Remember how the image of the king's dream was an overview of history from then until the end of time? Well Daniel chapter seven expounds upon this revelation. God didn't want us to be in doubt He wanted us to know more, understand with even more conviction.
This time Daniel had a dream and visions as he slept, and it was some years later after Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was inherited by Belshazzar, a successor.
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.
Dan 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4 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.
Dan 7:5 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.
Dan 7:6 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.
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.
Dan 7:8 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.
Dan 7:9 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.
Dan 7:10 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.
Dan 7:11 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.
Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Dan 7:13 I 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.
Dan 7:14 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.
Do you see? Let's start at verse 13 and 14. One like the Son of man. Who is the Son of man?
Remember this verse? Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
And this? Mat 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
How about this? Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity
Here's another- Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Without any doubt whatsoever Jesus is the Son of man.
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man (JESUS) came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 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.
Jesus' kingdom will not be destroyed, it shall not pass away, Jesus' kingdom is everlasting.
Now remember Daniel 2:44 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.
This is the end of a sinful world and the beginning of a new world in Jesus Christ our Savior. Both visions, both dreams, both prophecies end with Jesus ushering in His kingdom, the world as we know it is destroyed, is gone forever. If both end with the same point it is logical to deduce that the visions before the shared culmination also share a commonality- yes? If one prophecy starts with the current kingdom in power and relates future kingdoms till the end of time, the other prophecy must do the same, yes? To have the same RESULT, the previous information must in some manner coincide. So let's read on a bit before going back to study in more detail.
Dan 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Dan 7:16 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.
Here we will have the interpretation-
Dan 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
Dan 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Four kings- it's important to understand that the word kingdom and king are used interchangeably.
Remember this verse-
Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
Compare it to this -
Dan 2:38 ... Thou art this head of gold.
If Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold he was the king of a kingdom he represented the kingdom and after him- after HIS kingdom- another kingdom would arise.
So when we read 'These great beasts which are four are four kings- it's just as true to say- these great beasts which are four are four kingdoms. Even reading just a few words later- 'But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom… see there is the word kingdom again.
Let's read it once more-
Dan 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
Dan 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Four kings(kingdoms) exactly match the image of the earlier vision-
Gold
Silver
Brass
Iron
Then in verse 7
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.
The fourth beast had TEN HORNS!
Remember the toes in the image?! They were part of that fourth kingdom - iron and clay! Here we have ten horns! This isn't a coincidence!
We are being given MORE information. So let's quickly run through this again…
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.
Dan 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 great beasts came up from the sea different from each other.
Dan 7:4 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.
1st beast- had eagle's winds
Wings plucked
Lifted up from earth
Stand upon the feet like a man
A man's heart was given it
Dan 7:5 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.
2nd beast- like a bear
Raised up on one side
3 ribs in it's mouth between the teeth
Said- Arise, devour much flesh
Dan 7:6 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.
3rd beast- like a leopard
4 wings on its back
4 heads
Dominion given it
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.
4th beast-
Dreadful, terrible, strong exceedingly
Great iron teeth
It devours and brakes in pieces
Stamps the residue with it's feet
Different from all the other beasts before it
10 horns
Dan 7:8 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.
10 horns-
A little horn comes up from among them and 3 of the 1st horns are plucked by the roots
In the little horn were eyes like a man and a mouth speaking great things
I know this is a lot of information so I'm stopping here but more on these 4 beasts and 10 horns tomorrow, by the grace of God.
Lord we need you to open our eyes to all your truth. If there are things we need to know, to understand, to believe please show them to us as you show us your truth. We don't want to be among those who are deceived and we know You tell us that ALL but the very elect will be deceived. We desperately desire to be among your elect precious Lord, in Your righteousness, by Your grace. Help us Lord as we continue to study prophecy- the past studied, the future revealed.
In Your amazing love!
AMEN!
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