Daniel 7:22
until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What’s striking here isn’t just that the saints receive a kingdom, but that judgment itself is given to them. This means their vindication is public and official, a divine pronouncement of justice that overturns all the accusations and suffering they endured. It's the moment their innocence is declared and their authority is established as God's appointed time finally arrives.
Daniel has just seen a terrifying vision of four beasts and a little horn that wages war against God's people. This verse marks the turning point, describing how the divine judgment finally arrives to defeat this oppressive power and vindicate the saints. The ancient, eternal God intervenes, and at the appointed time, His faithful people are given dominion and inherit the kingdom.
Imagine a cosmic courtroom where time itself seems to hold its breath. Who is this 'Ancient of Days,' and why is His arrival so significant?
The phrase 'Ancient of Days' is a breathtaking title for God the Father. It speaks to His eternal nature – He has always been, and always will be. Daniel sees Him arrive on the scene not to conquer, but to preside. His coming signals the end of an era of oppression and the beginning of divine justice. This isn't just a historical event; it's a theological declaration: God is sovereign, and He will ultimately step in to set things right.
The saints have been under attack, but suddenly, judgment is rendered in their favor. What does this 'judgment given' truly mean for God's people?
This isn't about the saints earning their victory through merit. Instead, 'judgment was given for the saints' means that a righteous verdict was pronounced on their behalf. Their faithfulness, though tested and seemingly overcome, is vindicated. God's justice is shown to be on their side, condemning their oppressors and clearing their name. It's a divine declaration that God sees their suffering and injustice, and He will right every wrong.
After enduring hardship, the promise is that the saints will 'possess the kingdom.' What kind of kingdom is this, and what does it mean to possess it?
The ultimate destiny for God's faithful people is not just vindication but participation in His eternal kingdom. This 'kingdom' isn't a political structure in the earthly sense but God's reign established in its fullness, characterized by righteousness and peace. 'Possessing the kingdom' means they will share in God's rule, live in His perfect presence, and experience the full inheritance secured by Christ. It’s the promise of an everlasting reign with God, a complete triumph over all evil.
Understand the original words
attiyq yowmiyn · Aramaic Proper Noun Phrase
A title for God highlighting His eternal nature, existence before creation, and supreme authority as the final Judge of all history.
diyn · Aramaic Noun
The act of God issuing a verdict or settling a case. Biblically, it signifies the vindication of the righteous and the condemnation of the wicked at the end of the age.
‘illaya’ · Aramaic Adjective/Noun
A title for the God of Israel, emphasizing His superiority over all other powers, idols, or worldly entities.
malkuw · Aramaic Noun
The sovereign rule or reign of God, which is established permanently and extends over all peoples, nations, and languages.
Daniel's vision of divine judgment and the saints inheriting the kingdom speaks powerfully to a people enduring oppressive empires, offering a future hope of ultimate vindication and God's eternal reign, a message that resonated through subsequent eras of persecution.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Height
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was a dominant world power, known for its military might and expansionist policies. This era of imperial dominance, which predates Daniel's prophecies, sets a backdrop for understanding later empires and the anxiety of conquered peoples.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins his campaigns against Judah, leading to the first wave of exiles, including young nobles like Daniel, being taken to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile for many Judeans.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, marking a devastating climax to the Babylonian exile. This profound national trauma deeply impacted Jewish identity and prophetic hope.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, ushering in a new empire. This shift in power is significant as it eventually leads to the decree allowing the Judean exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
This passage echoes Daniel's prophecy by stating that the saints will judge the world, directly correlating with the 'judgment was given to the saints' in Daniel 7:22, highlighting their future authoritative role.
Revelation 20:4This verse speaks of those who 'reigned with Christ' for a thousand years, providing a New Testament parallel to the Old Testament vision of the saints possessing the kingdom, showing the continuity of this promise.
Daniel 7:18This verse sets the stage for Daniel 7:22 by stating that 'the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess it forever,' underscoring that the possession of the kingdom is the ultimate destiny for God's people.
Matthew 25:34Jesus speaks of the 'kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,' connecting the concept of an eternal kingdom, promised to the faithful, with the 'saints possessed the kingdom' mentioned in Daniel.
Revelation 5:10This passage describes believers as being made 'kings and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth,' which is a New Testament fulfillment of the promise that the saints would inherit the kingdom described in Daniel.
clarkeDaniel 7:22: "Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom."
Saints of the Most High - To the supereminent saints; see the note on Daniel 7:18 (note).
barnesDaniel 7:22: "Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom."
Until the Ancient of days came - Notes, Daniel 7:9 . That is, this was to occur after the horn grew to its full size, and after the war was made with the saints, and they had been overcome. It does not affirm that this would occur immediately, but that at some subsequent period the Ancient of days would come, and would set up a kingdom on…
What’s striking here isn’t just that the saints receive a kingdom, but that judgment itself is given to them. This means their vindication is public and official, a divine pronouncement of justice that overturns all the accusations and suffering they endured. It's the moment their innocence is declared and their authority is established as God's appointed time finally arrives.
Daniel has just seen a terrifying vision of four beasts and a little horn that wages war against God's people. This verse marks the turning point, describing how the divine judgment finally arrives to defeat this oppressive power and vindicate the saints. The ancient, eternal God intervenes, and at the appointed time, His faithful people are given dominion and inherit the kingdom.
Daniel has just seen a terrifying vision of four beasts and a little horn that wages war against God's people. This verse marks the turning point, describing how the divine judgment finally arrives to defeat this oppressive power and vindicate the saints. The ancient, eternal God intervenes, and at the appointed time, His faithful people are given dominion and inherit the kingdom.
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c. 167–164 BC
Maccabean Revolt Begins
The Maccabean Revolt breaks out against the Seleucid Empire, led by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This revolt, a major struggle for religious and political freedom, involved intense persecution of the Jewish people and is often seen as a historical parallel to the persecution described in Daniel's visions.
c. 2nd century BC— this verse
Daniel's Visions Recorded
The prophecies in the Book of Daniel, including the vision in chapter 7, are believed to have been compiled or revealed around this period. The visions reflect the anxieties and hopes of the Jewish people living under foreign domination.
AD 1st - 2nd century
Roman Empire's Dominance
The Roman Empire becomes the dominant world power, a reality that shaped the political landscape for early Christians. Interpretations of Daniel's prophetic kingdoms often extend to include the Roman Empire and its eventual transformation.
"until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom." — What’s striking here isn’t just that the saints receive a kingdom, but that judgment itself is given to them. This means their vindication is public and official, a divine pronouncement of justice…
