Daniel 7 - "The End Times Revealed!"

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As we look into Daniel 7, we have an opportunity to dive into a dream that seems so unreal that it seems like the most bizarre science fiction you've ever read.  In fact, by the end of chapter 7, Daniel admits he was quite shaken by the dream, "I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself."

God gave this dream to Daniel. It was not only bizarre in symbolism, but God revealed to Daniel that it was a foretelling of some signs to show the world when the end of the world is near, and what will happen in the end.  

Let's take a look at this dream Daniel had.

While he lies upon his bed one evening, he begins to drift off to sleep when he sees a vision and/or a dream.  In the dream, he notices that there are three strange and very unusual beasts that appear before him. 

The four beasts Daniel saw were as follows:

• A lion which had eagle's wings” (verse 4).
• A bear that raised up itself on one side, with three ribs in its mouth (verse 5). 
• A leopard, which had four wings and four heads (verse 6). 
• A dreadful and terrible beast with iron teeth and ten horns” (verse 7).

Daniel, being confused by the weirdness of the dream, was trying desperately to understand its meaning. Out of curiosity, Daniel approached what was probably an angel and asked him what the dream meant. 

The angel revealed that it was a picture of the coming four empires who will conquer the world.

The First Kingdom:  

This beast represents the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom of Babylon. The lion was a symbol quite common in ancient Babylon. Archaeologists have frequently found monuments of winged lions under the ruins of ancient Babylon. Even the prophet Jeremiah warned Israel that, because of their rebellion into idolatry and profaning His name (character), God would give them over to their heart’s desire by sending Babylonian armies. When describing the kingdom of Babylon he said, “The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them … Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan” (Jeremiah 50:43, 44).

During the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar, the kingdom of Babylon was very strong. Daniel foresaw that the wings of the kingdom (which represent speed) would be “plucked” and be given a “man’s heart” (which means it would become week and afraid - see also Jeremiah 51:30).

The Second Kingom:

The second beast represents the kingdom of Medo-Persia. In time, the Persians became dominant over the Medes, and this is why Daniel saw that this bear “raised up itself on one side.” Thus, we see a clear connection between the two sides of this bear, the two horns of the ram in Daniel 8, and the two arms of the great image that king Nebuchadnezzar saw! The three ribs in the bear’s mouth would represent the three principle kingdoms conquered by Medo-Persia:  Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt.

The Third Kingdom:

Since this third beast represents the same third kingdom that Nebuchadnezzar saw, then this beast must represent the kingdom of Greece. Daniel also saw that the leopard-like beast had four heads. After Alexander the Great’s death, the Grecian Empire was divided by civil war into exactly four parts. Alexander's four leading generals took control of these nations: Cassander (west), Lysimachus (north), Seleucus (east), Ptolemy (south).

The Fourth Beast:

This fourth beast represents the kingdom of Rome. This beast had “great iron teeth.” The legs of the great image in chapter 2 were made of “iron.” This beast was “exceedingly strong.” The legs of the great image were “strong as iron” (Daniel 2:40). This beast “devoured and brake in pieces.” Daniel saw that the legs of the great image also “break in pieces and bruise” (Daniel 2:40). This beast “had ten horns.” The feet of the great image obviously had ten toes which were made of iron and clay (Daniel 2:33). 

The angel had told Daniel that “it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it.” The kingdom of Rome as a whole inherited and subdued all of the characteristics and pagan philosophy from the previous three kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. In the book of Revelation we see that John also had a vison of this ten-horned beast. Take a look at how he describes it:

“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” (Revelation 13:1, 2)

Keep in mind...Daniel was living in the time of Babylon thus he began with Babylon describing it as a lion. He then moved on to Medo-Persia (bear), then to Greece (leopard), then to Rome (dreadful one). John, on the other hand, lists the same beasts, but in the opposite order. He begins with the dreadful beast, then lists the remaining beasts like this: leopard, bear, lion. Why? Because John is living in the time of Daniel’s fourth beast! He’s living in the time of Pagan Rome! Daniel looked forward from Babylon to Rome while John looked backward from Rome to Babylon. This makes it absolutely clear that the ten-horned beast is non-other than Rome! And since it is made up of all the previous beasts before it, Rome would be an expansion, or a conglomeration (mixture), of all the beasts (kingdoms) before it. Need more proof?

The most terrifying was the fourth beast, because it was the most powerful kingdom of all. This beast had 10 horns (the symbol of power and/or kingship), three of which were ripped out by a small horn which boasted arrogantly against God. These horns were nations and//or leaders of these nations. The small horn represents the coming Anti-Christ who will claim to be God and will have the power to conquer most of the world today...or at least maintain immense power over them.

Daniel's Sees The Father & Jesus At The Throne!

Daniel tries to describe an incredible moment when Jesus ( a son of man representing his humanness), approached the Father. Daniel is witness that the Father has given all authority in heaven and on earth to His Son, Jesus Christ.

The End Time Events:

While seeking information on who the fourth beast represented, Daniel finds out that this type of Kingdom will one day rule again the control. It will form at least a 10 nation confederacy and seek out to conquer as many nations of the world as possible and in the most ruthless way.

Daniel sees that this kingdom is bent on destroying God's people. But, before they do, Jesus Christ comes to the rescue and brings all of his people to Jerusalem while He sets up His rule for the next 1000 years on Earth while making those of us who are believers in Christ rulers and judges over the entire world. We will be ruling and reigning with Him!  I look forward to that day!