Daniel Chapter 7: This chapter features Daniel's
vision of four great beasts emerging from the sea. These beasts symbolize four
successive world empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. A vision of
the "Ancient of Days" follows, depicting God's sovereignty and the
establishment of His eternal kingdom. One like a "Son of Man" is
given dominion, representing the Messianic figure and the eventual triumph of
God's kingdom over earthly powers.
Daniel Chapter 8: In this vision, Daniel sees a
ram and a male goat. The goat defeats the ram and grows powerful, representing
the rise of the Greek empire under Alexander the Great. The vision then focuses
on a "little horn" that emerges from one of the four divisions of
Alexander's empire. This little horn represents a future ruler, likely
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who persecutes the Jewish people.
Daniel Chapter 9: In this chapter, Daniel seeks
understanding about Jeremiah's prophecy of the seventy-year exile. While
praying, the angel Gabriel appears and provides insight. He explains the
significance of the seventy "weeks" of years, which point to a specific
time leading to the coming of the Messiah. The chapter also contains Daniel's
heartfelt prayer of confession on behalf of the nation's sins.