Daniel 7

Daniel 7:1

VII. DANIEL’S DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS DEPICTING FOUR WORLD EMPIRES (Chap. 7)The first six chapters of Daniel are mainly historical; the last six are prophetical. Daniel’s dream and visions in chapters 7 and 8 occurred during the reign of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, before the Medes and Persians rose to power. 7:1-4 In chapter 7, we have Daniel’s vision of four great beasts coming up from the sea. (The Great Sea is the Mediterranean.) These represent the four world empires. The lion represents Babylon. The eagle’s wings suggest swiftness of conquest. The wings . . . plucked may refer to Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity, and the rest of verse 4 to his recovery and conversion. 7:5 The bear pictures Medo-Persia. The Persian section was raised up to greater importance than the Median. The three ribs which it held in its mouth perhaps represent the three sections of the Babylonian Empire which were sacked by the Medes and Persians under CyrusBabylon in the east; Egypt in the south; and the Lydian kingdom in Asia Minor. 7:6 The leopard is a type of Greece. Its four wings of a bird speak of the rapid expansion of the Grecian Empire. Four is the number of the world. Wings speak of speed. Within thirteen years Alexander conquered the world, marching as far east as India. Then he died at thirty-threeempty handed. The leopard’s four heads apparently set forth the division of the empire to four of Alexander’s generals after his death. 7:7, 8 The fourth beast, powerful and destructive, was different from the others but had some of their bestial characteristics. It is described as dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong, with huge iron teeth. It speaks of the Roman Empire, which would follow the Grecian Empire, would cease, and then, after a considerable space of time, would be revived. It is in this revived form that it would have ten horns, that is, ten kings, and a little . . . horn, i.e., the future head of the Revived Roman Empirethe Antichrist. 7:9-14 In verse 9, Daniel pictures the fifth and final world empirethe glorious kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ; He will be given universal dominion. The description of the Ancient of Days here resembles that of Christ in Revelation 1. But this identification is somewhat obscured in verse 13 by One like the Son of Man coming before the Ancient of Days. Then it would read as if Christ were coming before Himself. Perhaps it is best to think of the Ancient of Days here as being God the Father. One like the Son of Man would then be the Lord Jesus, coming before the Father to be invested with the kingdom. The Ancient of Days sits as a Judge in court (vv. 10, 26). The little horn and his empire are destroyed (v. 11). The other world empires also cease, but the nations and people continue (v. 12). The Lord Jesus is given universal dominion, a kingdom, the one which shall never be superseded (v. 14). 7:15-18 When Daniel expressed anxious perplexity, an unidentified interpreter explained that the four . . . great beasts represented four world rulers who would arise out of the earth, but who would be succeeded by the kingdom of the Most High and of His saints. Whereas this world’s kingdoms will all pass away, the saints of the Most High will have an everlasting kingdom. In verse 3 the beasts come out of the sea, which usually typifies the Gentile nations. Here in verse 17 they come out of the earth; this refers to their moral outlook as being earthbound and their character as being nonspiritual. 7:19-22 Daniel made special inquiry concerning the fourth beast which surpassed the others in cruelty and ferocity. He also wanted to know about the ten horns and the other horn before which three fell. He saw the little horn . . . making war with the saints of the Tribulation Period until the Ancient of Days came, ended their sufferings, and gave them the kingdom. 7:23-28 The unnamed interpreter explained the fourth beast, the ten horns, and the pompous little horn. The latter will blaspheme the Most High, persecute the saints, and intend to change the Jewish calendar for three and a half years. (This is the Great Tribulation referred to by the Lord Jesus in Mat_24:21.) But he will be stripped of his power and the glorious, everlasting kingdom of our Lord will be ushered in. Daniel responded with alarm and wonderment.