Tuesday: Daniel 7
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 29th of April 2025
The dream of Daniel 2:1-49 was first presented to a Babylonian king. The vision of Daniel 7:1-28, in contrast, was presented to a Hebrew prophet, a member of God’s covenant people.
Daniel is shown the same subject as was Nebuchadnezzar but from a different perspective. Instead of a statue, he sees a series of nations rising up out of the sea, the result of wind churning up the water. These nations were in a continual state of strife, causing a perpetual shift in power among them. Such passages as Psalms 65:5-8; Isaiah 17:12-13; and Jeremiah 46:7-8 use the analogy of floods and waves to depict the tumult among the nations.
In contrast, the Promised Land existed, at least for a period of time, as an island of peace and safety amid a sea of Gentile kingdoms—a sacred nation established on the solid foundation of God’s government, as opposed to the unruly nations around it.
Read Daniel 7:1-3. There is a lot of movement in this scene. What lessons can we draw from this imagery, such as the beast first arising from the sea?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Daniel watches the chaos of Gentile warfare from the shore, when suddenly the beasts start coming up on the land_—into his territory! Gentile problems had now become his people’s problems. They had chosen to live like Gentiles, so now they would live with (and under) Gentiles. Starting with Babylonian domination, God’s covenant people never again enjoyed complete or long-lasting autonomy.
This loss of autonomy for God’s people today will persist until the close of time, when Christ is finally restored to His rightful place as our King. In the New Testament, God’s people continued to suffer under the thumb of the Roman Empire and then under the persecutions of the little horn, pagan Rome’s successor.
Though, historically, some nations have been better than others, and some eras have been more peaceful than others, the vast majority of the history of nations, peoples, and empires has simply been going from one tragedy to another, from one oppressor to another. And often this is all done under rulers claiming only the best of intentions for their own people. What a contrast to the rule that God had wanted for His people, if only they would have chosen it.
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How does Romans 3:10-19 help explain so much of our world? How does verse 19 especially show why we so desperately need the gospel in our lives? |
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One aspect which Daniel 7 clearly show is that human beings without God increase in violence, corruption, oppression, and destruction with the passage of time. The level of violence and cruelty increased from one kingdom to another. Brutality and moral depravity are on astronomical rise. Human history is on a downward spiral. If there is one thing that all great prophecies assure us of, is that God always wins. No matter how strong evil might seem to look, Jesus Christ is the ultimate winner. Daniel Chapter 7 gives the much-needed hope in these turbulent times, “the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom" (Daniel 7:18). The world around us might be crumbling, let us be of good cheer knowing that in a little while He who is to come is coming to bring to an end all the miseries of this life.
“Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He[a] who is coming will come and will not tarry” – Hebrews 10:35-37 (NKJV).
I am SO thankful for your given explanations, for some reason I find it quite difficult to comprehend what the verses are telling me so to be clear I’m getting it I always go to your explanations and either confirm what I thought or get clear explanations from your interpretation. This has really helped me with understanding what the verses are actually saying. And has made my Bible studying much more clearer. Thank you 🙏
As the lesson author, Shawn Boonstra has stated, the Hebrew nation never ruled in its own right after the Babylonian captivity. They were always a vassal state, subject to the others around them. Sometimes they were given privileges, like building the temple and at other times those privileges were capriciously taken away. They were turbulent times. The Jews nursed their ambition for a competitive kingdom that would show the others that their God was better. But, when Jesus came, he turned the idea of competitiveness on its head, promoting compassion and service instead. He summarises it thus:
His ministry demonstrated the sort of response needed in a capricious kingdom-building world.
In many respects, our world is very similar. Christianity is tolerated. or worse, ignored, and sometimes even weaponised by the captains and kings of our society. Our best Gospel argument is our Christian compassion in the face of intolerance. We live in a vassal state but are citizens of a kindom built on love.
Under God's Law, we are all guilty. But under Christ's sacrifice, we can become innocent. The Law continues to be current, but it is not enough for salvation. We may strive for perfection, but our fallen nature can only depend on Jesus to stand before God again.
Amen to this! That is why a lamb was slain in the morning by the Old Testament Priests, and also in the evening. We need to start our day in living for God by claiming, by faith and prayer, the "Blood of Jesus," and end the day by doing the same if we are ever to have "The Creator," change our "Sinful Natures," at all and eventually, give us "Immortal Bodies."
Does anyone have a good explanation of Daniel 7:12? In the previous verses the judgement has occurred, the beast with the little horn has been slain and given to the fire, but in verse 12 the other beasts have their dominion taken but are allowed to live "for a season and a time". Adventists are usually quick to jump on a prophecy with a time component, but I have not heard a good explanation of this.
Your comment Joe: "but in verse 12 the other beasts have their dominion taken but are allowed to live "for a season and a time."
Each one of those beasts, before being destroyed, was merged into the succeeding empire. Meaning the principles upon which Babylon was built did not weaken. By the time you get to Rome, they were so strong that Daniel could not describe this beast. Those principles of government, education and religion were clearly not the underlying principles of heaven. And they have remained in the earth ever since.
There is no room for a them versus us mentality in Christianity. We are all a mess and have all messed up. We would be hopelessly lost except for Jesus. This is the Gospel that the world needs to hear. But for the grace of God, there go I. I'm not what I used to be, not what I want to be, and not yet what I'm going to be. Jesus didn't come to condemn sinners but to save them. That's our mission too!
It seems very important to the author/editors of this lesson to emphasize that Israel was not to have a king and even blame everything on Israel choosing to have kings. You have seen some of my comments that take a more nuanced view on the concept of kingship and God's people and I won't repeat them again. But I'm not sure I agree with the idea that the subjegation of believers throughout thousands of years is due to the people rejecting Samuel. We are generations and generations removed from that and it makes the picture of God seem a little vindictive, to be honest.
But what if God's plan for the Christian church was never to be anything like Israel? Before Jesus came, Israel was meant to be light to the world. They were meant to be at the crossroads of Middle Eastern civilization so that people would come into contact with the true God. This was the ideal situation for the Messiah to come to. And though Israel failed on this front quite badly, to some extent that's how things worked out.
God could have set up another promised land for Christians but He chose not to. Instead of people coming to us, we are to go. We are to be part of the nations of the earth and witness to God there. I don't see that as God's plan B but His intention all along.
It was Patrick Henery that said give me liberty or give me death.
Yes, the loss of autonomy in a government as we see through the ages from Babylon to Medo-Persia to Greece to Rome to Europe is what gave Christians trials.
Thank God we still hang onto the constitution(separation of church and state). And thank God for men like, also Roger Williams. Where in a land there is still separation of Church and state. Though still fought for that religious freedom in one form or another.
Daniel 7:1-3 and the Lessons from the Imagery of the Sea and Beasts:
The sea—in prophetic language—symbolizes peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues (Revelation 17:15). The winds stirring up the sea represent strife, war, and political upheaval. From this restless and chaotic scene, the beasts (symbols of kingdoms and empires) emerge.
Key Lessons:
Nations rise and fall through human conflict and ambition rather than peaceful means.
These kingdoms are unstable and violent, built on shifting human passions, not on the solid, eternal foundation of God's kingdom.
God's covenant people, once shielded from this chaos, now experience it because of their disobedience—they had chosen to imitate the Gentile nations instead of remaining distinct (see 1 Samuel 8:7-8).
Thus, the beasts "coming up" toward Daniel’s land shows that God's people could no longer expect earthly peace and autonomy; their choice to be like the nations meant they would suffer like the nations.
Romans 3:10-18 paints a dark but honest picture:
"There is none righteous, no, not one" (v.10)
"Destruction and misery are in their ways" (v.16)
"The way of peace they have not known" (v.17)
"There is no fear of God before their eyes" (v.18)
Verse 19 especially:
"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
Meaning: No one can boast of their own goodness before God. Humanity’s natural tendency—whether ancient empires or modern governments—is toward self-interest, injustice, and oppression without God's transforming grace.
The gospel is absolutely essential because it is God's solution to this universal guilt and brokenness. Only through Christ can true righteousness, peace, and stability come into our lives and eventually into the world when He returns.
Summary Thought: Just as ancient Israel lost peace when it sought to imitate the surrounding nations, humanity today continues in chaos because it rejects God's rule. Romans 3 reveals the true heart condition of fallen humanity—one that desperately needs salvation through Christ.
May God's Matchless Power be ours as we continue this journey.
Daniel both wrote and spoke things that were quite symbolic; his words were and are intimate to the church. The Book of Daniel focuses on different prophecies and stories of faith in and out of exile, holding a significant meaning for our days by highlighting God's sovereign power, besides the enduring hope for the last days, even in the face of adversity. It demonstrates the importance of faithfulness to God, regardless of the pressures or personal challenges. This unique book, especially chapter 7 provides a framework for understanding history and God's plan for the salvation of the world, offering solace and guidance in uncertain times.