THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM.
Daniel 7:1-3, Daniel 7:15-18.
Daniel has already reported the last day of Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon (cf. Daniel 5:30). With the beginning of chapter 7, the book changes from narrative to apocalyptic writing, and there is an overlap here as the dating of Daniel’s first “vision” took place in “the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon.” Daniel had “a dream and visions of his head upon his bed” – much as Nebuchadnezzar had done (cf. Daniel 2:28). Daniel’s vision was important enough for Daniel to write it down (DANIEL 7:1; cf. Habakkuk 2:2-3).
It was night, and no doubt dark (DANIEL 7:2): a scary time to be having vivid dreams of monsters (cf. Daniel 7:3-8)! But the vision is not all just doom and gloom: it is useful to note that the “four winds” that “strove upon the great sea” came from “heaven:” a hint, at least, that there is never a moment when God has lost control over nature - or over the affairs of men - however much we may imagine that we see the contrary!
Daniel saw “four great beasts come up from the sea, diverse one from another” (DANIEL 7:3). This is a dream portraying the chaos of Empire and Empire building, and the cruelty and ultimate futility of it all (cf. Daniel 7:17).
In Daniel 7:9, ‘thrones have been thrown down and the Ancient of days is seated’ (Y.L.T.). This is a done deal, outside the realm of time and space. Despite all the upheavals of history, God is still Sovereign.
This is one of fullest descriptions of God that we have. ‘Ancient of days’ is used here as a term of veneration for the LORD. ‘White’ and ‘wool’ indicate purity (cf. Isaiah 1:18). ‘His throne like a fiery flame’ recalls Isaiah 6:1-4. ‘Wheels as fire’ reminds us of Ezekiel 1:13-21.
In Daniel 7:10, ‘a flood of fire is proceeding and coming forth from before Him’ (Y.L.T.). This is no Santa Claus type figure, then. There is such a thing as the wrath of God against those who oppose Him (cf. Psalm 97:3)!
‘A thousand thousands do serve Him’ (Y.L.T.). A thousand times a thousand is a million. A representative number, no doubt.
Then ‘a myriad of myriads do rise up, the Judge is seated, and the books have been opened’ (Y.L.T.). We imagine a courtroom: the command comes, ‘All rise!’ The Judge enters and takes his seat.
‘The books are opened’ (cf. Malachi 3:16-18; Revelation 20:12). This is ominous for the arrogant kingdoms of this earth (cf. Daniel 7:26-27).
Moving on quickly to the next part of the dream, in Daniel 7:13, ‘one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.’ In the Gospels, ‘Son of man’ is Jesus’ favourite name for Himself (cf. Mark 14:61-62). It was understood to be clearly Messianic, even by those who opposed Him.
We have here a picture of the Son of man coming to claim a kingdom, like in Luke 19:12. All this is occurring outside of time and space: but our connection to it, here in the sphere of time, is the ascension of our risen Saviour, and His return (cf. Acts 1:9-11).
In Daniel 7:14, Jesus is given that kingdom, and is even now seated at the right hand of God (cf. Mark 16:19). And we in Him (cf. Ephesians 2:6-7).
‘And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him.’ The one who is the ultimate ‘Son of man,’ the new Adam, is given dominion over all mankind.
‘His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.’
‘A stone cut out without hands’ shatters the kingdoms of this earth and fills the whole earth (cf. Daniel 2:34-35). ‘The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner’ (cf. Acts 4:10-12).
Just as Nebuchadnezzar had been troubled by his dream (cf. Daniel 2:1-3), so Daniel was by his (DANIEL 7:15). Daniel approached one of the multitude of attendants around the throne of the Ancient of Days, and asked for the interpretation of these things (DANIEL 7:16). The four great beasts, he is told, are four kings, or four kingdoms or empires, echoing the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (DANIEL 7:17; cf. Daniel 2:29-45).
In DANIEL 7:14 we saw that the Son of man, Jesus, was given “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom.” Now the “saints of the most High” (cf. 1 Peter 2:9) shall “possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever” (DANIEL 7:18).
This is corroborated in Daniel 7:27 – ‘And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
