Daniel 7
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Vision of Victory
Vision of Victory
Bible Passage: Daniel 7
Bible Passage: Daniel 7
Claim (Of the Passage) - God is orchestrating all ‘kingdoms and powers’ toward His divine victory and justice - through the ‘son of man’.§
Focus (of the Sermon) - The holy (terrifying and awesome) justice of the Almighty is in comfortable control of the horrors of this world - Trust Him and live for His kingdom.
Function (for the congregation) - Worship Jesus now and forever - the injustices and wars of this world will be judged.
6p0bc
We’ve reached a significant shift in the book of Daniel.
Chapters 1-6 focus on the key historical events in Daniel’s life:
his exile to Babylon (Chapter 1),
interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of future kingdoms (Chapter 2),
the rescue of Daniel and friends from the fiery furnace (Chapter 3),
Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall and restoration after another dream interpretation (Chapter 4),
the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar’s demise (Chapter 5),
and Daniel’s deliverance from the lion’s den (Chapter 6).
**Chapter 7 marks a turning point** as it begins the second half of the book, shifting from historical narrative to visions and prophecies.
Visions, which Daniel experiences during the same time period as Chapters 1-6.
In genre - this chapter belongs then to the second half of Daniel - it’s a vision without narrative,
But it’s written in Aramaic - the same as the narrative of 1-6.
While the rest of the visions are written in Hebrew.
What’s the point?
Israelite, or not Israelite, living in the moment, or holding out for the future.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, whenever you are, However you think,
**God’s Kingdom will triumph**. And no other.
So let’s get stuck in:
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
The scene is simple - the dream is not!
Our first point:
1. Beasts Under Control - v1-8
1. Beasts Under Control - v1-8
Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
The sea in ancient times always represented chaos and disorder - and out of the chaos and disorder come 4 beasts.
But what is it all about? - if we skip on to v16 for a moment - we’ll find out:
Daniel, while in his vision, has a chat with one of the people in the vision to find out what these beasts represent:.
I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. ‘So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: “The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.
In chapter 2 Daniel interpreted the Kings dream that also had a vision that represented 4 kingdoms,
more than enough debates have gone on among theologians as to which 4 kingdoms these 2 visions are referring to, but most likely they were represented in actual history by:
1 - Babylon itself - the current world super power that Daniel lives under,
2 - Medo-Persia
3 - Greece
4 - The Roman empire that ruled the known world when Jesus was born, raised, and put to death on a Roman cross.
The importance of this prophetic dream though is not whether Daniel, or we, could pin point exactly what each aspect referred to in history,
- as a mazing as it is to see that God could foretell all that was to take place.
The importance is made clear in the text.
These beasts - while very much terrible and terrifying beasts who terrorise and ruin the lives of people - are non the less - under the control and command of God.
Babylon then - a powerful lion, with the swift wings of an Eagle v4,
Reigning terror and control over all it’s enemies -
Daniel has first had experience - ripped away from everything he knew - With the force of a lion and far reaching range of eagles Babylon is a Beast.
But a beast under the control and command of something greater: A greater God.
Daniel 7:4 (NIV 2011)
‘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 human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
Proof that this is not an ulitmate kingdom also comes as it’s overpowered by the next beast:
v5 - the Bear - with a mouthful of ribs - who doesn’t like ribs - but here they probably symbolise the very violent Medo/Persian empires, but still under someones control:
Daniel 7:5 (NIV 2011)
‘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!”
the 3rd beast
v6 - even more terrifying,
a leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads!
The 4 wings and 4 heads probably symbolising the universality of this beast - or perhaps the 4 way break up of the Greek Empire when it fell.
The wings symbolic perhaps fo the rapid expansion of Alexander the Great in his conquests.
Daniel 7:6 (NIV 2011)
‘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.
Whatever Daniel’s experience of the first beast in Babylon - and as he sees that more beastly kingdoms are to come
he must have been struck less by fear of these beasts - and more by the awesome power of the one whom they are all subservient to.
Who’s calling the shots! What sort of God is this:
Daniel, and we, are about to find out,
but before then
there are a few lessons for us now:
whatever is going on in our world today,
whatever injustices are taking shape around us
- whatever beasts are inhumanely, unjustly preying on the weak,
taking advantage of those who cannot defend themselevs
- taking homes and lives from those to whom they belong,
from wars to evil in our own lives - whatever the beast is
It is not a free agent - there is something much bigger going on.
Secondly - the beasts of this world, are not the one to be afraid of!
As terrifying as they are,
and as genuinely painful as they may be in and too us and our lives
- they are not the one to worry about!
Our bigger concern is the one to whom they ultimately answer.
Putin is not a free beast. Don’t fear him,
The middle east is not worse than facing the God who is sovereign over it.
the American elections are not free of control,
our own government is not an unchained animal.
Don’t fear them - fear God.
It’s that fear of a Godoy control, we take in as we meet the 4th beast:
Daniel 7:7–8 (NIV 2011)
‘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. ‘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 human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left
. Here is Kingdom that is unlike the former beasts -
More powerful - 10 horns - more ruthless - as they lay waste to all they come across.
If what Daniel here envisions is Rome, the description is altogether appropriate.
BUt Interestingly here - there is no mention of control from a higher power.
And this little upstart of a horn that seems in his arrogance to take out his own people for his own gain -
but we shouldn’t be afraid of Him,
we should be afraid for him -
It’s not going to end well when he meets the God above.
2. A Holy Almighty Judge
2. A Holy Almighty Judge
Compare the chaos of the beasts to what happens next in Daniels vision:
‘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.
Organised but utterly impressive.
Not a terrifying beast,
but the awesome (and terrifying) Ancient of days - What a title.
He is not one who has risen and fallen, come and gone.
He is Ancient of Days - before time and after time.
The higher power - the one in control and command of even beasts and kingdoms - is now before Daniel.
Don’t think Daniel now relaxes into a comfortable state - few - God is here amongst the chaos - no remember - this God is by definition more terrifying than the beasts!
After this vision of the Ancient of Days,
‘I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.
Fear God even above terrifying beastly kingdoms of this world.
Thrones are arranged - and the Ancient of days sits - for he is ready to judge all in his heavenly courtroom.
The glory, power, order, beauty - dwarfs the fear of the beasts!
You get the idea of mystery - not detail here - for Daniel cannot look and describe this Ancient one at all.
The earthly kings can be symbolised by creatures - but not the Ancient of Days - no-one can look upon him and live.
The Ancient of days is deliberately not revealed to us - he is too holy for mankind to visualise and illustrate his image.
We’re reminded of the 2nd commandment
‘You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
All, the godly man Daniel can see in a vision is white clothing and white hair - symbols or purity and holiness.
but the Lord almighty is hidden by fire = a consuming fire so nothing unholy can come close to Him. No-one can approach.
His throne is on wheels - like the vision in Ezekiel 1 - showing the almighty is not fenced in but free to be everywhere, all the time.
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.
And so the court of ulitmate justice is open - thousands of witnesses and attendants - standing at first as the Almighty takes his seat - and then they all sit and begin to open the books.
Such order, and confidence.
Such power - unmoved by the chaos and oppression of the worlds beasts - the ancient of Days is now ready to deliver his verdicts and judgements.
Everything has been carefully recorded in books - nothing escapes His judgement:
So what happens to that proud little horn?
‘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. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
Simple - swift - final judgement on the little arrogant king
- and an allowance of time for the others
- but not indefinite - Like dogs let to run free for a while in the park - they are bound by a fence, and will be recalled for judgement for what they have done.
As we look out at the world around us - don’t let the terror of beasts bring you to despair.
Don’t look at their brutality and chaos and be disheartened.
Instead - look to the ordered, calm, imposing throne of God’s court of justice.
He has set dates and times for all judgments - We can trust his timing, his rule.
He is the one to fear.
But what is God’s plan - with empire after empire rising and falling - what’s the end game?
Do we have any hope before such an awesome God?
3. Son of Man - Kingdom Eternal
3. Son of Man - Kingdom Eternal
‘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 nations and peoples 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.
In the OT - anyone who entered the presence of God, or saw him would instantly die from his holiness.
But the son of Man is lead instead - into God’s presence.
He too then is perfectly Holy.
Daniel would have seen this one like a man enter the presence of God almighty and surely wondered - how can this be!
Is this man then - the saviour we all need.
A son of man (like us) who is also son of God - human - yet perfectly holy
Can he then make a way for us all to be in the presence of God Despite his right and terrifying judgemnt on all that is not holy?
And it seems that is the plan:
The son of man is ‘given authority, glory and sovereign power’.
Not just a delegation of these things - but equality of these things:
We know that becasue
‘all peoples of every nation worship Him!’ He must be God himself.
Here is Hope! - A man like us - and God himself - worthy of all worship.
Can he forgive us to make us holy - so we too can approach this terrifying Ancient of Days…
And if he can - who is he…and how.
well Jesus tells us 600 years later - during the reign of the 4th Beast - Rome
Mark 2:10 (NIV 2011)
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’
JEsus the son of God, the son of man - worthy of all worship - God himself -
Forgives sins - so we may belong to a different kingdom.
Not a temporary terrifying one ruled by a beast. But, end of v14
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
This is the end game for the Ancient of Days,
a Kingdom eternal,
ruled by God the Son,
where those saved by the Son of Man will worship eternally and joyfully.
4. Victory for the Saints
4. Victory for the Saints
Daniel 7:15-28
emphais BUT
Daniel 7:16–18 (NIV 2011)
I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. ‘So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: “The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it for ever—yes, for ever and ever.”
The focus of justice is on the Ancient of Days,
The ruler of the eternal Kingdom is undoubtedly the ‘son of man’ the Lord Jesus.
BUT the kingdom is for ‘the holy people of the most high’. Saints - Chirstians, repentant believers in the Lord Jesus.
Not only is God in control and command over all the beasts and beastly goings on in this world,
Not only has he formed an everlasting kingdom,
Not only will he one day return and judge.
Not only will all this be achieved through the son of man - one like us, but also God himself,
But it is all for you and me - people who have put their faith in Jesus the son of man.
It is for those who have been made holy by the death and resurrection of Jesus at the hands of a boastful little beast, in our place for our sin.
We will be victorious.
In Christ, we belong not to earthly kingdoms
but a kingdom that is ‘for us’ under Christ.
We are part of the thousands before God worshipping the Son of man eternally.
Forever and ever.
DO not fear this world - have you considered that they are all under the control of God Almighty,
so that as we see them rise and fall, we realise there is a greater God to fear,
Instead: fear the Ancient of Days.
And allow that fear to Casue us to
Bow before the son of man who forgives sins and gives us a victorious place in his kingdom.
Worship him now, until he returns to reign eternally.
Where will join with all nations to worship in glory forever.
Pray
