1.  Chapter seven begins the second division of the book of Daniel.  Chapters one through six were personal in nature recounting the tests of faith endured by Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  Chapters seven through twelve are prophetic concerned with dreams and visions pertaining to God’s people Israel and their future persecution and triumph through Messiah.

2.  As in Chapter two, four world empires are predicted which would subjugate Israel: Babylon, the lion with wings (head of gold of Dan. 2); Medo-Persia, the bear (arms and chest of silver of Dan. 2); Greece, the leopard (belly and thighs of bronze of Dan. 2); and Rome, the ten-horned beast (the legs and feet of iron and iron and clay mixed of Dan. 2).  “There has never been a world empire since.  Napoleon tried it; he failed.  The Kaiser tried it; he failed.  So did Hitler, but in vain” (Halley’s Bible Handbook).  In chapter two these kingdoms are seen as shiny metal, a human point of view, but in chapter seven, they are seen as ravenous, selfish, destructive, vicious beasts.

3.  These four kingdoms would be conquered by a fifth, the Millennial Kingdom of God after which His eternal kingdom would commence.

4.  After the vision of the beasts in 7:1-8, God grants Daniel a reprieve from the terror of the beast, as God gives him a vision of heaven and of God’s ultimate control over the events of earth.  Often we as Christians are too focused on the events of earth (political, economic, etc.).   We must look to heaven to get perspective.  We need to be reminded that there is a God in Heaven Who is sovereign, eternal, and in control of the events of men and nations.  Without God’s perspective we will inevitably fight the wrong battles personally, politically, and spiritually.

5.  Three questions for us from Daniel 7: are we focused on Heaven or on earth; are we more concerned with protecting our investments or investing in God’s program (Mt. 28:19,20); are we willing to endure in faith for God’s sake even when it seems we are losing (Habakkuk 3) knowing that He is faith to His promises (2 Tim. 1:12)?