Terrifying beasts and an Undeterred God

Reference

Daniel 7

Terrifying Beasts

and an Undeterred God

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.

3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.

5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’

6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

9 “As I looked,

thrones were placed,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat;

his clothing was white as snow,

and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames;

its wheels were burning fire.

10 A stream of fire issued

and came out from before him;

a thousand thousands served him,

and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;

the court sat in judgment,

and the books were opened.

11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

and was presented before him.

14 And to him was given dominion

and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him;

his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

that shall not be destroyed.

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’

19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast,

there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,

which shall be different from all the kingdoms,

and it shall devour the whole earth,

and trample it down, and break it to pieces.

24 As for the ten horns,

out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise

and another shall arise after them;

he shall be different from the former ones,

and shall put down three kings.

25 He shall speak words against the Most High,

and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,

and shall think to change the times and the law;

and they shall be given into his hand

for a time, times, and half a time.

26 But the court shall sit in judgment,

and his dominion shall be taken away,

to be consumed and destroyed to the end.

27 And the kingdom and the dominion

and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven

shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;

his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,

and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

I want you to know something about what I did. We have two more weeks in Daniel. I was originally going to teach on Daniel 6, that is Daniel and the Lions Den. One of the most well known and beloved passages in Scripture. I didn’t do that. I went with this (less known, more obscure) passage instead. You may think I am crazy, and I may be. Here is why I didn’t.

One commentator said, “This chapter is the single most important chapter of the book of daniel.” Another “One of the most important passages in the Old Testament.” It is the turning point in the book of Daniel. The preceding chapters of Daniel (1-6) deal with why you should believe Daniel. The following chapters (7-12) are the real message of the book. This chapter is key to understanding all the remaining chapters. I want you to understand this book and what God has for his people. Credentials of the messenger are given first. The message is next.

Most detailed and comprehensive prophecy of future events found anywhere in the old testament. The first six chapters of Daniel are historical accounts of what God did in history. These next accounts are apocalyptic prophecies. Apocalyptic means reveal or uncover. It is prophetic apocalyptic.

An unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and which could not be known apart from the unveiling"

I was teetering on the fence on which passage to teach, its the Lions Den but this gets at the meaning of the book. Then it hit me, I can come back to Daniel 6 anytime any occasion, but I will never come back to Daniel 7. This chapter will only make sense in the series. And it is going to be amazing!

Preliminary

God meets people where they are at. DAniel is in a pagan country studying pagan dream interpretation and God uses this to speak his word to his people. This may seem weird. Perhaps it is. Maybe God should have used a tik tok video.

Organic inspiration. God inspires the times, places, and people. He does not merely inspire the words, but the entire setting. His word is God breathed. Didnt just give them the idea divorced from history. The historical events are what necessitates and produce the content and the conduit of the word.

Let me also say this as an apologetic for why these words are trustworthy. It goes along with the inspiration of the times. Other prophets were speaking at this time. One was Ezekiel. This book was composed by 586 which is when Jerusalem fell. He mentions Daniel and look what he says. Jeremiah the prophet also

13 “Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast, 14 even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness,

Eze 14:13–14.

Daniel was taken to Babylon in 605. Within 15 years he is on par with Moses and Job, great men of the Bible who walked through hardship and were delivered from it. Taht is a great company of people and shows something happened in Daniel that he was quickly esteemed as one of the great heroes of the faith.

Apocalyptic literature reveals and conceals. You may wonder why God communicates with an obscure dream. Similar to the parables that Jesus told. It reveals what God is going to do in way that doesn’t obviate the need for faith. If God said in the year 32 bc a young woman name Mary from the town of Nazareth is going to conceive a child and give birth while traveling to Bethelehm for the census during the reign of the Roman emperor Quirinius. They will name him Jesus and he will be the messiah. He will impress his teachers at a young age but he wont really do much until he is 30. Thats when his ministry will begin and his main disciples will be named Peter and John and James. If he told us everything we would not need to seek him, trust him, walk with him, pursue him. If he didnt tell us anything, we might think he is no help. Do we have all the answers we want. No. Are we better off because of this revelation absolutely. What is made know should strengthen us to stand firm on the things we do not fully understand.

So now lets talk about this passage…

The Dream:

This is the third dream in the book and it has many parallels to the earlier dream. In chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzer had a dream that terrified him. It was a dream of a great statue, golden head, shoulders silver, waist bronze, and legs of iron and clay. It pertained to four kingdoms that were to come. In the fourth kingdom God would establish his everlasting kingdom, and that kingdom would destroy all other kingdoms.

This dream is similar. Daniel may feel a bit of an, “Oh no they are back.” The first dream terrified king Nebuchadnezzer. This dream will terrify Daniel.

This second dream is about four nations that will rise up in the years, centuries to come. The nations are represented with animals/beasts. Shouldn't be too surprising. Eagle represents US. BRitain lion. Russia the bear. Daniel was 15 at when he interpreted king Nubachadnezzers dream. Now fifty years later is in his late 60’s.

How it compares to Daniel 2.

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Each beast is progressively meaner than the other. Perhaps that is the degradation of the empires. They become increasingly hostile to God’s people.

The beasts come out of the sea. In the Bible the sea can often be a reference to the dark and chaotic forces of evil. That may be the case here. Isa 57:20 “The wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up ire and mud.” Some say the sea is symbolic of polluted and turbulent humanity.

So an important point in apocalyptic literature is that it often interprets itself.

The first beast is a lion with wings. Corresponds to babylon. Head of gold. Lion is the king of the wild. Many figures from ancient Babylon have lions and they seems to have been represented by the lion. This also reminds of king Neb in that when he went mad his hair became as an eagles feathers (and also that he ate grass like the animals). It also says he will be given the mind of a man and set up on two feet. Very clear parallels to the lion and babylon.

Second beast is a bear. It is higher on one side than on others. It consists of two parts, one being greater than the other. This is the Medo-Persia empire. King of Persia will set free the Jews to go back and build their temple and homeland. It has three ribs in its mouth. We are not told what those are. It devoured something. Some think it the major conquest of the Medo Persian empire: Babylon, lydia, and Egypt.

The third beast is a leopard. Key with this is that the beast has four heads. Like is used multiple times in this description. Remember, he is not saying this is what they are, but what they are like. Leopards are fast. This one has four heads. It would correspond to the kingdom of Greece.

Alexander the Great invaded Asia minor in 334 and in ten short years and by the age of 32 he had conquered the known world. According to legend once he conquered India he wept because there was nothing more for him to conquer. What is interesting is that he will die in 323 bc and rather than give the kingdom to a son, he divided it among his four chief generals. This is detailed in Daniel 8. One of these will persecute the Israelites, abolishing the temple service and will sacrifice pigs on the altar and force the Israelites to eat it. Many will die rather than worship the pagan God’s. Judas Macabee will lead God’s people to fight against him and will win. This is the historical account in the books of Macabees and hanukkah is detailed in that. It happens in 167 bc. Some 400 years after this.

The Fourth Beast is particularly terrifying to Daniel. It is very different from the others. It is very powerful. Iron teeth, bronze claws, and it crushed and devoured and trampled. It defies a zoological category of any animal likeness. Its a beast. By the second century bc Rome had surpassed all other nations and was the dominant world power for the next 500 years. Rome possessed a power and longevity never before seen.

These visions reinforce one another and add detail. A nation conquering another nation is a fearful thing. This vision represents change, turbulence, uncertainty. These beasts have claws and bones in their mouths. Daniel wants peace and ease and that is not what he is going to get. He is waiting for God’s kingdom and he is leanring it is going to take time and there are many hardships to come.

In this vision the thing that most concerned Daniel is there is a little horn that makes great boasts and causes many problems. Like the little dog who is always causing problems. This horn is what troubles Daniel and he asks specifically about it.

Who is the small horn? The ten horns represent 10 kings or kingdoms that come out of the last kingdom. Might be ten kingdoms literally or ten is often used as a number of completeness. This horn uproots other horns. It causes problems in them, but more specifically, this one is against God and his people.

25 He shall speak words against the Most High,

and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,

and shall think to change the times and the law;

and they shall be given into his hand

for a time, times, and half a time.

21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them

Daniel 7:21.

This one will speak against God. Wear out the saints. Will kill God’s people. He is going to change the time and the law. He is going to go against God’s word, is not going to let them worship God when they want. They will be given into his hand.

Wear down. Is to wear out, harass continually, for a long time.

This is more than the other party is going to win the election. They are going to win and have their way with you.

This horn represents the rise of the evil one. The horn seems to represent the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thess 2:3), the “Antichrist” (1 john 2:18) the “beast” (Rev 13:1).

We are not told specifics as to who this character is.

Do you want me to tell you who this beast is? (I will but you need to subscribe to my youtube channel for $99 a month. Come to the wednesday night seminar that we are charging… I jest. We are not told exactly who.

Sinclair Ferguson. P93. Many protestant commentators see something of the papacy. Some say the final consummation of evil. Here is represents the final consumation of evil. “It ought not to be given a specific identification in any historical figure. Notice, however, that the little horn emerges in the context of the beast and the ten horns. It should not surprise us that there will be a continual expression of the characteristics of the little horn that will reach their apex in Daniel’s conclusion. Nevertheless, it is not surprising that many dictators and empire builders have been identified with the little honor and have shared some of its worst features. We have been told that the Antichrist will come in the final days, but that does not preclude our recognizing that many antichrist have already strutted across the pages of history.

God is preparing Daniel for what is about to happen.

It will be for a time, times and a half a time.

HE is saying there is going to be conflicts, wars, opposition. There will even be targeting of God’s people. Dont think that God is not in this. It is part of his design. Same from the very beginning when Cain killed Abel. it continues today. Why? I dont fully know. I can give answers that help me. But they are inferences from Scripture. LEt me show you something what anchored Daniel in this vision.

Daniel is anxious and worried. Hard times are ahead for God’s people. This will take place over the next 550 years. The silent years of the old Testament.

The True King and the Eternal Kingdom

What terrifies you? I remember a terrifying dream I would have as a kid, and it was a short dream of me walking on a trail around a lake. I was enjoying the time as any kid would and then we went by an old building on the side. As we passed the building, I turned around and there was a lion charging at me. I had no chance. And I would wake up screaming for my parents.

The lion was scarey, but what made it more scary was the fact that I had no explanation or reason to believe the tragedy that occurred could ever be fixed. It was terrifying bc I knew nothing other than dying. What came after that? I had no explanation. Or at least none that made sense.

In this scary revelation of the future, we are also told what is on the other side of the trial.

The Ancient of Days. He is not old. He is eternal. This is God the Father on his thrones. Multiple thrones. He takes his seat. It is as though he is filling them all, He is reigning over all. Fearful events, but this one is not worried in the least.

Clothing white like snow. Who wears all white. Often speaks of the holiness and purity and righteousness. Unblemished. I don’t let my kids wear white because they will ruin it. This one is worthy of it.
Hair on his head white like wool.
Sitting on his throne. He is not running to battle. Not pacing in panic. Calmly reigning.
Fiery flames and burning from the wheels of his throne. Ancient thrones could be used for transport and had wheel on. His wheels are of fire.
10,000 x10,000 served him. It is a sea of people. Probably not literal but figurative. These are the largest numbers used. Unthinkable.
He sits in judgment. Books are opened. He will judge all people according to what they have done. He has books on you. Knows your every deed and your every thought. He will not allow the raging beast to escape judgmenet, nor will he allow you to escape. Judgement is by the book in the sense of what he has said and done.

While the little horn is speaking, the beast is killed, body destroyed, the dominion of all the beasts is taken away. Their lives are prolonged for a time. It is limited. It will come to an end. He will hold them accountable. He will vindicate his people. This is judgment. He takes care of business.

The Son of Man. God the Father. Now God the Son. There is a son of man with great power. He is riding on the clouds. He is given power and dominion. His dominion is everlasting. Who can sit on a throne forever?? Only God. His kingdom will not be destroyed. That connects to the dream of Nebuchadnezzer in which a small stone strikes the statue and destroys it, and he is told that is the everlasting kingdom of God

But also notice this. This one is like a Son of Man. He is like a man. He is greater in grandeur and power and glory and is in the presence of God. This eternal king is different than the beastly rulers. The others were described as bloodthirsty beasts bent on conquest, and like wild animals. That is the difference in the Son of man and the beasts. He is humanity in all its glory.

Daniel has seen hard times. He saw his nation conquered, the social and political center destroyed. He is taken from his family and don’t know that he ever saw them again. He has seen his people persecuted and treated contemptuously. He then sees the nation of Babylon conquered by the persians. That is a whole other struggle.

He has seen the gods of the Assyrians, Baalism, Marduk the God of the Babylonians. He will see Zeruthustra the prophet and Ahura Mazda the god of the Persians and what he will say is there is one true God. There is one God who acts in history. There is one source of truth. They cant all be right. He has seen God deliver him. He has given us historical records of that.

**Your problems are unbearable when the King is unseen.** When he is seen and known victory is sure to come. The Son of man will triumph. The ancient of days has an eternal future. He delivers his people from the beasts and all their attacks.

Don’t just look at your problems. Look to your savior. For every time you look to your problems take ten looks to your deliverer.

Why your kids (probably) dont need more counseling. Triumph of therapeutic that puts this weight on us that we have to be right, that there cant be any tension in us. Daniel saw this vision and he was anxious and worried. That is a part of life. If it seems unbearable it is because you are not looking to God solution enough.

Why is this same weird dream repeated?

32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. Ge 41:32.

This ends with Daniel pondering in his heart all that has been shown to him. There is going to be great suffering ahead. Nations are going to rise and fall and it will feel like beast rising from a maddening sea of people. God’s people are going to be attacked and hurt, and wearied, more. But there is a sovereign God who will bring all things to account. He keeps the matter to himself. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are not around. Perhap died, moved, maybe he didnt want to burden them. KNowing the promises of God doesn’t take away all of our internal struggles. He doesn’t need counseling. When you know God’s plans and live in a fallen world there will be tension. Don’t think you are broke. Share. Kept to yourself.

Tired of seeing the hardship and suffering wants it to end. It continues just as it did from the beginning. Longs for the day that everything will be made right. Wants it now. But he has to wait.

**Your future destiny shapes your present disposition.** If all is lost then you will be depressed. If your mistakes have ruined you. If the wrongs of others have ruined you, then there is nothing to live for. But if all your mistakes will be redeemed. If all the wrongs of others are going to be made right, then that has a dramatic effect on how we think in the present.

Unbearable is bearable

The ruined is redeemed.

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