Daniel s Dream of Four Beasts. Daniel 7:1-28

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1 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell Daniel s Dream of Four Beasts Daniel 7:1-28

2 2 Daniel s Dream of Four Beasts Text: Daniel 7:1-28, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

3 3 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. 15. I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 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.

4 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. 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.

5 5 The Interpretation -Daniel 7:1-3 is introductory to the image, a panoramic view; this is what Daniel saw. -Daniel 7:4-8 and are the images he saw detailed from 7:3. These fantastic and frightening images seem unaccountable. -But, at the right time, the court will be seated and Daniel 7:9-10, reflects this encompassing the whole vision. -Daniel 7:15-28 is a further detail of the destruction of each beast and especially the 4 th beast. I. Daniel s Vision of the Four Beasts. A. The time of Daniel s dream. 1. Daniel 7:1, 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. Belshazzar became/was co-regent with his father (Nabonidus) two years after Nabonidus assumed the throne (Turner, p. 101). 3. About 549 B.C. B. The beasts from the sea and their defeat. 1. Daniel 7:2-8, 11-12, Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof

6 6 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 2. Four winds stirring up the great sea. In the interpretation of these creatures, it is important to note that the nation/empire is not identified. The historical interpretation as given here is that advocated by many expositors, including Jewish commentators(jsb, p. 1656). The JSB breaks the recognized historical empire of the Medes & Persians into two kingdoms (Bear = Medes and Leopard = Persians, with the last beast being Alexander s empire). This cannot hold up under scrutiny.

7 7 a. The lion with eagle s wings: king of the beasts and king of the birds (Hailey, p. 131). II. Babylon: described as a head of gold (Daniel 2:18) and a lion with eagle s wings. In Jeremiah 4:7; 5:6; 48:20; 49:19, 22: and Ezekiel 17:3, 12, Nebuchadnezzar and/or Babylon is referred to with similar language. A. Daniel 2:38, 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. B. Jeremiah 4:7, The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste without an inhabitant. C. Jeremiah 5:6, Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased. D. Jeremiah 48:20, Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled. E. Jeremiah 49:19, 22, Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? For who is like me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

8 8 G. Ezekiel 17:3, 12, And say, Thus saith the Lord God; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? Tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon; III. Wings plucked off. The obvious and proper meaning of this symbol is, that there was some check put to the progress of the conqueror as there would be to an eagle by plucking off the feathers from his wings; that is, the rapidity of his conquests would cease (Barnes, E-Sword). IV. Bear. A. Made to stand like a man with a man s heart. 1. The general thought is that Nebuchadnezzar was a changed man; as he had his wings clipped, he became an ordinary ruler at the end of his reign (cf. Hailey). A. The Medo-Persian Empire: chest and arms of silver; inferior to Babylon (Jonah 2:39), but one like a bear. 1. Daniel 2:39, And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. V. Came up suddenly. Babylon fell in one night (Daniel 5:30-31). A. Daniel 5:30, 31, In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

9 9 VI. It had three ribs in its mouth and devoured much flesh. There is general agreement on what the three ribs might mean (Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt), but no certainty. However, one might consider Daniel 8:4 and note the three directions. The Medo-Persian empire was larger in extent (size) than either Babylon or the Grecian Empire. A. Daniel 8:4, I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. B. Leopard with four wings of a bird and four heads. 1. The Grecian Empire of Alexander the Great. Belly and thighs of bronze/brass and it shall rule over all the earth (Daniel 2:39). a. Daniel 2:39, And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 2. The wings coupled with the kind of animal described would suggest speech even greater than that of an eagle or lion. 3. The four heads represent four generals under Alexander the Great. C. The fourth beast has no likeness from the animal kingdom. 1. The Roman Empire. a. Legs of iron and feet part iron and part clay (Daniel 2:40-43).

10 10 i. Daniel 2:40-43, And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be init of the strength of the iron forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. b. It had ten toes (presumably) and ten horns. c. Daniel does not tell us there is any significance to the ten toes, but he is told the ten horns represent ten kings (Daniel 7:24). 1. Daniel 7:24, 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. 2. It was dreadful and terrible. a. Its legs of iron crushed others; its feet, part iron and part clay, was divided. i. Daniel 2:40-42, And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces

11 11 and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be init of the strength of the iron forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. b. It was strong, had huge iron teeth and it devoured, broke and trampled the residue. c. After the ten horns, one pompous horn came with the eyes of a man speaking proudly. He shall subdue three kings and persecute the saints of the Most High. d. The beast from which the ten horns and the one pompous horn came was slain. 3. Rome reduplicated within itself many of the characteristics of the earlier empires, and it lasted longer than those three put together (Wood. P. 94). VII. The dominion of the four beasts was taken away. A. The horn was speaking pompous words. 1. The beast was slain.

12 The body destroyed and given to the flames; it was completely destroyed! 3. If the little horn speaking pompous words came from the beast and the beast was slain, then the little horn speaking pompous words was slain as well. B. The rest of the beasts had dominion taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season. 1. As one reads it, the natural inclination is to interpret it as if they still existed, but in an inferior state. McGuiggan thinks they lived on in Rome (cf. Revelation 13). a. Revelation 13:1-18, 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. 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. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed; and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And

13 13 all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. 2. Their existence as a nation/empire, to whatever degree, was determined by God no man knoweth! VIII. The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man.

14 14 A. Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, 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. 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. 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. 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. B. Revelation 4:1-11, After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come in hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the thorne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third best had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of

15 15 eyes within; and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne who liveth for ever and ever. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever an ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. C. Revelation 5:1-14, And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten

16 16 thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. D. Description of the Ancient of Days. 1. His garment was as white as snow signifying purity. 2. His hair like pure wool. Psalm 90:2; 102:24 a. Psalm 90:2, Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. b. Psalm 102:24, I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days; thy years are throughout all generations 3. His throne a fiery flame Psalm 97:3; 104:4 a. Psalm 97:3, A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. b. Psalm 104:4, Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 4. Thousands upon thousands (angels) stood before Him and served Him.

17 The court was seated. a. Whatever evil there is in this world, court will be seated and that evil must answer to the Holy One. b. There is no time indicator here. E. Activity of the Son of Man. Important: our Lord ASCENDED to heaven, he did not DECEND as premillennial ideology asserts. 1. Came with the clouds of heaven. His ascension back to the Father. Acts 1:9-11. a. Acts 1:9-11, And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 2. Came to the Ancient of Days in heaven. 3. Authority was given Him and the kingdom. Both are everlasting. Mark 16:19; 1 Corinthians 15: a. Mark 16:19, So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. b. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all

18 18 authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 4. All people served Him. Matthew 28:18. a. Matthew 28:18, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. IX. Explanation of the dream given to Daniel. A. Daniel 7:15-27, I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 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; 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. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 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. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all

19 19 kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 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. 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. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 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. A. Daniel was greatly troubled by what he saw. B. The four great beasts are four kingdoms. 1. The truth about the fourth beast is that it is a fourth kingdom, different and greater than the previous kingdoms. 2. It was powerful and destroyed with its feet. 3. Ten horns on its head are ten kings that will rise from within this one kingdom. a. According to the ISBE (E-Sword), the number ten is a rounded total whether large or small. b. If this is the case, then a literal ten may not be the point of the image. c. On the other hand, whether 10 and 1 are understood literally or not, we need to be mindful

20 20 the 4 beasts do represent 4 kingdoms (the Lord said so) and if the Lord said 10 horns represent 10 kings we ought to be careful about making 10 figurative. 4. One horn that came up was different and shall subdue three kings. a. Many have identified this one little horn to be Domitian, Vespasian, the popes and Roman Catholicism, and the antichrist of 2 Thessalonians 2. b. (The pre-millennial scheme of the antichrist cannot work here because, again, there has to be an insertion of a time-gap somewhere and nothing in the text justifies that.) c. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, or by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:

21 21 only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 4. The one horn was making war against the saints with a pompous attitude and was seeking to change times and law. a. McGuiggan wrote the little horn arrogated divine authority for himself because only God can

22 22 change times and law (cf. Daniel 2:21). This is the safest interpretation. b. Daniel 2:21, And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 6. The Ancient of Days came, the court was seated, and judgment was made. C. In Daniel 7:18, Daniel is told the saints will receive the Kingdom of the Most High. 1. Daniel 7:18, But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 2. The saints shall receive a kingdom that will last forever. 3. In this verse, however, there is no indication concerning when that would occur. 4. This corresponds to the image of Daniel 2, particularly 2:44-45, though specifically, we are not told a time except to say in the days of these kings (Daniel 2:44). 5. Daniel 2:44, 45, And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain

23 23 without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. X. The end of the dream/vision with its explanation. Daniel 7:28. A. Daniel 7:28, 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.

24 24 Questions Daniel 7:1-28 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. Where in the book of Daniel did the events of chapter 7 occur chronologically? If arranged in the order things happened, where would chapter 7 be placed in the book of Daniel? 2. Daniel in his vision saw the of up the. came up out of the. 3. Describe the first beast. 4. Describe the second beast. 5. Describe the third beast.

25 Describe the fourth beast. 7. Describe the horns of Daniel 7:7, 8 and relate what they did. 8. Describe the Ancient of Days and his surroundings. Who is the Ancient of Days? 9. What happened to the beasts?

26 One like a Son of Man approached the Ancient of Days. What was said and done then? 11. Exactly who gave Daniel the true interpretation of the visions? 12. What did the first beast represent? Be specific. Which kingdom was foretold? 13. What did the second beast represent? Be specific. Which kingdom was foretold? 14. What did the third beast represent? Be specific. Which kingdom was foretold?

27 What did the fourth beast represent? Be specific. Which kingdom was foretold? 16. Exactly what is represented by the ten horns? Be specific. 17. Exactly what is represented by the other horn? Be specific. What did the other horn do? 18. When and how did the Ancient of Days intervene? What were the results of this intervention?

28 Identify the king which would arise after the ten kings and state what he did. 20. How long is a time?... times?...half a time?. 21. When and how did the court completely destroy this kingdom? 22. Then the, and of the under the whole will be handed over to the, the people of the Most High. His will be an, and all will and him. 23. When did, will this occur? What is the kingdom of the Most High?_ 24. How did these visions affect Daniel? Whom did he tell about his visions? How did you learn about them?

29 What things caused the people of whom we have read in the book of Daniel to fear? What scares you?