Daniel 7: The Courtroom of Heaven
It all begins with an idea.
A Light in Today’s Darkness
Daniel 7:9-10
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.Daniel 7:1 (ESV)
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.
Review
Daniel 1-6 are historical, autobiography of Daniel (although written in 3rd person).
Chapters 7-12 are visions and dreams Daniel personally had about the future, most of which have been fulfilled and some being fulfilled now
CHAPTER 7 – most complete picture of Gentile History in the Bible….
Dream takes place nearly 50 years after Neb.’s dream in Daniel 2
Timing of the dreams – this would have taken place between chapters 4 and 5 – remember the profane grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar – this dream came during the first year of his reign.
Daniel 7:2-4
2 Daniel declared, “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 out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.
The dream will parallel the 4 kingdoms of Chapter 2:
Gold headed statue – Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar)
Silver arms and chest – Medo-Persian empire
Bronze belly and thighs – Greek Empire
Iron legs – Islamic Empire
Toes – Iron mixed with clay – Revived Islamic empire
THIS DREAM
4 Beasts (man sees kingdoms as precious metals; God seems them as savage beasts)
First beast like a lion and had eagle’s wings – if remember both were symbols of Babylon
The great wall had both eagle’s and lions on it.
Wings plucked and made to stand like a man and mind of man given to it.
Speaks of Neb, his humbling and 7 years in the field as an ox (wings clipped), then – repents and given the mind of a man – NO LONGER A BEAST
When we come to Christ – we are given a new heart and mind
Daniel 7:5
5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’
Medo-Persian – Bear – one side raised up (Persian greater than Medes – this also highlighted in the next chapter as well)
The three ribs speak of the three empires immediately devoured by the Medes and Persians: the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and the Lydians
Daniel 7:6
6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
Greek empire – leopard – fast (4 wings of a bird) – Alexander the Great was the king – became king at age 20, and was undefeated. In 5 years conquered from Greece to Northwestern India.
His army of 35,000 beat the Persian army of 2-300,000!
Because he was so smart? NO! Because God said so, “Dominion was given to it.”
He died at the young age of 32
4 heads – after Alexander Great died, kingdom given to his 4 generals (4 heads)
Daniel 7:7-8
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Crazy dream! 4 beasts with the 4th beast very intimidating and strange
We will get the interpretation of this 4th beast at the end. BUT REVIEW
Many think it was Rome, but Rome didn’t crush their enemy, they conquered and blended, syncretistic (conquered the Greeks and kept their gods)
ISLAM – conquered and destroyed – ISIS destroying ancient shrines,, churches, etc.
Daniel 7:9-10
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
THRONES – MORE THAN ONE – EVIDENCE OF THE TRINITY IN THE OT.
Throne set up – Ancient of Days – GOD shows up!
Psalm 97:1–5 (ESV)
1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.Daniel 7:10
10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
BOOKS OPENED
Revelation 20:12–15 (ESV)
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Books of works vs. Book of Life – if not in the Book of Life then judged on works.
Daniel 7:11-12
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Judgment on the 4th beast for “the great words that the horn was speaking.”
“lives prolonged for a season” – not concurrent, each continued after for awhile EXCEPT the last – which was totally destroyed (by JESUS!)
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And 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 one that shall not be destroyed.
Jesus shows up – “one like a son of man” – comes to Ancient of Days
THE 5TH KINGDOM – PLEAD THE 5TH!
Now all peoples, nations, and languages serve him, everlasting dominion.
Daniel 7:15-16
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.
Daniel knew interpretations of other dreams but had to ask for this one…
Daniel 7:17-22
17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ 19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
4th kingdom – has 10 horns – then another horn that supplants 3 others
Horn – antichrist – had eyes and mouth that spoke great things
Daniel 7:23
23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
“devour the whole earth, trample it down and break it to pieces” – worldwide effect
Daniel 7:24
24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.
10 kings rise (remember 10 toes of Daniel 2 Statue vision)
10 regions, 10 nations?
Antichrist comes up and replaces 3 kings (could be dissenters…)
Daniel 7:25
25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Antichrist – Speaks words against the Most High (against God)
Evolution
Blasphemy
Atheism
Islam – “Allah Akbar” – Allah is Greater – greater than what? (god of Islam always trying to prove himself)
NOT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE!
CHRISLAM – SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST
ISLAM – NOT OUR BROTHERS AN SISTERS
John 8:41–44 (ESV)
41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.John 1:12–13 (ESV)
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Yes, we are all created by God; yes, brothers and sisters through Adam and Eve
BUT BIBLICALLY – only those who are born again are truly “children of God”
Daniel 7:25
25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
“wear out the saints of the Most High” – some translations “harass” but means to “wear out like a garment” – “Wear down” –
“they shall be given into his hand” – Antichrist overcome the saints? Yes!
“for a time, times and half a time.” – 3.5 years
Time = 1
Times = 2
Half a time = ½
TOTAL = 3 ½ years
This is speaking of the first half of the tribulation – the 7 year period of testing to come on the earth at the end times.
Described in the Bible as:
Time, Times and half a time (3.5 years)
42 months (3.5 years)
1260 days (360+360+360+180=3.5 years)
Half a week of years (Daniel 9)
Revelation 13:1–8 (ESV)
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (NKJV)
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.Daniel 7:25
25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Antichrist will also “think to change the times and the law”
October 23, 1793, French Revolutionary Calendar was inaugurated just nine days after Queen Marie-Atoinette was executed. It was an attempt to de-Christianize the calendar
Goal was to remove Sunday as a day of worship – remove Christianity:
Developed a sort of metric or decimal view of calendar
Day divided into 10 hours, of 100 minutes and 100 seconds each
Months were still 30 days, but divided into 10 day decades - 10 day a day of rest (one of main reasons it didn’t work was they have been used to day 7 off)
360 days in the 12 months, then final 5 days were celebration days not part of any month.
Intentionally trying to remove God from the Calendar.
When Charles-Gilbert Romme, its chief architect, was asked what the main reason for the new calendar was, he emphatically stated: “To abolish Sunday.”6 “The décade [the new “week”] – or, rather, to be more precise, its ‘peak day,’ Décadi – came to be the single most important symbol of the de-Christianization of France.”7 Churches were forbidden to hold services on any day except for Décadi and citizens were not to close their stores on Sunday or acknowledge it by wearing their habits du dimanche, or “Sunday best”.8
Only lasted about 12 years until Napoleon declared emperor and abolished it 2 years later.
Antichrist will try to change the times and seasons – only God can change it
Daniel 2:20–21 (ESV)
20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
But Islam also has its own calendar
Islamic new year is 622 AD Muhammed migration from Mecca to Medina to establish the first Muslim community – therefore it is currently year 1443 AH (Hijra )
Alternating 29 and 30 day months
Daniel 7:26
26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
The Court of Heaven will judge the Antichrist.
He will be consumed and destroyed “to the end.”
Daniel 7:27
27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
YAY! We win!
Daniel 7:28 (CSB)
28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”