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DANIEL-
I. DANIEL’S VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD (Chapter 7)
A. Background of Daniel’s vision (v. 1-
B. The four beasts (v. 4-
1. First beast – like a lion with eagle’s wings (v. 4)
2. Second beast – like a bear raised up on one side (v. 5)
3. Third beast – like a leopard with four wings of a bird on his back (v. 6)
4. Fourth beast – terrible, powerful, strong with great iron teeth (v.7-
C. Judgment of the four beasts (v. 9-
D. The heavenly kingdom bestowed (v. 13-
E. Daniel troubled with perplexity by vision (v. 15-
F. Explanation of Daniel’s vision (v. 17-
G. Further explanation of vision with emphasis upon the horns of the fourth beast (v. 23-
QUESTIONS:
1. The time of Daniel’s vision occurred (a) after chapter 5 (b) before chapter 5 or (c) at the time of chapter 5.
2. What was Daniel doing when he had the vision of chapter 7?
3. Daniel “_________________ the dream and told the _______________ of the matters.”
4. From where did the four beasts emerge?
5 What did these four beasts represent?
6. How does Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom of Babylon fit with the description of the first beast?
7. What is the significance of the first beast having his wings plucked and having the heart of a man?
8. Who is the second beast in history?
9. What is significant about the second beast “raised up on one side?”
10. Who is the third beast in history?
11. What is significant about the third beast having four heads?
12. Why is the fourth beast not characterized by an animal likeness?
13. What three things do we know from Daniel about the “little horn?”
14. Describe what Daniel’s second vision in chapter seven represented?
15. What is meant by the dominion of the four beasts being taken away but lives prolonged for a season and a time?
16. Who receives the kingdom?
17. When is the kingdom received?
18. What is the nature of this kingdom?
19. As Daniel seeks to know more about the little horn of the fourth beast, what does he see the little horn doing and accomplishing?
20. What was the spirit of Daniel like after he learned the explanation of his visions of chapter seven?
DANIEL-
I. DANIEL’S VISION OF THE RAM, HE-
A. Daniel receives vision – 3rd. year of Babylonian King Belshazzar (v. 1-
1. In vision, Daniel taken to Shushan the palace – one of the principal residences of Persian kings (cf. Neh. 1:1).
a. Province of Elam (cf. Ezra 4:9)
b. By River Ulai – Eulaus – possibly Karun River in modern Iran
B. Daniel beholds Ram with two horns.
1. Two high horns – strong in power
a. One horn higher than other, and higher one came lasts – Medo-
2. Ram pushes westward, northward, southward.
a. Comes from East
3. Glories in own power
a. No beasts could stand before him.
b. None to deliver out of his hand
c. Did according to his own will
C. Daniel sees he goat with notable horn between eyes (v. 5-
1. Comes from the West
2. Does not touch the ground – swift in conquering (cf. 7:6)
3. Notable horn – Alexander the Great
4. With fury of power and anger, moves to conquer ram with two horns.
a. Ram cast down, trampled and no one to deliver
5. Magnified self exceedingly
6. When strong horn is broken, four horns proceed in all directions.
a. Alexander the Great died when only 33 years old (323 B.C.)
b. Four rulers emerge: (LYSIMACHUS – Thrace; (2) ANTIPATER –
Macedonia and Greece; (3) PTOLEMY – Egypt; (4) SELECUS – Syria and Babylon.
D. Little horn emerges from Seleucid Empire (v. 9-
1. Became great even toward “glorious land” – Palestine, Jerusalem
2. Because of transgression in God’s people, temple desecrated by this ruler-
a. Antiochus IV erected gymnasiums, honored Zeus with sacrifices,
forbade Jews to carry out daily activities under God’s law and killed thousands of Jews.
b. A king of fierce countenance (cf. 23a
c. Shrewd and devious – destroys God’s holy people (cf. 23b-
d. Will be broken without hand – no humans would bring him dow (cf. v. 25b)
e. length of desecration in actual time: 167-
f. Temple cleansed again through revolt of Judas Maccabee
g. The modern Jewish festival of HANUKKAH (Hebrew:
“dedication”) remembers the dedication of the temple after being cleansed.
3. Holy ones (angels) ask “How long?” – 2300 days and evenings.
a. “Days and evenings” – points to suspension of daily worship.
b. Indicates a number less than complete number of 7 years – trouble and tragedy put under limits by God
c. Sanctuary cleanses – accomplished in 164 B.C.
E. Gabriel announces interpretation (v. 15-
1. Vision is for the time of the end (v. 17), latter times (v. 19a), appointed time of the end (v. 19b), many days to come (v. 26) – end of Grecian rule (cf. v. 23)
F. Vision troubles Daniel (v. 27)
1. Faints
2. Becomes sick for certain days
3. Afterwards, rises to do king’s business
4. Wonders at vision – no understanding
QUESTIONS:
1. Why is this vision centered in Shushan the palace instead of downtown Babylon?
2. What modern River is the Ulai?
3. Approximately how long has Daniel been in captivity when he received this vision?
4. Who is the ram with two horns?
5 What similarity does the ram have with the bear of chapter 7?
6. What stood in the way of the ram when he pushed westward?
7. Identify the rough he-
8. Explain the meaning of “touched not the ground?”
9. Who is the notable horn?
10. How do verses 4 and 7 illustrate the theme of the Book of Daniel?
11. What happens when the horn is strong? How does this fit with history?
12. Identify the four horns which come up:
13. Is the little horn of 8:9 the same as the little horn of 7:8? Explain.
14. Who in history fits the characteristics of the little horn?
15. What does the little horn take away and do?
16. Why does God allow it?
17. How long does the little horn prosper before the cleansing of the sanctuary?
18. What is the significance of “2300 evenings and mornings?”
19. The little horn was to be broken ________________ ____________________.
20. When was the fulfillment of the vision scheduled to occur?
21. After the vision, what four things does Daniel do?