Dare To Be Like Daniel - Week 5 - God Rules Over All History
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
The Ancient Of Days
Daniel 7:1-28
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
4 “The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
9 “As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
The Interpretation of the Dream
15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.
26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
Intro
Daniel 7 marks a major turning point in the book. We shift from historical narratives (what happened to Daniel) to apocalyptic visions (what was revealed through Daniel).
I. The Vision of the Four Beasts (Verses 1–8)
The Stormy Sea: The four beasts emerge from a "great sea" stirred up by the four winds of heaven.
In biblical imagery, what does the sea often represent? (See Isaiah 17:12–13 or Revelation 17:15).
The Progression of Power: Compare these four beasts (Lion, Bear, Leopard, and the Terrifying Beast) to the parts of the statue in Daniel 2.
How does the "beastly" nature of these kingdoms change your perspective on human empires?
The Little Horn: A small horn emerges from the fourth beast, boasting and speaking arrogantly.
Based on verses 8 and 25, what are the primary characteristics of this figure?
II. The Ancient of Days & The Court (Verses 9–12)
The Contrast in Atmosphere: The scene shifts abruptly from the chaotic sea to a stable, fiery throne room.
Why is it comforting that God is described as the "Ancient of Days" in the middle of a vision about shifting world empires?
The Books Opened: Verse 10 mentions that "the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened."
What does this tell us about the accountability of nations and rulers before God?
The Fate of the Beast: While the "little horn" is still speaking boastfully, the beast is suddenly destroyed.
What does this teach us about the finality of God’s word versus the loud threats of earthly powers?
III. The Son of Man (Verses 13–14)
The Divine Figure: Daniel sees "one like a son of man" coming with the clouds of heaven.
How is this figure different from the "beasts" that came out of the sea?
The Everlasting Dominion: This figure is given a kingdom that will "not be destroyed." Look up Matthew 26:63–64.
Why was it so significant that Jesus used this specific title ("Son of Man") for Himself during His trial?
IV. The Interpretation (Verses 15–28)
Daniel’s Emotional State: Even though Daniel is a seasoned prophet, this vision leaves him "alarmed" and "pale" (v. 28).
Why is a proper understanding of prophecy often sobering rather than just exciting?
The War Against the Saints: Verse 21 says the horn "made war with the saints and prevailed over them" for a time.
How does this challenge the idea that being a believer guarantees a life free from earthly defeat or persecution?
The Final Reversal:
According to verse 27, who ultimately receives the kingdom?
How does this encourage "the saints of the Most High" who are currently struggling under difficult "beastly" systems?
V. Personal Application
The Character of the World: If human empires are described as "beasts;"
How should that affect our expectations of politics and government?
Where should our primary loyalty lie?
The Boasting Horn: We often feel overwhelmed by "loud" voices in culture that seem to speak against God.
How does Daniel 7 help you maintain perspective when it feels like the "saints" are losing?
Waiting for the Cloud:
Are you living as a citizen of a "beastly" kingdom that is passing away, or as a subject of the Son of Man whose kingdom is everlasting?
Comparison: Daniel 2 vs. Daniel 7
Feature | Daniel 2 (The Statue) | Daniel 7 (The Beasts) |
Perspective | The outward glory of man (Gold/Silver) | The inward character of man (Predatory beasts) |
Source | From the earth/man’s building | From the chaotic sea/unrest |
Resolution | A Stone (The Kingdom) smashes the feet | The Son of Man receives the Kingdom |
Follow-up Question: The "Little Horn" tries to "change the times and the law" (v. 25).
In what ways do we see modern movements trying to redefine God's established "times" (created order) and "laws" (moral truths) today?
The symbolic use of ‘Horn’ in the Bible
In a prophetic context, a horn almost always represents power, authority, or a specific ruler.
When you see a "horn" in prophecy, the text is telling you to look for where the power is concentrated. Whether it’s a worldly king rebelling against God or the "Horn of Salvation" (Jesus) coming to rescue His people, the symbol always points to the ability to exert will and change the course of history.
Notes For Leaders
Historical Context and Background for Daniel
To understand the Book of Daniel, you have to look at the massive geopolitical shift that occurred at the end of the 7th century BCE. It was a "clash of titans" where the tiny Kingdom of Judah got caught in the middle.
1. The Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
For centuries, the Assyrians were the "big bad" of the ancient Near East. However, by 612 BCE, the city of Nineveh fell to the Babylonians (led by Nabopolassar) and the Medes.
By the time Nabopolassar’s son, Nebuchadnezzar II, took the throne, Babylon was the undisputed superpower. He was a master builder (famous for the Hanging Gardens) and a ruthless conqueror.
2. The Three Waves of Deportation
The "Exile" didn't happen all at once. It happened in stages as Judah rebelled against Babylonian rule:
605 BCE: The first wave. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and took the "best and brightest" youths as hostages to ensure Judah’s loyalty. Daniel and his three friends were part of this group.
597 BCE: The second wave. More elites and craftsmen were taken (including the prophet Ezekiel).
586 BCE: The final destruction. Jerusalem was burned, the Temple of Solomon was levelled, and the majority of the population was marched to Babylon.
3. The Strategy of Cultural Assimilation
The Babylonians weren't just looking for slaves; they were looking for administrators. Their strategy was to:
Select: Pick high-status, handsome, and intelligent youths from conquered nations.
Indoctrinate: Immerse them in the "literature and language of the Chaldeans" for three years.
Rename: Give them Babylonian names to sever their connection to their heritage (as we discussed with Daniel/Belteshazzar).
Employ: Place them in the royal court to help govern the diverse empire.
4. The Shift from Babylon to Persia
The book of Daniel spans a massive timeframe—nearly 70 years. It begins with the height of the Babylonian Empire and ends with its sudden collapse.
In 539 BCE, the Achaemenid Empire (Persia) under Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in a single night.
Unlike the Babylonians, Cyrus had a policy of religious tolerance. He issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This transition is the backdrop for the famous "Daniel in the Lions' Den" story, which takes place under Persian rule.
5. Literary Styles
Historians and theologians often note that Daniel is a "tale of two halves":
Chapters 1–6: Court tales of survival and faithfulness under foreign kings.
Chapters 7–12: Apocalyptic visions regarding the future of world empires (including the rise of the Greeks under Alexander the Great and the later persecutions by Antiochus Epiphanes).