DANIEL IS ABOUT FOSTERING HOPE IN TRYING TIMES AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE

DANIEL 7:13-14

INTRODUCTION:
DANIEL IS ABOUT FOSTERING HOPE AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE
God’s Sovereignty and Rule over all
Man’s Faithfulness even in the face of hostility and persecution

2 Parts of Daniel
Chapters 1-6: Biography (narrative / personal)
Chapters 7-12: Prophetic Visions (apocalyptic / cosmic)
Only God knows the future, and sometimes He makes it known to His people.
Approximately 25% of the Bible is predictive prophecy

2 Languages
Hebrew - chapters 1 and 8-12
Aramaic - chapters 2-7

Parallelism:
Chapter 3 and 6 — Faithfulness in a hostile world
Chapter 4 and 5 — Pride and Humility
Chapter 2 and 7 — Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream and Daniel’s Vision

Symbolism - in college Sports: Long Horns - The Dawgs - The Cowboys - The Volunteers - etc
Symbolism - in nations: Eagle - USA, Bear - Russia, Dragon - China
Symbolism - in politics: Donkey - Democrats, Elephant - Republicans

The Vision of the Beasts
Daniel 7:1-8
v.1 First year of Belshazzar - 553 BC
Daniel is in his mid sixties

v. 2-8 The Vision of the Beasts
The Winged Lion: Babylon
Consider the images on the columns of Babylon
Consider the statues guarding the Ishtar gates of Babylon

The Lopsided Bear: Persia
3 Ribs
Kingdom of Lydia - conquered in 546 BC by Cyrus
Kingdom of Babylon - conquered in 539 BC by Cyrus
Kingdom of Egypt - conquered in 525 by Cambyses
The Winged Leopard: Greece
The Horned Beast: Rome

The Vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man
Daniel 7:9-14
-The Throne
-The Ancient of Days
-Purity
-Wisdom
-Authority
-Judgment
-The Kingdom of God
-Universal
-Glorious
-Eternal

The Vision’s Interpretation
Daniel 7:15-28

VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS:
Antiochus IV
Antichrist
Double Fulfillment
Jesus’ View

APPLICATION:
TRUST IN THE ONE WHO KNOWS THE FUTURE
TAKE COMFORT IN THE ONE WHO SITS ON THE THRONE
MAKE SURE YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE