Daniel 7
The book of Daniel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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is a major transition in the book of Daniel. Up to this point, the book of Daniel has been about stories of Daniel and his three friends. We learned about their faith and courage in the face of very trying circumstances. We were confronted with the concept of God’s sovereign control over all things, even when it seems like things are out of control. Before we dive into the content of , let’s take a moment to talk about how we deal properly with apocalyptic content in the Scriptures.
Dealing with Apocalyptic Scriptures
Dealing with Apocalyptic Scriptures
Up to this point, Daniel has been narrative. Now, it switches to apocalyptic literature. This means we have to change our approach to it.
Apocalyptic means “revelation”
Apocalyptic means “revelation”
The label comes from the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse of Saint John or the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ. Starting in , Daniel clearly falls within that genre.
Apocalypse communicates a sense of impending doom.
Apocalypse communicates a sense of impending doom.
We use the term when we mean all things are coming to a head or end. It is the Apocalypse. It is a violent end to all things.
The Biblical Apocalypse is not about doom, but rather about hope, optimism, and joy.
The Biblical Apocalypse is not about doom, but rather about hope, optimism, and joy.
The end of days ushers in the final victory for the saints of God. God brings an end to the corruption of the this world. It is a celebration of victory over God’s enemies. God is in control and will overcome evil, not just human evil, but also the spiritual evils.
Apocalyptic literature is often not literal, rather it is full of imagery and metaphor.
Apocalyptic literature is often not literal, rather it is full of imagery and metaphor.
We will be talking a lot of numbers and about hybrid animals. The images are not easy to communicate and so the author does his best to communicate what he is seeing with terms we can understand. How would you explain a helicopter to a 1st century audience? How would you describe a Great White Shark to a person who has never seen the ocean? Language often fails in trying to paint an accurate picture. This is why we say a picture is worth a thousand words. We must be careful when dealing with apocalyptic literature to not press the details too precisely. Many mistakes in interpretation and understanding are made because we try to force our modern understandings on the ancient texts.
1. Vision of the Four Beasts ()
1. Vision of the Four Beasts ()
begins with a horrible vision of 4 hybrid beasts rising from the chaotic sea.
A. Daniel’s vision took place before the fall of the Babylonian empire ()
A. Daniel’s vision took place before the fall of the Babylonian empire ()
1 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary of his account.
B. Four unique beasts arose from the sea during a violent storm. ()
B. Four unique beasts arose from the sea during a violent storm. ()
2 Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea.
3 Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.
The picture is of a violent storm which causes the waves to react violently. The waters are moving in all directions. In ancient literature, the sea is often viewed as symbolic of chaotic times and of destructive evil. These beasts are mutants and bizarre. They are abominations of God’s creation.
i. A lion with eagle’s wings ()
i. A lion with eagle’s wings ()
4 “The first was like a lion but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.
The wings are eventually torn off and it the creature ends up on the ground and given a human mind. Most likely, this is a reference to the Babylonian Empire.
ii. Bear ()
ii. Bear ()
5 “Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’
It looked like a bear, but not quite. It was lop-sided and it was told to gorge itself on flesh while it was already eating. Most likely this is a reference to the Medo-Persian Empire.
iii. Four-headed Leopard with four wings ()
iii. Four-headed Leopard with four wings ()
6 “After this, while I was watching, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads, and it was given dominion.
This was a powerful creature which was given control over things. Likely, this is a reference to the Greek Empire.
iv. Indescribable fourth beast ()
iv. Indescribable fourth beast ()
7 “After this, while I was watching in the night visions, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.
Simply said it was dreadful and very strong. It had iron teeth. It destroyed everything and it had 10 horns. My sci-fi side wants to call this one a Robo-beast because it sounds like something out of a cheesy science fiction movie.
I think these four beasts coincide with the parts of the statue in .
Head of gold - Lion with wings
Head of gold - Lion with wings
Chest and arms of silver - Bear
Chest and arms of silver - Bear
Belly and thighs of bronze - Leopard
Belly and thighs of bronze - Leopard
Legs of Iron & Feet of iron and clay - Indescribable fourth beast
Legs of Iron & Feet of iron and clay - Indescribable fourth beast
C. A little horn uproots three of the horns. ()
C. A little horn uproots three of the horns. ()
8 “While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a human and a mouth that was speaking arrogantly.
The horn had human eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly. For now, we are not going to try to figure out the imagery of this fourth beast with 10 horns, and a little horn. We will save that for later.
2. The Appearance of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man ()
2. The Appearance of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man ()
Verse nine is a scene switch. We move from a scene of grotesque and bizarre animals coming out of a chaotic sea to the courtroom.
A. The Ancient of Days ()
A. The Ancient of Days ()
9 “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
i. White clothing
i. White clothing
ii. White hair
ii. White hair
iii. Seated on a blazing chariot of fire
iii. Seated on a blazing chariot of fire
iv. A river of fire flows before him
iv. A river of fire flows before him
v. He served by a myriad of heavenly hosts
v. He served by a myriad of heavenly hosts
vi. He is in charge of the court proceedings.
vi. He is in charge of the court proceedings.
Obviously, we are to understand this as God the Father.
B. The forces of evil are destroyed and punished with fire. ()
B. The forces of evil are destroyed and punished with fire. ()
11 “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.
12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.
The little horn continues in his boastful rants, but he cannot stand before the Ancient of Days. They may think they are in charge for a time, but ultimately God removes their power and dominion.
C. The Son of Man ()
C. The Son of Man ()
13 I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.
14 He was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
i. Enters on the clouds
i. Enters on the clouds
ii. He was able to stand before the Ancient of Days
ii. He was able to stand before the Ancient of Days
iii. He is given everlasting dominion.
iii. He is given everlasting dominion.
For some reason, the identity of the Son of Man in this passage has caused much debate. However, it is my understanding that this is Jesus the Son of God. I think that is a very safe interpretation.
3. The interpretation of the vision ()
3. The interpretation of the vision ()
So what does this all mean?
A. Daniel is troubled by the vision and asks a bystander in the vision for assistance in interpretation ()
A. Daniel is troubled by the vision and asks a bystander in the vision for assistance in interpretation ()
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me, and the visions in my mind terrified me.
16 I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him to clarify all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:
Presumably, Daniel consults an angel for assistance.
B. The beasts are kings. ()
B. The beasts are kings. ()
17 ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth.
C. The kings of earth will fail and the holy ones of God will rule forever. ()
C. The kings of earth will fail and the holy ones of God will rule forever. ()
18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’
This is good news for those who are on God’s side!
D. Daniel desired further clarification about the fourth beast and the horns. ()
D. Daniel desired further clarification about the fourth beast and the horns. ()
19 “Then I wanted to be clear about the fourth beast, the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left.
20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that looked bigger than the others.
21 As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them
22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.
This one was different from the others. It was terrifying and it was a destroyer unlike the others. It was larger and fiercer. The little horn targeted the saints of God and was winning over them. The only way God’s people survived was through direct divine intervention.
Horns are often symbolic of pride and arrogance.
In other biblical passages, horns are lifted to symbolize uncalled for pride; a rebellious refusal to submit to God’s authority.
E. The description of the fourth beast and the horns ()
E. The description of the fourth beast and the horns ()
23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.
24 The ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another king, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings.
25 He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.
This is where it gets tricky. Interpretation of identity of this fourth beasts and 10 horns vary. Here is what we know.
i. It will be different from all kingdoms before it.
i. It will be different from all kingdoms before it.
ii. It will have dominion over the whole earth.
ii. It will have dominion over the whole earth.
At least the known earth
iii. 10 kings will rise from the kingdom.
iii. 10 kings will rise from the kingdom.
iv. 1 king will arise to subdue three kings.
iv. 1 king will arise to subdue three kings.
v. This final king, the little horn, will arrogantly directly oppose God, oppress his people, and attempt to cancel God’s commands and observances.
v. This final king, the little horn, will arrogantly directly oppose God, oppress his people, and attempt to cancel God’s commands and observances.
vi. The final king will have dominion for “a time, times, and half a time”.
vi. The final king will have dominion for “a time, times, and half a time”.
This final, little horn, is the antichrist of the New Testament. Some have said this final kingdom is Rome. Some have said it was the Greeks. Some have said that it is a re-birth of the Roman Empire. Other have said this final king was Antiochus Epiphanes
In my estimation, this final, little horn, is the antichrist of the New Testament. We probably shouldn’t take the “time, times, and half a time” to coincide with the second three and a half years of the tribulation in Revelation. The idea is more that the kingdom starts off fast. It looks like it is going to continue forever, but it is suddenly cut off. We might say, “A year, years, and half a year”. Some have said this final kingdom is Rome. Some have said it was the Greeks. Some have said that it is a re-birth of the Roman Empire. Other have said this final king was Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a king who wreaked havoc on the Jewish people. In my opinion, all of these interpretations fall short for various reasons. One of the main ones being all of those Empires have fallen and God’s kingdom has yet to be fully realized. I don’t think we can be certain of the identity of this final kingdom or the 10 horns. I think we can be certain that the little horn’s identity is that of the Antichrist spoken of in the New Testament. Remember that the nature of prophecy is that it cannot be fully understood until it is completely fulfilled. We can read more about this fourth beasts in
F. God will convene a court to judge and destroy this final king ()
F. God will convene a court to judge and destroy this final king ()
26 But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.
This is the main point. God is in control and no one can exalt himself above God.
G. God will establish an eternal kingdom, ruled by his people. ()
G. God will establish an eternal kingdom, ruled by his people. ()
27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.’
F. Although the vision greatly troubled Daniel, he spoke of it no more. ()
F. Although the vision greatly troubled Daniel, he spoke of it no more. ()
Daneil 7:28
28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
“The message of this prophecy is really quite simple and may be summed up this way. Before the kingdom of God is established on the earth, four earthly kingdoms will rise and fall. These kingdoms go from bad to worse. Arrogant, boastful, and even blasphemous kings will reign over the nations, opposing God and oppressing His saints. All of this is by divine design. During times of oppression, it may appear the saints are being defeated and that God’s kingdom is but wishful thinking. When the sin and oppression of evil men reaches a predetermined point, God will remove them and establish His promised eternal kingdom. Then the saints will receive the kingdom which will never end.” (https://bible.org/seriespage/8-daniel-s-disturbing-dream-daniel-71-28)