The End of the Scroll. Herold Weiss

the God of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (named as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego by the Babylonians) “rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Dan. 4:17). This most certainly means that those suffering persecution and death at the hands of Antiochus must understand that their historical circumstances are also controlled by the Most High, and their deliverance is certain to come just as swiftly as the punishment of proud kings had come in the past. Of the future of Antiochus IV, Epiphanes, Daniel predicts, “the king shall do according to his will; he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper until the indignation is accomplished; for what is determined shall be done” (Dan. 11:36). Thus, Daniel follows the tradition established already by Ezekiel and Zechariah. The course of history has already been determined, the only wise course of action in this world is to persevere with patient endurance until the (also predetermined) time of the end arrives. Then those who have remained faithful to God’s purpose will be delivered from their sufferings.

      The apocalyptic visions

      Chapter 7 serves as a link between the court tales and the visions by its use of the schema of the four kingdoms, but its agenda is to set up the stage for the fourth beast. In the vision, Daniel says, “I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrible, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze; and which devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up and before which three of them fell, the horn which had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and which seemed greater than its fellows” (Dan. 7:19-20). At the telling of the vision, the speech of the rising greater horn, Daniel says, “I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time” (Dan. 7:11-12). When the interpreting angel answers Daniel’s desire to know about the fourth beast, he interprets the speech of the greater horn, saying, “He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and a half time. But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end” (Dan. 7:25-26).