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Transcript of Lesson 7: Daniel 7 - pagosabiblechurch.org · 5 We are told this beast had 10 horns. In the ancient...
1
Lesson 7: Daniel 7
Last week we studied chapter 6 and Daniel in the lion’s den. In that
chapter we had moved forward in history where the kingdom of Babylon
had disappeared and the Medo-Persian empire was ruling. Chapter 7 is
going to take us back to Babylonian rule. Remember how the book of
Daniel is not written in chronological order. Chronologically, this chapter
can be placed between chapters 4 and 5.
Chapter 7 signifies a major transition in the book of Daniel. If you can
remember, we’ve mentioned several times that the first half of the book is
history basically in the form of stories and the second half is prophecy.
Chapter 7 is where we see this switch take place. This chapter is the last
chapter written in Aramaic in the book of Daniel. After chapter 7, the book
returns to the Hebrew language.
Chapter 7 reveals in broad terms what the future holds.
We are going to see that two major divisions make up this chapter:
• Daniel’s dream – verses 1-14
• The interpretation – verses 15-28
The subject of the vision in chapter 2 seems to be taken up again here in
chapter 7.
We have already read about two dreams that Nebuchadnezzar had in
chapter 2 and chapter 4. Now God is giving one to Daniel. This dream is
coming to Daniel about 50 years after the similar revelation of the great
image in chapter 2. Daniel would have been about 68 years old when this
chapter takes place.
Verse 1
We are given a time reference of when this chapter is taking place.
When is it?
________________________________________________________.
What are we told happened?
_______________________________________________________.
2
We are told that he wrote them down, and that what we are going to read is
a summary of it. This is the first time in this book that we are told a dream
was written down.
Verse 2
In the first six chapters, Daniel referred to himself in the third person, but in
the last six he uses first person.
When is this vision taking place? _____________________.
What does Daniel see? ______________________________________.
Revelation 7:1 “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of
the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would
blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.”
The four winds – or four spirits of heaven. God often used the winds to
attain His ends. There are more than 120 references to wind in the Bible
(more than 90 in the OT and about 30 in the NT). Over half are related to
events and ideas that reflect the sovereignty and power of God.
We are probably talking about the Mediterranean here. The image that is
painted for us here is one where the winds are blowing all at once causing
turbulent, chaotic waters moving in all directions.
Verses 3
What does Daniel see? ___________________________________.
This scene is strikingly similar to the account found in Revelation 13.
Verse 4 –
First Beast: Fill in your chart.
Almost all interpreters believe this lion represents Babylon. Huge winged
lions guarded the gates of the royal Babylonian palaces. Babylon used
both the lion and the eagle as national emblems. Other biblical writers had
compared Nebuchadnezzar to a lion and an eagle (Jeremiah 49:19-22,
Lamentations 4:19; Ezekiel 17:3, Habakuk 1:8).
As Daniel watched its wings were plucked off and it was lifted to stand on
two feet like a human being, and it was given the mind of a human.
3
The tearing off of the wings could allude to the humiliation of
Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4, or maybe to the deterioration of the kingdom
after Nebuchadnezzar’s death. Many interpreters look at the ‘human’
component in view of Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration from beastly existence
in Daniel 4.
It was common in ancient Near East art to combine notable features of
various animals into one composite animal figure to stress outstanding
features in a symbol. Often animals represented nations, as they still do –
(example: eagle is a symbol of America, the bear for Russia, the dragon
for China).
Verse 5 –
Second Beast: Fill in your chart.
The OT writers spoke of the bear as being the most formidable beast of
prey after the lion (I Samuel 17:34; Amos 5:19; II Kings 2:24; Hosea 13:8)
This beast is believed to represent Medo-Persia.
The bear Daniel sees appears to be larger on one side than the other. This
probably reflects the partnership between the Medes and the Persians.
The Persians dominated the relationship. They were known for their slow,
crushing armies and how they overwhelmed their opponents with superior
size and strength.
We are told it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. There are
different views on what this represents. Some think it represents three
nations or three parts of one nation that Medo-Persia had devoured, was
devouring, or would devour. Some think the three ribs represent three
great conquests: Babylon, Egypt and Lydia.
Daniel then says that the second beast was told to ‘arise, devour much
meat!’
This probably indicates that it would yet subdue many nations. Medo-
Persia ruled for 208 years before Alexander the Great toppled it in 331BC
and geographically, it was far reaching.
4
Verse 6
We are told Daniel kept looking in the night visions and he sees another
beast.
Third Beast: Fill in your chart.
Most have identified the third beast with Greece (Alexander the Great),
because it overthrew Medo-Persia, and it bore the characteristics of the
animal described here. Leopards are known for their sudden, unexpected
attacks. This one is especially swift with four wings and clever having four
heads. Each of these animals mentioned so far is mighty, but dominates its
prey in a different way.
Alexander the Great conquered most of the civilized world all the way from
Macedonia to Africa and eastward to India in about three years. The speed
at which he did this is in keeping with the image of a leopard with wings.
We are told this beast had four heads which suggests intelligent direction.
After Alexander died, his kingdom was divided into four major parts.
Verse 7
We are told Daniel kept looking and sees a fourth beast.
Fourth Beast: Fill in your chart.
We get this description of a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible. It is
indescribable and uniquely horrific in its power and conquest.
Most conservative scholars believe that this fourth beast represents the
Roman Empire. It was the largest, strongest, most unified and enduring of
them all. The rise and fall of the Roman Empire was slow. It began in
241BC with the occupation of Sicily. Gradually it expanded throughout the
whole Mediterranean world.
Daniel didn’t compare this fourth beast to any known animal like the other
three. It was unique. Its large iron teeth chewed up what it attacked, and
its feet crushed and trampled everything left by the former beasts.
The Roman Empire was ruthless in its destruction of civilizations and
peoples, killing captives by the thousands or selling them into slavery.
Rome had no interest in raising the conquered nations to any level of
development. It was all about domination, and letting the nations be
crushed and trampled underfoot.
5
We are told this beast had 10 horns. In the ancient world, horns expressed
an animals power and fearsomeness. This fourth best is so strong it has
10 horns.
Verse 8
What happened when Daniel says he was contemplating the horns?
__________________________________________________________.
What happened? ___________________________________________.
What was this horn like? _______________________________.
_______________________________.
This is thought to be the Antichrist.
II Thessalonians 2:3-4
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until
the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man
doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over
everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in
God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
Verses 9-10
Verses 1-8 were taking place on earth, but now we move to a scene in
heaven with these verses.
In some versions, these verses and then again in 13 and 14 are written in
poetic form. This indicates a difference in the original language (Aramaic)
which sets these verses off as distinct and more elevated in literary style in
the opinion of the translators.
The transition from verse 8 to 9 is abrupt. We go from seeing this terrifying
image to a throne and judgment scene. It’s almost as if the text is saying
‘don’t be overly anxious about this little horn, instead glue your eyes on
this!’
Daniel says ‘I kept looking until’ what? ________________________.
6
Who took His seat? ______________________________________.
This is a title for God emphasizing wisdom and power.
When we think of the word Ancient it makes us think of something really
old. But this title for God means he is grand, not frail, and it shows dignity.
We just saw this sequence of beastly kingdoms, but the Ancient of Days
has been there long before a space was cleared on the plains of history for
any of them.
We are given a description of the Ancient of Days:
• ___________________________________________________.
Pictures his purity and holiness.
• ___________________________________________________.
Suggests His mature judgment.
• ___________________________________________________.
Fire frequently depicts God’s presence. This is a brilliant
manifestation of God’s splendor and the fierce heat of His judgment.
• ____________________________________________________.
Pictures the endless activity of God. Implies that the throne and God
can go in any direction; that He can do anything He pleases. (Ezekiel
1:13-21)
• ____________________________________________________.
Symbolizes judgment proceeding from Him. The image is ‘lava-like’;
it is a river of vast destructive power. (Isaiah 66:15)
• _____________________________________________________.
Describes the innumerable company of angels surrounding the
throne of God attending Him.
• _____________________________________________________.
Other translations say ten thousand times 10 thousand stood before
him (100,000,000- a hundred million). This is describing humanity
standing before God in judgment.
• _____________________________________________________.
7
The court seems to be a heavenly venue where God renders
judgment on rulers and their nations based on their deeds (Job 1-2;
Isaiah 65:6; Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12; Matthew 25:31-46) This
scene provides an overwhelming impression of the glory, holiness,
power and greatness of our God.
Verses 11-12
The return to prose language signals a shift in Daniel’s observation from
heaven to earth.
Daniel says ‘Then I kept looking’. What was drawing his attention?
__________________________________________________________.
Daniel says ‘I kept looking until’ what?
___________________________________________________________.
The fiery destruction of the beast corresponds to the smashing of the
image in Daniel 2 by the means of the Stone from heaven (Rev. 19:20) In
both cases, the end comes suddenly, supernaturally and spectacularly.
When Jesus sets up His kingdom, the empire of the Antichrist will be
completely crushed.
What are we told about the other beasts?
___________________________________________________________.
The end of the first three empires contrasts with the end of the fourth one.
God took away dominion of each of the earlier three kingdoms one by one,
but they weren’t completely destroyed. When they lost their dominion, they
were largely merged into succeeding empires, so that elements of each still
existed in the final phase of the Roman kingdom.
But God cuts off the fourth kingdom completely and it will continue no
longer. The end of the fourth kingdom will result in a totally new condition
on the earth: the 1,000 year reign. (Revelation 19:19-20:6)
Verses 13-14
Daniel once again saw something happening in heaven.
What does Daniel see before him?
_________________________________________________________.
8
(I Thess. 4:17; Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:9-11)
Clouds in Scripture are frequently characteristic of the revelation of deity
(Exodus 13:21-22, 19:9,16; I Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 4:13;
Ezekiel 10:4; Matthew 24:30, 26:64; Mark 13:26)
The title ‘Son of Man’ was a favorite self-designation of Jesus, used more
than 80 times in the gospels.
What did he do? _________________________________________.
This is one of the very few instances in the OT where God the Son is
symbolically distinguished from God the Father.
What was he given to Him?
• ____________________________________.
• ____________________________________.
• ____________________________________.
• ____________________________________.
• ____________________________________.
• ____________________________________.
The whole structure of verses 9-14 seems designed to diminish the place
of the little horn and the fourth beast.
Sandwiched in between the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man seems to
make this little horn truly ‘little’. These verses are showing us where the
power, glory, justice and kingship really dwell. With hardly a word of
transition, we are hurried into the very presence of God where everything is
under His absolute sovereign control.
Verses 15-18
What are told about Daniel?
____________________________ ____________________________.
9
Even though Daniel understood all kinds of visions and dreams (1:7), all
that he had just seen obviously baffled him. He evidently addresses his
question to an angel (8:16, 9:21)
Who are the four great beasts? ______________________________.
The interpretation of the dream shows that this vision covers the same
material as Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in chapter 2 which also described the
rise of four empires, which are succeeded by the kingdom of God.
This vision of Daniel’s is different though, because we are seeing the
kingdoms from God’s perspective, not man’s. Nebuchadnezzar saw the
present and future world empires in the form of a noble statue of a man.
Here, God shows them as ferocious and wild animals who devour and
conquer without conscience.
There will be four kings who will rise from the earth – But what?
________________________________________________________.
Who do you think the ‘saints’ are in this verse?
Some think Saints here refers to believers of all ages. Others think this refers to believing Jews alive when Christ returns since the church did not exist in the OT. Remember when Daniel would have seen all of these things. He had no idea about the church. That was long past his time.
When the day of the fourth beast is over, then God’s people will receive the
kingdom at the return of Jesus Christ.
Believers will have a share in the Son of Man’s everlasting kingdom after
He establishes it. This will involve reigning with Christ. (Matthew 25:14-30;
Luke 19:11-27; II Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10, 20:4,6; 22:5)
This kingdom will begin with the return of Christ to the earth, continue for
one thousand years on the earth (the Millennium) and then continue in the
new heaven and new earth forever.
10
Verses 19-22
Daniel wanted to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast that was
different from the other three. He again gives a description of this beast.
Did you notice that we are given a new detail that we weren’t before.
What new detail are we given about this fourth beast? Fill in your
chart.
What did Daniel say the horn was doing in verse 21?
__________________________________________________________.
Revelation 12:17, 13:7
Until when? _______________________________________________.
The titles Ancient of Days and Highest One appear to be two titles of God
the Father, stressing His eternality and sovereignty respectfully.
Verses 23-25
The interpreting angel now granted Daniel more insight about the fourth
beast and particularly about the little horn.
What will the fourth beast be? _______________________________.
We are told it will be different than all the other kingdoms. The fourth beast
doesn’t just represent a king, but also a kingdom. The angel repeated facts
already revealed (vs. 7), but clarified that the previous description referred
to a kingdom.
This is thought to be the Antichrist, rising out of a confederation of ten
nations that is in some way a restoration of the Roman Empire.
When the hordes from the north conquered the Roman Empire in the fifth
century A.D., they did not unite to form another empire. Instead individual
nations emerged out of the old Roman Empire. Some of those nations and
others stemming out of them have continued till present day. This is why
some believe that the ten-nation confederacy of the future shown in these
prophecies would naturally be considered a revival of the Roman Empire in
some form.
11
What will this king do?
• _____________________________________________________.
This fourth beast seems to exercise world domination. Its savagery
will be universal. Yet this regime will suffer internal fragmentation –
ten kings will arise and another will arise and uproot three of those
ten kings. The iron and clay just can’t seem to bond (2:41-43)
• _____________________________________________________.
This king’s boastful words will be against the Most High.
• _____________________________________________________.
Evidently through persecution (II Thess. 2:8-9; Revelation 12:13-17,
13:1-10,16-17)
• _____________________________________________________.
The Antichrist wants to eradicate the past. He desires to “change the times.” He wishes to reorganize civilization in a way that suits his values. In doing so, he will change “law”
What will happen to the holy people?
________________________________________________________.
For how long? ____________________________________________.
The word time in this context refers to a period of a year.
On a literal level, time, times and half a time means time (1 year), times (2
years) and half a time (1/2 year) or 3 1/2 years.
This three and a half year period seems to be referring to the last three and
a half years before the little horn’s destruction and the return of Jesus
Christ. This phrase is used in Revelation (11:2-3, 12:6, 13:5) to refer to this
period. This corresponds to the Great Tribulation which is the phrase
Jesus used to describe the last half (3 ½ years) of the seven year
Tribulation (Matthew 24:21)
12
Notice the word ‘given’. What does that show us?
__________________________________________________________.
Verse 26
Verse 26 starts with the word ‘but’ which again shows a contrast.
What are we told the court will do? __________________________.
What will happen to the antichrist?
___________________________________________________________.
Verses 27-28
Verse 27 starts with the word ‘then’. Meaning after the antichrist is taken
away and destroyed. The angel again stresses the role the saints will have
in this kingdom.
What will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One?
__________________________________________________________.
The translation here is a little awkward when it reads ‘the people of the
saints of the Highest One’. In the NIV it reads “Then the sovereignty,
power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over
to the holy people of the Most High,” which means God’s people in general.
What will His kingdom be like? ________________________________.
The chapter ends with verse 28 saying ‘at this point the revelation ended’.
How did Daniel feel about everything he saw?
____________________________ ____________________________
What did he do? __________________________________________.