Yet Gods covenant to David (2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 89:14) stands and will ultimately be fulfilled. 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 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? The angels went on to add that the saints of the Highest One will be given into Antichrists hand for a time, times, and half a time. to revoke its approval of the two main drugs used for medication abortion in the United States. When the Lord Jesus came to the earth, He often referred to Himself as the Son of Man, gradually making it clear that He was the Messiah who was God incarnate. But in the end, God will judge the wicked and establish His kingdom for His saints. I encourage you to compare the statements of Daniel 2:21-22, 44, 47; 4:3, 34-35, 37; 6:26 with the content and declarations of Daniel 7. - Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. Dan 2:1-4 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 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. Other biblical prophecies bear on the prophecies of Daniel, particularly preceding or contemporary prophecies. The angel says the Antichrist will seek to make alterations in times and in law. Jesus quoted the words of Daniel 7:13. We need to be waiting and prepared for His return. Never in the history of the Roman empire has this happened so it is yet future. In order to save Rose, Unity asks her to give up whatever makes her the dream vortex. As we consider what we have just learned from Daniels dream and as we look at Daniels response to his dream and the interpretation of it; this should indicate to us that the more we know about the future, the more our hearts should be moved to personal purity. His thoughts alarm him, and his face pales. Let us listen then, and be sober, enduring the sufferings and trials sent our way, looking expectantly and certainly for His kingdom to come. Remember Daniel was in his 60s when he received this revelation. Please stand in honor of the reading of Gods Word and follow along as I read verses 15-28. This is what we need to know from Daniels vision, rather than the identity of the beasts. in 1971. Different from the first three, this beast seems uglier, more powerful, and much more hostile toward God and His saints. (1) Why does Daniel indicate the historical setting of the vision he receives in chapter 7? We could never predict the goals God has determined, nor the means He has ordained for history to reach them. She makes it clear in a rather public fashion that she finds him desirable. The boastful beast becomes even more aggressive, waging war with the saints and even overpowering them. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 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. 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. When his appointed time is over, God will destroy this king and his kingdom and establish His eternal kingdom on the earth. When the court sits for judgment, his dominion is taken from him and he is destroyed forever. Considering this text has changed my opinion about the gap in the prophecies of the Old Testament. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, [6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. This was when his life took a sharp turn. Does this dream have any significance for us? The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:89, NASB95)[7] You have a responsibility because you know what the end will bring. The final outcome is Gods people under the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, will receive the kingdom. Even the fate of this fourth beast is different than his three predecessors, as his life and his kingdom seem to end at the same moment. In the latter days, before the kingdom of God is established on the earth, kings and kingdoms will become worse and worse. 31-35). 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. When the sin and oppression of evil men reaches a predetermined point, God will remove them and establish His promised eternal kingdom. Unfortunately, the king did not heed the dreams warning, and his kingdom was taken away for a time. 1:17) that Daniel had understanding in dreams; and here we have an early and eminent instance of it, which soon made him famous in the court of Babylon, as Joseph by the same means came to be so in the court of Egypt. 2 Peter 3:8-9, But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. Daniel 1:1-2:4a was written in Hebrew. (2) While the timing of the fulfillment of divine prophecy may seem remote to the recipient, it still has relevance for him. Prophecies are given so that we may look at history, especially events occurring in our own lifetime, from Gods perspective. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers [1]to tell him what he had dreamed. Daniel 2:26-49 The beasts emerge out of chaos and confusion; the heavenly court is calm and dignified. This beast is also unique among the four in that he grows 11 horns. 1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it. In the latter days, an unusually powerful and evil king will arise, who will blaspheme God and oppress the people of God. He would, after His death, burial, and resurrection come in His glory, rewarding men according to their deeds (16:27). (6) None of the kings or the kingdoms are identified. Daniel's Dream is instantly appealing as you can reallyrelate to how Daniel is feeling. The second is Daniel's dream. Daniel finds nothing to compare to it. Both sets of kingdoms are brought to a sudden end and are replaced by an eternal kingdom. Are we supposed to discover their identity? In Daniel's dream the Medo-Persian empire and it king Cyrus was represented by the bear. 77 According to Baldwin, This verse [13] has been the subject of more scholarly papers than any other in the book, so indicating its centrality, not only for Daniel but for the New Testament also. Baldwin, p. 142. His vision in chapter 4 should have produced more distress than it did. The nation of Israel has been set aside by divine discipline in the present times of the Gentiles, which began with Nebuchadnezzar. (4) Suffering is to be expected by the saints, before they enter into the glorious kingdom of God. Old Testament Jews would likely regard the reference to the Son of Man in Daniel 7 as a reference to the Messiah, although they would probably not understand Him to be both divine and human. Editing is often evident in the Bible (see John 20:30-31; 31:25). King Nebuchadnezzar died apparently nine years before Belshazzar came to power. The expression is used in the Psalms in a more pregnant way, in reference to the coming Messiah. This angel responded and gave Daniel understanding into his dream as he interpreted it for him. JPS Tanakh 1917 Then the saints will receive the kingdom which will never end. As Daniel sought to discover more truth about the fourth beast he added some details that he had left out of his first description. Prophecy is necessary then so that men are reassured of divine deliverance and blessing, as well as divine judgment (see 2 Peter 2:4-9). a. Nebuchadnezzar became distressed when he received his first night vision (2:1) because he did understand some of his dream. Until Gods eternal kingdom is established, kingdoms will progress from bad to worse. During the times of the Gentiles four empires, Daniel was told, would rise and rule over the land and people of Israel. Children need to know that as believers, we are on the winning team and God wins in the end. Whether liberal or conservative, our conclusions grow out of the premises and presuppositions governing the process and the product of our interpretation. Verses 15-28 contain the divine interpretation of this vision. In the second scene, heaven calmly prepares for court, which will determine that the time for judgment has come. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. This kings boasting turns to blasphemy. Our attention should be given to what is clearly and emphatically said. Part of the dream seemed good, and part of it seemed bad. The revelation of the writing on the banquet hall wall, already described in chapter 5, actually happened later, on the last day of Belshazzars life. At-A-Glance 1. We dare not ignore that which is revealed nor do we dare go too far afield in speculating about what is concealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29; 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23). 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. Who are these saints that the angel is speaking of? The saints of the Highest One are given all the kingdoms of the earth for an everlasting kingdom. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him." (2:14-16) Notice Daniel's calm in the face of the king's rush to judgment. Here is a man that has faithfully walked with his God his whole life. The Ancient of Days is a designation for God, not found elsewhere in the Bible. (4) This is the first prophecy in the book revealed directly to Daniel. These were represented by the image of a statue. Daniel approached one of theses angels and began to ask him to explain to him the meaning or the truth concerning all that he had seen in his visions. This chapter is a history, but it is the history of a prophecy, by a dream and the interpretation . Since the last kingdom and the prophecies associated with it have not yet been fulfilled, we must in some way be a part of that kingdom. In chapter 5, King Belshazzars dream should have greatly alarmed him, but apparantly it did not. Dwight Pentecost writes, The existence of the church in the present Age was nowhere revealed in the Old Testament. These will continue to be separate nations in the confederation but will come under the little horns control and authority. (4) Prophecies not completely fulfilled cannot be fully understood until after their fulfillment. Now, in verse 23, the angelic interpreter explains the relationship of the boastful beast and the coming of the eternal kingdom of God. Nebuchadnezzar became distressed when he received his first night vision (2:1) because he did understand some of his dream. 17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. At least the final portion of chapter 7 has not been fulfilled. When the iniquity of the blasphemous horn reaches full bloom and his appointed time to rule is fulfilled, God will destroy him, casting his body into the fire. 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. The point of this prophecy is not to tell us who future kings will be, but rather what they will be like. (See Daniel 2:24, Note. When we expect it least, the Lord will return, the wicked will be punished, and the kingdom of God established forevermore. Prophecy is necessary because Gods thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. God has revealed in this interpretation what He wants us to know and has kept back that which we need not know. A true account of what happened can only be gathered by reading Daniel 2:18; Daniel 2:28 by the side of this verse. It seems that three of the kings try to resist him and he overthrows them by force. (10) Daniels preoccupation is with the last beast, rather than the first three. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ), Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation, Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular, Daniel -- 'God is my judge', an Israelite leader in Babylon, Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular, Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular, Preposition | third person masculine singular, Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular determinate, Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular determinate. (6) Prophecy is written to sober the saints. In his vision, Daniel observed the sea being stirred up into a raging storm by the four winds of heaven. This signifies that the events which follow have been ordained by God. Who is the Son of Man? Encouraged to do so, it savagely devours. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. 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. He distinguishes himself by his ability to overcome the whole earth, crushing it under foot. Daniel urged them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven, . But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. (Daniel 7:1718, NASB95)[2] The four beasts that Daniel saw in his dream were four kings and represented the four kingdoms of these kings. It seems safe to assume the interpreter was an angelic being; at least this is the case in chapter 8 (8:15-26). The words of verse 1 point to the relationship between the prophecy Daniel received and its historical setting and context. How interesting! Prophecy provides men the opportunity to think and act in a way which pleases God, who determines the future and who reveals future events to men. I have heard a number of attempts to explain the gaps in Old Testament prophecy. Daniel 2:1-23 - The King's Dream (Pastor Nate Wagner) A. Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The Old Testament prophet did not see the gap because he viewed the coming of Christ as God does. [1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. The first time in Daniel 7:13, he is referring to Messiah, who will sit on the eternal throne of His father, David. We do not act on what we see so much as on what God has said. 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. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, Embedded video for Daniel's Dream Interpreted - Daniel 7:15-28. Did Daniel interpret dreams? In His response to the demand of the high priest, Jesus directly claimed to be the promised Messiah. 9 If any one has an ear, let him hear. The next three are waking visions seen in the presence of angels, followed by an appearance of the Messiah - the Son of Man - to interpret the vision for Daniel. 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. The latter prophecy of Daniel 7 adds many more details than were revealed in chapter 2. His disciples were promised that they would share in His reign as King (19:20). The chapter falls into two major parts. Da Dn). The vision recorded in chapter 8 took place in the third year of Belshazzar. Centuries must therefore pass before the prophecies of Daniel are fulfilled. Prophecy becomes necessary from time to time to remind men of those things God has planned for the future which He will surely fulfill. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C., some 9 years before Belshazzars reign began. What God says, He will do. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him." He would rise from the dead (12:40). Nebuchadnezzar was the first ruler of Babylon to have contact with Daniel. Daniel was terrified or alarmed by the scenes he had seen in his mind and desired to understand what they meant. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, every one whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. (12) No distinction between the first coming of Christ and the second is made in the coming of the eternal kingdom of God. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. He wants to know more about this dreadful beast, different from the rest, especially in the destruction he wrought. And yet God said they would. Usually it refers to a person as a human being. He staying the decree is brought to the king. 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. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: In the first use of this expression, being a son of man was contrasted with being God: God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? From Daniel 2:4b to the end of chapter 7, the original text was written in Aramaic (the language of Babylon in that day). The interpretation of the events Daniel witnessed in his vision is given in its most concise form in verses 17 and 18: The four beasts were four kings, who will arise from the earth. That was bad enough, from the religious leaders perspective, but the way in which He answered them was the last straw. Our study of this chapter will isolate what troubled Daniel about the future. This part of Daniels dream is new information that was not conveyed in Nebuchadnezzars dream in chapter two. When He came with His kingdom, they would be sure to recognize Him (24:27). Daniel was an intelligent young Jew living in Jerusalem during the late 600s B.C. Nothing has caused him to panic or depart from his faith and practice as a godly Jew. What God determined to reveal to Daniel should be enough for us. History has shown this to be true in the past, and prophecy assures us that it will be true in the future. In spite of all these beasts do and say, in spite of their power and even their success, neither they nor their kingdoms will last. Rather than publish what he had learned he kept it to himself, until that time that the Holy Spirit guided him to write down and reveal what he had learned to the saints. (9) What is the relationship between Daniels vision in chapter 7 and the events described in Daniel 5? The next portion of the statue in Daniel 2 was the chest and arms of silver which represented the Medo-Persian Empire which was even larger than the Babylonian empire. ET. Prophecy reveals that which we would not and could not expect apart from divine revelation. The expression, son of man, is not new to Daniel nor to the Jews of his day. (11) What is the point of the vision? Those who populate the earth after the tribulation will give their allegiance to Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. ( 19:20 ) instantly appealing as you can reallyrelate to how Daniel is feeling particularly preceding or contemporary prophecies being! On the prophecies of the premises and presuppositions governing the process and the product our. Then Daniel returned to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah understood until after their fulfillment enough. 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