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Topics — The Preterist Reading of Daniel 7

HORN

  • Used to contain the anointing oil 1SA 16:1; 1KI 1:39
  • Used for a trumpet (See TRUMPET)
  • FIGURATIVE: Of divine protection 2SA 22:3; Of power 1KI 22:11; PSA 89:24; 92:10; 132:17
  • SYMBOLICAL DAN 7:7-24; 8:3-9,20; AMO 6:13; MIC 4:13; HAB 3:4; ZEC 1:18-21; REV 5:6; 12:3; 13:1,11; 17:3-16
  • Horns of the altar (See ALTAR)

Relevance to study: Core symbol — Dan 7 ten horns + little horn. Nave's groups DAN 7:7-24 as symbolical horns, linking them with DAN 8:3-9,20 (angel-interpreted as Medo-Persia and Greece) and the Revelation passages (REV 12:3; 13:1,11; 17:3-16). The figurative use of horns as "power" (PSA 89:24; 92:10; 132:17) establishes the symbolic range. ZEC 1:18-21 provides a parallel where four horns represent nations that scattered Judah — horns as kingdoms/powers.

PERSECUTION

  • OF JESUS: GEN 3:15; PSA 2:1-5; 22:1,2,6-8,11-21; 69:1-21; 109:25; ISA 49:7; 50:6; 52:14; 53:2-5,7-10; MIC 5:1; MAT 2:13; etc.
  • OF THE RIGHTEOUS: GEN 49:23; JOB 1:9; 2:4,5; 12:4,5; PSA 11:2; 37:32; 38:20; 42:3,10; 44:15-18,22; 56:5; 69:10,12; 74:7,8; 94:5; 119:51,61,69,78,85-87,95,110,157,161; PRO 29:10,27; ISA 26:20; 29:20,21; 51:12,13; 59:15; JER 2:30; 11:19; 15:10; 18:18; 20:7,8; 26:11-14; 50:7; AMO 5:10; HAB 1:13; MAT 5:10-12,44; 10:16-18,21-23,28; 20:22,23; 23:34,35; 24:8-10; MRK 9:42; 13:9,11-13; LUK 6:22,23,26; 17:33; 21:12-19; JHN 12:42; 15:18,19; 16:1,2; 17:14; ACT 4:16-20; 5:29,40-42; 7:52; 8:4; 28:22; ROM 8:17,35-37; 1CO 4:9-13; 13:3; 2CO 4:8-12; 6:4,5,8-10; 11:23-27; 12:10; GAL 4:29; 6:12,17; PHP 1:12-14,28,29; COL 1:24; 1TH 1:6; 2:2,14,15; 2TH 1:4; 2TI 1:8,12; 2:9-12; 3:2,3,12; 4:16,17; HEB 10:32-34; 11:25-27,33-38; 12:3,4; 13:13; JAS 2:6; 5:6,10; 1PE 3:14,16,17; 4:3,4,12-14,16,19; 1JN 3:1,13; REV 2:3,10,13; 6:9-11; 7:13-17; 12:11; 17:6; 20:4
  • A mode of divine chastisement LAM 1:3
  • Diffuses the gospel ACT 8:1,4; 11:19-21; PHP 1:12-14
  • INSTANCES OF: Abel, Lot, Moses, David, prophets, Daniel, etc.

Relevance to study: Dan 7:21,25 describe the little horn making war with saints and wearing them out. PSA 74:7,8 (burning sanctuary, destroying synagogues) parallels Antiochus's actions. PSA 44:15-18,22 (persecution language) and the NT persecution passages (MAT 5:10-12; MAT 24:8-10; REV 2:10; REV 6:9-11; REV 17:6; REV 20:4) provide the biblical vocabulary for understanding how "wearing out the saints" manifests historically.

ANTICHRIST

  • General scriptures concerning MAT 24:5,23,24,26; MRK 13:6,21,22; LUK 21:8; 2TH 2:3-12; 1JN 2:18,22; 4:3; 2JN 1:7
  • To be destroyed REV 19:20; 20:10,15

Relevance to study: The PRET reading of Dan 7's little horn intersects with the NT antichrist concept. 2TH 2:3-12 (man of sin) fuses Dan 7:25, 8:11, and 11:36 imagery. 1JN 2:18 ("many antichrists have come") may support the idea of multiple historical fulfillments including Antiochus. The destruction language in REV 19:20; 20:10,15 contrasts with Dan 7:11 (beast slain by fire) and 7:26 (dominion consumed).

THRONE

  • Of Pharaoh GEN 41:40; EXO 11:5
  • Of David 1KI 2:12,24; PSA 132:11,12; ISA 9:7; JER 13:13; 17:25; LUK 1:32
  • Of Solomon 1KI 2:19; 2CH 9:17-19; of ivory 1KI 10:18-20
  • Of Solomon, called THE THRONE OF THE LORD 1CH 29:23
  • Of Israel 1KI 8:20; 10:9; 2CH 6:10
  • FIGURATIVE: Of God 2CH 18:18; PSA 9:4,7; 11:4; 47:8; 89:14; 97:2; 103:19; ISA 6:1; 66:1; MAT 5:34; 23:22; HEB 8:1; 12:2; REV 14:3,5
  • Of Christ MAT 19:28; 25:31; ACT 2:30; REV 1:4; 3:21; 4:2-10; 7:9-17; 19:4; 21:5; 22:3

Relevance to study: Dan 7:9-10 describes thrones placed (karsavan remivu) and the Ancient of Days seated for judgment. The throne theology connects Dan 7:9-14 to ISA 6:1, PSA 9:4,7 (throne of judgment), PSA 97:2 (righteousness and judgment), and the Rev 4-5 enthronement scene. The PRET reading's alternative — Rev 4-5 as Christ's ascension enthronement (ACT 2:30; REV 3:21) rather than pre-advent judgment — is directly addressed by this topic.

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

  • Compared to: man who sowed good seed MAT 13:24-30,38-43; mustard seed MAT 13:31,32; leaven MAT 13:33; treasure MAT 13:44; pearl MAT 13:45; net MAT 13:47-50; king reckoning MAT 18:23-35; householder MAT 20:1-16; marriage feast MAT 22:2-14; ten virgins MAT 25:1-13; talents MAT 25:14-30
  • My kingdom is not of this world JHN 18:36
  • Children of the MAT 18:3; 19:14; MRK 10:14; LUK 18:16
  • Rich cannot enter MAT 19:23,24; MRK 10:23-25; LUK 18:24,25,29,30
  • Keys of MAT 16:19
  • Does not consist of meat and drink ROM 14:17

Relevance to study: Dan 7:14,18,27 promise an "everlasting kingdom" given to the Son of Man and the saints. The PRET must reconcile this with the Hasmonean state (lasted ~77 years). The kingdom parables (especially the mustard seed and leaven) could support an inaugurated-kingdom reading where the kingdom begins small and grows. JHN 18:36 ("my kingdom is not of this world") may support the PRET distinction between earthly political kingdoms and God's eternal spiritual kingdom.

PROPHECY

  • Inspired ISA 28:22; LUK 1:70; 2TI 3:16; 2PE 1:21
  • Sure fulfillment EZK 12:22-25,28; HAB 2:3; MAT 5:18; 24:35; ACT 13:27,29
  • OLD TESTAMENT MESSIANIC PASSAGES QUOTED IN NT (extensive list including ISA 9:7 with DAN 7:14,27 with LUK 1:32,33; PSA 132:11,17 with LUK 1:69; ACT 2:30)

Relevance to study: Nave's explicitly links ISA 9:7 with DAN 7:14,27 and LUK 1:32,33 as a messianic prophecy chain about the everlasting kingdom. This supports reading the Son of Man figure as messianic rather than merely collective Israel or angelic Michael. PSA 132:11,17 + LUK 1:69 + ACT 2:30 form a Davidic-throne chain that connects Dan 7's kingdom to Christ's enthronement.

DANIEL

  • Jewish captive, also called BELTESHAZZAR
  • Educated at king's court DAN 1; Interprets visions DAN 2; 4; 5
  • Prophecies of DAN 4:8,9; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; MAT 24:15
  • Wisdom of DAN 1:17; EZK 28:3
  • Devoutness of DAN 2:18; 6; 9; 10; 12; EZK 14:14

Relevance to study: MAT 24:15 — Jesus references "the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet," treating Daniel as a historical figure and his prophecies as authoritative. This is directly relevant to the PRET-CRIT debate: if Jesus treats Daniel's prophecy as still-future, the pure preterist reading (all fulfilled by Antiochus) faces a challenge unless the reference is to a second fulfillment.

ABOMINATION

  • Things that are, to God: Idolatry DEU 7:25; 27:15; 32:16; Unjust weights DEU 25:13-16; PRO 11:1; 20:1,23; Uncleanness LEV 18:22; 20:13; DEU 24:4; etc.
  • UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES: DEU 22:5; PRO 3:32; 6:16-19; 8:7; 11:20; 12:22; 15:8,9,26; 16:5; 17:15; 20:10,23; 21:27; 24:9; 28:9; 29:27

Relevance to study: Dan 11:31 and 12:11 use "abomination that maketh desolate" (shiqquts meshomem). The core meaning of abomination as idolatry (DEU 7:25; 27:15; 32:16) matches what Antiochus did: setting up the Zeus Olympios altar in the Jerusalem temple (2 Macc 6:2). This supports the PRET identification of Antiochus as the agent of the "abomination of desolation."

RULERS

  • Appointed and removed by God (See GOVERNMENT, GOD IN)
  • CHARACTER AND QUALIFICATIONS OF: GEN 41:33; EXO 18:21,22; DEU 1:13; 16:18-20; 2SA 23:3,4; PSA 72:1-17; PRO 16:10,12; 29:4,14; ISA 16:5; ROM 13:1-7
  • RIGHTEOUS INSTANCES: Pharaoh, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, Cyrus, Darius, Artaxerxes, Nehemiah, Daniel
  • WICKED INSTANCES: Including Nebuchadnezzar DAN 2:1-13; 3:1-23; Belshazzar DAN 5:22; Darius DAN 6:7,9

Relevance to study: The ruler concept informs the "ten kings" (Dan 7:24) and whether horns represent individual rulers or institutional powers. Nave's lists Daniel-era wicked rulers (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius) showing that Daniel's visions arise within a context of foreign rulers exercising power over God's people. ROM 13:1-7 (rulers appointed by God) connects to Dan 2:21 (God removes and sets up kings) and the sovereignty theme underlying the judgment scene.