Daniel 7 is fulfilled in Two Stages
Date: Nov 5, 2025 - Time: 11:57 GMT
Having recently read Samuel Whitefield's book, 'Son of Man - The Gospel of Daniel 7' I have just updated my Daniel 7 commentary. This is such a crucial chapter if you wish to understand the second coming!
In 2024 I read Christian Widener's book, "Witnessing the End". Wow! What a game changer to understand that Daniel's 70 week has a double fulfilment, with a second fulfilment starting in 1537 with a decree by Suleiman the Magnificent to restore Jerusalem. In that case, we should expect Daniel's 70th week to end in 2027!!!
Recently, I read Samuel Whitefield's book, "Son of Man - The Gospel of Daniel 7". And once again, what can I say but "Wow!" I already understood that Daniel 7 was a massively significant chapter in end times, but what Whitefield's book demonstrates is that Daniel 7 is the chapter that is most referenced or alluded to in the New Testament, by far. Understanding this chapter is crucial to understanding who Jesus claimed to be, and what he meant by the gospel of the kingdom.
One of the things that really struck me from reading this book is that Christ's coming on the clouds in Daniel 7:13-14 is fulfilled in two stages. Jesus is the divine Son of Man who descended from heaven (John 3:13) when he was incarnated and born of Mary. After his resurrection, he visibly ascended into the clouds (Acts 1:9), back to his heavenly position (Daniel 7:13), and was seated at God's right hand upon his heavenly throne (Psalm 110:1, Matthew 26:64, Acts 2:33, 3:21, 7:56, etc). So he is now seated in the heavens far above all principalities and powers (Ephesians 1:20-21), having received all authority in heaven and on earth (Daniel 7:14, Matthew 28:18). When Stephen was being stoned, he saw heaven opened and the reality of Jesus seated at God's right hand in heaven (Acts 7:56). At the second coming, the whole world will see heaven opened, and everyone will see the reality that Stephen saw (Revelation 6:14-17). This is the second coming. Is it the stage-two fulfilment of Daniel 7:13-14 that will be visible to all, just as lightning is visible from west to east (Matthew 24:27, 30). And in Revelation, it happens at the sixth seal.
If you want to understand the sequence of end time events, it is crucial that you understand my last point. The big event, the visible second coming of Jesus in glory, is the fulfilment of Daniel 7:13 and it happens at the sixth seal. The rapture also happens at the sixth seal (Revelation 7:9-17), but the rapture comes after the second coming, not before it.
Jesus must then rule in the midst of his enemies (Psalm 110:2), while Antichrist is still at large. The ensuing Day of Wrath (Revelation 6:17) is the time period and the process by which he dismantles Antichrist's empire, with the final battle taking place at Armageddon in Israel (Revelation 19). But Revelation 19 is not the initial second coming appearance of Jesus. It is the Christ's final battle. Revelation 19:13 makes this clear by the fact that Jesus arrives at Armageddon with his robes already soaked in blood. This is the blood of his enemies whom he has slaughtered in his Edom campaign (Isaiah 63:1-6). Jesus fights his Edom campaign alone (Isaiah 63:5). But when he arrives at Armageddon, he is accompanied by the armies of heaven dressed in white clean linen (Revelation 19:14). Presumably this is the raptured Church, returning to fight for him, as per Psalm 110:3 which says, "Your people willingly follow you when you go into battle." Our clothing is white and clean because this is our first battle. But for Jesus, this is his last battle, and concludes the Day of Wrath.
You can read my updated Daniel 7 commentary here:
Recently, I read Samuel Whitefield's book, "Son of Man - The Gospel of Daniel 7". And once again, what can I say but "Wow!" I already understood that Daniel 7 was a massively significant chapter in end times, but what Whitefield's book demonstrates is that Daniel 7 is the chapter that is most referenced or alluded to in the New Testament, by far. Understanding this chapter is crucial to understanding who Jesus claimed to be, and what he meant by the gospel of the kingdom.
One of the things that really struck me from reading this book is that Christ's coming on the clouds in Daniel 7:13-14 is fulfilled in two stages. Jesus is the divine Son of Man who descended from heaven (John 3:13) when he was incarnated and born of Mary. After his resurrection, he visibly ascended into the clouds (Acts 1:9), back to his heavenly position (Daniel 7:13), and was seated at God's right hand upon his heavenly throne (Psalm 110:1, Matthew 26:64, Acts 2:33, 3:21, 7:56, etc). So he is now seated in the heavens far above all principalities and powers (Ephesians 1:20-21), having received all authority in heaven and on earth (Daniel 7:14, Matthew 28:18). When Stephen was being stoned, he saw heaven opened and the reality of Jesus seated at God's right hand in heaven (Acts 7:56). At the second coming, the whole world will see heaven opened, and everyone will see the reality that Stephen saw (Revelation 6:14-17). This is the second coming. Is it the stage-two fulfilment of Daniel 7:13-14 that will be visible to all, just as lightning is visible from west to east (Matthew 24:27, 30). And in Revelation, it happens at the sixth seal.
If you want to understand the sequence of end time events, it is crucial that you understand my last point. The big event, the visible second coming of Jesus in glory, is the fulfilment of Daniel 7:13 and it happens at the sixth seal. The rapture also happens at the sixth seal (Revelation 7:9-17), but the rapture comes after the second coming, not before it.
Jesus must then rule in the midst of his enemies (Psalm 110:2), while Antichrist is still at large. The ensuing Day of Wrath (Revelation 6:17) is the time period and the process by which he dismantles Antichrist's empire, with the final battle taking place at Armageddon in Israel (Revelation 19). But Revelation 19 is not the initial second coming appearance of Jesus. It is the Christ's final battle. Revelation 19:13 makes this clear by the fact that Jesus arrives at Armageddon with his robes already soaked in blood. This is the blood of his enemies whom he has slaughtered in his Edom campaign (Isaiah 63:1-6). Jesus fights his Edom campaign alone (Isaiah 63:5). But when he arrives at Armageddon, he is accompanied by the armies of heaven dressed in white clean linen (Revelation 19:14). Presumably this is the raptured Church, returning to fight for him, as per Psalm 110:3 which says, "Your people willingly follow you when you go into battle." Our clothing is white and clean because this is our first battle. But for Jesus, this is his last battle, and concludes the Day of Wrath.
You can read my updated Daniel 7 commentary here: