Introduction
If I were to ask you what images you have of God what
would they be like? If I were to ask you to imagine the kind of God you put
your faith in what would be the answer? These are important questions to ask yourselves
today because how you view God will affect how you will play out your role in
this present world. You and I live in a very hostile world, not that we are
under oppressive rule, but under the subtle and oppressive ideologies and worldly
pressure that seek to squeeze us into their mold and to their follies.
Let
me quote Carl F. H. Henry in his book “Twilight Of A Great Civilization” where
he described very appropriately the kind of world we are living in and the
condition of Christians who are in danger of a relapse into paganism: “We are
steeped in the anti-Christ philosophy – namely, that success consists in
embracing not the values of the Sermon on the Mount but an infinity of material
things, of sex and status – that we little sense how much of what passes for
practical Christianity is really an apostate compromise with the spirit of the
age. Our generation is lost to the truth of God, to the reality of divine
revelation, to the content of God’s will, to the power of His redemption, and
to the authority of His word. For this loss it is paying dearly in a swift
relapse to paganism. The savages are stirring again; you can hear them rumbling
and rustling in the tempo of our times.”
Christians
would do well to understand that how they view God will determine how faithful
and committed they are to him. In Daniel chapter 7, Daniel wants to help you
enter into his visionary world and see for yourselves the majestic,
all-powerful God called the Ancient of days. He wants you to see His Son Jesus
Christ – one who is given all power, glory and authority. I pray your heart
will be encouraged, your mind will be enlightened, and your faith will be steadfast
as we explore three great themes in this vision of Daniel together. God is
still on the throne.
SOVEREIGN
CONTROL OVER HUMAN HISTORY
God’s people should continue to trust in God and
remain committed to him because he is in sovereign control over every human
history.
Interwoven into this apocalyptic narrative
is the hand of a Sovereign God in absolute control over historical event. The
kings and kingdoms of the earth serve the purposes of the Sovereign God. To the
first beast (4): “…the wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground
and was raised on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.”
It implicitly implied that God gives to him the power to rule. To the second
beast (5): “…and it was told, ‘Arise and eat much flesh!’” It is obvious that
God is in control of his action. In verse 6 the Most High gave the third beast
the authority to rule. The fourth beast has only a time, times, and half a time,
indicating a brief time period (25b) to continue in his arrogant rule before
the Ancient of Days judge him and destroy him. God’s sovereignty is seen
throughout the apocalyptic narrative of Daniel’s visionary world. The
understanding of the vision as given to Daniel is that earthly kingdoms come and
go. The fate of the kings and kingdoms is sealed by the Sovereign hand of God,
the Most High, the Ancient of Days and the eternal Judge (11-12).
The description of the Ancient of Days
befits the majestic, powerful Sovereign God in control. He has a throne flaming
with fire and its wheels were all ablaze (9). His clothing was white as snow,
his hair white like pure wool (9). There is a river of fire flowing and coming
out from before him (10a). Daniel sees masses of people standing before him
(10b) and in the later interpretation it is the saints worshiping and obeying
him (27). Then Daniel sees the Ancient of Days taking his seat on the throne
and the books opened speaking of him as the Judge, the Ruler and the final
authority (10b).
This description in Daniel’s visionary
world of the Sovereign Lord serves to remind the saints to trust in God and
remain faithful because he is majestic, glorious and his kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom. He has the earthly kings under the palm of his hands. He is in
control.
I experienced a crisis in my family about
three years ago. My youngest son, about 8 years old at that time, went to sleep
as usual but about half hour later his sister told us that he was staring at
the ceiling and was not himself at all. To cut a long story short, we found
that he could not speak and could not see straight and his body began to grow
weak on the right side. The symptom looks like someone having a stroke. I
quickly rush him to the hospital. The next two and a half hours was like
eternity for my wife and I. At the hospital’s emergency room many thoughts
cross my mind. The crisis was not just about the life of the child but my
crisis of faith. I have a choice. I have preached and taught for years about
the faithfulness of God, about God being in control of every situation of our
lives. Here I had to choose between trusting God over this crisis situation that
I am facing or to question his goodness. I had to make a decision in my heart.
Am I expecting God to be at my disposal or am I trusting his sovereign power
and grace over my family? Praise God I choose to trust in him rather than
questioned him. Through this crisis I learned a lesson on what is trusting God
for every situation. After all the scare from the doctor about swelling of the
brain because he was experiencing excruciating pain the doctor discovered that
he had epileptic feat but today he is completely well.
God is so powerful, so majestic and he is
in control over every situation therefore there is no need for you to be afraid
and be discouraged over your present situation (whatever may be) but to remain
faithful and committed to him.
JUDGE THEIR
ENEMIES
God’s people should continue to trust in God and
remain committed to him because he will judge their enemies.
The four beasts which speak of earthly
kingdoms will be judged, slain and destroyed and their authority will be taken
away. It starts with Babylon, the Persian then the Medes culminating at the
rise of Antiochus IV (11-12). The lion-eagle appearance of the first beast is
reduced from being able to soar above the earth to experiencing the limitation
of mere humanity. The removal of the eagle’s wings, reducing the creature to a
mere four-legged animal, is an act of the judgment paralleling the one regarding
Nebuchadnezzar in Chapter 4. The second is bear-like. Encouraged to do so, it
savagely devours.
The third beast is leopard-like, with four
wings and four heads, and it is given dominion. The fourth beast receives
greater attention from Daniel. Different from the first three, this beast seems
uglier, more powerful, and much more hostile toward God and His saints. With
iron-like teeth, horns (some with eyes), and feet, it is utterly destructive.
What it does not destroy or consume with its teeth, it crushes under foot, much
like a bull in a china shop. This fourth beast has the distinction of ten
horns. As Daniel continues to watch, another horn emerges, as three of the
other horns are plucked out by the roots to make room for it. Looking about
with its numerous eyes, no one can escape his look or hide from him. With its
mouth, the beast continues to speak boastfully. The “horn” continues to sound
off while the court is being set up for judgment. So far it looks depressing,
isn't it?
But suddenly, the boasting beast is
silenced by death, and his body is cast into the burning fire. Even the fate of
this fourth beast is different than his three predecessors, as his life and his
kingdom seem to end at the same moment. The other three are removed from power
but allowed to live for some time after their removal (verse 12).
Today, in a dog eat dog world, we face many
enemies of our souls: detractors, blasphemers, unscrupulous people, betrayers
and backbiters. Someone said this: “Saint Paul use to have wings until all the
backbiters bite it off.” We constantly face persecutions, ridicule, words that
hurt, and swear words about our God. Sometimes we may even feel infuriated yet defenseless
and at times defeated. To those under the oppressive rule of Antiochus IV and
to us today it is important to read from Daniel’s vision that while the enemy
is mouthing his arrogance a court is being set up and the eternal judge, the
ancient of Days takes his sit on the throne. John Calvin said, “He is said to
ascend his tribunal when he assumes to himself the office of a judge, and
openly demonstrates that he is neither asleep nor absent.”
Just as it is proven in history that God
deals with all the evil pagan kings he will also deal with all the enemies of
your life. There is no need for you to
be afraid and discouraged over your present situation (whatever may be) but to
remain faithful and committed to him.
ESTABLISH
HIS KINGDOM WITH HIS SAINTS
God’s people should continue to trust in God and
remain committed to him because he will establish his kingdom with his saints.
In verse 13, this human-like figure has the
heavenly nature underlined by his coming with the cloud of heaven. His human-likeness is genuine and not
contrived and the heavenly glory is given, not seized. Jesus Christ our Lord is
seen here coming with the clouds of heaven and presented to the Ancient of Days.
In the apocalyptic vision we have a glimpse of Christ having all power and
authority and receiving worship when all peoples, nations and languages give
reverence to him (14). We are told in the interpretation of the vision report
that this kingdom he came to establish is an everlasting kingdom that will never
be destroyed (14). What an encouragement for God’s people!
This vision of the son of man, the vision
of Christ Jesus the Messiah ties in very much with the destiny of God’s faithful
people. In the New Testament you will read that hope is the anchor of your
soul. Indeed the vision of Daniel 7 will give you a glimpse of what the end
will be who trust in him and continue to be faithful. Your destiny in God ties
in with the establishment of his everlasting kingdom through his son Jesus
Christ.
This passage in Daniel 7 has the context of
the severe persecution of God’s people with defeat at hand too (21, 25) but it
quickly followed by the intervention of the Most High – judging these
persecutors and destroys them until the end (26). In fact, their humiliation is
the beginning of their victory.
The destiny of God’s people was sealed
because the end is determined for the saints. This is your hope, the anchor of your
soul so be faithful and be steadfast. The destiny of God’s people was sealed
because the judgment of God was given in favor of the saints of the Most High
(22). Though your outward man may perish but your inward man is being renewed;
though you may weep in the night for a season but joy shall come in the
morning. Christ in you the hope of glory. May you continue to trust in him. The
destiny of God’s people was sealed because the kingdoms under the whole heaven
will be given to the saints of the Most High (27).
You shall be co-heirs with Christ in the
inheritance God has prepared for you. You are secured in him; therefore walk in
obedience, walk in reverential worship of him who loves you and saves you. There
is no need for you to be afraid and discouraged over your present situation
(whatever it may be) but to remain faithful and committed to him.
Conclusion
The oppressive situation may be real in your life, the
pressure face in your daily life may be mounting, and the work of the enemy
through earthly vessels may continue to rise again and again but the message
from the Ancient of Days is clear and distinct. Be encouraged and be resolved
in your heart - stand steadfast and unmovable in your faith. You should
continue to trust in him and remain committed to him in whatever circumstances
and situations in life because he is still in control of human history, he will
judge your enemies, and he will establish his kingdom through his Son Jesus
Christ of which you have a part in.
