Daniel 7: Daniel Dreams of Four Beasts and One Man --- 2019/08/16

Rev. Peter Bender, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Sussex, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Daniel 7.

The first half of Daniel gave us the stories of Daniel, his friends, and Nebuchadnezzar. For the second half, Daniel now turns to his own dreams and visionary experiences. In chapter 7, he describes his terrifying vision of four monstrous beasts: a lion with wings like an eagle, a monstrous bear, a four-headed leopard, and iron-toothed beast beyond description. We are told these represent four kingdoms of the earth. Each is succeeded by the next, until the iron-toothed beast is killed in swift judgment and “one like a son of man” begins to rule.

These figures represent particular people, places, and events of the past. But they also represent a pattern, one that happens again and again wherever the people of God find themselves. The end of the pattern, the goal that holds everything together, is the God-man Jesus Christ. He is the True Man, the only one who rules according to the will of God, and His kingdom will have no end.

Thy Strong Word is a daily in-depth study of the books of the Bible with host Rev. AJ Espinosa and guest pastors from across the country.

Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation and produced by the LCMS Office of National Mission. Learn more at lhfmissions.org and lcms.org/nationalmission.