(Daniel 7:1) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it...
SIDE BAR: I'm not going to say that I've had visions of prophecy. What I have had are dreams that were clearly spiritual warfare. I know this because when I'd wake up - the presence would still be there. So when one is experiencing R.E.M. (rapid eye movement) while asleep - whatever is happening around you - somehow becomes or is put into your dreams. And, I find that when something is spiritual in nature - it is more real than reality. If that makes any sense. It's the best way I can describe it. I know I have an awesome imagination, but there are just some things I would not be able to imagine. It's the same thing with people who have had near-death-experiences and think they've gone to heaven. We know from scripture that this something that really does not happen - but it seems so very real to them. It makes sense though - when you know that there are many people praying for that person, and that person is sensing the presence of God and perhaps angels.
So, within Daniel's prophetic-vision-dream, which could have happened in segments, he had questions...
(Daniel 7:15-16) “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:..."
(Daniel 7:2-3) Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another..."
The four great beasts represent the rulers of the four world empires, which had also been mentioned in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The lion and eagle, which represents the Babylonian empire, are both symbols of strength and speed...
(Daniel 7:4) “The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it..."
The bear, which represents the Medo-Persian empire, is known for its strength and fierceness in battle. The "one side" could represent the Persians who were superior to the Medes. And the "three ribs" could represent the three major conquests against Lydia (in 546 BC), Babylon (in 539 BC) and Egypt (in 525 BC)...
(Daniel 7:5) “And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’..."
The leopard represents the Greek empire under Alexander the Great. After his death, the empire had "four heads" (Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt and Macedonia)...
(Daniel 7:6) “After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it..."
The fourth beast represents the Roman empire. The "ten horns" will be a confederation of ten nations formed during the Tribulation. The "little horn" is the Antichrist. Therefore, this vision does not include the Church Age at all, going from when Christ came to earth the first time (when Rome was the world empire), and skipping right over to the Tribulation (when the Antichrist's kingdom is sometimes called Babylon, or here it is implied as "Rome". It doesn't really matter, nor should it, otherwise we'd be suspect of certain nations and groups of people now)...
(Daniel 7:7-8) “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. 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. 8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts..."
The Antichrist will be the dictator of the world empire in the Tribulation. Daniel had questions about this particular beast...
(Daniel 7:19-20) “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..."
In the first half of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will "make a covenant" (a treaty) with the Israelites, but at the halfway point, the Antichrist will betray them, and will persecute all people who have become believers during the last three and a half years of the Tribulation...
(Daniel 7:23-25) “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 24 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. 25 He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time..."
At the end of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will march toward Jerusalem with a great army, but Jesus will have the victory at the battle of Armageddon and then He will judge the nations. "Ancient of Days" refers to God as judge...
(Daniel 7:9-12) “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. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire.
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.
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.
11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time..."
After the judgment of the nations, all people who become believers during the Tribulation will enter the Millennium, when Jesus will sit on the throne and have dominion over this world. "Son of Man"is used here for the first time to refer to the Messiah, a title Jesus used of Himself often (example is seen in Matthew 8:20)...
(Daniel 7:13-14) “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.
14 “And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed..."
14 “And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed..."
The following portions of scripture just reiterate how the Antichrist will lead the war against the believers and God, but it will be Jesus who has the victory! And the believers will enter into the thousand year reign and experience peace and blessings during that time...
(Daniel 7:17-18) ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’
(Daniel 7:21-22) “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 22 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..."
(Daniel 7:26-27) “But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. 27 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.’..."
Today's takeaway: God in His great wisdom does not mention the "Church Age" in this prophecy, because these times have nothing to do with "us" (those who are already believers). These prophecies are to address the Israelites' issue of disobedience while still desiring to have their covenants fulfilled. But these prophecies can certainly give us confidence in our Lord and Savior...
(Psalm 27:1) The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?
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