THE BEASTS OF DANIEL 7 Part 2

Dan. 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Dan. 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Daniel is telling us that his vision allowed him to see through to the point where these kings/kingdoms are judged by Almighty God.  It’s a scene of a holy and pure God sitting in judgment in a heavenly courtroom.  No mercy is to be found in this judgment.  It is witnessed by a number beyond Daniel’s ability to express—“thousand thousands…and ten thousand times ten thousand.” 

“thrones were cast down” – The Aramaic and the context indicate that these thrones are being positioned as part of the heavenly courtroom.  Could this be a reference to the 24 elders in Revelation 4?  (See comments in journal on Revelation.)

Ray Stedman notes:  “When history reaches its lowest ebb, when the sin of man breaks forth in its most vulgar and most evil forms, then God intends to intervene once again.”

“the books were opened” – This is evidently a record of indictment against those being judged.  (There are several records/books kept in heaven.  See topical study on the “Book of Life.”)

Scripture reveals that God the Father has delegated all judgment to the Son. 

John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son….

In my simple mind, I have no problem with “the Ancient of days” referencing Jesus as well as God the Father, although in verse 13 below we are told that this is definitely referring to the Father.  It appears that the Father will personally pass judgment on Antichrist and the Son will execute it.

The phrase “the books were opened” seems to be a reference to the great white throne judgment described in Revelation 20.  A question arises because this seems directly connected to verse 11 which is describing the destruction of the Antichrist, and this happens prior to the 1000 year reign of Christ—the great white throne judgment happens after the 1000 years.  I resolve this in my mind by realizing that the prophets were not always given inspiration according to chronological fulfillment.  On the other hand, prophecy of the scripture doesn’t cover every event in history, and this could represent a special judgment of the Antichrist and his false prophet.

Dan. 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

I think Daniel is still describing the judgment he sees taking place. 

Even as judgment is being passed, the “horn,” now identified as “the beast” continues to blaspheme Almighty God.  “Great” words make reference in the Aramaic to domineering in character.

The beast, the Antichrist, will be killed and thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Dan. 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

“rest of the beasts” – Only four beasts have been identified—the lion, bear, leopard and the diverse beast that represents Antichrist.  After the destruction of the Antichrist, the other three are allowed to continue on the world scene for a time.  The word “season” is a reference to an appointed time.  The word “time” refers to a set time or year.  In other words, these three kingdoms will be allowed to exist for a period of time already predetermined by the LORD.  In my thinking, that would be until the judgment of the sheep and goats that determines who will get to enter the millennium, the 1000-year rule of Jesus as the King of kings over the whole earth.

Revelation 19 tells us that the Antichrist and his armies are killed by the word of Jesus at the final battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 19:19-21 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Dan. 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

Dan. 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

After the destruction of Antichrist, we are given a picture of the Son of man (Jesus, God’s son) coming in the clouds of heaven and being ushered into the presence of His Father.  “Son of man” was Jesus’ favorite way to reference Himself.  He used it in reference to His return to earth as the King of kings.

Matthew 24:30 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

He also used it in response to the high priest when asked if He was the Messiah, the Son of God.  In fact, I think he was referencing these very verses in Daniel.

Matthew 26:63–64 “But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

This reference to the “clouds of heaven” is one that I think could possibly be associated with the “cloud of witnesses” referenced in Hebrews.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses….

This is when Jesus is given His rightful position as ruler of this world; a position that Satan, through deceit, had been allowed to usurp temporarily.

The word for “serve” includes the idea of worship.  Jesus’ position as King is eternal; His kingdom will last forever.  It is clearly linked to God’s kingdom as referenced in Daniel 2.

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

Dan. 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

Dan. 7:16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

Daniel awoke from his dream and was grieved (felt a piercing) in his spirit because of what he had witnessed in his vision.  He noticed some other beings close by and moved closer to talk to one of them.  He asked him if he knew the truth about all that he had seen.  (I can’t help but wonder how he chose the person to ask and why he thought he might know more than Daniel did.)  I would assume it was an angel that answered him and interpreted for him (as did Gabriel in 8:16 and 9:21).

I am reminded that in chapter 1 we were told that Daniel “had understanding in all visions and dreams” (vs. 17).  Obviously, that understanding came through revelation from God.  It seems, however, concerning Daniel’s own dreams and visions that God chose to make that revelation through angels.

It seems clear to me that Daniel did not make a connection to his dream and Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

Dan. 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Dan. 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Note that the angel declares that the four kings “shall arise.”  In other words, the four beasts were four kings that were yet to arise—so Nebuchadnezzar could not be one of them.

Bullinger comments:  “The two which had already arisen cannot therefore be included: Babylon and Medo-Persia, which almost (at this time) equalled Babylon in extent. The vision is not continuous history, but the prophecy of a crisis: and refers to the ten toes…of Daniel 2.”

The interpreter first clarifies that the four beasts in Daniel’s vision represent four earthly kings.  Their kingdoms are doomed to destruction, however, since “the saints of the most High” (those dedicated, consecrated, sanctified by God) will take possession of kingdom earth.  Even though the millennial reign (the initial 1000 years) of Christ’s rule on earth will be interrupted by the creation of new heavens and earth, the kingdom will continue on into eternity after that wonderful event that eliminates forever the curse of sin in God’s creation.

(to be continued…)

THE BEASTS OF DANIEL 7

In the next few blog posts (since it is far too long for one post), I will present a “new to me” perspective on Daniel 7.  Once I started researching to make sure that this was definitely a better understanding of this chapter, I soon found that this view has been around in varying forms for years.  As always, be a Berean and do your own study to determine if you agree with me.  I am always very slow to accept changes in what is considered more mainstream understandings of scripture.  I continually pray that the LORD will help me to see the truth in scripture and not miss out when He chooses to provide better understanding.

Dan. 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

Obviously, this book does not read chronologically.  This chapter jumps back to the time of the beginning of Belshazzar’s reign.  The timing is about three years before the events recorded in chapter 6.

This time Daniel had a dream and visions and made a written record of it all.  The fact that he records having a dream and visions seems to emphasize how vivid and clear the experience was to him even though it occurred during his sleep.

Dan. 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

This verse immediately made me think of Revelation 7:1, where we are told of four angels holding the four winds of the earth (north, south, east, west).

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth….

It would seem that the angels are used of God in management of all the things pertaining to mankind.  In Daniel’s dream the winds are causing havoc on the great sea, usually a reference to the Mediterranean.

Numbers 34:6-7 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.  And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor….

(These verses are defining the borders of the land of Israel to Moses, the western border of which is the Mediterranean Sea.)

Ezekiel 47:20 The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.

(This verse is part of the revelation given Ezekiel regarding the borders of the land at the time of the millennial temple, again the western border of which is the Mediterranean Sea.)

Joshua 9:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon….

(The Mediterranean is the only “great sea” bordering Lebanon.)

The prophet Zechariah supports connecting the wind to angels.

Zechariah 6:1–5 “And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.”

The word “spirits” is defined as “wind.”

Dan. 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Great beasts = kings (v17) = kingdoms (v23)

Like Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel dreamed about four kingdoms.  I have always been taught that the parts of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream seem to line up with the four beasts in Daniel’s dream.  Until now, that has made the most sense to me.  I listened to a teaching by Joe Focht several months ago that challenged that understanding.  After thinking about it on and off and listening to it again recently, I am looking at this chapter from a fresh perspective.  He presents these kings/kingdoms as co-existent with the “little horn,” the Antichrist.  As I began to do more research, I was surprised to find that this theory was not new at all—only new to me.

These kings will eventually be “humbled” or “abased” by the Antichrist under his rule.  Since Daniel is not told who they are as in chapters 2 and 8, establishing their identities is open to speculation.  In fact, that they are not identified and Daniel didn’t connect these kingdoms with those in with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream seems to strengthen the thought that they are not the same. 

Since all four of these beasts are singled out for notice, they must represent pretty significant kings/kingdoms on the world scene.  I believe the context of the chapter will show them to be impact players during end times that will eventually morph into one beast—the Antichrist and his kingdom.

Focht threw out the possibility of identifying Great Britain and Russia as the first two beasts, and I think they are good candidates.

Dan. 7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

Britain’s recognized emblem is a lion that is often pictured standing tall like a man.  The fact that it is pictured with eagle’s wings is thought provoking in that the United States, which began as a British colony, is associated with the eagle.  That the wings were plucked from off the lion seems to picture the fact that the United States rose to power after forcefully separating from Britain.  After the United States declared their independence, Britain began changing from a voracious lion wanting to conquer the world with their powerful navy to being pictured as a man that was no longer a threat to world dominion.

Dan. 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The bear is the official symbol of Russia, and that nation is often referred to as the Russian bear.  This bear is rising up to take action and “devour much flesh.”  Though the nation of Russia suffered a setback with the break up of the U.S.S.R., she is once again rising up as a major world power of influence.  I am not sure how to identify the three ribs, but I think it is likely that they are nations over which she eventually extends sovereignty.

“they said” – who?  Its leaders?  A reference to the winds of heavens (v2)?  Messenger angels?

Psalms 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire….

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible makes the following comment on this verse:  “The meaning here literally would be, "Who makes the winds his messengers," or "his angels;" that is, who employs them to execute his purpose; who sends them out as messengers or angels to do his will.”

I think the significant point is that the bear is being told what to do, and we know that God is the supernatural sovereign ruler that uses both men and nations to accomplish His purposes. 

Dan. 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

I think it is significant to note that this beast has four heads.  This seems to indicate that it is a coalition of leaders or nations into one kingdom that are united with a common goal.  It is also noted that this kingdom was “given” its empire, its sphere of authority. 

The Aramaic for “wings” states:  “to arch; the back; by extensive the body or self:—+ highest places.”   This could denote pride and arrogance as depicted by its leaders.  I can’t help but want to connect it in some way to the Muslim world since they are such important players on the world stage in these end times.  I also thought of Turkey but could not logically make a connection with four heads unless it becomes one member of such a Muslim coalition.

If the proposed identification is correct, then it seems likely that the beasts are presented in the order in which they arose to power.

Dan. 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Dan. 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel is given explanation regarding this fourth beast in the next few verses.

“dreadful” = causes fear

“terrible” = burly, mighty

“strong” = powerful

Iron teeth to devour and break; brass nails to tear apart

Not compared to a known animal; it is unique from the rest.

This beast has 10 horns; as Daniel continues to look, he sees another little horn come up.  This little horn is responsible for destroying three of the first ten.  This horn is identified as a man, but a man whom the Aramaic would indicate is very compelling and domineering in his character and speech.  Because “another little horn” is a man, it makes sense that the other ten horns be men.

Bullinger describes the little horn as “a horn of small beginnings.”

There seems to be a direct connection to Revelation 13 that introduces a beast from the sea (Antichrist) with ten horns and having the characteristics of a leopard, bear and lion (as represented by the rulers/kingdoms of this chapter in Daniel. 

Revelation 13:1–2 “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”

It is quite obvious that in Revelation the four beasts are pictured as being one beast.  This seems to be telling us that the Antichrist, the fourth beast, rises to power by subduing, unifying and gaining control of the first three beasts.

Chris White made an interesting observation:  “If you take the beasts in Daniel 7, that is a lion with wings, a bear, a four headed leopard, and a 10 horned beast, and you combined them all into one beast, you would have a 7 headed ten horned beast with characteristics of a bear, leopard and a lion, exactly what we see in Revelation 13.”

Because of how the beasts are presented in Daniel’s dream, I do not think the first three beasts are the same as any of the ten horns.  They obviously identify with the heads of the beast in Revelation.

“like the eyes of man” – The description seems to be inferring that this horn or king has eyes like a man, yet is different.  Note that in Revelation this beast is empowered by the dragon.  Scripture is clear in identifying this dragon.

Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

(to be continued…)

Thoughts from Hosea and Proverbs

A couple of scripture cards with words of wisdom to live by as we wait for the LORD to come and take us home.

 Click pics for larger view

TRUSTING GOD NO MATTER WHAT

I was learning a song that is new to me when out doing my walk this morning.  The message really spoke to my heart, so I thought I would share the lyrics with you.  It's called "Trust in You" by Lauren Daigle.

Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see

I’ve tried to win this war I confess
My hands are weary I need Your rest
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face, You’re by my side

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So, in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand

Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
I will trust in You! 

 

If you want to listen to it, click here. 

(Click on pic for larger view)

FRACTALS--ANOTHER TESTIMONY TO GOD'S CREATION

I've been aware of this video for a long time and was surprised to find that I had not shared it yet on my blog.  I sat in total amazement as I watched Dr. Lisle's presentation.  This video presents another one of the very many proofs to the fact that this creation is a result of the design of Almighty God and not just the result of random events after a big bang that erupted from nothing.