Talk

The Four Beasts and the Son of Man

Ben Stuart
November 3, 2024

Daniel 7 marks a pivotal shift in the book of Daniel, moving from historical accounts to powerful prophecy. Join Pastor Ben Stuart as he unpacks Daniel’s vision, revealing glimpses of the future shaping history and foretelling events still unfolding.

Key Takeaway

Just like Daniel, we are living in political instability, but we can have calm in the chaos and hope for Jesus' coming Kingdom.

Daniel 7 is the heart of the entire book and is considered to be one of the most important chapters in all of Scripture. In it, we read about prophecies and visions given by God to Daniel to reveal the future.

The genre shifts into apocalyptic literature. It’s scary and bizarre, but it’s meant to give perspective and hope. Prophecy gives perspective about the present. We need to take this chapter seriously because it’s what all apocalyptic literature is based on.

The vision starts with a chaotic scene on the sea with four disturbing beasts rising out of it.

The first beast is like a standing lion with eagle wings and a mind of a man.

The second beast was like a bear with three ribs in its mouth.

The third beast was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back and four heads.

The fourth beast isn’t likened to any sort of animal. He’s different and dreadful. He has a little horn with the eyes of a man, which may symbolize intelligence and an arrogant mouth.

Daniel sees that humanity is not getting better; it’s becoming more violent as the nations continue. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, the scene shifts and Daniel sees a throne, and the Ancient of Days takes His seat. It moves from chaos to calm. The Ancient of Days is old; He doesn’t rise and fall like other kings. He sits in authority. He’s pure, wise, and holy. He will decree judgment and has the power to back it up. Judgment flows from His Throne, and there is no escape. We get a ruler of sanity, justice, and majesty.

The vision continues with the little horn still talking. Without violence, the beast is killed. Next, Daniel sees the Son of Man come down from the sky, riding on the clouds. He has power, glory, and a kingdom. His rule is universal, and his dominion is everlasting.

While in the dream, Daniels asks what all of this means. An angel says that the four beasts are four kings, but the saints of the Most High will also get an eternal Kingdom with Him. God wants Daniel to know that kingdoms will rise and fall and will have injustice all through them, but one day, He will establish His Kingdom, and it will rule forever.

Daniel wanted to know about the fourth beast. He finds out that there will be peace, but first, there will be persecution. This beast will try to stamp out all religions like a dictator. He will get to rule but for a limited time.

Who is this little horn?

Paul calls him the man of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. His arrival will precede the coming of the Lord. He’ll claim to be God. Revelation 13 calls him the Beast. 1 John 2:18 calls him the antichrist. Many antichrists have come and gone, so don’t draw too hard of a line. When this man comes, the end is near.

Who is the Son of Man?

Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man. When they are out to kill Jesus, they ask Him to implicate Himself because they have no reason. Mark 14:62 records that Jesus says He is the Christ and quotes Daniel 7:13-14. Jesus tells of His second coming.

What does this have to do with us?

We will suffer, but the Son of Man suffered first. He is the only one worthy of opening the scrolls in Revelation. The other thrones around His Throne are for us. We get to rule with Him only because of His sacrifice.

The chapter ends with a reminder for Daniel—in the midst of political instability, God is Sovereign over the nations even when he doesn’t feel it. So, he can have calm and peace. There will be pain, but serve and do good in your earthly kingdom. Set your hope in Heaven because Jesus will come in power, and we will be safe with Him forever.

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"God wants Daniel to know that kingdoms will rise and fall, and will have injustice all through them, but one day He will establish His Kingdom, and it will rule forever."
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Ben Stuart

Discussion Questions

  1. What type of literary shift is found in Daniel 7? What had been happening in the first half of the book? How does the rest of the book finish out?
  2. Why do we need to take this particular chapter so seriously?
  3. What is the purpose of prophecy? Is it meant to scare us?
  4. Daniel's vision starts out in chaos. Where is he in the vision, and what rises out of it?
  5. What does each of the first three beasts represent?
  6. What is so different about the fourth beast? Ultimately, what happens to it?
  7. In Daniel 7:9. the entire scene shifts. What is Daniel now seeing?
  8. Who is Daniel describing in verses 13-14?
  9. Read Daniel 7:21. What are the names given to this little horn in 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13, and 1 John 2:18? What does his presence indicate is coming?
  10. What is the perspective God wants to point out in this passage? How should we act in our everyday life because of it?

Scripture References

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

2Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

4“The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

5“And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’

6“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

7“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

8“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

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.

10A 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.

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

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. 14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples 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.

The Interpretation of the Dream

15“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

19“Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

23“He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

26“ ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

28“This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.