According to verse 1, the written record of the revelation Daniel received in his first night vision is but a summary of the prophecy he received. 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. (See Daniel 2:24, Note. Nothing has caused him to panic or depart from his faith and practice as a godly Jew. Choosing his words tactfully, Daniel asks Arioch why the king has made such a decree. Each of the four beasts represent a king and thus a resulting kingdom. Open your Bibles to Daniel 7. 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. Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant. The third beast is leopard-like, with four wings and four heads, and it is given dominion. Dan 2:1-4 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. The second is bear-like. If you remember from two weeks ago the bear was raised up on one side, this was to indicate that one part of this united kingdom overshadowed the other portion. 81 See Ezekiel 29:21 for a similar use of the imagery of making a horn grow to describe a kings promotion to power. Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. The dream vortex dies with her, and Rose awakens with her brother, Jed, sleeping next to her. Are we supposed to discover their identity? 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. He could not figure out what the dream meant, so he wanted his advisors to explain it to him. When that happens, Daniel goes for option #2 of those listed above: he asks one of the people in his dream to interpret what is happening for him ( Da 7:15-16 ). 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. The point of this prophecy is not to tell us who future kings will be, but rather what they will be like. Specifically, the account of The Bad News at Belshazzars Banquet (not a bad title for that lesson) in chapter 5 was given to us so that we could better understand the prophecies of chapters 7 and 8. 26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. As Daniel continues to watch, someone descends with the clouds of heaven, one like a Son of Man. He is presented to the Ancient of Days, and to Him is given dominion, glory, and the eternal kingdom. (8) The four beasts are all different, with the last standing apart from the first three. The kingdom of God would not be established in Daniels lifetime, nor in the life of those who returned to the land of Israel from their captivity. As Daniel continues to watch, another horn emerges, as three of the other horns are plucked out by the roots to make room for it. The statue had a head of gold which corresponds to the first beast Daniel saw and described as a lion with the wings of an eagle. Daniel 2:1-23 - The King's Dream (Pastor Nate Wagner) A. Nebuchadnezzar's dream. These kingdoms go from bad to worse. In a similar way, Belshazzar becomes blasphemous and is suddenly removed by God for his wickedness. The First Vision is a dream of the king that is interpreted by Daniel. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him." Chapter 7 reveals in broad terms what the future holds. Unfortunately, the king did not heed the dreams warning, and his kingdom was taken away for a time. The implication here is that this is a repeated dream, one that is . The woman endures in the view of the final outcome of the process. Now, in verse 23, the angelic interpreter explains the relationship of the boastful beast and the coming of the eternal kingdom of God. As the saints suffer at the hands of the wicked, it may appear all hope is lost. Arrogant, boastful, and even blasphemous kings will reign over the nations, opposing God and oppressing His saints. He would, after His death, burial, and resurrection come in His glory, rewarding men according to their deeds (16:27). Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C., some 9 years before Belshazzars reign began. (12) No distinction between the first coming of Christ and the second is made in the coming of the eternal kingdom of God. He will persecute and oppress the saints of the Highest One, the angel says that he will wear them down; the idea comes from the concept of wearing out a garment until it is threadbare. Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. [4] We of the present Age, the church will reign with Jesus Christ as His bride. Daniel does not date this dream as he did the earlier dream (cf. Never in the history of the Roman empire has this happened so it is yet future. Liberals reject all prophecies, because they require a sovereign God and a miraculous revelation of future events. The second time, the expression is used in reference to Daniel himself, as it will be used very frequently in Ezekiel to refer to this great prophet: So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end (Daniel 8:17). Verses 1-14 contain the vision which God gave to Daniel. These are the things Daniel sees in the vision. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for them to have a child. Rose withdraws the power from her chest, which takes the form of a ruby heart that then cracks as Unity dies peacefully in her sleep. (1) Why does Daniel indicate the historical setting of the vision he receives in chapter 7? Who are these saints that the angel is speaking of? This scene in Daniel is also similar to a prophecy recorded in the Book of Revelation: 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?. The distance in time of the fulfillment of Daniel 7 said something very important to the captive Jews of Daniels day. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, [6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:89, NASB95)[7] You have a responsibility because you know what the end will bring. The next three are waking visions seen in the presence of angels, followed by an appearance of the Messiah - the Son of Man - to interpret the vision for Daniel. 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. Belshazzars rise to power and ascent to the throne seems to have inaugurated a new age for Babylon. Eugene, Ore. : Harvest House Publishers, 2006, [5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. For the remainder of Nebuchadnezzars life, it seems that religion in the kingdom of Babylon was at least favorable to the worship of the God of the Jews. 17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Verse 2. 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.). We will deal with the meaning and application of Daniels vision later on in our questions and answers. According to our text, the prophecies of Daniel 7 will not be fulfilled for a considerable period of time. Daniel 2: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream by Larry Murray King Nebuchadnezzar had a puzzling dream that no one could explainuntil God gave the interpretation to Daniel. His thoughts alarm him, and his face pales. The inter-relationship between the prophecies of chapters 2 and 7 is demonstrated on the following page: Deterioration: Gold to iron mixed with clay, Deterioration: Nearly human to blaspheming beast. 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. A lawsuit could force the F.D.A. We have already seen time frame in Revelation referring to half of the seven-year tribulation. An eleventh king then rises to power, different from the others, replacing three of the previous kings. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:13, NASB95)[5] The more we know about the future the more are hearts should be moved to practical preparation. When the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, having added perfect humanity to His undiminished deity, He spoke of Himself very often as the Son of Man. In the Gospels, Jesus began not only to identify Himself as the Messiah, the promised Son of Man, but also to explain all that this involved. - As for these four children, God gave them knewledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.Or, as the words might be more accurately rendered, "these lads, the four of them" (Ezekiel 1:8-10).This indicates that somehow they were separated off into a quaternion. 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. Who is the Son of Man? 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8). The chapter falls into two major parts. Daniels vision ends here, but its impact on him does not end. Wherever I see the Scriptures speak of the coming kingdom of God, I find suffering closely associated with it. What it does not destroy or consume with its teeth, it crushes under foot, much like a bull in a china shop. We are not told precisely what it is that troubles Daniel. The emphasis of this brief interpretation falls not on the enemies of God, their power, their brutality, nor their boasting, but on the kingdom of God, its certainty and its permanence for all the saints forever. His mouth is used to speak boastfully. Dwight Pentecost writes, The existence of the church in the present Age was nowhere revealed in the Old Testament. Let us listen then, and be sober, enduring the sufferings and trials sent our way, looking expectantly and certainly for His kingdom to come. Daniel made it very clear that the dream and the interpretation had come for the one true God. One of those gaps is found in Daniel 7. God grants this king success and his saints suffering, but only for an appointed time. 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. From the context, it would seem that Daniels distress is the result of the wickedness and oppression of the world kingdoms which are represented by the beasts, and by the knowledge that the saints will be oppressed and even overcome for a period of time. He staying the decree is brought to the king. 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. (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 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. Before the coming of Christ, who would? The death of this king brings about the end of his kingdom. And the high priest said to Him, I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus said to him, You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN (Matthew 26:59-64). 7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. Prophecy speaks not only of the joys and glories of Gods kingdom to come but of the suffering and tribulation preceding the eternal blessings of the kingdom of God. We know from history that though Persia rose later than Media it soon overshadowed Media in its power. He will keep continual pressure on the saints of the Highest One to try to break and destroy and annihilate them. Would Belshazzar toast the gods of gold, silver, wood and stone with the sacred temple vessels? Encouraged to do so, it savagely devours. Our Lords first coming happened over a period of more than 30 years, and yet we view this as one coming. We are not to base our thinking and actions on circumstances, but upon the Scriptures. Daniel, a godly prophet and a man of unshakable faith, has been steadfast in his daily walk of fellowship with God throughout the first six chapters of the Book of Daniel. With the commencement of Belshazzars co-regency may have come not only a rejection of the Jewish faith and worship, but a new wave of persecution directed toward it. This horn is called by different names in the New Testament: In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 the little horn is called the man of lawlessness. Revelation 13:1-2 calls the little horn the beast. The name he is best known by in found in 1 John 2:18-24 where John calls the little horn the Antichrist.. This vision was an interactive vision, as Daniel was not only present in the vision but was able to approach one standing by to ask the meaning of what he saw. History has shown this to be true in the past, and prophecy assures us that it will be true in the future. 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. Daniel uses the expression Son of man twice. Having gained an appreciation for Daniel and his three Hebrew friends, over a period he came to faith in their God. Chapter 2. These both represent Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian empire. The Septuagint renders, "And the king commended that the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers of the Chaldeans be brought in to tell the king his dream. The statue represented the kingdoms of the earth. 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. Remembering this avoids confusion. (19-26) Daniel explains the rise and coming fall of Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so . They acknowledging their inability are judged to die. That night his life and his kingdom came to an end. The only human things mentioned of the fourth beast are his eyes and his mouth. But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. In fact, Daniel has trouble interpreting some of his own dreams. When the sin and oppression of evil men reaches a predetermined point, God will remove them and establish His promised eternal kingdom. What so upset Daniel about the future? He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. The fourth beast is a fourth king, different than the others. This is consistent with God's propensity to use miracles to identify His messengers. Old Testament Jews would likely regard the reference to the Son of Man in Daniel 7 as a reference to the Messiah, although they would probably not understand Him to be both divine and human. 1. 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. This is describing an event that has never happened in the history of the world and is yet future. 1. 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. If we go back to Daniel 2 and look at the statue in Nebuchadnezzars dream, we find that it too represented four kings and their kingdoms. I also told you it corresponded to the dream of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 2, but with more detail. It may seem to them that their defeat is certain and that their hopes of entering into the eternal kingdom are lost. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. Daniel (Daniel 2; 4): As He had done for Joseph, God placed Daniel in a position of power and influence by allowing him to interpret a foreign ruler's dream. If not, he could never have become airborne again. 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. Jesus applied this text to them, not as those who would enter into His kingdom, but as those who would be judged at His return. Prophecy becomes necessary from time to time to remind men of those things God has planned for the future which He will surely fulfill. God is able to raise up kings and put them down. The other prophecies were revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar and interpreted by Daniel. 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 the second year: It is difficult to understand the exact time this speaks of. 2 Daniel said, I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. Just a few years later Alexander died, and his empire was divided into four parts and his four generals became the monarch of a quarter of the Greek empire. He surpasses those before him by speaking boastfully, then blaspheming, and finally seeking to overthrow Gods order. Upon hearing the details of the dream, Daniel too was troubled (4:19). The prophecy of this chapter is divinely interpreted. 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). Some people have a rather irreverent attitude toward prophecy, they approach it as a pastime and they delight in figuring out complex date schemes and drawing detailed diagrams of the future. Those who will reign with Christ are those who have suffered (see Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10-11; 2 Timothy 2:12). Interpretations of Daniels prophecies differ widely. The prophecies of Daniel 7 speak of a future day of reckoning, foreshadowed by the actions of Belshazzar and the judgment of God on him and his kingdom. The revelation of the writing on the banquet hall wall, already described in chapter 5, actually happened later, on the last day of Belshazzars life. Daniel 1:1-2:4a was written in Hebrew. 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