Explanation, please
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Recounted and retold
Recounted and retold
Recounted and retold is reminding so we can have a better understanding. Thus far we have seen several things in visions, others and in Daniels.
Head of gold = Babylonian Kingdom
Nebuchadnezzer to Belshazzar
Breast of silver, bear, ram = Medo-Persian Empire
Darius the Mead
Belly thigh bronze, leopard, shaggy goat = Grecian Empire
Alexander
Divided kingdom (one kingdom, divided authority)
Legs of iron, dreadful beast = Roman Empire
to rise of the Roman empire which would also represent the world beyond the fall of Rome
(Transition)
Now we are transitioning from Daniel giving interpretations of others dreams to seeking God to interpret his own vision. In our passage today we will see - Explanation and the promise (Dan7:15-18); the fourth beast (Dan7:19-22); Fourth beast defined (Dan7:23-28).
Explanation and promise
Explanation and promise
From the vision of the ancient of days (Dan7:9) and the throne room of heaven (Dan7:10) from pompous words from a little horn (Dan7:11) still, Daniel wants to know, understand for he is troubled, grieved, distressed, alarmed in the spirit as to the meaning of what he has seen (Dan7:15-18)
9 “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.
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.
So, as Daniel is looking in the vision, in the Spirit it is troubling, it is distressing, alarming and that is where we are today in our passage before us.
15 “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:
17 ‘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.’
(Please explain picture inserted here)
Daniel is distressed and alarmed (v.15)
Different versions use different words all coming to the agreement that he is not liking, or not understanding exactly what he is seeing. He wants to know the truth.
Are there times, have there been times in your life when you have been troubled, distressed, alarmed? If not yet, there will be times like that for scripture tells us that we will have trouble, we will have distress, we will have persecution and tribulation as well as trials. One thing we can know is God is in charge, God is in control, and God is on the throne!
Daniel, in the vision, seeks explanation (v.16)
Sometimes, like Daniel, we need things explained or we seek explanation of things. Daniel was not exactly sure the interpretation of the vision, what he is seeing, so he is seeking help.
We, like Daniel should never been prideful or feel ashamed as to not look, seek help, explanation from the Lord in prayer, through God’s word or from God’s people, God puts us in each others lives to help one another.
Here is the explanation (v.17)
It is in simple form
Four beasts = four kings that come from the earth
We have already been made aware that it represents 4 kingdoms of the world
The promise, and the assurance (v.18; Ps89:1-5; Col1:13; Heb12:28)
I better put that one back on the screen.
18 ‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’
From the dominion of the kings, to the kingdom of the saints! To the saints of the Most High and it is a kingdom that is forever. - from the kingdom of the beast, the world to the kingdom of the Most High!
Makes me think of another passage we should touch on for it would seem this is the fulfillment of what was also told in Ps89.
1 I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth. 2 For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”
3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, 4 I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah.
5 The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
Stop, let’s look at some assurances we have, should have:
If evil seems to be prevailing; know that God is still in charge, in control and the kingdom is His.
The kingdom of the Messiah has been established and if you are in Christ Jesus you are a part of that kingdom when you were transferred out of the darkness (ref. Col1:13).
You are in a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, or shaken (ref. Heb12:28)
This is the kingdom that our Savior made us, the saints to be a part of (1Cor3:21-23)
21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
(transition): Regardless of the things of this world, of life or death, present things or things in the future, the kingdom is yours for you are in Christ and He is God’s!
Having said that, now we have much more to cover today and more for us to know, so now let’s press on.
The Fourth Beast
The Fourth Beast
Daniel still wants more of an explanation as to the fourth beast. He knew the beast was significant, what is with the 10 horns and 3 that fell?
How about you, do you have a curious mind? I know I do, Google and I are good friends. May we be inquisitive too, for that is when we learn, gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding so it can be applied. Daniel desires not just information but exact meaning, so let’s now look at the passage.
19 “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.
21 “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 knew the beast was different, powerful and destructive (v.19, 7)
7 “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.
Daniel wanted truth (NKJV) meaning (NASB) of the fourth beast (v.20)
He knew it had 10 horns, and another came came up, and then 3 fell.
He knew it, the other horn that came up, spoke pompous words and its appearance was greater than the others.
Daniel knew the beast was waging war against the saints (v.21); not only waging war, but seemed to be prevailing.
This beast is the little horn noted back in (v.8) or another horn (v.10) that was waging war with the saints. This little horn is the Roman horn waging against the saints.
He saw the Ancient of Days come in judgment (v.22)
Are you familiar with the term “coming of the Lord? or maybe “Day of the Lord?” this is a day of the Lord event, there are many, may I offered up some biblical examples of day of the Lord events?
Day of the Lord (Isa19:1) - against Egypt
Day of the Lord (Mic1:3ff) Against Samaria
Day of the Lord (Nah1:3ff) against Nineveh
The coming of the ancient of days, the day of the Lord is a judgment event. Judgment maybe entered but not carried out right away. Judgment was entered when the court sat (Dan7:10) and judgment now passed (Dan7:22) it is a demonstration of God’s sovereignty.
Judgment passed in favor of the saints (Dan7:22; Rev6:10; Rev18:20)
10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
now look at the day of the Lord event that comes in conjunction to the Rev6:10 passage
20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”
This is that, or at least how I see it, that Daniel is seeing in the future and John is looking back on.
There maybe times when you feel bloody, beaten, defeated, discouraged, abandoned. Just remember who you belong to and that judgment has already been rendered against the ungodly.
Other scriptures to consider (Jm1:2-3; 1Pt5:10-11)
We may suffer as a tribulation saint James tells us what we are to do when we do:
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
OK, you caught me that was a interpretive not a translation version so better give you that too.
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Though we may suffer, know judgment has already been entered and may we find some encouragement in what Peter has to say.
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
(transition) where as there are several views that people may have on this passage and coupling with with Revelation, what we can see and know is that Daniel wants to know the truth, the explanation of fourth beast that was different, and that leads us to the scripture definition of the fourth beast.
Definition of Fourth Beast
Definition of Fourth Beast
Scripture is the best way to define scripture and that Daniel in our next section defines the fourth beast and what was going to transpire. And, then Daniel ends still troubled, but resolved in the heart of the matter.
23 “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.
26 ‘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.’
28 “At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
So, now let’s see what we can learn regarding the definition of the fourth beast from the passage.
(Fourth Beast- 10 kings)
Fourth beast is a fourth kingdom (v.23)
A strong kingdom that devours , tramples and breaks the earth into peaces.
keep in mind they have in mind being the empire of the known world at that time. Paul even believed he had preached to the whole world (thinking of Col1:23)
Ten horns are ten kings (v.24)
This is not ten kingdoms, that is not what the text says as many want to claim, the verse, in act let me put it back up again says 10 kings
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.
We have previously looked at the 10 kings of the Roman empire as we see there shall arise another,different from the others and shall subdue three of them.
(Josephus picture)
According to historical writings by Flavious Josephus shows regard the 10 kings and the other, that there is Domitian the son of Vespasian while on his way back to Egypt to take the throne, his son, Domitian, was already there and was waging war against the ruling party, Vitellius and cut off his head, Galba and Otho had short reigns of under a year when they were killed, so there you have the three uprooted. One to come is Titus who is going to wage war against Jerusalem.
This other that rises up will speak against the Most High (v.25)
He was going to speak blasphemous and it will appear that they are prevailing, may we remember even though it may look bad, God is still in control, God has passed judgment in favor of the saints, to not all is lost.
Shall intend to change times and law (v.25)
Here are some interesting facts
Jews had a 36- day year with 30 days per month and added intercalary months to make things word out in solar years (365 day year)
Is this what was trying to be changed? Hum, consider this too.
Times, times times and a half (v.25) is also found other places (Rev11:23, 12:6, 14 and Rev13:5) is this years? So, 3 1/2 years?
In O.T. Elijah was cared for by raven in the wilderness for 3 1/2 years
It is also seen as a limited time of persecution in both the O.T. and the N.T.
Remember the court has sat (v.27)
the temporary dominion of the kings was going to end and the kingdom was going to be established for the saints, saints being who obeyed Him! Who? Jesus, the ruler of the kingdom that will not end, that is eternal.
we live, serve in a kingdom (rule, reign, authority) under our king, Jesus.
This is the end, but still troubled (v.28)
Daniel did not know everything, nor do we, we have limited information, limited historical information, we have symbolism, we have hyperbole, we have subjection but then we have assurance too
God is in charge, God is in control even when it does not look like it or feel like it.
Lead to prayer, Close.