WHEN BEASTS RULE BUT GOD REIGNS
July 19 | Jen Smale
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DANIEL 7:1-28
Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
The Ancient of Days Reigns
9 “As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
The Son of Man Is Given Dominion
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Daniel's Vision Interpreted
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24 As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Daniel 7 takes place during the reign of King Belshazzar, between the events of Daniel 4 and 5, while God’s people are still living in exile in Babylon. In this vision, Daniel sees four symbolic beasts rising from the sea, paralleling King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2. These beasts represent four successive empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome—each displaying the beastly nature of human empires that seek power, domination and control apart from God.
Because Daniel 7 is apocalyptic literature, its symbols should not be reduced to a single prediction or timeline. The imagery points to both historical realities and future fulfillment, revealing God’s perspective on earthly powers while encouraging His people to remain faithful during suffering. Rather than creating fear about the future, the vision offers hope by reminding believers that evil is temporary and God remains sovereign over history.
We are Living in the Shadow of Empire
One of the central themes of the chapter is that God’s people live “in the shadow of empire.” Throughout history, empires have sought to control people through military, political, economic and ideological influence. Babylon attempted to conform Daniel and his friends, just as many powers throughout history have sought to reshape people’s loyalties. Yet the message to the exiles still applies: seek the good of the place where God has sent you, but give your heart fully to Him. Followers of God are called to live faithfully within their culture without surrendering their allegiance to it.
The Ancient of Days is not Anxious
The vision then shifts dramatically from the chaos of the beasts to the peace of heaven’s courtroom. Daniel sees the Ancient of Days—God Himself—seated on His throne. While nations rage and empires rise and fall, God is neither anxious nor threatened. His white garments speak of His holiness, the fire surrounding His throne represents His righteous judgment and His calm posture reminds us that He is always in complete control.
Next, Daniel sees “one like a Son of Man” coming before the Ancient of Days. Jesus later identifies Himself with this title throughout the Gospels and explicitly quotes Daniel 7 before His crucifixion. The Son of Man is given everlasting dominion, glory and a kingdom that will never end. This vision points ultimately to Christ, whose reign surpasses every earthly kingdom and whose authority will never be overthrown.
The Son of Man Won and the Kingdom is Ours
Although Daniel is troubled by what he has seen, the angel explains that the empires of this world will come and go, but “the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom forever.” Even though oppressive powers will oppose God, wear down His people and attempt to redefine truth and morality, their rule is temporary. God will judge every empire, remove their authority and establish His everlasting Kingdom. The great hope of Daniel 7 is that the Son of Man has already won and, because His kingdom is eternal, God’s people can remain faithful with confidence, knowing their ultimate allegiance belongs to King Jesus.
Discussion Questions
The beasts represent empires that seek power, control and conformity. Where do you see those same pressures at work in our culture today? In what ways are followers of Jesus tempted to give their allegiance to the “empires” around us?
Daniel contrasts the raging nations with the Ancient of Days calmly seated on His throne. How does this picture of God shape the way we respond to uncertainty, fear or the headlines of our day?
Through Jesus, the Son of Man, we have received an everlasting Kingdom that can never be destroyed. What is one practical way you can live this week as a citizen of His Kingdom, rather than being shaped by the values of the world?