Daniels dream here in chapter 7 and Nebuchadnezzars dream in chapter 2 are one and the same dream with additional details added to Daniels dream. What is it that these men are testifying against You? 63 But Jesus kept silent. Daniel writes that at this point the revelation was ended. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. It was said ( ch. Daniel uses the expression Son of man twice. Then He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you! (Ezekiel 2:1). 18 But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. 19 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, 20 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. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:1352, [4]LaHaye, Tim and Hindson, Ed., editors, The Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary. to revoke its approval of the two main drugs used for medication abortion in the United States. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him? 5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 4:19; Ezk. The entire empire was conquered between 334 and 330 B.C., just four years. Through the vision of a magnificent, awe-inspiring statue, God reveals the future for Gentile kings and their kingdoms. (9) The interpretation of Daniels vision comes in two parts, beginning with a general interpretation and then a more specific one based on Daniels questions. Belshazzar came to power several years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar and seems to have turned completely away from the God of Israel. Chapter 7 reveals in broad terms what the future holds. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: The saints (believing Jews when Christ return to earth) will enjoy the kingdom, the fulfillment of Gods promise to Israel.[3] The Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary states that these saints might also include the resurrected Old Testament saints, the martyred tribulation saints, and the tribulation saints who survive the tribulation. So the king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you." We are told the Old Testament prophet could not see the distance between the first and the second coming of our Lord, just as one cannot see the distance between two mountains, when viewed from afar. Not only was he greatly alarmed and physically sick, but he says he also kept the matter to himself. In more detail, the outline would be as follows: (2) The Divine Interpretation verses 15-28. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him." Prophecy is not revealed in a historical vacuum. The Ancient of Days is a designation for God, not found elsewhere in the Bible. Children need to know that as believers, we are on the winning team and God wins in the end. The words of Daniel which applied to the beasts now found application to them. 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. The wrenching off of the wings and the transformation of the lion, making him stand on two legs and giving him the mind of a man was a picture of God humbling Nebuchadnezzar and then restoring him to his right mind, you can read about this in Daniel 4. The lesson was prepared for older students. Nebuchadnezzar was the first ruler of Babylon to have contact with Daniel. He surpasses those before him by speaking boastfully, then blaspheming, and finally seeking to overthrow Gods order. In Daniels dream the Roman empire was represented by such a terrible beast that Daniel could name no animal which fit its description. The other seven will then likely submit out of fear or a sense of the unavoidable consequences of resisting represented by this little horn growing larger than the seven. 1. He distinguishes himself by his ability to overcome the whole earth, crushing it under foot. Choosing his words tactfully, Daniel asks Arioch why the king has made such a decree. What so upset Daniel about the future? During the times of the Gentiles four empires, Daniel was told, would rise and rule over the land and people of Israel. Prophecy is always practical and relevant to the person(s) receiving it. The kingdom of God will be established and the saints will possess it forever. This chapter is a history, but it is the history of a prophecy, by a dream and the interpretation . (8) Is there any relationship between Nebuchadnezzars dream in chapter 2 and Daniels dream in chapter 7? These horns are also kings, from whom kingdoms arise (verse 24). 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. In those days, as in our own, there are always those are too quick to conclude that the kingdom of God has come (see Matthew 24:4, 6, 8, 24-28; 2 Thessalonians 2:1ff.). The vision recorded in chapter 8 took place in the third year of Belshazzar. Prophecy becomes necessary from time to time to remind men of those things God has planned for the future which He will surely fulfill. Then the kingdoms of the earth, the sovereignty, the dominion, the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heavens, in other words, the whole world will be given to the saints of the Highest One and the Highest One, Jesus Christ, will rule and it will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. 77 According to Baldwin, This verse [13] has been the subject of more scholarly papers than any other in the book, so indicating its centrality, not only for Daniel but for the New Testament also. Baldwin, p. 142. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 states, For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:910, NASB95)[6] Finally, the more we know about the future, the more our hearts should be moved to prayerful petition for those who will face the judgment of God if they do not turn in faith to Jesus Christ. Just what this means is unclear, but it suggests this arrogant king not only speaks against God, but, like Satan, he aspires to change the order God has established. They believed that the Messiah would come to establish the kingdom, to bless the Jews and to condemn the Gentiles. The vision comes to Daniel in Belshazzars first year.78 A subsequent and related vision comes to him in this kings third year (see 8:1). God will establish His kingdom, and that kingdom, unlike the kingdoms of men, is eternal. The second and third beasts are briefly described in verses 5 and 6. What God says, He will do. What God determined to reveal to Daniel should be enough for us. And they did! During this ten-nation confederation another ruler will rise as described by the little horn. 9 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. Would this horn Daniels vision revealed oppose the people of God and even blaspheme God Himself? Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Prophets: Daniel 2:16 Daniel went in and desired (Dan. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. When the Lord Jesus came to the earth, He often referred to Himself as the Son of Man, gradually making it clear that He was the Messiah who was God incarnate. 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. When Jesus came, He embraced this expression as a designation for Himself, giving the term meaning vastly beyond that previously held by any Jew. We are not of night nor o darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. Consequently, it is little wonder that in the events recorded in Daniel 5, Belshazzar was ignorant of Daniel and the abilities God had given him. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, [2]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. in 1971. This was when his life took a sharp turn. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not to base our thinking and actions on circumstances, but upon the Scriptures. (10) What effect did the vision have on Daniel, and why? Daniel 2:24-49 New International Version Daniel Interprets the Dream 24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. 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. Just so, Christs suffering and glory is but a part of one coming. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. He had lived through the overthrow of his people, his nation, and his hometown by a foreign power, he had been torn from his family and carried off into captivity. 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. 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. 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. (3) What principles should guide and govern our attempt to interpret the prophecy of this chapter? If taken seriously, we will find the future sobering as well. A Vision of Judgment (Daniel 7:9-12) 2. 1. With the death of Nebuchadnezzar comes a change in the peoples attitudes, especially their leaders toward Judaism. (1) Why does Daniel indicate the historical setting of the vision he receives in chapter 7? Daniels response to the vision was far from assuring or calming. As the saints suffer at the hands of the wicked, it may appear all hope is lost. In the verses following our lesson text, the vision is explained (Daniel 7:21-27). The ten horns, Daniel is told, represent ten kings who will emerge out of the fourth kingdom. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them,81 and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. Daniel urged them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven, . Verse 2. Verses 15-28 contain the divine interpretation of this vision. Then the time had arrived for the saints to take possession of the kingdom. During those days the revived Roman empire will be ruled by a confederation of ten kings as described by the ten toes of the statue of Daniel 2 and the ten horns of Daniels dream. 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). 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. It may seem to them that their defeat is certain and that their hopes of entering into the eternal kingdom are lost. Students will learn that they can trust God in difficult times because in the end God wins the battle over the enemy of this world Satan. Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom Thou didst make strong for Thyself (Psalm 80:17). (3) The finest commentary on the prophecy of Daniel 7 comes from our Lord Himself. That night his life and his kingdom came to an end. 3 While they are saying, Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. A revelation from God in his sleep discloses future events which Daniel finds most troubling. (4) Suffering is to be expected by the saints, before they enter into the glorious kingdom of God. As the destruction of the last beast and the blaspheming horn came as a complete shock to them, so the Lords coming will catch unbelievers unprepared as well (24:27-39). (7) Prophecy is revealed, not to give us the particulars of things to come, but to change our perspective. Those who populate the earth after the tribulation will give their allegiance to Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. This fourth beast has the distinction of ten horns. Daniel said that his thoughts were greatly alarming him and his face grew pale. Daniel was exiled to Babylon when he was still a teenager. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.. The First Vision is a dream of the king that is interpreted by Daniel. Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Thus, the vision is yet unfulfilled in terms of its major emphasis. But I want you to notice Daniels reaction to the dream that he had. 74 The personal cost of receiving divine revelation is never underestimated in the Old Testament (cf. The toasting of the gods of the Babylonians with the sacred temple vessels, recorded in chapter 5, may have been Belshazzars final act of blasphemy. requires it of the Chaldeans, by promises and threats. Daniel obtaining some respite finds the dream. So they came and stood before the king. Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant. 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. These beasts, each different from the other, are described in verses 4-7. The Son of Man had the power to forgive sins, as well as to heal a paralytic (Matthew 9:6). The woman endures in the view of the final outcome of the process. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself (verse 28). These saints are the believing Jews of the tribulation, not the believers of the Church Age. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation. It is virtually the opposite of the term beast. The expression, Son of man, is not new to Daniel. Before the coming of Christ, who would? In other words, this persecution of the saints will not go on unchecked but will be defined to a definite period of time. 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. The beasts are a horrifying and frightening sight; the heavenly court scene is one of regal splendor and beauty. The transfiguration of our Lord was but a foretaste of His coming glorious kingdom (16:28). He staying the decree is brought to the king. Prophecy is necessary because Gods thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. (4) This is the first prophecy in the book revealed directly to Daniel. (13) In some sense, the last kingdom is still on-going. Who are these saints that the angel is speaking of? No wonder His words stung and prompted them to act as they did. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C., some 9 years before Belshazzars reign began. While most prophecies in the Bible reveal events which will take place after the death of the recipient of the prophecy, the prophecy is revealed for impact upon those to whom it was revealed. Until Gods eternal kingdom is established, kingdoms will progress from bad to worse. The saints should expect to suffer because of their faith, especially as the last days for the kingdoms of men draw near. His declaration, which resulted from the deliverance of the three Hebrews, made it unlawful to hinder the worship of the Jews; his decree recorded at the end of chapter 4 went much further. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. His thoughts alarm him, and his face pales. Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel tells him, was about a statue with a golden head, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, and legs of iron, which is crushed by a giant stone, which itself becomes a mountain (vv. The final outcome is Gods people under the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, will receive the kingdom. The dream vortex dies with her, and Rose awakens with her brother, Jed, sleeping next to her. 31-35). This also underscores that these four kingdoms go from reasonably good to unbelievably bad. Should we be troubled as well? These kingdoms go from bad to worse. Belshazzars rise to power and ascent to the throne seems to have inaugurated a new age for Babylon. 3:15; Zc. The king is told that all of these earthly kingdoms would be destroyed by the stone not fashioned by human hands, and that an eternal kingdom would take the place of these temporal kingdoms. Abraham and Sarah were elderly and childless. 10 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. 5. God answered Daniel's prayer, and Daniel praised the Lord (Dan 2:19-23). What God declares in prophecy, He reveals as well in history. In his vision, the statue collapsed and disappeared, because a mysterious stone struck it at its feet. Daniel himself had many dreams and visions, mostly related to future kingdoms of the world and the . 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, every one whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. In verse 1 Daniel indicates his vision came to him in the first year of the reign of Belshazzar. I also told you it corresponded to the dream of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 2, but with more detail. 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. Each beast has its own unique characteristics. Daniel was not satisfied with just a summary of his dream, especially of the fourth beast that was so different than the other three, he wanted more detail. The use of the word time in Daniel is understood to be years. He would, after His death, burial, and resurrection come in His glory, rewarding men according to their deeds (16:27). In His response to the demand of the high priest, Jesus directly claimed to be the promised Messiah. Open your Bibles to Daniel 7. His mouth is used to speak boastfully. 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). He questioned His disciples so that they could confess that He, the Son of Man, was the Messiah (16:13f.). 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. Even those portions which we believe have been fulfilled, students of prophecy differ about the way of their fulfillment. He was at ease when he received the vision, and then he became fearful, and his mind alarmed him (4:4-5). Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. The stone cut out of the mountain represented the kingdom of God that would fill the earth. Dwight Pentecost writes, The existence of the church in the present Age was nowhere revealed in the Old Testament. The horn of the beast that made war against the saints was one of 10 kings who prevailed until the Ancient of days came and judged against him in favor of the saints. It is significant for us to note Daniels reaction to this revelation from God. (2) While the timing of the fulfillment of divine prophecy may seem remote to the recipient, it still has relevance for him. We could never predict the goals God has determined, nor the means He has ordained for history to reach them. Second, the prophecies of Daniel are to be understood in the light of the entire Book of Daniel, of the Old Testament, and of the Bible as a whole. Daniels first inner turmoil occurs in chapter 7. God may choose to delay judgment on the wicked until their sin reaches full bloom; the possession of the land of Canaan would not happen in Abrahams lifetime, but more than 400 years later after the suffering of the people of God (see Genesis 15:12-17). 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. Our Lords first coming happened over a period of more than 30 years, and yet we view this as one coming. Does this dream have any significance for us? We do not act on what we see so much as on what God has said. Daniel was terrified or alarmed by the scenes he had seen in his mind and desired to understand what they meant. [1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. The second scene portrays the establishment of the thrones on which the Ancient of Days and those holding court are to be seated to pronounce judgment. In Revelation it is also referred to as 42 months and 1260 days which all work out to 3 years. The distance in time of the fulfillment of Daniel 7 said something very important to the captive Jews of Daniels day. Daniel 2:1-23 - The King's Dream (Pastor Nate Wagner) A. Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Remember he had seen the innumerable host of angels attending the Ancient of Days. The fulfillment of the prophecy of Belshazzars demise underscores the certainty of the fulfillment of Daniels vision in the last days. While God tells neither Daniel nor us that this beast represents Nebuchadnezzar, He does reveal that the head of gold in the vision of the great statue was Nebuchadnezzar (2:36-38). 2 Daniel said, I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. (3) This chapter contains the major segment of Daniel, which is primarily prophetic, although it does not contain the first prophecy in the Book of Daniel. As the boasting horn of Daniel 7 seems to be getting away with his blasphemies and his oppression of the saints, it seems to him he can do whatever he wishes, including the changing of times and law. We must approach prophecy with fear and reverence. If, in Gods eyes, a day is as 1,000 years and 1,000 years as a day (2 Peter 3:8), then the coming of our Lord has only been a few days from beginning to end. Neither peer opposition nor the king's new law (chapter 6) greatly disturbed Daniel. Prophecy is necessary then so that men are reassured of divine deliverance and blessing, as well as divine judgment (see 2 Peter 2:4-9). The nation of Israel has been set aside by divine discipline in the present times of the Gentiles, which began with Nebuchadnezzar. Hosted by Michael Barbaro and Sabrina . The interpretation of the events Daniel witnessed in his vision is given in its most concise form in verses 17 and 18: The four beasts were four kings, who will arise from the earth. (11) A distinction is made between God the Fatherthe Ancient of Days and God the Sonthe Son of Manwith both playing a part in the establishment of the kingdom. The blasphemous horn of Daniel 7, which goes so far as to oppose the people of God, is suddenly taken by death, and his kingdom is removed. In the latter days, before the kingdom of God is established on the earth, kings and kingdoms will become worse and worse. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints (Revelation 13:1-10). Their perception is wrong, for suddenly and without warning their day of destruction will come upon them. In the Old Testament, the expression son of man was used most frequently in reference to men, who were merely (as opposed to God) human. 17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. This part of Daniels dream is new information that was not conveyed in Nebuchadnezzars dream in chapter two. How easily we turn from what is revealed to speculate about what has been concealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29). 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. We should not spend a disproportionate amount of time and energy trying to fill in the blanks God has left. The boastful beast becomes even more aggressive, waging war with the saints and even overpowering them. 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.
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