Part 2 | An Introduction to the End
Daniel 7 | January 18th, 2026
Dr. Mark S. Hartman, Lead Pastor - SCBC
The point of prophecy is to point us to the God who holds history.
Daniel – by John Walvoord
1. GOD REVEALED A PROPHECY CONCERNING FOUR COMING KINGDOMS. (Daniel 7:1-7)
A. Daniel 7:1-2 In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream. 2 Daniel said: ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.’
B. The first kingdom was like a lion – Babylonian Empire: 626–539 BC(Daniel 7:4)
Daniel 7:4 The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
C. The second beast was like a bear – Medo-Persia Empire: 539–331 BC(Daniel 7:5)
Daniel 7:5 And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
D. The third beast nation is like a leopard – Greek Empire: 331–146 BC(Daniel 7:6)
Daniel 7:6 After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
E. The fourth beast is so terrible that no animal could properly illustrate it. –Roman Empire: 146 BC – AD 476 (Daniel 7:7)
Daniel 7:7 After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast - terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
F. Kingdoms rise and fall, but God remains in control.
2. GOD REVEALED THAT THE LAST KINGDOM WAS CONCERNING THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. (Daniel 7:7-11; 23-27)
A. Daniel 7:7 It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
B. Daniel 7:8-11 While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 9 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. 10 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. 11 Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.
This isn’t only God foretelling the future, it is proof He can be trusted with our tomorrow.
C. Daniel 7:23-27 He gave me this explanation: “The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress His saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. 26 But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.”
D. Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 7 has three key points:
1. In the end, the final expression of mankind’s government will be a king who hates God.
2. All of heaven stops and now watches as God brings this world leader down.
3. God will then establish on earth His Kingdom which will last forever.