Daniel 7
-Chapter seven begins the more prophetic part of the book as
the text goes back in time from the previous chapter to relate a dream that
Daniel was given during the first year of the reign of Belshazzar, king of
Babylon and son of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel received the vision on his bed, then
he wrote it down and related the summary of it as a foretelling of what was to
come. He received the interpretation to some degree, but the thoughts of his
mind as God was downloading alarmed him greatly in caused him distress (Daniel
7:15, 28). His vision began with the four winds of heaven stirring up the great
sea (Mediterranean Sea). Four beasts were coming up from the sea, all different
from one another. The first was Babylon. It was like a lion and had the wings
of an eagle (see http://amazingdiscoveries.org/S-deception_end-time_Antichrist_lion_wings
). Daniel kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it stood on two feet
like a man with a human mind. Another beast appeared resembling a bear. This
represented the Medio-Persian Empire that ravaged the lion in history. The
three ribs in its mouth between its teeth were the three major enemies they
defeated in their conquest. As Daniel kept looking, another beast jumped onto
the scene like a leopard having four wings of a bird and four heads with
dominion given to it. This was fulfilled without a doubt in the Greek Empire
with the swift conquering of the known world under Alexander the Great who died
young leaving the kingdom divided in four parts. The forth beast was the
scariest, dreadful and terrifying, as Daniel described his vision. This was the
Roman Empire, which was extremely strong in its ruthless rule over all
opponents. The mystery then presented in the prophecy involves the ten horns,
supposedly representing future kings, or rulers, associated in some way with
this beast of an empire. While Daniel himself was contemplating the horns,
another little horn began to arise among them and it pulled out from the root
three of the first horns. This “little horn” has been commonly associated with
the Anti-Christ possessing eyes like the eyes of man (sinful) and a mouth
uttering great boasts (prideful, Daniel 7:1-8).
-As Daniel kept looking on in his vision, thrones were set
up and the Ancient of Days (God) took His seat. He is described as having a
vesture (covering garment) like white snow and the hair He had was like pure
wool. His throne was ablaze with flames with wheels as a burning fire. In fact,
a river of fire was flowing and coming out before Him. This represents His
judgment facets typically in Scripture (Genesis 19:24, Deuteronomy 32:22, 1
Kings 18:24, 38-39, Isaiah 66:16, Jeremiah 34:2, Zephaniah 1:18, Malachi 3:2, Matthew
3:11-12; 13:40-42, Revelation 20:12-15, and many more). Thousands upon
thousands were attending to Him and myriads upon myriads were standing before
Him as the books were opened. The “little horn,” still blaspheming with
arrogant and boastful words, was then slain with body destroyed and given to
the burning fire. The rest of the beasts had their dominion taken away, but an
extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time (Daniel
7:9-12).
-Then, the Majestic Son of Man, the Messiah, was coming with
the clouds of heaven and presented to the Ancient of Days (the Father). “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 (Daniel
7:13-14).”
-Daniel approached one of those who were standing by (an
angel) and inquired what all this meant. The angelic being stated, “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 (Daniel 7:16-18).” Daniel did further
investigation into the forth beast because of its diversity and exceeding power
along with the ten horns and especially the “little horn” because it boasted
against the Holy One becoming larger than his associates. As Daniel kept
looking, “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 (Daniel 7:20-22).” The angel further noted the devouring and treading
down qualities on this forth worldly empire that wear down the saints. This “little
horn,” or Anti-Christ as we know him later, “will intend to make alterations in
times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and
half a time (Daniel 7:23-25).” This is no doubt the second half of the tribulation
discussed in other parts of prophetic Scripture known as the Great Tribulation,
which lasts 3 ½ years (Daniel 12:7, Matthew 24:14-22, Revelation 12:14). “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 (Daniel 7:26-27).”
-*Application* After all is said and done in this drama on earth,
the saints of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, will reign supreme with Him in
complete obedience and worship. What a day it will be when our journey is complete
and we can rest in euphoric victory. While we, like Daniel, can get perplexed,
alarmed, and worn down at the current world situation, we can always be confident in the fact that
our God is sovereign and the ultimate conqueror! And His Kingdom is everlasting!
Verses to Memorize:
Daniel 7:17-18
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