The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

III. Daniel Projects Principles of Prophetic Interpretation

The book of the prophet Daniel is much more than a prophecy; it contains symbolic prophecy, literal and prophetic interpretation, and historical accounts of events. It is inspired history, for it contains sections that explicitly record the historical fulfillment of events and epochs foretold earlier in the prophetic portions. It likewise includes parts that expressly set forth the inspired interpretation given by Daniel, explaining many of these symbols in simple, literal language that cannot be misunderstood. This marvelous threefold record was penned by inspiration for all subsequent time. PFF1 125.1

Some of these immediate fulfillments were assuredly understood and attested by men living at the time. And these clear interpretative declarations of the book, which have been read and understood by the discerning through the years, form the foundation of all subsequent fulfillments that have been recognized as they have come to pass. Daniel stands unique among all Old Testament prophecies in scope, comprehensiveness, and repetition for emphasis and clarity. A grasp of the basic outline of Daniel is vital to the understanding of the hand of God in history, and His control of the affairs of His church and of the nations. PFF1 125.2

1. SUMMARY OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL

Chapters 1 through 6 give the narrative of Daniel’s contacts with the court of Babylon. Then come the long-range prophecies. God’s symbolic pictures, given through Daniel the prophet, portray the nations and the people of God in sequence, relationship, and conflict. The metal image and the shattering stone in chapter 2, the four beasts rising from the sea in chapter 7, the ram and goat battling in chapter 8, are God’s portrayal of the rise and fall of nations. It is His charting of the course of empire. PFF1 125.3

Then there are the prophetic time periods. In chapters 7 and 12, the “time, times, and an half” of the persecution of God’s people lead up to the time of the judgment and the kingdom of God; in chapter 8, the 2300 days extend to the mystic cleansing of the sanctuary; and in the angel’s explanation of the vision, in chapter 9, the best-known of the time prophecies—the “seventy weeks”—points out the time of the first advent of the Messiah and predicts the time of His death for the sake of others. PFF1 125.4

In chapter 11 there is a long historical prophecy beginning with the Persian kingdom and continuing with the Macedonian kingdom and its division. In chapter 12 there is mention of 1290 days and 1335 days, and the admonitions to seal the book until the time of the end, at which time “many shall run to, and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Verse 4. PFF1 126.1

In these chapters the prophet plainly declares that there will be a series of four world powers from the Neo-Babylonian, Empire onward. He adds that the fourth world power is to be broken up into ten smaller kingdoms that would spring up within its territory and supplant the unified parent empire. Then he declares that a different type of kingdom, which would war against God and His saints, would press its way up into the partitioned empire, and do exploits and dominate for a certain allocated time. But God’s judgment would sit, and the accounts of the nations and churches would come into review. Thus all, injustice and usurpation would be brought to an end, and the kingdom of God would triumph forever. PFF1 126.2

2. BABYLON DECLARED FIRST OF A SERIES OF EMPIRES

Portions of Daniel were understood contemporaneously such as the first two phases of the great metallic statue spoken of in chapter 2, which was to span the ages, clear through to “the letter days.” (Daniel 2:28.) In this prophecy, which pertained to the removing of kings and the setting up of kings (verse 21), Daniel first brings back to the remembrance of Nebuchadnezzar the dream—image of a man, representing the kingdom of man in the world—an image composed of four different metals of decreasing brilliance and value, but of increasing strength, with the fifth and final anatomical division, of nonadherent metal and clay, demolished finally by a stone that smote the, image on the feet, and then grew to fill the whole earth (verses 31-35). Daniel then gave the king the interpretation (verse 36), which has been discussed already in chapter 2. ⁹ He explained the four metals of the image as representing Nebuchadnezzar’s brilliant kingdom of Babylon and three succeeding world powers, the fourth later divided in a multiple-kingdom period (verses 39-45), and finally the demolishing stone as symbolizing the kingdom of the God of heaven, which was to be established on earth “in the days of these kings,” and which was to stand forever (verse 44). (Pictorial representation on page 38.) PFF1 126.3

This basic panorama of the successive world powers of prophecy has always been recognized as the ABC of all outline Bible prophecy. Of this explanation Daniel says, “The interpretation thereof is sure.” Verse 45. And this grand outline of the empires was repeated by Daniel under a different set of symbols. PFF1 127.1

In the parallel prophecy of the four beasts (Daniel 7), which are likewise interpreted as a series of four successive world powers, to be followed by the kingdom of the saints, Daniel gives additional revealing details about these kingdoms. We have already seen in chapter 2 that the first king, or kingdom—for he calls the last of the “four kings” the “fourth kingdom” (Daniel 7:17, 23)—is most appropriately pictured by a lion with eagle’s wings; that in the historical setting of Daniel’s time this symbolism would have been as readily understood of Babylon as was the gold representing the first kingdom in the prophecy of the image. ¹⁰ PFF1 127.2

3. KINGDOM OF GOD TO END THE SERIES

In neither of these two prophecies—the metal image and the four beasts—does Daniel name the second, third, or fourth kingdoms, but he interprets the first as the contemporary Neo-Babylonian Empire. ¹¹ And in both series he sees the succession of earthly dominions superseded by the eternal kingdom. Daniel pictures this kingdom as coming, not by natural growth, but by the direct intervention of the God of heaven; in the second prophecy he adds that the kingdom is given to the Son of man and the saints. (See Daniel 2:37, 38, 44; 7:17, 18, 27, 13, 14.) He does not expect this final kingdom to follow immediately the last and most powerful empire of the four, but after an interval—after the fourth has been divided into the weakened iron—and clay stage of the feet and toes. Or, in the more detailed symbolism of the fourth beast’s ten horns, the fourth kingdom gives way to the ten kings, or kingdoms, among whom arises the presumptuous Little Horn power, diverse from the rest, uprooting three of its fellows, speaking against the Most High and persecuting the saints, thinking to change times and laws, and being allowed to hold sway “until a time and times and the dividing of time” ¹² (Daniel 7:25). Only after that is the Little Horn finally destroyed in the judgment, which ushers in the eternal kingdom. (Pictorial representation on page 46.) PFF1 127.3

4. MEDO-PERSIAN KINGDOM FOLLOWS BABYLON

It is interesting to note that the sequence of three of the four world powers can be determined from other parts of the book. Daniel himself announced the transition from the Babylonian Empire to the second phase on that fateful night of Belshazzar’s feast, when he interpreted the handwriting on the wall. The aged seer told the trembling Chaldean ruler that “God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it,” and that it was henceforth “given to the Medes and Persians.” Daniel 5:26, 28. That very night Belshazzar’s life ended with his rule, and the Babylon-Persia sequence was established as a historical reality. So the identity of the second kingdom in the prophetic series, the Medo-Persian Empire, is here placed beyond all rightful challenge or misunderstanding. Those present understood the clear intent of Daniel’s words, and saw their speedy literal fulfillment. PFF1 128.1

Picture 1: PROPHECIES EMPLOY COMMON NATIONAL SYMBOLS
The prophetic portrayal of Persia, under the symbol of a Ram, was evidently to idently, not to conceal its identity. The prophecy simply used the emblem of a Ram, frequently appearing on Persian seals (left). Coins such as that of Alexander the great of Macedon (right), did not come into common use until the time of Darius Hystaspes.
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Josephus relates that Cyrus, when he was come to the kingdom, understood his place in divine prophecy, and intelligently sought, as God’s instrumentality, to. fulfill his inspired commission. PFF1 129.1

“For He [God] stirred up the spirit of Cyrus and caused him to write throughout all Asia, ‘Thus says King Cyrus. Since the Most High God has appointed me king of the habitable world, I am persuaded that He is the god whom the Israelite nation worships, for He foretold my name through the prophets and that I should build His temple in Jerusalem in the land of Judaea.’ These things Cyrus knew from reading the book of prophecy which Isaiah had left behind two hundred and ten years earlier.” ¹³ PFF1 129.2

Although Josephus’ story may be only a tradition, it should not be considered at all improbable that Daniel, who was given high honors under the new regime, would speak to Cyrus about prophecies to be fulfilled in his reign. We know that soon after the fall of Babylon, Daniel was thinking of Jeremiah’s prophecy of seventy years’ captivity, and praying for the return of his people to their homeland and for the restoration of the temple. (Daniel 9:1, 2, 16-19.) PFF1 129.3

5. GRECIAN EMPIRE SUCCEEDS PERSIAN

Daniel outlined the first empire of his prophetic series, and so his book records as historical narrative the beginning of the Persian phase. But Daniel had already, in the third year of Belshazzar, predicted Persia’s successor in the vision of the ram which battled with the goat and fell before the speed and violence of its onslaughts. These two prophetic beasts need no further identification, for they are explicitly named in the prophecy as representing the Persian and Greek empires. (Daniel 8:20, 21.) Thus the first three in the series—Babylon, Persia, and Greece—are clear. But there are yet additional clues which offer highly interesting evidence that the prophetic goat was a singularly appropriate symbol in view of the use of that animal on Macedonian coins. PFF1 129.4

Picture 2: GOAT SYMBOL A FAMILIAR FIGURE ON GRECIAN COINS
Again and again the figure of a goat, in whole or in part, appears on the reverse side of Macedonian coins preserved in the British museum. The symbol of the goat, for Grecia, was obviously chosen by inspiration because it was a common symbol of the Macedonian power, and hence was given to identify and not to clothe with inscrutable mystery.
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6. THE GOAT A FREQUENT MACEDONIAN SYMBOL

A survey of Macedonian coins is highly revealing. Barclay V. Head, in his authoritative illustrated coin catalogue covering this section of the great British Museum coin collection, reveals that Macedonian coins bearing various likenesses of the goat were minted in different places, ¹⁴ ranging in time from c. 500 to 146 B.C., ¹⁵ under the names of such famous characters as Alexander T, Perdiccas II, and Archelaus I. ¹⁶ Sometimes the goat is pictured as standing, sometimes kneeling on one knee. In other instances only the forepart of the goat appears, or just a goat’s head, or perhaps two goats kneeling or fighting. It is an impressively significant series. (Reproductions appear on page 130.) PFF1 130.1

Personal examination of these ancient coins in the cases of the British Museum, from which plaster-of-Paris casts were secured for reproduction here, deeply impresses one with the fact that this prophetic symbol employed in the prophecy of Daniel 8—the goat indicating Grecia—was chosen because this figure was commonly used in the Macedonian period, just as the ram had sometimes been employed on the seals of Persia as its identifying emblem. (See page 129 for illustration.) The singular aptness and fidelity of these portrayals are thus lifted beyond challenge. The prophetic choice obviously was not an arbitrary or unrelated one, but was deliberately designed so that identification of the second and third of the great world powers in the prophetic series might be simple and clear. PFF1 131.1

7. THE GREEK EMPIRE DIVIDED

Then, continuing chapter 8, the Grecian goat’s notable horn-king is superseded by four horn-divisions. PFF1 131.2

“The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn u that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas—four-stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but “” not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and under standing dark sentences, shall stand up.” Daniel 8:20-23. PFF1 131.3

“Grecia, then, was the third in the series of Daniel’s empires, and after its fourfold division ¹⁷ rose that remarkable Horn power that became exceeding great and spread in three directions, did exploits even against the Prince of princes, and continued until it was “broken without hand.” (Verses 3-12, 23-26.) And a mysterious number was mentioned—2300 days unto the cleansing of the sanctuary. (Verse 14.) But the identity of that fourth “fierce” king, or kingdom, was not yet disclosed. That was yet future, and was still unidentified to Daniel. After being informed that the time feature of the vision would cover “many days,” Daniel was instructed to “shut up the vision”—this time portion, and the last things. (Verse 26.) While Daniel was praying and interceding for understanding, the angel Gabriel finally came to him with the message: “I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” Verse 22. PFF1 131.4

Picture 3: THE GRECIAN GOAT SMITES THE PERSIAN RAM
Macedonia in the West succeeds Persia to the East, in the onward march of empire, in Daniel 8-the second and third in the prophetic series of four world powers. Evidence indicates that expositors came gradually to the conclusion that Daniel’s longest time period, recorded in this chapter, starts with Persia, and that prophetic symbols often are tied to hisotical Powers and definite starting points.
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8. SEVENTY WEEKS INVOLVE. CUTTING OFF OF MESSIAH

Seventy prophesied “weeks,” declares Gabriel, were set apart for the Jews, to accomplish certain momentous events and to seal the identifying time-key of the prophecy of Daniel and anoint the most holy. He enumerates “seven weeks, and three score and two weeks,” and “one week,” totaling seventy; after the seven and sixty-two have passed, the remaining “one week” sees the cutting off of the Messiah for the sake of others, and the end of the system of sacrifices—in efficacy, at least—in the midst of the week. (Daniel 9:24-27.) PFF1 133.1

Deeply troubled over the coming sorrows of his people, Daniel is once more visited by Gabriel, who outlines in detail the literal events of the centuries, beginning with the immediate future. This outline covers the closing portion of Persian rule, the introduction of the Macedonian period (Daniel 11:2-4), the coming of that mysterious fourth kingdom—though still unnamed—and finally the “time of trouble,” just before the end (Daniel 12:1). In the latter days the seals of mystery would be removed from these later events. Men would search to and fro for the full meaning of the prophecies, and understanding would result. (Verse 4.) But meantime these mysterious latter-day events pertaining to the end were, by angelic declaration, “closed up and sealed—till the time of the end.” Verse 9. PFF1 133.2

Such was the amazing portrayal of God’s panorama of the centuries, left by Daniel for all succeeding generations, with certain clear explanations amid many hidden aspects. The clearly interpreted spots are like glowing lights among the somber shadows of the hidden background of prophetic mystery. The immediate events were clearly identified, whereas distant events were discerned in general outline, with those portions relating to the latter days sealed until those fateful times should be reached. Such is Daniel’s sacred introduction to outline prophecy and its interpretation. It was given to be understood by reverent students of the Word when progressively fulfilled, part by part and epoch upon epoch. It was given to illuminate the path of man across the centuries, that he might know where he is in the divine plan of the ages and the general course of events to come. PFF1 133.3