The book of Daniel
Daniel 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of
1.
Introduction to the Vision
A. When Daniel Dreamed
Daniel had this dream or vision in the first year of ruler-ship under
Belshazzar. That would put this occurrence happening between chapters 4 and 5
of the book of Daniel.
2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my
vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the
great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the
sea, diverse one from another.
Daniel saw the four winds of heaven striving upon the great sea. Normally
wind blows from a direction but here it blows from many directions. The wind
here represents a great disturbance. The sea represents the masses of the
people, probably referencing the Gentile nations.
4 The
first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof
were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet
as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
2.
Information in the Vision
A. The First Beast
Daniel saw the first beast like a lion with eagles
wings. The lion is the king of the jungle of the king of the beasts. This
represents supremacy. The eagles wings represents the swiftness and might that
this first beast had to move and conquer. I believe this first beast represents
the
Daniel saw the eagle wings were plucked.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a
bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth
of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much
flesh.
Daniel saw another beast rise up like a bear. The bear is not as fast
as the lion, but it is still very powerful, strong and forceful. The bear
crushes it’s enemies. This bear represents the kingdom
of the Medes and the Persians. This bear rose up on one side and showed 3 ribs
in it’s mouth. The ribs in the bears mouth represent 3
kingdoms that the Medes and Persians would conquer 1)
6 After this I beheld, and lo another,
like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast
had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Daniel saw another beast rise up like a leopard. The leopard is swift,
graceful and ferocious. The leopard leaps with sudden unexpected attacks. This
leopard has 4 wings further testifying of the speed of this kingdom. This leopard represents the
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and
behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it
had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue
with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before
it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there
came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the
first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like
the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Daniel saw another beast rise up, one that was exceeding dreadful to
look upon. This beast represents the
This beast had 10 horns grown from it’s head.
Horns, in the scripture, always relate to power. I believe the 10 horns
correspond to the 10 toes of the image Nebuchadnezzar saw. There were 10
Caesars from Nero to Diocletian. These Caesars would go on to persecute the
early church. As Daniel was considering the 10 horns, a little horn rose up and
uprooted 3 of it’s competitors and this little horn
had the eyes of a man and spoke great things. I believe this little horn
represents the antichrist or the man of sin (Rev 13:3-6 & II Thes 2:3,4). See Rev 17:8-
14, there is prophecy about the 10 horns and 7 mountains.
is considered to be the city of 7 hills
Nebuchadnezzars
Dream Four
Beasts of Daniel 7 Nations
Represented
Head
of Gold Lion
with eagles wings
Arms
& Chest of Silver Bear Medes
& Persians
Belly
& Thighs of Brass Leopard
with wings Greecians
Legs
of Iron Composite
Beast
Feet
of Iron & Clay
Stone
Cut Out Without Hands The
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast
down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the
hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and
his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from
before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were
opened. 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the
great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and
his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they
had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and
time. 13 I saw in the night visions,
and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came
to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And
there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people,
nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which
shall not be destroyed.
Daniel saw till thrones were set (Rev 4 & 5). Daniel saw the
Ancient of Days, the Eternal One, God the Father. He saw the white garment
representing the Holiness of God. Daniel saw His hair like wool representing
His countless never-ending years. Daniel saw the throne and wheels as of a
burning flame, representing the Judgment of God (II Thes 1:7,8).
Daniel saw the throng around the throne. A countless host saved and
serving God. Daniel saw the judgment was set and the books were opened. My
friend God misses nothing and it will all be in the books for you
to see. But this book that is opened may also represent the book opened by the
Lamb, which had the 7 seals that would be Title Deed and Judgment upon the
earth.
Daniel saw the thrill of the antichrist destroyed in the lake of fire
(Rev 19:20). Daniel saw the thrill of the Son of man coming with the clothing
of clouds. Daniel saw the thrill of the
Son of man setting up His eternal kingdom and having dominion forever and ever.
15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the
midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by,
and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the
interpretation of the things.
3.
The Interpretation of the Vision
A. Request of Daniel
Daniel knew that Israel’s captivity in Babylon would last for 70 years,
as God had said. Daniel had hoped that, after the 70 year period of judgment
had expired, there would be national repentance and the Jews would go home and
the Messiah would come. However, Daniel knew, from Nebuchadnezzars earlier
dream, that clearly there would be 4 complete Gentile kingdoms fulfilled before
the Messianic Kingdom would take place.
Daniel was troubled by this dream and vision. Certainly the thoughts of
the dreadful fourth beast troubled him greatly. A celestial being, maybe an
angel stands near and Daniel requests for truth and more understanding from the
angel about the vision and fourth beast that he saw.
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four
kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most
High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever
and ever.
The angel interprets the vision to Daniel. There will be 4 passing
kingdoms of men. Then there will be the 5th kingdom, which will be
the permanent eternal kingdom of the Messiah. This kingdom will be one in which
Jesus shall rule forever with His saints.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth
beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth
were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and
stamped the residue with his feet; 20
And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came
up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth
that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21 I
beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against
them; 22
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of
the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,
which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and
shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this
kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and
he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And
he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints
of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given
into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But
the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and
to destroy it unto the end.
Daniel then wants to know more of the fourth beast. Daniel wants to
know of the ferocity and features of the fourth beast. Daniel wants to
understand about the 10 horns and about the little horn that saw and spoke.
The angel begins to declare just how the fourth beast, the ten horns
and the little horn will come about and how Daniel can expect the events of the
future to unfold.
Maybe it could
happen something like this: The kingdom of the fourth beast will be a revived
Roman Empire. This will come of a union of 10 kings, nations or regions
that will dominate the European Continent. Today, the European Economic
Community (E.E.C.) operates under the name of the European Common Market OR the
European Union (EU). This is a federation of nations that began under the
Treaty of Rome in 1957 with 6 member nations. Today (2009), there are 27
nations in or applied to the EEC. This involves 498 million people that does
over $150 billion in business with the U.S.A. Today the EEC can’t take the
final step to dominate the globe and become one nation, nor will they be able
to till the antichrist comes into power.
After the rapture of
the church, the antichrist will come in the name of peace to unify the world.
There will be 3 members of the European Union, which will be uncooperative. The
antichrist will strike these members down and assume control of the European
Union while being supported by the remaining members. The antichrist will
ensure all federated nations of one world monetary system and world peace and
security. The antichrist will then look to nations in the Western Hemisphere to
join and make a pact with him and Europe (The Revived Roman Empire). In fact
the nations of the Western Hemisphere is an extension of Europe, in that, it’s
territories were conquered, founded and occupied by Europeans to begin with.
The antichrist will use his economic power to force other nations like the USA
to make a league with him and support him as a world leader. In fact the
antichrist will (Rev 17) begin to set up one world religion. The antichrist
will confirm a pre-existing covenant or treaty with Israel within the first 3 ½
years of the Tribulation. This treaty will guarantee security for the nation of
Israel. The antichrist will endorse the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. The
Arab nations, hating the Jews, turn away from the antichrist and look to Russia
for help. Russia not yet affiliated with the antichrist will be drawn into an
invasion of Israel, maybe even supported by the Islamic Nations, but will meet
disaster (Ez 38 & 39). After Russia’s demise, the antichrist will also take
over Russia and the Muslim world and focus his attention on the nations of the
Far East (Japan, China, India, etc). The antichrist invites these Far East
nations to join in with the rest of the world for peace and they accept gladly,
thus enjoying a great economic hiatus. It appears (Dan 7:23) that the
antichrist has devoured the world.
Just after the rapture, when the antichrist has come into power in the
name of peace, God raises up 2 witnesses armed with miraculous power to stand
for Him (Rev 11:3-13). God also has 144,000 Jews, saved and sealed to preach
and evangelize the world (Rev 7:3-8). Millions will hear the gospel and be
saved (Rev 7:9-17). After Russia’s collapse, when the antichrist has taken over
and far eastern nations have yielded as well, there is a great turning point,
(This is the completion of the first 3 ½ years). Now begins the second 3
½ years (Dan 7:25) as the antichrist, who had a treaty with Israel and allowed
the Temple to be rebuilt, no longer needs the Jews and hates their
evangelism. The antichrist will tear up the treaty and go into the Temple of
God and set up an image of himself and commands the world to worship the image.
(Matt 24:15-22 & Rev 13:11-18). The antichrist commands the world to take
his mark or die. Many will be martyred and many will take the mark of the beast
(Six hundred threescore and six or 666).
The antichrist speaks great blasphemies against God. The antichrist is
the little horn with the big mouth (Rev 13:5,6) The antichrist will gather the
worlds armies in the valley of Armageddon for a great battle. A battle in which
Jesus shall return to earth and annihilate the antichrist and the world’s
armies (Rev 19:11-21). Here the end has come for the antichrist and his wicked
followers. Praise God!!!
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the
greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people
of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom
is an everlasting kingdom, and
all dominions shall serve and obey him.
The angel declares the 5th kingdom will begin with the end
of the antichrist, the false prophet and the devil. This will be after the
battle of Armageddon. God will rule with His saints forever and ever. The
Millennium will begin and after 1000 years the devil will be loosed and go
about deceiving the nations, but God will send fire down to devour the rebels (Rev
20:1-3,7-10). The devil is then sent into the lake of fire to burn in torment
forever and ever.
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.
The celestial interpreter has finished and Daniel is greatly troubled
about the vision and it’s prophecy. Daniel is so shaken that he needs a
comforter. The celestial interpreter, maybe an angel could rejoice over these
events, but Daniel, a man, was troubled and kept these matters at heart.
My friend, it will happen just like God says it will. Oh, praise the
Lord for the fact that you are saved now, but if you are not please call on the
Lord Jesus for salvation today me friend. Jesus died for your sins, according
to the gospel, was buried and rose again. Only the saved will miss the
Tribulation and the demise of the world at the hands of the devil and the man
of sin, the antichrist.