Bible Memory Verse:
“But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever…” Daniel 7:18
“…His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.” Daniel 7:27b
In the first year of King Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down of his dream.
Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and coming out of the sea were four great beasts…each different from the other.
The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
After that, in my vision at night, I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast–terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot what ever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
While I was thinking about the horns, there before was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had already been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this.
So he told me and gave me the interpretation: "The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High (people of God) will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever–yes, forever and ever.
Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws–the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled under-foot whatever was left. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell–the horn that looked more imposing than the others and had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.
But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.
This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled in my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
Daniel had this vision 2,550 (553 BC) years ago. The Lion represents Babylon; bear–Media Persia; leopard–Greece. The fourth beast (terrifying and frightening and very powerful) is Rome. Rome ruled the world when Jesus was born and later crucified. A terrible death by crucifixion was the Roman way of execution.
Part of the vision has not happened yet. Ten kings will come out of Rome some day. Then the king (called Antichrist in other places of the Bible) that will appear and subdue three of these kings. When he comes he will fight against the people of God. He will defeat the people of God for 3 ½ years. Then Jesus Christ will come back and set up his kingdom that will last forever. The people of God will rule over the kingdom of the earth. There will be hard times, but the Bible says that when Jesus comes back the people of God will rule and reign with Him (Revelation 20:6). Isn’t that exciting!
NAME___________________________________
TEST ON DANIEL AND THE BEASTS
1. How many beasts did Daniel see coming up out of the sea?
2. In what order did the beasts appear? Put the number of each beast before each beast. (This question is worth 4 points.)
____ Looked like a bear raised up on one side with three ribs between its teeth
____ Looked like a leopard with four wings and four heads
____ Looked like a lion with the wings of an eagle
____ Terrifying with iron teeth & bronze claws
3. What came up among the horns while Daniel was watching?
4. This horn had a mouth that spoke boastfully and eyes like what?
5. Who was this horn waging war against & defeating?
6. Who was in charge of the court in Daniel’s vision?
7. What color was the clothing and hair of the Ancient of Days?
8. Who came with the clouds of heaven and approached the Ancient of Days?
9. Who did the court pronounce judgment in favor of?
10. How long will they rule?
11. How did this dream affect Daniel?