Seeing the Secret | Daniel 7:9–14

Daniel 7:9–14 (ESV)

9 “As I looked,

thrones were placed,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat;

his clothing was white as snow,

and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames;

its wheels were burning fire.

10 A stream of fire issued

and came out from before him;

a thousand thousands served him,

and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;

the court sat in judgment,

and the books were opened.

11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

and was presented before him.

14 And to him was given dominion

and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him;

his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

that shall not be destroyed.

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we introduced our new series on the Kingdom of God by looking at Jesus’ Conversation with Pilate before his crucifixion. We established that Jesus is the King of God’s Kingdom, that the kingdom is not made the worldly way, and that the truth of the gospel defines the lives of Kingdom citizens. This morning, I want to dive deeper by asking you to consider what it means to see the kingdom at work. We will look at Daniel 7: 9-14, where we find a prediction of Jesus’ coming to reign as King. In observing Daniel’s vision, I hope we will grow in understanding that God’s plan and power equip us to joyfully build his kingdom even as the world around us may be blind to its reality. We will look at: (1) Kingdom Foundations, (2) Kingdom Victory, and (3) Kingdom Application. Let’s pray and dive in.

KINGDOM FOUNDATIONS

Understand The Kingdom Story

To understand this passage, it will be helpful to summarize the theme of the Kingdom of God in the Old Testament. It starts all the way back in Genesis one, where we are introduced to God as Creator-King, who holds all authority over all creation. In his design, God created humanity to reflect his image. Part of that reflection is that God called people to have dominion over the earth. Genesis pictures a perfect Garden-Kingdom where people related directly to God and used the authority he blessed them with to rightly reflect his goodness. Tempted by the Enemy, humanity rebelled against their Creator-King, wanting to build their own kingdom instead. This becomes the pattern of fallen humanity throughout the Old Testament. God shows grace and kindness, and humanity rebels and draws up its borders. The Old Testament records the development of God’s redemptive plan through choosing for himself a nation (Kingdom) to represent his perfect image on earth. The problem? Israel’s patriarchs failed. Her prophets failed. Her priests failed. Even her best kings failed. So, what does God do? He continues to promise redemption and restoration through a future prophet, priest, and King. The immediate context of Daniel is the midst of Israel’s national story of failure. The nation designed to represent God had sinned and rejected God. So, God used another Kingdom to conquer and exile the Israelites. Daniel lived not in Jerusalem but in a foreign land in the Babylonian Exile. The people must have wondered, “Has God’s Kingdom plan failed?” And, “How can we honor God when we live outside of God’s visable Kingdom?” It is with this background and history that Daniel has a series of prophetic visions. Immediately before the text we just read, Daniel saw four beasts representing four earthly kingdoms. Then, as the reader might have reeled from the terror of the beasts, Daniel inserts his vision of God as the sovereign judge of all and a coming King who will defeat the beasts and rule forever.

Understand the “Already” Nature

I want to highlight two important themes that help us understand the kingdom. First, we must see God’s rule compared to worldly powers and authorities. We might call this the “already” nature of God’s kingdom. The vision of the earthly powers is pretty scary. Still, the vision of God’s power and glory interrupted the shock of the ferocious beasts. Yes, we must recognize the reality and brokenness of the world around us, but we also must see God’s transcendent power over the world. In verses 9-10, God is revealed to be the eternal, pure, wise, and all-powerful judge of all things.

Understand the “Not Yet” Nature

Second, we must recognize the overlap of the powers of the world with God’s perfect plan. What I mean is that, as God’s people, we should not be overwhelmed by the power of “Babylon,” but we must also remember that we still live with Babylon all around us. Daniel’s vision does not exempt him from his position in history. Rather, he is called to see God’s power and live in a broken world. How can he do this? Let’s look at the second main point now.

KINGDOM VICTORY

Look with me at verses 11-14. In verses 11-12, we see that the kingdoms of the world represented as powerful beasts are defeated, and they lose their dominion. How does this happen? Daniel connects their downfall with the vision of “one like a son of man.” This person is very interesting. In contrast to the Kingdoms of the world, which are represented as animals, this character in the vision appears to be human. Except that Daniel also attributes divine qualities to him and tells us that he is given an everlasting kingdom that can’t be destroyed. The kingdoms of the world are conquered by a God-man-King. Sound familiar? It should! Because Jesus emphatically claimed to be this Son of Man, as promised in Daniel’s vision. Think back to Daniels context. He is living in exile in Babylon. He knows that the brutal kingdoms and powers of the world are on the move, yet he is also blessed with a vision of God’s ultimate victory over all the world’s powers. I want to propose that you and I have an even clearer picture of God’s eternal victory than Daniel did. Hundreds of years after Daniel lived and died, wise men would come to Israel looking for the “King of the Jews” who had been born in Bethlehem. This morning, I want us to see how the gospel message is the truth of God’s victory over all powers and principalities. I want us to expand our understanding of the gospel so that we see the real impact of the kingdom. One aspect of our salvation is indeed a personal relationship with God. Still, I am concerned that we don’t let the truth of God’s kingdom transform our lives because we fail to see the complete story of what Jesus did in his death, burial, and resurrection. The gospel is the good news of God’s Kingdom redemption and restoration of all things. Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man and knew that he was claiming all power, authority, and victory. Jesus’ victory on the cross is a victory that should impact how we live both here and now and the legacy we will build with our lives. The chain that links the already and not yet realities of God’s kingdom is the proof of God’s victory over every power in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. I want to challenge us this morning to see God’s victory and ask how the victory is meaningfully playing out in our lives. To this idea we will now turn.

KINGDOM APPLICATION

As we discussed last week’s message in our small group, I mentioned that I would love to have Jesus or Paul come and talk with us about what it means to be a Christian in America. We have this unique influence, freedom, and stewardship in our country. It makes it hard for us to relate to the language of being exiles—even though we should understand ourselves this way. After studying this week, though, I’ve decided we should invite Daniel instead. Daniel might be the best biblical example of a person who knows he is an exile yet has influence and power in a worldly kingdom. Daniel was a Jew and a leader in his local government. I want us to consider some “Kingdom Application” this morning in light of Daniel’s life and visions. I am sure there is more here than we can cover, but I want to share at least three encouragements.

Let your vision of the kingdom lead you to private devotion.

Daniel knew that he wouldn’t retain his devotion to the Lord in the midst of a broken world void of deep personal devotion to knowing God. As we read of Daniel’s life, we see his devotion to prayer, fasting, and obedience. I believe that Kingdom application starts with this question: What does it look like to let the Kingdom rule in my mind, heart, and body?

Let your vision of the kingdom lead you to eternal investment for the good of those around you.

In Jeremiah, God instructed exiles to “seek the good of the city. “The New Testament is Full of instructions on loving God by loving our neighbor. It seems like Daniel embraced this position passionately. He was well respected by his neighbors and became an important official in the government. I want to ask you to consider what you might do if a time traveler came to you and told you they had the exact box scores for the remaining World Series games this week? It isn’t gambling if you know the result! I would invest every dime betting on the outcome. Let me ask you, then, do you believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you have been invited to see the victory of Jesus and the coming power and rule of his kingdom? Then invest, friend! Invest in all the things that Jesus says last forever. Preach the gospel message of hope! Feed the hungry! Release the prisoners! Seek the good of the world, knowing that in following Jesus, you are investing in an eternal legacy that can’t be taken from you!

Let your vision of the kingdom lead you to draw the right lines and live in truth.

Daniel’s vision of God’s power and victory led him to both personal devotion and love for his neighbor. Still, it also led him into really heated conflict at times. Daniel is far more famous for the “lion’s den” than he is for his visions and encounters with God. He knew that his allegiance was to God, whether popular or polarizing. He knew that bowing to any king on earth outside of God’s design for earthly government was denying that God alone should be worshipped. Daniel’s example and countless others in the Bible and church history remind us that we, as God’s people, must understand the distinction between caring for the world and caving to it. Remember last week. Jesus told Pilate, “I have come to bear witness to the truth.” Friends, can we say that God’s truth drives us to draw the right lines no matter the conflict it creates or the consequences it may cause? If we truly see the beast for what it is and the Ancient of Days for who he is, how could we not draw distinguishing lines in what we will be influenced by, what we will let be our hope, and how we will interact with others?

Consider this quote: “seeing this secret behind history may not keep God’s people from pain but should keep them from panic; We may still be fearful but should not be frantic.” Friends, does our confidence in God’s power and plan lead us to boldly live and speak the truth?

CONCLUSION

Today, we have been challenged to “see the secret.” Like Daniel, we recognize the story of human rebellion, but by grace have been given a vision of the victory of God through the Son of Man. Do we see it? Will we press on to understand it? How will the picture of the kingdom lead us to live even here and now? We will build the kingdom with all we have by God’s grace. Amen.