Title The Third Beast (Daniel 7:6)
Contents
Lesson 74 The Third Beast (Daniel 7:6)
7:6
After that I saw another beast, like a leopard, and on its back four wings of a bird, and the beast had four heads, and authority was given to it.
Today's text is the concrete appearance of the third beast that appears in Daniel's vision. What word are you starting with? "After that," he said. After the second beast appeared, the third beast appeared.
Daniel saw in a vision the four winds of heaven blowing toward the great sea. Soon afterward, I saw four great beasts coming out of the sea. The phrase “after that” tells us that the four beasts did not come out of the sea at the same time, but one after another. So, it is telling us that the Babylonian Empire appeared and disappeared, and then the Medes and Persia appeared and disappeared again, and then the Greek Empire emerged.
“After that, I saw another beast, like a leopard.” The appearance of the third beast was that of a leopard. This corresponded to the third part of the great image that King Nebuchadnezzar had seen in his dream, “the belly and the thigh.” It symbolizes the Greek Empire and Alexander the Great.
What are the main characteristics of a leopard? It would be nimble. But even a leopard was agile, but what was on its back? "A bird has four wings." So how fast would it be? This prophesied that the Greek Empire would conquer the world in an instant.
Alexander the Great succeeded his father Philippi as king of the Greek Empire at the young age of 20. Then he makes this decision. "I will conquer all inhabited lands in this world!" Then he puts his decision into action. Like a four-winged leopard, Alexander conquered the world in an instant. Within a short period of 10 years, they conquered all of the vast territories of Medes and Persia, symbolized by the "bear". Then Alexander the Great wept. Why would you cry? They wept because there was no more land to conquer.
But it's too fast, so it's not good. Alexander the Great died at the young age of 33. To die is to die quickly. Just because it's fast doesn't necessarily mean it's good. It's good to have some peace of mind. Isn't there a saying that the faster you go the faster you go? There is something called atmospheric chronicity. It is also good to think slowly and act.
Everyone! Don't be too hasty, especially when driving. If I only get in a car driven by someone, I get very anxious. It's too scary. That's why without realizing it, the praise "You bring me closer to my Lord" comes out of nowhere. Then, if you overtake the car next to you in an instant and get into the gap between the car in front and the car behind you, it goes beyond "make my lord closer" and then "I come to you". It's gotten a lot better these days, but it's still not good to drive a car fast. When driving a car, please allow a little extra time.
Alexander the Great took over the world as swiftly as a leopard, but also died hastily at a young age. But let's see “The beast also had four heads and was given authority.” You have been given the power to rule the world. But it is not forever. It was also temporary. The beast had four heads and four wings. What does this symbolize? This is explained in the vision of Daniel's second vision. Let's look at 8:8.
“The goat became very strong on its own, and when it was strong, its great horn was broken, and in its place four prominent horns appeared toward the four directions of heaven.”
It is said that the goat was very strong, and its great horn was broken and four horns grew in its place.
Let's look at verse 21.
"The hairy goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between his eyes is the first king."
The goat means Alexander the Great.
This is verse 22.
“Because this horn is broken and your horn has sprouted in its place, your kingdom will arise out of it, but not as great as its dominion.”
Alexander the Great died at the young age of 33. There were four generals under his command. After Alexander's death, the Greek Empire was divided into four kingdoms by his men. that's what it symbolizes. Daniel prophesied all the things that would happen in the future according to the vision God had shown him. And it all came true as he had predicted. Alexander the Great of the Greek Empire received authority from God and took over the world as swiftly as a leopard, but that authority was never permanent. All the countries of the world are temporary. Only the kingdom of the Messiah, the kingdom of God, is eternal.
Among the Reformers, there was a man called melankton. This person has passed away. His disciples surround him and watch him die. One of the disciples said:
"Teacher. Now is the time to set off for heaven."
When the melankton heard the sound, he said:
"Honey! What does that mean? It's time to depart for heaven? It's time to arrive."
What is the difference in time between departing and arriving for heaven? But, how relaxed and good is it that your heart can afford to die while joking around in the faith, even at the moment before your death?
I hope you all live a long and healthy life on this earth. But who will live forever in this world? Who will remain here in a hundred years from now? I think I'm the only one. People cannot live forever. all are destined to die. It's only one life. You have to live with more love for life. I can't live like this. happy to buy Have fun buying it. When you eat food, enjoy it and live happily. Isn't it only one life? You cannot spend it in vain. You have to work hard and faithfully do what you have to do.
But the world I live in will not last forever. When God calls us, we hope that we will live while looking at the fact that a glorious heaven that cannot be compared to this world is waiting for us.
A certain priest is about to die. The daughter cried and said.
"Mom! You can't die now. Open your eyes. You have to go see your grandson getting married. You have to buy more."
Then, the priest turned his head and said this.
"Son! You're really doing too much. I'm trying to enter that glorious heaven right now, but why are you preventing me from going in? I wish I had lived and suffered this much, how much longer do I have to suffer? You really do too much!"
When we only have one life, we have to live hard with special attachments. But even now, if we take off the veil of our flesh, isn't the glorious heaven waiting for us? Please buy it with a happy heart while thinking about it. No matter how God uses us, leave it all to God. Wouldn't it be better if we could live and take off the veil of the flesh? I pray in the name of Jesus that we all live happily today with a comfortable heart.