The book of Daniel is full of visions, just like all the other prophetic books. What makes Daniel unique is that his visions go from the Babylonian captivity to the eternal Kingdom of God under Christ. The theme of the first vision is repeated throughout. For those who deny that Christ will set up His literal, physical, visible, and tangible Kingdom on earth, a close study of Daniel is a necessity.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAMS INTERPRETED BY DANIEL (chapter 2)
The “great image” seen by Nebuchadnezzar represented the ancient world empires and ended with the Kingdom of God over the whole earth.
Head of fine gold = Babylonian empire
Breast and arms of silver = Medo-Persian empire
Belly and thighs of brass = Graeco-Macedonian empire
Legs of iron = Roman empire
Feet of iron and clay = Antichrist’s kingdom
Stone cut out without hands = Christ who destroys all the kingdoms of the world and sets up the literal, visible Kingdom of God on earth.
Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream (chapter 4) deals with the humbling and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar himself.
DANIEL’S VISION OF FOUR GREAT BEASTS (chapter 7)
A lion with eagles wings = Babylonian empire
A bear with three ribs in its mouth = Medo-Persian empire
A leopard with four wings and four heads = Graeco-Macedonian empire
A terrible beast with great iron teeth = Roman empire
The ten horns and another little horn = Antichrist’s kingdom
The kingdom given to the saints = Christ’s everlasting kingdom on earth
DANIEL’S VISION OF THE RAM AND THE HE-GOAT (chapter 8)
The ram = Medo-Persian empire
The he-goat = Graeco-Macedonian empire
Four horns from the he-goat = Four division of Alexander’s empire
The little horn = Antichrist’s kingdom
The destruction of the Antichrist by Christ
DANIEL’S VISION OF THE PRE-INCARNATE CHRIST (chapters 10 & 11)
Perhaps many Christians are not aware that Daniel had a vision of the pre-incarnate Christ which corresponds to John's vision in the book of Revelation, and ties the two books together.
1. The appearance of Christ as also seen in Revelation:
a. Clothed with linen (a garment down to the foot)
b. Loins girded with fine gold (golden girdle)
c. Body like the beryl
d. Face as lightning (countenance as the sun shineth in its strength)
e. Eyes as lamps of fire (eyes as a flame of fire)
f. Arms and feet like polished brass (feet like fine brass within a furnace)
g. Voice like the voice of a multitude (voice as the sound of many waters)
h. “An hand touched me” (“He laid his right hand upon me”)
i. Daniel told to stand upright and “fear not” (John told “fear not”)
2. Future conflicts prophesied:
a. Four kings of Persia to arise
b. Alexander to conquer Persia
c. Alexander’s empire to be split into four
d. Conflicts between the successors of Alexander
e. The rise of the Antichrist and his conflicts
NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAMS INTERPRETED BY DANIEL (chapter 2)
The “great image” seen by Nebuchadnezzar represented the ancient world empires and ended with the Kingdom of God over the whole earth.
Head of fine gold = Babylonian empire
Breast and arms of silver = Medo-Persian empire
Belly and thighs of brass = Graeco-Macedonian empire
Legs of iron = Roman empire
Feet of iron and clay = Antichrist’s kingdom
Stone cut out without hands = Christ who destroys all the kingdoms of the world and sets up the literal, visible Kingdom of God on earth.
Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream (chapter 4) deals with the humbling and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar himself.
DANIEL’S VISION OF FOUR GREAT BEASTS (chapter 7)
A lion with eagles wings = Babylonian empire
A bear with three ribs in its mouth = Medo-Persian empire
A leopard with four wings and four heads = Graeco-Macedonian empire
A terrible beast with great iron teeth = Roman empire
The ten horns and another little horn = Antichrist’s kingdom
The kingdom given to the saints = Christ’s everlasting kingdom on earth
DANIEL’S VISION OF THE RAM AND THE HE-GOAT (chapter 8)
The ram = Medo-Persian empire
The he-goat = Graeco-Macedonian empire
Four horns from the he-goat = Four division of Alexander’s empire
The little horn = Antichrist’s kingdom
The destruction of the Antichrist by Christ
DANIEL’S VISION OF THE PRE-INCARNATE CHRIST (chapters 10 & 11)
Perhaps many Christians are not aware that Daniel had a vision of the pre-incarnate Christ which corresponds to John's vision in the book of Revelation, and ties the two books together.
1. The appearance of Christ as also seen in Revelation:
a. Clothed with linen (a garment down to the foot)
b. Loins girded with fine gold (golden girdle)
c. Body like the beryl
d. Face as lightning (countenance as the sun shineth in its strength)
e. Eyes as lamps of fire (eyes as a flame of fire)
f. Arms and feet like polished brass (feet like fine brass within a furnace)
g. Voice like the voice of a multitude (voice as the sound of many waters)
h. “An hand touched me” (“He laid his right hand upon me”)
i. Daniel told to stand upright and “fear not” (John told “fear not”)
2. Future conflicts prophesied:
a. Four kings of Persia to arise
b. Alexander to conquer Persia
c. Alexander’s empire to be split into four
d. Conflicts between the successors of Alexander
e. The rise of the Antichrist and his conflicts