Vision Interpretation

 

    There is not much a difference between a prolific dream and a vision, except a vision can happen when you are awake.  It happens so God is sure that it is clear and nothing gets lost in the fog of a dream.  You take what you see and figure out what it means if it is not clear.

    Daniel was someone that God used to interpret dreams, but God also gave him dreams.  Daniel had a dream that he wrote down immediately before it became fuzzy.  He was about 67 at this time.  There were four creatures, each different, each coming from the sea.  They represented four nations that represented moral decline and violence.

    The first creature was a lion with wings in which he tore off so he could stand like a man.  He was given a man's mind.  It represented Babylon.  The second creature was a bear that had three ribs in his mouth.  He was ordered to eat flesh.  This creature represented Medo-Persian Empire.  The third creature was a leopard with four wings on it's back and four heads with the authority to rule.  This creature represented the Greek Empire (Alexander the Great).

    The fourth creature was the most frightening.  It was dreadful and powerful with it's iron teeth and 10 horns.  It crushed whatever was left with it's feet.  hidden within the horns was small one that uprooted three horns.  The small horns had human eyes and spoke arrogantly.  When he was destroyed, he was thrown into the river of fire.  This creature represents the Roman Empire.

    In a cloud was a human boy that had been given sovereignty, authority, and glory with everlasting dominion.  His kingdom would never be destroyed.  He is the Messiah.  His destiny was humanity.  He understood this and spoke for himself.  He establishes the final kingdom.

    This vision obviously troubled Daniel, so it had to be interpreted by the Messiah.  The four creatures were kings that would rise.  The horns waged war against the saints (God's people), but the saints would be victorious.  The last creature will have 10 kings, but another will rise who will subdue the three kings.  He will oppress God's people because he is the antichrist, but eventually his power will be taken away.  He will be destroyed.  It is complete.

    This vision had no comfort for Daniel.  It is natural that it scared him.  He kept the matter to himself, but it was written down.

Daniel 7