Daniel 7-The Tribulation and the Times of the Gentiles from God's Perspective
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday October 7, 2007
The Day of the Lord: Daniel 7-The Tribulation and the Times of the Gentiles from God’s Perspective
Lesson # 6
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 9:24.
This morning we will continue with our study of the prophetic subject called “the Day of the Lord,” which we conduct the first Sunday of every month when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
“The Day of the Lord” is “not” a literal twenty-four period but rather is an extended period of time beginning with God’s dealing with Israel after the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation period and extending through the 2nd Advent and the millennial age unto the creation of the new heavens and the new earth.
The “Rapture” triggers the beginning of this period called the “Day of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
The Rapture is immediately followed by the Tribulation period, which is also known by students of prophecy as, “Daniel’s Seventieth Week,” which refers to a 7-year period that extends from the rapture of the church to the 2nd Advent of Christ (Daniel 9:24-27).
Daniel’s Seventieth Week is also referred to by students of prophecy as the “Great Tribulation Period” and is concerned with the nation of Israel exclusively and will be the worst period in all of Israel’s and the world’s history, which the church will be delivered from (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9).
Last month we began a study of the Tribulation Period in relation to the “Times of the Gentiles” since the former will bring an end to the latter and it will also help us to understand the first major event that will take place during the first half of the Tribulation period, namely, the rise of the revived Roman Empire under Antichrist.
In Luke 21:24, the Lord makes mention of “the times of the Gentiles,” which refers to an extended period of time when the Gentiles are the dominant world powers and Israel is subject to them.
This period extends from the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar (586 B.C.) and continues through the Tribulation (Revelation 11:2).
Last month, we studied the prophecy that appears in Daniel chapter two, which views the Times of the Gentiles from the perspective of man.
In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream we saw that the head of gold of the image of a man represented Babylon, the arms of silver represented Medo-Persia, the sides of brass represented Greece, the legs of iron represented Rome and the feet of iron and clay of the image represented the Revived Roman Empire during Daniel’s 70th Week.
This morning we will study the prophecy in Daniel chapter seven, which views the Times of the Gentiles from God’s perspective.
These two prophecies will also reveal that there will be a revived form of the Roman Empire during the Tribulation period under Antichrist, which will be destroyed by the Second Advent of Jesus Christ.
Daniel 7:1-4, “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it. Daniel said, ‘I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven (symbolic of God’s sovereign power) were stirring up the great sea (symbolic of mass of unregenerate humanity enslaved to sin and Satan). And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion (symbolizes power and strength and royal power, king of the beasts; 1 Kings 10;20; 2 Chronicles 9:19) and had the wings of an eagle (speaks of swiftness; king of the birds; Ezekiel 17:3, 7). I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it.”
The first empire symbolizes Babylon since the first beast corresponds to the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter two, which Daniel identified as being Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon (See Daniel 2:37-38).
Further confirmation comes from history itself since both the lion and the eagle were both national symbols of Babylon (See Jeremiah 4:7, 13; Ezekiel 17:3).
The fact that this first beast was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and was given a human mind indicates that this refers to the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar after being humbled by God (Daniel 4).
Daniel 7:5, “And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’”
The bear symbolizes Medo-Persian since she conquered Babylon and corresponds to the arms of silver in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter two.
The fact that the bear was raised up on one side refers to the one-side merging of the Median and Persian empires in that over time Persia became more dominant over Media (Daniel 10:13).
The three ribs in the mouth of the bear represent the kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria and Babylon, which had preceded the empire, represented by the bear and were conquered by Medo-Persian Empire.
Daniel 7:6, “After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.”
The leopard represents Greece since it corresponds to the sides of brass in Nebuchadnezzar’s image in Daniel chapter two and was noted for its speed and cunning in attacking its prey, which characterized Alexander the Great’s conquests that were without precedent in the ancient world.
The four wings on this leopard emphasizes a speed beyond its capacity, which characterized Alexander the Great’s lightening fast conquest of the civilized world from Macedonia to Africa and eastward to India.
The four heads depict the four-fold division of Alexander’s empire after his death between four of his generals (Daniel 8:8, 22).
Daniel 7:7, “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.”
The fourth beast if you notice is not likened to some known animal but rather is simply called a beast and was more terrifying and powerful than the three preceding beasts and devoured, crushed and trampled down the other beasts, which characterized the Roman Empire.
Also, further confirming that the fourth beast represents the Roman Empire is that it corresponds to the legs of iron in the image that appeared in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter two, which we noted represented the Roman Empire.
Now, we must remember that the four beasts in Daniel chapter seven correspond exactly to the four metals in the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in Daniel chapter two.
Image in Daniel 2 Four Beasts in Daniel 7 Nations Designated
Head of Gold Lion Babylon
Arms of Silver Bear Medo-Persia
Sides of Brass Leopard Greece
Legs of Iron Beast with Iron Teeth Rome
Daniel describes this fourth beast as having ten horns, which corresponds to the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s image in Daniel chapter two that referred to the Revived Roman Empire that will consist of a ten nation confederation during Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
The ten horns do not represent a fifth kingdom but rather they grow out of the head of the fourth kingdom and are the last development of the beast, which corresponds to the ten toes on the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter two.
Daniel 7:8-10, “While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, and the books were opened.”
In Daniel 7:8-10, we have the vision of the Ancient of Days, God the Father in heaven just preceding the final destruction of Gentile world power and the Antichrist and the establishment of His millennial reign, which will take place at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ.
The Second Advent is the visible return of Christ to planet earth with the elect angels and the Church in order to save the nation of Israel from her enemies and establish His 1000-year millennial reign resulting in the fulfillment of the 4 unconditional covenants to Israel.
At that time, the Lord and His armies will orbit the earth before landing on the Mount of Olives, which was the site of His Ascension (Acts. 1:9-11).
There will be a great earthquake when our Lord’s foot touches the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:1-8) and will be a unique day having neither day nor night (Zech. 14:7).
Daniel 7:11-12, “Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.”
The little horn refers to the Antichrist since it is identified with the Revived Roman Empire and in Daniel 7:19-26, he is described as waging war against God’s people up to the time of the Second Advent of Christ, which corresponds to the depiction of the antichrist in Revelation (Daniel 7:11, 20-26; 8:25; Revelation 13:1-10; 19:20).
Daniel 7:13, “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven (Reference to the revelation of Christ’s deity; Exodus 13:21-22; 19:9; 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 19:1; Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26) one like a Son of Man (Title for human nature of Jesus Christ; Matthew 24:30; Mark 26:64; Luke 5:24; 6:5; John 1:51) was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.”
The expression “one like a Son of Man was coming and He came up to the Ancient of Days” is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 4:10; Hebrews 4:14; 9:24) and session (Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:3) at the right hand of the Father 40 days after His resurrection.
Daniel 7:14-25, “And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates. I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time (one year), times (two years), and half a time (6 months).’”
The expression “for a time, times, and a half time” refers to the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week, which equals the 1,260 days in Revelation 12:6 and the 42 months in Revelation 11:2 and 13:5.
Daniel 7:26-28, “But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
Therefore, we can see that toward the end of the Times of the Gentiles, a one world government under a tyrannical dictator will emerge from a ten nation confederacy.
This confederacy will emerge out of the old Roman Empire and thus will be a European confederacy.
This ten-nation confederacy that will take place in the future will be a revived form of the Roman Empire since it is portrayed in Daniel 2 and 7 as emerging from the fourth kingdom, Rome.
This leads us to the communion service and so therefore, could we have the deacons pass out the communion elements and let us take a few minutes to meditate upon the Lord and prepare ourselves for the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper is a commandment given by the Lord Jesus Christ to every church age believer to bring into remembrance His Unique Person and Finished Work on the Cross, both of which serve as the basis for fellowship with God and each other as members of the Body of Christ.
In the communion service, the bread portrays the sinless humanity of Christ, which was sacrificed for us and the wine portrays His spiritual death as our Substitute, both of which serve as the basis for fellowship with God and each other.
Luke 22:14, “When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.”
Luke 22:15-16, “And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’”
Luke 22:17-18, “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.’”
Luke 22:19, “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’”
Luke 22:20, “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’”