Having earlier introduced my latest Bible focused project (see here), which was to write about Daniel’s four visions, let us turn our attention to the first of these, recognising that as with all his visions there is a wide range of interpretations and applications on offer from folk who know and communicate their understanding.
Besides reading and reflecting on the passage in question several times, along with related passages in the Bible, I offer these thoughts as one who doesn’t claim great learning, aimed at ordinary folk who simply want to find out more what the Bible teaches on the subject, at least at a basic level. I have already stated the axioms influencing my writing, recognising there are good people who may not share them. In my research, I checked out several online sermons on Daniel 7 and these are two that I have found particularly helpful:
The vision (or rather dream sometimes referred to a vision) concerns four beasts that came up from the sea, diverse one from another, representing kingdoms that are to come (v3).
- a first like a lion, having eagle’s wings (v4)
- a second like a bear (v5)
- a third like a leopard (v6)
- a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly (v7)
While some explanation was given to Daniel concerning what he dreamt, it was not enough to identify which kings and kingdoms were being referred to. One popular interpretation has been that the four beasts corresponded to the four parts of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar dreamt about (see Daniel 2) that most would identify as comprising Babylon (gold – head), Persia (silver – upper body), Greece (bronze – lower body) and Rome (iron – legs), with the ten toe mix of iron and clay being (it has been argued) a revived Roman Empire that will be overtaken by Christ’s everlasting kingdom. Others, including me, have questioned making such a parallel, again begging the question of the identity of the four beasts. My own thought, especially in the light of current events that have only arisen in recent years, especially in the light of globalism, is that the lion/eagle represents the UK/USA, the bear represents Russia, the leopard represents the Muslim world centred around the Middle East and the fourth beast that has no identity (some have referred to it as a griffin) being the Antichrist kingdom taking in ten global regions, possibly around Europe. But then I could be very wrong, although I expect a time will come when we will know.
Three things especially should strike us about Daniel’s four beast vision. Firstly, much of his vision centres around the fourth beast, which for a season subjugates the other three. Secondly, a main focus is on that beast overcoming “the saints” (God’s people) for a season (42 months) but then the tables are turned with the beast falling (and the previous three enjoying a temporary resurgence) and the Son of Man (a term Jesus used concerning himself) setting up His everlasting kingdom, when the saints will reign with Him. Thirdly, this chapter is referred to in the New Testament. In His Olivet discourse (Matthew 24) Jesus applies (v30) Daniel’s words “one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven” (Daniel 7:13) to himself. In Revelation 13:1-10, The Beast out of the Sea, this may be applied to a yet to be revealed Antichrist where many of his characteristics and actions, can be paralleled with that of the Little Horn that replaces three of the ten horns of Daniel’s fourth beast, spoken about in Daniel 7:8-11, 20-25 has characteristics of the previous three. One of the many tie ins between Revelation 13 and Daniel 7 is: “the beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion” (13:2a). There is something especially dark and sinister about this fourth beast that comes to rule over the whole earth (indeed, initially welcomed as a saviour) – Daniel 7:23, Revelation 13:8 refers, and is in stark opposition to the one true God and the people who are faithful to God, In line with the behind the scenes spiritual warfare that is going on that Daniel is made aware of, especially in his later visions, is: “the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority” (13:2b). The battle between God and Satan has been ongoing ever since tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden and is a key theme throughout the Bible. What we see is Satan’s last hurrah!
The vision/dream, and this not for the last time, troubled Daniel greatly. While “he (the Little Horn/Beast) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (i.e. 42 months that we will come to see as being a recurring theme) (7:25) there is a hopeful ending concerning the Ancient of Days (God the Father) acting in unison with the Son of Man (God the Son) and including the Saints (Jewish and Gentile believers) in His final plans: “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (7:26-27).
While much of Daniels dreams/visions have already come to pass, I would venture to say that Daniel 7 (the great part of which) has yet to happen. While hopeful for a bright future for Planet Earth, passages like this tell us that while we may hope for the best we should also prepare for the worst, as we look forward to our great hope – the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds.
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