appointed time at the end” (8:17,19).
Gabriel goes on to describe another king that will rise, likely the one who is referred to elsewhere as the Antichrist:
“His power shall be great – but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great…And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken – but by no human hand” (8:24-25)
Note that this last king is made great only by the power of God, but also that he is doomed to be broken by the same power. Does not the description of his deceit and arrogance remind us today of Vladimir Putin of Russia?
But there have been horrible dictators throughout history, and the comparison to Putin likely gives him more credibility than he deserves. Why do I say this?
Because Daniel is told:
“…seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now” (8:26).
Yes, Putin’s rule today is “many days” since Daniel saw this vision.
But Jesus states very strongly a few hundred years after Daniel:
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the son, but the Father only” (Matthews 24:36).
So to Mr. Meade in England who yesterday stated that the rapture of all believers will occur on April 23, 2018 – next week! – perhaps he is right. But his view of using alignment of the stars and planets to predict it could not be farther from Scripture.
So live as the Saint of the Most High that you are, and rejoice. But recognize that someone like Putin must appear to be winning on a global scale first. Then focus on obeying the commands of the Prince of princes, and loving unconditionally, not on the day or the hour.