Daniel 7-12 ex. apocalyptic
Isa 24–27, Ezek 38–39, Joel 3, and Zech 9–14; but these passages, though eschatological, lack far too many features of the genre to be classified as apocalyptic.130
What is unveiled by apocalyptic? Two truths stand out. First, apocalyptic grants the world a glimpse of God himself. In Daniel and other apocalyptic works, God is portrayed as sovereign, just, and powerful. He is in control of the universe and the lives of individuals. Second, canonical apocalyptic works unveil the future, not in order to satisfy idle curiosity but as a source of comfort and encouragement to the saints during their time of need
The Christian reader, familiar with the use Jesus makes of the words ‘Son of man’, understandably identifies this concept in Daniel 7:13 with Jesus without necessarily suspecting the wealth of meaning it contains, or the distinctions that need to be drawn between this and other concepts. The aim of this note is to provide a pointer to the significance of the phrase in Daniel, and its influence in later literature.
Chapter 8 completes the symbolic presentations of the future contained in the book. The dream image of chapter 2, and the four wild beasts of chapter 7, are parallel. Both span the time from the Babylonian kingdom to the establishment of God’s kingdom, symbolized by the stone that became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (2:35) and the presentation of kingship to one like a son of man (7:13, 14). Chapter 8 presents only two animals, this time from the flock. The Babylonian empire is disregarded and no mention is made of the kingdom of God. Instead, interest is centred in the fate of one who deliberately took his atheism to its logical conclusion; the vision is parallel to the other two chapters, but covers only parts two and three, expanding particularly part three in detail. A diagram may help to make the structure clear.
V 23, p 180 p 180 Chapter 2
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Interpretation
Gold
Lion
Babylon (2:38)
Silver
Bear
Ram
Medo-Persia (8:20)
Bronze
Leopard
He-goat
Greece (8:21)
Iron/clay
Indescribable beast
(Rome)
Supernatural
Heavenly court
God’s kingdom
stone