A Brief Explanation of the Vision (Daniel 7:17-18).
‘These great beasts which are four, are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the saints of the most high will receive the kingdom, and will possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.'
Note that the interpretation states that the kings arise from the earth, not from the sea. The idea of the sea was conveying ideas, but was not to be taken literally. And they are four kings. This has in mind the four kings who are most prominent in the empires as depicted, but the kings represent their empires. In Daniel 7:23 they are four empires, growing from the work of the four kings. However, the people of God need not be concerned about these kings and empires, for in the end the kingdom, the everlasting kingdom, will be theirs. Note the emphasis on its everlastingness. (This has nothing to do with any Millennial kingdom). We are probably to see the four kings as Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander the Great and the Anti-God, (the horn, the small one).
‘The holy ones (saints) of the Most High.' This does not mean Israel as such, but those who are faithful to God and His covenant and thus separated to Him. Apart from this passage the word ‘holy ones', used in this way, is found also in Daniel 8:24 (‘people of the holy ones', thus the holy people); see also Psalms 16:3; Psalms 34:9. Note that they ‘receive the kingdom'. It is not obtained by their own strength and power. But once received it is their possession for eternity.