1

Lesson 7: Daniel 7

Last week we studied chapter 6 and Daniel in the lion’s den. In that

chapter we had moved forward in history where the kingdom of Babylon

had disappeared and the Medo-Persian empire was ruling. Chapter 7 is

going to take us back to Babylonian rule. Remember how the book of

Daniel is not written in chronological order. Chronologically, this chapter

can be placed between chapters 4 and 5.

Chapter 7 signifies a major transition in the book of Daniel. If you can

remember, we’ve mentioned several times that the first half of the book is

history basically in the form of stories and the second half is prophecy.

Chapter 7 is where we see this switch take place. This chapter is the last

chapter written in Aramaic in the book of Daniel. After chapter 7, the book

returns to the Hebrew language.

Chapter 7 reveals in broad terms what the future holds.

We are going to see that two major divisions make up this chapter:

• Daniel’s dream – verses 1-14

• The interpretation – verses 15-28

The subject of the vision in chapter 2 seems to be taken up again here in

chapter 7.

We have already read about two dreams that Nebuchadnezzar had in

chapter 2 and chapter 4. Now God is giving one to Daniel. This dream is

coming to Daniel about 50 years after the similar revelation of the great

image in chapter 2. Daniel would have been about 68 years old when this

chapter takes place.

Verse 1

We are given a time reference of when this chapter is taking place.

When is it?

________________________________________________________.

What are we told happened?

_______________________________________________________.

2

We are told that he wrote them down, and that what we are going to read is

a summary of it. This is the first time in this book that we are told a dream

was written down.

Verse 2

In the first six chapters, Daniel referred to himself in the third person, but in

the last six he uses first person.

When is this vision taking place? _____________________.

What does Daniel see? ______________________________________.

Revelation 7:1 “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of

the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would

blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.”

The four winds – or four spirits of heaven. God often used the winds to

attain His ends. There are more than 120 references to wind in the Bible

(more than 90 in the OT and about 30 in the NT). Over half are related to

events and ideas that reflect the sovereignty and power of God.

We are probably talking about the Mediterranean here. The image that is

painted for us here is one where the winds are blowing all at once causing

turbulent, chaotic waters moving in all directions.

Verses 3

What does Daniel see? ___________________________________.

This scene is strikingly similar to the account found in Revelation 13.

Verse 4 –

First Beast: Fill in your chart.

Almost all interpreters believe this lion represents Babylon. Huge winged

lions guarded the gates of the royal Babylonian palaces. Babylon used

both the lion and the eagle as national emblems. Other biblical writers had

compared Nebuchadnezzar to a lion and an eagle (Jeremiah 49:19-22,

Lamentations 4:19; Ezekiel 17:3, Habakuk 1:8).

As Daniel watched its wings were plucked off and it was lifted to stand on

two feet like a human being, and it was given the mind of a human.

3

The tearing off of the wings could allude to the humiliation of

Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4, or maybe to the deterioration of the kingdom

after Nebuchadnezzar’s death. Many interpreters look at the ‘human’

component in view of Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration from beastly existence

in Daniel 4.

It was common in ancient Near East art to combine notable features of

various animals into one composite animal figure to stress outstanding

features in a symbol. Often animals represented nations, as they still do –

(example: eagle is a symbol of America, the bear for Russia, the dragon

for China).

Verse 5 –

Second Beast: Fill in your chart.

The OT writers spoke of the bear as being the most formidable beast of

prey after the lion (I Samuel 17:34; Amos 5:19; II Kings 2:24; Hosea 13:8)

This beast is believed to represent Medo-Persia.

The bear Daniel sees appears to be larger on one side than the other. This

probably reflects the partnership between the Medes and the Persians.

The Persians dominated the relationship. They were known for their slow,

crushing armies and how they overwhelmed their opponents with superior

size and strength.

We are told it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. There are

different views on what this represents. Some think it represents three

nations or three parts of one nation that Medo-Persia had devoured, was

devouring, or would devour. Some think the three ribs represent three

great conquests: Babylon, Egypt and Lydia.

Daniel then says that the second beast was told to ‘arise, devour much

meat!’

This probably indicates that it would yet subdue many nations. Medo-

Persia ruled for 208 years before Alexander the Great toppled it in 331BC

and geographically, it was far reaching.

4

Verse 6

We are told Daniel kept looking in the night visions and he sees another

beast.

Third Beast: Fill in your chart.

Most have identified the third beast with Greece (Alexander the Great),

because it overthrew Medo-Persia, and it bore the characteristics of the

animal described here. Leopards are known for their sudden, unexpected

attacks. This one is especially swift with four wings and clever having four

heads. Each of these animals mentioned so far is mighty, but dominates its

prey in a different way.

Alexander the Great conquered most of the civilized world all the way from

Macedonia to Africa and eastward to India in about three years. The speed

at which he did this is in keeping with the image of a leopard with wings.

We are told this beast had four heads which suggests intelligent direction.

After Alexander died, his kingdom was divided into four major parts.

Verse 7

We are told Daniel kept looking and sees a fourth beast.

Fourth Beast: Fill in your chart.

We get this description of a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible. It is

indescribable and uniquely horrific in its power and conquest.

Most conservative scholars believe that this fourth beast represents the

Roman Empire. It was the largest, strongest, most unified and enduring of

them all. The rise and fall of the Roman Empire was slow. It began in

241BC with the occupation of Sicily. Gradually it expanded throughout the

whole Mediterranean world.

Daniel didn’t compare this fourth beast to any known animal like the other

three. It was unique. Its large iron teeth chewed up what it attacked, and

its feet crushed and trampled everything left by the former beasts.

The Roman Empire was ruthless in its destruction of civilizations and

peoples, killing captives by the thousands or selling them into slavery.

Rome had no interest in raising the conquered nations to any level of

development. It was all about domination, and letting the nations be

crushed and trampled underfoot.

5

We are told this beast had 10 horns. In the ancient world, horns expressed

an animals power and fearsomeness. This fourth best is so strong it has

10 horns.

Verse 8

What happened when Daniel says he was contemplating the horns?

__________________________________________________________.

What happened? ___________________________________________.

What was this horn like? _______________________________.

_______________________________.

This is thought to be the Antichrist.

II Thessalonians 2:3-4

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until

the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man

doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over

everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in

God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

Verses 9-10

Verses 1-8 were taking place on earth, but now we move to a scene in

heaven with these verses.

In some versions, these verses and then again in 13 and 14 are written in

poetic form. This indicates a difference in the original language (Aramaic)

which sets these verses off as distinct and more elevated in literary style in

the opinion of the translators.

The transition from verse 8 to 9 is abrupt. We go from seeing this terrifying

image to a throne and judgment scene. It’s almost as if the text is saying

‘don’t be overly anxious about this little horn, instead glue your eyes on

this!’

Daniel says ‘I kept looking until’ what? ________________________.

6

Who took His seat? ______________________________________.

This is a title for God emphasizing wisdom and power.

When we think of the word Ancient it makes us think of something really

old. But this title for God means he is grand, not frail, and it shows dignity.

We just saw this sequence of beastly kingdoms, but the Ancient of Days

has been there long before a space was cleared on the plains of history for

any of them.

We are given a description of the Ancient of Days:

• ___________________________________________________.

Pictures his purity and holiness.

• ___________________________________________________.

Suggests His mature judgment.

• ___________________________________________________.

Fire frequently depicts God’s presence. This is a brilliant

manifestation of God’s splendor and the fierce heat of His judgment.

• ____________________________________________________.

Pictures the endless activity of God. Implies that the throne and God

can go in any direction; that He can do anything He pleases. (Ezekiel

1:13-21)

• ____________________________________________________.

Symbolizes judgment proceeding from Him. The image is ‘lava-like’;

it is a river of vast destructive power. (Isaiah 66:15)

• _____________________________________________________.

Describes the innumerable company of angels surrounding the

throne of God attending Him.

• _____________________________________________________.

Other translations say ten thousand times 10 thousand stood before

him (100,000,000- a hundred million). This is describing humanity

standing before God in judgment.

• _____________________________________________________.

7

The court seems to be a heavenly venue where God renders

judgment on rulers and their nations based on their deeds (Job 1-2;

Isaiah 65:6; Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12; Matthew 25:31-46) This

scene provides an overwhelming impression of the glory, holiness,

power and greatness of our God.

Verses 11-12

The return to prose language signals a shift in Daniel’s observation from

heaven to earth.

Daniel says ‘Then I kept looking’. What was drawing his attention?

__________________________________________________________.

Daniel says ‘I kept looking until’ what?

___________________________________________________________.

The fiery destruction of the beast corresponds to the smashing of the

image in Daniel 2 by the means of the Stone from heaven (Rev. 19:20) In

both cases, the end comes suddenly, supernaturally and spectacularly.

When Jesus sets up His kingdom, the empire of the Antichrist will be

completely crushed.

What are we told about the other beasts?

___________________________________________________________.

The end of the first three empires contrasts with the end of the fourth one.

God took away dominion of each of the earlier three kingdoms one by one,

but they weren’t completely destroyed. When they lost their dominion, they

were largely merged into succeeding empires, so that elements of each still

existed in the final phase of the Roman kingdom.

But God cuts off the fourth kingdom completely and it will continue no

longer. The end of the fourth kingdom will result in a totally new condition

on the earth: the 1,000 year reign. (Revelation 19:19-20:6)

Verses 13-14

Daniel once again saw something happening in heaven.

What does Daniel see before him?

_________________________________________________________.

8

(I Thess. 4:17; Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:9-11)

Clouds in Scripture are frequently characteristic of the revelation of deity

(Exodus 13:21-22, 19:9,16; I Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 4:13;

Ezekiel 10:4; Matthew 24:30, 26:64; Mark 13:26)

The title ‘Son of Man’ was a favorite self-designation of Jesus, used more

than 80 times in the gospels.

What did he do? _________________________________________.

This is one of the very few instances in the OT where God the Son is

symbolically distinguished from God the Father.

What was he given to Him?

• ____________________________________.

• ____________________________________.

• ____________________________________.

• ____________________________________.

• ____________________________________.

• ____________________________________.

The whole structure of verses 9-14 seems designed to diminish the place

of the little horn and the fourth beast.

Sandwiched in between the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man seems to

make this little horn truly ‘little’. These verses are showing us where the

power, glory, justice and kingship really dwell. With hardly a word of

transition, we are hurried into the very presence of God where everything is

under His absolute sovereign control.

Verses 15-18

What are told about Daniel?

____________________________ ____________________________.

9

Even though Daniel understood all kinds of visions and dreams (1:7), all

that he had just seen obviously baffled him. He evidently addresses his

question to an angel (8:16, 9:21)

Who are the four great beasts? ______________________________.

The interpretation of the dream shows that this vision covers the same

material as Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in chapter 2 which also described the

rise of four empires, which are succeeded by the kingdom of God.

This vision of Daniel’s is different though, because we are seeing the

kingdoms from God’s perspective, not man’s. Nebuchadnezzar saw the

present and future world empires in the form of a noble statue of a man.

Here, God shows them as ferocious and wild animals who devour and

conquer without conscience.

There will be four kings who will rise from the earth – But what?

________________________________________________________.

Who do you think the ‘saints’ are in this verse?

Some think Saints here refers to believers of all ages. Others think this refers to believing Jews alive when Christ returns since the church did not exist in the OT. Remember when Daniel would have seen all of these things. He had no idea about the church. That was long past his time.

When the day of the fourth beast is over, then God’s people will receive the

kingdom at the return of Jesus Christ.

Believers will have a share in the Son of Man’s everlasting kingdom after

He establishes it. This will involve reigning with Christ. (Matthew 25:14-30;

Luke 19:11-27; II Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10, 20:4,6; 22:5)

This kingdom will begin with the return of Christ to the earth, continue for

one thousand years on the earth (the Millennium) and then continue in the

new heaven and new earth forever.

10

Verses 19-22

Daniel wanted to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast that was

different from the other three. He again gives a description of this beast.

Did you notice that we are given a new detail that we weren’t before.

What new detail are we given about this fourth beast? Fill in your

chart.

What did Daniel say the horn was doing in verse 21?

__________________________________________________________.

Revelation 12:17, 13:7

Until when? _______________________________________________.

The titles Ancient of Days and Highest One appear to be two titles of God

the Father, stressing His eternality and sovereignty respectfully.

Verses 23-25

The interpreting angel now granted Daniel more insight about the fourth

beast and particularly about the little horn.

What will the fourth beast be? _______________________________.

We are told it will be different than all the other kingdoms. The fourth beast

doesn’t just represent a king, but also a kingdom. The angel repeated facts

already revealed (vs. 7), but clarified that the previous description referred

to a kingdom.

This is thought to be the Antichrist, rising out of a confederation of ten

nations that is in some way a restoration of the Roman Empire.

When the hordes from the north conquered the Roman Empire in the fifth

century A.D., they did not unite to form another empire. Instead individual

nations emerged out of the old Roman Empire. Some of those nations and

others stemming out of them have continued till present day. This is why

some believe that the ten-nation confederacy of the future shown in these

prophecies would naturally be considered a revival of the Roman Empire in

some form.

11

What will this king do?

• _____________________________________________________.

This fourth beast seems to exercise world domination. Its savagery

will be universal. Yet this regime will suffer internal fragmentation –

ten kings will arise and another will arise and uproot three of those

ten kings. The iron and clay just can’t seem to bond (2:41-43)

• _____________________________________________________.

This king’s boastful words will be against the Most High.

• _____________________________________________________.

Evidently through persecution (II Thess. 2:8-9; Revelation 12:13-17,

13:1-10,16-17)

• _____________________________________________________.

The Antichrist wants to eradicate the past. He desires to “change the times.” He wishes to reorganize civilization in a way that suits his values. In doing so, he will change “law”

What will happen to the holy people?

________________________________________________________.

For how long? ____________________________________________.

The word time in this context refers to a period of a year.

On a literal level, time, times and half a time means time (1 year), times (2

years) and half a time (1/2 year) or 3 1/2 years.

This three and a half year period seems to be referring to the last three and

a half years before the little horn’s destruction and the return of Jesus

Christ. This phrase is used in Revelation (11:2-3, 12:6, 13:5) to refer to this

period. This corresponds to the Great Tribulation which is the phrase

Jesus used to describe the last half (3 ½ years) of the seven year

Tribulation (Matthew 24:21)

12

Notice the word ‘given’. What does that show us?

__________________________________________________________.

Verse 26

Verse 26 starts with the word ‘but’ which again shows a contrast.

What are we told the court will do? __________________________.

What will happen to the antichrist?

___________________________________________________________.

Verses 27-28

Verse 27 starts with the word ‘then’. Meaning after the antichrist is taken

away and destroyed. The angel again stresses the role the saints will have

in this kingdom.

What will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One?

__________________________________________________________.

The translation here is a little awkward when it reads ‘the people of the

saints of the Highest One’. In the NIV it reads “Then the sovereignty,

power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over

to the holy people of the Most High,” which means God’s people in general.

What will His kingdom be like? ________________________________.

The chapter ends with verse 28 saying ‘at this point the revelation ended’.

How did Daniel feel about everything he saw?

____________________________ ____________________________

What did he do? __________________________________________.