Daniel Series Study Sheet Week 8âApril 9 Text: Daniel ch.7 Message ...
Daniel Series Study Sheet Week 8—April 9 Text: Daniel ch.7 Message Title: The Beasts, the throne, and the Son of Man
Share the strangest dream you’ve ever had. Was it as weird as Daniel’s dream? Let’s look at each of the main figures in this vision and how they apply to our lives and world today: 1. The beasts (v2-8): Reuben explained the interpretation that the four beasts represent the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek and Rome. But the fourth beast also represents all manifestations of human evil throughout history. What do you think of this interpretation? Discuss this quote from Tremper Longman: “The picture of the beasts in Daniel 7 is consistent with this lesson we learn throughout the Bible—every man and woman at heart is a self-seeking rebel against God, and we would crawl over the bodies of our fellow human beings in order to seek some small advantage for ourselves.” What ‘beasts’ are you facing in your life right now? 2. The Ancient of Days (v9-12) What words would you use to describe the way that God is portrayed in these verses? What is the significance of the title ‘Ancient of Days?’ What assurance does it give you to know that God is on the throne of the universe and in control? 3. The Son of Man (v13-14) Why is Jesus referred to as the Son of Man (see Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:28)? What does that title say about him? Reuben described how Daniel 7:13-14 apply both to the first coming of Christ (beginning of his kingdom) and the second coming of Christ (fullness of his kingdom). What do you think of that interpretation? In what sense is the kingdom of Christ a present reality? What assurance does it give you to know that Jesus has won the victory over sin, death and Satan? How should the victory of Jesus affect how we live in the present? How should it affect the way we face the ‘beasts’ we mentioned above? Why would this dream have troubled Daniel (v15)? How would it have encouraged him? How should this prophecy both trouble us and encourage us today?
Share the strangest dream you’ve ever had. Was it as weird as Daniel’s dream? Let’s look at each of the main figures in this vision and how they apply to our lives and world today: 1. The beasts (v2-8): Reuben explained the interpretation that the four beasts represent the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek and Rome. But the fourth beast also represents all manifestations of human evil throughout history. What do you think of this interpretation? Discuss this quote from Tremper Longman: “The picture of the beasts in Daniel 7 is consistent with this lesson we learn throughout the Bible—every man and woman at heart is a self-seeking rebel against God, and we would crawl over the bodies of our fellow human beings in order to seek some small advantage for ourselves.” What ‘beasts’ are you facing in your life right now? 2. The Ancient of Days (v9-12) What words would you use to describe the way that God is portrayed in these verses? What is the significance of the title ‘Ancient of Days?’ What assurance does it give you to know that God is on the throne of the universe and in control? 3. The Son of Man (v13-14) Why is Jesus referred to as the Son of Man (see Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:28)? What does that title say about him? Reuben described how Daniel 7:13-14 apply both to the first coming of Christ (beginning of his kingdom) and the second coming of Christ (fullness of his kingdom). What do you think of that interpretation? In what sense is the kingdom of Christ a present reality? What assurance does it give you to know that Jesus has won the victory over sin, death and Satan? How should the victory of Jesus affect how we live in the present? How should it affect the way we face the ‘beasts’ we mentioned above? Why would this dream have troubled Daniel (v15)? How would it have encouraged him? How should this prophecy both trouble us and encourage us today?
