Daniel Study Notes Lesson # 22

Intro Review:

1. The vision - 7:1-14

a. 7:1 Circumstances and time frame. 553 BC [Ch-6 539 BC]

b. 7:2-3 Scene from which the beasts rise; background.

c. The rise of the beasts - a description 7:4-8

d. Judgment 7:9-12

1) First the where, the scene of judgment. 7:9-10

When we arrive here at verse 9 the dream shifts from an earthly scene to a heavenly scene. A court room is set up.

vs:9 "His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool."

vs:9 "His throne was ablaze with flames."

vs:10 So we have God's presence on a throne to administer judgment; "A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him;" Ps 97:2-3

vs:10 Daniel saw "thousands upon thousands were attending Him; myriads upon myriads were standing before Him."

vs:10 "The Court sat and the books were opened" (lit. "the judgment sat," the court was convened.

The judgment described here is in its broadest perspective dealing with the final destruction of Gentile world power. (2:34-35)

2) The Object of Judgment 7:11-12 (the who)

* This passage is another illustration of how quickly God can dispose of the mightiest of men, (none ever mightier) and how men in their wickedness are always ultimately brought to divine judgment.

Vs:11 also indicates their end. "beast was slain and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire."

The destruction of the beast spoken of here does not fit at all the historical situation with the end of Roman empire;

7:12 Sets a contrast with vs:11

This monster Rome, in this final stage, under its leader, the "little horn" is Gentile rule, the culmination of matured iniquity, ripe for judgment.

The climax of the vision. Scene is still in heaven.

3) The return and reign of the Messiah 7:13-14

1. He is presented to God the Father, the Ancient of Days. vs:13

Question? Can we prove that this is speaking of the Messiah?

"with the clouds of heaven, One like the Son of man was coming"

* Daniel is seeing here in his vision a person who was deity incarnated in human form.

2. In 7:14a we see the Coronation of the Messiah.

And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him.

3. The Characteristics of the Domain of the King. 7:14b

His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

This kingdom stands in contrast to the previous 4 kingdoms of the Gentile world empires.

** The fact that God could foretell the future course of world dominion with complete accuracy demonstrates His sovereignty over kingdoms and history.

** The fact that Messiah's reception of the rule of the earth was the last thing portrayed in Daniel's dream implied that the Kingdom of God would be the goal or the grand climax of world history.