sf808 - THE FIRST THREE EMPIRES 1 of 3 Daniel's vision of the four beasts (Daniel 7 1-6)

Daniel 7:1-6

INTRODUCTION

The historical context of the vision  (1)

Date: 553 BC

Belshazzar is ruling

Daniel is ~67 years old

Babylon is in decline

The spiritual context of the vision (2-3)

Daniel’s perspective is completely different from Nebuchadnezzar

The Striving Winds (2a)

Ø       winds = Hebrew for spirits - Refer to God’s judgement

The Stormy Waves (2b)

Ø       “great sea” = Represents the nations of the world

Ø       “stirring up” = relates the unsettled nature of the world (i.e. war, etc...)

The Four Beasts (3)

Ø       They correspond to the nations symbolized by the four metals in Daniel 2.

Ø       They all come form the confusion of the “sea” - They are manmade.

1A.      The First Beast - The Supremacy of the Babylonian Empire  (4)

Key leader:  Nebuchadnezzar

1B.       The winged lion speaks of Babylon’s rapid conquests.

Lion - power, ruthlessness,

“wings” - speed, overran other kingdoms

Babylon quickly conquered all of Syria and Palestine, invaded Egypt, and besieged and took ancient Tyre.

2B.       The plucking of the wings and the standing speaks of Babylon’s conversion from a warring nation to a reigning power.

“wings torn off” = Nebuchadnezzar humbled (chapter 4)

“stood on two feet...” = Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration

“heart of a man” = Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion

2A.      The Second Beast – The Savagery of the Medo-Persian Empire  (5)

Key leader:  Cyrus

1B.       The bear speak of Medo-Persia’s power.

“bear” = brute strength

“raised up...” = Persian side was stronger

The Persian used large armies and overwhelmed their enemies by sheer numbers.

2B.       The three ribs speak of Medo-Persia’s prowess.

“three ribs” -= Egypt, Lydia, and Babylon

3B.       The command to devour speaks of Medo-Persia’s persistence.

“devour much flesh...” = total disregard for human life.

3A.      The Third Beast – The Swiftness of the Grecian Empire  (6)

Key leader:  Alexander the Great

1B.       The winged leopard speaks of the deadly speed of this kingdom

“leopard” = ferocity and speed

”four wings” = speed of attack and conquest!

Unlike Persia, Alexander’s armies were small, well trained, and well equipped.

2B.       The four heads speak of the ultimate division of the kingdom

“four heads” = Four generals

Ø       Cassander - Macedonia and Greece

Ø       Lysimachus - Asia Minor and Thrace

Ø       Seleucus - Syria and Upper Asia, Babylon and the east

Ø       Ptolemy - Egypt, Palestine, and Arabia

Application

Lessons we should learn…

1.                  God is sovereign.

2.                  God is faithful.

3.                  God is always “on-time,” His schedule is not subject to us.

4.                  God will always show His people where He is working.

5.                  Our job is to discover where God is at work and join Him.

Action we should take…

1.                  Trust God for our today, tomorrow, and eternity.

2.                  Learn to wait upon the Lord, resist becoming anxious about things we cannot control.

3.                  Look for where God is at work in our world, personally, and join Him!

THE FIRST THREE EMPIRES
Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts – Part 1 of 3
Sunday, January 17, 1999 – Daniel 7:1-6

INTRODUCTION

The date is 553 BC, Belshazzar is ruling the kingdom.  Daniel is about 67 years old and the nation of Babylon is in decline.  Daniel’s perspective is completely different from Nebuchadnezzar, his vision comes from the perspective of heaven.  The four beasts he sees correspond to the nations symbolized by the four metals in Daniel 2.

1A.      The First Beast - The Supremacy of the Babylonian Empire  (4)

1B.       The winged lion speaks of Babylon’s __________ conquests.

2B.       The plucking of the wings and the standing speaks of Babylon’s conversion from a warring nation to a reigning ______________.

2A.      The Second Beast – The Savagery of the Medo-Persian Empire  (5)

1B.       The bear speak of Medo-Persia’s ____________.

2B.       The three ribs speak of Medo-Persia’s prowess.

“three ribs” -= Egypt, Lydia, and Babylon

3B.       The command to devour speaks of Medo-Persia’s persistence.

3A.      The Third Beast – The Swiftness of the Grecian Empire  (6)

1B.       The winged leopard speaks of the deadly _________ of this kingdom

2B.       The four heads speak of the ultimate division of the kingdom

“four heads” = Four generals

Ø       Cassander - Macedonia and Greece

Ø       Lysimachus - Asia Minor and Thrace

Ø       Seleucus - Syria and Upper Asia, Babylon and the east

Ø       Ptolemy - Egypt, Palestine, and Arabia

Application

Lessons we should learn…

1.         God is sovereign.

2.         God is _______________.

3.         God is always “on-time,” His schedule is not subject to us.

4.         God will always show His people where He is _____________________.

5.         Our job is to discover where God is at work and join Him.

Action we should take…

1.         ____________ God for our today, tomorrow and eternity.

2.         Learn to wait upon the Lord, resist becoming anxious about things we cannot control.

3.         Look for where God is at work in our world, personally, and _______________ Him!