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The Book of Daniel – Dan 7:1-7  Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed

[Study Aired April 4, 2024]

Dan 7:1  In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 
Dan 7:2  Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 
Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 
Dan 7:4  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 
Dan 7:6  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 
Dan 7:7  After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 

Chapter 7 of Daniel creates a prophetic bridge of sorts to help further identify Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue in chapter 2. Chapter 7 is also a bridge linked to the book of Revelation and also further helps interpret the dreams of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar.

‘The dream is one’ for both Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, and that dream points to the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mar 1:1) using the principle found in Isaiah 28:10-13. Many sections of this dream are interpreted in chapter 7 itself, but we still need to put those pieces together and compare them with other sections of God’s word, “precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”, in order to get a clear picture of what God is telling us.

Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 
Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

The “four great beasts” in the opening verses of chapter 7 are connected to the four great empires of the statue discussed in Daniel chapter 2. Daniel describes the trouble he is experiencing in his heavens this way:  “I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me” (Dan 7:15). Then from Daniel 7:16-27 we see that Daniel is given understanding of what these various horns on the beast represent. Identifying the physical empires, or the idea that these horns are speaking of kings, stops short of understanding how these prophecies apply inwardly to the elect whom God has granted to read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy (Rev 1:3). As the last verse of this chapter expresses, it is clear that Daniel is not delivered from the troubling effect these dreams have had on him. This zealous prophet of God was left not knowing what these revelations meant (Mat 13:17), “Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart” (Dan 7:28).

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Daniel, as we know, prophesied not to himself but to us in these last days (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11) so that we could be encouraged and uplifted to know both the history and the spiritual meaning behind all of these events that point to the end of this dispensation and lead into the rule and reign of Christ and His Christ (Rev 11:15). Daniel kept the matter in his heart as a natural man, as a shadow of how we must continue in the truth ourselves and keep the now understood sayings of the prophecies of Christ on our hearts (Joh 8:31-32, Rev 1:3, Mat 13:16). 

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Dan 7:1  In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 
Dan 7:2  Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 
Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

We know that these “four great beasts” Daniel dreams about concern the empires represented by the different parts of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2 of Daniel. We also know that all those beasts are going to be judged, and this being “the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon” symbolizes “the day of the Lord” for those who are going to be judged, which judgment begins with the house of God, but will in time include the whole of humanity symbolized by “four great beasts” (1Pe 4:17).

Daniel writes down the dream and “told the sum of the matters” as a shadow of how it is the sum of God’s word (Psa 119:160 ASV) that is going to give us clarity on any subject in the word of God. The visions of Daniel happen while he is asleep and by night, as a shadow of how God works with those who acknowledge their own blindness or spiritual slumber that can only be conquered through Christ in the darkness of our carnal fleshly minds which are likened to the night (Isa 26:9).

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

The “four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea” represents the complete  spiritual realm God rules over (“the four winds of the heaven“) as He strives with the whole [4] of humanity that is likened to “the great sea.” This imagery of God’s spirit brooding over all the flesh of mankind is earlier typified for us in the book of Genesis (Gen 1:2). We are told that He won’t always strive with mankind (Gen 6:3) but will bring out of this wrestling with all of humanity that is likened to “four great beasts [that] came up from the sea, diverse one from another” a new creation, a new foundation founded on Christ (1Co 3:11) that will be formed in righteousness to the glory and honor of God (Rev 4:6, 2Co 5:17).

Gen 1:2  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 

Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man “the great sea“, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Rev 4:6  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Four beasts, four empires, four kings

Dan 7:4  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

This first empire represents the Babylonian empire of Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was a king of kings in his own time (Dan 2:37), and he is typified by the head of the statue in his dream that is going to control the rest of the empires as a head controls a body. Nebuchadnezzar had no influence on any empire except that of his own by God’s power, but when we consider that Nebuchadnezzar is a type of Satan, a king of kings, then it makes sense why he is the head of the statue that controls the rest of the body, as a type of Satan, the god of this world, who has ruled over all the empires of this world right from its foundation (2Co 4:4, Mat 4:9).

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Mat 4:9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 

We all start off not knowing that we are mere beasts of the field, and we are “like a lion” because we are of our father the devil (Pro 28:15, 1Pe 5:8), and as he is [Satan] so are we in this world (Eph 2:3). Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind and was on all fours like a beast in the field eating grass and being driven about by spirits that are represented by “eagles wings.” It is only when God gives us to acknowledge our blindness by bringing us to our senses (Luk 15:17) that we can then be “made” to “stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to [us].” The heart is still deceitful and desperately wicked, but nevertheless, a progression is being expressed in Nebuchadnezzar’s understanding when the prophecy that is connected to him (Dan 7:4) states that he is made to stand upon his feet as a man, and is given a man’s heart (Jer 17:9).

Pro 28:15  As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

The wings represent the power and influence Nebuchadnezzar had in this world that was eventually taken away, “I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked.” The powers and principalities we wrestle against (Eph 6:12) are likened to wings that have to be plucked by God. Being made to stand and being given a heart of a man does not tell us we are no longer beasts, only that now we are beasts that are a little lower than the angels and with no preeminence above the beast of the field in matters of life and death (Heb 2:7-9, Ecc 3:19, Joh 16:7). The question needs to be asked, “Who will be able to stand when Christ returns?” As we see, this statue representing the man of perdition that resides in all of humanity, will not stand once the Lord comes and destroys the statue with the brightness of His coming (Rev 6:16-17, 2Th 2:8).

Heb 2:7  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 
Heb 2:8  Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 

Ecc 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The next empire is the Medo-Persian empire, the “breast and his arms of silver” on the statue of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:32), and is represented by a bear (Dan 7:5).

Like the lion and eagle associated with the Babylonian empire, this bear is also a carnivorous beast that is told “Arise, devour much flesh.” Satan has been symbolically dining on the flesh of mankind since the garden of Eden until now (Gen 3:14). It is God who has commanded the serpent to eat dust, dust that represents mankind who Satan is going to devour all the days of his life, meaning of the devil’s time of influence over humanity (Lam 3:10-11). All of these beasts we are looking at are the same beast, and that is mankind, who are overcome by the powers and principalities of this age that we cannot overcome without God’s spirit within us (Rev 13:4). The beast [lion, eagle, bear, leopard, etc.] gets his power from the dragon, and again, that is why Nebuchadnezzar can represent Satan the head, whose father we all had in our time as we fulfilled the lust of our flesh, lust of our eyes, and the pride of life; fleshly carnal ways that had dominion over us and provided an abundance of food for the adversary (Rev 13:4).

Gen 3:14  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 

Lam 3:10  He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. 
Lam 3:11  He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

This second beast “raised up itself on one side, and it had three^H8532 ribs^H5967 in the mouth of it between the teeth of it.“

The three ribs of the bear represent the process of judgment Satan inflicts upon the elect that God gives him the power to fulfill as His sword. The world is also afflicted, reaping what they sow and storing up wrath against the day of wrath because of the god of this world (Psa 17:13, Rom 2:5). The two words “three^H8532 ribs^H5967” are written in Chaldean, so we won’t find these Strong numbers together  anywhere else in the bible. However, if we take the Hebrew equivalent of both words, we find one entry in Ezekiel 41:6 that uses both Strong’s numbers in the one verse. That also points to how God uses the flesh of men to judge or try us in this life, Levi in particular who is joined unto us.

Psa 17:13  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

Eze 41:6  The side rooms^H6763 [equivalent to ribs^H5967] were on three^H7969  different floors, one above the other. There were 30 rooms on each floor. The wall of the temple was built with ledges. The side rooms^H6763 rested on these ledges but were not attached to the temple wall itself. (ERV)

Eze 42:20  He measured the four walls that went all the way around {the temple}. The wall was 500 cubits long and 500 cubits wide. It separated the holy area from the area that is not holy. (ERV)

1Ki 6:6  The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

We are told that “for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house”. They are not fastened to the temple because they represent those who are joined unto us like Levi and who God extends his mercy toward by giving them their good things (Luk 15:31) just as we should do good unto all men as the temple of God that we are, but especially unto the household of God (Gal 6:10, Mat 5:44-48). [excerpt from hisbranch.ca/1-kings-chapter-6/ 1ki-6_4-7.pdf (hisbranch.ca)]

The first beast is a lion that “was lifted up^H5191 from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it”, and represents how Nebuchadnezzar’s power as a beast was given of the devil who is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (Rev 13:2-4). 

Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

What is declared of the second beast is that “it raised up^H6966  itself on one side” showing that this beast is controlled as well by the man of perdition, the devil’s influence on the left side and not the right side, as he deceives us into thinking we have free moral agency and are able to raise ourselves up on one side independent of God’s working all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11). With that spirit ruling in our heavens, believing we have a free will, we go about doing the work of our father who is the accuser of the brethren who devours much flesh (Gen 3:14, Rev 12:10). The three “ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it” typify that negative outward process of judgment of others that all human beasts are prone to do in their flesh. We devour much flesh throughout this life through our outward judgment of others (Psa 37:12) and measuring of the court (Rev 11:2) until we are brought to repentance, which is done via a process that takes our whole life [by little and little (Exo 23:30)]. That is when we start seeing those three ribs pointing inwardly at our old man who has to be destroyed through His judgment in our heavens (Heb 9:23, 1Co 11:31-32).

Psa 37:12  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 

Dan 7:6  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 

The next empire that comes on the scene is the “third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth“, and this kingdom is likened to a “a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it” (Dan 7:6). 

Once again ‘the dream is one’, and we’re still talking about beasts that are controlled by the head,  which is Nebuchadnezzar, who typifies the god of this world. This beast is a leopard that we know cannot change his spots (Jer 13:23), and just as the metals are decreasing in their value on the construct of the statue in Daniel chapter 2, so are the beasts becoming more evidently controlled by the powers and principalities of this world. Those powers are demonstrated as being wholly on the leopard who has “four wings of a fowl; the beast also had four heads; and dominion was given to it.” The four wings of a fowl represent all the evil spirits of this world that manifest on the whole of mankind, the four heads, and dominion was given to this beast, “dominion was given to it“, just as the kingdoms of this world are the kingdoms of Satan who has dominion over them and is the dragon “which gave power unto the beast” (Rev 13:4, Mat 4:8-9). Brass in scripture, which is actually copper, represents the best flesh has to offer,  but there is no conversion happening to this beast who is like a leopard, that we know cannot change his spots [his nature] without Christ (Pro 14:12, 1Ki 22:22).

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

Jer 13:23  Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Dan 7:7  After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 

The last empire is the basest of all the empires and also the strongest or overtly open in its opposition to truth, “the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.” This fourth kingdom is “dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth” as shown in Daniel 7:7. It’s from the mouth of the adversary that the accusations come day and night from the accuser of the brethren who has these “great iron teeth”, meaning he is inflexible and a liar and unrepentant, as are his children, represented by this fourth beast, who like Satan wants to sift the elect as he goes about breaking in pieces and bruising whomever God will grant him the power to do (Mat 10:22). Of course the devil will not prevail in his attempt to destroy the church, and in fact it will turn to our deliverance (Rev 2:10) and his being cast out along with his angels (Rev 12:7-9). This fourth beast, that is “dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly”, is part of the composite beast spoken of in Revelation 13:1-18. The dream-is-one principle is in full effect here, as we see in Revelation 13, all four beasts being brought together to represent one beast. Who that beast is all along is revealed in the last verse of this 13th chapter (Rev 13:17-18). It is mankind who will try to prevail against the saints with great iron teeth, the gates of hell that lead down to the abussos of every soul, where what comes out of a man defiles him (Mat 16:18, Mat 15:11)

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Mat 15:11  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the second half of this seventh chapter (Dan 7:8-28) regarding the horns on this fourth beast that is further developed in its description in the book of Revelation with the composite beast (Dan 7:19, Dan 7:24, Rev 13:1-2).

Dan 7:19  Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 

Dan 7:24  And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 
Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 
Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

This last empire represents the end of this present dispensation just prior to the return of Christ and has “ten kings” that represent the fleshly carnal rule of mankind at its basest level, represented by the base metal of iron mixed with clay (Dan 2:41-45). That kingdom is soon going to be toppled by the kingdom of God which is near and on the horizon. Satan knows he has a short time and is full of wrath (Rev 12:12) as explained by this diverse fourth beast, with these words of wrath “exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet” (Dan 7:19). What encouragement we can take from Revelation 12:12 even in what will be a perilous and dark time (2Ti 3:1-7)!

Dan 2:41  And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 
Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.