Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
September 20, 2009
Daniel 7
Until the Ancient of Days Came
Introduction What kinds of experiences did Daniel have with the
Holy Spirit in that upper room? The next chapters tell us what he
saw, even to the coming of Christ.
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a
dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down
the dream, telling the main facts.
2 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and
behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from
the other. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings.
I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up
from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s
heart was given to it.
5 “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was
raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its
teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’
6 “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard,
which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four
heads, and dominion was given to it.
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth
beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron
teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue
with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before
it, and it had ten horns. 8 I was considering the horns, and there
was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom
three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there,
in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking
pompous words.
9 “ I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
10 A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.
11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words
which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain,
and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for
the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet
their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “ I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
15 “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and
the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those
who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me
and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘Those
great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of
the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the
kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
19 “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast,
which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with
its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke
in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; 20 and the ten
horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before
which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which
spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against
the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of
Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the
Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said:
‘ The fourth beast shall be
A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
And shall devour the whole earth,
Trample it and break it in pieces.
24 The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.
26 ‘ But the court shall be seated,
And they shall take away his dominion,
To consume and destroy it forever.
27 Then the kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts
greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the
matter in my heart.”
1. There are four main world kingdoms
Babylon
Medo-Persia
Greece
Rome
2. During the fourth kingdom, there will be 10 kings, and then an
11th.
He will subdue 3 other kings and replace them. He will be destroyed
and the Son of Man will establish His kingdom at that time.
Jesus came during the Roman empire, but all of this was not fulfilled.
The Roman empire will have to be revived at the time of the end.
Seems to be happening today, dividing the world up into 10 regions
of control.
3. Characteristics of the 11th king, the little horn, the Anti-Christ
a. Arises from a brutal totalitarian state
19 “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast,
which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with
its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke
in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;
b. Eyes of a man
8 And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man,
c. Mouth speaking pompous words - pride and boldness
8 and a mouth speaking pompous words.
9 “ I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
10 A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.
11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words
which the horn was speaking;
d. Different
24 He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
e. Small, yet great
8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little
one, coming up among them
20 and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which
came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes
and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater
than his fellows.
f. Global in scope
23 “Thus he said:
‘ The fourth beast shall be
A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
And shall devour the whole earth,
Trample it and break it in pieces.
g. Far reaching - changing times and laws BCE
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
h. Hatred for God and His people, even to violence
21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against
the saints, and prevailing against them,
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
f. Given the right to persecute Christians and prevail for 3 1/2
years
21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against
the saints, and prevailing against them,
25 Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times
and half a time.
4. Characteristics of God
a. Sovereignty
9 “ I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
10 A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.
b. Purpose and patience
11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words
which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain,
and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for
the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet
their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against
the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of
Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the
Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.
c. Final victory
13 “ I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
d. Solidarity with His people
18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and
possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against
the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of
Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the
Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.
26 ‘ But the court shall be seated,
And they shall take away his dominion,
To consume and destroy it forever.
27 Then the kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
5. Events
a. World leader arises, having an agenda to rule and change the
world
b. He is persecuting Christians and speaking against God
c. Court is held in God’s throne room
d. World leader is present and blasphemes God on His throne
e. God decides the time has come for the saints to receive the kingdom
f. The Son of Man comes
g. Beast is slain and body given to the flames
h. God and His people reign forever
Conclusion
Pastor Steve Boggan
Living Waters Christian Fellowship
Heritage Ranch by Lake Nacimiento, CA
Website - livingwaters.cc
