Daniel Dreams A Dream

Title: “Daniel’s Dream” Scripture: Daniel 7

Type: Expository Series Where: GNBC 11-20-22

Intro: One of my favorite scenes in “Les Miserables” (the musical) is when Fantine sings: “I Dreamed a Dream.” The song is a lament, and is sung in the musical by the desperate character Fantine, who has just been fired from her job at the factory and thrown onto the streets. She is thinking back to happier days, and wonders how everything has gone wrong in her life. We can all remember when a stout middle aged Scottish woman sang the song on “Britain’s Got Talent” and how it helped skyrocket Susan Boyle from utter anonymity to becoming a household name. Well in the first 6 chapters of Daniel other people have dreamed dreams and seen visions. Now, however, in chapter 7 it’s Daniel’s turn, and wow! It is amazing!

Prop: Today we’ll notice three distinct elements of Daniel’s dream in chapter 7.

BG: 1. Chapter 7 begins the 2nd division of the book of Daniel.

2. The 1st 6 chapters were chronologically arranged. Not so the final chapters. In fact, here were go back to the reign of Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5). The 1st year of his reign was 553 BC, so Daniel was about 67 yrs. old. 3. This chapter is very complicated because not only does it go back into the chronology of Daniel’s life, the vision itself has an aspect of past, present, future, and distant future in it. Complicated, yet still profitable for us to attempt to expound. As with all passages with prophecy 33% won’t care and will shut off, 33% will be mad because my interpretation is wrong because pastor/author “X” has a different view, and 33% will be appreciative. 4. Students of prophecy will notice many similarities to Revelation.

Prop: Let’s examine the 3 Distinct Elements of Daniel 7.

I. Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts that Strike Fear upon the Earth. Vv. 1-8

A. We Begin this Chapter By Noticing an Incredible Shift in the Style of the Book.

1. Daniel’s 7th Chapter shifts Genre from History to Prophecy.

a. Dan. 7 begins the 2nd half of the book. The first 6 chapters were in the words of J. Vernon McGee: “Historical night with prophetic light.” Chapters 7ff are primarily “Prophetic light in the historic night.” The chapter has 2 simple divisions in a very visual and complex dream: 1. The dream he had. 2. The interpretation of that dream.

b. Illust – Unlike the preceding chapters, its is no longer the king or ruler who is having the dream and Daniel is interpreting the mystery. Daniel himself is having the dream and the vision is being made known to him.

2. Daniel’s Dream’s Beginning.

a. Vv.1-3 – We begin this chapter by seeing that Daniel had “a dream and visions” as he lay on his bed. The text is unspecified as to whether Daniel was asleep or awake for any, all, or part of this. The “four winds of the earth” – 4 is the number of the earth, i.e. the 4 corners of the earth. It is a metaphor for God’s activities in the world. And we read next that these divinely appointed winds were “stirring up” the earth, i.e. God has sovereign control of history and the nations. Out of the great sea (Mediterranean Sea?), Daniel sees a horrifying sight: 4 great beasts are coming up out of the sea! What a dream!

b. Some have asked “Why this vision?” What was its purpose? I think there is one very clear purpose. When the Jews were taken into captivity the average person would have said that God was finished with Israel or else the God of Israel was a phony or powerless. Neither could have been further from the truth! God was far from through with Israel! He desired that they know this truth and one incredibly potent way to demonstrate this truth was to let His people know that He knew and could predict the future, that they would in fact be returned from captivity, and that in due time Messiah would come to deliver His people and set up His everlasting Kingdom. What a hope-filled chapter this was/is today!

B. The Four Beasts of Daniel’s Present, Future, and Distant Future.

1. Four Beasts Representing 4 World Empires Appear in Daniel’s Dream.

a. 1st- The winged lion – Daniel’s dream begins with a vision of a winged lion. The very symbol of the empire that was in power at the time of his dream: Babylon. The lion is symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest king of the empire. 1st empire on 3 continents. The lion is the king of the beasts and the eagle the king of the skies. As such, Babylon corresponded to the head of gold (2:38)in the previous dream. The plucking of it’s wings in v.4 is symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation when struck by God for his pride and arrogance. The standing on two legs is symbolic of the king’s humiliation and then humanization as he was transformed from his period of insanity back to his full humanity. His previous lust for power was replaced by a humility that sought the welfare of others. Babylon was the power at the time of Daniel’s dream.