STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL.

November 3, 2021

DANIEL’S VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS. DAN. 7:1-28

“This vision took place fourteen years before the end of the Babylonian empire.” Roger E. Dickson. “This chapter of Daniel is one of the most important in the entire OT, an essential guide to biblical prophecy. Moreover, the vision of the Son of Man is the centerpiece of OT revelation concerning the Messiah…This vision is like Dan. 2, the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, the repetition is to confirm the certainty of the predictions. As Joseph said, Pharaoh’s dreams were repeated because “the matter has been determined by God, and He will carry it out soon” (Gen 41:32). The vision was included to give hope to Israel in captivity, informing the nation that life in the times of the Gentiles would get worse for God’s covenant people, but ultimately the messianic kingdom would be established.” HCSB study Bible

  1. Dan. 7:1-6. “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream…Daniel said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.And four great beasts came up from the sea…The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings…And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and… lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl… had also four heads…” Hos. 13:7-8, Rev. 13:2
  2. Dan. 7:2. “The four winds stirring up the great sea refers to the convulsions of the Gentile nations in the times of the Gentiles. The chapter later indicates that the sea represents “the earth” (v. 17) from which the four kingdoms arise. Moreover, “the sea” is frequently symbolic of Gentile humanity in other biblical passages (Isa 17:12-13; 57:20; Rev 13:1; 17:1,15).” HCSB “In this stirring there is change and thus kingdoms will rise and fall…The people of God must always keep in mind that all governments, kingdoms, and empires come and go, but God is in control of all. He is working for the redemption of His own and to bring to a close His plan for the creation of the world.” Rogers E. Dickson
  3. Dan. 7:3. “Four kingdoms, (ver. 17,) called beasts, from their tyranny and oppression, emerging from the wars and commotions of the world.” TSK ch. 2:32–33, 37–40. Zec. 6:1–8. Beasts. ver. 4–8, 17, Eze. 19:3–8, Rev. 13:1-2. The four huge beasts in Daniel 2:31-45.
  4. Dan. 7:4 Jer. 50:17, 44-46. Babylon. The first was like a lion– the symbol of strength and courage, chief among the kingdoms, as the lion among the beasts. Nebuchadnezzar is called “the lion come up from his thicket” (Jer. 4:7,13; 25:38} HSCB. The wing of eagle denotes Nebuchadnezzar’s swiftness in conquest. Jer. 48:40, Lam. 4:19, Eze. 17:3, Hab. 1:6–8. The wings plucked; a full stop put to the career of their victorious arms. It has lost the heart of a lion, has lost its courage, and become feeble and faint. Job 25:6, Eze. 28:2–9
  5. Dan. 7:5. Media-Persia. Bear. Cruelty, thirst for blood, and love of spoil. Is. 13:16-18, Jer. 51:48-56. Persian dominion 8:3. Three ribs – its three main conquests: Babylon (539 b.c.), Lydia (546 b.c.), and Egypt (525 b.c.).
  6. Dan. 7:6, 2:39; 8:5–7, 20, 21; 10:20. The leopard represents the Greek Empire. Its four wings refer to the greater swiftness of Alexander’s conquests and its four heads represents the division of the kingdom after his death. Dan. 8:8, 22; 11:4. It continues