Daniel 7

CHAPTER 7

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts (7:1–14)

1 In the remainder of the book, Daniel describes a series of dreams and visions he had, all of which concern the future. The dream described in this chapter occurred during the first year of Belshazzar—that is, it occurred prior to the events recorded in Chapter 5.

It will at once be apparent that Daniel’s dream of the four beasts recorded here closely parallels Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the large statue in Daniel Chapter 2. Both dreams, in their own way, picture four ungodly kingdoms which will one day be replaced by God’s everlasting kingdom.

2–7 In this dream, Daniel saw the four winds of heaven (representing God’s power); they were churning up the great sea (the godless and unstable nations of the earth). Then out of the sea came four great beasts (verses 2–3).

The first beast, which resembled a lion with eagle’s wings, symbolized the Babylonian Empire (verse 4). Its wings were torn off, but it was given the heart of a man; this likely is an allusion to the humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar and the subsequent restoration of his sanity after seven years (see Daniel 4:28–37).

The second beast looked like a bear; this beast symbolized the Persian Empire (verse 5). In its mouth were three ribs; these ribs represented the three major conquests of the Persians: Lydia (546 B.C.), Babylon (539 B.C.), and Egypt (525 B.C.).

The third beast, the winged leopard, symbolized the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great (verse 6). Alexander’s conquests took place speedily, but after his untimely death his empire was divided into four parts, represented by the beast’s four heads.

The fourth beast was most terrifying of all; it symbolized the Roman Empire (verse 7). This beast had ten horns, which represented ten kings who were to come from this empire (verse 24). The ten horns correspond to the ten toes of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:41–42). Notice that the four kingdoms in both Daniel’s dream and Nebuchadnezzar’s dream are the same (see Daniel 2:36–43 and comment).

8 One new feature of Daniel’s dream was the little horn, which would come up among the other ten horns of the fourth beast and uproot three of them. This “little horn” represented an evil boastful king (see verses 24–25).

9–12 At the climax of his dream, Daniel saw the “fifth kingdom,” which would replace the other four. He saw the Ancient of Days (God) seated on a flaming throne (verse 9). A lava–like river of fire was flowing from before Him; this was the fire of God’s judgment flowing out over the nations. The court was seated . . . the books were opened (verse 10); JUDGMENT was about to begin.

This fifth kingdom, the kingdom of God, would destroy the other four kingdoms, just as the rock in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream destroyed the four kingdoms represented by the statue (Daniel 2:34–35,44–45). Indeed, Daniel watched until the fourth beast with its boastful “little horn” was destroyed and the other three beasts were stripped of their authority—though they were allowed to live for a time (verses 11–12).

13–14 Then Daniel saw something new: one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven; this “son of man” was led into the presence of God Himself (verse 13). What Daniel saw was none other than the glorified MESSIAH, Jesus Christ (see Mark 13:26; 14:62; Revelation 1:7,12–13). Jesus Himself clearly believed that Daniel’s words in verse 13 were a prediction of His own second coming.

Then, in Daniel’s dream, the “son of man” (Jesus) was given authority, glory and sovereign power (verse 14)—both in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). All peoples and nations worshiped him (see Philippians 2:9–11). Daniel saw that the dominion of this son of man was everlasting; his kingdom would never be destroyed (see Luke 1:32–33).

The Interpretation of the Dream (7:15–28)

15–18 Though Daniel, in his dream, had seen the Messiah prevail over the ungodly, he was still troubled by the beasts he had seen, especially the fourth one (verses 1920). So he spoke to one of those standing there (verse 16)—probably an angel, perhaps one of the thousands mentioned in verse 10—and asked him the meaning of his dream.

The angel confirmed that the four beasts symbolized four kingdoms (verse 17). Then he told Daniel (in his dream) that the saints of the Most High—the followers of the Messiah—would receive the fifth kingdom, God’s kingdom, and possess it forever (verse 18); that is, they would receive it as their inheritance (Matthew 5:3,10; 25:34; Romans 8:17).

19–22 Here Daniel asks the angel about the fourth beast, and especially about its “little horn.” Daniel saw that this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them (verse 21); he was clearly worried about what it meant.

23–25 The angel confirmed that the fourth beast was the most terrible of all and that it would devour the whole earth (verse 23)—the “whole earth” known in Daniel’s time. (The Romans did indeed “devourtheearth.”) The ten kings (ten horns) would give way to another king (the little horn), who would speak against God, oppress his saints, and try to change the set times and the laws—something that only God was entitled to do¹⁹ (verses 24–25).

26–28 In these final verses, the angel reaffirms that the court will sit, judgment will fall, and the ungodly kingdom of the fourth beast will be completely destroyed²⁰ (verse 26). Then all earthly kingdoms will be handed over to the saints of God, the followers of the Messiah, whose kingdom will last forever.

Daniel was still troubled (verse 28). The Jewish exiles were hoping that God would soon restore them to peace and prosperity, but according to Daniel’s dream there were times of persecution yet to come (verses 21,25). Therefore Daniel kept the dream to himself until after the fall of Babylon, which took place about fifteen years later.