Verse 1,2) In the first year of Bel- shaz’-zar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the some of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. Bel-shaz’-zar was one of the King’s under whom Daniel lived after Neb-u-chad-nez’-zar. This dream and vision that Daniel had, took place around (535 B.C.). This chapter deals with the same empires depicted in Daniel Chapter 2, but in greater detail. The four winds of heaven are talking about spiritual forces behind the scenes. “AND AFTER these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.” (Revelation 7:1). The great sea is talking about the multitudes of people. “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” (Revelation 17:15).
Verse 3,4) And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagles wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand up on the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. The lion represents Neb-u-chad-nez’-zar. The eagles wings are symbolic of Neb-u-chad-nez’-zar’s great power and pride. “The wings plucked”, and “a man’s heart given to it”, refers to Neb-u-chad-nez’-zar’s humbling, when he went mad and had to live in the wilderness for seven years, and ate grass, after which he was humbled and came back to his right mind, and restored as king.”And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” (Daniel 4:32- 37).
Verse 5) And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. The bear is the Medo-Persian Empire. “Raised up on one side”, is symbolic of the Persians strength over the Medes. “Three ribs in the mouth of it”, are the three previous world empires, which were Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon.”Devour much flesh,” refers to the fact that the Medo Persian Empire had many wars and destroyed many armies conquering the known world of their day including Israel and the Jews.
Verse 6) After this I beheld, and low another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a foul; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. The leopard is the Empire of Greece which conquered the Persians. The leopard is symbolic of speed. Alexander the great, the King of the Empire of Greece conquered the world in only 10 years. The four wings are symbolic of the four directions that the Greek empire was divieded into, and the four heads are the four generals which took over Alexander’s empire when he died, and divided it into four sections, Egypt, Assyria, Turkey, and Greece. The four generals ruled out of these four sections. Remember the book of Revelations goes hand in hand with the book of Daniel. It is also interesting to note how God looks at man’s empires as ravenous beasts, while men see their empires as great images like God showed Neb-u-chadnez’- ar in his dream in Daniel chapter 2.
Verse 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. The fourth beast is Rome, or the fourth world Empire from Babylon. The iron teeth and breaking in pieces are symbolic of Rome’s strong cruel rule, which was different from all the world empires before it. They were the first to start using crucifixion on a wide scale. The 10 horns are the 10 nations of the end times that join forces with the anti-christ. They are the remains from the Roman Empire. Since Rome fell there is not been another world Empire yet, even though many have tried such as Napoleon and Hitler.
Verse 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. The three horns are three of the last 10 main governments or countries from the Roman Empire, and three of them being plucked up by the roots refer to these three governments being overthrown or subverted, and new rulers established that will cooperate and side with the anti–christ. This could possibly result from an economic crisis, and a moral crisis, such as we see happening today. The little horn that came up is the anti-christ, and the mouth speaking great things is symbolic of the blasphemies that the anti-christ will speak.“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” (Revelations 13:1-6) “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (II Thessalonians 2:3 &4).Verse 9&10) 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. 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. In these verses the Lord jumps us into the future to the Great White Throne Judgment. See Revelation Chapter 20.
Verse 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. The anti-christ “beast”will be slain by Jesus and his armies at the battle of Armageddon and the anti–christ is destroyed and thrown into the lake of fire, and the devil is bound and chained and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years, after which he is cast into the lake of fire. See Revelation Chapters 19 & 20.
Verse 12) As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. This verse is referring to Jesus taking away the earthly rule of man. Their lives were prolonged for a time during the millennium which lasts for 1,000 years. There will still be living on the earth many people who were not raptured, which will still be alive after the wrath of God and the battle of Armageddon.
Verse 13&14) 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. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, 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. These verses are talking about Jesus, when he is made ruler for all eternity, starting at the Millennium after the Battle of Armageddon.
Verse 15&16) I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.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 was greatly troubled after having this vision, and he did not understand it.He asked one of the Angels what the vision meant.
Verse 17) These great beasts which are four, are four Kings that shall arise out of the earth. The angel tells Daniel that the four great beasts are four Kings that shall arise. Kings and beasts are used interchangeably in the Scriptures. The four main Kings of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, are what the angel is speaking of.
Verse 18) But the saints of the most high shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever. This verse is talking about when Jesus rules during the Millennium and he appoints people who were saved and served the Lord as Kings and rulers.
Verse 19&20) Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 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 that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. Daniel was very troubled about the forth beast with the ten horns and the little horn with eyes (the anti-christ), and the three horns that fell. The brass nails are symbolic of the remains of the Grecian Empire that were used by Rome, such as their culture, government, weapons, tactics of war, etc.
Verse 21) I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; The devil posessed anti-christ will make war on the saved believers and when it looks like he has almost won, then the Rapture occurs and Jesus rescues us.
Verse 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. Jesus is going to let the saints judge the anti-christ forces, and rule and reign with him as our King of Kings.
Verse 23) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. The fourth kingdom upon earth from Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece was Rome. It was different from all others because they crucified Jesus Christ and they had strong cruel rule. Also they had a form of Democracy in that they had senators.
Verse 24) And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. Kings and horns are the same. The anti-christ will be different because he will be totally posessed by the devil, and subdue or conquer three of the countries and their rulers to form his empire.
Verse 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 times. The anti-christ will blaspheme God, and persecute the saved believers, and kill many of us, and change the calenders to try and keep us from keeping up with the days. A time is one year and a times is 2 years and a half of a time is one half year making three and a half years or 42 months or 1,260 days (in the Hebrew Calendar consisting of twelve 30 day months) of great tribulation and persecution of the believers until the Rapture.
Verse 26) But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. The anti-christ and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire right after the battle of Armageddon.( See our class on Revelations 13).
Verse 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. This begins the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on earth.
Verse 28) Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much trouble me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. Daniel was very troubled in his mind and heart from these terrifying dreams and visions that he had, and didn’t even fully understand them, because they were not for his time.
Say this prayer to be saved: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things- and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Saviour. I believe you died on the cross for my sins ,and rose from the dead. Please come into my heart and life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me peace. Amen.