The Prophet Daniel

By Arno Clement Gaebelein

Chapter 6-12

THE SECOND PART OP THE BOOK OF DANIEL

The seventh chapter takes us back to the first year of Belshazzar's reign. Daniel, as we saw from the fifth chapter had been set aside; no dreams had occurred after Nebuchadnezzar's insanity and restoration and there was no need for his interpretation. How blessed the years must have been for him when he could be alone with God. While Belshazzar and his kingdom were rushing on towards the great overthrowing judgment, God gave to Daniel wonderful communications. These came to him in dream visions. These visions likewise cover the times of the Gentiles; they reveal mostly the relation of the Gentiles to the Jewish people, the conflict between the world powers and the people of Israel. Much of that which Daniel beheld was fulfilled in past history, but all points also to " the time of the end," that is, to the closing scenes of the times of the Gentiles. The great struggle of this end time, the appearance of the little horns and the Anti-christ, the great tribulation with its unparalled persecutions, the complete overthrow of the enemies of Israel, and the establishment of the kingdom on earth, are some of the sublime revelations we find here.

Perhaps some of the revelations contained in this part of the book will never be fully grasped and appreciated till that time of the end has arrived. The seventh chapter may be looked upon as the introduction to this second part of the Book, as the second chapter is the introduction to the first part. The eighth chapter contains the vision of the ram, the he-goat and the vision of the little horn. The vision of the seventy weeks is found in the ninth chapter and the last three chapters give the closing vision of the Book.

 

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