Key Thought: The vision in Daniel 7 parallels the dream of Daniel 2, except with more detail concerning the course of human history.
February 22, 2020

1. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:1-6.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does Daniel see in vision and what seems to be the focus?
3. Personal Application: How much comfort can you get from knowing that amid all the chaos, God rules? What does this teach us about the Scriptures being trustworthy? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “If this is a repeat vision of Daniel 2, what is different about this vision that helps us understand things more here?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:7,8,19-25.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. Who is the little horn that arises from the fourth beast and remains part of the fourth beast?
3. Personal Application: Why is it important to know what God has predicted in prophecy in keeping His people from being deceived and misled in the future? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Who or what are the three horns this little horn plucked up by the roots? And who is this little horn? How did he speak blasphemy, how was he different from the other horns? How did he think to change times and laws? How did he rule for a time, times, and half a time?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:13,14,21,22..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. In what ways does the idea of a judgment benefit God’s people?
3. Personal Application: Why id an understanding of what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross so central to why we can assurance in the day of judgment? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “If so many Christians are wrong on some doctrinal things like the state of the dead and the Sabbath and yet have the assurance of vindication in the judgment because of Jesus; are they deluded and deceived or not? What difference is it for Sabbath-keepers who have assurance, but may be falling short in some other area, for them to be deceived and deluded as well?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:13.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What does it mean for one like the Son of Man to come before the Ancient of Days?
3. Personal Application: How do you feel about a judgment in which all your thoughts and deeds will be exposed before all of heaven, or will they? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

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The hymn that will be used as the theme for this quarter is from “The Church Hymnal, Official Hymnal of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church” which was surpassed by the “Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal” in 1985.In the ‘old’ hymnal,
Number 497 – Standing by a Purpose True,
that is, ”Dare to be a Daniel” will be the favourite. I do hope you are able to source this hymn and use it frequently during this quarters Sabbath School study time.

Our introduction shows that there is a violation of the created order, but we know
A Mighty Fortress is our God, Hymn 506. This hymn shows the domination over all the kingdoms of the earth forever.

The Court Was Seated (Tuesday) and we can hear the strains of “how shall we stand in that great day?” – Hymn 416, The Judgment Has Set. This is followed by Hymn 417, O Solemn Thought. The Day of Atonement then follows with Hymn 335, What a Wonderful Savior.
This latter hymn is shown again in Wednesday in the third point.

True worship is eventually restored (Wednesday) and we will
O Worship the King, Hymn 83 and
Hymn 6, O Worship the Lord.

Hymn 91, Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones is reflected in Thursdays study. Victory is given in
Hymn 608, Faith Is the Victory for all those whom Jesus represents. Jesus states in Mark 14:62 that He is “coming with the clouds of heaven”
Hymn 200, The Lord Is Coming, Hymn 213, Jesus Is Coming Again,
Hymn 454, Don’t You See My Jesus Coming,  and
Hymn 438, You Will See Your Lord A-Coming.

God’s blessings as you enjoy your “Singing with Inspiration” this quarter.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(1)

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Read Daniel 7:7-8, Daniel 7:19-25. Who is the little horn power that arises directly from, and remains part of, the fourth beast?

Yesterday we learned that the ferocious animal with ten horns ruling the world with utmost cruelty represents pagan Rome. Now we must consider the little horn and the power it represents.

Image © Steve Creitz at Goodsalt.com

As portrayed in the vision, the fourth animal has ten horns, of which three horns were plucked out to make way for a little horn. This horn has human eyes and speaks “pompous words” (Dan. 7:8, NKJV). It is clear that the little horn emerges from the entity represented by the terrible animal, which is pagan Rome. In a way, the horn extends or continues some features of pagan Rome. It is just a later stage of the same power.

Daniel sees this other horn making war against the saints. The angel explains to him that this horn is a king who will perform three unlawful actions: (1) speak pompous words against the Most High, (2) persecute the saints of the Most High, (3) intend to change times and law. And as a consequence, the saints would be given into his hand. Next, the angel gives the time frame for the activities of the little horn: a time and times and half a time. In this instance of prophetic language, the word time means “year”, and so the expression times signifies years, a dual form: “two years”. Hence, this is a period of three and a half prophetic years, which, according to the year-day principle, indicates a period of 1,260 years. During this time the little horn will mount an attack against God, persecute the saints, and attempt to change God’s law.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Amen!(0)

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Read Daniel 7:1-28. What is the essence of what Daniel is shown, and what is the vision about?

Each animal shown to Daniel corresponds to a section of the statue shown to Nebuchadnezzar, but now more details about each kingdom are given. How interesting that the creatures, symbolizing pagan nations, are all unclean beasts. Also, except for the fourth beast, Daniel describes the animals as resembling some known creatures. So, the animals are not arbitrary symbols, inasmuch as each one bears some characteristics or points to some aspect of the kingdom it represents.

Image © Justinen Creation Collection at Goodsalt.com

• Lion: A lion is a most fitting representation of Babylon. Winged lions decorated palace walls and other works of Babylonian art. The lion depicted in the vision eventually has its wings pulled off, is made to stand upright like a man, and receives a human heart. This process symbolizes the Babylonian Empire under its kings.
• Bear: The bear represents the Medo-Persian Empire. The fact that it is raised up on one side indicates the superiority of the Persians over the Medes. The three ribs between its teeth stand for the three main conquests of the Medo-Persian Empire: Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt.
• Leopard: The swift leopard represents the Greek empire established by Alexander the Great. The four wings make this beast even swifter, an apt representation of Alexander, who in a few years brought the entire known world under his dominion.
• The dreadful and terrible animal: Whereas the previous entities only resemble the animals mentioned, this one is an entity unto itself. That is, the first ones are depicted as “like” a lion or “like” a bear, but this one is not depicted like anything. This multi-horned beast also appears far more cruel and rapacious than the previous ones. As such, it is a fitting representation of pagan Rome, which conquered, ruled, and trampled on the world with its feet.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Amen!(1)

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Image © Pacific Press

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Daniel 7:1-28, 2 Thess. 2:1-12, Rom. 8:1, Mark 13:26, Luke 9:26, Luke 12:8, 1 Tim. 2:5.

Memory Text: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27, NKJV).

The vision of Daniel chapter 7, our topic for this week, parallels the dream in Daniel chapter 2. But Daniel chapter 7 expands on what was revealed in Daniel chapter 2. First, the vision occurs at night and portrays the sea agitated by the four winds. Darkness and water evoke creation, but here creation appears to be somehow distorted or under attack. Second, the animals in the vision are unclean and hybrid, which represents a violation of the created order. Third, the animals are portrayed as exerting dominion; thus, it appears that the dominion God gave to Adam in the garden has been usurped by these powers. Fourth, with the coming of the Son of Man, God’s dominion is restored to those to whom it properly belongs. What Adam lost in the garden, the Son of Man recovers in the heavenly judgment.

The above description gives a panoramic view of the biblical imagery that runs in the background of this highly symbolic vision. Fortunately, some of the crucial details of the vision are explained by the angel, so we can understand the main contours of this amazing prophecy.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 22.

Sunday–>

Amen!(0)

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