What does Daniel 7:10 mean?

The vision of God as Judge continues in this verse (Daniel 7:9). While dreaming of future kingdoms (Daniel 7:3–7, 17), Daniel has also seen the Lord on a fiery throne in heaven, calling Him "the Ancient of Days" (Psalm 90:2). References to fire emphasize God's judgment, because fire destroys some things and leaves others intact (1 Corinthians 3:13). The Lord's judgment is being highlighted because of the appearance of the "little horn" coming from one of the four symbolic beasts (Daniel 7:8).

The number Daniel records here is not necessarily meant as an exact count. The biblical expression "ten thousand" is sometimes used metaphorically to mean "very many," much as modern English uses the word "millions." In literal terms, a thousand thousands is one million, and ten thousand ten thousands is one hundred million. The book of Revelation will use similar terms to depict the number of angels heard by John (Revelation 5:11). Literal or not, the point is that the Lord commands an awesome, overwhelming force of spiritual beings.

The books opened here appear to be different than those used at the great white throne judgment of the end times (Revelation 20:12). Those books will be opened after the millennial reign of Christ. The books in this part of Daniel are opened in response to the boasting and blasphemy of the "little horn" (Daniel 7:11). God will have a record of all the "little horn's" sinful thoughts, words, and deeds (Isaiah 65:6–7; Hebrews 4:13). The judgment on the "little horn" will be accurate and fully deserved. Revelation 19:11–20 further describes the judgment that falls on the "little horn"—there called "the beast"—at Christ's return to earth.