Our previous article drew from the early prophecies of Daniel 7 revealing the “beasts” that came out of an aggravated sea. Regarding the fourth beast, it was noted that a final semi-colon set apart the phrase, “and it had ten horns.” These ten horns Daniel saw are identical in meaning to the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision (Daniel 2). These “ten horns” prophetically cast us into the Tribulation Period, where nations of the earth (amidst great perplexities) unify in a confederation of ten simply to survive all that is transpiring through the Lord’s judgments upon the earth.

While considering these “horns,” Daniel observes with deep interest the appearance of another horn, an eleventh authoritative power rising among these horns. This eleventh horn we believe to be the Antichrist. The rise of Antichrist will transpire around the time of Daniel’s Last Week or the seven years from Revelation 11 to the mid-part of Revelation 19.

Daniel 7:8 also reveals that this eleventh horn will rise up against three of the ten horns, plucking them up “by the roots,” leaving seven horns and Antichrist. These ten horns are the same ten horns (or kings) of Revelation 17:12–16. Eventually, Antichrist devours three horns, leaving seven kings who continue giving their strength and power to this beast.

The Unfolding of Daniel 7:9–28

In Daniel 7:9–28 a different road of events is pursued, giving comprehensive perspective of past, present, and future events (though not necessarily in this order). Hermeneutically, comprehensive chapters (such as Ezekiel 38 and 39, and Revelation 12) are rare in the Bible; however, they are important in that they bring crucial events and truths together.

First, let us draw from these verses to establish a sequence or order of their crucial events:

1. Following Daniel 7:4–7, verses 15–17 continue the prophet’s concern about these four beasts.
2. The intervening verses 9–14 (which address the end of the world and beginning of the next world) culminate in verse 18, where the “saints of the most High” possess the kingdom forever.
3. In verse 19, Daniel is especially drawn toward understanding this most unusual fourth beast of verse 7.
4. Verse 20 then addresses the ten horns earlier mentioned in connection with the fourth beast.
5. Verse 21 addresses the rise of the great horn out of the ten horns who makes war with the saints. This event is unfolded with greater clarity in Revelation 13:1–10.
6. Daniel 7:23–27 addresses the Antichrist kingdom that overcomes the fourth beast’s kingdom, or the diverse Roman Empire of iron spread out over the earth.
7. The phrase “the judgment shall sit” in verse 26 references God’s judgment that will consume and destroy the Antichrist’s dominion. These events are all a part of the events of 7:8–11.
8. With the culmination of these events upon Antichrist’s kingdom, we are brought to understand the stone of Daniel 2. This stone cut out from a mountain in heaven comes to the earth and destroys Nebuchadnezzar’s image of world empires.

Now, in more detail, let us return to the context beginning in Daniel 7:9.

At the end of the Tribulation Period all the world’s thrones are cast down. This phrase “cast down” either may refer to the destruction of the seven remaining horns with the eighth horn (the Antichrist) or may refer to the putting in place of these thrones for their final judgment at the end of the Tribulation Period. Christ’s wisdom, purity, righteousness, and justice will pervade His judgment of the world. His “wheels” (providences) will be as “burning fire.” Although certainly God’s holy angels will be involved in this final judgment, the saints also will be present for this promised judgment of nations and governments.

In verse 11, Daniel beholds that great eleventh horn (Antichrist, who had plucked up three of the horns) given to the “burning flame.” Note Revelation 19:20:

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Thank God, his reign of terror will finally be over! We believe this beast to be a man, not a system; “he” is given to the burning flames of Hell. This event takes place at the end of the Battle of Armageddon, a battle Daniel’s prophecy does not address.

Daniel 7:13, 14 presents an unusual night vision of the Son of man and the Ancient of days. When did or when does the event of this description take place? Did it take place when Christ entered heaven after leaving the earth (Acts 1, and mentioned in the prophecy of Psalm 24:7, 8)? Acts 2:33 states, “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” At this time did the Father, in the presence of all of heaven, give to His Son the kingdom? Luke 19:12 states, “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.” Revelation 1:7 states, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” This verse is made clear in Revelation 19:11–19.

Nevertheless, found in these verses of Daniel is another truth: the return of God’s saints with Him both to fight and to take the kingdom (7:18). It is amazing to note that Daniel, though a slave in the Babylonian Empire, is a representative of the nation of Israel in its servitude, solitude, and sorrow. But oh, how the prophet triumphed through the empire rulers!

The sequence of Daniel 7:13, 14 is then continued in verse 22 and culminated immediately with verses 26–28.

The truth of the saints of God inheriting the earth is presented in Daniel 7:18 and 27:

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. . . . And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Christ also expresses this truth in the Magna Carta of the spiritual kingdom presented in Matthew 5–7: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (5:5). Yes, we will be part of the inheritance of the earth.

The Coming Kingdom of Christ

In the first three and a half years of Daniel’s Last Week, the Antichrist will rise in prominence among the ten kings. In the last three and a half years, he becomes the ruling power among the remaining seven kings. The concluding of this seven-year period brings us to the end of Revelation 19. Several events take place leading up to the open coming of Christ. These events are (1) the burning of Antichrist’s capital city, Babylon (Revelation 18), (2) the Battle of Armageddon (19:11–19), (3) the capture of Antichrist and the false prophet (19:20), and (4) the destruction of the armies of the earth (19:19–21). With these events we witness the present age coming to a close.

Only at this time does Christ Jesus bring the next age into existence, the Millennium. This term comes from the words mille (one thousand) and annum (years). Over the past six successive millennia since man’s fall, the Devil has taken possession of this world. Although these millennia have been filled with great sin, trouble, and sorrow, the Old Testament prophecies of the Day of the Lord are commingled with both judgment and blessing. We believe the Day of the Lord will commence sometime after the Rapture of God’s saints. This day will include both the judgment of the Tribulation Period and then the day of blessing, the Millennium! Amidst these blessings, the earth will not witness a complete deliverance from sin during the Millennium, because children will continue to be born with a sin nature. Yet the earth will experience many blessings not known today.

In Revelation 20, Satan is bound in a bottomless pit that is sealed so that he cannot influence the nations during these thousand years. After this binding, several thrones are set up. The Lord Father shall give unto the Lord Son the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32). The world’s capital will be established in Jerusalem during the Millennium. Perhaps at this time the saints shall take the kingdom as mentioned in Daniel 7:18. The fact that the saints are to rule all nations (Rev. 2:26, 27; 12:5) may indicate that these thrones will be scattered throughout the earth.

How often ministers have spiritualized these Millennial statements in Scripture. Nevertheless, the binding of Satan is a literal event; the thrones set up are literal thrones; the thousand years are one thousand literal years; the reign of Jesus is a literal reign; Jesus and the saints who reign with Him will be in their glorified literal bodies.

The Government During the Millennium

The government of the world during the Millennium will be solely in the hands of Christ and His saints. Zechariah declares, “The Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9). Also note Revelation 20:6:

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

What a glorious season this will be! Satan bound; no political quarrels; no contentions among the nations; peace, harmony, union, and God’s love among all the rulers of the world. No unjust laws made; the weak no longer oppressed by unjust measures. As Isaiah declares, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (Isa. 9:7). Oh, we pray for this kingdom to come!

Jesus Christ and His saints will be the political sovereignties of the world; they will be its judicial powers as well. With saints as associate justices, Jesus will be the Great Chief Justice. David is a pattern of this dual relationship of both king and judge: “David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people” (2 Sam. 8:15). “A king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. . . . and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jer. 23:5, 6). “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” (1 Cor. 6:2).

The Moral and Religious Environment During the Millennium

During the Millennium, the moral standard of the world will be impeccably high! Thefts and robbery will be unknown; Christ will abolish all intoxicants, tobacco, opium, morphine, etc. Righteousness reigning in the streets will be the testimony of a wholly Christian government. There will be no occasion of the media to bombard us with accounts of immoral conduct, fights, homicides, slanders, and terrorism. Witchcraft and the occult will be done away with. Isaiah reminds us that “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa. 2:4). “I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely” (Hos. 2:18). Is all this possible?! A world with no war, a world at peace as the Prince of Peace rules. How we all should long for such a day!

The religious environment during the Millennium certainly will be greatly improved over today. Nevertheless, it will not be an age of perfect peace in every individual’s heart. Although outwardly all will be at peace as Christ rules with a rod of iron, the hearts of men (those at the transition from the Tribulation Period into the Millennium as well as babies born during this time) will still be given to sin and darkness. Note the promise to the overcomers of the Thyatira Church described in Revelation 2:26, 27:

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers.

Concerning Jesus, the psalmist says, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Ps. 2:9). These verses clarify that there will be sinners on earth during the Millennium. One would think that by living in such a blessed environment as the Millennium, all would be saved; but, this is not so. Some of the greatest revivals of history may be known among the inhabitants of the earth during the Millennium:

And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths (Mic. 4:2).

At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart (Jer. 3:17).

The Animal World During the Millennium

Even the animal world will be profoundly affected by Christ’s government on earth. Note Isaiah’s refreshing declaration:

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:6–9).

Today, these Millennial promises would be impossible because God has placed within the animal kingdom an animosity and fear. The wolf kills the lamb, and the lamb fears the wolf; the leopard destroys the kid, and the kid runs from the leopard. But in the Millennium this struggle will not be known. Oh, what a thought! A child will lead the lion and the bear; he will play with serpents!

The Land During the Millennium

We must also remember that it is the saints who shall inherit the earth. This is truly different from the present conditions in our times. Most of the land belongs to the ungodly. During the Millennium it will be in the hands of the saints (Matt. 5:5). David also declares, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Ps. 37:11).

The Millennium will be witness to a great reformation in agricultural production. Though there may be no direct scriptural grounds for this statement, this thought is inferred from the fact that the saints shall possess the earth. Isaiah asks in 55:2, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?” We dare not think that during the Millennium God’s people (those born during the Millennium and accepting Jesus as their Saviour and Lord) will cultivate on their farms anything injurious to the body; no tobacco or poppy plants will be cultivated. Will the Millennium know a partial or complete deliverance from thorns, briers, and all that hinders the growth of useful plants? Note Romans 8:19–22:

For the earnest expectation of the creature [creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together unto now.

Because the earth will bring forth fruit abundantly, there will be a great increase of food. How refreshing to read Amos 9:13:

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

This passage reveals that the fields will bring forth such an abundance of grain that it will be impossible for the farmer to gather in one crop before time to plant the next. Instead of the greater part of the year being spent in war, the entire time shall be spent sowing the fields and reaping the fruits of the earth. A truly abundant harvest is implied here! There will be no need to build new farming equipment because all weapons of war shall be converted into agricultural tools. “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks” (Isa. 2:4).

The Longevity of Life During the Millennium

Man’s life expectancy will be greatly lengthened for those born in the Millennium. Note the prophecy of Isaiah 65:20–22:

There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Do these verses indicate that during the Millennium no one will die under a hundred years of age? If the Lord says His people’s days shall be as the “days of a tree,” will the rare occurrence of a death at the age of one hundred be considered as the death of a child? Is this passage the insight that a person (one born during the Millennium) who lives to be a hundred years old without giving his heart to God will be accursed?

One could assume that during a time like the Millennium every sinner would yield to God; but, this will not be true. Even in the most ideal times, man can harden his heart against his Creator.

Although today one man builds a house and dies leaving it to others, during the Millennium a man who builds will live long enough to dwell for centuries in his own house. Likewise, a man who plants the orchards will live long enough to eat of the fruit.

Business and Literature During the Millennium

It is difficult to accept that the present trend of technology will be used during the Millennium. We dare not believe that God must use the secular hardware and software technologies of Microsoft, Dell, Apple, or even the new-world-order omnipresence of Google or future anti-God, antichrist philosophies. Christ neither needs nor will use them. These inventions of technology will all be obliterated from the memory of the earth, because they are all signs of the Gentile Age.

How will the technologies we associate with energy and transportation be under the rule and reign of the King of kings and Lord of lords? We know that the management of temporal affairs will be in different hands:

In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts (Zech. 14:21, 22).

This implies that all things, even the most common, shall be sacred to the Lord. “Holiness unto the LORD” shall be inscribed even upon the horses’ harnesses, upon all that is manufactured. Everything will be under the management of consecrated people. The business world will be run by God’s people. Everything that is injurious to health will be non-existent. Oh, to dare contemplate a world of great literature. All pornographic, salacious, and immoral writings that abound today will be non-existent then. Every publication will press “Holiness unto the LORD.”

Apart from the Bible, it is hard to imagine that such a world could come into existence. Yet it will be known when the Lord personally comes and sets up His kingdom on this earth.

All the wicked will meet their final doom: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Ps. 9:17). A final picture of this hope is in Revelation 20:10, 14, where even Satan is finally cast with all of his demons into the lake of fire for all of eternity.

Conclusion

Revelation 21 and 22 reveal a new heaven and a new earth where sin is known no more. Here God moves His throne to the earth along with Christ’s: “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face” (Rev. 22:3, 4). Upon His footstool, God moves His Throne for unending ages!

What is the purpose of a new earth? I proposed this answer in A Catechetical Study for the Remnant (p. 132):

The renewing of the earth is to be brought about by fire burning everything identified with the old order of the earth. Even sin in the sound waves (from radio, music, or conversations still in some decibel form in the air) will have to be consumed so that there is absolutely nothing left, on earth or in the air, from the previous order. All of this purging to bring a new earth is part of the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. That sacrifice was finished when Jesus died on the cross, but redemption of the earth is still largely future. This earth, through the sacrifice of Christ, must come to know a complete release (redemption) as the curse of sin is forever removed. Humanity will know no more death, because there is no sin in conception and no sin perpetrated on the earth for all of eternity. All sorrows, cares, and inconveniences of life will cease. Man will now be given to perpetual glory. (The Millennium could be a type of the New Birth for the earth and the new earth a type of its sanctification through the purging and baptism of fire.)

In these days when the beasts of men rule the world, aggressively destroying the things of God, may we ever keep the Blessed Hope alive in our hearts. The system of this present world continues to deteriorate despite man’s hope of a new world order. With God, we have the true hope of an eternal new world order controlled by God’s Son and His saints!