1st year of Belshazzar’s reign. Daniel is about 66.
553 BC. (Blueprint – Arthur/NIV SB)
Chapter 7 is the heart of the book of Daniel – the most important chapter – contains a major transition. The rest of the study is for us, but not about us. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
7:1 – this is a flashback. It takes place prior to chapter 5. It probably appears out of order because of how the book is divided: the first six chapters are history, the last six chapters are visions. (Life App SB)
7:2 – Daniel is now being written in the 1st person perspective. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
7:2-8 – Daniel’s vision is similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Chapter 2. Let’s update the chart from ch.2: (Life App SB)
1st kingdom Gold Nebuchadnezzar Babylonian lion w/eagle’s wings
2nd kingdom Silver (inferior) Medo-Persian lopsided bear
3rd kingdom Bronze (rule whole earth) Greek/Macedonian leopard
4th kingdom Iron (crush/break) Roman 4th beast (Rome/end times)
clay/Iron (divided kingdom) confed of Roman states
“There may be truth to the idea that the image with its glittering metals portrays the world’s kingdoms from humanity’s viewpoint – impressive and great, whereas the beasts depict these earthly kingdoms from God’s perspective – vicious and destructive.” (Daniel – Beth Moore: The New American Commentary)
7:3 – the great sea – the Mediterranean sea. “This vision then related specifically to the Mediterranean world.” (Daniel – Beth Moore: Bible Knowledge Commentary)
see v. 17 – the four beasts represent the four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.
The earth is represented by the sea here in v. 3. (Daniel – Beth Moore: New American Commentary)
7:4 – other places in scripture, Nebuchadnezzar and/or Babylon is represented by an eagle (Jeremiah 49:22, Lamentations 4:19, Ezekiel 17:3) and a lion (Jeremiah 4:7, 49:19, 50:17, 44). (Daniel – Beth Moore) Jer. 50:44 doesn’t seem to be using the lion to symbolize Neb and Babylon. It seems to be representing one that will conquer Babylon.
the tearing off of the wings could represent King Nebuchadnezzar’s period of insanity.
the transformation from beast to man may represent Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration of sanity.
7:5 – Why is the bear only raised up on one side? The one raised side represents the superiority of Persia within the kingdom. (NIV SB)
the three ribs may represent the Medo-Persian empire’s main conquests: Lydia (546 BC), Babylon (539 BC) and Egypt (525 BC). (NIV SB)
7:6 – four heads represent the division of Greece after the death of Alexander the Great – see chapter 8. Four wings symbolize great speed in conquest. (NIV SB)
leopard and wings symbolize sleek swiftness. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
One possible reason for God to allow Alexander the Great to conquer the world with such great speed may have been to unify the language to facilitate the spread of the Gospel.
Septuagint – “the oldest Greek version of the Old Testament, traditionally said to have been translated by 70 or 72 Jewish scholars at the request of Ptolemy II: most scholars believe that only the Pentateuch was completed in the early part of the 3rd century b.c. and that the remaining books were translated in the next two centuries.” (dictionary.reference.com) septuaginta is Latin for “70”. Beth Moore also stated that it is said that these scholars created this translation of the first 7 books of the Bible miraculously in 70 days! WOW!
7:7 – see parallel between the 10 horns and the 10 toes of the statue in Daniel 2:41-42. (NIV SB)
7:8 – the little horn = antichrist or a world power that shares the antichrist’s characteristics. (NIV SB)
This little horn comes up out of the ten horns which is the Roman Empire. Therefore, this little horn is the antichrist, not to be confused with “another horn” in Daniel 8. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
“eyes like the eyes of a man”
see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 – the man of lawlessness revealed. (Daniel – Beth Moore) vv. 2-3 says not to be deceived into believing reports that the day of the Lord has already come because “…that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.” Vv. 6-8 says that the man of lawlessness is being held back so that he may be revealed at the proper time. When the restrainer is taken out of the way, the man of lawlessness will be revealed. This is completely possible since the day of the Lord refers to judgment, not the rapture – according to the NIV SB.
see 1 John 2:18 – the antichrist – Satan doesn’t know when Christ’s kingdom will come, so he must have candidates for this position “in every generation so that when the time comes, he can inhabit and use his prime choice.” (Daniel – Beth Moore) “One of the most notable characteristics of the antichrist is his genius. I believe he will be a Gentile (Rev. 13:1), emerging from a reunified Roman Empire (Daniel 7:8; 9:26), who is an intellectual genius (Dan. 8:23), an oratorical genius (Dan. 11:36), a political genius (Rev. 17:11-12), a commercial genius (Dan. 11:43; Rev. 13:16-17), a military genius (Rev. 6:2; 13:2), and a religious genius (2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:8).” (Daniel – Beth Moore: The Complete Book of Bible Prophecy) I do not agree with the use of the underlined verses to support the genius reference.
see Revelation 13:2 – the same animals are mentioned in Daniel 7. “This beast’s empire ‘will combine the greatness of the kingdoms of the past.’” (Daniel – Beth Moore: God’s Pattern For the Future by C. Swindoll)
see Revelation 13:3 – fatal wound – since Satan wants to make himself like God (Isaiah 14:14), he counterfeits God’s plan. “The beast plays the role of son to the dragon (Satan). His wound and healing counterfeit the death and resurrection of Christ.” (Daniel – Beth Moore)
see Revelation 13:4-8 – the beast speaking blasphemies. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
see Revelation 13:7 – beast given power to make war against the saints and conquer them. Will this be us? Or those converted during the tribulation?
7:9-10 – the Ancient of Days enters and takes His seat as the Chief Justice of the Universe. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
fire symbolizes judgment. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
wheels indicate mobility of the throne. Wherever God goes, so goes His throne. (Daniel – Beth Moore) For more on wheels, see Ezekiel 1:15-21, 26-27. (NIV SB)
books were opened – books of deeds. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
Daniel’s first vision is his own name realized! Remember that the name Daniel means “God is my judge” or “God has judged”. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
Ancient = long, vast, lengthy. Days = of time on earth.
7:10 – Daniel sees a vision of the Great White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15.
7:12 – allowed to live for a period of time – each of the cultures was absorbed by the conquering empire, but continued to exist to some degree. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
7:13 – see Mark 14:62-65. Jesus is quoting Daniel. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
The Ancient of Days judges Christ worthy of authority, glory and power. Daniel witnessed the coronation of the Messiah King! (Daniel – Beth Moore)
7:15 – Daniel is participating in the dream! He interacts with the other participants. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
7:22 – foretells judgment day. (Daniel – Beth Moore)
7:25 – oppress – “’to wear away’ or ‘to wear out,’ as one would wear out a garment.” (Daniel – Beth Moore: New American Commentary)
saints – “holy (one), saint” (Daniel – Beth Moore: Lexical Aids to the OT, Key Word Study Bible, NIV). Whoever they are, we know they are “the people of the Most High.” (Daniel – Beth Moore. See Daniel 7:27)
set times – “best understood to be religious holidays, which the Antichrist will attempt to eliminate.” (Daniel – Beth Moore: New American Commentary)
“Denying religious liberty is characteristic of dictators (e.g. Antiochus IV, Nero, Domitian, Stalin, Hitler, and others), but Antichrist will go beyond what anyone has done before in his attempt to create a thoroughly secular world. Even now, there are those seeking to rid society of all vestiges of religion.” (Daniel – Beth Moore: New American Commentary)
time, times and half a time – this refers to a future terror of the antichrist. (Daniel – Beth Moore) 3 ½ years. See Daniel 4:25.
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