Daniel Chapter 7 - The Rise of Anti-Christ

Daniel 7:1-3 “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. 2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.”

In the first year of Belshazzar... - It was in the first year of king Belshazzar that Daniel had a vision and wrote down all that he saw, with the interpretation.

Four winds of heaven - It is quite obvious as we go down through this prophecy that the Bible uses a number of symbols to describe what is taking place. Only the Bible can be used to interpret these symbols.

In Jeremiah 25:31-33 we see that when a great whirlwind is raised up it wreaks death and destruction upon those it comes against. Also in Jeremiah 4:13 we find that the chariots that spoiled the people, (this being a prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the hand of Babylon Vs 5, 6), were likened unto a whirlwind. So it is easily seen that winds are a symbol of war, strife, bloodshed, and trouble. Four being from the four quarters of the earth or the four points of the compass Jeremiah 49:36.

Strove upon the great sea - Seas are a symbol of multitudes, nations, tongues, and peoples. (Revelation 17:15, Isaiah 17:12)

Four great beasts came up from the sea - A beast is a symbol of a king or kingdom, so to is a horn. (Daniel 7:17; 23-24) Already we are seeing a picture of what Daniel is being shown. Strife, war and bloodshed is upon the nations as kingdom conquers kingdom to rise to world supremacy. Notice how the beasts rose up out of the sea, thus showing that each kingdom rose out of a densely populated area. We are looking at world events as it comes from all directions, all encompassing.

Diverse one from another - The people in each controlling nation were different, the laws and customs were different, and even the administration of the kingdoms was different.

Daniel 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.”

The first - This shows that all the kingdoms came in succession, as they are known as the first, second and so on.

Was like a lion, and had eagles wings - A lion is strong and very courageous, and it is also known as the king of the beasts. But which kingdom does this winged lion represent? If we look in Jeremiah 4:5-7, it is seen there a prophecy regarding the coming destruction of Judah and Jerusalem under the hand of Babylon. Notice how Babylon, who came from the north, is described as a lion. We also know from Daniel chapter 1 that it was Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, that came and conquered Judah and Jerusalem. Babylon is represented by this lion.

Wings are a symbol of speed or swiftness as seen in Habakkuk 1:6-9. It is also interesting to note that in these verses it is prophesied of the rise of the Chaldeans/Babylonians whilst they were still an Assyrian province. Their horsemen were to be like an eagle that hasteth to eat, that is, fast, showing their speed of conquest. The winged lion symbol is found on many Babylonian objects of art and also upon the Ishtar gates, which were the gates of entry for the triumphant armies. This symbol is utilised by Bible prophets in talking about Babylon.

Wings were plucked...made stand upon feet as a man...man’s heart given... - Here we see a change taking place in the Babylonian power. No longer was it swift to fly upon its enemies or quick to defend its territory like the king of the beasts, the strong courageous heart of a lion was replaced by a weak and wicked heart of a man, and made to stand as a man.

In the time of the downfall of Babylon under Belshazzar’s reign, the kingdom was reduced to the walls of Babylon itself. With the conquering spirit gone and regarding that their power came from their god’s. (Habakkuk 1:11, Jeremiah 50:38) God had abandoned them and the Babylonian kingdom fell with Belshazzar being slain in the middle of a drunken feast. See chapter 5. Babylon reigned from 606-538 B.C.

Daniel 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.”

Another beast - We are now introduced to the next kingdom rising to power.

Like a bear...raised up on one side - A bear is very vicious, ferocious, also blood thirsty. But this one is raised up on one side showing that one side is being favoured, thus being weaker.

This is a very good description of the Medo-Persian Empire. They were cruel and vicious. (Isaiah 13:15-19) Also they were partly strong and partly weak. Darius the Mede and Cyrus his nephew came together so as to go up against Babylon. The Persians were much stronger than the Medes, hence the bear raised up on one side, with the Persians ruling the kingdom for the majority of the time. See Inserted note, A.

Three ribs in its mouth - This bear has been devouring other beasts as it has three ribs in its mouth. These three ribs can represent the three kingdoms that the Medes and Persians conquered as they were rising to power, these are Lydia, Egypt, and Babylon.

Arise devour much flesh - The Medo-Persian empire was much larger than the Babylonian empire. They ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. (Esther 1:1) Medes and Persians ruled from 538-331 B.C.

Daniel Chapter 6 - Accusers, The Accused and The Lions

Daniel 6:1-3 “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

Darius - We have just seen in the previous chapter the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. Darius was the first king ruling for only two years. During this time, 538 - 536 B.C., the events of this chapter took place.

Over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes - It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 princes, obviously one prince per province of the Medo-Persian kingdom. It wasn’t until the victories of Cambyses and Darius Hystaspes that the kingdom was enlarged to 127 provinces as in the time of Esther. (Esther 1:1)

Over these three presidents - Over these princes was placed three presidents, thus the princes were answerable to the presidents.

Daniel was first - Daniel was placed above all of them as he was the first president.

Princes might give accounts unto them... – These princes of the provinces were to give accounts unto the three presidents so the king would have no damage or loss of revenue. This shows to us the qualities the king must have seen in Daniel, for he would have to have been honest, faithful, and have strict integrity in business matters for the king to entrust to him such a position.

Daniel was preferred above - The reason why Daniel was preferred above the other presidents and princes is given to us here. In him was an excellent spirit, thus the king set him over the whole realm for he saw this in him. We do not need to expand on this matter as we have seen the type of character that Daniel has in previous chapters.

Daniel 6:4-5 “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against... - It was at this time, when Daniel was promoted above them, their jealousy peaked. So they sought to find a fault in his dealings with the affairs of the kingdom. This was to try and bring him down from his exalted position by the king.

But they could find none occasion nor fault - There was not a single mistake or unfaithfulness found in his work, not the slightest discrepancy, neither was there any error or fault found in his person. His dealings with the kingdoms affairs were perfect and his conduct was blameless. Could this be said of us?

We are instructed in Ecclesiastes 9:10 that “whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might”, and 1 Corinthians 10:31 “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Against him concerning the law of his God - They realized that they were not going to find any occasion against Daniel except in one area. This was to make a law which was contrary to the law of Daniel’s God and enforce it. They themselves could see that he was faithful in serving his God. We see this situation also at the end of time when laws are made contrary to God’s and are enforced being punishable by death. (Revelation 13:8, 12, 14-15)

Daniel’s faithfulness is being tested yet again.

Daniel 6:6-9 “Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.”

Presidents and princes assembled together to the king - Margin reads tumultuously. They all assembled before the king, as if to show that this was an important matter for the king to look over.

All the presidents...have consulted together - The claim here is that all inclusively have discussed and agreed on the matter that is going to be brought before the king. Now this is a lie as Daniel was at the head of them all, but yet not present nor consulted about the matter. It was to deceive the king into thinking that there was no opposition at hand.

Royal statute, and to make a firm decree - Their object was to make a royal statute, that is a firm/mighty decree, that no person was to ask any petition of any God or man for thirty days save of the king. They were willing to go against all their own gods and religious system to secure their object of ridding Daniel.

It generally takes thirty days to form a new habit and break an old one. Thus if Daniel would continually bow to this decree it would be the forming of a new habit.

Cast into the den of lions - If not abided by it was punishable by death, being eaten alive by lions. They had watched Daniel and had seen the faultless character that he had, and seeing there was no fault to be found the only option left was to slay him. (Psalms 37:32)

O king, establish the decree - After appealing to the king’s pride through exalting him, they ask him to sign the writing so it cannot be changed. This is a law of the Medes and Persians that once it has been signed by the king it cannot be altered.

Darius signed the writing - The king was deceived. He saw only that which brought glory and honour to himself, thus he signed the decree without hesitation.

Daniel Chapter 5 - From Feasting to Fear and Death

Daniel 5:1-4 “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.”

Belshazzar the king - Nebuchadnezzar had died in 562 B.C., leaving his son Evil-Merodach [Amel-Marduk] to take over the kingdom 562-560 B.C. He was succeeded by Neriglissar 560-556 B.C., who was succeeded by his son Laborosoarchod who ruled for 9 months. Nabonadius ruled next 556-539 B.C. with the last three years, 541-539 B.C. co-jointly with his son Belshazzar. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah 27:6-8 where Babylon would rule until his son and his son’s son, as Nabonadius was Nebuchadnezzar’s son and Belshazzar therefore his grandson.

Made a great feast - In 560 B.C., with Neriglissar ruling, war had broken out between the Babylonians and the Medes. Darius, the king of the Medes, summoned his nephew Cyrus, the king of the Persians, to aid him in the war. At the time of Belshazzar, Babylon the city was the only city in the east not under subjection to the Medes and Persians. So Cyrus laid siege to the city of Babylon. But prior to this, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah 51:44-46, a rumour came that Cyrus was coming to lay siege. He had to turn back due to the death of a sacred white horse, but came out again 1 year later 538 B.C.

With Belshazzar knowing all this, but being full of pride, still made a great feast as an act of defiance. For Babylon’s walls were to thick to break through and to high to climb, and with approximately 25 years supply of food, plus an abundance of food growing within the walls, and with the Euphrates running through the centre they had an indefinite supply of food.

A thousand of his lords plus wives and concubines were present at the feast.

Drank wine before the thousand - The word before can also be translated as against. It would not be unusual for Belshazzar to have been in a drinking contest.

While he tasted the wine - With his reason impeded by the intoxicated state he was in from the fermented wine, he commanded to have the golden and silver vessels, that had been taken from the temple of God at Jerusalem, brought to him so they could drink out of them.

His father Nebuchadnezzar - These were the same vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken when he took over Jerusalem.

As seen already, Nebuchadnezzar was Belshazzar’s grandfather. It was customary to call any parental figure by father.

Drank in them - The wives, concubines, king, and princes all drank out of sacred vessels from the house of God.

Praised the gods - They continued in their debased state by praising the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone. In reality, what they were doing was mixing their pagan religion with the true worship of God. We will see the results in the next verse.

Daniel 5:5-6 “In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.”

In the same hour - Hour comes from the Chaldean word sha’ah, which means a moment. In the same moment that they began to use the vessels, which are for the true worship of God, to drink wine out of and praise their gods, the sentence was pronounced. We learn from this that true and false worship do not mix, but endanger a person of closing their probation.

Fingers of a man’s hand - Obviously the hand of God, as the writing was a judgment from God pronounced upon Babylon. This we will see in Vs 24-28.

Wrote - The finger of God wrote upon the plaster of the wall of the kings palace. Belshazzar saw the hand and the writing which was for all to see.

Countenance was changed...joints of his loins loosed... - This had an immediate reaction upon Belshazzar. It struck so much fear into him that it caused his knees to knock together, a vast change from the drunkenness and revelry of the feast.

Looking at the prophecy of Isaiah 21:2-5, we see the same event described by Isaiah. He likens Belshazzar’s experience to a woman that is in labour. The onset is sudden and unexpected, the night of his pleasure was turned into fear.

Daniel 5:7-9 “The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 8 Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonished.”

Bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers - Belshazzar cried aloud, or with might [margin], to bring in the wise men. Here was a man whose voice would have bellowed throughout the king’s palace, crying out to bring in the wise men so they could give him an answer as quickly as possible.

King spake - The king told the wise men that, whoever could read him the writing and give the interpretation thereof would be clothed in scarlet, [margin, purple] as purple was a symbol of royalty, and have a gold chain about his neck.

Third ruler in the kingdom - Above all of this they were to be promoted to third ruler in the kingdom. But why third and not second? Nabonadius, Belshazzar’s father, was still ruling at the time, though he was absent. This made Belshazzar the second in charge, thus the next person would naturally be below him in the third position.

But they could not read... – They could not even read the writing, thus they could not give the interpretation though such a great reward was on offer. The false system fails again.

Greatly troubled... - All the hopes and confidence that he had in his wise men vanished, which sunk him into a troubled state. His countenance also showing his despair and disappointment.