Daniel 7

Introduction

Ever had a dream where you woke up mad at someone because of what they did in a dream.

Morgan expects an apology when i first wake up and I am at a complete loss

its crazy but as the saying goes “ A picture is worth a thousand words”.

Pictures and dreams move our emotions ways that simple story can’t

God gave us this type of literature to do just that .

To communicate things that words simply cannot completely do.

It is called apocalyptic literature and is a sharp break from the narratives of the first six chapters of Daniel.

It’s like God has told the story from a book

Now he is making a movie about it

Why?

Because it is crucial for God’s people to grasp and know what He is doing in life when it looks like the bad guys and sin and death are winning

We need this hope in a broken world especially in the face persecution

This part of Daniel and the book of Revelation are literary not literal to encourage God’s people even though there will be suffering in this life we have a God who saves

And it all points to Jesus we will see

Jesus paved the road of suffering for us that if we endure to the end we will reign with him forever.

It is a message that Jesus is worth dying for and he gives us the ultimate thing to live for.

The Kingdom’s of Man (1-8)

Daniel 7:1-8 describes a vision Daniel has during the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon we saw end in Chapter 5

Daniel is in his 80’s

In this vision, Daniel sees four great beasts rising from the sea, each different from the others.

Later an angel will tell him These beasts represent four kingdoms or empires that will arise on Earth we are going to see in a little bit

This is not easy text to dive into but verse one gives us a great spring board to dive into this massive shift in the book

Up until this point Daniel had been preaching the gospel to the lost

kings in particular, as he interpreted their dreams.

Now he is the one with the dreams.

Chapters 1-6 have been in God's message to the lost.

Chapters 7-12 God turns inward to his people so they can have hope in the face of persecution and suffering

Isn’t it in those moments when we doubt God and so many turn away from the Gospel

Daniel's dreams take us back to the Babylonian empire and in particular to a time of great change internationally.

The Babylonian empire was just handed to the arrogant Belshazzar.

On the horizon looms a new power.

The winds of historical change are blowing.

These visions are here so that God’s people will not lose heart in the face of sin and cancer and persecution

because behind all of our suffering our God alone rules and reigns and will call us home to His kingdom that will never end and we will rule and reign with Him and His glorious Son.

So here we go….

Verse 2 Daniel declared,1 “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea

Four winds means that this is going to impact the whole world

The image of the great sea is powerful imagery from the day that represented where the boogie man comes from

David Helm says “In the bible, and Greco-Roman literature, a body of water like this is a place of chaos, the place where evil rules, and from where evil comes”

In the book of Revelation John uses this same imagery of the sea where the beast comes from.

It is why the promise is made that in the New Heavens and New Earth in Revelation 21:1 that there will be no more sea”

Daniel is at the doorway to terror and it comes from the sea.

He sees one by one 4 animals arise out of the deep chaos.

We are told later in the chapter that the four represent kings and kingdoms or empires of man.

What is cool about the bible is that it makes sense when we let scripture interpret scripture.

The first animal he sees represents Babylon.

The beast becoming a man represents Nebuchadnezzar going from living like an animal in the fields for a time insane to salvation and restoration.

Remember that part of Daniel we saw a few weeks ago where that happened to King Neb

The next 2 represent other kingdoms - the Persian empire and the Greek Empire

The third beast is like a leopard with four wings and four heads, symbolizing the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great that was divided into four parts…hence the 4 wings

They are clearly described but the fourth is different

It is not given the detail in its description as much as the others.

The focus is on its character …thats the point

That is why it applies not just then or to Rome but to today and what our kids will see or grandkids

Its description is about its character and behavior.

That is what makes this 4th beast timeless

Verses 7-8 say this: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

What is the description mean-

horns were a sign of strength and power in the ancient near east and Old testament.

In the Old Testament 1 horn meant power so imagine the picture he is trying to paint with 10 horns

unmatched power, volatility as the beast tramples the earth, and most important arrogant and blasphemous as it spoke “great things”

The Great things mean pride, arrogance blaspheming God and desecrating God’s people and a biblical worldview

Of course there was a near time interpretation for the first readers of this book.

Antiochus Epiphenes was a tyrannical ruler of the Greek Empire.

this would have hit home to Believing Jews under Greek rule

He was a mass murderer, outlawed worship and desecrated the temple with dead pigs

But it would have hit home to christians under Roman rule

And it hits home today in North Korea or Iran and here in the West in it’s own way where a Christian worldview is becoming more and more marginalized

What are God’s people to do when the fires consume us instead of the miracle of the 3 in the furnace?

When there isn’t healing or a miracle

Does it mean you got it wrong and you should abandon your faith?

Does it mean you must not have performed enough or that you didn’t have enough faith?

These are the very questions suffering hits us with

it is what we are studying in our small groups from the book of Habakkuk

What are we to do when God's people are not spared from the lions but are devoured by them in the Roman Coliseum? Or those Antiocus Epiphanes did not spare?

There will be hard days when it looks like the bad guys are winning

But God’s plan is to use the worst of this life, Roman torture of the Son, to defeat what haunts us

There will be horrific persecution unleashed by demonic powers through the wickedness of man.

It will look as it did to Daniel in chapter one that the kingdoms of man are more powerful

If you have had times when life looked like this to you this is a message for you.

THe Bible does not shy away from the existence of evil. It acknowledges the pain. It is the only message of hope that past the pain there is a good God who made a way through the suffering to be whole again

It describes the damage man’s kingdoms create

But it promises a better and more tenacious Kingdom is coming

God’s Kingdom (9-12)

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 mand 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.

As the arrogant horn is raging war it is as if he is unaware of the universal court assembling behind him.

There are scenes in movies or shows where a character is making fun their boss and everyone is laughing then stops as the boss stands in the doorway.

The mocking employee is unaware and keeps going while the others are in awkward tension.

Kings and kingdoms war, men and women rage against the designed order and rule of God...But this ancient God stands behind them all ready to judge.

The throne represents absolute Rule, Reign, Dominion, and untouchable Authority.

This King is unmatched...ancient of Days means eternal not old and weak

White clothing symbolizes incomparable purity.

White as wool hair symbolizes immeasurable timelessness and longevity.

The flames and fiery wheels describe His far reaching authority and purity revealed by the fire.

So what you may be saying?

Great question

This matters for us in the face of suffering because we need to know our God is not weak or unaware or unable to rescue

We are to take heart and be courageous because this is our God…

President Franklin Roosevelt said” Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”

That is the message of Daniel 7 to God’s people when the bad things of life seem to be winning

David Helm again is helpful here: “The point not to be missed here is this: God wanted Daniel to know that God’s ultimate Victory over evil would be a long time coming. Daniel is seeing that God’s Kingdom rule won’t arrive in a consumated way even with the end of their exile”

How will our God usher in his judgment and how will he fulfill this promise ?

How will he go about winning? Enter Jesus

The Son of Man (13-14)

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; this dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

A figure who looks like a man does what no other man in daniels vision does.

Instead of pride and arrogance asserting his own will this man comes to the Ancient of Days in meekness presented to him...in obedience

These are some of the most important verses in the bible.

This Son of Man from this passage is Jesus’ favorite self title in the New Testament

These are some of the most crucial to see in order to know your bible well especially the New Testament.

And they are the ones that make us take courage that the good guy wins in the end through suffering not by avoiding it

There is much interpretation of this that makes it seem as if the rule of The Son begins at the second coming.

Jesus will wipe out his enemies and God’s faithful people will be vindicated.

It is coming and it has started

This has begun

We get the cross part and we get the Easter part but we miss the power of the neglected hope of Jesus’ ascension

Look what it says…

behold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the cAncient of Days

and was presented before him.

What direction is the Son going...look at the text….he is coming up….

Read with me for example

Luke 24:50 51 While he blessed them, bhe parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

Acts 1:9-11 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, the was lifted up, and ua cloud took him out of their sight.

as Pastor Justin Dillehay says: The ascension wasn’t simply Jesus going home, it was Jesus being enthroned.

Jesus was taken up to the Ancient of Days and enthroned where he has the keys to the Kingdom. He rules and reigns

It has begun.

We need to know this we need to cling to this.

His kingdom has begun. It won’t look like it some days.

In the last days they Daniel sees it won’t look like it.

But we know that Jesus came and died and rose and ascended so we can know things aren’t what they seem

Pastor Dillehay again

“This age won’t last forever, and the mission won’t be completed with Jesus sitting down. One day he’s going to get up, and when he does, the whole world will know it.”

We see the last scene

How it Ends (15-28)

We only have time for a short summary of this passage but here it is in a nut shell

In summary, these verses provide the interpretation of the vision, emphasizing that while powerful kingdoms and rulers will arise, God will ultimately triumph, and His people (the saints) will inherit an eternal kingdom.

Verse 28 is at least comforting to me as i try to study and preach apocalyptic visions in the bible.

Daniel 7:28 “As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

If it gave Daniel anxiety and overwhlemed him at least i am not alone in wondering how on earth I am going to teach through this

We see he is still in the vision and asks one of the angels there to help him understand what he is seeing, especially the four beasts.

This is very common in revelation visions in the Bibel to have an angel interpret and preach to the dreamer.

Look at Daniel 7:17-18 for the interpretation ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’

The beasts are figurative of the Kingdoms of man.

They will be ferocious to the people of God...but Gods people will be victorious in eternity because the SOn of Man was victorious.

They will either be so evil people turn away from the faith or they will make things so comfortable we will forget who we are

It is the Angel saying it looks bad if you only see the Kingdoms but this great God is worth sacrificing for and the eternal reward waiting is worth dying for.

Suffering will look like it gets the last word…but look at how your story ends if you are His

With the long term victory in view the angel answers Daniels questions about the beast.

Maybe it was one of those moments for Daniel where you get an answer that was a bit more than you were expecting.

Like maybe I wish I didn’t ask

This ten horned beast representing a kingdom of man unlike any other is gonna be bad.

This kingdom will be more brutal, blasphemous, arrogant, murderous of God’s people than any before it in verse 23-25

Look Back at verse 22 and 27 though- who wins?

Verse 22- the yAncient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

27fAnd the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; this kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

THis is really cool

This is centuries before Jesus came and the church was established

Who wins with Jesus in Verse 22- The saints

And who is that?

Us-

1 Corinthians 1:1-2- To those sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be the Saints together with all those in who in every place call upon the name of Jesus

Colossians 1:1-2 Paul refers to the faithful in Colossae as the Saints

This book if for those who believe in the Son of Man - Jesus Christ

That means that this promise is for you

Hold tight to it on the days it looks like a broke world is winning

Know that God wins and your tears don’t get the last word

I Repeat the words of pastor Justin Dillehay

This age won’t last forever, and the mission won’t be completed with Jesus sitting down. One day he’s going to get up, and when he does, the whole world will know it. His enemies will be made his footstool, his friends will be made his vice-regents, and his creation will be made a Paradise

Lets Pray