Daniel 7:1-28
Introduction: We are continuing our series in Daniel to learn from his example of exile in Babylon and understand how it can be significant for us today. As we begin to navigate the latter half of the book of Daniel we will consider several visions. These visions are apocalyptic in nature and not always easy to understand, but they can teach us a great deal about God and his sovereignty. We can learn, alongside Daniel, that visions from God can give us a clearer perspective of the world around us and why we can always place our hope in Him.
What is Apocalyptic Literature?
The book of Daniel is divided into two clear parts. Chapters 1-6 are the stories of Daniel and his friends living faithfully in exile. Chapters 7-12 make up the visions of Daniel. Daniel wrote down and preserved his strange visions, most of which left him confused, terrified, and disturbed. These strange visions are what scholars call apocalyptic literature. When we hear the word apocalyptic, we typically think of chaos, destruction, and despair related to some sort of end-of-the-world scenario. However, this is not the main focus of apocalyptic literature in the Bible. The main focus of apocalyptic literature is on God’s present and future rule over history. There are two important things we need to know about apocalyptic literature to interpret it correctly:
1) Apocalypse means “a revealing” or “unveiling”. These parts of the Bible pull back the curtain between heaven and earth to uncover things that are hidden to us. The book of Revelation is called “Revelation” because that is the translation of its Greek title “Apocalypse”.
2) Apocalyptic literature is about the revealing of God and his hidden work in the midst of chaos, disorder, and confusion. The Bible’s apocalyptic visions come from times when it was darkest and hardest for God’s people to see any sign of hope. This is the case for the visions in Daniel, when God’s people were in exile. These difficult visions are meant to give us hope by showing us how to look beyond the chaos, disorder, and confusion of our world to God and the certainty of his purpose. Let’s turn to Daniel chapter 7 and consider some important characteristics about this vision.
1. A Realistic Vision | Daniel spoke about a vision that gave him great distress and terror. He saw four huge beasts coming up from the sea – a lion with eagles wings, a bear with 3 ribs in his mouth, a 4-headed winged leopard and a monstrous beastly thing with iron teeth. Alongside these beasts was a little horn with eyes and a mouth that is speaking (Dan 7:3-8). This is certainly confusing, and we are not at fault to inquire what it means. Daniel provides some insight when he asks this very question and is told that it relates to four kings (Dan 7:15-17). Instead of immediately trying to discern who the kings represent, it is important to interpret the vision in its context. The interpretation given to Daniel reveals that these beasts symbolize kingdoms that have life and expression from Daniel’s day until the day the Son of Man reigns fully and forever. In other words, this vision gives us a way to see the whole of human history.
Using the symbolic number four, it also points us backward to chapter 2 where Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a statue that also had four parts related to human kingdoms. Daniel 7 gives us a very different vision of these same kingdoms. In chapter 2, the vision was of impressive, strong, and glorious kingdoms, and in chapter 7 we see them portrayed as beastly, terrifying, and violent. Which one is true? The answer is: both!
Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about earthly kingdoms, politics, and history? Neither. We should be realistic.
The Bible does not give us a purely pessimistic view of human history. We can misinterpret this vision if we only see it on its own. “Everything is evil and corrupt!” Not so. God’s common grace resides even in the most unlikely places, even Babylon. This is one of the shocking messages of Daniel. Yet…
The Bible does not give us a purely optimistic account of human history. This misinterpretation would say: Just obey God, be a good citizen, and you will be healthy, wealthy, and free from trouble. Not so. Daniel was one of the most obedient and faithful prophets in the Bible, yet he was exiled, forced into service, and nearly executed.
The Bible gives us a realistic vision of human history. We need to see things how they really are: the good potential of kingdoms, and their beastly nature impacted by sin. These elements will be at work in ALL human kingdoms and systems of government. Daniel 7 opens our eyes to the beastly potential in human kingdoms. This means we must not assume that if we elect a certain leader, or change certain laws, then everything will be happy and grand. We also should not assume that all hope is lost, and we are to flee and withdraw from all human kingdoms. God is at work in our world, even when at its most “beastly” and we must look to him to realign our vision.
2. A Hopeful Vision | The vision in Daniel 7 gives does more than help us see realistically. It gives us a hopeful vision in the face of chaotic situations around us. Let us not forget that alongside the vision of the beasts, there is a vision of a heavenly realm with thrones. Here we see the Ancient of Days seated on a throne, and a Son of Man given dominion (Dan 7:9-14). We are seeing two visions occur simultaneously in this passage and that is important because at the same time that the beastly kingdoms roar, the King of the heavenly kingdom reigns.
The Ancient of Days takes his seat upon a throne - a picture of God’s eternality, immutability, power, and sovereignty. God is sitting on the throne not only in sovereignty and power, also in judgment. The vision assures us that all wrongs will be accounted for and made right. No human kingdom can promise this.
But the Ancient of Days is not alone, there is another - a Son of Man. In this vision, the Son of Man confers with the Ancient of Days, destroys the beasts and rules forever in a glorious kingdom (Dan 7:13-14). Who is this Son of Man, and how does he come?
Who is this Son of Man that comes? - He is clearly a human figure, but with divine power and glory. It is not a coincidence that Jesus’ favorite designation of himself is the Son of Man. In fact, the High Priest tore his robes when he heard this because he knew to whom Jesus was referring (Mt 26:64-65). The Son of Man receives glory, power, and honor that belongs to God alone. What we see in Jesus claiming to be the Son of Man is that he is both God and man. Daniel’s vision highlights a dramatic irony. Humanity uses the freedom given by God to try and become God, and in doing so we become beasts. On the contrary, the gospel is that God uses his sovereignty to become man and in doing so re-humanizes us.
How does the Son of Man come? - In direct contrast to the suffering and terror that the beasts inflict, the Son of Man comes in humility. Jesus claims that he came “not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). He came not with the power of force, but with the power of service, suffering, and sacrificial love. This is a message of hope because God understands what it is like to live among the beasts, yet without sin. In Daniel, we see a glimpse of this Son of Man and he is certainly worthy of glory, honor, power, and dominion because he comes not out of the sea like a beast, but down from heaven as a servant. The Son of Man is our only hope in world of beastly kingdoms.
3. A Proleptic Vision | We all know the familiar stress of watching an event (like a sporting event or an election) without knowing the outcome. If you are emotionally invested at all it can often reach a point at which you don’t even enjoy it! Thankfully, we do not have to live this way as a Christian. Not only does Daniel give us a realistic vision and a hopeful vision, he also gives us a proleptic vision. What does this mean? Proleptic vision is when a future act or development is represented as if already accomplished or existing. That’s what this vision is!
Daniel’s vision was a powerful message about God for all generations in human history. The Ancient of Days reigns on His throne, and the Son of Man is guaranteed dominion and glory in the face of beasts. This is the Gospel - Jesus, the Son of Man, is reigning now and will one day reign fully and forever in his kingdom of people from every tribe, nation, and tongue.
As a Christian today, it is all too easy to get swallowed up in the chaos and disruption of our time. Whether it is a health crisis, a political class war, or an economic downturn, Jesus is our proleptic King. If you feel weary, remember that it won’t last forever. Christians don’t live for the future, we live from the future. We live from the future by seeing the time we live in for what it really is: light momentary afflictions preparing for us an incomparable and eternal weight of glory. To live from the future is not an escapist hope. The vision of Daniel is not only about how God will save individual souls from beastly kingdoms of this world, it is about how God will restore his rule and kingdom over this world. This vision gives us a deeply personal hope, but one that overflows into a public (political) hope. With this hope in the proleptic victory of Christ, we are free from fear and free to love others in light of how God has loved us.
REFLECT OR DISCUSS
What about the message is most relevant to you today? What questions did it raise for you?
What is your prior understanding of apocalyptic literature? Does it cause you concern, fear, or confusion? How do you view this genre in the context of the Bible?
In what ways are you challenged to have a realistic vision about the world around you? Are you generally more optimistic or pessimistic? Do you feel the desire to consider the opposing perspective in the challenge to be realistic?
Read Ephesians 6:10-20. What are some examples of systemic or spiritual evil you have witnessed in your life? How does God command you to take your stand against evil that exists around you and sometimes shows up in your heart?
How does the second part of Daniel’s vision make it a hopeful vision? What resonates with you the most? Does it give you encouragement?
Read Mark 10:35-45. What qualities does Jesus manifest as the Son of Man? How is this different than the rulers of earthly kingdoms?
What does it mean to live from the future as a Christian? How does this challenge your perspective of the chaotic situations we have experienced as a country this year?
Read Daniel 7:28. What about this statement from Daniel resonates with you? What does it mean to keep this matter in your heart?.