Daniel 7

V 1-8

Vision of the four beasts

Lion with Eagle wings (Babylon)

Lion in Babylonian culture would represent the strength and power that the king of Babylon possessed

Eagle that was made to stand is in reference to Nebuchadnezzar as a beast of the field in Daniel 4

Lopsided bear with 3 ribs (Medo-Persian Empire)

Lopsided because of the Persian empire, while being united, overwhelmed the Medes and continued its expansion rapidly

3 ribs represent the conquering of 3 empires (Babylon, Lydian, and Egyptian)

Leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads

Wings represent the speed at which Alexander the Great conquered the known world

13 years to create the greek empire in its golden era

4 heads represent the way the kingdom was divided amongst the diadochai after his death (Ptoleamic, Seleucid, Antigonid, and Pergamon)

Final Beast is especially troubling to Daniel

Likely believed to be in reference to Rome

10 horns + 1 extra

There’s division as to whether it means the 10 kings of Rome leading up to Nero (Nero being the final horn), or 10 kingdoms following Rome

10 kingdoms typically interpreted to mean the barbarian tribes after Rome. Division as to what the individual horn means over the antichrist vs papacy vs Nero

V 9- 14

Ancient of Days would have been a reference to God

Emphasizes his eternality and sovereignty

Son of man is given dominion

He has victory over the beasts and while they are prolonged (with the exception of the fourth beast) they are not eternal. His kingdom marks the end of the transitory period of kingdoms

His dominion and reign supersede all authority that could possibly arise out of these kingdoms and empires

V 15-28

Daniel explains the visions to which he has just witnessed and seen

What do we put our hope and refuge in?

Christian nationalism on the rise

Using Religious means to achieve political gain

While it is important that we acknowledge the blessing and fight for the betterment of American culture to produce biblical values, we must also be cautious of making being American synonymous with being Christian

All the other empires mentioned in Daniel believed that they were unique and would stand the test of time. Yet the hope of the Christian is the same hope we find in Daniel 2. Christ conquers all kingdoms and reigns over all things

Even if we endure suffering or even if our nation is not going down the biblical route, we can take heart in the ultimate truth that it is only temporary

Especially as students who are beginning to transition into college and encounter a world of different ideas