Daniel lesson 4 (Chapter 7)

Tonight, I will return again to Daniel 7.

Again, let me review my first three points of “My Approach to Prophecy.”

2. Interpret things figuratively when that is the only way that will make sense.

Dan 7:1 “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.” {2} Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.

Dan 7:3 "And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

(Dan 7:17 NKJV) 'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.

{4} "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

Now as we return to Daniel 7, I will share with you a concern I have. Many agree with what I am about to say, but some I believe have good reason to disagree with who is represented by these four beasts, and I respect their views based on what they say.

While I, and many others think Babylon, one man says no, it is England. The eagles wings represent the United States, and the wings were plucked off when we declared our independence.

{5} "And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!'

A common view is that the bear is the Meado-Persian empire. The alternative is that it is Russia. Remember, the bear was the symbol of Russia.

{6} "After this I looked, and there was another, 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.

To me, and many others, this appears to be the Grecian empire. The four wings or

four heads represent the four kingdoms into which Greece was divided. This is basically the same as:

(Dan 8:8 NKJV) Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.

The other interpretation is that it is Germany with it’s Third Reich. If this is true, then we are waiting for a Fouth Reich. [The Holy Roman Empire was the first, the second was 1871 to 1918, and Hilter’s was the 3^rd. The meaning is Empire or State.]

{7} "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. {8} "I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

Here things get critical, but before we see why, who is represented by the fourth beast? I take it to be Rome. Others take it to be the United Nations.

Could both interpretations be true? Maybe. As we have said on other occasions, there are sometimes double meanings.

How do I evaluate these two interpretations? The one that follows Daniel 2 connects with the time of Daniel and gives a different light to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

The other interpretation begins far removed from Daniel’s time, but some of the symbols match better.

Both interpretations converge at the end of time. Before getting to the end of time, we need to consider the “tens.”

(Dan 2:42 NKJV) "And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.

(Dan 2:44 NKJV) "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

{7} "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, . . . It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

(Dan 7:24 NKJV) The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.

(Rev 17:12-13 NKJV) "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. {13} "These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

Dan 7:9 "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; {10} A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.

{11} "I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

Dan 7:12 "As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

{13} "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. {14} Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

{15} "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

Dan 7:16 "I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:

{17} 'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.

{18} 'But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'

{19} "Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;

We won’t deal with the ten horns in this lesson, but note the horn that is different.

{20} "and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. {21} "I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,

I take this “horn” to be the antichrist. If we had more time, we would deal in greater length with the antichrist, but note what is said about him.

{22} "until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

1. This is a future event from Daniel’s time, and with time, I think we could make it clear that it is yet future for us.

3. If not, then possessing the kingdom is something different from being a member of the church.

{23} "Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces. {24} The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.

{25} He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

{26} 'But the court shall be seated, [The Supreme Court of all Supreme Courts: Almighty God’s Court] And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. {27} Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.' -- The End!

{28} "This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart."

3. I believe he was concerned about his brethren who would suffer at the hands of this brutal man.

1. God gave it. I think He had a reason, and I respect God enough to study His word.

2. I believe if we do not live to see the end of the age that we are living with people who may.

The interpretation