Daniel - The Interpretation, The Truth
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As we begin this morning, I realize that we’re going to be speaking of and looking at Bible prophecy and that some may “tune me out” and be quick to say, “Bible Prophecy is too difficult to understand.”
However, I would like to point out what is recorded for us in vs. 16:
So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the kings.
As a matter of application, allow me to say that God desires that we know and understand not only Bible prophecy but all of God’s Word. God wants you to know the truth. God wants you to understand the truth.
Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine!
As you read and study God’s Word, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and then to be able to apply God’s truth in your life.
As you hear the preaching of God’s Word - In fact, before you ever come into the auditorium. - ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and be able to apply God’s truth in your life.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Ok..now the interpretation of Daniel’s vision! Turn to and read Daniel 7:15-28.
The Four Beasts
The Four Beasts
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
These four beasts which Daniel saw represented four world empires that have come and that will come.
These four beasts correspond to the elements that made up the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter 2. Turn to and read Daniel 2:37-45.
The head made out of gold represented Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian world empire.
The breast and arms of silver represented the next world empire - the Media-Persian empire.
The belly and thighs of the image represented the Grecian empire which came next.
Finally, the legs of iron and the feet and toes, a mixture of iron and clay represented the Roman world empire.
This image is destroyed by a stone cut out of the mountain, a representation of the millineal kingdom of Jesus Christ.
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
The four beasts in Daniel chapter 7 represent those same four world-empires.
The lion which had eagle’s wings represented the Babylonian empire. (vs. 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 stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
“Interestingly” enough, the lion was the national symbol of Babylon.
The Lion of Babylon
Daniel, who was living in the capitol of the Babylonian empire would have immediately understood what, or who, this first beast represented.
The references to the plucking of the eagle’s wings and the reference to a man’s heart were likely references to king Nebuchadnezzar.
The bear which had three ribs in its mouth represented the Medio-Persian empire. (vs. 5)
And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Secular history records for us that the Medio-Persian empire, under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, conquered the Babylonian empire in 539 BC.
Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would allow the Jews to return from captivity to rebuild the temple.
That saith to the deep, Be dry, And I will dry up thy rivers:
That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, And shall perform all my pleasure: Even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; And to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
What’s makes this prophecy so spectacular? God, through Isaiah, gave this prophecy concerning Cyrus some 175 years before it took place! While we won’t take the time, we can read about the fulfillment of this prophecy in Ezra chapter 1.
The leopard represented the Grecian empire. (vs. 6)
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
The Greeks came into power under the leadership of Alexander the Great. The leopard speaks of speed and swiftness. Secular history records for us that Alexander the Great, at the age of 20, began a military campaign that, when completed 10 years later, had created the largest empire in the ancient world. History records that Alexander died in Babylon as he was attempting to establish it as his capitol.
The fourth beast which was “dreadful and terrible” represented the Roman empire. (vs. 7)
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
As one commentator stated, “The fourth beast was awesome and terrifying. It was not likened to any ordinary animal. It had iron teeth, it was powerful…It crushed everything in its path.”
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
Application: Allow me stop here to emphatically state that God’s Word is true! Secular history bears witness to the fact that God’s Word is true!
Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Ladies and gentlemen, God’s Word is true. It has always been true.
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
God’s Word is true about everything!
And, if it is true about the past, it is true about the future!
That’s where we find ourselves then in Daniel 7:18.
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
From there, Daniel’s vision literally jumps over thousands of years of history.
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Daniel jumps from the four world empires to the final reign of Jesus Christ, His millenial reign which will give way to eternity!
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Turn to and read Daniel 7:19-27. In these verses, the angel, giving him the interpretation of his vision, expounds a lot more on everything that is summed up in vs. 18.
As we have seen previously, the eleventh horn which appears on the head of the fourth beast is the antichrist of the book of the Revelation.
We do not have the time, this morning, to go into detail about these verses. As we have been studying through the book of the Revelation on Sunday evenings, we have looked at a lot of this already. However, in Daniel we see the antichrist - the eleventh horn - speaking great things against God and we see him waging war against the tribulation saints until, as we read in Revelation chapter 19, Jesus Christ comes and conquerors the devil, the antichrist and the false prophet!
Thus we come to the end of Daniel chapter 7 with theses words...
Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
I’m am here reminded of the experience of John in Revelation 10:9-10:
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
The prophecy recorded for us in Daniel chapter 7 should be sweet as honey.
As we read this prophecy there is much to rejoice about and to revel in. As Christians, whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, we are in the winning side!
However, the prophecy recorded for us in Daniel chapter 7 should make our belly bitter.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
There are countless millions for whom the end, will not be pleasant for they will spend eternity in a Christ-less hell.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
While we may have found out way - through salvation - onto the narrow way, the way which leads to eternal life, what are you and I doing to persuade the many on the broad road to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior? What am I doing to persuade the many on the broad road to receive Jesus Christ?