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The Son of Man Daniel 7

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The Son of Man Daniel 7 The Son of Man Daniel 7 Intro: The Purpose of Apocalyptic Prophecy In James K.A. Smith’s book Desiring the Kingdom, Smith suggests the apocalyptic literature like trying to see outside through vertical hanging slatted blinds turned at a 45 degree angle. From one perspective, one can see a very limited picture of the outside world, but if one moves to the side where the slates are their thinnest - one can see around and get a better picture. Apocalyptic literature is like that - in spite of it’s often strange descriptions, the authors are suggesting that this perspective is ‘clearer’ than the spin that the Kingdoms of this world are selling you. They have closed the blinds 45 degrees - Apocalyptic literature, in spite of its symbols, prophetic imagery, etc. helps us move past the spin and embrace the Direct write that you’re not recycling the same idea but that you’re right so there’s there’s challenges there part of the dynamic that I’m trying to build with the worship team is one of mutual submission versus here’s how you do it now do it sense pp you play here this lying you have a lick you come in two times we repeat the intro four times you do the link to that two times and will do a brief pause it will hit the first course that’s fine 2° body creator reality of those kingdoms “Unfortunately, we associate apocalyptic literature with end-times literature, as if its goal were a matter of prediction. But this is a misunderstanding of the biblical genre; the point of apocalyptic literature is not prediction but unmasking—unveiling the realities 1 around us for what they really are.” (Smith) Therefore, as we read Daniel 7, we need to look for how the text is inviting us to see the world differently - rather than trying to predict ‘end-times’ scenarios. An end-times agenda would make a priority of questions like ‘who are the saints’, what does the 4th beast represent, and where do we fall on the timeline of end-times prophetic fulfillment. This isn’t to say these questions aren’t important - but it would be like a chef who put so much of their focus on the chemical make-up of the food he was preparing, that he did not have the time left-over to actually craft an appetizing meal. 1 https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/apocalyptic-literature-purging-the-imagination-and-re furbishing-it-with-alternative-visions/ The thing that this dream unmasks is that corrupt, beastly motives of world Empires, it unmasks ​ ​ an agenda of persecution towards the saints (anti-God agenda) , and it speaks to the judgement of those kingdoms and the ultimate victory of the Son of Man. Said succinctly: “Apocalyptic literature thus proclaims a theology of hope to those whom the world has ​ marginalized: it reminds us that God is presently on the throne and that he will ultimately triumph.” (Duguid pg 107). ​ The 4 Beasts (Daniel 7:1-8) In the first year of King Belshazzar / Daniel now takes us backwards about 10 years from chapter 5. Which raises the question why Daniel does not give us his book in chronological ​ order?...fair question. ​ PART A PART B Chapter 1 Chapter 6 Babylonian Court MedoPersion Court Daniel refuses to eat the king’s food. - Daniel refuses to obey the king’s command and refrain from praying to God. He and his friends are vindicated. - He is vindicated. TWO IMAGES TWO VISIONS OF BEASTS Chapter 2 Chapter 7 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Four Beasts Chapter 3 Chapter 8 Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image Two Beasts TWO KINGS DISCIPLINED TWO WRITINGS EXPLAINED Chapter 4 Chapter 9 The discipline and restoration of Neb. The prophecy in the book of Jeremiah about the destruction and restoration of Jerusalem. Chapter 5 The “writing on the wal” and destruction of Chapters 10-13 Belshazzar. The “Writing of Truth” and the eventual destruction of “the king”. The end of the Babylonian supremacy. The end of world history. The Book of Daniel appears to be ordered in halves - show Lennox diagram pg 197. Chapter 1 and 6 both have Daniel refusing a Kings order. Here in chapter 7 we have obvious parallels to chapter 2’s dream where 4 Kingdoms are described from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the giant statue - which is eventually destroyed by a heavenly stone. As a word of caution, there are differences between these two dreams and it would be a mistake to conflate the two - but clearly Daniel sees the similarities. Next, we have descriptive accounts of four beasts, but not just the run of the mill lions, tigers, ​ ​ and bears - enough to frighten any of us if we came across one in the wild - but these are super-beasts, evil beings whose appearance unmasks the inhuman behavior and motives of Empire and the power it wields. Simple Lions won’t do - these are zombie, vampire, hybrids (Duguid pg 109). These beasts have “eyes of human intelligence but show no trace of human ​ compassions.” (Lennox 227) ​ The challenge here is naming the kingdom each kingdom represents (as we did in chapter ​ 2) - but here I would suggest caution, as this could slant the view to be unhelpful. While scholars argue that the first three beast may (or may not be) the same as kingdoms gold, silver and bronze we see in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream - a consensus agrees that the purpose of the 4th beast doesn’t map into the chapter 2 narrative. So, these beast’s are made real in their inhuman treatment of people as commodities, ​ using them to institutionalize power. The 20th century has given us plenty of ugly examples ​ of this - depositic communism alone has killed more people in the last 100 years than every war fought during that time. But, let’s not forgot that the greed of unbridled consumerism also brought about America’s chattle slavery, Imperialism, and on a much smaller scale - price goughing for products perceived necessary for the cornavirus. These beasts still prowl - they are still ugly - they are still looking to consume victims. ‘A Long Defeat followed by a Certain Victory’ (7:9-14) This unmasking might be better described as a “long defeat followed by a final victory.” ​ ​ (Jacobs / Tolkien).2 This is the story of the Lord of the Rings - a band of friends fighting against near certain defeat, because of the hope of a future they may never see. This is the reason men go to battle - this is why parents make sacrifices for their kids, this is why people invest millions into helping people who have been trafficked, when the damage to their souls probably doesn’t ‘justify’ the expense - but that isn’t what it’s about. The good news, the gospel itself, is unmasked in this second section of Daniel 7. The glory of God, called here that Ancient of Days, is breathtaking - white, brilliant, powerful, and eternal. 2 https://blog.ayjay.org/a-long-defeat-a-final-victory/ ​ This is to set in contrast promises of this world - offering Kingdoms, remember Daniel is offered a third of the kingdom, but by comparison this is only a ‘golden bauble’ compared to the throne throne pictured here. (Duguid 116) We cannot live with the blinds ​ pulled closed and content ourselves with passing pleasures, when the Son of Man is coming on the clouds - to establish an everlasting Kingdom. This is where we must live - not with our eyes upon the Beasts, the power of this world through its politics and pandemics. The bad news - we will at times feel that we are fighting a battle of long defeat. The world we serve, the world unmasked, viewed briefly in this vision as the throne room of God Almighty, is one with a final and certain victory. Prophecy and The Fourth Beast - 7:15-27 Daniel wants to know “what about that 4th beast?” His curiosity echoes the curiosity of generations of believers ever since...what do we really know? 1) We know that his identity isn’t given to Daniel. This is a caution. The angel isn’t as ​ ​ interested in the beasts as the outcome - his purpose is to unmask the victory, not the enemy (Duguid pg 113). So those with dogmatic views on this prophecy - please stop - you missed the point. If you are interested in unseemly arguments about your interpretation - are you kicking the goads? Are you even being Biblical in your attempt to understand Daniel if you ignore the angelic caution to Daniel, by not revealing this final beast’s identity clearly. 2) So why even study prophecy, if it isn’t intended to be a predictor for God’s saints to plan, special insider information for the elect - because part of the reason to to encourage the saints (and non believers) after the fact. a) “So when the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these ​ things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remember that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” John 2:18-22 (and John 14:29) ​ 3) It seems likely that this 4th Beast is the same being as spoken of in Revelation 13:1-8 (read) and the same events of 2 Thessalonians 2.
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