THE BOOK OF DANIEL

CHAPTER SEVEN AND EIGHT

DANIEL’S VISIONS

In the first six chapters we have somewhat looked at the personal life of Daniel. Now in the last six chapters we will look at the prophecy of Daniel.

Daniel has been interpreting the dreams of others up to this chapter, now, he is giving forth the dreams or visions that he himself has had.

Chapter seven fits in between Chapter four and chapter five for it takes place in the 1st year of the reign of Belshazzar and chapter eight fits here also, for it takes place in the 3rd year of his reign.

These visions took place within the first three years of the reign of Belshazzar for in chapter five we have his death and the kingdom given over to another. We don’t know from Scripture just how long he was in authority.

In these visions, Daniel sees the course of Gentile history and helps us to understand what will happen to the Jews in the end days. This is why we will study the two chapters together that we might see the whole picture that is set before us.

These dreams were not for the purpose to discourage the Jewish people, but to cause them to rejoice in that their God will bring all wickedness to naught and set up His own righteous kingdom.

We might not know the hour nor the day when these things shall come to pass, but we can know the season, or that we are at the front door of this prophecy. These things are written to cause our hearts to be settled in the matter of knowing Jesus Christ as our own personal Lord and Saviour.

What a dreadful future the world has because it knows not Christ.

I.	THE VISION OF THE FOUR GREAT BEASTS.

Daniel 7:1—28
“Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

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And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.”
Daniel 7:2—3

This	chapter has three divisions in it, —The vision — 7:1—14
The interpretation - 7:15-27
The countenance of Daniel — 7:28

As we study this chapter we will combine the vision and its interpretation so we can see clearly the truth that is before us.

The dream came to Daniel during the night hours and Daniel wrote the dream, as well, as its interpretation.

Before looking into the chapter at the four beasts
note carefully some truths presented to us in verse 3
and its interpretation in verse 17.

1st	These four beasts came up out of the sea.

Sea in the prophetic language of the Bible always speaks of the restless Gentile nations.

Thus, these four beasts came up out of the Gentile Nations and are kings and rulers in and over the Gentile Nations.

(Some preachers don’t believe that the Antichrist will be a Jew, and the above reason is why.)

2nd These four beasts are four in number.

Four is the number of the world, thus, showing to us that these four Gentile powers are world governments.

They are temporary and will pass of f the scene or they will give away to another. They are not everlasting kingdoms.

3rd These four beasts are different in nature.

They are “diverse one from another.” That is, they were different in nature and character. As it seems, each one becoming worse that the

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other in their dealings with man-kind, being climaxed by the coming of the Antichrist who will be a combination of them all.

4th	These four beasts will rule and reign in the middle east.

The term “great sea” (2) would speak of the Mediterranean Sea which is referred to as the great sea in Bible prophecy. The empires of these kings bordered or will border one way or another this sea.

5th	These four beasts would strive for their masteries.

This speaks of the contest among princes for the power of the Empires, and the shaking of the nations by these princes. One wind would cause a great commotion, but with all four winds blowing in different directions at the same time, chaos is produced by them.

This is where the four winds come in, the contest between the four beasts and their kingdoms.

A.	First Beast. Daniel 7:4

“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings:”

Here we have the kingdom of Babylon corresponding to the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter two. (2:36-38)
(GOLD)

The winged lion was a favorite image in Babylon. The animal made to stand like a man reminds us of the humbling experience of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4:27-37.

Babylon was still in power when Daniel received this vision but quickly felled as we see the fall of it in chapter 5:30—31.

Lion -	would speak of its strength, and it was fierce and strong and made all nations submit to it power.

Eagle wings - speaks of the speed in which

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Nebuchadnezzar would make good his conquest.

Eagle wings plucked -	Daniel saw a halt brought to this kingdom and its courage lost and its conquering powers lost. It became a divided kingdom after him, the Medes and the Persians.

B.	Second Beast Daniel 7:5

“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.”

This speaks of the Medes—Persian Empire, less strong than he lion, but no less cruel.

This corresponds with the breast and arms of silver in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. (2:32,39)
(SILVER)

Bear —	is not as strong as the lion but nevertheless, it is as cruel.

Bear raised up on one side — shows that it was very deceptive in nature, and waited
for the right moment and devoured the lion.

This speaks that one-half of the Empire was stronger than the other half, this was very true in that the Persians were much stronger than the Medes.

Bear had three ribs in his teeth - shows its devouring nature. The cry was “Arise, and devour much flesh” and the Medes & Persians devoured much flesh as was shown in chapter 5:30—31.

The three ribs could depict the three empires already defeated, that is, Egypt, Babylonia, and Libya.

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C.	Third Beast. Daniel 7:6

“After this I beheld, and 10 another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl: and the beast had also four heads: and dominion was given to it.”

This is Greece led by Alexander the Great, who swiftly conquered the world, defeating the Persians about 331 B.C.

Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C. and the kingdom was divided into four parts. Four of his leading generals took four equal parts of the kingdom and ruled them as Monarchs.

This correspond with the vision of Nebuchadnezzar 	in his dream.	(2:32, 39)
		(BRASS)

Leopard with four wings on its back - speaks of the great speed in which was employed in conquering.

Leopard with four heads - speaks of the four generals that the kingdom was divided among after the death of Alexander the Great.

Dominion was given to it — once again we are reminded of the words of Daniel in Daniel 4:25.

D.	Fourth Beast. Daniel 7:7—8, 19—26

“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
I’

(Dan. 7:7—8)
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This fourth beast is the Antichrist, the last of the Gentile rulers.

this beast will be more fierce, and formidable, and mischievous, than any of the other three, and he is unlike any of the other, neither do we have any to compare him with.

This corresponds with the dream of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:33, 40—43.
(IRON AND CLAY)

(The next lesson is a special lesson on some thoughts about the Antichrist found in the Scriptures)

This beast startled Daniel as nothing like it had appeared before.

Thus, Daniel was deeply troubled and grieved in his heart. (15)

No doubt this speaks of the revival of the old Roman Empire that will come back into power in the last days, governed by ten kings, in which three will be destroyed, giving way to the rise in power of the Antichrist who will have the other seven under his total authority.

(Keep your ears tuned to President Bush’s new world order, it could be the signal to the world for the revival of the old Roman Empire)

E.	The Ancient of Days. Daniel 7:9—14, 22, 26—27.

“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.”

Daniel 7:9

Daniel no doubt was startled when the vision turned from the four beast to the glorious Son of God, but Daniel saw Him in His glory, as well, as being totally victorious over the four beasts, especially the 4th beast since the other three have gone of f the scene in his vision and the fourth was greater in wickedness than all of the others.
—106—

1.	Note the length of his vision.

7:9

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, -“

Daniel’s vision lasted until he saw the thrones of the four beasts totally destroyed, or done away with by the coming of the Lord.

How important it is for us to keep our eyes on the Lord for He will put down all wickedness at His glorious coming, and we look for Him to come. This is the BLESSED HOPE OF THE BELIEVER.

2.	Note the Lord of his vision.

7:9

“ and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garments was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool:”

The throne of the four beasts were totally destroyed, and the Lord, the Ancient of days sat upon His own throne.

What peace this should bring to the
Bible believers to know that their
God has always been on the throne of
Divine Sovereignty and He shall never
be moved. He is Lord -already always Almighty.

a.	Ancient of Days.

The judge is none other than God
the Father, the glory of whose presence is here described.

He is called the Ancient of days because He is from everlasting to everlasting.

b.	The glory of the Lord.

The glory of the judge or Ancient of days is here set forth by His garment, which was white as snow, denoting his splendor and purity in

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all the administrations of His justice.

c.	The greatness of the Lord.

His greatness is displayed in that his hair is white like pure wool. Speaks of His eternalness, as well, as His Divine Wisdom.

Revelation 1:13

3.	The Law of his vision.

7:9

“ his throne was like the fiery flames, and his wheels as burning fire.”

Revelation 1:14

“Fiery flame” speaks that our God is a consuming fire. All that are before Him who are not of His righteousness will be consumed by His Divine judgment.

“Wheels as burning fire” shows that His throne is moveable to devour the adversaries where ever they might be. Not in the fact that He has to move from place to place, but that He is omnipresence, and thus, His judgment will not over look any given area.

All things will come under
His Atoning Blood, or under
His Divine Judgment, nothing
will go untouched.

4.	The people of his vision.

7:27

“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, -“

Daniel sees that the saints of God, who now the world hates and persecutes, will rule and reign in His blessed kingdom.

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a.	These people shall be from all nations of the world.

Daniel 7:14, 18
Revelation 5:9-12

b.	These people shall be the redeemed from every age.

Daniel 7:27

Saints — means sanctified ones.

Romans 1:7

c.	These people shall be receivers of the kingdoms of this world and will be priests and kings over them.

Daniel 7:27

Revelation 1:5-6

5.	The kingdom of his vision. Daniel 7:27

“Whose kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”

Daniel sees the fifth king as being the Son of God, and His kingdom as being totally different from all other kingdoms.

This is what the people of God are to rejoice in, the glory of Christ, not, the works of the world.

a.	The kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, that is, it will be the last, and never will it cease to be.

Daniel 7:27
Luke 1:32—33

b.	The kingdom shall be a dominating kingdom.

Daniel 7:27

This kingdom will rule and reign over all nations, and all nations

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will be totally submissive to Him and His authority.

Isaiah 60:12
Revelation 11:15

Daniel was greatly troubled (15) because of what he saw that the people were to face, especially in relationship to the last Gentile king, but yet in the midst of this dark message, came the truth, the light of the glorious kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

Daniel kept the matter in his heart as he was not to reveal it until the proper time.

John wrote the Book of Revelation, and, thus, Daniel and Revelation must be studied together in order for One to understand the truths of Daniel’s visions.

It is important to remember that Daniel and Revelation are not closed Books.

John wrote:
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
Revelation 1:3

Blessed is found twice in Daniel, One in relation to God (3:28), and the other in relation to God’s people that waits upon the Lord and comes into His kingdom.

“Blessed is he that waiteth, and
cometh to the thousand three hundred
and five and thirty days.”
Daniel 12:12

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