“These two things, then, are mutually in accordance — namely the slaying of the fourth beast; and the giving of the kingdom and authority to the people of the saints. This does not seem to have been accomplished yet” — in 1561, when Calvin was still writing these words in his Commentary on Daniel.
9 Comm. on Dan. 7:7 & 7:23-27.
Calvin thus summarizes Daniel seven. “Let us now return to the passage. Daniel first of all says, ‘a kingdom and power and extensive dominion shall be given to the people of the holy ones.’ This was partially fulfilled when the Gospel emerged from persecution…. Daniel or the angel does not predict here occurrences connected with the [second] advent of Christ as Judge of the world, but with the first preaching and promulgation of the Gospel and the celebration of the Name of Christ. But this does not prevent him from drawing a magnificent picture of Christ’s reign — and embracing its final completion….
