Dreamin' Daniel

Introduction

When we started this series, we talked about how Daniel is a book which is divided into two sections.

First we have the history of Daniel. And second we have Daniel’s prophecies about history.

The overarching theme though is the same, God rules the kingdoms of men.

In our introductory lesson, we described these parts this way:

God's providence in history - Dan 1:1-6:28

God's purpose in history - Dan 7:1-12:13

Today we move from the history of Daniel to Daniel’s prophecies about history. In some cases, we have very clear direction from the text and it’s explicit, in others we are going to have to speculate, and anyone who tells you they know with 100% certainty that they know exactly everything that Daniel is prophesying, is deceived. At best, we are guessing here. Granted, they may be educated guesses but guesses none the less. So, with this in mind, let’s dive into Daniel Chapter 7 and maybe we’ll even cover Daniel 8 today.

We start out by considering Daniel’s vision of the four beasts today.

The Vision Described

Date of the Vision

Daniel 7:1 NKJV

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.

Verse 1 says that it was received in the first year of king Belshazzar, so that puts it at about 550 B.C., when Belshazzar became co-regent with his father Nabonidus

Details of the Vision

This vision can be broken down into two parts, so let’s look at the first part.

Daniel 7:2–8 NKJV

Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

So, we’ll call part one:

The Four Beasts From the Sea

This section starts out with the four winds of heaven stirring up the Great Sea (Mediterranean Sea).

We have scriptural precedent to believe that the "sea" may symbolize the general mass of humanity.

Isaiah 17:12 NKJV

Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

Revelation 17:15 NKJV

Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

The four winds of heaven could be interpreted as the forces that God uses to control and even destroy, as we see in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 49:36 NKJV

Against Elam I will bring the four winds From the four quarters of heaven, And scatter them toward all those winds; There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go.

Jeremiah 51:1 NKJV

Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, Against those who dwell in Leb Kamai, A destroying wind.

So now you can see, how Interpreting Daniel is not an exact science. Are they literal seas or symbolic seas, and then are they literal winds or symbolic winds? If the sea is literal then the rule of consistency in Bible interpretation says that you must then consider the wind to be literal as well. But which is it? Literal or spiritual, and does it matter? Well in some cases it doesn’t, but in many cases it certainly changes the meaning of something doesn’t it? And along with it its significance.

Why? Because if it symbolic, then four great beasts coming up out of the sea means that these beasts come out of the population of the world… from the mass of humanity, And if we think about it, it is most likely that the interpretation here has to be symbolic.

Now for the million dollar question. What do the beast represent? You ready for the answer? Good, because you don’t have to wait. Let’s read on.

Daniel 7:15–28 NKJV

“I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. ‘But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Okay pastor, we’re ready for you to tell us who exactly those beast represent. Good, you’re curious, and let me tell you exactly who they represent. The beasts are identified as world kingdoms. The “horn” from the last beast is a ruler who will directly oppose God and oppress His saints (v. 25). But then God’s everlasting kingdom (see Kingdom of God) will be established.

Okay pastor, we get that from scripture, but which nations? to be honest, I have no idea! There are theories out there. Many theories, but no one can tell you for sure, because the Bible doesn’t expressly say who they are. I’ve heard many people make all kinds of things “fit”, and to be honest, you have to give credit to the different people who have tried to solve the puzzle, but they are still guesses. All we really now is what the Angel says. Nothing else is certain.

But pastor, that’s frustrating! I want to know who they are! Oh well that’s different, in that case let me tell you.

I don’t know. And you want to know something else? It may be fun to try to figure it out, but it’s not important, because in the end, what Kingdom is the one left standing? That’s right, the Kingdom of God, and in the end, isn’t that the whole point? God Rules the Kingdoms of men! And boy does he ever rule, let’s move on to the second part of the vision,

The Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:9–12 NKJV

“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened. “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

This is a very awesome scene that is playing out in the history of man represented in this passage of Daniel. It is the judgement of the nations by the Ancient of Days. There are Bible scholars that claim all of this has already happened throughout the history of the Earth, and that Daniel and Revelation are now completely in our past. They claim that the rapture of the church and the millennial reign of Christ is not a literal 1,000 years, but that all references regarding the reign of Jesus are are figurative, and are speaking of the way Jesus rules over the hearts of believers. They basically do the same thing with Old Testament prophesies about Jesus ruling on the throne of David and de-emphasize Israel, and state that all of the promises made to Israel now apply to the church instead, and that the Church is now the Spiritual Israel. By this interpretation, the logical conclusion is that Israel as a nation no longer has any relevance, and that they don’t have a destiny in God’s ultimate scheme of things. This theory has two major problems. The first it has been used by many to justify anti-semitism, and the second, it simply conflicts with scripture. Please turn to Romans with me.

Romans 11 NKJV

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.” And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.” I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

So then, what can we glean from this passage of scripture that will help us understand end-time prophesy? Well, simply this. At the return of Jesus, when He comes to reign over the Earth, there will be a Judgment of all of the Gentile nations.

Matthew 25:31–36 NKJV

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

The sheep nations will be those who blessed the Nation of Israel (the Lord’s brethren). But wait pastor, I thought this judgement in Matthew represented individual people. Well, the concepts certainly apply to people, this is actually a judgment of the nations. Flip back to Daniel real quick, and that brings us to the final part of the vision:

The Coronation of the Son of Man

Daniel 7:13–14 NKJV

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then 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 the one Which shall not be destroyed.

Who does that sound like? right now look back at Matthew, who is the one passing judgment? Is it the Father, or is it someone else? It’s the King so it must be the Father right? Wrong, because in Daniel we see that the Father crowns the Son of Man! Who is the Son of Man?

Matthew 16:13 NKJV

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Putting it All Together

OK, so I know this seems a tiny bit like maybe we’ve been cheated here today. We’re supposed to find out from all this stuff where, exactly we are in end time prophesy and pastor, you haven’t provided us any clear clues about which beast is what. Well relax, this chapter is just setting the stage. It, in combination with the other passages that we read today sets an amazing scene of the final justice that will come upon the Earth. The theme we’ve been seeing in Daniel is that God rules in the kingdoms of men, and up until now, we’ve seen him do it through bringing correction to individual kings in individual circumstances, but Daniel is laying it all out, stating straight up that this will not always be the case. There will come a time when the nations are collectively judged and separated based on their dealings with Israel. But don’t despair, next time we shall finally get a peek at where we may be in the the timeline of these visions, and how we are indeed getting close to the coming of the Ancient of Days.