Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 5

 Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. Dan. 7:5

to a bear... This is a fitting symbol of Medo-Persia because of their cruelty, thirst after blood, robberies, and love of spoil (Isa. 13:16-18; Jer. 51:48-56). A large species of bear is found in the mountains of Media.

on one side... This symbolizes the strength of the Persians compared to the Medes. It is the same thought as the higher horn of the ram in Dan. 8:3—Cyrus the Persian who was greater than Darius the Mede (Dan. 5:31) and who came up last (2Ch. 36:20-23; Ezr. 1:1-8; 3:7; 4:5; Isa. 44:28; 45:1). This kingdom is mentioned in Dan. 5:24-31; in Dan. 6:1-28; in Dan. 7:5, 7:17; in Dan. 8:1-4, 8:20; in Dan. 10:1-20; in Dan. 11:1-2; Isa. 13:17-22; 21:2; 2Ki. 17:6; 18:11; Est. 1:1-9:3.

three ribs in... This symbolizes the conquest of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt by the Medes and Persians. The bear devoured "much flesh."

In the image, this would be the Media Persian Empire with the greater side being Persia. Persia then is Iran now, is the very same place. The bear symbolizes Russia. The ribs are referring to vanquished nations.

We read in Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 38:5 “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:”

We know that there is to be a great battle, when these 4 forces (Russia, Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya), shall come against Israel. There will be the destruction of much flesh. Could Iran, Ethiopia, and Libya be the three spoken of above?

The second beast was like a bear, an animal of formidable strength (1Sam. 17:34; Amos 5:19; Hos. 13:8). This represents Medo-Persia, the empire that followed Babylon. The Medo-Persian army was strong and fierce (Isa. 13:15-18). Unlike the grace of the man-like lion, the bear was ponderous and ungainly. It was evidently reclining with one side higher than the other. This suggests that though Persia rose later than Media, Persia soon overshadowed the Medes in their united kingdom. The three ribs in the bear’s mouth may represent the kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, which had preceded the empire represented by the bear. Or they may represent Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, three nations conquered by the Medes and Persians. The bear was told to devour flesh. This command suggests that kingdoms operate by divine appointment, not their own authority. In devouring other kingdoms and extending its territory into a vast empire, the bear was fulfilling God’s purpose.

Romans Chapter 4 Vs. 8

 

Abraham Justified by Faith

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Rom 4:8

Blessed is the... We are blessed, because we do not have to pay, Jesus paid for our sins in full on the cross.

Of course, the reason for all this is when we stand before Jesus, He will recognize His own. He has paid the price in full for all of our sin. Our sin died on the cross. We are forgiven.

Such a person’s sins are forgiven and covered. And instead of his sin credited (logisētai) to his account, God credits (logizetai; cf. Rom. 4:3) righteousness to him.

Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 4

 Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. Dan. 7:4

The first was... Thirty-five-fold Vision—Four Great Beasts

1. The four winds strove upon the great sea, the Mediterranean (Dan. 7:2).

2. Four great beasts came up out of the sea, diverse from one another (Dan. 7:3).

3. The first beast was like a lion (Dan. 7:4).

4. The second beast like a bear (Dan. 7:5).

5. The third beast like a leopard with four wings and four heads (Dan. 7:6).

6. The fourth beast was nondescript, dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong (Dan. 7:7).

7. It broke in pieces and stamped the rest of the beasts with its feet.

8. It was different from all others that were before it.

9. It had ten horns.

10. Another little horn grew on its head among the ten horns (Dan. 7:8).

11. In its growth it plucked up three of the ten horns by the roots.

12. In it came eyes like a man’s and a mouth speaking great things.

13. Thrones were set and the Ancient of days did sit (Dan. 7:9).

14. His garment was white as snow.

15. His hair was like pure wool.

16. His throne like a fiery flame.

17. His wheels as burning fire.

18. A fiery stream shot out from before Him (Dan. 7:10).

19. Innumerable persons helped Him judge and innumerable others stood before Him to be judged.

20. The judgment was set.

21. The books were opened.

22. The little horn spoke great words.

23. The beast was finally slain (Dan. 7:11).

24. His body was destroyed and given to the burning flame.

25. The rest of the beasts had their dominion taken away (Dan. 7:12).

26. Before they were destroyed they continued a short time.

27. The Son of man came with the clouds of heaven (Dan. 7:13).

28. He came to the Ancient of days.

29. He was brought before Him.

30. The Son of man was given dominion.

31. And the Son of man was given glory.

32. And the Son of man was given a kingdom.

33. That all nations should serve Him.

34. His dominion is eternal.

35. And His kingdom shall never be destroyed (Dan. 7:14).

like a lion... The theory that Babylon is not symbolized by the lion because Daniel saw the four beasts rise out of the sea, showing they were all future kingdoms after his day, is not proved by the mere fact that Daniel saw them rise out of the sea. The image of Dan. 2:1-49 was also seen during the time after Babylon had already risen, yet Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, "Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom," etc. (Dan. 2:38-39). If Babylon could be symbolized by a head of gold after it had already risen, then the same kingdom could be symbolized by a lion after it had risen. The king of Babylon is compared to a lion (Isa. 5:29; Jer. 4:7; 50:17, 50:44-46). The eagle’s wings identify Babylon, for the kingdom is compared to an eagle (Jer. 48:40; Eze. 17:1-24; Hab. 1:6-8). The wings denote the swiftness of the conquests of Nebuchadnezzar. In just a few years he made a vast empire. The wings being plucked and the lion standing upon its feet as a man with a man’s heart being given to it symbolize the conquests of Nebuchadnezzar coming to an abrupt end by his insanity and his becoming sane again—as a man (Dan. 4:33, 4:36).

This first beast like a lion with eagle wings is speaking of Babylon and its most famous king, Nebuchadnezzar. The eagle’s wings, many times, symbolize aggressiveness. (the swiftness of its victories). The Babylonians had been very fierce in their conquests.

They had settled down, and become a more civilized nation. This could be the meaning of the wings being plucked.

stand upon the... Represents the humanitarian character of Nebuchadnezzar in his later years. They became more like a man, when their viciousness was gone.

Some of the kings even recognized God for His mighty feats. I would believe the heart of a man would mean that it was possible to reach it. Daniel’s own protection from the lions could have helped change their heart to the heart of a man.

I would tend to set these 4 beast’s operation at the end of the Gentile age. Babylon then is Iraq now, the same country.

The first beast was like a lion, an animal symbolizing power and strength. This lion had eagle wings, which speak of swiftness. Interestingly the lion and eagle were both symbols of Babylon (cf. Jer. 4:7, 4:13; Eze. 17:3). The violent wrenching of the wings from the lion would deprive it of its great mobility. This could refer to Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity or to his empire’s deterioration after his death. The lion’s rising up on two feet (its hind legs) made it look more like a man. The fact that it got a man’s heart suggests that the animal lost its beastly nature and showed compassion. The lion’s rising on its hind legs and having a man’s heart may refer to Nebuchadnezzar’s humanitarian interests.

Romans Chapter 4 Vs. 7

 

Abraham Justified by Faith

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Rom 4:7

In (verses 6-8), Paul gave us the scripture written by David in Psalms that was just given, written by David after his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband, Uriah. In spite of the enormity of his sin and the utter absence of personal merit, David knew the blessing of imputed righteousness.

A person, like David, to whom God credits righteousness apart from works, is blessed. Such a person’s sins are forgiven and covered.

Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 3

 The vision of the four beasts

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. Dan. 7:3

four great beasts... Beasts in symbolic passages represent kingdoms (Dan. 7:17, 7:23-24; 8:20-23; Rev. 17:8-11) and their rulers (Rev. 11:7; 13:18; 17:8).

These 4 beasts are the kingdoms of the image (in chapter 2 of Daniel). Those were the kingdoms of Babylon, Medes-Persia, Greeks and Romans. Notice, these 4 beasts came up out of the people (sea). Each one of them was very different.

As four has to do with the universe, this is universal then. These beasts are nations, or kingdoms. My personal belief of this writer is that these are speaking of these same nations that were in the image, but at a much later time, perhaps nearer our own time.

The second thing Daniel saw in the vision was four great beasts emerging from the agitated sea. As explained to Daniel later (Dan. 7:17) the four beasts represented four kingdoms.

Romans Chapter 4 Vs. 6

 

Abraham Justified by Faith

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Rom 4:6

Even as David... Now the apostle proves his point by showing how David, a man under law, was justified by faith without the law and works (Rom. 4:6-7; Psm. 32:1-2).

The word imputeth means counteth.

Psm. 32:1-2 “Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.” “Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.”

This fact about Abraham was also true of David, whose description of God’s gracious dealing with him Paul quoted from Psm. 32:1-2.

Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 2

 The Vision of the Four Beasts

Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. Dan. 7:2

I saw in... The 10th prophecy in Daniel (Dan. 7:2-14: Dan. 7:2-7, 7:12 are fulfilled; Dan. 7:8-11, 7:13-14 are unfulfilled). Next, Dan. 7:17.

the four winds... Here we have the beginning of the vision in symbols. The interpretation is given in Dan. 7:17-27. The vision concerns the same kingdoms as symbolized by the great image in Dan. 2:1-49, with some additional facts. In Dan. 2:1-49 Nebuchadnezzar is shown the Gentile world kingdoms from his day to the second coming of Christ. They are pictured there, from man’s standpoint, as a great and beautiful metallic image. In Dan. 7:1-28 God shows Daniel the same kingdoms from God’s standpoint as ferocious wild wild beasts (Dan. 7:17).

winds... Winds in symbolic passages denote wars, strife, and judgments from God (Dan. 7:1-3; 8:7-13 with Jer. 25:32-33; Rev. 7:1-3).

the great sea... Seas in symbolic passages represent peoples (Dan. 7:17; Rev. 13:1; 17:1, 17:15).

In this dream, or vision, of Daniel’s, he saw the wind coming from 4 directions at once. This would create a tornado of wars, strife and judgments, or something very similar to that.

Here the great sea is speaking nations and the people of the earth.

The number 4 is speaking of universal. This is has to do with the entire human race. This just means there was a great turmoil going on upon the earth.

In the first six chapters, Daniel wrote in the third person; in the last six chapters he wrote in the first person. In his vision Daniel first saw the great sea churned by the action of four winds. The word translated “winds” may also be rendered “spirits,” that is, angels. Elsewhere in Scripture this word is used to refer to God’s providential actions in the affairs of men through angels (Jer. 23:19; 49:36; 51:1; Zec. 6:1-6; 7:14; 7:1-3). Throughout the Old Testament the Mediterranean Sea is referred to as the Great Sea (Num. 34:6-7; Jos. 1:4; 9:1; 15:12, 15:47; 23:4; Eze. 47:10, 47:15, 47:20; 48:28). This vision then related specifically to the Mediterranean world.