Making Sense of Daniel

Introduction:

1. The first six chapters of Daniel record events in his life, and the last six prophecies given to him.
2. We are studying Second Thessalonians, and this chapter will help understand the second chapter there.
3. We have learned four great kingdoms that were to come from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. See Daniel 2.
   1. First was Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar and his sons, ranked highest in glory and splendor.
   2. Second was Persia under Cyrus and Darius, ranked somewhat inferior to Babylonian glory.
   3. Third was Greece under the conquering genius of Alexander the Great and an expansive empire.
   4. Fourth was Rome in its iron might and degenerative attempt at amalgamating its territories.
   5. And during the Roman Empire the God of heaven set up the kingdom of Christ (Luke 3:1-18), which was and is the final kingdom of five stretching from the Babylonians to the very end.
   6. Since we already know the kingdoms before our Lord and that there are no others, from the second chapter; we can read this chapter with God’s own presuppositions and understand easily.
4. Some of the verses of this chapter deserve series of messages, but we will try to skim the whole surface!
5. If you want more information or detail, there is much more available. Pursue as far as your spirit seeks.

The VISION (Dan 7:1-14)

1. Daniel saw four great beasts come up out of the sea under the four winds of heaven.
   1. He saw this vision during the first year of Belshazzar, the last Babylonian king.
      1. The four winds of heaven represent the Providence of God in the affairs of men (Jeremiah 49:36; Ezekiel 37:9; John 3:8).
      2. The great sea represents multitudes of the earth’s nations (Rev 17:15).
   2. The first beast was a lion with eagle wings: majestic, powerful, regal, fast.
      1. The great beast’s wings were plucked and it became weak like a man.
      2. The beast appeared glorious and powerful, but became soft and fearful.
   3. The second beast was a bear, inferior to a lion in glory, power, mobility, speed.
      1. The bear raised itself by one side, for one was stronger than the other.
      2. It had three significant ribs in its teeth and was told to devour them.
   4. The third beast was a leopard, inferior further, but exceedingly fast and harsh.
      1. The leopard had four wings of a bird to indicate even enhanced speed.
      2. The best had four heads, which indicate four different sources of rule.
      3. And extraordinary dominion was given to this beast to conquer and rule.
   5. The fourth beast was a dreadful dragon, different from the other three beasts.
      1. It was characterized by dreadful and terrible strength exceedingly.
      2. It is noted as a beast with great iron teeth, for devouring and using iron.
      3. It methodically and systematically defeated and crushed the other beasts.
      4. The beast had ten horns, which indicate ten different means of power.
   6. The fourth beast grew another horn after the ten, which was a different horn.
      1. It was not of the ten: it was the eleventh horn; and it was different.
      2. It was not a great horn, but rather a little horn. Its beginning was small.
      3. It came up among them, in that it came from the same area as the others.
      4. In order to make room for itself, it destroyed three of the other horns.
      5. This horn had eyes, to indicate intelligence, knowledge, and oversight.
      6. This horn had a mouth speaking great things for blasphemous pride.
2. Daniel saw a judgment where authority and especially the little horn were judged.
   1. Leaving purely beastly language, he sees thrones, indicative of rule, cast down.
   2. Here only do we read about the Ancient of Days – three times in this chapter.
   3. Daniel sees clearly the glory of the throne room of Almighty God (Rev 4-5).
   4. Daniel sees clearly the picture of the great Day of Judgment (Rev 20:11-13).
   5. He observes the blasphemous words of the little horn, which had a mouth.
   6. He watches the beast bearing the little horn cast into the fire – the fourth beast!
   7. The three other beasts lost power, but their lives were not totally extinguished.
   8. He sees the Son of God come to the Ancient of Days and receive His kingdom.

The INTERPRETATION (7:15-28)

1. The vision troubled Daniel much, so he asked an angel for the interpretation (Dan 7:15-16).
2. The great beasts from the sea were four kings, which shall arise from the earth (Dan 7:17-18).
   1. There were four of them. And we should not try to construct any other number.
   2. There is no room for splitting Media and Persia or Greece and its four sections.
   3. There is no room for Islam, Germany, the USSR, the USA, or China in this list.
   4. They are not literal, single kings; but rather unique and separate kingdoms (Dan 7:23). Not Nebuchadnezzar or any other single ruler fulfils any of these “kings.” We are rather dealing with four kingdoms, empires, dominions, or political entities.
   5. We have a collective noun here for a succession of kings in each kingdom – four sets of successions, as Paul uses “woman” as a collective noun (I Tim 2:11).
   6. Don’t let “beast” confuse you. It is the representation of a kingdom or empire by the similitude of an animal. It is not an international dictator of the U.N.!
   7. Since the four beasts are four kingdoms, we already know them (Dan 2:36-45)! They are Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome. We cannot violate this!
   8. The angel summarized the whole vision quickly – in two verses. After the four empires, the saints of the most High will take the kingdom forever and ever.
3. Daniel was not content with this limited interpretation, as he wanted details explained.
   1. He specifically wanted further explanation of the fourth kingdom and little horn.
      1. He adds that the fourth beast had nails of brass along with teeth of iron.
      2. He adds that the little horn had a stouter look than the other horns.
      3. He adds that the little horn made war with the saints of the most High.
      4. He adds that the little horn was successful and prevailed against them.
   2. The angel explains the fourth kingdom and little horn Daniel wanted to know.
      1. The fourth beast – the dragon – was the fourth kingdom on the earth, which defines precisely what we should think when we read “beast.”
      2. Out of this large, singular kingdom ten smaller kingdoms shall arise.
      3. And after their rise a very different kingdom shall arise among them.
      4. And this strange and different kingdom would subdue three of the others.
      5. This kingdom would blaspheme with words against the most High.
      6. This kingdom would wear out the saints by extended persecution.
      7. This kingdom would arrogantly try to change politics and God’s laws.
      8. This kingdom would be given power over the saints for 3½ times.
      9. But the judgment of the Ancient of Days will take away his dominion.
      10. And the little horn would be consumed and judged unto the end.
      11. And the saints of the most High would be given the everlasting kingdom.
4. Daniel was much affected by the vision even after the interpretation by the angel (Dan 7:28).
   1. Consider that the prevailing power over the saints of God would be disturbing.
   2. Consider that the apostle John was very amazed by the same beast (Rev 17:3-6)

The APPLICATION

1. The first beast is Babylon
   1. A lion with eagle wings is a well-known ensign and symbol of the empire.
   2. Babylon was a majestic kingdom – the head of gold – with rapid success, which is shown by the lion with eagles wings, regal and powerful (Jer 4:7,13; 48:40).
   3. But in the latter reign of Nebuchadnezzar’s sons, it was weak and fearful, which is indicated by the heart of a man being given to it (Ps 9:20; Jer 51:30; Is 13:8).
2. The second beast is Persia
   1. The bear is inferior to a lion and Persia never equalled Babylon’s grandeur.
   2. It raised itself up by the Medes first, and then became the Persian empire (Dan 8:3).
   3. It devoured the three main provinces of Babylon – Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, which are indicated to us by Babylon’s political organization (Dan 2:49; 3:30; 6:1-2).
3. The third beast is Greece
   1. The leopard represents the size and rapidity with which Greece conquered.
   2. Alexander conquered the known world from Egypt to India in just a few years.
   3. The four heads are the four generals who divided the kingdom after Alexander.
   4. The four heads are kings, nations, or sections of the SAME Greek empire.
4. The fourth beast is Rome
   1. Rome systematically crushed and humbled everything in its path with strength.
   2. Rome was different in many respects, but especially as it is today with Popes.
   3. Rome was built of iron. The iron legions of Rome are well known in history.
   4. Rome broke the former empires into pieces and placed governors over them.
   5. Rome became ten toes (Dan 2:41-42) and ten horns – ten subordinate kingdoms.
   6. Rome ended the former kings’ dominion, but also adopted them (Rev 13:1-2).
   7. Rome is the same beast John saw that was reigning over kings (Rev 17:18).
   8. Rome is that beast bearing the Whore on its famed seven hills (Rev 17:9).
   9. Rome continued in a Germanic conglomerate called the Holy Roman Empire.
5. The little horn is the Roman Catholic Church under the Popes
   1. It was Roman – the papacy grew out of the fourth beast, which was Rome. No other recognizable kingdom grew out of the Roman kingdom.
   2. It is Roman – it took the Roman name, capital, and language – Latin.
   3. It was little – it began as the church of Rome with very modest beginnings.
   4. It was different – a religious kingdom rather than a political or military one.
   5. It came after ten – the Roman Empire was ten nations before the Church arose.
   6. It uprooted three kingdoms as the patrimony of Peter and the Pope’s triple tiara.
   7. It is a church – for the little horn of Daniel is a woman in Revelation (Rev 17:3): there is no eleventh horn in Revelation, the figure changes with a royal whore.
   8. It has a stout look – it presumes far more of itself and ruler than other kingdoms.
   9. It has intelligence – its eyes are everywhere as overseer and by the confessional.
   10. It has a blasphemous mouth – it claims great things about its popes and church.
   11. It is a whore in Revelation – a church committing fornication with the world.
   12. It is a whore reigning over the kings of the earth in the time of John (Rev 17:18).
   13. It is a whore resting on seven hills – the famed seven hills of Rome (Rev 17:9).
   14. It is a church that overthrows the word of God and establishes its own laws.
   15. The papacy of Rome and the Catholic Church fulfill this prophecy perfectly.
   16. If this is not the true interpretation, then all the martyrs died believing a lie.
6. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ will take the dominion and last forever and ever.
   1. Jesus is seated at God’s right hand waiting for the appointed time (Rev 2:26-27).
   2. He will show in His times He is the Blessed and Only Potentate (I Tim 6:13-16).
   3. He will completely subdue and destroy all kingdoms at the end (I Cor 15:24-28).
   4. At that time He will take His glorious power and reign visibly (Rev 11:15-18).

Conclusion:

1. Because we are so far removed from the bloody persecutions of the past, we little understand Rome.
2. Consider that we are in mid-October facing the triple-threat of holy days: Halloween, Christmas, Easter.
3. Every time we have a baptism, we should rejoice; for immersion condemns both Whore and daughters.
4. Consider attending a Mass to witness their idolatrous and blasphemous heresy of transubstantiation.
5. Turn off your lights and turn up your speakers to read this website: http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/anti1.htm
6. All should have Ralph Woodrow’s “Babylon Mystery Religion” and “Great Prophecies of the Bible.”
7. The Roman Catholic Church is the great enemy of the saints of God. Reject all of her influence!
8. Never forget the many martyrs who have gone before and stood against this monstrosity of devilish lies.
9. The Second Coming of our Lord Jesus is very near. There are no known prophecies to fulfil. Glory!
10. Don’t let your children be moved by the ridiculous science fiction of the last 150 years. Bible prophecy is not nearly as difficult as it seems, and to understand them is to build your faith in Jesus Christ greatly!
11. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and press into His kingdom, and you will be saved in the day of wrath!
12. The next chapter will give us a prophecy of the little horn of Greece – Antiochus Epiphanes.

For further reading:

http://www.historicism.com
http://www.historicist.com
http://www.historicism.net/sitemap.htm

 

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Daniel 8: The Little Horn of Greece