Daniel 7:18
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the kingdom isn't taken by the saints' own might or ambition, but it's received as a gift from God. It's a kingdom that ultimately replaces all others, not by force, but by divine appointment, and it's guaranteed to last forever because it is the final, unshakeable kingdom.
Daniel has just witnessed a terrifying vision of four monstrous beasts representing successive empires that would oppress God's people. This verse offers a stark contrast and a hopeful conclusion to that terrifying sequence, revealing that despite the power of these earthly kingdoms, God's faithful people will ultimately inherit His eternal kingdom. The focus shifts from worldly power to divine sovereignty, assuring Daniel that God’s rule, established through His saints, will endure forever.
After all the turmoil and the rise and fall of powerful empires, Daniel hears a promise that sounds almost too good to be true. What does it mean for God's people to 'take' the kingdom?
Daniel's vision unveils a sequence of powerful, often brutal, earthly kingdoms represented by beasts. But at the climax, the focus shifts dramatically. Instead of another conquering empire, we hear of the 'saints of the Most High' receiving a kingdom.
This isn't a kingdom taken by force or political maneuvering. The ancient languages and the surrounding context emphasize that this kingdom is given. The saints don't seize it; they receive it. It's a divine transfer of authority, a gift from God to His people. This stands in stark contrast to the violent rise of the previous empires. It highlights that God's ultimate plan is not one of conquest by human hands, but of inheritance granted by divine grace.
The word 'saints' might conjure images of perfect people in stained glass windows. But who does the Bible mean when it speaks of the 'saints of the Most High' inheriting the kingdom?
In the Bible, 'saints' doesn't primarily refer to people who have achieved sinless perfection. Instead, it's a translation of a word that means 'holy ones.' This holiness is not something they earn; it's something they receive from God.
These are God's set-apart people. They are identified by their relationship with the Most High God. Whether through election, redemption by Christ, or sanctification by the Spirit, they are distinguished and dedicated to Him. In the context of Daniel's vision, these 'saints' are the faithful people of God, often oppressed by the very kingdoms that precede God's eternal rule. They are the ones who belong to the 'most high places,' spiritually distinct from the earthly powers.
The verse hammers home the duration of this kingdom: 'forever, forever and ever.' What does this eternal nature tell us about God's ultimate plan?
The repetition of 'forever, even forever and ever' is not just poetic flourish; it's a profound theological statement. It’s meant to leave no doubt about the permanence and ultimate triumph of God’s reign through His saints.
Understand the original words
‘elyon · Hebrew Adjective
A title for God emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, majesty, and supremacy over all earthly powers and spiritual beings. It declares Him to be the God who reigns above all human rulers.
qaddish · Aramaic Noun
Often used in Daniel to refer to God’s people, those who have been set apart for Him. It highlights their holy status and their identity as the subjects of God’s covenantal rule.
malku · Aramaic Noun
Refers to the divine authority, rule, and reign of God, which is ultimate, eternal, and destined to supersede all human governance. It represents the fulfillment of God’s plan to restore His order on earth.
Daniel's vision, received during the Babylonian exile, contrasts the brutal, shifting Gentile empires with a divinely ordained, eternal kingdom granted to 'the saints of the Most High,' offering hope and perspective amidst oppression.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judean elites, including Daniel, to Babylon after conquering Jerusalem.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon.
c. 550 BC— this verse
Daniel's Vision in Babylon
Daniel receives the vision described in chapter 7, featuring four beasts representing successive empires and culminating in an eternal kingdom.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
The Babylonian Empire is conquered by the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great.
538 BC
This passage echoes Daniel's vision by stating that the saints will judge the world, highlighting their future dominion and authority under God's rule.
Revelation 11:15This New Testament passage directly parallels Daniel's prophecy, declaring that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.
Matthew 25:34Jesus speaks of the 'kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,' which aligns with Daniel's vision of God's eternal kingdom being given to His people.
Daniel 7:27This verse directly follows Daniel 7:18 and further clarifies that the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, reinforcing the concept of eternal possession.
Luke 1:32-33This passage foretells that Jesus will be given the throne of his father David and will reign over the house of Jacob forever, directly connecting to the eternal kingdom promised to the saints of the Most High.
clarkeDaniel 7:18: "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."
But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom - I doubt whether this be the true sense of the original Chaldee, ויקבלון מלכותא קדשי עליונון vikabbelun malcutha kaddishey elyonin, "But the supreme holy ones shall receive the kingdom;" or, "they shall receive the kingdom of the supreme saints." Properly translated by Montanus, Et suscipient regnum sanctorum al…
barnesDaniel 7:18: "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."
But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom - That is, they shall ultimately take possession of the rule over all the world, and shall control it from that time onward to the end. This is the grand thing which the vision is designed to disclose, and on this it was evidently the intention to fix the mind. Everything before was preparatory and subordinate to…
This verse highlights that the kingdom isn't taken by the saints' own might or ambition, but it's received as a gift from God. It's a kingdom that ultimately replaces all others, not by force, but by divine appointment, and it's guaranteed to last forever because it is the final, unshakeable kingdom.
Daniel has just witnessed a terrifying vision of four monstrous beasts representing successive empires that would oppress God's people. This verse offers a stark contrast and a hopeful conclusion to that terrifying sequence, revealing that despite the power of these earthly kingdoms, God's faithful people will ultimately inherit His eternal kingdom. The focus shifts from worldly power to divine sovereignty, assuring Daniel that God’s rule, established through His saints, will endure forever.
Daniel has just witnessed a terrifying vision of four monstrous beasts representing successive empires that would oppress God's people. This verse offers a stark contrast and a hopeful conclusion to that terrifying sequence, revealing that despite the power of these earthly kingdoms, God's faithful people will ultimately inherit His eternal kingdom. The focus shifts from worldly power to divine sovereignty, assuring Daniel that God’s rule, established through His saints, will endure forever.
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This eternal aspect distinguishes God’s kingdom entirely from the earthly kingdoms Daniel has been shown. Those kingdoms were temporary, characterized by change, succession, and eventual downfall. The kingdom given to the saints, however, is absolute and unending. It signifies the final defeat of all opposition and the establishment of God’s perfect rule. This eternal security offers immense comfort and hope, assuring believers that their ultimate destiny is not one of fleeting power, but of everlasting fellowship and reign with God.
Cyrus's Edict for Jewish Return
Cyrus allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian exile.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
Jews revolt against the Seleucid Empire's oppression, led by the Maccabees, a time of intense struggle for religious freedom.
"But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’" — This verse highlights that the kingdom isn't taken by the saints' own might or ambition, but it's received as a gift from God. It's a kingdom that ultimately replaces all others, not by force, bu…
