Daniel 7 - The Vision of the Four Beasts
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Until now, Daniel has been interpreting the dreams of others. Now God gives him extraordinary visions of his own. These two chapters take place before chapter 5, of course, since Babylon has not yet fallen to the Medes and Persians. Remember that Belshazzar’s father, Nabonidus, was actually king of Babylon (the empire) and Belshazzar was his co-regent in the city of Babylon. Nabonidus became king in 556 B.C., so we may date chapter 7 in 556 and chapter 8 in 554. Other historians prefer to date chapter 7 in 550 when Nabonidus left for Arabia and put Belshazzar officially in charge. This would put chapter 8 in the year 548. In these visions, Daniel sees the course of Gentile world history and helps us understand what will happen to the Jews in the end times.
I. The Vision of the Four Beasts (7)
I. The Vision of the Four Beasts (7)
Daniel 7:1–3 (KJV 1900)
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
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.
The restless sea in the Bible is a picture of the Gentile nations.
Revelation 17:15 (KJV 1900)
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Isaiah 17:12 (KJV 1900)
12 Woe to the multitude of many people, Which make a noise like the noise of the seas; And to the rushing of nations, That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!
Here it is the Great Sea, or the Mediterranean Sea, and all of the empires mentioned in this vision bordered on this sea. Daniel saw four beasts, and the angel explained what they meant.
Daniel 7:17 (KJV 1900)
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
Each beast represented a kingdom.
A. The lion with wings (v. 4).
A. The lion with wings (v. 4).
Daniel 7:4 (KJV 1900)
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.
Here we have Babylon, corresponding to the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great image.
Daniel 2:36–38 (KJV 1900)
36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
The winged lion was a favorite image in Babylon; you would see these figures in any museum that has a Babylonian display. The animal made to stand like a man certainly reminds us of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling experience in chapter 4.
Daniel 4:27–37 (KJV 1900)
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Babylon was still ruling the world at this time, but in just a few years (as chap. 5 explains), the empire would fall. So, that takes us to the next beast.
B. The bear with the ribs (v. 5).
B. The bear with the ribs (v. 5).
Daniel 7:5 (KJV 1900)
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.
Here we meet the Medo-Persian empire, known not for its swiftness or skill, but its brute force, just like a bear. The three ribs depict the three empires already defeated (Egypt, Babylon, Lydia); and the fact that the bear stood “raised up on one side” indicates that the one half of the empire (the Persian half) was stronger and more honorable (higher) than the other half (the Medes). Medo-Persia conquered Babylon in 539 B.C., but their empire lasted only about two hundred years.
C. The winged four-headed leopard (v. 6).
C. The winged four-headed leopard (v. 6).
Daniel 7:6 (KJV 1900)
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.
This is Greece, led by Alexander the Great, who swiftly conquered the world, defeating the Persians about 331 B.C. But the great general died in 323, and his vast kingdom was divided into four parts (and thus the four heads). Four of his leading generals each took a part of the kingdom and ruled it as the monarch.
D. The terrible beast (vv. 7–8, 17–27).
D. The terrible beast (vv. 7–8, 17–27).
Daniel 7:7–8 (KJV 1900)
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 7:17–27 (KJV 1900)
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.
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.
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.
This beast startled Daniel because nothing like it had appeared in any of the previous revelations. It seems clear that we have here the Roman Empire, corresponding to the iron in Nebuchadnezzar’s image. But the picture seems to go beyond history into “the latter days,” because we see ten horns on the beast, and these parallel the ten toes of the image in chapter 2, the revived Roman Empire of the last days. Verses 8 and 20 both tell us that a “little horn” (ruler) will appear and defeat three of the ten kingdoms represented by the ten horns and ten toes. This little horn will then become a world ruler, the Antichrist. His mouth will speak great things, and he will persecute the saints (believing Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation period) for three and a half years (v. 25—time, times, and half a time). This is the last half of the Tribulation period, the “seventieth week” that Daniel will tell us about in chapter 9. According to vv. 11–12, the three previous kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece) will be “swallowed up” and included in this last great world empire, but the Antichrist himself will finally be judged and slain. Let’s Read Rev. 13:1–2:
Revelation 13:1–2 (KJV 1900)
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
John describes the beast (Antichrist) and uses the very same beasts we find in Dan. 7. But notice that their order is reversed. This is because Daniel was looking ahead while John was looking back.
E. The judgment (vv. 9–14, 26–28).
E. The judgment (vv. 9–14, 26–28).
Daniel 7:9–14 (KJV 1900)
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 7:26–28 (KJV 1900)
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
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.
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.
It must have shocked Daniel to see a man in heaven. He saw Jesus Christ, the glorious Son of man. Of course, God could not permit the beast to control the world. He will send His Son to judge the beast and destroy his kingdom, and then to set up His glorious kingdom, with the saints of God reigning with Him.
This prophetic panorama of the times of the Gentiles was so awesome to Daniel that he was deeply moved. He did not share the vision with anyone at the time. But later when he wrote the prophecies that bear his name, he recorded what had been revealed to him in the vision.
We cannot escape the parallels between the truths revealed to Daniel on this occasion and what was revealed to Nebuchadnezzar early in his reign (chap. 2). Both cover the span of the times of the Gentiles. Both dreams indicate that Israel and her land will be ruled over by four successive world empires. The first was Babylon, represented by the head of gold and the winged lion. The second was the Medo-Persian Empire, represented by the chest and arms of silver and the bear raised up on one side. The third was the Grecian Empire, represented by the belly and thighs of bronze and the four-headed winged leopard. The fourth was the Roman Empire, represented by the legs of iron with feet mixed with clay and by the mongrel beast. The iron-like strength of the fourth empire is seen in the iron legs (Dan 2:40) and the beast’s iron teeth (Dan 7:7). Sovereignty passed from Assyria to Babylon in 609 b.c., from Babylon to Persia in 539 b.c., from Persia to Greece in 330 b.c., and from Greece to Rome in the first-century b.c.
Toward the end of the times of the Gentiles, the worldwide authority will be exercised by one called “a little horn” who will seek to prevent Christ’s rule on the earth by destroying God’s covenant people. His short reign of seven years will be terminated by the Second Advent of Christ. At His coming, Christ will establish His millennial kingdom on earth in fulfillment of God’s covenant with Israel.
Amillennialism: the denial that an earthly millennium of universal righteousness and peace will either precede or follow the second advent of Jesus Christ
The amillenarian view that the “little horn” has already appeared sometime in the past (but since Christ’s First Advent) is wrong because:
no such ruler has attained worldwide status (Dan 7:23),
no such ruler has subdued 3 of 10 kings who were ruling at once (Dn 7:24),
no such ruler has persecuted Israel (Dan 7:21) for three and one-half years (Dan 7:25), and
no such ruler has been destroyed forever (Dan 7:26) by Christ’s return.
Nor could this “little horn” be the Roman Catholic papacy because:
the “little horn” is a king, not a pope,
the papacy’s power has not been limited to three and one-half years,
the papacy has not concentrated on persecuting the nation Israel, and
the papacy has not been destroyed by the return of Christ to the earth.
I think it’s also interesting that we have man’s view of the nations from chapter 2 (precious metals), and here we have God’s view (ferocious beasts).
In closing, I’d like to read this verse:
Psalm 49:12 (KJV 1900)
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.