Questions for thought:
1. How should we pattern our life after Daniel when persecutions come?
2. King Darius and King Herod both made bad choices in their decision making. How can we avoid the same?
3. What is the main lesson for us from Daniel 7?
Last time, King Belshazzar had died and Darius the Median had become ruler of the kingdom. Now in chapter 6 of Daniel, we find King Darius setting up 120 princes over the kingdom. Then over these 120 princes, he set up three presidents of which Daniel was the first. Remember how God had taken care of Daniel and his friends at the beginning of the book. Daniel had an excellent spirit and was preferred above all the other rulers according to verse 3. Of course, this made the rulers jealous and they looked at everything Daniel did so they could find fault in him. They knew the only way to find an occasion against him would have to be something concerning his God. They put their heads together and went to the king asking for a decree saying anyone who asked a petition of any God or man other than the king for 30 days would be cast into the den of lions. King Darius signed the decree. Wouldn’t it be an honorable thing if people knew they could find no fault in us other than our being a true worshipper of God in heaven? In today’s world, many who are true worshippers are persecuted. We read in 2 Timothy 3:12 all who live godly will be persecuted. When persecutions come, we must be a Daniel. Let’s see what he did.
Daniel found out about the decree so he went to his house and what did he do? According to Daniel chapter 6 verse 10, with his windows open, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed, giving thanks to God as he was accustomed to doing. Now he could have gone to his house and closed the window and prayed to God quietly. But he chose not to do that. Those evil men had what they wanted. They went to the king and asked him if he hadn’t signed a decree saying anyone who asked a petition of any God or man other than the king within 30 days was to be cast to the lions. When the king agreed they were correct, they told him what Daniel was doing.
King Darius happened to like Daniel and when he heard what was going on, he was upset with himself and wanted to find a way to save Daniel. Once he realized he could not get out of enforcing the degree, Daniel was brought to him to be cast into the lions. The king told Daniel his God would deliver him. What faith the king had in God. Daniel was thrown into the den and the mouth of the den was made sure with a stone. The king went to the palace and fasted. He had no music and no sleep. Early the next morning he went to the den of lions and cried out to Daniel who answered him. The king was so happy. He commanded them to take Daniel out and throw the accusers into the lions along with their children and wives. The lions “had mastery of them,” but Daniel was free. The king created another decree in which he demanded men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. Once more Daniel was able to prosper under the king.
We can even learn lessons from those in the Bible who were not servants of God. King Darius made a mistake many often make in doing something without thinking out the consequences. When the king’s men came and wanted him to make the decree, should he not have wondered why? Should he not have considered possible outcomes? Maybe he didn’t realize Daniel’s devotion to his God, but if he had asked those who were helping him to govern of which Daniel was one, he might have made a different decision. It reminds me in the New Testament of when Herod agreed to give Herodias’ daughter anything she wanted and she chose the head of John. In Matthew 14:9 we read the king was sorry, but because of his oath, he followed through and kept his promise. How often do we agree to something without thinking it through? Then when we realize the end result, it is often too late to fix it. In Daniel’s case, God intervened but in John’s case He did not. We should always look ahead at the possible outcomes before agreeing to anything. We need to pray about our decisions. If there is any doubt in our mind concerning whether something is right or not, we should avoid it.
Now it is Daniel’s turn to have a dream. In chapter 7 which occurred during Belshazzar’s first reign in Babylon (remember events were not always recorded in the order in which they happened in the Bible), we read about Daniel’s dream. He saw four great beasts come up from a turbulent sea. The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings which were plucked off and the beast was made to stand upon feet as a man and it was given a man’s heart. The second beast having three ribs in its mouth was like a bear. It was told to arise and devour much flesh. The third beast was like a leopard with four wings of a fowl and four heads. It was given dominion. The fourth beast was dreadful and terrible and strong. It had teeth of iron and ten horns and it devoured and broke into pieces. Among the ten horns came up a little horn with eyes like the eyes of man and a mouth speaking great things.
As Daniel watched the vision, thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days sat on his throne which was like the fiery flame and the wheels as burning fire. (Remember the image of the wheels in Ezekiel 1.) Many ministered unto Him. And the judgment was set and the books were opened. The beast was slain while the other three lost their dominion, but they were allowed to live for a while. Then Daniel saw one like the Son of man coming with the clouds in verse 13. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom in which all people, nations, and languages should serve Him. It was an everlasting dominion and His kingdom would never be destroyed.
Daniel was troubled about this vision and he questioned one of those who stood by in the vision and asked him what it was all about. The one responded and told Daniel the great beasts were four kings that would arise out of the earth but the saints of the most High would take the kingdom and possess it forever. Daniel wanted to know more about the fourth beast and the ten horns. The one who was explaining things to Daniel said beginning in verse 23 the fourth beast would be a fourth kingdom upon the earth and the ten horns were ten kings that would arise. This fourth king would subdue the other three kings and he would speak against the most High and persecute His saints. But the saints of the most High would prevail in the everlasting kingdom.
Bible scholars using history have explained this vision as follows. These four kingdoms in Daniel 7 are the same as those in Daniel 2. The lion represented the Babylonian Empire. The bear represented the Medo-Persian Empire. The leopard represented the Grecian Empire under Alexander the Great. When he died the kingdom was divided into four parts as represented by the four heads who each had power. The fourth beast we can gather from chapter 2 of Daniel was the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire had kings who ruled and were against the most holy God. The Roman Empire was destroyed and there has not been a universal kingdom since. Instead, we have a spiritual kingdom that will endue forever. We in the church make up that kingdom. In Daniel 7:13-14, in Daniel’s vision he saw Christ going back to the Father to receive His kingdom over which He is now ruling. And we who are in His kingdom are ruling with Him. In Luke 12:32 Jesus told His disciples not to fear because it was the Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom.
Daniel was much troubled with the vision and he kept it in his heart. But we do not need to be much troubled. Without getting bogged down in the details, the lesson for us in this vision is that God rules. Remember back in Daniel 4 when Nebuchadnezzar learned this lesson. In verse 17 of Daniel 4 we read “…the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will…” That is the lesson for us too. Earthly kingdoms will rise and fall, but the eternal kingdom of God will remain forever.
Next time we will look at even another vision Daniel had.
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