3.2-  Discussion of Daniel 7, verses 12-14

>>> Verse 12: The other beasts, (the remaining empires without the Babylon/Rome empire) were allowed to go on living for a limited time, - (this is understood to be for the time of 1000 years: “the millennium”) - But without authority…. What happens at the end of this “limited” time we can see in Rev. 20 verses 7,-9: “After the thousand years are over, Satan will be set loose from his prison,   and he will go out to deceive the nations scattered over the whole world, that is, Gog and Magog. Satan will bring them all together for battle, as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They spread out over the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people and the city that he loves. But fire came down from heaven and destroyed them. Then the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”.  …. It is surprising and in the same time wonderful to note this indication of the period after the millennium. This is the moment when also the devil is thrown into the “lake of fire and sulfur”, after the “beast and the false prophet” had already been thrown in there 1000 years earlier. This is how far this vision goes into the future. The beast here represents the antichrist.

>>> Verses 13, 14: Jesus is shown here as coming surrounded by clouds. See also Mark 14 verse 62: “I am,” answered Jesus, “and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven”. Also Mathew 24 verse 30:” Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky; and all the peoples of earth will weep as they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”. And many more texts refer to clouds surrounding Jesus when he appears. It is like a “code” to help us recognize Him when He returns. (See also Rev. 1 verse 7: “Look, he is coming on the clouds! Everyone will see him, including those who pierced him. All peoples on earth will mourn over him. So shall it be!”). … Verse 14 indicates that to Jesus “was given authority, honor, and royal power” and that there will be no end to His kingdom. See as reference: Rev. 20 verses 1-6, where I will copy only the most relevant parts: “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven…….   He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent—that is, the Devil, or Satan—and chained him up for a thousand years …... so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set loose for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge………. They had not worshiped the beast or its image……….. they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years”. ..… And after that, as we have seen above, Satan will be “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur”, and Jesus will reign forever.