DANIEL'S DREAM OF FOUR BEAST AND A HORN
Chapter 7:1-28
INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with the great power of God to see the future.
The prophecy of Daniel is for the benefit of Israel. The prophecy of Daniel
would be made in the six century B.C. and unfold over the next 500-600
years.
The historical fulfillment of prophecy shows God's sovereignty. We will comment on the text as we began our study.
Dan. 7:1 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."
Visions and the understanding of relevation was nothing new for Daniel. Daniel was inspired as a prophet. The prophecy came from God as did the interpretation. None of this was of private interpretation.
II Pet. 1:20-21 knowing this first, that no prophecy of
scripture is of private interpretation.
For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God,
being moved by the Holy Spirit.
The setting of this chapter is not in chronological order. Belshazzar was killed by the Medes and Persians.
Dan. 5:29-31 Then commanded Belshazzar,
and they clothed Daniel with purple, and
put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him,
that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night
Belshazzar the
Chaldean King was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being
about threescore and two years old.
The time of this dream was about 553 B.C. Belshazzar was actually a co-regent of the throne. He served with his father Nabonidius. This is why he could offer Daniel a third part of the kingdom.
Dan. 5:16 But I have heard of thee,
that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve
doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the
interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain
of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Dan. 5:29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and
they clothed Daniel with purple, and
put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him,
that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
This was the night Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians.
The first year of Belshazzar's reign and the third year of the reign
of his father Nabonidus.
THE DREAM OF DANIEL
DANIEL 5:2-14
The dream of Daniel was written in language that we could call symbolic. The revelation of God to Daniel was much like the vision to John on Patmos. Both are signified or written in symbolic language.
Rev. 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave
him to show unto his servants,
even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified
it by
his angel unto his servant John;
The text unfolds the dream of Daniel which would concern the future.
Dan 7:2-4 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 The first was like a lion, and
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 in his prophetic and inspired vision witnessed the fury of the heavens. The heavens was swirling with a powerful wind from all four directions on the sea. The sea driven by the wind is fierce, and in turmoil.
The waters being stirred and agitatiated remind one of the nations described.
Isa. 17:12-14 Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that
roar like the roaring of the seas;
and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke
them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of
the mountains
before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.
At eventide,
behold, terror; and before the morning they are not. This is the portion
of them
that despoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
Daniel is watching the events that will be tumultuous and powerful began to take shape.
Four great beasts began to come out of the sea.
The prophecy showed they were all unique and different from each other.
They were called "diverse". The were not one beast with four characteristics but rather four individual beasts.
A description will follow concerning each individual beast.
BABYLON THE FIRST BEAST
The first beast is described as appearing like a lion. This lion
like beast has wings, but the wings
were going to be plucked and taken from the beast.
The beast was able to stand on two feet like a man. The beast
had the heart, or understanding,
or feelings of a man.
The lion brought fear and respect from mankind. We still call lions the king of the jungle.
The wings of the beast indicated speed and swiftness. This animalistic beast, had to walk on two feet, and did not or could not use all four legs and feet.
The heart of a man indicates intelligence, and perhaps some spiritual awareness.
Babylon and the kings were willingly ignorant of God. King Nebuchadnezzar had honored, God once before with his statement.
Dan. 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor
the King of heaven;
for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk
in pride
he is able to abase.
A Babylonian queen recognized the status of Daniel as a prophet.
King Belshazzar, had a memory
of the prophet also.
Dan. 5:10-16 Now the queen by reason of the
words of the king and his lords came
into the banquet house: the queen spake and said, O king, live forever;
let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.
There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods;
and
in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the
wisdom
of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father,
the
king, I say, thy father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters,
Chaldeans,
and soothsayers; forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding,
interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of
doubts,
were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let
Daniel
be called, and he will show the interpretation. Then was Daniel
brought in before
the king. The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, who
art of the
children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out
of Judah?
I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that
light and understanding
and excellent wisdom are found in thee. And now the wise men, the
enchanters, have
been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make
known unto
me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation
of the thing.
But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve
doubts;
now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation
thereof,
thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck,
and shalt
be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Babylon like America acknowledged God, when it was convenient or when in times of turmoil.
Babylon after King Nebuchadnezzar died began to decline and become weaker.
The Kingdom of Babylon had her wings plucked. To have wings taken away,
to walk on two
feet, instead of four feet, would show the impotence and decline of
the kingdom.
SECOND BEAST MEDES AND PERSIANS
Dan. 5:5 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.
The second kingdom was described as a bear. The danger and power
of a bear is awesome.
A bear is powerful and unstoppable in its anger. The anger of
a bear is ferocious.
The bear is a lumbering and less graceful animal than those in the feline family, like a lion or leopard.
The description of this bear is, that one side stands more erect and highr than the other.
The Medes and Persians were a force together, but the Persians were in control and the more forceful. The description likewise found about the Medes and Persians shows the balance of the Persians reigning higher than the Medes.
Dan. 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes,
and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river
a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher
than the other, and the higher came up last.
Cyrus the Great defeated the Medians and brought their lands into the Persian Empire.
The bear was holding or chewing on three ribs between his teeth.
Some suggest that this represented the hunger and ravishing thirst for power, that the bear had toward conquest other others.
The three ribs fit nicely in describing how the Medes and Persians had vanquished the three prominent kingdoms of their day, to become a world empire.
The kingdoms that had been subjected under their control and rule was: Egypt, Babylon, and Lydia.
The bear was hungry for more and more flesh.
The Persians and Medes were defeated as they tried to press westward
toward Greece and Europe. The Persians were defeated as they tried
to control and dominate the greek colonies, and Asia Minor.
THE THIRD BEAST GRECIAN EMPIRE
Dan. 5:6 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.
The third beast was another great cat.
The leopard had four heads. This second beast had wings of a bird. This beast also was given power and dominion as a kingdom.
The leopard is a very agile and graceful animal.
This kingdom certainly was the grecian kingdom, as it became to be under Alexander the Great.
The speed and drive of Grecian conquests alloweded the 33 year old Alexander, to march from Thrace and Macedonia to India. Nations fell before his feet in quick fashion.
The mighty leader and soldier, wept for there was no more worlds to conquer.
The four heads represented the kings that would succeed Alexander the great.
The successors to Alexander the Great divided his empire in four directions.
Later three strong
kingdoms emerged. The successors to Alexander the great were
four of his generals.
1. Antigonus took the portion of the kingdom from central Asia to the Mediterranean regions.
2. Cassander ruled the Macedonian portion
where Philip and Alexander were from.
3. Ptolemy Lagi took Egypt and southern
Syria for his domain.
4. Lysimachus ruled the area of Thrace.
Just as Daniel predicted the fall of Babylon and Persia, so would
the Grecian Empire fall also.
FOURTH BEAST THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Dan. 7:7 After this I saw in the
night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful
and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured
and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it
was
diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
I considered
the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before
whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and,
behold,
in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great
things.
The fourth beast is Rome. The strength of this empire is seen
by the great iron teeth.
The beast is described as being exceedingly strong.
This Empire stamped out the power base and the vestiges of the former
empires by amalgamating
them in one system. Rome brought world peace.
The "Pax Roma" or peace of Rome was the order of the day.
The Romans had such a road system that it was said. "all roads lead to Rome".
The church was established in the days of this fourth kingdom of Rome.
TEN HORNS OF DANIEL AND THE LITTLE HORN
Dan. 7:7-8 and it had ten horns. I
considered the horns, and, behold, there came up
among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first
horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like
the
eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
The fourth beast was found with ten horns protruding
from itself.
The horns denoted authority, and great power held by kings. This same language calls the horns kings.
Dan. 8:21 And the rough he-goat
is the king of Greece: and the great horn that
is between his eyes is the first king.
We conclude that the fourth beast of Rome which have ten kings for us to consider.
The kings of Rome are listed in the following order according to their reign:
1, Augustus 2. Tiberius 3. Caligula
4. Claudius 5.Nero 6. Galba
7. Otho 8. Vitellius
9. Vespasian 10.
Titus
Some began the count with Julius Caesar, who was assassinated before
being made emperor of all
of Rome.
The well learned, scholarly, historian, Rex A. Turner Sr. Begins with the reign of Pompey.
He does so because of the power of the Roman Empire established by the work of Pompey.
To began with Pompey, one arrives to the tenth horn as being Vespasian.
The order of this reckoning has the succession of rulers listed as follows:
1. Pompey 2. Julius Caesar 3. Augustus
4. Tiberius 5. Caligula 6. Claudius
7. Nero 8.Galba 9.
Otho 10.Vitellius
The reckoning of brother Turner, fits nicely with Vespasian "wearing out the saints".
Dan. 7:25 And he shall speak words against
the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of
the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and
they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
Vespasian, although a commoner, was one the most powerful politicians
the Roman senate had
ever known.
Vespasian indeed, had dispatched his son Titus to destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Through Titus, Israel was destroyed. The temple was torn down, and all genealogies lost.
The problem with Vespasian, is not only starting with Pompey. There are also a few more difficulties.
The fact that Domitian, carries many more attributes of the little horn than Vespasian, seems to pose some problems also.
I do believe that Rex A. Turner, does has a clear understanding of the prophecy.
Yet I lean a little more, for starting with Augustus. I conclude
that Domitian is the eleventh, or
little horn that Daniel saw.
The view of fleshly Israel being the eleventh horn, seems to be forced
and somewhat inconsistent.
Israel was a nation not a king or kingdom.
Israel did not rise from Rome. The nation of Israel far antiquated Rome.
Domitian counting from the first reigning Caesar, who was Augustus, is the eleventh horn or the little horn.
Domitian was a very evil person.
The Roman empire that produced Domitian had a true Roman reigning.
Domitian unlike some caesar's was a natural born Roman.
Dan. 7:8 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.
Dan. 7:24 And as for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another
shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he
shall put
down three kings.
Domitian was the eleventh king, from the first emperor of Rome, Augustus Ceasar.
Dan. 7:20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head,
and the other horn
which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes,
and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its
fellows.
Like the horn in Daniel 7 this emperor declared himself deity.
Dan. 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Dan. 7:25 And he shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of
the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and
they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
The Emperor Domitian, like the little horn, spoke bragging, and proud words.
Dan. 7:8 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.
Dan.7:20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its
head, and the other horn which
came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and
a mouth
that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
Domitian declared war on Christianity who in the time of the forth kingdom,
were now the people
of God..
GOD'S WRATH AGAINST THE BEAST
Dan. 7:9-12 I beheld till the thrones
were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit,
whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure
wool:
his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A
fiery
stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered
unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment
was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice
of the
great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain,
and his
body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the
rest of the
beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged
a season and time.
The judgment and wrath of God would be upon the fourth beast of Rome. The wickedness in the cup of Rome's sins would become full. Everything in life sown for wickedness will be dealt with. From nations to individuals.
Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived God is not mocked, Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.
Prov. 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.
The before Abraham I am, The beginning and the end, the alpha and omega, the I am, is the ancient of Days, he still reigns and controls nations. The judgment is said to be set.
The "ancient of days",
the divine Godhead still punishes the wicked as Rome will
discover.
Daniel, sees the fourth beast of Rome as to come.
John in Revelation sees the Rome, that was made up of the three beasts.
Rev. 13
Both saw the prophecy of judgment and fire come upon this fourth kingdom.
The body of the beast is to be consumed with fire.
The former beasts existed by their contributions to the fourth beast for a time.
The Babylonians gave the world mathematics and science.
The Babylonians gave God's people synagogue worship, which was used to take the gospel to various provinces.
The Medes and the Persians contributed the system of law not to be altered.
The Grecian kingdom spread their language throughout the world.
CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM
Dan. 7:13-14 saw in the night visions,
and, behold, one like the Son of man came
with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they
brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and
glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve
him:
his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and
his
kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
The prophet saw the Son of man a descriptive term used many times of Jesus in the New Testament. He is talking about seeing the Christ come with the clouds. The dominion of the kingdom of Christ is world wide and will not be destroyed.
The kingdom is the church of Christ. His church would prevail over death and the grave itself.
Matt. 16:18 And I also say unto thee,
that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
The kingdom of Christ, his church was set up in the days of Rome.
His kingdom has been delivered and will not be shaken or moved.
Heb. 12:28 Wherefore, receiving
a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace,
whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:
We are talking about the kingdom of Christ, the church not some fanciful kingdom set up in the future from now.
This kingdom had to be set up in the days of the fourth beast and it was.
If Rome reemerges again after history has documented her fall, she would
be a fifth beast so pre-millenialism is blantly false.
MORE ABOUT THE FOURTH BEAST
Dan. 7:15-28 I Daniel was grieved
in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions
of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and
asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the
interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four
kings,
which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall
take
the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Then
I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all
the
others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of
brass; which
devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of
the ten
horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before
whom
three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very
great
things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and
the same horn
made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient
of days
came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time
came
that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast
shall be the
fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and
shall
devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
And
ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another
shall
rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue
three
kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and
shall wear out
the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they
shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
But the
judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and
to
destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness
of
the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the
saints
of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions
shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me
Daniel, my
much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter
in
my heart.
Daniel is overcome by the visions that have unfolded the future before
his very eyes.
Daniel was addressed by an angelic being. Daniel begins to be
told about the kingdoms and the
visions to this interpretation.
Daniel is told that the four beasts are kings specifically they represent four kingdoms. The Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian and the Roman Empire.
The saints of God would take the kingdom and possess the Kingdom forever.
The Christians indeed outlasted the kingdom in which they came into being in.
The Roman Empire was the cradle in which Christianity was born
The saints of the Lord have outlasted all the kingdoms of man.
Every nationality and every place in the world is the domain of the saints.
Christianity overcame the empire not by swords, or spears, but with ethics, morality and faith.
This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
I John 5:4 For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh
the world: and this
is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith.
Daniel again questions the angel about the fourth beast. He is
informed that the nails are as brass.
This forth beast attacks and claws at the saints but cannot prevail.
Dan. 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth.
we read the beasts are called kings.
Nero and Domitian and others raised themselves in battle against Christ and his people and have been defeated.
The little horn is shown speaking blasphemy and other words against the saints.
Dan. 7:25-27 And he shall speak words against the Most
High, and shall wear out the
saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the
law;
and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a
time.
But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to
consume
and to destroy it unto the end. 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 is an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
The Roman Empire which had hated and persecuted Christians, would declare
Christianity as the national religion in 324 A.D.
by certain decree's of Emperor Constantine.
The end of the vision brought great trouble and uneasiness to Daniel.
A time of persecution would persist but God's people would not be defeated.
Dan. 7:28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my
thoughts much troubled me,
and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
CONCLUSION
The prophecy of Daniel proves the foreknowledge of God. The kingdoms
of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece,
and the Roman empire are dead and gone. The church of Christ
stands and even the gates of hell shall not
prevail against her. I am thankful to be a citizen and dweller
in the kingdom of the Lord. Are you a member
of the church Jesus died for. Membership is based on obedience
to God's plan of salvation!
Believe Jesus as God's son, John 8:24
Repent of sins, Luke 13:3-5
Confess Christ before men, Romans 10:10
Be immersed, baptized to put on Christ, Galatians 3:27
Live faithful, to christ unto death, Revelation 2:10