Scripture Reading: Daniel 7:1-8.
Memory Verse: “‘“Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.”’” (Daniel 7:17-18)
INTRODUCTION:
A few years before the kingdom of Babylon was overthrown, Daniel saw in a vision a time of strife with four beasts as symbols: a winged-lion; a bear; a four-headed, four-winged leopard; and a beast so terrible and unlike anything in nature that he could not name it. As he saw these beasts in vision, he observed certain changes taking place. Then he saw a judgment and other scenes, all of which he did not understand. As the vision continued, he asked a bystander what it all meant. The answer was that the four beasts were four kings, or kingdoms, that would exist in the earth, followed by the saints of the Most High coming into possession of the earth (Daniel 7:17-18).
From this very brief answer, Daniel no doubt recalled his experience explaining the dream to Nebuchadnezzar. But the fourth beast was so different, there was nothing he had seen or experienced that gave him a clue as to what it all meant. It was easy to see the application of the winged lion to Babylon, since previously he had seen the rapid conquests made under Nebuchadnezzar. He had also seen the weaknesses of the succeeding kings, and the decline of Babylon, represented by the plucking of the wings. The symbolic bear and leopard were yet future, but there was nothing in their appearance that caused concern as much as the fourth beast. The student of history knows that Medo-Persia followed Babylon, and that the power of the Medes soon passed to the Persians, represented by the bear raising itself up on one side. Cyrus had already defeated Lydia (B.C. 546) and was then preparing to take Babylon; later he took Egypt. Thus, three provinces fell to the Persians, and within the next half century the Persian kingdom increased from 120 provinces to 125.
LESSON QUESTIONS:
- Describe the four beasts shown to Daniel in vision. Daniel 7:3-7.
- What did the four beasts represent? Daniel 7:17.
- How were the first, a lion with eagle’s wings, and the second, a bear raised up on its side, representative of the Babylonian and Medo-Persian Kingdoms, respectively?
- How did the third beast, a leopard with four heads and four wings, and the fourth beast, dreadful and terrible with iron teeth and ten horns, symbolize the Grecian and Roman Empires?
- Compare these symbols of the four world empires with those of Daniel 2, repeating the eras and dates given in the previous lesson on Daniel 2.
- What beast (kingdom) was most notable and of greatest concern? Daniel 7:7-8, 19-21.
- What in Daniel 7 compares with the smiting “stone” in Daniel 2? Daniel 7:9-11, 13-14, 22, 26.
- To whom will authority, dominion, and possession of the kingdom (so symbolized) be given according to Daniel 7:27?
- What extra symbolism (information) was given in Daniel 7 that was not given in Daniel 2? Daniel 7:8, 24-25. (Note: The next lesson deals with the “little horn” of Daniel 7.)
- Discuss the comparative symbolism of Daniel 7 and 2, showing the purpose and great importance of both Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s vision.