Daniel 7 – Vision of Four Beasts

1. The Scene of Beasts (1-8).

1) The four winds of the heavens fought with the sea (verse 2).

2) From these four winds arose four beasts out of the sea (verse 3).

3) The Lion

a. The first beast was like a lion with eagles wings.

b. The wings were plucked.

c. It was placed on the earth.

d. It stood up like a man.

e. A man’s heart was given to it.

4) The Bear

a. The second beast was like a bear.

b. It raised up on one side.

c. It has three ribs in it’s teeth.

d. It was told to arise and devour much flesh.

5) The Leopard

a. It had four wings.

b. It also had four heads.

6) The fourth beast.

a. Not described as similar to an animal.

b. Dreadful, terrible, exceedingly strong.

c. It had great iron teeth.

d. It devoured.

e. It broke in pieces.

f. It stomped whatever was left into dust.

g. It was different from all of the beasts before it.

h. It had ten horns.

i. Another little horn come up among these horns.

j. This little horn plucked up three of the other horns.

k. It had eyes like man.

l. It had a mouth that spoke great things (swelling words).

2. The Scene of Judgment (9-14).

1) The thrones were placed.

2) The Ancient of days sat down.

a. His garment was white as snow.

b. His hair was like pure wool.

c. His throne was a fiery flame.

d. His wheels (feet of the throne) were burning fire.

e. A fiery stream was issued from Him.

f. A million served him (a thousand thousand).

g. A hundred million stood before him (ten thousand times ten thousand).

3) The judgment is set.

4) The books are opened.

5) Daniel’s attention was diverted back to the fourth beast because of the great words coming from the 11th horn (verse 11).

a. This beast was slain.

b. The body destroyed.

c. It was given to the burning flame.

6) The rest of the beasts…

a. Had their dominion taken away (verse 12).

b. Their lives were prolonged for a period of time (12).

3. The Scene of the Coming of the Son of Man (13-14)

1) The Son of man came with the clouds of heaven.

2) He came to the Ancient of Days.

3) He was brought before the throne.

4) He was given…

a. Dominion

b. Glory

c. A Kingdom

5) This was done so that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.

6) His dominion is everlasting.

7) His dominion shall not pass away.

8) His kingdom will not be destroyed.

1. The grief of Daniel

1) Daniel was troubled with the vision.

2) He didn’t understand what it meant.

3) He approached one standing near by.

4) He asked him the truth of these things.

5) He told Daniel and made him know the interpretation.

2. The summary of the interpretation (17-18).

1) The four beasts are four kings or kingdoms of the earth (compare Daniel 7:23).

2) The saints of the most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever.

3. Daniel wants to know more about the fourth beast and the 11th horn specifically (verse 19).

1) He wants to also know more about the 11th horn.

2) The horn before whom three others fell.

3) The horn that had eyes.

4) The horn that had a mouth that spoke great things.

5) The horn whose look was more stout or greater than his peers.

6) This horn made war against the saints and prevailed.

7) He prevailed until the ancient of days came and judgment and the kingdom was given to the saints.

4. The one nearby explains.

1) The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom on earth.

2) It is different from all the other kingdoms.

3) The ten horns are ten kings arising out of this kingdom.

4) The eleventh horn is also a king.

a. He will put down three of the previous kings.

b. He will speak words against the Most High.

c. He shall wear out the saints.

d. He shall think to change times and laws.

e. The saints would be given into his hand for 3 ?? times.

f. The judgment, however, will sit.

g. Those on the judgment board will take away his dominion.

h. It would be consumed and destroyed.

5) The kingdom and dominion would be given to the saints.

a. This will be an everlasting kingdom.

b. All dominions will serve and obey him (the King of this kingdom).

6) This is the end of the interpretation given to Daniel.

5. Daniel is still troubled in his thoughts.

1. The four beasts are four kingdoms.

1) Babylon – Lion

a. The Lion of Babylon was a mural painted on the processional way.

b. The Lion can be found in ancient sites all over modern day Iraq.

c. Even today there is the lion of Babylon tank (T-72 Soviet Tank).

d. The lion’s wings were plucked – it was limited.

e. The lion stood up.

f. The lion was given a man’s heart – intelligence, prophecy of Daniel and Ezekiel.

2) Medes and Persians – Bear

a. The bear was a symbol of destruction.

b. It was told to devour much flesh.

c. The Medes and Persians conquered all the way to the Indus River.

3) Greeks – Leopard with Four heads.

a. Leopard is a swift animal – conquers fast, Alexander the Great.

b. Four heads represent four rulers/generals who came to govern after Alexander’s death.

a) Ptolemy

b) Seleucus

c) Lysimachus

d) Cassander.

4) Rome – Great Beast

a. Rome is the kingdom that came after Greece.

b. It is the great beast.

c. It devoured the earth and tread it down.

d. It was diverse from the other kingdoms.

a) Started with a republic, not a kingdom.

b) Evolved into an empire with emperors.

e. The ten horns are ten kings.

f. Who are these kings?

a) Sulla – dictador.

b) Julias Caesar – dictador.

c) Augustus – emperor.

d) Tiberius – emperor.

e) Caligula – emperor.

f) Claudius – emperor.

g) Nero – emperor.

h) Galba – emperor.

i) Otho – emperor.

j) Vitellius – emperor.

k) Vespasian – emperor.

l) Titus – emperor.

m) Domitian – emperor.

g. Three horns that were overthrown were Galba, Otho, and Vitellius.

h. Vespansian, Titus and Domitian were a dynasty.

i. They are the final horn as a family.

j. Titus destroyed Jerusalem.

k. Domitian persecuted Christians.

2. The seat of Judgment is God’s continued rule over the earth.

1) Ancient of days – God.

a. Garment white as snow – purity.

b. Hair of head like pure wool – purity.

c. Throne like fiery flame – awesomeness.

d. Fiery stream – Unmovable judgment.

e. Million that ministered – angels.

f. 100 Million – angels (Revelation 5:11).

g. Not necessarily in heaven.

h. Books were opened – beginning of final judgment.

2) Last horn spoke great words against God – Flavian Dynasty.

a. Dynasty was finally was destroyed in God’s judgment.

b. Domitian murdered in 96 A.D. in an assassination.

3) Rest of beasts

a. Had dominion taken away – no longer rulers.

b. Yet their lives were prolonged – cultures still continued.

3. The Coming of the Son of Man – Jesus, the Messiah.

1) Come with the clouds of heaven – clouds conceal – with mystery

a. Mark 4:11, Romans 11:25, Romans 16:25

b. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

2) Came to the Ancient of Days.

a. Revelation 5:11-14 “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”

b. Acts 2:33-36 “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

3) He was given

a. Dominion

a) Revelation 19:16 “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

b. Glory

c. A kingdom

a) Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

b) Hebrews 1:8 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”

d. All peoples, nations, and languages.

a) Revelation 5:9-10 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

e. Everlasting dominion that shall not be destroyed – not a physical kingdom, but a spiritual one.

a) John 18:36 “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”

b) Luke 17:20-21 “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”