But here in chapter 7, as in Psalm 80:17, the son of man is more than just a man, He is the Messiah. He is more beastly in the beginning and more human in the end, paralleling the character of Nebuchadnezzar. He would, after His death, burial, and resurrection come in His glory, rewarding men according to their deeds (16:27). Daniel urged them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven, . Since the head of gold seems to describe the same king and kingdom as the first beast, it may not be too far afield to conclude that Nebuchadnezzar is the king represented by the first beast. They believed that the Messiah would come to establish the kingdom, to bless the Jews and to condemn the Gentiles. It not only bore witness to the conversion of this king, but encouraged all of the subjects of Babylonian rule to worship the God of Israel. In the Psalms and also in Daniel 7, the expression Son of Man begins to take on a more technical meaning, referring to the Messiah, who will sit on the throne of His father, David, to rule over men forever. Chapter 7 reveals in broad terms what the future holds. Consequently, it is little wonder that in the events recorded in Daniel 5, Belshazzar was ignorant of Daniel and the abilities God had given him. [1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. The use of the word time in Daniel is understood to be years. Four kings will establish four kingdoms, and some of these kingdoms have a number of kings. Some people have a rather irreverent attitude toward prophecy, they approach it as a pastime and they delight in figuring out complex date schemes and drawing detailed diagrams of the future. He wants to know more about this dreadful beast, different from the rest, especially in the destruction he wrought. The angel went on in this summary to tell Daniel that the saints of the Highest One would receive the kingdom and possess it forever. What God declares in prophecy, He reveals as well in history. They are far from pleasant but an unavoidable part of the process. During this ten-nation confederation another ruler will rise as described by the little horn. Prophecy is not a pep rally, which generates a great burst of short-term enthusiasm but does little to inspire faith and endurance in the midst of suffering. The prophecy of Daniel 7 nevertheless had great relevance and application to those in Daniels day. Usually it refers to a person as a human being. This description certainly fits the account of Nebuchadnezzars plunge from power and sanity in chapter 4. In verse 1 Daniel indicates his vision came to him in the first year of the reign of Belshazzar. Would Belshazzar toast the gods of gold, silver, wood and stone with the sacred temple vessels? This vision was an interactive vision, as Daniel was not only present in the vision but was able to approach one standing by to ask the meaning of what he saw. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. Hosted by Michael Barbaro and Sabrina . The prophecies of Daniel 7 speak of a future day of reckoning, foreshadowed by the actions of Belshazzar and the judgment of God on him and his kingdom. It should be remembered that many narratives of scripture are related in a very condensed form, fuller details being added afterwards. He staying the decree is brought to the king. The chapter falls into two major parts. He will also send forth His angels to gather those who do not belong in His kingdom (12:41). So King Nebuchadnezzar honored God's men. God would strike him down in the moment of His choosing to silence him once and for all and put an end to his kingdom. (6) How important is it for us to identity the kings and the kingdoms mentioned in our text? In our passage, Daniel asks for and receives an explanation. We need to be waiting and prepared for His return. Second, the prophecies of Daniel are to be understood in the light of the entire Book of Daniel, of the Old Testament, and of the Bible as a whole. [4] We of the present Age, the church will reign with Jesus Christ as His bride. They will serve and obey Him forever. He had endured the training of the Chaldeans and he had lived his life in the service of a foreign king, at first the foreign king who had overthrown his country. Other biblical prophecies bear on the prophecies of Daniel, particularly preceding or contemporary prophecies. The final push of the times of the Gentiles will last for 3 years, then the end will come, the end of the times of the Gentiles., THE JUDGMENT AND THE FIFTH KINGDOM (Daniel 7:26-27). 3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. March 1, 2023, 6:00 a.m. Daniel (Daniel 2; 4): As He had done for Joseph, God placed Daniel in a position of power and influence by allowing him to interpret a foreign ruler's dream. This part of Daniels dream is new information that was not conveyed in Nebuchadnezzars dream in chapter two. Considering this text has changed my opinion about the gap in the prophecies of the Old Testament. Daniel explained to the king that the statue represented four successive kingdoms based upon power and wealth, beginning with Babylon, while the stone and mountain signified a kingdom established by God that would never be destroyed nor given to other people. Nebuchadnezzar became distressed when he received his first night vision (2:1) because he did understand some of his dream. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for them to have a child. The horn of the beast that made war against the saints was one of 10 kings who prevailed until the Ancient of days came and judged against him in favor of the saints. We have already seen this phrase time, times, and half a time in Revelation. In Daniels dream the Medo-Persian empire and it king Cyrus was represented by the bear. Daniel 2:9-11 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof, Daniel 1:18,19 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar, We are not told in so many words that this extension of time was granted, or that Daniel undertook to show more than the interpretation of the dream. The saints must believe and behave according to what God has promised about the future the righteous will possess the kingdom of God forever. Who are these saints that the angel is speaking of? Daniel 2: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream by Larry Murray King Nebuchadnezzar had a puzzling dream that no one could explainuntil God gave the interpretation to Daniel. 80 During my school teaching days, I tried to make my students think I had eyes in the back of my head so that no matter what they did--even if my back was turned--they could not escape my all-seeing eyes or my discipline. Then He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you! (Ezekiel 2:1). Lets pray and ask God to teach us and guide us as we look at His prophetic word. (3) What principles should guide and govern our attempt to interpret the prophecy of this chapter? Belshazzar came to power several years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar and seems to have turned completely away from the God of Israel. Chapter 9, on the other hand, has a historical account of Daniels study of Jeremiah and of his prayers of repentance and petition for Israels restoration and return to the land of promise. I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. The visions explanation was not thorough enough to satisfy Daniel. The third portion of the statue in Daniel 2 was the belly and thighs of bronze which represented the Greek empire. At this point the revelation ended. According to verse 1, the written record of the revelation Daniel received in his first night vision is but a summary of the prophecy he received. Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. At this point the revelation ended. It seems that three of the kings try to resist him and he overthrows them by force. He only called on him in a moment of sheer panic when no one else could help, and only then because of the recommendation of the queen mother. Each of the four beasts represent a king and thus a resulting kingdom. 12 and he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. Verse 2. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. (Numbers 23:19). "He's home just in time for #gogglebox we are not on this week as Daniels been away . Nebuchadnezzar may have started badly, but by the time we read of him in Daniel 4 he seems to be a true believer in God, urging the citizens of his kingdom to worship and serve Him. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:13, NASB95)[5] The more we know about the future the more are hearts should be moved to practical preparation. Both sets of kingdoms are brought to a sudden end and are replaced by an eternal kingdom. Verses 15-28 contain the divine interpretation of this vision. 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy to revoke its approval of the two main drugs used for medication abortion in the United States. Our Lords first coming happened over a period of more than 30 years, and yet we view this as one coming. 23 Thus he said: The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. It is virtually the opposite of the term beast. The expression, Son of man, is not new to Daniel. During the times of the Gentiles four empires, Daniel was told, would rise and rule over the land and people of Israel. Those who will reign with Christ are those who have suffered (see Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10-11; 2 Timothy 2:12). His final offspring, so to speak, is the little horn which becomes the great blasphemer, whose life and kingdom is suddenly cut off by the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. These saints are the believing Jews of the tribulation, not the believers of the Church Age. Note these general observations about our passage before we turn to a more detailed study. Time: refers to one year, times is understood in Aramaic (the language this chapter was originally written in) to mean a dual or two, so times refers to two years and half a time refers to one half of a year. If you remember from two weeks ago the bear was raised up on one side, this was to indicate that one part of this united kingdom overshadowed the other portion. The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (1 Peter 4:7). And yet God said they would. The Old Testament prophet did not see the gap because he viewed the coming of Christ as God does. The identity of the kingdoms represented by the other body parts and metals was not revealed. Salvation is likewise a process involving sufferingand then glory. The three ribs in the bears mouth between its teeth most likely represent Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia, three empires conquered by the Medo-Persian empire. The saints should expect to suffer because of their faith, especially as the last days for the kingdoms of men draw near. As Daniel continues to watch, someone descends with the clouds of heaven, one like a Son of Man. He is presented to the Ancient of Days, and to Him is given dominion, glory, and the eternal kingdom. Daniel's righteousness is legendary status Don't mistake Daniel as some conjurer of cheap tricks. During those days the revived Roman empire will be ruled by a confederation of ten kings as described by the ten toes of the statue of Daniel 2 and the ten horns of Daniels dream. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers [1]to tell him what he had dreamed. 3 While they are saying, Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Note that the description of the beasts is written in prose, while the description of the heavenly court in verses 9-10 and of the Son of Man in verses 13-14 is written in poetry form. (6) None of the kings or the kingdoms are identified. Many Old Testament prophets shared Daniels distress as a result of the prophecies they received and often conveyed to others.74 Why does the prophecy of Daniel 7 cause this godly man so much consternation? (11) What is the point of the vision? In spite of these kings, the saints of the Highest One will possess the eternal kingdom forever and ever. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, [6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. Daniel made it very clear that the dream and the interpretation had come for the one true God. I did not include the insert today because I have already included it several times. Daniel 2:24-49 New International Version Daniel Interprets the Dream 24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Until Gods eternal kingdom is established, kingdoms will progress from bad to worse. God has revealed in this interpretation what He wants us to know and has kept back that which we need not know. Children need to know that as believers, we are on the winning team and God wins in the end. 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