Daniel 7 Strange and Unusual Beasts Part 1

Recap/Redirect

Everything we’ve experienced up to this point has been based on historical accounts as we’ve journeyed with Daniel over a 60+ year period. We’ve seen God honor Daniel’s faithfulness starting when Daniel purposed his heart to honor the Lord even as a young teenager.

As we start with the prophetic chapters, we actually take a step back in time. Instead of recording everything in Chronological order, chapters 1-6 cover the life and times of Daniel and chapters 7-12 cover the visions Daniel had. Chapter 7 actually took place between Daniel 4 & 5.

We will see that chapter 7 starts out by giving us our timeline by saying that what happened took place during the first year of the reign of King Belshazzar. That puts the year at approximately 553 BC.

As I was considering what it would be like to be preaching through Daniel during the Holiday season, especially Christmas and Advent season, it dawned on me that these prophetic chapters point to what Advent encourages us to celebrate! Yes, the first coming of Lord and Savior, but also looking forward to His second coming. That is where this chapter points.

Chapter 7 of Daniel is thought by some theologians to be THE MOST IMPORTANT chapter in the whole Bible.

The verses that make up this chapter are important theologically. They are important eschatologically. And they are important Christologically. (Akin)

Let’s get started with Daniel 7.

4 Beasts

Daniel 7:1 ESV

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.

This verse tells us a lot. First it tells us when this occurred, it tells us what’s going on, what happened to Daniel. God gave Daniel a vision in a dream and what we are about to read is a, Just the Facts, summation of what he saw.

Daniel 7:2–6 ESV

2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

Four Winds stirring up the great sea:

We know from living in the Missoula area what happens when wind comes from all directions an what it does. It’s what causes our winter inversions and swirls the smoke and fog around to where we don’t see the sunlight some days.

Here in this vision Daniel is seeing the work of the Lord as He is actively revealing “history to come”. His sovereign plan is working from all angles and out of the sea that is being stirred up, comes 4 creatures or 4 kingdoms.

The sea is seen in the Hebrew culture, as a sign of gentile nations, usually filled with chaos and evil, and not to be trusted. It’s a place of mystery and is typically feared.

Four Creatures:

Like a lion with eagles wings. These wings were plucked off and then it was lifted up and made like a man. This beast symbolizes the Babylonian Empire. The Eagles wings being plucked symbolizes how King Neb was humbled by the Lord and then brought back to live like a man and give glory to the King of Heaven.

Like a bear which was raised up on one side, also having 3 ribs in his mouth. Told “Arise, devour much flesh”. A bear is slower, stronger, and more crushing than a lion — and this bear had an appetite for conquest. This was the Medo-Persian Empire. In this partnership the Persians were more dominant in the relationship, hence “raised up on one side”. The three ribs are believed to represent three major conquests, Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia.

Like a leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads. This is the Greek Empire.

Each animal is mighty, but dominates its prey in a different way. “The lion devours, the bear crushes, and the leopard springs upon its prey.” (Strauss)

Alexander the Great quickly conquered the civilized world by age 28. “Nothing in the history of the world, was equal to the conquests of Alexander, who ran through all the countries from Illycrium and the Adriatic Sea to the Indian Ocean and the River Ganges; and in twelve years subdued part of Europe, and all Asia.” (Clarke)

After his death his empire was divided into four parts (four heads). Specifically, the four heads were Cassander, Lysimachus (liesimacus), Seleucus (celluicus), and Ptolemy (taalumee), who inherited Alexander’s domain after his death.

The Babylonian Empire dominated in Daniel’s day. One might have guessed — especially in the reign of Belshazzar — that the next empire would be the Medo-Persian Empire. But how could Daniel know that the next world empire would be like a leopard in its rise and prominence, and that it would be divided into four parts?

This shows a plain principle: God knows the future, and reveals certain details of the future through His prophets. It shows that God lives outside our time domain and can see the future as well as the past. He sees the whole parade of human history, not just the part passing in front of a single spectator. The proof of fulfilled prophecy is so persuasive.

As Peter says: 2 Peter 1:19

2 Peter 1:19 ESV

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Daniel 7:7–8 ESV

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 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.

4. This fourth beast or empire was different than all the rest. This beast is terrifying, dreadful, and exceedingly strong. The great iron teeth should take us back to Daniel 2 where King Neb has the dream about the image with the golden head and legs of iron. This empire is the Roman empire, which was the largest, strongest, most unified and enduring of them all.

Scripture doesn’t say what the body or even head looked like, just that it had 10 horns. This should stand out to us if we remember back in chapter 2 the vision/dream mentioned 10 toes. Remember, King Neb’s dream was a vision of the future from a human perspective while Daniel’s vision was of the future as well but from God’s perspective. There was a warning of a progressive succession of power, up to a point, and then a look at a future kingdom, way in the distant future, but still tied to the original kingdom. Let’s look back at Daniel 2 real quick.

Daniel 2:41–43 ESV

41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.

Now look back at Daniel 7:8

Daniel 7:8 ESV

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.

This little horn will come up among the 10 horns and cause division. This little horn, which we will come to know as the Beast of Revelation 13, also known as The Anti-Christ, Son of Lawlessness, are all one and the same. This little horn will cause division amongst the 10 horns or kings and end up ousting three of the kings.

The Ancient of Days

Daniels attention now shifts from the eschatological to the theological. Instead of focusing on things to come, he is shifted to focusing on one who always has been.

Daniel 7:9–10 ESV

9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

Here the first thing we see is that thrones are placed or established. Who are these thrones for?

Revelation 4:4 ESV

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

Only one of these thrones becomes occupied in this vision and that throne has seated on it The Ancient of Days.

The Ancient of Days is obviously God, Yahweh, but there is debate as to whether He is specifically God the Father or God the Son. Most believe it is God the Father, and the white garments. The white hair stress the eternal character of God the Father.

Daniel 7:13 seems to make a distinction between the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man, and this supports the idea that the Ancient of Days is God the Father, not God the Son.

Why is God the Fathers’ throne on fire? Well, the best description I found was from David Guzik.

This was a brilliant manifestation of God’s splendor and the fierce heat of His judgment. There seems to be something lava-like in the stream of fire pouring from the throne; it was like a river of vast destructive power.(Guzik)

What do we see all around Him? Countless angels, so many that Daniel described them in numbers that seemed astronomical. The original Aramaic reads myriads upon myriads, which literally translates to what we see here in the ESV. 10,000 times 10,000. Even though that comes out to 10 million, don’t put a limit on how many there were. This is simply what Daniel can fathom.

What were they doing? They stood before Him and served Him.

What was happening in this majestic throne room? Court was in session.

“The court sat in judgement, and the books were open”.

Revelation 20:12 ESV

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Who was being judged in the vision of Daniel 7? Well, Daniels attention is shifted back to this little horn.

Daniel 7:11–12 ESV

11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

Here the “little horn” of the fourth beast again speaks pompous words. The final human dictator we commonly call the Antichrist will be characterized by his boastful, blasphemous speech.

Revelation 13:5–6 ESV

5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

This amazing passage describes the transition from human dominion on earth to divine dominion. This happens as the Son of Man comes and exercises dominion over the earth. The Son of Man succeeds the reign of the fourth beast.

The fourth beast is destroyed and the others may continue, but without dominion of their own. When Jesus sets up His kingdom, the empire of the Antichrist will be completely crushed, yet some nations will continue into the Millennium.

Coming With the Clouds

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

This “like a sone of man” is the only person ever to “come on the clouds” and that’s the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Risen savior.

Matthew 24:30–31 ESV

30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Son of Man, Jesus favorite term for himself, comes and is presented before the Ancient of Days and he is given dominion and glory and a kingdom, and everlasting kingdom over all peoples, nations and languages.

This Son of Man that was presented in front of the Ancient of days also takes me back to Revelation 5.

Revelation 5:5–7 ESV

5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

Daniel Asks for an Interpretation

Daniel 7:15–22 ESV

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ 19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

Daniel 7:23–25 ESV

23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

This description of what the vision or dream meant fits perfectly with the account described in Revelation 13.

Revelation 13:1–8 ESV

1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Don’t be deceived, the beast will be attractive to the world population at first, of course the global population will not include the church. It will consist of those left behind after the rapture. He will have his time, infact it will be for a time, times, and half a time. A time is meant to be seen as one year, so times means 2 years and half a time, obviously half year. This is three and a half years or 42 months, or 1260 days (figuring on the 360 day/year Jewish Calendar) that makes up the last half of the tribulation, known as the great tribulation or the time of Jacob’s Trouble.

Look what comes next though.

Daniel 7:26–28 ESV

26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to 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 shall be 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 greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

This is clearly judgement day for the antichrist and his false prophet as described in Revelation 13 but then that is followed by a reminder and promise of God’s faithfulness, that an everlasting kingdom is going to be established and that will be the kingdom of our God and will be ruled by our Lord and savior Jesus Christ with us, the saints, ruling along with Him.

After all this doom and gloom, our faithful Father comforts us by reassuring us that He is still in control and has a plan to establish a new kingdom.

What I find interesting about the last verse is this, how do we, as believers in 2024 have confidence if Daniel himself felt greatly alarmed. For many, looking at the end times prophecies, especially reading Revelation, causes people be filled with anxiety. Why is that?

More importantly, how does Jesus want us to view this passage and ones like it? He would want us to bring our anxious thoughts to him in prayer, even specific prayer but at the same time, all the while giving thanks.

Thanks? Thanks for what?

Here’s the message I believe our Lord wants us to take away from this.

“Act now, while you still can. Take encouragement in the fact that your name, if you have truly been born again in Jesus, is written down in the Book of Life and trust Yahweh with the details. He will see you through this, but the best news is, we won’t have to endure to the end of the tribulation because we are not destined for God’s wrath.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 ESV

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 ESV

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Communion