The Babylonian army captured Daniel during his teen years in 605 BCE. He arrived in Babylon during Nabopolassar's reign and remained in service through the reign of five succeeding kings. Daniel was thrown into a lions den to be eaten. Daniel in the lions den became the ultimate story of faith. He was the only prophet described as beloved by God. Daniel became a member of the King's household, was castrated and lived there until his death at 90 years of age. Jesus spoke of Daniel's prophecies of the end times. In this prophecy Daniel describes four beasts that he has seen in his visions and the four beasts are revealed to be Kings and Kingdoms. Previously the King Nebuchanezzer had a similar dream. These dreams told of a time to come in the end times. The Chronological events of the Revelations relates directly with these prophecies in the Book of Revelations. Daniel had dreams and visions During the first year of the reign of Belshazzar the king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and told what he dreamed of telling of four winds that were upon the sea and four beasts who came out of the sea and each beast was different.
Daniel 7:1 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.
Daniel 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
The Lion-the first beast The first beast that Daniel seen in his dream appeared to him as a lion with eagle's wings. Daniel watched until the wings of the first beast were removed. The beast was removed from earth and stood on it's feet like a man and was given a heart.
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 Bear-the second beast Daniel describes the second beast as a bear that was raised up on one side and had three ribs between it's teeth in it's mouth. The angels told the beast to rise and eat much flesh.
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.
The Leopard-the third beast Daniel describes the third beast as a leopard with four heads and four wings on it's back. This strange looking leopard was given dominion. Dominion means that the beast was given control or authority.
Daniel 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
The Different Beast with Iron Teeth-the fourth beast Daniel describes a fourth beast that is different from the other beasts. It has iron teeth and it is so strong that it can crush things in it's path to dust. It has ten large horns and a small horn that has the eyes of a man and speaks.
Daniel 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Daniel 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
The Opening of the Books Daniel also described someone with hair like wool and a white garment sat on a throne that looked like fire and had wheels that looked like a burning fire. A stream of fire came out in front of him and ten thousands times ten thousand stood before him and ministered to him the judgement was set and the books were opened.
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Daniel 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
The Beast is killed and destroyed in fire Great words were spoke from the horn and Daniel watched as the beast was killed and destroyed in a burning flame. All authority, power and dominion was taken away from the other beasts but they were allowed to live for a period of time.
Daniel 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
Daniel 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Jesus-The Son of Man Returns to rule the world The Son of man came and was given all authority, power and dominion that will last for eternity and cannot be destroyed. All people, nations and languages will serve Him forever. This kingdom will never pass away and cannot be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Daniel 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Interpretation of Daniel's visions Daniel was troubled by the visions so much so that his spirit suffered because of it. He went to someone that was near and asked for the truth and he told him the interpretation of these.
Daniel 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel 7:16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
The four beasts are four kings that will rise up but the Lord's saints will take the kingdom and possess it for ever.
Daniel 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
The fourth beast is different from the others. It will take away the authority and dominion will be taken from them and given to the fourth Kingdom which will be different from the other kingdoms and it will destroy the earth and break it into pieces. The ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings and another that will come after them that will be different than the first three kings. This king will speak against God, wear out the saints and try to change times, laws and dividing of time.
Daniel 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
Daniel 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Daniel 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Daniel 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Daniel 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Daniel 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The judgement will take away the authority pr dominion of the other three kingdoms forever and the kingdom will be given to the saints of the Lord and everyone will serve and obey him.
Daniel 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Daniel 7:28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me but I kept the matter in my heart.