GateWay Church of Visalia
Daniel: Shining in Babylon
Warring Kingdoms Daniel 7 & 8
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
2 Visions – It’s a small world.
Daniel 7 1-8 NASB
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it. 2 Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it. 2 Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
Lion – Babylon
Bear – Medo-Persians
Leopard – Greece
4th Beast – Rome
Little Horn – the Antichrist – Against and in place of God
Bear – Medo-Persians
Leopard – Greece
4th Beast – Rome
Little Horn – the Antichrist – Against and in place of God
Daniel 8:3-12, 23-35
3 Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, with the longer one coming up last. 4 I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power, but he did as he pleased and magnified himself.
5 While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. 9 Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.
3 Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, with the longer one coming up last. 4 I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power, but he did as he pleased and magnified himself.
5 While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. 9 Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.
. 23 “In the latter period of their rule, when the transgressors have run their course, A king will arise, insolent and skilled in intrigue. 24 “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, and he will destroy to an extraordinary degree and prosper and perform his will; He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. 25 “And through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, And he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human agency.
Ram – Medo-Persians
Shaggy Goat – Greece
4 Horns – 4 Commanders of Greece
Little Horn – Antiochus Epiphanes / the Antichrist
(1 Thess. 2:3-9, 1 John 2:18, Matt. 24)
Shaggy Goat – Greece
4 Horns – 4 Commanders of Greece
Little Horn – Antiochus Epiphanes / the Antichrist
(1 Thess. 2:3-9, 1 John 2:18, Matt. 24)
Daniel 7:9-14 NASB
9 “I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. 10 “A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, and the books were opened. 11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. 13 “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
9 “I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. 10 “A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, and the books were opened. 11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. 13 “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
Prophecies teach us how to look at the future if we are going to shine in the present.
1. The prophecies about the Antichrist are ‘already/not yet’ fulfilled.
2. In every age, the spirit of the Antichrist is at work.
3. The Ancient of Days (God the Father) still reigns.
4. The Son of Man (Jesus) is going to return.
1. The prophecies about the Antichrist are ‘already/not yet’ fulfilled.
2. In every age, the spirit of the Antichrist is at work.
3. The Ancient of Days (God the Father) still reigns.
4. The Son of Man (Jesus) is going to return.
Open Future – Stressed/Depressed
Closed Future – Fearless/Faithful
Closed Future – Fearless/Faithful
Daniel 2:20-22
20 Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. 21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. 22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.”
20 Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. 21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. 22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.”
Daniel: Shining in Babylon
Daniel 7 & 8
Warring Kingdoms.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What would you tell your 15-year-old self?
Read aloud: Read Daniel 6
1. Daniel 6:3 “Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. An extraordinary spirit is translated as a great degree of reasoning/wisdom. Who is the wisest person you have ever personally known? Read Prov. 16:31, Prov 20:29. What role does age play when it comes to wisdom? Have we lost respect for our elders? Who can you glean wisdom from this week?
2. Daniel 6:4 “Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.” Do you think Daniel was kept from corruption by God, or did he make a choice? Read Daniel 1:8. Would Daniel be able to be used by God if he had a history of corruption? A commitment to Godly character is the path to Godly influence. Do you have any character opportunities you are currently facing?
3. Daniel 6:10-11 “Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.” How do you respond to crisis or persecution? Panic, Pride, Preemptive Strike (revenge), or Prayer? What are the consequences of responding in panic, pride, or revenge? What is the consequence of responding in prayer? Does this apply to you right now? Do you have a habit of prayer in your life?
4. Daniel 6:26-28 26 I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. 27 “He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” Compare this with King Nebuchadnezzar’s response in Daniel 2:47. What words stand out in Darius’ response to God saving Daniel?
Daniel 7 & 8
Warring Kingdoms.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What would you tell your 15-year-old self?
Read aloud: Read Daniel 6
1. Daniel 6:3 “Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. An extraordinary spirit is translated as a great degree of reasoning/wisdom. Who is the wisest person you have ever personally known? Read Prov. 16:31, Prov 20:29. What role does age play when it comes to wisdom? Have we lost respect for our elders? Who can you glean wisdom from this week?
2. Daniel 6:4 “Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.” Do you think Daniel was kept from corruption by God, or did he make a choice? Read Daniel 1:8. Would Daniel be able to be used by God if he had a history of corruption? A commitment to Godly character is the path to Godly influence. Do you have any character opportunities you are currently facing?
3. Daniel 6:10-11 “Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.” How do you respond to crisis or persecution? Panic, Pride, Preemptive Strike (revenge), or Prayer? What are the consequences of responding in panic, pride, or revenge? What is the consequence of responding in prayer? Does this apply to you right now? Do you have a habit of prayer in your life?
4. Daniel 6:26-28 26 I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. 27 “He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” Compare this with King Nebuchadnezzar’s response in Daniel 2:47. What words stand out in Darius’ response to God saving Daniel?