Daniel’s Vision

Unit 7, Lesson 8

 

I. Daniel 7 is known as apocalyptic literature

– Divides the whole universe into two camps: good and evil

– Focus on the future and presents a scenario of final events

– It is full of visions and symbols. It is told in extraordinary language.

– It pictures a time of difficulty and tribulation for God’s people, followed by a great triumph for God and his people

– It comforts and encourages God’s people with the vision of God’s ultimate triumph over evil.

Question: Read Daniel 7:7. How does this verse fit the criteria for apocalyptic

literature? – Divides the whole universe

into two camps: good and evil– Focus on the future and

presents a scenario of final events

– It is full of visions and symbols. It is told in extraordinary language.

– It pictures a time of difficulty and tribulation for God’s people, followed by a great triumph for God and his people

– It comforts and encourages God’s people with the vision of God’s ultimate triumph over evil.

Compare Daniel’s dream found in Daniel 7:4-7 with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel by filling in the blank spaces on this chart

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Daniel’s Dream

Meaning

Gold head Babylonian Empire

Silver chest and arms

Medo-Persian Empire

Bronze belly and thighs

Greek Empire

Iron legs and feet of clay

Roman Empire

Questions

• The fourth beast was one particularly vicious enemy of God’s people. How did Daniel describe this beast? Also see verse 21

Questions

– Daniel pictured God’s triumph in equally vivid images.• Who was the Ancient of Days, and what did he do?

• Read the last sentence in verse 10. What was the setting, and how did it describe the function of the ancient of days?

• Read Daniel 7:13-14 and Revelation 1:12-13, 17-18. Daniel and John were referring to the same person. Who was he, and why was he significant?

• Read Daniel 7:18 and Hebrews 12:28-29. What was the promise and how was it comforting to the exiles and to the early Christians?

Daniel’s apocalyptic vision in Daniel 7 also resembles John’s visions in Revelation. Match the verses in Revelation to those in Daniel that

speak about the same subject. Daniel

a. 7:9-10

b. 7:13-14

c. 7:25

Revelation

1. 13:5-6

2. 13:7

3. 1:13-16

Response

• This lesson makes me think that…