1. UNCERTAINTY IN HUMANITY
We live in an uncertain world. People look for security and guidance from our world leaders and governments yet it doesn’t happen. We place our hope in them that they will solve our problems little realising that we ourselves are the problem. The placing of faith by humanity in humanity is misplaced. As you look through the paper, many events across our globe illustrate that fact:
- Bill Clinton’s fallibility has been plastered across the front pages.
- In Canberra, the Constitutional Convention is getting nowhere fast. And we are paying for it to the tune of $40M.
- Tony Blair is having difficulty even organising a meeting about Ireland let alone negotiating any sort of settlement.
- In Nagano for the 18th Winter Olympics, the two biggest problems appear to be transport and security. The two biggest problems are people. Get used to it for 2000.
2. DANIEL 7 IN CONTEXT
JUDAH - BUG PEOPLE WITH SMALL IDEAS
This attitude, this placing of hope in leaders and empires was little different for the Jews in Daniel’s day when they were exiled in Babylon. Many believed that God had deserted them. They had been forced to leave their land and their belongings. The Temple -- in many regards the symbol of their faith and the linchpin of their relationship with Yahweh -- had been looted and desecrated. They were dispossessed and disenchanted. Yet they began to live in the hope that with the overthrow of the Babylonian empire looming at the hands of the Persians, they would regain their freedom and life would go on as before. Daniel, however, was a little less optimistic. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream from chapter 2 indicated to Daniel that things would get a lot worse before they got any better.
The Jews were looking for freedom. What they got was release from exile under Darius -- but it did not bring salvation. For the Jew, the idea of salvation was bound up in the idea of national identity and land occupation. The Jews to some extent probably thought that God had literally lost the plot. Yet they were the remnant -- the last vestige of Judah in a foreign land ruled by a foreign king.
The exile forces a shift of thinking for the Jews from Nationalism and land occupation towards a spiritual kingdom and eternal salvation. The exilic period initiates a period of changed thinking and expanded perspective as God casts light on His eternal purposes through the visions, words and deeds of Daniel.
THE STORY SO FAR ...
So far in this series of sermons on the book of Daniel, we have, with little exception, been focusing on events in Babylon in the 6th century BC:
- We started with the exile from Judah into Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar.
- We’ve seen Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah renamed Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego and their refusal to be integrated into Babylonian culture and worship practices.
- We’ve seen Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams of statues and trees.
- We’ve heard Daniel interpret these dreams.
- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were inflamed by Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath and God delivered them.
- We’ve seen Nebuchadnezzar go wild and eventually recognise the sovereignty of the Most High
- The writing was on the wall for Belshazzar whose life was forfeit under God’s judgement.
- The last scene prior to today’s reading concerns Daniel’s escapades in the lions’ den under Darius the Mede.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The book of Daniel isn’t arranged chronologically. The vision contained in chapter 7 that we’re looking at today was received by Daniel in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign and so it occurs chronologically between the events recorded in Daniel chapters 4 and 5. The book is structured logically, however, with the first 6 chapters dealing with the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar; the writing on the wall for Belshazzar and their outworking in Babylon, Each of these events from the fiery furnace to the lions den demonstrated God’s sovereignty in the lives of these people whether they acknowledged it or not. The last six chapters deal with the visions of Daniel and the beginning of their outworking in history. Yet throughout this division between the dreams and visions, the overriding theme in the book remains the same -- the sovereignty of God. Daniel 7 also picks up a number of themes that have their antecedents in Genesis and their culmination in Revelation.
To place the chapter in its historical context, we are in the first years reign of Belshazzar of Babylon. The year is 553 BC. Daniel is around 68 years old having been taken into exile in 605 BC at the age of around 16. He won’t be thrown into the lions’ den for another 14 years. Daniel has previously interpreted a number of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, now it’s his own turn.
LITERARY STYLE - APOCALYPTIC ESCHATOLOGY
Chapter 7 is of the literary genre known as "Apocalyptic Eschatology". What it means is that the end times encompassing judgement and the fulfilment of God’s purposes are presented in terms of symbols and numbers and images. Its purpose was to encourage the faithful to continue in their faith -- that God is in control.
The passage is unusual in that a part of the vision Daniel received was an interpretation of an earlier part of the vision.
3. THE FOUR BEASTS
THE GREAT SEA
As we begin looking at the passage, the first notable event is the rising of four beasts from the sea.
And so the vision begins "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea." The sea! When I think of the sea, I think of beaches, waves and sunshine. But for the Jew, the sea was a place that was unknown -- something to be feared. As one writer suggests, it was the "primeval foe"; and within Babylonian literature, the sea was a reference to the great abyss. It conjured up images of terror, darkness and cold. Yet Daniel knew that God was the creator and master of the sea (Psalm 95:5) "The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands moulded dry land." Although the sea looks out of control, it’s within the hands of the sovereign rule of God.
THE FIRST THREE BEASTS
Four beasts arise from the sea -- one like a lion, one like a bear, the third like a leopard, and the fourth too terrifying to describe. The beasts are progressively more violent and more chaotic indicating the growing sinfulness of society and the degeneration of human rule into something akin to beasts.
As we approach the interpretation given in the passage, it’s interesting that the interpretation itself requires interpretation. As I prepared for this sermon, I consulted a number of commentaries to try to clarify my understanding of the passage, but unfortunately, the commentaries fail to agree on what the symbolism means. Accordingly, this first part of the vision is something approaching multiple choice in terms of its precise historical fulfilment.
When we read ahead to verse 17, we see the interpretation that Daniel was given of the beasts: "the four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth".
Most commentaries suggest the beasts represent the Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greeks and Romans respectively -- although there is some divergence of opinion. Suffice to say, they are kingdoms that have appeared or will appear on earth. I suspect that the reason we cannot unequivocally identify the beasts mentioned is to reinforce the universal nature of our sin. The significance of the beasts and their subsequent demise is that humanity shouldn’t be viewed with any optimism.
THE FOURTH BEAST
Daniel appears satisfied with the interpretation of the first three beasts given to him by one of those standing by (whoever that was). However, the fourth beast causes him some problem because starting in verse 19 he says ""Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws-the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell-the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully."
Daniel notices that the fourth beast is different from all the others. The first three appear to operate within the scope of divine authority, yet the fourth one acts outside of it. The last beast has ten horns of which three are uprooted by another small horn. This eleventh horn is intelligent -- for it has eyes; and arrogant -- for it speaks boastfully. This little horn will persecute the saints of the Most High, it will overcome the saints for a period of time. Even in the presence of God and before the judgement seat, the fourth beast continues to speak boastful words!
It appears likely that this fourth beast represents the consummation of opposition to God and His people.
4. THE ANCIENT OF DAYS
The scene is set. The showdown of history is about to begin and we know how it ends. Daniel saw in verse 9 that "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."
GLORY
The scene is God establishing His throne to pronounce judgement against the beasts. We glimpse something of God’s holiness and glory -- with the snowy white hair, the blazing wheels and the fire flowing from the throne being attended by thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand. It’s a picture of awesome majesty, sovereignty and power. The images conjured up from these words draw heavily from the apocalyptic of Ezekiel, and are, in turn, used by John in the book of Revelation.
... AND JUDGEMENT
We read that the books are opened -- a theme that is rekindled in Revelation 20:12 when "I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.". There is a continuity of thought and symbolism as God is presented in glory and sovereignty from Ezekiel, through Daniel and into the book of Revelation.
The judgement that is pronounced and executed is that the first three beasts are stripped of their power yet allowed to live for a short time. The fourth beast is slain and its body destroyed. The power of the fourth beast -- and the fear it generated -- and the dominion it had over the saints is over.
Psalm 9 gives us some additional perspective on these few verses. Verse 7 "The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgement. He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice." Again in verse 19 "Arise, O Lord, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, O Lord; let the nations know they are but men."
Despite the symbolism of the subject matter and the vagaries of its interpretation, one thing is clear -- even when God’s opponents appear at their most powerful and dangerous, He is in control.
5. THE SON OF MAN
As Daniel continues looking we see the culmination of the goodness of God’s sovereignty in verse 13: "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."
The essential facets of this encounter are that the one like a son of man was led into the presence of the Ancient of Days and was given authority, glory and sovereign power. This power had previously been wielded by the four beasts, but now was rightly conferred on this divine and human figure. This verse in Daniel introduces the term "son of man." It’s the title that Jesus uses most frequently when referring to himself. It’s used only in the Gospels, and then only by Jesus himself. Its use within the New Testament is a messianic title that stems from Daniel where this figure is entrusted with glory, authority and sovereign power.
If there can be any doubt that the one like a son of man is Jesus, let me quote Matthew 24:30, "the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."
There are a number of significant statements in these verses from Daniel that we could overlook because we readily identify the figure as Christ: Firstly, the figure is a human figure, yet one that perfectly fulfils the will of God. Secondly, the figure arrives on clouds and so is obviously divine. Thirdly, this figure -- being divine and yet human is the representative of the saints before God. And fourthly, the figure presents a perfect contrast to the rule of the beasts because his rule is orderly rather than chaotic; human, not beastly; eternal rather than temporal; granted rather than seized like the beasts; and endorsed by God rather than condemned by Him.
6. THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH
Having given some interpretation of who "one like a son of man" is, let us return to Daniel 7 and see what he has to say about this person. In verse 13 "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". But in the interpretation given to Daniel in verse 27, we see "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."
In the vision, we see one like a son of man, yet in the interpretation, no mention is made of one like a son of man. Instead it becomes "the saints, the people of the Most High". The enthronement of the son of man figure means that the dominion of Adam is restored. The saints have finally become what was always intended -- inheritors of God’s promises. The Son of Man is indeed the representative and advocate for the saints. Humanity will receive that which God originally intended.
FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION
With one like a son of man being given authority, glory and power, and this authority being transferred to the saints, we are reminded of the words of Genesis 1:26 where God says "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
We now span the Bible turning to Revelation 14:14 "I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one ’like a son of man’ with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand."
The glory and dominion of Jesus was foreshadowed in Genesis, the veil was partially lifted in Daniel, perfectly revealed in Jesus’ life, and emphasised in Revelation.
Jesus -- the one like a son of man is the true human. He is what each of us should have been in creation and will be with re-creation.
7. DANIEL WAS DEEPLY TROUBLED
To tie up the loose end, it is interesting that, even after the interpretation given to him, Daniel "was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself." One commentator on this chapter suggests that "if we thought we had a clear understanding of it, that would be a sign that we had misunderstood it." I believe this is a somewhat pessimistic view of the passage and suggest alternatively that Daniel was deeply troubled because he is aware of the trials and suffering that await his people.
8. THE HOW AND WHEN OF GOD
A SUMMARY OF DANIEL 7
And so we have finished our look at Daniel chapter 7. His vision conveys the ideas of:
- The failure of humanity to rule as God intended.
- That our sovereign God controls the pattern of history.
- That God breaks into history -- overthrowing human kingdoms; judging; and establishing his kingdom through the son of man.
- We see one like a son of man presented in glory, authority and power. The figure in Daniel’s vision is the Jesus -- the satisfaction of God’s purposes.
- We witness the triumph of the saints and the establishment of the saints in their true relationship with God.
- But how do we respond to the message of Daniel 7. Given the universal view of God and humanity, how should we then live?
HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?
The vision of God that Daniel had raises many questions about how we perceive God and therefore how we relate to Him and how we think He relates to us. The primary question I would ask is:
- How big is your God? The message of Daniel 7 is that the Ancient of Days -- the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Daniel and you and me is in control. Events and circumstances may be beyond us -- even beyond our understanding, yet God is still in control.
- How big is your God? He is concerned about every aspect of your life. What areas of your life appear out of control? Money, relationships, your home, your family? Whatever they are, take them before our God for as Peter writes "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."
- How big is your God? That one like a son of man -- Jesus -- is victorious on the cross and He makes that victory available to us through faith.
- Our God is one who has acted in the past; acts in the present; and will continue to act in the future. Similarly, our faith needs to be founded in God’s activity in the past; it needs to be strong in the present; and it needs to be hopeful for the future.
Events may be out of our hands, but that’s OK, because they are in God’s hands and that’s a better place to be.
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© Gary Bennett 1998
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission.
