What is the meaning of the semicolon in Daniel 7:7?
In Daniel 7:7, the semicolon marks a 2,000-year gap as humans reckon time, separating the fourth beast being different from all the beasts before it from the statement that it had ten horns. From God's perspective, that long period is no longer than a semicolon.
Les explains that Daniel 7:7 describes the fourth beast as diverse or different from all the beasts before it, then has a semicolon, and then the verse ends with "it had ten horns." He teaches that this semicolon represents 2,000 years of time as we reckon it. But in God's way of reckoning, it has been no longer than a semicolon. This fits the earlier context where Daniel saw the same unfolding of Gentile empires in animal form, with the fourth beast being the Roman Empire.
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.
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What does the semicolon in Daniel 7:7 represent?
The semicolon in Daniel 7:7 represents a gap of about 2,000 years of human history between the fourth beast and the ten horns that appear at the end of the verse.