"The first animal looked like a lion, but it had
the wings of an eagle. While I watched, its wings were pulled off. It was then
pulled erect so that it was standing on two feet like a man. Then a human heart
was placed in it. Then I saw a second animal that looked like a bear. It
lurched from side to side, holding three ribs in its jaws. It was told,
'Attack! Devour! Fill your belly!' Next I saw another animal. This one looked
like a panther. It had four birdlike wings on its back. This animal had four
heads and was made to rule. After that, a fourth animal appeared in my dream.
This one was a grisly horror—hideous. It had huge iron teeth. It crunched and
swallowed its victims. Anything left over, it trampled into the ground. It was
different from the other animals—this one was a real monster. It had ten horns.
As I was staring at the horns and trying to figure out what they meant, another
horn sprouted up, a little horn. Three of the original horns were pulled out to
make room for it. There were human eyes in this little horn, and a big mouth
speaking arrogantly.
As I was watching all this, Thrones were set in place
and The Old One (Ancient One, NIV,
NASB) sat down. His robes were white as
snow, his hair was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, its
wheels blazing. A river of fire poured out of the throne. Thousands upon
thousands served him, tens of thousands attended him. The courtroom was called
to order, and the books were opened. I kept watching. The little horn was
speaking arrogantly. Then, as I watched, the monster was killed and its body
cremated in a roaring fire. The other animals lived on for a limited time, but
they didn't really do anything, had no power to rule. My dream continued. I saw
a human form, a son of man, arriving in a whirl of clouds. He came to The Old
One and was presented to him. He was given power to rule—all the glory of
royalty. Everyone—race, color, and creed—had to serve him. His rule would be
forever, never ending. His kingly rule would never be replaced.
But as for me, Daniel, I was disturbed. All these
dream-visions had me agitated. So I went up to one of those standing by and
asked him the meaning of all this. And he told me, interpreting the dream for
me: These four huge animals, he said, mean that four kingdoms will appear on
earth. But eventually the holy people of the High God will be given the kingdom
and have it ever after—yes, forever and ever. But I wanted to know more. I was
curious about the fourth animal, the one so different from the others, the
hideous monster with the iron teeth and the bronze claws, gulping down what it
ripped to pieces and trampling the leftovers into the dirt. And I wanted to
know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that sprouted up while
three of the original horns were removed. This new horn had eyes and a big
mouth and spoke arrogantly, dominating the other horns. I watched as this horn
was making war on God's holy people and getting the best of them. But then The
Old One intervened and decided things in favor of the people of the High God.
In the end, God's holy people took over the kingdom. The bystander continued,
telling me this: The fourth animal is a fourth kingdom that will appear on
earth. It will be different from the first three kingdoms, a monster kingdom
that will chew up everyone in sight and spit them out. The ten horns are ten
kings, one after another, that will come from this kingdom. But then another
king will arrive. He will be different from the earlier kings. He will begin by
toppling three kings. Then he will blaspheme the High God, persecute the
followers of the High God, and try to get rid of sacred worship and moral
practice. God's holy people will be persecuted by him for a time, two times,
half a time. But when the court comes to order, the horn will be stripped of
its power and totally destroyed. Then the royal rule and the authority and the
glory of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the people of the
High God. Their royal rule will last forever. All other rulers will serve and
obey them. And there it ended. I, Daniel, was in shock. I was like a man who
had seen a ghost. But I kept it all to myself.
Daniel was in shock—this was such an incredible dream! Animals, horns, judgment throne. What a blessing to have it interpreted! Without an interpretation we’d still be distressed along with Daniel—yet even with an interpretation, we are still mystified. This is prophesy? When will it happen?
This is the only place
in the Bible that the phrase “Ancient of Days” (NASB) is used. It refers to The
Heavenly Father seated on a throne during the time of judgment. Daniel was privileged
to see an image of God—no one has seen Him. He is timeless—ancient. In existence
since before time began and will exist forever. Seated on His blazing throne with
His white robes and white hair He is the regal picture of purity ready and
worthy to judge the world. This judgment has not happened yet—so Daniel’s dream
is still in the future. The prophesy of the ruling nations of the earth,
represented by those peculiar animals that are associated with the figure in
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, as Daniel interpreted it in Daniel Chapter 2. The first
animal represents Babylonian Empire, earlier shown as the golden head. The Bear, the second beast, represents the
Medo-Persian Empire that came next, that we saw as the silver arms and chest of
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream statue. The three ribs represent the three kingdoms that
the Medo-Persian Empire devoured in its power surge across the region. The next
beast, the four headed winged leopard, represents the Greek Empire, with
Alexander the Great in power, which defeated the Persians. God’s sovereign
power was the source of that dominion. The fourth horrific beast which Daniel saw was
a ten horned animal representing the Roman Empire, pictured by iron and clay
legs and feet in the earlier dream. Historically the Roman Empire was known for
its cruelty—from throwing Christians to the lions to the invention of
crucifixion. Since a ten powered nation within the Roman Empire has yet to
exist, this is still to come. Commentator Matthew Henry, who lived from
1662-1714, wrote that this fourth beast could represent the ten kings of Syria.
There is always room for thought, for consideration of alternatives when it
comes to prophesy. The one horn that becomes more powerful than the others is
thought to be the Antichrist. See 1 John 2:18. Daniel wrote in verses 23-25
that this fourth beast will devour, or control, the whole earth wearing down
the saints and they will be given into his control for a time, assumed to be
three and a half years. This will not be an easy time for Christians.
So I’ll leave you to
ponder history and see if you agree with Matthew Henry or with current
followings on eschatology. I’ll go with the idea that this is a
future event that is forthcoming…if not in our lifetime it is at least in God’s
timing of things to come. What we can look forward to is the return of Jesus,
as Daniel tells us in verse 13: One like
a Son of Man. That is Jesus! His kingdom will come and will not pass away.
What a hope He has provided for us. We don’t have to be terrified by visions of
horrible beasts—we just have to wait on the Lord and trust in Him that He has
things under His control. We will need to rely on Him for strength if we happen to be alive when that Antichrist assumes power. Do you trust in Jesus as your Savior?
Lord, as we humbly wait for the future we look to You for our hope.
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Scripture from The Message, except where noted.
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