December 18, 2022
Broadlands, Louisiana
(Download Audio)
Thesis: Chapter seven is designed to re-state God's plan for human imperialism and to develop the details regarding God's attitude toward it.
Introduction: Our study this evening represents our coming "full circle" in respect to Daniel's chiastic presentation of God's Plan of the Ages in respect to the historical development of human history as it pertains to man's distortion of "kingdom principles" as given by God.
As with the other "second presentations" (firsts being chapters 2, 3, and 4 with the seconds being chapters 5, 6, and 7), there is an ominous side to the picture given because we see in it Heaven's reaction to man's persistent commitment to turning "Kingdom Principles" on their heads by moving from "Shepherd" actions to "Wild Beast" actions...tyranny rather than righteousness, peace, and joy.
This chapter brings the major thesis of God's resistance to the proud to a climax. The apex of man's arrogance is set alongside of God's summary dismissal of him into a fiery and permanent torment.
- I. The Particulars of the Vision.
- A. Given in approximately 553 B.C., some 14 years before the events of chapter 5, making Daniel's' presentation "thematic" rather than "chronological".
- B. Why it was given to Daniel at this point is not given.
- C. The vision was of four great beasts confronted by Heaven.
- 1. The imagery begins with Heaven's "winds" in conflict over "the great sea". These "winds" are presented as "angels in conflict" over the vast sea of human history (Revelation 7:1).
- 2. The outcome is four great beasts coming up out of the sea.
- 3. The descriptions of the beasts...
- 4. The presentation of Heaven's reaction.
- II. The Interpretation of the particulars.
- A. Not many details are given about the first three beasts (7:17-18).
- B. In the interpretation given, there is a direct correlation with chapter two, but with the character of the overall vision changed from a very tall man to four different beasts.
- 1. Chapters two and four give understanding of chapter seven's first beast.
- 2. Clearly, Daniel is primarily interested in the fourth, and final, beast and what happens to it.
