The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man - The Book of Daniel - Daniel 7:1-28

Aug 13, 2023 • Andrey Bulanov

Outline:

1. A beastly picture of the enemies of God.

◦ The power of human kingdoms is terrifying and violent.

◦ Human kingdom are not as independent as they think.

◦ Human kingdoms are often influenced and used by Satan and his powers.

2. All throughout history however, God sits peacefully on his throne over all things.

3. A mysterious "son of man" approaches the throne.

4. Final victory comes through suffering.

Scripture references:

• Daniel 7

• Psalm 8:3-6

• Mark 14:61-64

Application:

• What kingdom are you serving today? The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of the enemies of God?

◦ It all starts with your view of Jesus - glorious and exalted Son of Man, King of kings

• What is your view of the world? Is your vision overcome with the scary things of this world? Or are you learning to see this world through the lens of the throne of God?

• What is your expectation for the future?

◦ The posture of a disciple of Jesus is to receive in humility and total dependence on God whatever difficulty and trails comes at us, allowing it to push us to deeper dependence on God.

Discussion questions:

• What do the beasts teach us about human history? How does this help us think about what we see in the world around us today and for the future?

• What is God's relationship to history? Why is the vision of his heavenly throne so important?

• What does the vision of the one like a son of man teach us about our Savior and about our faith?

• How do we cultivate a correct expectation of the future?

• How do we cultivate a healthy expectation and view of suffering in the christian life?

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More than anything, our perspective on life is the most important thing that defines our lives.

This is very tricky because we usually can't know what our perspective is because we are inside it.

But two people can look at the exact same thing and come to opposite conclusions about what they are looking at.

What do you see?

• example of the story of Elisha

So many christians live with a sad and narrow vision of God and his work in the world.

This chapter will hopefully open that up for you today.

This chapter dives into a new kind of genre in the book of Daniel - 1-6 was historical narrative. 7-12 is apocalyptic.

It is very important to understand this genre and its use of language.

We understand this intuitively every day as we read news, texts, memes, novels. Different forms and genres of writing will use language differently.

Some basics of apocalyptic literature -

• God reveals his purposes for the future

• Highly symbolic

• detailed and dramatic images that are a mix of literal facts and symbols

We see it here. but also in Zecharaiah, Ezekiel and of course - Revelation.

It is a very epic and dramatic - its a genre that brings very powerful impressions if it is understood correctly.

God in his word gives us very amazing and shocking images and pictures to help us expand our view to see the world as it really is.

Important considerations:

• It is not a code to be deciphered.

• There is not a one to one match to every detail.

• The specific symbols were not always apparent to the people who received the truth originally

Its also important to notice that Daniel is working inside a PERSPECTIVE that is soaked in the story of the Bible up to his day.

The key to understanding these parts of the bible is not to figure out the code, but to understand the overall flow of the biblical storyline.

Read text - Daniel 7

What is this vision that Daniel sees?

1. A beastly picture of the enemies of God.

“In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea. 3 Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other."

A terrifying and disturbing scene invades Daniel's mind. Four monsters rising up out of the sea, from the blowing four winds.

one clear pattern here we see in the book of Daniel is the pattern of fours. Chapter 2 we see Nebuchadnezzar have a vision of the future of the world - and that future is broken down to four major world dominating kingdoms.

All the visions and revelations that we will see in the next few chapters will just be deeper explanations of the future that involves these four kingdoms and the kingdom of God.

As we noted back in chapter 2, the most fitting way to understand these four beasts as representing Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.

4 “The first was like a lion but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

This is very clearly reminiscent of Nebuchadnezzar - the wings are clipped - he was humbled to live like an animal, and then he was restored - "it was lifted up from the ground and se on its feet and given a human mind..."

the second beast is like a vicious bear with three ribs in its mouth - pointing to the vicious way this kingdom devoured others.

the third kingdom is like a leopard with wings - alluding to the speed with which it conquered - Alexander the Great conquered one of the largest territories in history in just 10 years - stretching from Greece to India.

the fourth beast is given special attention. It is extra attention - extra dreadful and terrifying.

It has iron teeth - this corresponds with the kingdom of iron in chapter 2. this beast has ten horns, corresponding to the 10 toes if you remember in chapter 2.

Historically this fourth beast represents Rome and its crushing power - but there is also a reason why Daniel spends more attention on this fourth beast that we will come back to in a few min.

What do these monsters demonstrate to us about history and human power?

• The power of human kingdoms is terrifying and violent - not like the visions of God's heavenly creatures which are powerful and terrifying but beautiful and amazing.

◦ they have some ugly blend of human and animal - this is genesis 1 turned upside down. Instead of man ruling over the world in a beautiful way, man becomes animal like and violent in his power.

◦ Violent - the history of human kingdoms is so violent and gruesome. So much killing and death.

• Human kingdom are not as independent as they think - they are always kept in check by power from on high.

◦ Every one of these kingdoms gets some sort of heavenly intervention or word that allows them or stops them from existing.

• Human kingdoms are often influenced and used by Satan and his powers

But also - there is something different about this fourth kingdom -

Its the kingdom that takes the most attention and the most space.

among its ten horns a little horn rises up and uprooted three horns before it.

Horns are clear symbols or kings or leaders, especially kings who conquer in war.

this little horn is given special power and ability and it is exalted above others.

Later in the chapter we will see this leader is especially powerful but also uses that power in especially evil ways which go against the people of God and directly go against God himself.

Here, again we see a pattern that is sometimes used in biblical prophecy where we see that one idea can have multiple layers of meaning.

For example in Ez. 28, the prophet is speaking of the pride of the king of Tyre - how prideful and rebellious he is. But then as the chapter is going, it becomes clear that Ezekiel is not just talking about the King of Tyre. He starts speaking of him being in the Eden the garden of God, he speaks of him being an angel that was cast out of heaven... and then you realize the prophet is speaking about Satan, not just the historical king of Tyre.

Daniel is speaking of this fourth kingdom - which can be best interpreted as Rome - but at the same time, we see that Daniel is speaking about something or someone that is more than just historical Rome or a historical king.

"25 He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time."

What we see here is a clear and direct spiritual evil that goes beyond the mere human desire for power - this power always seeks to oppose God and his work in the world.

Here in Daniel's visions, God is connecting the story of history back to Genesis 1 and 3 - God created humanity to know God and represent his power in the world.

But the spiritual evil of Satan and his host as worked to tempt and divert humanity to a power that is ugly, violent and rebellious against God.

this little horn is showing us a pattern of world leaders who arise and stand up against God - this is definitely a pattern we see all through history.

There is also some indication that this pattern will be culminated in the end of history with an ultimate world leader to opposes God and his people in a final and especially terrible way.

2. All throughout history however, God sits peacefully on his throne over all things.

There is a dramatic shift of the scenery from the violent and terrible beasts that disturb Daniel...

9 “As I kept watching,

thrones were set in place,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

His clothing was white like snow,

and the hair of his head like whitest wool.

His throne was flaming fire;

its wheels were blazing fire.

10 A river of fire was flowing,

coming out from his presence.

Thousands upon thousands served him;

ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

The court was convened,

and the books were opened.

Notice here that Daniel is telling us what he saw - he is trying to put in words things that are beyond our normal daily existence - so the images he is using are trying to communicate the impression he received as he looked.

Its not about saying that God has white hair, or that he sits down on a chair - Daniel is given a unique picture as God pulls back the vale of the part of existence that is not seen to our human eyes but is nevertheless just as real as our physical world.

It direct parallel existence to the beast and chaos of our world, there is the unstoppable reign of God who sits on his throne and who sees everything and is in full control of everything that takes place.

Notice the massive contrast between the throne room of God and the beastly kingdoms of the world.

Ancient of Days - God is timeless, unbound, eternal, never ending, all wise and all powerful

the God that Daniel sees takes his breath away - his clothing is pure white as snow - he is perfect, he is righteous, he is completely free from evil, sin, error or any darkness.

His throne is flaming fire, and a river of fire come from him. Fire is often a symbol of judgement in Scripture.

This perfect God is purifying and judging ALL EVIL. He is unspeakably glorious and righteous and just and his VERY EXISTENCE guarantees that any and all evil that exists in the world will be exposed, will be judged and will be extinguished.

In the midst of the all the anxiety and difficulty that Daniel experiences in his life, even as he witnesses these scary beasts rising up - God is seated on his throne.

He is at peace. He is in control. He is not challenged or surprised by anything that takes place.

"Thousands upon thousands served him;

ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him."

Sinclair Ferguson writes,

"In a new way, Daniel, who had so often dared to stand alone, must have realized, “I am not alone.” Myriads of others served the Lord with him. He was an earthly outpost of the heavenly garrison. "

He continues...

"Christians who have this vision of God and His throne will never feel alone and isolated. They will find their point of orientation not on earth but in heaven (Phil. 3:20–21). Their perspective on history will not arise from below (that is, from “the Great Sea” of v. 2) but from above, from the throne of God."

The beasts fill the earth, but God is seated on his throne. Where is your point of view anchored today?

3. A mysterious "son of man" approaches the throne.

11 “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. 13 I continued watching in the night visions,

and suddenly one like a son of man

was coming with the clouds of heaven.

He approached the Ancient of Days

and was escorted before him.

14 He was given dominion

and glory and a kingdom,

so that those of every people,

nation, and language

should serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

that will not pass away,

and his kingdom is one

that will not be destroyed."

Daniel sees that history moves clearly in a resolution, where the enemies of God are effortlessly and totally destroyed.

But there is an interesting twist here that must have puzzled even Daniel

Earlier we see God clearly on his heavenly throne.

But here we see another figure, "one LIKE the son of man" coming on the clouds of heaven - he is escorted to God and he is given an everlasting kingdom

"son of man" is a common OT reference to a human being. It echos back to Eden, that we are all descended from the one man who was created to rule the world as God's representative.

Ps. 8:3-6

3 When I observe your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you set in place,

4 what is a human being that you remember him,

a son of man that you look after him?

5 You made him little less than God

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

Human beings are created to rule God's world but in our sin and rebellion, our role in creation is twisted and ruined - pointing back to the evil beasts.

This reference to the son of man is pointing to a picture of ultimate humanity restored - ruling and reigning God's everlasting kingdom.

What is interesting about this character though is that he comes "on the clouds of heaven..."

Son of man is a clear reference to humanity.

But the clouds of heaven are a very clear reference to divine power. There are 70 references to the clouds of heaven in the Old Testament and every single one of them refers to GOD coming in his unstoppable divine power.

What is more, he is given an "everlasting kingdom" - we have heard this phrase a few times in Daniel already, when Nebuchadnezzar confesses God and proclaims that God's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

This phrase is also a reference to God's promise to king David in 2 Samuel 7 - where God promises that someone will come from the family of David and God will establish his everlasting kingdom through him.

This mysterious son of man - appearing to be human, but also coming with divine power and God's kingdom.

The jewish people expected a Messiah, a conquering king, but they didn't have it all worked out exactly how to expect him and they certainly did not expect him to be God, come in the flesh.

It's no surprise then also that when we read the gospels, Jesus' number one way to refer to himself, the most common title he ascribed to himself when he spoke of himself is not Lord or King or Messiah - it was Son of Man.

This all comes to a head when Jesus is standing in trail before the high priest -

Mark 14:61-64

Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.

Jesus says - what Daniel say - that was ME. And I am coming back with the clouds of heaven to judge the world and restore all things.

Daniel saw a window into the future - the victory and ascension of Jesus, King, Lord, God become man, to take our sins upon himself and receive the Title as the Savior and Lord of the World.

Daniel saw God's plan hundreds of years before it took place and he likely didn't fully understand it.

We look back at the words of Daniel written 600 years before Christ and we realize God told his people all along what he was going to do.

The Jesus we follow is not just a good guy or a teacher of love - he is God himself, coming in human form, to stand for us, to conquer sin and evil and to set us free.

4. Final victory comes through suffering.

Daniel is given a clear picture of the final victory of God over all evil kingdoms,

But Daniel is also shown that its gonna take a while.

That victory is coming a little later.

You are only in kingdom one. There are four more, and theres a final evil leader who will stand against God and his people.

21 As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them

25 He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.

God's victory is inevitable.

But the other thing that is inevitable is the future of God's people suffering.

Why does God give so much time?

Why does he let these beasts rage through the world?

Why does God allow any of this evil to take place?

This is without a doubt the most difficult question we can ever ask. And yet this question does not push God out of the picture - it only shows us the way things are.

The bible does not give us a full answer to this question. But it definitely gives a partial one.

The key point here is that God's people prevail over the evil. They have victory. They stand faithful through the trials.

And in doing that - they become an ever and ever brighter testimony to the power of their King.

God doesn't just destroy evil at the end of history.

He overcomes and conquers it. He comes himself to take our sin and death to open the door to new life to all sinners.

And then he allows his saints to be weathered in the storm of it - to show all evil that, not only did Jesus beat death and Satan, but that his saints too continue to prevail over it even as they are being overcome by trails.