Daniel 7

< Back to Daniel Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Four Beasts and the Lord’s Future Earthly Kingdom

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The first four kingdoms of Daniel 7 correspond to the metals of the statue in Daniel 2.

  2. The fifth kingdom of Daniel 7 corresponds to the mountain that replaced the statue in Daniel 2.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s have God’s view of the kingdoms of this world.

QUESTIONS

  1. How is the book of Daniel divided?

  2. Describe the vision of the four beasts which Daniel saw.

  3. What do these four beasts coming out of the sea represent?

  4. List the beasts, their kingdoms, and their correspondence to the metals in Daniel 2.

  5. Who are the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man?

ANSWERS

  1. The first six chapters dealt with Daniel’s life of faith as a Jewish captive. In the next six chapters, Daniel records four prophetic visions from the Lord, and their interpretations.

  2. Daniel saw four beasts: a lion with the wings of an eagle, a bear with three ribs in its mouth, a leopard with four heads and four wings, and a fourth ferocious beast. This fourth beast had large iron teeth and ten horns, with an eleventh horn growing up. Three of the original ten horns were pulled out by the roots. Daniel saw this fourth beast judged, destroyed, and burned. And then a glorious and everlasting kingdom was given to the Son of Man by the Ancient of Days.

  3. They represent four kings who would arise on earth and their four kingdoms.

  4. a. Lion & Head of Gold – Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylon Empire b. Bear & Chest and Arms of Silver – the Medo-Persian Empire c. Leopard & Stomach and Thighs of Bronze – the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great d. Fourth Beast & Legs of Iron – the Roman Empire

  5. The Ancient of Days is a description of God the Father. The Son of Man is the eternal Son of God, emphasizing both His humanity and deity.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss the ten horns of the fourth beast, which correspond to the ten iron and clay toes of the statue’s feet. Read Daniel 7:7-8, 11, 19-27 and walk through this prophecy concerning the Revived Roman Empire of the future.

  2. Discuss how Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue was man’s view of the kingdoms of this world. How is Daniel’s dream of the four beasts more the divine perspective? How can we have God’s view of the kingdoms of this world?

CHALLENGE

  1. Do you know the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man? The next time you read our Lord’s favorite name for Himself in the Gospels, think back to this passage in Daniel 7.

KEY VERSES

  • “And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.” Daniel 7:3

  • “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory 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 the one which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14



Daniel, Old Testament, TalksDeb HarmsDaniel 7