The Fall of Empire

The Book of Daniel

The book shares the prophecies of Daniel during his 60 years of ministry. As we have been reminded through our studies, we must consider context when seeking to understand the Word of God. The contents of the book was directed toward Israelites in Babylonian exile.

The book can be divided up into multiple ways:

The first half the book (chapters 1-6) share stories of Daniel and his friends while the second half of the book (chapters 7-12) share Daniel’s visions.

Language

Chapter 1 — Hebrew

Chapters 2-7 — Aramaic

Chapters 8-12 — Hebrew

Chiasm — The entire book is one large chiasm with mini chiasms in each section.

Notice how the narrative portions are arranged:

2 — Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

3 — Fiery furnace

4 — Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall

5 — Belshazzar’s pride

6 — Lion’s den

7— Daniel’s Dream

The treasure at the center of the chiasm of entire book of Daniel is found in this chapter (7). This will be our focus for today.

Now, let’s make sure we understand what we are reading and why we are reading it. Dreams/visions often contains language that can be confusing and frustrating. That’s ok, we are not reading from the perspective of the original audience. We must remember that. Yes, we have a better perspective standing on this side of the cross but let’s not get carried away here. I believe there is an important truth for us in this passage as we read and reflect on what God is trying to communicate through Daniel to His chosen nation.

There will always be sections of Scripture that are hard to comprehend. That is why we must spend time in study and listen to leading of the Spirit in our lives. We can easily become frustrated or confused with apocalyptic prophecy due to a lack of understanding. But just cause you don’t fully understand something doesn’t mean you can’t believe or follow. For example, in its daily rotation, the earth travels 1.6 million miles at a rate of 66,627 MPH. How many of you spent time yesterday fretting over how you would accomplish or understand the daily travel around the sun?

Scripture Focus — Daniel 7

Daniel 7:1–2 ESV

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.

Restless sea = people/nations of the earth Isaiah 57:20

Isaiah 57:20 ESV

But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

Four winds = four directions of the earth (totality)

Revelation 7:1 ESV

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.

Daniel 7:3 ESV

And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream (chapter 2) of a statue that represented future empires:

Head of gold (Babylon)

Chest/arms of silver (Medo-Persia)

Stomach/thighs of bronze (Greece)

Legs of iron and feet of clay (Rome?)

Great mountain (God’s eternal kingdom)

Daniel 7:4 ESV

The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.

Winged Lion = Babylon. Popular image representing Babylon. Scripture refers to Neb as a lion and eagle. Posture is reminiscent of Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 7:5 ESV

And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’

Bear with ribs = Medo Persians. 3 ribs = Egypt, Babylon, and Lydia (defeated empires). Sides were not of equal strength.

Daniel 7:6 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

Winged four headed leopard = Greece. (Alexander the Great). Wings increased speed of conquest. Vast kingdom in four parts with four leaders (or four corners of the world)

Daniel 7:7 ESV

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

Beast = Rome? Maybe later (end times)? Larger, more powerful and fierce beast.

Daniel 7:9–12 ESV

“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

Everything is under God’s control…even when it appears that chaos reigns in the world.

Daniel’s dream is connected...

Lion (Babylon)

Bear (Medo-Persia)

Leopard (Greece)

Beast (Rome?)

Son of Man (God’s eternal kingdom)

Notice man’s view of all this in the correlation of dreams — precious metals and ferocious beasts.

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And 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 one that shall not be destroyed.

Clouds were a vehicle of transport for a deity in the ancient world. Revelation 14:14-15

Revelation 14:14–15 ESV

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”

Man = Jesus Christ. Judge the beast and destroy kingdom to establish true kingdom with the saints.

Mark 14:61–62 ESV

But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 14:64 ESV

You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.

Daniel 7:27 ESV

And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

Why does Daniel matter to us today?

The battle is raging — the enemy is real — but the victory is secured

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

1 John 4:4 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Empires rise and fall, there is only ONE that will last forever!

Revelation 11:15 ESV

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

Kings rise and fall, but there is only ONE that will reign forever!

Revelation 1:5 ESV

and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Colossians 1:15–17 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hope is found in the future when God will confront evil and rescue the world and His people.

Then, we will reign with Him forever!

The message is heavy, yes, it was heavy for Daniel too. But take heart, the time will come when suffering will be no more.

Daniel 7:15 ESV

“As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.

Daniel 7:28 ESV

“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel 8:27 ESV

And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.

Daniel 10:8 ESV

So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength.

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we reflect on our own freedom this holiday weekend, may this passage be a sobering reminder to us. Yes, we can be proud of our roots and the great sacrifices that have been made for us to live in America. Yet, this land is not our home. We have a future and a hope somewhere else. Empires will come and go, but the Kingdom of God will last forever. Are you a part of that kingdom? Are you living as an ambassador in a foreign land, or have you made this empire your home?

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 ESV

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

How are you living your life?

Hopeful -OR- Hopeless?

Confident -OR- Crushed?

Which kingdom (or empire) are you pursuing?