FRIDAY, MAY 18
Daniel 7:1-8
Daniel 2:31-45

“The LORD shall judge the people:
judge me, O LORD …”

“TWO ARE A CONFIRMATION”

God gave Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel two remarkable dreams, each confirming the other. The dreams convey a message to believers down the ages, a panoramic view of coming world events spanning twenty-five centuries and beyond. Different symbols are used in each dream, but the interpretation is the same. Four world powers were depicted. It was a spiritual message, and it must be spiritually discerned. God gave it as a riddle, but He also gave its interpretation. We are not left in the dark. Thank God for enlightenment. To be forewarned is to be forearmed! 

Below are the two dreams analyzed.

Dream 1: Daniel 2                  Dream 2: Daniel 7                     Interpretation
A great image of four          Four great beasts from the        Four dominant
sections (Dan 2:31)                sea (Dan7:3)                                 world powers

1. Gold head                       Lion with eagle wings                Babylon

(Dan 2:32, 38)                     (Dan 7:4)

2. Silver breast and            Bear with three ribs in                Medo-Persia
    arms (Dan 2:32)               mouth (Dan 7:5)

3. Brass belly and              Leopard with 4 wings,                Greece
    thighs (Dan 2:32)            4 heads (Dan 7:6)

4. (a) Iron legs                   (a) Beast with 10 horns                Rome, ancient
    (Dan 2:33)                       (Dan 7:7)
  
   (b) Iron-clay feet,            (b) A little horn                             Rome, end time
   toes (Dan 2:33, 42)          (Dan 7:8)

In Daniel 7:2-3, Daniel saw the four winds of heaven striving upon the sea, the mighty unseen hand of God active at work among the peoples of the world, the sea of humanity. At God’s command, four great powers arise, each in its turn to dominate the world scene. While nations war, our God reigns supreme over all (Dan 4:17).

THOUGHT: Men’s kingdoms rise and fall. God’s Kingdom is everlasting.
PRAYER: In Thee alone, Lord, are hid all the treasures of wisdom.