The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:89, NASB95)[7] You have a responsibility because you know what the end will bring. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. So King Nebuchadnezzar honored God's men. These saints are the believing Jews of the tribulation, not the believers of the Church Age. (8) Is there any relationship between Nebuchadnezzars dream in chapter 2 and Daniels dream in chapter 7? Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him." The reign of Belshazzar was, in some measure, a foretaste of what was yet to come in full measure during the reign of the fourth beast, especially of the eleventh horn. Those of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, and Darius all agree with the prophecy of Daniel 7. That was bad enough, from the religious leaders perspective, but the way in which He answered them was the last straw. (8) The four beasts are all different, with the last standing apart from the first three. Nevertheless, Daniel tells no one, keeping the matter to himself and suffering a quiet agony over the future events God has revealed to him. He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. Alexander the Great's empire and its divisions after his death were predicted long in advance in Daniel 11. (5) While the process involves wicked kings and nations and the suffering of the saints, the culmination is the establishment of Gods eternal kingdom. The ten horns, Daniel is told, represent ten kings who will emerge out of the fourth kingdom. Daniel 2:1-23 - The King's Dream (Pastor Nate Wagner) A. Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The implication here is that this is a repeated dream, one that is . (3) What principles should guide and govern our attempt to interpret the prophecy of this chapter? The beasts are a horrifying and frightening sight; the heavenly court scene is one of regal splendor and beauty. 8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth uttering great boasts. (1) The troubling dream. The lesson was prepared for older students. Daniel 2:1-13 - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream. In order to save Rose, Unity asks her to give up whatever makes her the dream vortex. Our attention should be given to what is clearly and emphatically said. (3) These prophecies must be understood in light of their historical background as provided in Daniel, in the inspired revelation provided by other portions of Scripture, and the cautious use of supplementary information by reliable historical documents or study. The words of Daniel which applied to the beasts now found application to them. Chapter 2 contains a very significant prophecy, revealed by God to king Nebuchadnezzar. The Septuagint renders, "And the king commended that the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers of the Chaldeans be brought in to tell the king his dream. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream ( Daniel 2:1-16) Say: Some time later, the King had a dream. Daniel still dreaming said he approached one of those standing there. While most prophecies in the Bible reveal events which will take place after the death of the recipient of the prophecy, the prophecy is revealed for impact upon those to whom it was revealed. Public sentiment was turning against this foreign religion, and the Babylonians, including Belshazzar, wanted a return to their old time religion the pagan worship of the gods of Babylon. The identity of the kingdoms represented by the other body parts and metals was not revealed. The fact that wicked men will prosper and prevail and that the righteous will suffer is hardly pleasant news. In his interpretation of the dream, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar he was the head of gold. 3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. Interpretations of Daniels prophecies differ widely. Quite clear, however, is the identity of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man.. Daniel said the king's dream was about a giant statue that was destroyed by a stone cut out of a mountain. According to verse 1, the written record of the revelation Daniel received in his first night vision is but a summary of the prophecy he received. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:13, NASB95)[5] The more we know about the future the more are hearts should be moved to practical preparation. He gave Daniel a general summary of the dream, These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. A number of lessons from our text have broad application to our thinking and conduct as Christians. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. If a man cannot remember the dream he saw (it means): his (personal) god is angry with him. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. ET. In verse 1 Daniel indicates his vision came to him in the first year of the reign of Belshazzar. As we move into the second half of Daniel 7 and begin to dissect Daniels dream with the help of Gods Word and the help of history past because some of this dream which was yet future for Daniel is past history for us. Second, the prophecies of Daniel are to be understood in the light of the entire Book of Daniel, of the Old Testament, and of the Bible as a whole. Prophecy is revealed to men to change their perspective, to urge them to see things as God sees them rather than as they appear to the human eye. When the sin and oppression of evil men reaches a predetermined point, God will remove them and establish His promised eternal kingdom. In Daniels dream the Roman empire was represented by such a terrible beast that Daniel could name no animal which fit its description. We could never predict the goals God has determined, nor the means He has ordained for history to reach them. 3:15; Zc. In those days, as in our own, there are always those are too quick to conclude that the kingdom of God has come (see Matthew 24:4, 6, 8, 24-28; 2 Thessalonians 2:1ff.). Daniel was given several prophetic dreams & visions; and in the seventh chapter of his writings, he records his dream of the Four Beasts, and the interpretation thereof given by an angel.This vision demonstrates the succession of kingdoms and is the very framework of all prophesy regarding the violent opposition against the Kingdom of God - waged by the Kingdom of Satan, who is allowed to . Then He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you! (Ezekiel 2:1). So, this phrase refers to 3 years. The revelation of the writing on the banquet hall wall, already described in chapter 5, actually happened later, on the last day of Belshazzars life. The angel goes on to describe what the Antichrist will do: He will speak out against the Most High, he will be boastful and arrogant, he will deny that the Most High is God, he will deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. Even those portions which we believe have been fulfilled, students of prophecy differ about the way of their fulfillment. The scene of the four beasts arising from the sea, which Daniel saw in his night vision, is strikingly similar to the account found in the 13th chapter of Revelation: 1 And he stood on the sand of the seashore, and I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. Encouraged to do so, it savagely devours. Both sets of kingdoms are brought to a sudden end and are replaced by an eternal kingdom. (7) Prophecy is revealed, not to give us the particulars of things to come, but to change our perspective. Rome did conquer much of the known world, but it never conquered the whole world as this is describing. Liberals reject all prophecies, because they require a sovereign God and a miraculous revelation of future events. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so . All of this is by divine design. They are far from pleasant but an unavoidable part of the process. Consider these lessons as we conclude. This beast is also unique among the four in that he grows 11 horns. As I read through the statements men have made about the God of Israel in the first six chapters of Daniel, I find that what men came to know and to acknowledge through history, God declares through prophecy. (3) The finest commentary on the prophecy of Daniel 7 comes from our Lord Himself. 1. Salvation is likewise a process involving sufferingand then glory. The horn of the beast that made war against the saints was one of 10 kings who prevailed until the Ancient of days came and judged against him in favor of the saints. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. 10 If any one is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if any one kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. How was the fourth beast different from the first three? Who are these saints that the angel is speaking of? We dare not ignore that which is revealed nor do we dare go too far afield in speculating about what is concealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29; 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23). The fourth beast in Daniels dream relates to the fourth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzars dream, the Roman empire. 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. How easily we turn from what is revealed to speculate about what has been concealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29). As Daniel continues to watch, another horn emerges, as three of the other horns are plucked out by the roots to make room for it. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, Embedded video for Daniel's Dream Interpreted - Daniel 7:15-28. Lets pray and ask God to teach us and guide us as we look at His prophetic word. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. The angel that Daniel was talking with gave Daniel greater detail concerning the fourth beast; he described this fourth beast as a fourth kingdom coming from the earth, it will be different from all the rest, this kingdom will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. The subject of the vision in chapter 2 seems to be taken up again in chapter 7. Before the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt and brought into the land of Canaan, they suffered at the hands of the Egyptians. The fourth beast appears to differ from the other three in that he is more beastly, more powerful, more destructive, and more arrogant. 15 And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed (Revelation 13:4, 11-15). The statue has four parts; there are four beasts. The wicked will prosper and appear to get away with their opposition toward God and His saints. Alexandra, the daughter of a rich British aristocrat, caught his attention. 11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. If taken seriously, we will find the future sobering as well. Until Gods eternal kingdom is established, kingdoms will progress from bad to worse. Specifically, the account of The Bad News at Belshazzars Banquet (not a bad title for that lesson) in chapter 5 was given to us so that we could better understand the prophecies of chapters 7 and 8. Da Dn). He would rise from the dead (12:40). It therefore seems that the two prophecies speak of the same four kingdoms by means of different imagery. This is represented by the four heads on Daniels leopard beast. Daniel (Daniel 2; 4): As He had done for Joseph, God placed Daniel in a position of power and influence by allowing him to interpret a foreign ruler's dream. Some people have a rather irreverent attitude toward prophecy, they approach it as a pastime and they delight in figuring out complex date schemes and drawing detailed diagrams of the future. We do not act on what we see so much as on what God has said. Prophecy reveals that which we would not and could not expect apart from divine revelation. Hosted by Michael Barbaro and Sabrina . Daniel made it very clear that the dream and the interpretation had come for the one true God. The kingdom of God would not be established in Daniels lifetime, nor in the life of those who returned to the land of Israel from their captivity. But in the end, God will judge the wicked and establish His kingdom for His saints. Prophecies are given so that we may look at history, especially events occurring in our own lifetime, from Gods perspective. Chapter 2. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. The prophecies of Daniel 7 speak of a future day of reckoning, foreshadowed by the actions of Belshazzar and the judgment of God on him and his kingdom. (4) This is the first prophecy in the book revealed directly to Daniel. This little horn is more intelligent and more arrogant than the other horns. Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom Thou didst make strong for Thyself (Psalm 80:17). During those days the revived Roman empire will be ruled by a confederation of ten kings as described by the ten toes of the statue of Daniel 2 and the ten horns of Daniels dream. The nation of Israel has been set aside by divine discipline in the present times of the Gentiles, which began with Nebuchadnezzar. Through the ages, the saints have learned that they must wait for the promises of God to be fulfilled and that this may not happen in their lifetime (see Hebrews 11:13-16, 39-40). Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. At this point the revelation ended. He is more beastly in the beginning and more human in the end, paralleling the character of Nebuchadnezzar. As we consider what we have just learned from Daniels dream and as we look at Daniels response to his dream and the interpretation of it; this should indicate to us that the more we know about the future, the more our hearts should be moved to personal purity. Daniel himself had many dreams and visions, mostly related to future kingdoms of the world and the . God also allows the wicked to persist and even to prosper, so that those whom He has chosen might be saved (Romans 9:22-24). See John F. Walvoord, Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 149. 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