Daniel 7

I have to admit that I felt a little intimidated by chapter 7 because it talks about the future, and what we commonly call the end times. I have never made myself study these events thoroughly because it seems like there are so many opinions, and in the end, only God knows how it will happen, so why should we get so worked up about it? But after getting into chapter 7 more and looking through several study Bibles and with a little help from Beth Moore’s study on Daniel, I’ve realized that there is much to learn and apply to my daily life in this chapter.

First, here’s a quick recap: Daniel’s dream happens before the events in chapter 5 occur, and there are 4 beasts mentioned. All sources that I looked through agree on what each beast represents. The first beast which is the lion with eagle’s wings represents Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar reigned. The second beast, which is the bear, is the Medo-Persian Empire. The third beast, which is the leopard with 4 heads and 4 wings, represents Alexander the Great’s conquest of the known world. The fourth beast that is terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong represents the Roman Empire. If you notice, these all correspond with the statue interpretations in Daniel chapter 2. The little horn that comes up in chapter 7 represents the antichrist.

We could spend weeks looking into all the information and lessons to learn from Daniel 7. But the main one that I wanted to focus on this time is pulled from verse 25. It says that the antichrist (who is controlled by Satan) will speak words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High (believers), and we will be given into his hand. We have to keep in mind that Satan’s goal throughout all history has been to gain worship of himself instead of God and an easy tool for him to use is to try to wear us out. Which is pretty easy for him to do if we let our guard down and don’t put on God’s armor daily (see Eph 6:10-20). I have to admit that I get worn out by such little things – mainly because I’m not asking God to give me his strength. I’m trying to serve God with my own strength, which never works, and no one knows that better than Satan. Satan is banking on my failure to meet God’s standard, and he doesn’t have any qualms about hitting me when I’m already down.

So how can we be encouraged? Well, Eph 6:16 says, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” Notice the word all that appears twice in that statement. Second Peter 1:3 tells us, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence”. We have what we need to guard ourselves from Satan’s attacks – we just need to study God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit living in us to teach us and give us understanding. So don’t get discouraged by what you see in the world today. Remember, God wins in the end, and only God knows when that time is. So even Satan is left to guess, which is why he has to have “anitchrist’s” ready to raise up at each generation. I’ll end with 1 John 2:18, 20-21:

“18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour… 20But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.”

In a nutshell, get into God’s Word and don’t allow yourself to become an easy target for the enemy. Know the truth, and the best way to know it, is to memorize it. Don’t be scared of memorization – take it one verse at a time and break it down into sections if you need to. Sing it, act it out, whatever helps you.

--Kelli Biles, Office Manager