People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 6

 

Daniel 7-8

Daniel’s Vision – Daniel 7:1-14

In this chapter Daniel had a dream or vision.  He saw four winds of heaven churning the sea.  These winds are mentioned in Revelation 7:1 where four angels held back the four winds.  Four beasts came up out of the sea.  They represented four kings and their empires.  Luke 21:25 mentions signs of the end when nations will be in anguish and perplexed at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 

The first beast was like a lion with wings of an eagle.  Its wings were torn off and it stood up like a man; a heart was given to it.  The second beast looked like a leopard with four wings and four heads.  It was given authority to rule.  The fourth beast was terrifying, powerful and indescribable.  It had large iron teeth and ten horns.  It crushed, devoured and trampled its victims.  Among the ten horns, three are replaced by one little horn with eyes and mouth like a man; it spoke boastfully.  They parallel with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.  They represent empires ; the first is Babylonian Empire, the second is the Medo-Persians, the third is the Greek under Alexander the Great, and the fourth he saw as very powerful and indescribable.  These earthly kingdom would rise and fall and wreak havoc on God’s people, but they only operate within what is allowed by God.

Daniel saw God, who is called the Ancient of Days in verses 9-10.  His clothing was white as snow, his hair like white wool – all indicating His holiness, perfection, purity and power.  His throne was flaming with fire indicating His glory.  Verse 13 mentions “one like a son of man” who is Jesus, the Ancient of Days’ Son.  All authority was given to Him (Matthew 28:18).  God, the Father and Jesus are One (John 10:25-30).

God, the Father gave Jesus the authority and the right to judge, because Jesus had earned it by willingly giving His life on the cross for all sinners.  He alone is worthy to judge (John 5:22-27; Revelation 5).

Divine Interpretation – Daniel 7:15-28

Daniel was troubled.  He was gifted in understanding dreams and vision, but he was still human.  These images made him anxious.

The vision means that four great beasts are four kingdoms that were to rise and fall in history, but the saints will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever. This covers the same material as in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2.  The kingdoms rise and fall and are succeeded by the kingdom of God.

The fourth beast was more frightening to Daniel because it was different from the others.  It would devour and trample the whole earth.  Daniel could have been brought some measure of comfort if he had remembered that God is the one in control of the past, present and future.  He will always get the victory.  This is a good lesson for all of us and we should live accordingly – trusting He’s got it.

These beasts were frightening and destructive.  They only destroy.  They are like their father, Satan who also seeks only to kill and destroy.

Vision of a Ram and a Goat – Daniel 8:1-14

In Daniel’s vision in chapter 7 he saw the kingdoms as beasts: Lion – Babylon, Bear – Medo-Persian, Leopard – Greece, Terrible Beast – Rome.  In chapter 8 he saw the second and third kingdom’s power struggle.  Medo-Persian Empire represented as a two-horned ram and Greece as a goat with one great horn.  He described the victory by the goat that became very great, but his large horn was broken off and was replaced by a little horn.

The little horn grew great with the ruler Antiochus IV gaining power and extending his dominion toward the south, toward the east and toward the land of Israel.

Vision Interpreted – Daniel 8:15-27

Gabriel appeared to Daniel and was told by a voice (God or Jesus) to interpret the vision.  The two-horned ram as Media and Persia and the goat as Greece.  The vision refers to the end of time.  Antiochus will rise to power.  The Jews will be persecuted, sacrifices will be stopped,  and the temple will be desecrated.  It will seem that he is successful.  This refers to Antiochus and also the Antichrist.

Verse 25 reassures us.  Antiochus is like the Antichrist and like all these future kingdoms, they all will cause deceit to prosper and will consider themselves superior.  When they feel secure, they will take a stand against the Prince of princes, Jesus.  Yet they will be destroyed not by human power, but by God.  This reassures and encourages us that God is in control and He will win in the end.

Daniel’s vision reveals that God has precise knowledge of future events.  He knows the rise and fall of empires and the actions of kings long before they happen.  God is never surprised by the twists and turns of history.  He sees it all and works through it all to accomplish His purposes.

Principles: 

The course of humanity is determined in the throne room of God almighty.

Only Jesus is worthy and has the authority to judge.

God foresees all.

The future can look terrifying, but there is no need to fear because God is in control.

Kingdoms will rise and fall in history, but the Kingdom of God will last forever.

Next time we will continue our study of Daniel. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 5

 

Daniel 5-6

Writing on the Wall – Daniel 5:1-12

Nebuchadnezzar is no longer the king of Babylon.  Now the king is Belshazzar, but there is no improvement in leadership.  He repeats the self-centeredness and pride of Nebuchadnezzar.  He extends the blasphemous use of the temple vessels.

Belshazzar gave a great banquet for thousands of his nobles.  They used the temple vessels to drink their wine.  Remember Nebuchadnezzar had previously sieged Jerusalem and plundered the temple vessels.  As they drank the wine, they praised their false gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.  Suddenly a mysterious hand appeared and wrote on the wall.  King Belshazzar watched and became so terrified that he turned pale and his legs gave way.  He called all his advisors to tell him what the writing meant.  If they could, he would reward them, but they could not.

The queen entered the room and told the king to not be afraid for there was a man who had a keen mind, knowledge and understanding.  He had the ability to interpret dreams and solve difficult problems.  It was Daniel. 

The king was too proud to have learned from the previous king.  He was self-sufficient and did not acknowledge God; he only sought advice from other people.  Sounds like what we sometimes do.

The queen was calm and offered a practical solution to the situation.  She demonstrated her wisdom and relied on the past example of God’s power during Nebuchadnezzar reign.

Belshazzar could have learned lessons of his predecessor.  Nebuchadnezzar and humbled himself and repented before God.  Instead he was prideful and arrogant which resulted in his death that very night.

Writing on the Wall Explained – Daniel 5:13-31

Daniel was brought to the king and was told if he could interpret the writing he would be rewarded.  Daniel said he would not accept any reward, but would interpret the writing.  He told Belshazzar that he should have learned from Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation at the hand of God.  Nebuchadnezzar’s heart became hard and due to his arrogance, he was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal.  Daniel told the king that the Most High God is the One who gave Nebuchadnezzar his sovereignty and greatness and that He is sovereign over the kingdoms of men.  “He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.” – Dan. 2:21.  “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God.” – Rom. 13:1-2.

Daniel would not accept the gifts from the king, because he didn’t value the things of the world.  Money and power were not attractive to him as much as his relationship with God, but he agreed to interpret the writing because he knew it was a prophetic message from God.

He said this is what the inscription meant, “God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end…. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. ” – Daniel 5:26, 28.  That night Belshazzar was slain and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom.

There are similarities and differences between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.  They were both arrogant and full of pride and loved their power.  But Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God and eventually recognized His sovereignty while Belshazzar remained unrepentant and never learned from Nebuchadnezzar’s experience.

Some believe that Nebuchadnezzar became a believer in God.  He believed in many gods, but submitted to the one true God.  He is known as Babylon’s greatest king.  Belshazzar was Babylon’s last  king.  He was prideful, self-centered, a tyrant and never humbled himself before God.  He learned nothing from Nebuchadnezzar’s example.  He blasphemed against God and his kingdom was given to others.

Principle:  Worldly kingdoms will come to an end, but the Kingdom of God will last forever.

The Trap – Daniel 6:1-18

Darius was now king.  He appointed administrators over his satraps, one of them was Daniel.  He was aware that Daniel had great knowledge, understanding and ability to interpret dreams as well as solving difficult problems.  He had solved the mystery of the writing on the wall.  So all the satraps were accountable to Daniel. 

The other officials were jealous of Daniel’s success and sought ways to condemn him.  They looked for ways to discredit him, but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful.  Daniel wasn’t sinless, but had great integrity.  They knew Daniel prayed three time a day to his God.  So they set a trap by telling the king that he should issue a decree that everyone should not pray to any god except the king for the next thirty days.

These officials reflect the heart of fallen humanity.  “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.….” Rom. 3:10-18

We should be impressed with Daniel and his response to the king’s decree.  Aware of the new law, Daniel remained faithful and kept praying to his God.  Darius was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort to save him, but the law is the law and he had to enforce it.  With great regret, the  king then gave the order for Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den.  The king told Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”  He was sealed in the lion’s den with a stone.  This was probably done to protect Daniel as much as to make sure someone didn’t rescue him.

The Rescue – Daniel 6:19-28

There are similarities between Daniel’s experience and his friends’ experience.  Daniel’s friends remained faithful when they were put in the fiery furnace and Daniel remained faithful in the lions’ den.

Daniel had a better night’s rest than Darius.  Darius was so upset that he could not sleep.  I’m sure Daniel prayed for God to save him, because it was simply his habit to pray. 

Like Daniel, Jesus had to endure the plotting of the chief priests and elders of the people, but they could find no basis for a charge against him.  Both of their lives were marked by intense prayer.  They were innocent, put in a cave or pit, sealed with a stone, but both came out alive.  They both faced death because of human sinfulness and pride.  Of course Daniel lived and Jesus died, but was later raised to life.

Daniel’s rescue impacted Darius.  The next morning Darius hurried to the lions’ den and found Daniel alive.  He was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out.  No wounds were found on Daniel, because he had trusted in his God.  Daniel credited the rescue to God and praised Him for sending angels to shut the mouths of the lions.  The king had the men who had falsely accused Daniel thrown into the lions’ den along with their wives and children.  The lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

God was glorified when Darius told the people that all must honor the God of Daniel.  He didn’t proclaim that He is the only God, but he did command respect for Daniel’s God.

The key to Daniel’s ability to persevere through his trials was his faith, his strong prayer life, and God’s intervention and protection.

Principle:  When God’s people stand firm in their convictions, God honors and protects them; the ungodly see and tell of His greatness.

Next week we will continue our study of Daniel.   -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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