Topic: Daniel’s Dreams
In the final part of his book, Daniel describes dreams and visions that he had concerning events that were mentioned in the original dream of Nebuchadnezzar. In that dream, he saw the overview of history for the next 600 years and beyond. The visions he has now will give more details concerning the events he foresaw in Nebuchadnezzar's original dream.
The balance of Daniel's book contains four visions concerning world powers, but also other visions of future events and an appearance of God's angel.
Chapter 7 – In the first vision (chapter 2), Daniel sees the same kingdoms, but this time he sees them as beasts. Remembering this avoids confusion.
Lion – Babylon
Bear – Medo-Persian
Leopard – Greece
Terrible Beast – Rome
The Lord and Saints – Kingdom of God
Chapter 8 – More information concerning the second and third kingdoms, especially their struggle for power. The Medo-Persian Empire represented as a two-horned ram and the Greek shown as a swift he-goat with one great horn.
Chapter 9 – Is a prophecy more than a vision. Daniel recognizes that the captivity of the Jews predicted to be for 70 years is now over and he prays and urges their return based on Jeremiah's prophecy.
Chapter 10 – An angel appears to Daniel and prepares him for more visions to come. He also provides a certain insight into the struggle taking place and the spiritual discussion between God's angels and Satan's demons.
Chapter 11 – This chapter predicts events that will take place between the rise and fall of the Greek and Roman Empires.
Chapter 12 – The final chapter summarizes the conflict between the last great world power and the kingdom of God, the church. Daniel correctly sees the victory of the saints after much persecution by the fourth kingdom.
Two important lessons:
1. Fulfilled prophecy is the surest sign of the Bible's inspiration.
We believe that the Bible is God's Word because it is filled with fulfilled prophecy only available through divine revelation.
2. God's Word is sure
God's Word is sure because it is God's Word, not man's. We need to study it, know it, obey it and be assured that what it says will happen, good and bad.
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem