DANIEL SEVEN - TO THE BURNING FLAME
DANIEL 7 PROPHECY -THE FOUR BEASTS
The purpose of this brief analysis of Daniel chapter seven is to highlight to the reader that the vision seen by Daniel of the four beasts also extends to the coming of Christ and his everlasting kingdom.
Here are a few select verses from the vision:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
15. Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
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.
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
25 And he 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.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
27 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.
Daniel is given a vision and right at the beginning of Chapter Seven he states:
(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.
This dream like Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2 extends from the kingdom of Babylon right through to the heavenly kingdom set up by Christ for his saints.
Where is the evidence within the chapter for such a conclusion?
The seventh chapter can be summarised as follows:
THE FOUR BEASTS: Verses 2 -7
Beast 1: Lion with Eagles wings
Beast 2: Bear raised upon on one side -three ribs in his mouth
Beast 3: Four winged leopard
Beast 4: Dreadful, terrible and strong beast,with iron teeth and 10 horns
THE HORNS - Verse 8
Three Horns are plucked up by a little horn that rises up amongst them.
JUDGMENT BEGINS - Verses 9-10
The thrones are put in place and the books are opened
BEAST SLAIN AND LIVES OF OTHER BEASTS PROLONGED - verses 11 -12
The diverse beast is 'given to the burning flame', the other beasts lives continue only for a season or time.
Verses 11 and 12 directly correlate to the destruction of the iron kingdom (Daniel 2) or the impure church/whore in Revelation 17 which occurs during the seventh vial (Revelation 16:19). The other beast’s lives continue for a season or time after Babylon is broken into three parts and the ‘churchcraft’ or papal segment is destroyed by the 10 kings of Revelation 17. The other beasts whose lives are prolonged are portrayed in the composite beast of Revelation 13 or the final political power of the world. There is a union between all nations of the world represented by this beast’s makeup – eagle’s wings, feet of a bear, a lion’s mouth and the overall appearance of a leopard. The 10 kings of Revelation 17 are also connected with this beast – they are the 10 crowned horns on this composite beast (Revelation 13:1)
The one world government as represented by this composite beast in Revelation 13 is reigned over by the whore (Revelation 17:18) who sits on the heads of the beast (Revelation 17:9, 15) and the waters or nations. It is only when the 10 kings of Revelation 17 realize that they have been deceived and misled by the whore, after they too have suffered through the first six vials of God’s wrath, that they burn her with fire (Revelation 17:16). The lives of the beasts pictured in Daniel 7 are prolonged after the dreadful and terrible beast is given to the flames because together the nations of the world prepare to make war against Christ. The remaining two segments of Babylon are represented by the False Prophet and the composite beast. Their destruction is imminent as Christ comes in power and glory soon after the seventh vial is poured out – the beast and false prophet are cast into a lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
CHRIST RECEIVES HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM - Verses 13-14
Daniel's description of the vision thus far captures the time frame that begins with the lion beast with eagle’ wings arising from the sea right through till Christ receives his kingdom.
This is the same time frame that Nebuchadnezzar's vision spanned.
In the very next verses Daniel struggles to understand this startling dream:
15. Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
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 approaches one of them that stood by.
Daniel's angel companions were always by his side and cared for him as they do for you and me. Psalms 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. What a comfort the angels of God are to his people. And they certainly were to Daniel.
We continue with our summary of Daniel 7 and the remainder of the chapter is the interpretation of the vision:
INTERPRETATION SUMMARY - Verses 17 - 18
The beasts are four kings but their reign will end and the saints of the Most High will inherit the kingdom.
DANIEL'S QUERY ABOUT THE FOURTH BEAST Verses 19 -22
Daniel wants to know more - particularly about the aggressive beast with iron teeth, brass nails and 10 horns.
THE INTERPRETATION CONTINUES Verses 23-26
The angel explains that the fourth beast will devour the earth, the ten horns are ten kings but the little horn will arise and subdue three, speak great words against God, think to change times and laws and wear out the saints of the most high for a time, times and a dividing of time. The judgment will sit and the little horn's dominion will ultimately be taken away.
THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD Verse 27
The saints of the most high inherit the everlasting kingdom of God. His saints love to obey and worship him.
Without a doubt the vision of Daniel Seven extends to the end of earthly kingdoms and beyond to the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of God. Babylon comes in remembrance before God - she is cast into the burning flame (Revelation 16:19).
The great sin charged against Babylon is that she “made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” This cup of intoxication which she presents to the world represents the false doctrines that she has accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the earth. Friendship with the world corrupts her faith, and in her turn she exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching doctrines which are opposed to the plainest statements of Holy Writ. GC 388.2
Could you have been influenced by the intoxicating influence of Babylonish doctrines that are opposed to what is taught in the Holy word of God? His saints at the end of time will display two outstanding characteristics: (Rev 14:12) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Jesus Christ is calling you today to reflect on whether you display the above characteristics - are you obedient to him and do you keep his commandments and do you have the faith of Jesus? Only he can impart to you the strength to do his will and live for him (Philippians 4: 13).
Talk to your heavenly father today and ask him to show you truth and He will if you are prepared to seek and find it. Here are two promises to help you on your way:
(Matthew 7:7) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
(John 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
May the Lord bless you and guide you as he has promised:
(Mat 28:20) ... and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The purpose of this brief analysis of Daniel chapter seven is to highlight to the reader that the vision seen by Daniel of the four beasts also extends to the coming of Christ and his everlasting kingdom.
Here are a few select verses from the vision:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
15. Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
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.
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
25 And he 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.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
27 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.
Daniel is given a vision and right at the beginning of Chapter Seven he states:
(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.
This dream like Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2 extends from the kingdom of Babylon right through to the heavenly kingdom set up by Christ for his saints.
Where is the evidence within the chapter for such a conclusion?
The seventh chapter can be summarised as follows:
THE FOUR BEASTS: Verses 2 -7
Beast 1: Lion with Eagles wings
Beast 2: Bear raised upon on one side -three ribs in his mouth
Beast 3: Four winged leopard
Beast 4: Dreadful, terrible and strong beast,with iron teeth and 10 horns
THE HORNS - Verse 8
Three Horns are plucked up by a little horn that rises up amongst them.
JUDGMENT BEGINS - Verses 9-10
The thrones are put in place and the books are opened
BEAST SLAIN AND LIVES OF OTHER BEASTS PROLONGED - verses 11 -12
The diverse beast is 'given to the burning flame', the other beasts lives continue only for a season or time.
Verses 11 and 12 directly correlate to the destruction of the iron kingdom (Daniel 2) or the impure church/whore in Revelation 17 which occurs during the seventh vial (Revelation 16:19). The other beast’s lives continue for a season or time after Babylon is broken into three parts and the ‘churchcraft’ or papal segment is destroyed by the 10 kings of Revelation 17. The other beasts whose lives are prolonged are portrayed in the composite beast of Revelation 13 or the final political power of the world. There is a union between all nations of the world represented by this beast’s makeup – eagle’s wings, feet of a bear, a lion’s mouth and the overall appearance of a leopard. The 10 kings of Revelation 17 are also connected with this beast – they are the 10 crowned horns on this composite beast (Revelation 13:1)
The one world government as represented by this composite beast in Revelation 13 is reigned over by the whore (Revelation 17:18) who sits on the heads of the beast (Revelation 17:9, 15) and the waters or nations. It is only when the 10 kings of Revelation 17 realize that they have been deceived and misled by the whore, after they too have suffered through the first six vials of God’s wrath, that they burn her with fire (Revelation 17:16). The lives of the beasts pictured in Daniel 7 are prolonged after the dreadful and terrible beast is given to the flames because together the nations of the world prepare to make war against Christ. The remaining two segments of Babylon are represented by the False Prophet and the composite beast. Their destruction is imminent as Christ comes in power and glory soon after the seventh vial is poured out – the beast and false prophet are cast into a lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
CHRIST RECEIVES HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM - Verses 13-14
Daniel's description of the vision thus far captures the time frame that begins with the lion beast with eagle’ wings arising from the sea right through till Christ receives his kingdom.
This is the same time frame that Nebuchadnezzar's vision spanned.
In the very next verses Daniel struggles to understand this startling dream:
15. Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
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 approaches one of them that stood by.
Daniel's angel companions were always by his side and cared for him as they do for you and me. Psalms 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. What a comfort the angels of God are to his people. And they certainly were to Daniel.
We continue with our summary of Daniel 7 and the remainder of the chapter is the interpretation of the vision:
INTERPRETATION SUMMARY - Verses 17 - 18
The beasts are four kings but their reign will end and the saints of the Most High will inherit the kingdom.
DANIEL'S QUERY ABOUT THE FOURTH BEAST Verses 19 -22
Daniel wants to know more - particularly about the aggressive beast with iron teeth, brass nails and 10 horns.
THE INTERPRETATION CONTINUES Verses 23-26
The angel explains that the fourth beast will devour the earth, the ten horns are ten kings but the little horn will arise and subdue three, speak great words against God, think to change times and laws and wear out the saints of the most high for a time, times and a dividing of time. The judgment will sit and the little horn's dominion will ultimately be taken away.
THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD Verse 27
The saints of the most high inherit the everlasting kingdom of God. His saints love to obey and worship him.
Without a doubt the vision of Daniel Seven extends to the end of earthly kingdoms and beyond to the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of God. Babylon comes in remembrance before God - she is cast into the burning flame (Revelation 16:19).
The great sin charged against Babylon is that she “made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” This cup of intoxication which she presents to the world represents the false doctrines that she has accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the earth. Friendship with the world corrupts her faith, and in her turn she exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching doctrines which are opposed to the plainest statements of Holy Writ. GC 388.2
Could you have been influenced by the intoxicating influence of Babylonish doctrines that are opposed to what is taught in the Holy word of God? His saints at the end of time will display two outstanding characteristics: (Rev 14:12) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Jesus Christ is calling you today to reflect on whether you display the above characteristics - are you obedient to him and do you keep his commandments and do you have the faith of Jesus? Only he can impart to you the strength to do his will and live for him (Philippians 4: 13).
Talk to your heavenly father today and ask him to show you truth and He will if you are prepared to seek and find it. Here are two promises to help you on your way:
(Matthew 7:7) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
(John 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
May the Lord bless you and guide you as he has promised:
(Mat 28:20) ... and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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