Daniel: Thriving in a Modern-Day Babylon: Part 6 Daniel's Turn To Dream

Daniel’s Turn to Dream
Daniel 7 & 8

1. Don’t get distracted because distractions won’t deliver you.
Daniel 7:1-3 “Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon, Daniel had a dream and
saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw. In my vision that
night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from
every direction. Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.”

1^st Beast- Babylon
2^nd Beast- Medo-Persian
3^rd Beast- Greek
4^th Beast- Rome

Isaiah 45:1 “This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower.”

Galatians 4:4 “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.”

Daniel 7:9-10 (NIV) “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His
clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon
thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and
the books were opened.”

Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV) “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,
coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He
was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language
worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed.”

Daniel 7:17-18 “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. But in the
end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.”

Daniel 7:27 “Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given
to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.”

2. Every setback can be used for His glory.

Daniel 8:3-4 “As I looked up, I saw a ram with two long horns standing beside the river. One of the horns
was longer than the other, even though it had grown later than the other one. The ram butted
everything out of his way to the west, to the north, and to the south, and no one could stand against him
or help his victims. He did as he pleased and became very great.”

Daniel 8:5-7 “While I was watching, suddenly a male goat appeared from the west, crossing the land so
swiftly that he didn’t even touch the ground. This goat, which had one very large horn between its eyes,
headed toward the two-horned ram that I had seen standing beside the river, rushing at him in a rage.
The goat charged furiously at the ram and struck him, breaking off both his horns. Now the ram was
helpless, and the goat knocked him down and trampled him. No one could rescue the ram from the
goat’s power.”

Daniel 8:21-25 “The shaggy male goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his
eyes represents the first king of the Greek Empire. The four prominent horns that replaced the one large
horn show that the Greek Empire will break into four kingdoms, but none as great as the first. “At the
end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He
will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and
succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be
a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take
on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.”

Romans 5:3-6 “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us
develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our
confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God
loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly
helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”

3. No matter who rules, God still reigns.
Daniel 8:13-14 “Then I heard two holy ones talking to each other. One of them asked, “How long will the
events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily sacrifices?
How long will the Temple and heaven’s army be trampled on?” The other replied, “It will take 2,300
evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be made right again.”

Revelation 6:9-11 “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been
slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice,
“How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our
blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer…”

Isaiah 46:9-11 “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there
is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to
pass, for I do whatever I wish. I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—a leader from a distant land
to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it.”