Daniel 7:28
Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
Shortly before the fall of Babylon Daniel was meditating on the prophecies of God's purpose for His people and seeking God for an understanding of the times. At that time he was given visions concerning the rise and fall of kingdoms, the first being the vision recorded in Daniel 7. That vision is associated with the great apocalyptic beasts, which arise from the union of church and state and persecute those who oppose them.
An interpretation of the vision was given, yet not all was made clear to him. These prophecies of future events were not fully understood even by Daniel and were to remain sealed until the time of the end. His thoughts troubled him much and his appearance changed, but he kept the matter in his heart.
His receiving and keeping of the vision in his heart came as God's blessing on his firmness, self-denial, purity of motive, and unwavering trust as he clung to God. The Lord regarded him with approval and gave him knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom with understanding in all visions and dreams, and the spirit of prophetic power came upon him. God Himself taught him to read the mysteries of the future and to record through figures and symbols for coming generations the events covering the history of this world till the close of time.
The prophecy of Daniel 7 explains the little horn's loss of dominion, fulfilled when Berthier entered Rome on February 10, 1798, at the close of the 1260 days, and the Pope was taken prisoner on February 15. It is part of a prophecy to be studied as a figurative outline of historical events leading to the close of earth's history. Its prophetic waymarks are to be carefully guarded against mistaken interpretations.