Daniel has a vision of God on his throne, described as the Ancient of Days. Thousands of angels worship him. Daniel then sees four beasts representing kingdoms, and a little horn speaking boastful words. The beasts are judged and destroyed. Finally, Daniel sees one like the Son of Man brought before God and given eternal authority and sovereignty over all nations.

1. Call to Worship (Isaiah 55)
Seek the Lord while God is to be found. Call
upon God while God is near!
Repent of unrighteous ways. It is never too
late to turn to God!
Get rid of evil thoughts. Let us turn to God,
that God may have mercy on us!
For God will pardon our sins and cleanse us
of our transgressions.
We will praise God for the new life we have
found!

2. Lesson Text: Daniel 7:9-14
A Glorious Reign Ahead

3. Question
How does God want us to react when
we see trouble and injustice in our
communities?

4. Imagine being around 16 or 18 years
of age and suddenly being carried
away from your home to a foreign
country against your will.
That is what happened to a young
Hebrew boy named Daniel when he was
taken captive to the land of Babylon.

5. Daniel’s life and ministry covered the
entire seventy-year captivity of the
Jews in Babylon.
Daniel, along with other captives,
received an assignment from King
Nebuchadnezzar to conform to the
ways of Babylon (Daniel 1:1-7).

6. It is a fact of history that men
and kingdoms rise and fall.
It is only when we read, study, and
apply the truth of God’s Word that we
are able to keep everything in
perspective. Daniel helps us do that.

7. Chronologically, Daniel 7 takes us
back in time to a dream Daniel had
14 years prior to the events of
Daniel 5 and the “handwriting on
the wall.”
Daniel would have been around 68
years of age .

8. Textually, Daniel 7 divides into
two parts
First, Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7:1-14).
Second, Daniels interpretation of his
vision (Daniel 7:15-28).

9. We see the revelation of the four
beasts (Daniel 7:2-8); the judgment
of the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9-
12); the triumphant coming of the
Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14); and the
explanation of it all (Daniel 7:15-27).

10. When the “sea” (Daniel 7:3) is used
symbolically in the Bible, it usually
represents the world of nations
(Revelation 17:1, 15).
The “four beasts” represented four
great Gentile kingdoms, Babylon (lion
with eagle’s wings); Medo-Persia (bear);
Greece (leopard); and the Roman
Empire (a fourth beast).

11. Alexander the Great, Greece,
conquered the known world faster
than any other ancient power.
Thus, the comparison to the
“leopard” (Daniel 7:6).

12. “The interpretation of the ten horns
and the little horn was given to
Daniel later (Daniel 7:23–24).
Thus, the ten horns represented ten
kings and their kingdoms, and the little
horn represented an eleventh king and
his kingdom.

13. When the interpretation of Daniel’s
dream is examined later, it will be
seen that the little horn (eleventh
king) represented the Antichrist, the
ultimate man of the future who will
be the greatest expression of man
trying to rule the world apart from
God.

14. Daniel 7:9-10 (NIV)
9 "As I looked, "thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His
clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his
head was white like wool. His throne was
flaming with fire, and its wheels were all
ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out
from before him. Thousands upon thousands
attended him; ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before him. The court was
seated, and the books were opened.

15. Daniel’s vision changes from
elements and animals to a Person.
His vision also shifts from earth to
heaven.

16. This is the only chapter in the Bible
where the “Ancient of days” is
mentioned (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22).
It is also the only verse that pictures
God in human form. God is not
human; He is a Spirit (John 4:24).

17. But in his dream Daniel is visualizing
God as literally “the elderly One,”
or, “the One who has been around
forever.”
In comparison to all the kingdoms
symbolized in the elements and
animals God is eternal (Psalm 90:2).

18. As Daniel looks at the “Ancient of
days” he sees that God is “seated.”
Court is about to convene, the judge
is seated, and the record is about to
be read.

19. Daniel also speaks of God’s
“garment” being “white as snow.”
Whiteness represents purity and
truth (Isaiah 1:18; Revelation 3:5).
God is robed in purity and truth.

20. The “hair of his head” is “like
pure wool.”
The white hair symbolizes the age
and maturity of the Judge.

21. Daniel sees “fire” in and around
the “throne” of God.
“Fire” symbolizes purifying judgment
and authority. He also sees “a fiery
stream” and “wheels as burning fire”
suggests judgment is about to flow or
roll out from the throne of God.

22. The phrase “ten thousand times ten
thousand” means there were a vast
and great number of angels actively
“ministering” to God around the
throne.
This action denotes God’s deity, His
sovereignty, and His Godhead, for He
alone is worthy to be worshipped.

23. The “judgment was set, and the
books were opened” means “court is
about to begin.”
Author Leon Wood writes, “Business
is about to take place.”

24. Daniel 7:11 (NIV)
11 "Then I continued to watch
because of the boastful words the
horn was speaking. I kept looking
until the beast was slain and its body
destroyed and thrown into the
blazing fire.

25. As Daniel kept looking he was
impressed to keep looking because
of the power of “the voice” and “the
great words the horn spoke.”
The “horn” in this verse is from the
“fourth beast,” most likely refers to the
restored form of the Roman Empire
(v.7) with strong possibilities of the
Antichrist being her last king.

26. However, in light of the uncertainty
as to exactly which king and kingdom
the “horn” represents, it is more
beneficial to look at “the great words
which the horn spoke” in regard to
his boastful speaking and what God
would do in judgment against it.

27. Daniel kept looking “till the beast
was slain, and his body destroyed,
and given to the burning flame.”
The implication is that when “the
books were opened” (v.10) that there
was sufficient evidence for judgment
to be meted out upon the kings and
nations.

28. All four of the “beasts” Daniel saw
had defied the living God and
suppressed God’s people.
Most world leaders today including
those in America are guilty of the same
arrogant rebellion and likewise marked
for judgment from the hand of God.

29. The words “slain, destroyed, and
given to” suggests intentional
punishment given to kings and
nations as directed by “the Ancient
of days.”
The Hebrew writer said, “It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living
God” (Hebrews 10:31).
He also said, “For our God is a
consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).

30. Psalm 2:4 (NIV)
4 The One enthroned in heaven
laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

31. Daniel 7:12 (NIV)
12 (The other beasts had been
stripped of their authority, but were
allowed to live for a period of time.)

32. Men and kingdoms have their
moment in the sun but it quickly
fades into destruction.
When the fire and smoke of God’s
judgment cleared all the “beasts” are
gone.

33. Each “beast” had a “season” and a
“time” that was “prolonged” or
lengthened in history.
God allows some kings and kingdoms
to exist longer than others and some
suffer less judgment than others.

34. All human
kingdoms, kings, presidents, governo
rs, prime ministers, and whatever
titles men may claim, whether good
or evil, will be replaced by God’s
kingdom.

35. Daniel 7:13 (NIV)
13 "In my vision at night I looked, and
there before me was one like a son
of man, coming with the clouds of
heaven. He approached the Ancient
of Days and was led into his
presence.

36. Up until this point most of what
Daniel had beheld was bad news for
kings and kingdoms.
Now he is seeing some good scenes
that proclaim good news.

37. “I saw in the night visions” means as
Daniel continued to watch his dream
unfold a new Person appeared.
This new Person was “like the Son of
man.”

38. Bible students know that one of the
names of Jesus Christ is “Son of
man.”
Christ is designated by that title in all
four gospels, Acts, Hebrews and
Revelation. “In Daniel 8:17, the phrase
‘son of man’ is used to contrast a
human with an angel.

39. In Daniel’s dream the “Son of man”
approached “the Ancient of days,”
God the Father, and was presented
“before him.”
The language of the verse leads to the
conclusion that the “Son of man” and
the “Ancient of days” were God the
Father and God the Son.

40. The fact that the “Son of man came
with the clouds of heaven” is a
reference to Jesus Christ because
“the clouds of heaven” is
terminology associated with Jesus
Christ in Scripture
(Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26;
Revelation 1:7).

41. Daniel 7:14 (NIV)
14 He was given authority, glory and
sovereign power; all peoples,
nations and men of every language
worshiped him. His dominion is an
everlasting dominion that will not
pass away, and his kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed.

42. As Jesus Christ the “Son of man”
stands before the “Ancient of days”
He will be given rule of the earth.

43. Psalm 2:7-8 (NIV)
7 I will proclaim the decree of the
LORD: He said to me, "You are my
Son; today I have become your
Father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the
nations your inheritance, the ends
of the earth your possession.

44. Revelation 11:15 (NIV)
15 The seventh angel sounded his
trumpet, and there were loud voices
in heaven, which said: "The kingdom
of the world has become the
kingdom of our Lord and of his
Christ, and he will reign for ever and
ever."

45. The rule bestowed upon the “Son of
man” by the “Ancient of days” is
identified under three aspects, all
referring to this kingdom.
First, “there was given him
dominion…” “Dominion” refers to
ruling authority.
Second, “glory” speaks of the honor
that accompanies that authority.

46. Third, “kingdom” designates the
organized form of Christ’s rule.
“Which shall not pass away, and his
kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed” means by these three
statements Christ is guaranteed
absolute rule, power, and authority.

47. The result of Christ’s rule over all
kingdoms and nations is “that all
people, nations, and
languages, should serve him…”
“People, nations, and languages” are
three terms used to describe all people
from wherever in the world they are or
from whatever dominion might be in
mind.

48. The words “serve him” actually
come from the Hebrew word
meaning “worship” or “revere.”
The thought is that everyone under
Christ’s rule and kingdom will fear
and stand in awe of the Lord.

49. Christ’s kingdom “shall not pass
away” and His kingdom “shall not be
destroyed.”
The thought magnifies the contrast
between the fleeting temporary
kingdoms of this world.

50. The main thought to take away from
this verse is not length of time of
Christ’s kingdom, but rather the
strength and durability of His
kingdom.
Our world and the kingdoms of our
world are so sinful and limited in
strength and time. But the kingdom of
Christ is without limitation. He is the
absolute King of the whole world.

51. Although God is in control of kings
and kingdoms each of us have a
responsibility to tell the lost world
about His saving grace.
The only way for sinful man to be ready
for the coming kingdom is to be born
again by God’s marvelous grace (John
3:3).

52. Summary Statements:

53. Evil will not last forever. Daniel’s
vision is one of a new justice for all
humankind.

54. Those in authority have a
responsibility to use power for good.
Justice and mercy need to be
accomplished.

55. Just societies should yield just
governments. Christians have a
responsibility to participate in
society.

56. When we see injustice, Christians
have a responsibility to stand against
those forces and work for change.

57. BLESSINGS

58. May God look on you and have
concern for you.
(Exod.2:25, NIV)

59. May the Lord pay close attention to
you
(Exod. 3:16, CJB)

60. May the Lord come to you and bless
you wherever He causes His name to
be honored
(Exod. 20:24, NIV)