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Note: Dan 2 dream of Nebuchadnezzar was in 603-2AD. Dan 7 dream of Daniel may be 47-50 years apart.
*Almost have to saturate yourself with this chapter.
Remember: Dan 6 (lions den) was after Medes Persians conquered Babylon in 539BC and Darius was king.
Chapter 7 returns back to 553BC, when Belshazzar first became king of Babylon. Before the Medes and Persians took over.
****We'll go through this slowly****
Dan 7:1-3
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 heaven brake forth upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Summary
Belshazzar co-ruled with dad. Probably btw 554-553BC thru 539BC
This is Daniel's first recorded dream. Previous dreams in Daniel were Nebuchadnezzar's.
Daniel's first recorded vision of the night was in Dan 2:19 when God revealed to Daniel the contents of Nebuchadnezzar's about the statue w head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron and feet of iron/clay. Possibly 47-50 years prior.
We can assume that Daniel has been getting dreams and visions for many years.
Wonder who he tells? -friends? Wife?
Dream
Note: in Dan 7:1, he writes the dream down. In verse 2, he speaks about his "vision" by night.
Dream - h2493 - "dream"; root word means "dream"
Vision - h2376 - "vision" or appearance; root word means "to see", "behold" or "witness"
The four winds of heaven brake forth upon the great sea.
'Brake forth' gives the idea of "strife" or "violently" blowing of the wind across the great sea
Four great beasts come up from the sea, differing from one another
What might the "great sea" represent if four kings come up from it?
Interpretation:
Dan 7:17
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth.
Dan 7:4-7
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 to stand upon two 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 was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon its back four wings of a bird; 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, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Show beasts 1-3
Dan 7:8
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Fourth Beast
****The little horn seems to start off small, gradually rising up, displacing 3 other horns and displaying human intelligence (via the eyes), becoming boastful, arrogant, possibly prideful
***Remember this beast was already described in Dan 7:7 (before the little horn appeared) as:
Dreadful
Terrible (mighty)
Exceedingly strong
Dan 7:9-10
9 I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Summary
Let's look at this:
Verse 9
Daniel now sees the scene in heaven. Thrones are either set (?) OR cast down.
Thrones set up?
Rev 4:2-4
2 Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne; 3 and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.
Or?
Thrones Cast down?
Does it mean this??
"Till all these earthly kingdoms were brought to an end, and all enemies and opposite powers were destroyed."
Only One throne, Great White Throne
Rev 20:11-12
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Ancient of days is a name for God the Father. He sits, on His throne
Ancient of Days = God?
His garment was white as snow
Attributes of God the Father?
Also attribute of Jesus
in Mat 17:2
and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.
His head like pure wool
Attribute of God the Father?
Attribute of Jesus in Rev 1:14?
Rev 1:14
And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
His throne is like fiery flames
God is consuming fire
Deu 4:24
For Jehovah thy God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
Jesus throne is like glowing metal/fire within it
Reference to Eze 1:26-28 of Jesus' throne
Eze 1:26-27
26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above. 27 And I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his loins and upward; and from the appearance of his loins and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him.
His 'throne' wheels as burning fire
Eze 1 :1
Ezekiel sees "visions of God"
Eze 1:4 Ezekiel sees;
"a stormy wind..., a great cloud, with a fire infolding itself, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst thereof as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.
Eze 1:5...four living creatures come from the fire
Eze 1:12...they went wherever the Spirit went
Eze 1:13...the appearance of living creatures was as coals of fire which was bright, out of the fire went out lightning
Eze 1:14...the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a "flash of lightning"
Eze 1:15...each living creature had one wheel on the earth
Eze 1:16...the living creatures appearance was like a wheel within a wheel
Eze 1:17...the living creatures (or wheel within a wheel) went in their four directions
Eze 1:19...when the living creatures went, the wheels went. When the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were too.
Eze 1:20...wherever the Spirit went, the living creatures went AND the wheels went too. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
So, the living creatures/wheels did whatever the Spirit did, possibly being a metaphor for the role of the Holy Spirit?
Verse 10 (Dan 7:10)
Fiery river comes forth from before God
Thousands of thousands serve unto him
These serve or minister undo God
But in Rev 5:11-12, has "thousands of thousands" around the throne praising the Lamb:
Rev 5:11-12
11 And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
10,000x10,000 (100,000,000) stood before God
Same as the previous:
These serve or minister undo God
But in Rev 5:11-12, has "ten thousand times ten thousand" around the throne praising the Lamb
Rev 5:11-12
11 And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
Judgement set and the books were opened.
***Judgement day??? Prob
***What books?
Rev 20:12
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Dan 7:11-12
11 I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. 12 And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Summary
Daniel looks back because he hears the voice of the horn. It suggests that the voice of the little horn continues to speak up until judgement day.
He watches till the beast (the 4th beast with the little horn) is slain and it's body is given to be burned with fire.
The other 3 beasts have no sovereignty (or empire) but they remain alive for a season and a time.
The fourth beast with the little horn is burned with fire, on judgement day?
Who else was burned with fire?
Babylon in Rev:18:1-8
-verse 5, when does God remember Babylon's inquiry?
JUDGEMENT DAY
Harlot in Rev 17
Rev 17:16-18
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire. 17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. 18 And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Who is the great city?
The woman, who is also known as Babylon
Achan - read Josh 7
Jos 7:21 when I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Ziklag - read 1 Sam 30:1-19
Last words of David
2 Sam 23:1-7
Tares
Luk 3:17
whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
Mat 13:40
As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.
Dan 7:13
13 I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even 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 the peoples, 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.
Daniel seems to witness Jesus in heaven being brought before God and God gives Him dominion and an eternal kingdom which shall reign forever as in Rev 11:15.
Rev 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Dan 7:15-16
15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved 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 concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
Why is Daniel grieved?
maybe by the beasts?
maybe by the little horn?
**Wouldn't it be interesting to to know what the little horn spoke?**
maybe by the general image of this dream that doesn't seem to make any sense. No understanding?
prob not grieved by Jesus coronation
prob afraid of what he saw
For instance, in Rev 5:4 weeps when he sees that no one is worthy to open "the book and loose the seals"
Rev 5:4
And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon:
Why else might Daniel be troubled?
Or maybe because he of what he thought the vision might mean
In the midst of one of your dreams, did it ever occur to you to ask anyone 'in the dream itself' what the interpretation was?
-me either.
Who did he ask?
An angel?
Dan 7:17-18
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Wait, wait... There was so much detail in verses 4-8 about the four beasts. Why does the angel ignore all the detail?
-vs 17 - He says the four beasts are four kings or kingdoms that rise up from the earth.
Then he goes right to the end...
-vs 18 -the saints of the Most High receive the kingdom for ever?
Wait, "the saints of the Most High receive the kingdom"? I thought Jesus does??
Re-read vs 13-14
Jesus, who comes w the clouds of heaven
Who are the clouds of heaven?
Does the word "saint" include more that the "the clouds of heaven"? Is Jesus included in this?
-yes; Saints - h6922, holy One, holy ones, saints
Before we continue onto the next verse, where Daniel ONLY inquires about the fourth beast, let's take a look at the first three beasts mentioned in verses 4-6.
**The angel doesn't give him much info. Any ideas what they may represent? Or what modern day prophecy says these may represent?
Any ideas??
Dan 7:19
19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
Dan 7:20
20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
**Compare feet of the statue in Daniel 2:33 and 43 with Dan 7:24**
Bottom of statue is described as as feet. How many toes does the statue have?
What were the feet made of?
Dan 2:33
its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.
What did the clay represent?
Dan 2: 43
...describes the (miry) clay as the 'seed of men'
The fourth beast in Dan 7 has how many horns?
10
The little horn arises from the 10 horns. But what does it have that is similar to the feet in Dan 2?
Both are mentioned as having the something related to "man"
One is mixed with miry clay
The other has a man's mouth and man's eyes
***Is it possible that the feet in Dan 2 and the 10 horns and/or the little horn are speaking of the same thing?
Dan 7:21
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Rev 13:5-7 seems to speak of the same event or time period
#######
Rev 13:5-7
5 and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
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 a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 25 And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
