The day of judgment is still future and has not yet been fulfilled. It seems that three of the kings try to resist him and he overthrows them by force. 2 Daniel said, I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C., some 9 years before Belshazzars reign began. Daniel approached one of theses angels and began to ask him to explain to him the meaning or the truth concerning all that he had seen in his visions. Agreeing with God that they are sinners but believing that Jesus Christ death paid the penalty for their sin, that He was buried, and rose from the dead three days later triumphant over sin, Satan, and death forever. Who are these saints that the angel is speaking of? In his vision, the statue collapsed and disappeared, because a mysterious stone struck it at its feet. (1) The troubling dream. Children need to know that as believers, we are on the winning team and God wins in the end. Yet, his emotional response was valid and changed little after the vision was explained more fully. And they did! (Numbers 23:19). As the saints suffer at the hands of the wicked, it may appear all hope is lost. The saints must believe and behave according to what God has promised about the future the righteous will possess the kingdom of God forever. The first of Daniel's four beasts is "like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle" ( Daniel 7:4 ). Belshazzar came to power several years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar and seems to have turned completely away from the God of Israel. Prophecy is revealed to men to change their perspective, to urge them to see things as God sees them rather than as they appear to the human eye. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. With the commencement of Belshazzars co-regency may have come not only a rejection of the Jewish faith and worship, but a new wave of persecution directed toward it. 79 Compare Jeremiah 49:14-22, 28, where Nebuchadnezzar is compared to a lion and an eagle. So, I began the review by looking at the first 14 verses where Daniel gives us a summary of the visions he had as he dreamed in his sleep. As Daniel watches, "four great beasts," each different from the others, emerge from the dark waters (verse 3). The fulfillment of the prophecy of Belshazzars demise underscores the certainty of the fulfillment of Daniels vision in the last days. Daniel writes that at this point the revelation was ended. Prophecy greatly benefits the Christian because it enables him to see things from the bigger and broader perspectivefrom Gods perspectiveso that when he suffers, he knows it is but a part of the process of getting to glory. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. Daniel, a godly prophet and a man of unshakable faith, has been steadfast in his daily walk of fellowship with God throughout the first six chapters of the Book of Daniel. He will abolish all the religious holidays and seek to abolish Gods law in an attempt to destroy the Jewish people. That was bad enough, from the religious leaders perspective, but the way in which He answered them was the last straw. The reign of Belshazzar was, in some measure, a foretaste of what was yet to come in full measure during the reign of the fourth beast, especially of the eleventh horn. Jesus quoted the words of Daniel 7:13. 13 I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.77 14 And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. Daniel's prophecy was one of hope. The three ribs may also represent the kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon which preceded the Medo-Persian empire and then fell to them. Through the vision of a magnificent, awe-inspiring statue, God reveals the future for Gentile kings and their kingdoms. These were represented by the image of a statue. 4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. The stone cut out of the mountain represented the kingdom of God that would fill the earth. Those of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, and Darius all agree with the prophecy of Daniel 7. (2) The prophecies of Daniel must be understood in relationship to and in light of the other prophecies of Daniel. Daniels response to the vision was far from assuring or calming. The prophecies of Daniel 7 speak of a future day of reckoning, foreshadowed by the actions of Belshazzar and the judgment of God on him and his kingdom. We do not act on what we see so much as on what God has said. The second and third beasts are briefly described in verses 5 and 6. Daniel obtaining some respite finds the dream. - As for these four children, God gave them knewledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.Or, as the words might be more accurately rendered, "these lads, the four of them" (Ezekiel 1:8-10).This indicates that somehow they were separated off into a quaternion. Those who populate the earth after the tribulation will give their allegiance to Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Through the ages, the saints have learned that they must wait for the promises of God to be fulfilled and that this may not happen in their lifetime (see Hebrews 11:13-16, 39-40). And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:13, NASB95)[5] The more we know about the future the more are hearts should be moved to practical preparation. King Nebuchadnezzar died apparently nine years before Belshazzar came to power. Daniels response is testimony to this reality. The eleventh horn may hope to change the time, but in Gods plan this king is granted a time, times, and half a time three and a half years to oppose and oppress the saints. We dare not ignore that which is revealed nor do we dare go too far afield in speculating about what is concealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29; 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23). In Daniel's dream the Medo-Persian empire and it king Cyrus was represented by the bear. At this point the revelation ended. I believe some in Babylon, like their king, came to a genuine faith in God. Subsequent revelations in the Book of Daniel which Daniel received were closely associated with some kind of agony or distress (see 8:17, 27; 9:20-21; 10:2-3, 7-10, 17; 12:8). When the iniquity of the blasphemous horn reaches full bloom and his appointed time to rule is fulfilled, God will destroy him, casting his body into the fire. As we consider what we have just learned from Daniels dream and as we look at Daniels response to his dream and the interpretation of it; this should indicate to us that the more we know about the future, the more our hearts should be moved to personal purity. (4) Suffering is to be expected by the saints, before they enter into the glorious kingdom of God. The last kingdom has at least eleven kings. So it was for our Lord (1 Peter 1:10-12), and so it will be for us. It is explained in a way that children can understand, describing his feeling as butterfly's in his tummy.Daniel's Dream takes you on an uplifting adventure with wonderfully expressivedescriptions of the characters, perfectly capturing bodylanguage and . His thoughts alarm him, and his face pales. He couldn't sleep. 9 If any one has an ear, let him hear. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. 12 and he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. From Daniel 2:4b to the end of chapter 7, the original text was written in Aramaic (the language of Babylon in that day). Suffering is an inseparable part of the process which leads to glory. Chapter 7 moves from the historical accounts of Daniel and his three friends to the prophetic revelations received by Daniel in the last half of the Book.76 The following chart may help us visualize the relationship of Daniels prophecies to the historical setting in which they were revealed: The first prophetic revelation is found in Daniel 2. Neither peer opposition nor the king's new law (chapter 6) greatly disturbed Daniel. In the latter days, an unusually powerful and evil king will arise, who will blaspheme God and oppress the people of God. As Daniel watches, the wings are torn off the beast, and the creature stands erect like a man and a human mind is given to it. Neither is prophecy written to make us happy or to feel good. Many Old Testament prophets shared Daniels distress as a result of the prophecies they received and often conveyed to others.74 Why does the prophecy of Daniel 7 cause this godly man so much consternation? They are far from pleasant but an unavoidable part of the process. There is fairly strong inferential evidence that Nebuchadnezzar was represented by the first beast, the winged lion. That dream was read as our Scripture reading this morning. The angel goes on to describe what the Antichrist will do: He will speak out against the Most High, he will be boastful and arrogant, he will deny that the Most High is God, he will deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. A person should not take credit for what God does through him. Because Daniel possessed wisdom bestowed by God and was conscientious in his work, he not only prospered during the reigns of successive rulers, but King Darius planned to put him in charge of the entire kingdom. These saints are the believing Jews of the tribulation, not the believers of the Church Age. 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! 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. Episode 5 of "How I Met Your Father" Season 2 tested the friendships of everyone in the group. The boastful beast becomes even more aggressive, waging war with the saints and even overpowering them. Two weeks ago, after studying Revelation 13 and seeing how much it relates to Daniel 7 I decided we needed to go back and review Daniel 7 which we have not looked at since 2011. Belshazzars rise to power and ascent to the throne seems to have inaugurated a new age for Babylon. The account of the writing on the wall and the death of Belshazzar (obviously the last year of his reign) is found in Daniel 5. Alexandra was also intrigued by the profession Spencer was in, which made her want to spend more time with him. Daniel was given several prophetic dreams & visions; and in the seventh chapter of his writings, he records his dream of the Four Beasts, and the interpretation thereof given by an angel.This vision demonstrates the succession of kingdoms and is the very framework of all prophesy regarding the violent opposition against the Kingdom of God - waged by the Kingdom of Satan, who is allowed to . 21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 22 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. 2 Peter 3:8-9, But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. He could not figure out what the dream meant, so he wanted his advisors to explain it to him. International Standard Version so Daniel went to ask Nebuchadnezzar for an appointment to see him , and it was granted him so that he could reveal the meaning to the king. According to verse 1, the written record of the revelation Daniel received in his first night vision is but a summary of the prophecy he received. The ten horns, Daniel is told, represent ten kings who will emerge out of the fourth kingdom. They believed that the Messiah would come to establish the kingdom, to bless the Jews and to condemn the Gentiles. We must approach prophecy with fear and reverence. Peter reminds us of Gods patience, but His patience has a determined end. 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. If you remember from two weeks ago the bear was raised up on one side, this was to indicate that one part of this united kingdom overshadowed the other portion. Chapter 7 - In the first vision Daniel sees the same kingdoms, but this time he sees them as beasts. The implication here is that this is a repeated dream, one that is . Prophecy reveals that which we would not and could not expect apart from divine revelation. (3) The finest commentary on the prophecy of Daniel 7 comes from our Lord Himself. Before the coming of Christ, who would? Many others may have reluctantly professed or actually adopted the Jewish religion. May the Spirit of God reveal the meaning of this prophecy to us and produce in us that which God desires to His glory and our good. How interesting! Our study of this chapter will isolate what troubled Daniel about the future. These beasts, each different from the other, are described in verses 4-7. First, the prophecies of Daniel are divinely inspired and revealed, and thus they are true and reliable. He not only speaks against the Most High, he oppresses the saints. (3) What principles should guide and govern our attempt to interpret the prophecy of this chapter? The prophecy of Daniel 7 nevertheless had great relevance and application to those in Daniels day. It is virtually the opposite of the term beast. The expression, Son of man, is not new to Daniel. Liberals reject all prophecies, because they require a sovereign God and a miraculous revelation of future events. 80 During my school teaching days, I tried to make my students think I had eyes in the back of my head so that no matter what they did--even if my back was turned--they could not escape my all-seeing eyes or my discipline. While most of those in this kingdom may not have had a true conversion, at least they tolerated the Jewish faith as the religion of the state. 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. She makes it clear in a rather public fashion that she finds him desirable. What it does not destroy or consume with its teeth, it crushes under foot, much like a bull in a china shop. Suffering and glory are a part of one work. (1) Prophecy is necessary because God has chosen to settle His accounts with men slowly. As we shall show later, the content of the prophecy of Daniel 7 is very closely related to the reign of Belshazzar. His final offspring, so to speak, is the little horn which becomes the great blasphemer, whose life and kingdom is suddenly cut off by the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. 8 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. The words of Daniel which applied to the beasts now found application to them. The revelation of the writing on the banquet hall wall, already described in chapter 5, actually happened later, on the last day of Belshazzars life. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. The next portion of the statue in Daniel 2 was the chest and arms of silver which represented the Medo-Persian Empire which was even larger than the Babylonian empire. What is it that these men are testifying against You? 63 But Jesus kept silent. The three ribs in the bears mouth between its teeth most likely represent Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia, three empires conquered by the Medo-Persian empire. In the verses following our lesson text, the vision is explained (Daniel 7:21-27). 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. In spite of these kings, the saints of the Highest One will possess the eternal kingdom forever and ever. The Son of Man was also Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). 27 Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. The transfiguration of our Lord was but a foretaste of His coming glorious kingdom (16:28). By far, this first beast is the best of a bad bunch. In Daniels dream the Roman empire was represented by such a terrible beast that Daniel could name no animal which fit its description. We are not to base our thinking and actions on circumstances, but upon the Scriptures. He was at ease when he received the vision, and then he became fearful, and his mind alarmed him (4:4-5). The Old Testament prophet did not see the gap because he viewed the coming of Christ as God does. 31-35). Before the kingdom of God is established on the earth, four earthly kingdoms will rise and fall. The expression, son of man, is not new to Daniel nor to the Jews of his day. The vision plays on before Daniel, almost as though in answer to his desire to know more. I have heard a number of attempts to explain the gaps in Old Testament prophecy. Our attention should be given to what is clearly and emphatically said. Note that the description of the beasts is written in prose, while the description of the heavenly court in verses 9-10 and of the Son of Man in verses 13-14 is written in poetry form. With the death of Nebuchadnezzar comes a change in the peoples attitudes, especially their leaders toward Judaism. All nations of the earth will serve and live under the peaceful rule of the Son of Man and the people of Israel will receive their promised inheritance in the land of Israel, restored Israel. It is significant for us to note Daniels reaction to this revelation from God. Note these general observations about our passage before we turn to a more detailed study. He had endured the training of the Chaldeans and he had lived his life in the service of a foreign king, at first the foreign king who had overthrown his country. 9:1; 12:1, AV, RV), and the book of Daniel insists here and in subsequent chapters (8:27; 10:1, 10, 11, 15, 18) on the anxiety and psychological turmoil involved in receiving, even at Gods hand, understanding of the future course of history. Joyce C. Baldwin, Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1978), p. 143. Interpretations of Daniels prophecies differ widely.
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