Intro: Theoretically, television may be feasible, but I consider it an impossibility--a development which we should waste little time dreaming about.
Lee de Forest, 1926, inventor of the cathode ray tube.
I think there is a world market for about five computers.
Thomas J. Watson, 1943, Chairman of the Board of IBM.
We don't think the Beatles will do anything in their market. Guitar groups are on their way out.
Recording company expert, 1962.
Daniel has just left his furry friends and you would think that we would rejoin the regularly scheduled programing. Instead we are taken in the way back machine to the 1st year of Belshazzar’s reign. It feels like Marty McFly in that Daniel goes back but he goes back to the future.
In Daniel 7 we are moving from History to prophecy. It is important to know some things about prophecy before we dive into the ocean of pictures and figures of speech that are common in this type of writing called apocalypse. Isaiah 53 (read) we have the benefit of knowing the event that fulfills this prophecy. Jesus was the only person in history that could fulfill it completely. So with prophecy it is written vaguely not to confuse us but to make clear that there is only one event, course of events, or people that can completely fulfill the prophecy.
Since the events of Daniel 7th chapter have not been fulfilled completely then they must still be future.
You also need to know that Daniel 1-6 are chronological. They are written in the sequence they happened in history. Daniel 7-12 are not.
We have to be very careful to not miss the forest for the trees in this chapter and the following chapters. The details are important but they point to the greater truth. There is so much written on this chapter and following it is easy to be swallowed up the minute details and miss the major truths.
To help understand how much writing there is on Daniel 7 in 2001 in Biblical Hermeneutics I wrote a 25 page paper on Daniel 7:9-14.
Before we even look at part of this passage today we need to remember that Daniel reveals to us that God reigns!! Because God reigns we can live righteous lives as we trust Him. Also from last week our lives will be transformed when we allow God and His word to have the final say in every area of our lives!! (Daniel written for believers who are suffering)
I. The coming of the beasts
A) Man’s view of the kingdoms
There is a connection between chapter 7 and 2. Nebuchadnezzar saw a stature of gold, silver, bronze and iron. He viewed the kingdoms of man as powerful and valuable. Nebuchadnezzar viewed the great statue of his dream as the great accomplishments of men in history. Our appraisal of ourselves is always better than God’s.
B) God’s view of the kingdoms
God’s view of the kings and kingdoms of man are completely different than Nebuchadnezzar’s or ours. God shows Daniel and us that the kings and kingdoms of man are confused, corrupted and controlled by chaos. Daniel is told in 7:17 that the beasts are kings. Remember that you cannot separate kings from their kingdoms. The kingdoms will often take on the character of their ruler. (The same should be said of us if Jesus is our king we should take on His character and purpose!!)
1) Lion with eagles wings – Gold Babylon (Daniel 7:4)
2) Bear with ribs raised up – Silver - Media- Persia (Daniel 7:5)
3) Leopard with wings – Bronze - Greco Macedonia (Daniel 7:6)
4) Large terrible beast with iron teeth – Iron - Rome (Daniel 7:7)
There are differences of opinion and interpretation about who these kingdoms are. However it is clear they are man-made man centered and temporary. One falls to the other. They will not last. These kingdoms are temporary because they were established by the hands of man.
II. The crowning of the king
There is a great contrast between this and the opening scene. There is no rush, no chaotic winds it is just a sitting down of the throne of God. He casually takes His seat and gets ready to judge.
Now we come to the most important part of the 7th chapter. God sits his throne down right in the middle of the corrupt king and kingdoms activity.
A) Eternal (7:9)
Daniel keeps watching and the “Ancient of Days” takes His seat. This stands in stark contrast to the kingdoms that pass away one after the other. He is constant and calm. The chaotic waters of man cannot move or persuade the Ancient of days.
B) Righteous (7:9)
The white hair and clothes remind us of His perfect purity and righteousness. He will judge according to His standard. We constantly want to compare ourselves to something that makes us look God. The entire point of the Bible and this chapter of Daniel is to get us to see ourselves how God sees us. Wretched, beastly, corrupt, convicted. When we see ourselves through the righteous eyes of God we deserve nothing but judgment, conviction and eternal damnation.
C) Judge (7:10)
Fire is a symbol of God’s presence and judgment in the Old and New Testament. In Exodus the burning bush. Jesus at the mount of transfiguration. 2 Peter 3:7 says the present world is stored up for fire and judgment. Psalm 97:2,3 read. God is holy and Righteous and alone is worthy of worship and judgment. He will come and judge not only the wicked kings and kingdoms but the wicked of all the world.
What if there was no judgment? If the evil of this world is not judged how evil would that be. The Hitlers, Stalins, Osama bin Ladins, Nebuchadnezzar’s, Rapists, murderers, etc are not ultimately judged if they reject Jesus. Is this not then hell on earth?
III. The crushing of the kingdoms (Daniel 7:11-12)
Luke 11:20
In the chaos of life there is an opportunity for the throne of God to be set down. We have two ways to respond. The first is rebellion like the arrogant horn this leads to judgement and punishment. The second is the Daniel 7:27 instead of rebellion we respond in repentance. There are two legs to bow on when you bow before the throne of God. The first is faith that is given as a gift by God when you see the dirty nature of your heart. The second is repentance when you turn away from ruling your own life and offer your entire being to Jesus to rule.
We need a rescuer from the beast kingdoms and the beast heart.
Conclusion:
What difference should prophecy especially Daniel 7 make?
1) It should grow our trust in God
2) It should give us courage to share Jesus
112 AD Pliny the younger wrote this in a letter to Trajan the emperor of Rome. He detailed the practices of the early Christians.
“They meet on a certain day before light where they gather and sing hymns to Christ as to a god. They all bind themselves by oath, "not to some crimes", says Pliny, as though that is what he would have expected; rather, they pledge not to commit any crimes such as fraud, theft, or adultery, and subsequently share a meal of "ordinary and innocent food".
How are we to share Christ in our time? Serving, sharing and speaking.
3) It should give us wisdom to separate from the world
4) It should give us hope to live in a world that is headed toward judgment.
