For futurists, the final kingdom spoken of by Daniel is the one that is most important to us today. When read in the context given, it demolishes the false eschatology (or lack thereof) of preterism. It speaks of a kingdom that will rise at an “unknown period of time”, “after” Rome. This unknown period of time is also known as the “gap” between the end of the 69th week and the beginning of the 70th week per Dan. 9:24-27. This “gap” is refuted by many, imo, because of their lack of faith in God’s prophetic word and that lack of faith, imo, has blinded them to the truth given in the whole of prophecy combined. They fail to see the whole and try to divide the prophecies into little digestible pieces to try and prove that everything has been fulfilled already but, imo, they fail miserably.
This final kingdom is first mentioned in Dan. 2:33b-34 - “…his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.” It’s further described in vss. 41-43 - “And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” The part, however, that is important to us is in vs. 44 - “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
Now we know this is speaking of the final beast kingdom of the future a/c as depicted in Rev. 13 because Christ has yet to set up his earthly kingdom that will consist of Israel as the leading nation of the world in the millennium. The next time we see this final kingdom of Daniel is in Dan. 7. Contrary to popular opinion the beasts of Dan. 7 begins w/ Meda-Persia. Babylon is not mentioned here because at this time it’s reign is close to the end and the prophecy focuses on the kingdoms that “shall arise” after Babylon, Dan. 7:17. Many preterists mistakenly believe the 4th beast is Rome because it mentions the word “iron” but that is not the main focal point of the description given. The main focal point is the “ten horns” which connects it to the ten toes of Dan. 2. Dan. 7:7-8, 11 - “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.This description of the head of the final kingdom is given in future prophecies. Notice Daniel “considered the “horns” and “not” the iron teeth. Also notice that in the verses following its description and destruction (9-10, 12-14) it speaks again of a future earthly kingdom in vs. 14 which we know is the physical millennial kingdom of Christ.
The little horn of Dan. 7:8 is mentioned again using a different metaphor in Dan. 8:9-12. His end is foretold in Dan. 8:23-25 - “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” This again speaks of his final time that Christ will destroy upon his second advent.
The disputed “gap” period is also plainly in the linear context of Dan. 9:24-27. There are three events listed, 1. Messiah will be cut off, (which ends the 69th week) followed by, 2. the destruction of Jerusalem and the sanctuary (70ad) which is followed by an “unknown period of time after it” 3. the start of the 70th week by an agreement with “many” of Israel. (covenant, but not a religious one). How people can read this and believe it is speaking of Christ is beyond me and not the future leader of the “final kingdom” of Daniel is beyond me.
Daniel is again given a vision in Dan. 10:8 and the explanation of it begins in cp. 11. The last king mentioned in Daniel begins at verse 21 and, imo, this speaking of the a/c. As I was doing this study God opened my eyes to something I had read probably a hundred times or more and I’ve never seen this point brought up before. One of the definitions of the word “covenant” is the word “league”. In Dan. 11:23 it says, “And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.” I believe this is speaking of the covenant spoken of in Dan. 9:27 which should put to rest the idea that it is Christ spoken of in vss. 27. Dan. 11:22, imo, confirms this, “And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.”
Who is the prince of the covenant? I believe Dan. 9:26-27 tells us that it is “the prince to come” who is the one who that confirms a covenant (league) for 7 yrs. And this should be proof that it is “not” Christ that is being spoken of here. Many of these prophecies are confirmed to be still future in the Revelation of Christ given to John and in some of Paul’s writings in Thessalonians, you know the ones, Rev. 13 and 17;7, 12. These describe who we call the a/c in many cases using the same type wording as Daniel does.
This final kingdom is first mentioned in Dan. 2:33b-34 - “…his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.” It’s further described in vss. 41-43 - “And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” The part, however, that is important to us is in vs. 44 - “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
Now we know this is speaking of the final beast kingdom of the future a/c as depicted in Rev. 13 because Christ has yet to set up his earthly kingdom that will consist of Israel as the leading nation of the world in the millennium. The next time we see this final kingdom of Daniel is in Dan. 7. Contrary to popular opinion the beasts of Dan. 7 begins w/ Meda-Persia. Babylon is not mentioned here because at this time it’s reign is close to the end and the prophecy focuses on the kingdoms that “shall arise” after Babylon, Dan. 7:17. Many preterists mistakenly believe the 4th beast is Rome because it mentions the word “iron” but that is not the main focal point of the description given. The main focal point is the “ten horns” which connects it to the ten toes of Dan. 2. Dan. 7:7-8, 11 - “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.This description of the head of the final kingdom is given in future prophecies. Notice Daniel “considered the “horns” and “not” the iron teeth. Also notice that in the verses following its description and destruction (9-10, 12-14) it speaks again of a future earthly kingdom in vs. 14 which we know is the physical millennial kingdom of Christ.
The little horn of Dan. 7:8 is mentioned again using a different metaphor in Dan. 8:9-12. His end is foretold in Dan. 8:23-25 - “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” This again speaks of his final time that Christ will destroy upon his second advent.
The disputed “gap” period is also plainly in the linear context of Dan. 9:24-27. There are three events listed, 1. Messiah will be cut off, (which ends the 69th week) followed by, 2. the destruction of Jerusalem and the sanctuary (70ad) which is followed by an “unknown period of time after it” 3. the start of the 70th week by an agreement with “many” of Israel. (covenant, but not a religious one). How people can read this and believe it is speaking of Christ is beyond me and not the future leader of the “final kingdom” of Daniel is beyond me.
Daniel is again given a vision in Dan. 10:8 and the explanation of it begins in cp. 11. The last king mentioned in Daniel begins at verse 21 and, imo, this speaking of the a/c. As I was doing this study God opened my eyes to something I had read probably a hundred times or more and I’ve never seen this point brought up before. One of the definitions of the word “covenant” is the word “league”. In Dan. 11:23 it says, “And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.” I believe this is speaking of the covenant spoken of in Dan. 9:27 which should put to rest the idea that it is Christ spoken of in vss. 27. Dan. 11:22, imo, confirms this, “And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.”
Who is the prince of the covenant? I believe Dan. 9:26-27 tells us that it is “the prince to come” who is the one who that confirms a covenant (league) for 7 yrs. And this should be proof that it is “not” Christ that is being spoken of here. Many of these prophecies are confirmed to be still future in the Revelation of Christ given to John and in some of Paul’s writings in Thessalonians, you know the ones, Rev. 13 and 17;7, 12. These describe who we call the a/c in many cases using the same type wording as Daniel does.