Page 210 - Daniel

in the prophetic interpretation particular attention is given to the little
horn, the outstanding personage at the end of the age, who will be
destroyed with the inauguration of the kingdom from heaven. He is
described as a blasphemer and a persecutor of the saints. He will also
attempt to “change the times and the law,” that is, to change times of

religious observances and traditions such as characterize those who
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worship God. Critics relate this to Antiochus Epiphanes. While
Antiochus may foreshadow the activities of the little horn of Daniel 7,
the complete fulfillment will be much more severe and extensive.

The duration of the little horn’s power continues “for a time, times,
and half a time.” This expression, also found in Daniel 12:7, is
incorrectly identified with “the times of the Gentiles” in Luke 21:24 by
Montgomery. As he points out, however, the normal, traditional
explanation is that the expression means three and one-half years.

“Essaying an exact interpretation, ‘time’ may be interpreted as ‘year’
after the usual interpretation at 4:13 (q.v.). The traditional, and by far
the most common, understanding of’ ‘times’ is as of a dual; the word is
pointed as a [plural], but the [Aramaic], later having lost the dual, the
tendency of [the Masoretic text] is to ignore it in the [biblical Aramaic].
Accordingly, one plus two plus one-half equals three and one-half years.

The term is identical with the half-year week of 9:27 [which] equals
three and one-half years.” 70
Given other Scriptures (cf. Dan. 4:25 where periods of times equals

years), the meaning seems clearly to refer to the last three and one-half
years preceding Christ’s second advent, which will bring in the final
form of God’s kingdom on earth. This computation is confirmed by the
forty-two months, or three and one-half years, in Revelation 11:2 and
13:5, and the 1,260 days of Revelation 11:3. Daniel also refers to 1,290
days in 12:11 and 1,335 days in 12:12, which apparently includes the

establishment of the fifth kingdom as well as the destruction of the
beast. All of these considerations lend support to the futuristic
interpretation of this final period of world history. 71

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FOURTH EMPIRE AND
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM (7:26–28)