In this Bible Study I’ll be using different translations. Sometimes this helps me to gain a deeper understanding. I’ll list the translations at the beginning or end of the text. Daniel is one of the most attacked books of the Bible. Some scholars have stated that it wasn’t actually written by Daniel, but by an imposter, however this is proven to be a lie because Jesus himself references the book of Daniel in his own teachings. Matthew 21:42-44, Mark 14:60-64

Daniel Chapter 7

From the New King James Version

7 ¹ In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.

Belshazzar was a one of two rulers who co-ruled over Babylon. He died in 539 bc when the city was taken by the Persians.

• Daniel 7:1- Berean Bible ¹In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.

² Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.

The 4 winds of heaven is referring to winds from the North, South, East and West.

• Daniel 7:2- Berean Bible Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.

I’m putting this here before the next part in case someone reads this… these are my thoughts and ideas about these verses based on what I’ve learned, teachers who I’ve listened to and impressions I’m getting as I read this as I compare what this teaches with what I’ve learned so far in the word of God. My conclusions could be completely incorrect… or completely correct. I try to not put out my thoughts if I can’t absolutely back them with scripture….but it’s vital that we all search the scriptures for ourselves and compare verse with verse. We need to resist the urge to form feeling based opinions. The Holy Spirit does guide us, but not through our feelings or impressions …. but through the Word of God.
Having said that, I know there are lots of teachers who jump to conclusions about whom each animal represents… based on “reasons”. We need to shut down these things and wait on the Lord…. if the information is vital to our salvation and walk with him, he would tell us clearly…and since he doesn’t, it tells me speculating is trying to force something out that God isn’t ready to show us and that opens us up to error. It’s harder to overcome false teachings than it is ignorance. Let the word say what it says… and if it doesn’t say, read it, consider it and just move on.

³ And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

Idioms are used in the Bible to help us understand the meanings of things. Joel Richardson gave a reference of pictures of John the Baptist holding his own head in his hands… We know it’s John the Baptist because we know how he died… so the photo of a headless man who is holding his head in his hands is an idiom used to refer to John the Baptist… and just by looking at that one image it tells his story. The Bible uses Idioms and hyperbole at times to give us a clearer idea. We were looking at the 4 winds in verse 2, which is how the bible conveys directions coupled with something coming from those directions. The 4 winds from heaven are blowing on the sea, causing it to stir up and become tumultuous. Sea often represents people, nations, tongues (Ref Revelation 17:15).
4 different beasts come up from the sea…. so 4 beasts come up from the people/nations.
Another note is that these winds come from heaven and reminds us that God is in control of everything.

• Daniel 7:3- Berean Bible 3 Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:

The book of Daniel has been sealed until the end times….
Daniel 12:4
_KJV ⁴ But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Until the Lord Jesus unseals this book, we won’t know and every one who presumes to know is guessing. Still we compare scripture with scripture so, comparing Daniel 7’s vision with Daniel 2’s vision we know these 4 beast are kings and kingdoms… from history and the future.

The 4 beast align with the Statue from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The Head/Lion/Babylon, the Chest and Arms/Bear/Medo-Persia, the Belly and Thighs/Leopard/Alexandria Greek, the Legs/Beast with Iron teeth, the Feet/revised empire of the Beast with Iron teeth and the little horn(The AntiChrist) coming up, plucking out 3 of the previous horns.

⁴ The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

• Daniel 7:4- Berean Bible ⁴ The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.

A man’s heart= a man’s mind

⁵ “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

• Daniel 7:5- Berean Bible ⁵Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’

The three ribs are three kingdoms he conquered: Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt.

⁶ “After this I looked, and there was another, 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.

• Daniel 7:6- Berean Bible ⁶Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

⁷ “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

• Daniel 7:7- Berean Bible ⁷ After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.

Note: Horns often represent the strength of an animal. These horns are symbolic of nations… here it has 10 horns/nations that will make up a unified empire of.

⁸ I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

• Daniel 7:8- Berean Bible ⁸While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.

Note: Within this 10 nation unified empire symbolized by horns, a small horn comes up and grows , pushing out 3 of the horns by the roots. This horn had eyes like a man and spoke arrogantly and boastfully. This is the Anti-Christ.

⁹ “I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;

• Daniel 7:9- Berean Bible ⁹As I continued to watch,thrones were set in place,and the Ancient of Days took His seat.His clothing was white as snow,and the hair of His head was like pure wool.His throne was flaming with fire,and its wheels were all ablaze.

The Ancient of Days is God. The great judge of all mankind is taking his throne.

¹⁰ A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.

• Daniel 7:10- Berean Bible ¹⁰A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence.Thousands upon thousands attended Him,and myriads upon myriads stood before Him.The court was convened,and the books were opened.

This is a Holy court of judgment…. the books are open and it’s time to stand before the Judge… who just so happens to be God…. the righteous judge.

¹¹ “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

• Daniel 7:11- Berean Bible ¹¹Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

The antichrist keeps talking against God and Jesus right up until he is destroyed and thrown into the fire.

¹² As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

• Daniel 7:12- Berean Bible ¹²As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time.

The beast were removed from the leadership of their kingdoms. Jesus becomes their King. These kingdom will be around during the 1000 year millennial reign of Jesus.

¹³ “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

• Daniel 7:13- Berean Bible ¹³In my vision in the night I continued to watch,and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.

Jesus is the cloud rider. Exodus 13:17-14:29 When Israel left Egypt they followed the pillar of cloud which was Jesus. Acts 1:9-11 When Jesus was taken up, he was taken up into the clouds. Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 24:30, When Jesus comes back he’s coming in the clouds.
I’m going to include these verses from the Berean Bible at the end of this chapter.

¹⁴ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

• Daniel 7:14- Berean Bible ¹⁴And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Revelation 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

¹⁵ “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

• Daniel 7:15- Berean Bible ¹⁵ I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me.

¹⁶ I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:

• Daniel 7:16- Berean Bible ¹⁶ I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things:

When the Bible gives us symbols, the bible almost always gives us the meanings of those symbols if we just keep reading. We need to approach reading like a child. Instead of trying to work out everything from our own limited understanding, we need to wait on the Lord. We need to be aware of a mindset that there is some sort of complex puzzle that needs to be solved so we can be saved…. or that God has hidden things that only a select few will find it if they’re smart enough to figure it out. God doesn’t work that way, he wants us all to know the truth so he made it simple for us. In truth the notion that the word of God is some complex puzzle we must solve to find the hidden message or to find something that no one else has found will cause a person to stumble and miss the truth completely. I give my scriptural support of this position at the end of this paragraph. God has hidden the deep things in plain sight, it’s so simple and easy to understand yet for this reason, the wise of the world reject it because of how simple the Gospel message is and go looking for something deeper or more profound. Click here to read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 

¹⁷ ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.

• Daniel 7:17- Berean Bible ¹⁷‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.

¹⁸ But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’

• Daniel 7:18- Berean Bible ¹⁸ But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’

¹⁹ “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;

• Daniel 7:19- Berean Bible ¹⁹ Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left.

²⁰ and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.

• Daniel 7:20- Berean Bible ²⁰ I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.

²¹ “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,

• Daniel 7:21- Berean Bible ²¹ As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them,

Revelation 13:7 ⁷ And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

²² until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

• Daniel 7:22- Berean Bible ²² until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.

²³ “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.

• Daniel 7:23- Berean Bible ²³ This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.

²⁴ The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.

• Daniel 7:24- Berean Bible ²⁴ And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.

²⁵ He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

• Daniel 7:25- Berean Bible ²⁵ He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

Refer to Revelation 13:7 posted after verse 21 above.

²⁶ ‘But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever.

• Daniel 7:26- Berean Bible ²⁶ But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

²⁷ Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

• Daniel 7:27- Berean Bible ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

²⁸ “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

• Daniel 7:28- Berean Bible ²⁸ Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”

Exodus 13:17-14:29
7 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear a solemn oath when he said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones with you from this place.” 20 They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people. Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites 14 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal-zephon. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians
will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelites did. 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.” 6 So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him.7 He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon. 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Parting the Red Sea 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. 16 And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the
LORD when I am honored through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” 19 And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night.c So all night long neither camp went near the other. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the
sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into
dry land. So the waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry
ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians chased after them—all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen— and followed them into the sea. 24 At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to
wobble,d so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!” 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out
your hand over the sea, so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea
returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into
the sea. 28 The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire
army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

Acts 1:9-11
9 After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Revelation 1:7
7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

Matthew 24:30
30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will
appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the
earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven, with power
and great glory.