Sermon Tone Analysis

The Book of

deals with the Historical

deals with the prophetic

Daniel’s role is now as an interpreter

There are four visions/dreams that Daniel has each marked by the reign of a king

1st year of Belshazzar (7:1) - Around 542 BC

3rd year of Belshazzar (8:1) - Around 539 BC

1st year of Darius (9:1) 538 BC

3rd year of Cyrus (10-12) 535 BC

3rd year of Cyrus (10-12)

All these visions took place when Daniel was in his late 70’s to late 80’s.

Daniel and John the Apostle were both advanced in years and “beloved” by God when God gave them visions of the future.

NOTE: God can still use you even if your retired from secular work.

You are never retired from God’s work!

Chronologically, Chapter 7 should precede chapter 5 & 6.

“There is a strong relationship between chapter two and the vision or second part of Daniel.

They all speak of the history of the Gentiles.

The visions of the second part of Daniel amplify what was revealed in chapter two of the Gentile nations.

“Also, it is significant that i the first two visions of the four visions in the second part of Daniel, the kingdoms are portrayed as beasts instead of by a giant colossus of a man.

Chapter two depicts world rule from the human view, while world domination as seen in in the form of wild beasts is the divine view.

Man sees the kingdoms of this world as great exhibitions of human prowess; God looks upon them as being bestial in character.”

(Butler)

VIII.

VISION OF FOUR BEASTS AND ANCIENT OF DAYS ()

This chapter is the last chapter written in Aramaic

The four crowns or major kingdoms of Gentile history.

Part 1 - INFORMING DANIEL ABOUT THE PARTS (7:1-14)

A. The vision of the four beasts (1-8)

Daniel wrote down the dream

The Septuagint says “While Belshazzar was reigning - acting as king -for the first year...” (Pulpit)

He “wrote down the dream” - it was full of information that needed dissemination

He related the summary of it - The word “sum” means the “head” of something, meaning here the “chief details” of the dream.

Non-essentials of the dream are not recorded

NOTE: God gave the first two visions to King Nebuchadnezzar, but these last four visions to Daniel.

Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar was not able to handle these visions and the interpretation.

Daniel was highly regarded by God (Daniel 10:11)

The beasts of the sea - Out of the sea of people came four empires

The winds are - the spiritual agencies which God uses to carry out His plans which includes the “prince of the power of the air”.

Meaning God is using Satan behind the scenes to create these empires only to be brought down by the Son of God (the stone from the mountain)

“Stirring up” They could also represent the “tumult of the nations” (Larkin)

The winds are - the spiritual agencies which God uses to carry out His plans

The four winds (2) represent the four corners of the earth, North, South, East, West

The four winds (2) represent the four corners of the earth, North, South, East, West

In other words the whole earth

The Great Sea is the Mediterranean - All four empires are connected geographically to the Mediterranean Sea (by conquering)

Great sea - speaks of the multitudes of people of the earth

Great sea - speaks of the multitudes of people of the earth

The beasts of the sea - Out of the sea of people came four empires, different from one another but from the multitudes of people on the earth

If this is a representation of Nebuchadnezzar’s image (gold, silver etc.) then why does God explain the dream in a different way?

Why with “rapacious wild beasts devouring one another” (Larking)?

Man sees in them the concentration of wealth, majesty, and power as seen in the ‘golden image’ but God sees them as wild beasts.

1. Lion (4) Babylon Empire (Devours)

Characteristics of the Babylonian Empire

1. Lion (4)

a. “Lion with wings of an Eagle” - we see a combination of the ‘King of Beasts’ and the ‘King of Birds’, typical of the ‘absolute monarchy’ of Nebuchadnezzar and his conquering flight over the nations.

b. “wings were plucked - Nebuchadnezzar satisfied with his conquests gave himself up to building palaces, and to the pursuits of peace, and from that time the gory of the Empire began to wane.

c.

Walk on two feet, instead on four, like a man, and a man’s heart was given it, but otherwise it was still a beast.

That it, it no longer resorted to the use of its teeth and claws to overcome its enemies, but to its intellect.

d. “The plucking of the wings may also refer to the insanity of Nebuchadnezzar, and the standing on two feet like a man, and the receiving of a man’s heart, to his recovery from his beastly state, and his humane conduct thereafter.”

(Larkin)

2. Bear (5) Medo-Persian Empire (Crushes)

Characteristics of the Medo-Persian Empire

a.

The Bear is the strongest beast after the Lion

2. Bear (5)

b.

It is distinguished for its voracity

It has non of the agility and majesty of the Lion

c.

It has non of the agility and majesty of the Lion

d.

It attacks by brute force and sheer strength

It attacks by brute force and sheer strength

“raised up on one side” speaks of the Persian Empire which was stronger then the Medes

“Three ribs” speaks of three territory’s the Persian empire conquered (as to which is up for debate)

They could be Babylonia, Assyria, Syria or Lydia (Western Turkey), Babylon, and Egypt, or perhaps another set of three territories

Persia is more brute as a empire but did not retain the glory and majesty of Babylon therefore portrayed as a inferior (Silver) empire

3. Leopard (6) Grecian Empire (sucks its victim’s blood)

The Characteristic of the Grecian Empire

3. Leopard (6)

a. Leopard is the most agile and graceful of wild beasts

b.

Slight in its frame, but strong, swift and fierce

“A fitting symbol of Alexander the Great who, followed by small but well-equipped and splendidly brave armies, moved with great celebrity and in about ten years overthrew the forces forces of the Persian empire and subdued the whole civilized world” (Larkin)

c. “Four wings of a bird” speaks of swiftness but not as royally victorious as Nebuchadnezzar

It could also speak of the four corners of the earth

d. “Four heads” speaks of four kingdoms into which the Empire of Alexander was divided, namely Thrace, Macedonia, Syria (North), and Egypt (South) This is further explained in chapter 8

Thrace, Macedonia, Syria (North), and Egypt (South)

4. Dreadful beast (7) Roman Empire

“After this” does not imply a separate vision but following the vision of the leopard

4. Dreadful beast (7)

Characteristics of the Roman Empire

a. Dreadful and hideous to behold - It was a hybrid

b. “Teeth of iron” parallels the “iron legs” of Nebuchadnezzar’s image

c.

Devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet - speaks of the way they conquered

d.

It had ten horns - just like the ten toes of the former vision - one and the same

These ten horns/toes are kingdoms broken off of the Roman Empire