First, a correction. I mistakenly used Lithuania while I intended to insert Ukraine as Russia’s current target to reclaim as their own. Now onto to today’s study. We left with Daniel’s dream which entailed 4 beasts, which is somewhat different from his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2. First, what did this dream also reveal?
Daniel 7:9 I watched until the thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days sat, whose robe was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool. His throne was like flames of fire, and His wheels like burning fire.
7:10 A stream of fire went out and came out from before Him. A thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was set, and the books were opened.
7:11 Then I was looking because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched until the beast was slain, and his body was destroyed and given to the burning flame.
7:12 And the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away. Yet their lives were made longer for a season and time.
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.
7:14 And dominion and glory was given Him, and a kingdom, that all peoples, 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.
In the middle of Daniel’s dream we come to the end of time, while being in the middle of time. We read that this terrible beast is slain physically and all power was removed from them. Then our glorified High Priest and King will take His rightful place over all of creation. This should calm our fears even as we read on.
Daniel 7:15 I Daniel was distressed in my spirit in its body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 7:16 And I came near one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the meaning of the things. 7:17 These four great beasts are four kings; they shall arise out of the earth. 7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
Even though Daniel trusts in God, he is still distressed by what is being revealed to him. Yes, it all eventually ends well in human terminology, but the process is full of terror, persecution, and destruction.
7:19 Then I wanted to know the truth of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, very frightening, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of bronze; who devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with his feet; 7:20 and of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking very great things, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
Daniel skips right thru the first three kingdom or beasts to go to the most fearsome, powerful, ruthless, and evil of them all. Much like John’s vision in Revelation 12, we again see ten horns.
Revelation 12:3 And another sign was seen in the heavens. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads!
Here we see that the terrifying beast in Daniel 7 is described as a great red dragon. Dragon is a term uniquely applied to Satan himself.
7:21 I watched, and that horn made war with the saints and overcame them 7:22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High. And the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
7:23 And he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth, and shall trample it and crush it.
7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise. And another shall arise after them. And he shall be different from the first, and he shall humble three kings.
7:25 And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and plot to change times and laws. And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and one-half time.
What have we just read? This beast/dragon will make war against the saints. That is us! This war will continue up to the very second coming of our King. He will devour or take complete control and dominate over the whole world.
Again in vs. 25 we read of his blasphemous tirades against God and relentless attacks on the people of God. He will change the Law, the conditions of God’s worship, and redirect everything toward himself. This is Satan’s lifelong desire and pursuit. He will not tolerate or permit any other worship.
7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his rulership, to cut off and to destroy until the end. 7:27 And the kingdom and rulership, and the greatness of the kingdom under all the heavens, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And all kingdoms shall serve and obey Him.
He will come to an end, a terrible end of his reign but only the beginning of his eternal punishment. Now all the kingdoms will serve our King forever and ever. Never again will Satan rule the world, but after the Millennial kingdom, he will get one more disastrous try and fail. So why do we worry?
7:28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my thoughts troubled me much, and my face changed on me. But I kept the matter in my heart.
If Daniel remained troubled, so should we. Persecution is not something most are comfortable with especially in the US. We are not used to it, although it is very common is the worldwide church today. Persecution has permeated history throughout the world and is often cited as the very reason the early Puritans and pilgrims took the dangerous risk to come to this new land. Over half died in the very first winter!
But, from their sacrifice and trust in God, we still have a country that has been blessed by God and are somewhat free to worship Him. At least for now with ungodly and unconstitutional restrictions.
Give God all the praise, honor, glory, thanks, and worship He alone deserves.