Hello
Friends!
Welcome
back
to our Encouraging Concepts Bible
study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book
of Daniel painted as a panoramic
landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in
ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago…
“The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT
& FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST,
PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 7: Verses 1-6)
1 In the
first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his
head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel
spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the
heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came
up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like
a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked,
and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and
a man's heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a
second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three
ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it,
Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo
another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl;
the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it – Daniel
7:1-6
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The first
six chapters of “Daniel” represent
mostly HISTORY with a smattering of predictive
PROPHECY promised. Conversely, the last
six chapters represent mostly PROPHECY with a smattering of hosted HISTORY heralded.
Therefore, we now arrive upon the Divine DIVIDING point
of our serious “study” series beginning
here with chapter 7 as such. And
within these AMAZING annals are found the Biblical
outline pertaining to the panorama of human
HISTORY during the trying “times
of the Gentiles” for the FUTURE waning “world”
in full. And later within chapter 8
through chapter 12 are found the individual
elements for each epic “time”
epoch – PROMISED Prophecy!
These
predictive powerful PROPHECIES are provided through FOUR different “visions”
of which are “given” unto the
now aged man “Daniel” then followed
by the DIVINE in depth “interpretation”
included:
ONE: First “vision” of
the THREE Beasts ~ Verses 1-6
TWO: Second “vision” of
the FOURTH Beast ~ Verses 7-8
THREE: Third “vision” of
the JUST Judgement ~ Verses
9-12
FOUR: Fourth “vision” of
the KING & His KINGDOM ~ Verses 13-14
CLOSING: The Vision INTERPRETED ~ Verses 15-28
The
clarion CALL of this beautiful “book”
is to poignantly PROVIDE a comprehensive covering of the
ENTIRE tumultuous “testing”
period of “time” spanning from
“Daniel’s” long career “life” until the PROMISED righteous
– RETURN
of Jesus Christ!
Chapter 7: Night Visions of Daniel!
As
we begin this NEXT challenging chapter, it was rigorously REVEALED while the “greatly beloved” man “Daniel” slept in which “God” turned his demanding “dream” into a vital “vision” and thus GAVE him
this tremendous perspective of human HISTORY to
be “written” down in ADVANCE for
all of “us” to greatly glean
from TODAY as a powerful – PROMISE of Prophecy!
REMNANT REMINDER: It was some 40 years BEFORE
this trying “time” early on during
the jaded “Jewish” captivity
of a FULL sordid “seventy years” in belligerent “Babylon” from where “God” had already “given” the descriptive “dream” unto “King Nebuchadnezzar” of which “Daniel” insightfully “interpreted” as crassly chronicled
earlier in chapter 2 by an eerie “image” erect. Now here in chapter 7 there is a reiteration
of that prophetically PROMISED picture in a much more explicit
and completely comprehensive way via a series of FOUR gorily
“great beasts” in kind. And
what “God” is now SAYING to
the nigh “nation of Israel” in
this powerful PROPHECY is not only will He go through
the desperate world-wide DIASPORA along with them in which “they” have been Divinely “driven” out among “all the nations” fully, He also has an
incredibly GLORIOUS fixed “future”
yet planned in this ADVANCED narrative provided especially “for” them as “spoken” of by the prophet “Jeremiah” some 100 years
in print PRIOR to “Daniel’s” message:
For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be
accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you,
in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, saith the Lord,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye
call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your
heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather
you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you,
saith the Lord; and I will
bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Because ye have said, The Lord hath
raised us up prophets in Babylon – Jeremiah 29:10-15
There
is indeed COMING a tremendous “time”
when the wicked “world” will
run its caustic course. The precisely PRMOISED magnificent
“Messiah” will rightly RETURN to
eagerly ESTABLISH His literal long-awaited 1000-year Millennial Majestic “Kingdom” here on earth. Our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” will finally FREE the
hiding “Hebrew” host FROM their physical
and spiritual bondage. His great GLORIOUS earthly
empire will righteously REIGN throughout the entire planet.
This is the WONDERFUL message for “Israel”
Sovereignly sent by our grand “God” Himself and this “beloved Daniel” was aptly appointed
as yet another – HUMBLE Herald!
There
are some COMMON denominators between this “vision” and that of the one PROPHESIED earlier
in chapter 2 succinctly, as these are
the IDENTICAL four wicked
“world” empires COMPARED as
such. However, they are seen in a much DIFFERENT way,
under DIVERSE frightening figures in SIMILAR summonsed
“signs and wonders” succored
with SYMBOLIC
significance. And as “we” have
surmised in previous discussions, chapter 2 verse 4 all the way through
this captivating chapter
7
are wonderfully “written” in the Aramaic language of the 600
B.C. era. WHY? Because this
heralded HISTORY of which concerned
the great “Gentile” menacing monarchies
was “written” in the Aramaic language of which they
were familiar. Similarly, ALL of “us”
living TODAY can surmise
the sober “sum of the matters”
that are Sovereignly signified in this challenging chronology
of which carefully carries with it a truly TREMENDOUSLY powerful
– Magnificent Message!
First THREE Beasts!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: By this tumultuous “time” in human HISTORY, the narcissistic “Nebuchadnezzar” is now dead. And when he passed
into the annuls of the HISTORICAL narrative, his contemptuous “kingdom of Babylon” began to CRUMBLE in
that it was NOT nearly as secure as it once MIGHT have
been. And by the “time” these
various “visions” are versed,
the silver-spoon, trust-fund brat “Belshazzar”
is rankly reigning in his exiled “father’s” stead. And this blasphemous
buffoon was a very EVIL man indeed. Incidentally, the first
two “visions” of the “four beasts” were “given” by “God”
during the “first year” of the
belligerent “Belshazzar” and
the second two “visions”
were readily RECEIVED during the ”Medo-Persian“ period soon after it had
begun. Therefore, the great “God of heaven”
intentionally intercedes once AGAIN in
that very critical tumultuous “time of the Gentiles” at the CLOSING of
the “Jewish” captivity within
“Babylonian” dominion. WHY? To practically PROVIDE a versatile “vision” of their PROPHETICLY fantastic – FUTURE to COME!
In the first year of Belshazzar
king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then
he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters – Daniel
7:1
The THREE initial
“beasts” that were distinctly deemed “diverse
one from another” of which “Daniel” had surely SEEN in his daunting “dream” and veracious “visions” are representative of the SAME great
monarchies that were originally REVEALED unto “Nebuchadnezzar” in his departed “dream”
determined previously outlined in chapter 2
consisting of glaring “gold” and sleek “silver” along with bright “brass” in
kind:
This image's head was of fine
gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His
legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay – Daniel
2:32-33
And in LIKE fashion,
the “four winds” sent from “heaven” of which severely “strove” among the “great sea” in this vital “vision” also rightly represents the great geo-political factions
along with the various “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” of the “Gentiles” of which are being adamantly addressed
as appropriate:
Daniel spake and 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, diverse
one from another – Daniel 7:2-3
Similarly, the “Apostle John” rightly REVEALS this poignant picture
even more VIVIDLY in his powerful “end-times” picturesque PROPECHY points:
And he saith
unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples,
and multitudes, and nations, and tongues… – Revelation 17:15
These are indeed the very
woeful “waters” of a waning “world” of which the RELIGIOUS wonton – WHORE Waits!
The Lurking LION!
The very “first”
thing that “Daniel” had soberly seen in his vicarious “vision” was a looming “lion” lunging from OUT of the soothsaying
sordid “sea” as such:
The first was like a lion, and
had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was
lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's
heart was given to it – Daniel 7:4
This “lion” is correctly corresponding
to the horrendous “head of fine gold” placed atop of “Nebuchadnezzar’s” eerie “image” as the FIRST great superior monarchy of
which was HISTORICALLY held by the “King
Nebuchadnezzar” himself and given unto to
his predecessor Nabonidus and then eventually to his belligerent grandson “Belshazzar” as vicarious vice-regent from the years 606 B.C. to
539 B.C. known as the – Babylonian Empire!
That thou shalt
take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the
oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! – Isaiah 14:4
Similarly, the Old Testament
prophet “Jeremiah” laments over the very SAME lurking
“lion” leaping forth from the theological “thicket” of which also rightly REPRESENTS the
beastly “Babylonian” empire of the “Gentiles” that had “gone
forth” licentiously leaving
the looming “land” of zealous “Zion” in a deeply “desolate” and dire DEMISE as sonorously symbolized
in kind:
Set up
the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the
north, and a great destruction. The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the
Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land
desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant – Jeremiah. 4:6-7
I have made the earth, the man
and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my
outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. And now
have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon,
my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. And
all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very
time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve
themselves of him. And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which
will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not
put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I
punish, saith the Lord, with
the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed
them by his hand… – Jeremiah 27:5-8
For thus saith
the Lord God; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of
Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and
with horsemen, and companies, and much people… – Ezekiel 26:7
Next, the RIGHTEOUS reference referring to a set of waning “wings”
being powerfully “plucked” via
a PREDESTINED purpose along with a
maniacal “man's heart” must rightly represent the
insatiable INSANITY indwelling the nebulous “Nebuchadnezzar” previously pictured back in chapter 4 as
such:
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and
extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways
judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase – Daniel
4:28-37
This just “judgment” surely sent FROM the great “God of heaven” was duly due to the cunning “king Nebuchadnezzar’s” prowess PRIDE followed by “God’s”
resulting restoration after the PROMISED sordid “seven years” of an “abased” aptly applied – HUMBLING Humiliation!
The Brutal BEAR!
Then the “second” thing that “Daniel” had equally ENVISIONED was
yet ”another”
brute “beast”
eagerly emerging from the sordid “sea” of
which was much “like” a
brutal “bear” as
such:
And behold another beast, a
second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three
ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it,
Arise, devour much flesh – Daniel 7:5
This beastly “bear” is correctly corresponding
to the “breast and arms of silver” in the midst of “Nebuchadnezzar’s” image as the SECOND great inferior monarchy HISTORICALLY held by “Darius
the Median” and “Cyrus the Persian” from 539 B.C. to 330 B.C. known as the – Medo-Persian Empire!
One “side” of the “bear” was “raised up” much higher than the other.
WHY? Because the “Persian” element was the strongest
of the two. The “three ribs” lodged within the “mouth of it between the teeth” denotes the CONQUEST of
the “three”
provinces Susianna, Lydia and Asia Minor by
this “world”
power – NEXT in Line!
The Leaping LEOPARD!
Then “Daniel” boldly “beheld” yet
“another”
brute “beast”
appears on the scene looking much “like” a lurking “leopard” itself:
After this I beheld, and lo
another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl;
the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it – Daniel
7:6
This languishing “leopard” leading with “four
heads” sporting its “four
wings of a fowl” is correctly corresponding
to the “belly and thighs of brass” in the middle of “Nebuchadnezzar’s” image as the THIRD great inferior monarchy HISTORICALLY held by Alexander the Great and his subsequent
foursome of germinated Generals in power from 330 B.C. to
63 B.C. known as the – Graeco-Macedonian Empire!
The “four
wings” denote its swiftness
and the “four heads” point to the eventual parting of this animating Empire due to the dire death
of the young Alexander the Great into the FOUR fleeting “kingdoms” departing throughout the north, south,
east & west regions – Syria, Egypt, Macedonia & Asia Minor!
HISTORICAL HELPS: Although the Bible itself
does NOT provide these specific details,
human HISTORY itself
indeed DOES provide these departed
details. WHY? To constantly CONFIRM the very veracity
found in the “Word of God”
completely! HOW? When Alexander the Great had
died, his FOUR great generals Cassander, Lysimacus,
Seleucus, and Ptolemy had
decidedly DIVIDED the
conquering “kingdom” of Greece into FOUR regions. WHAT?
The General Cassander had taken
the west area of Greece and Macedonia in kind. The General
Lysimacus was given Thrace and Asia Minor in the east arena. The General Seleucus took Syria and the
Middle East (Seleucids) in the north
region. And General Ptolemy had
taken Egypt (Ptolemies) to the south
corridor – A Kingdom DIVIDED!
Here in this “dream” and accompanying “visions” of the aged “Daniel” we find yet AGAIN that all of human HISTORY was
powerfully pre-written in an avid ADVANCE notice by
our great “God” Himself of Whom ALONE knows the “end” from the “beginning” as rightly revealed
in this dramatic – Dream DECLARED!
These
previous THREE extravagant Empires “made”
by maniacal “man” were much LARGER by far than the “fourth beast” and had grown
progressively PROUD as they arrived on the scene of
“world” history during the
terrifying “times of the Gentiles”
as perfectly PROPHESIED prior. The “Medo-Persian” Empire was LARGER than
the “Babylonian” Empire. The “Graeco-Macedonian” Empire
was LARGER than the “Medo-Persian” Empire in kind – Until…
Next Study: The FOURTH Beast!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: It will be seen later within chapter 8 of our “study” in that the rough “he-goat” donning a very “great horn” will rigorously refer
specifically to Alexander the Great along with yet ANOTHER
looming “little horn” of which then “came
forth” directly “out of
one of them” of which rightly represents
the tyrannical Antiochus Epiphanes accordingly…
Therefore the he goat waxed very
great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up
four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came
forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward
the east, and toward the pleasant land. And it waxed great, even to the host of
heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and
stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host,
and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary
was cast down – Daniel 8:8-11
It is IMPORTANT to note that the “fourth beast” here in chapter 7 was NOT seen in this FIRST vision.
Before we aptly approach the SECOND nigh
“night vision” of the prophet “Daniel” in our next “study” session, we will call adamant attention
to the Biblical firm fact that in the selection
of these beguiling “beasts” they rightly represent the
wicked “world” powers of which DOMINEER the torrid “times of
the Gentiles” in full. And it is “God”
Himself of Whom tells “us” that their moral character
is BEASTLY in nature. HOW? The “lion” deeply DEVOURS its lunch. The “bear”
crassly CRUSHES its cuisine. And the “leopard” powerfully POUNCES upon its prey – THREE Beasts of BURDEN!
PROPHETIC PROMISE: The MAIN theme of this valiant “vision” is the long-awaited COMING of
the Mighty “King of kings and Lord of lords”
and the earthly establishment of His Millennial 1,000 year eternal “kingdom” globally – HIS Kingdom is KEY!
The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever – Psalm 29:10
Give the king thy judgments, O
God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with
righteousness, and thy poor with judgment… His name shall endure forever: his
name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him:
all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous
things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be
filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen – Psalm 72:1-2
& 17-19
That thou keep this commandment
without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which
in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of
kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light
which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be
honour and power everlasting. Amen – 1 Timothy 6:14-16
Thank
You, precious Heavenly “Father
God” for the awaited ANTICIPATION of the coronation of Your
Sovereign “Son” and our sweet
“Savior” alone: “Jesus Christ” the loving “Lord” over ALL things
~ AMEN!
More to
follow… STAY tuned!
In
closing:
REAL REFLECTIONS: The twelve chapters of “Daniel” are powerfully PROMISED prophecies depicting the unfolding
of the HISTORIC events of which will take place leading up to
the literal “time” of the SECOND awaited
physical “coming” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” back to the earth:
And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever – Daniel 2:44
And
our SERIOUS study of these PROPHECIES will
rightly REVEAL to each student of God's wonderful “Word” that the events FORETOLD
some 2,600 years ago could
possibly be FULFILLED in the seemingly near future…
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
