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Daniel 7
Reading: Daniel 7:1-18
Daniel chapter 7 is a kind of
literature in the Bible called apocalyptic. It's about the whole sweep of
human history right up to the last day. It's very pictorial, it's very
vivid, often it can be violent and perhaps you're thinking you're not
quite ready to be dealing with beasts and horns and rivers of fire this
early on a Sunday morning. Well, don't be afraid - the Bible itself will
give us everything we need to understand the true meaning of these
visions. But I'm going to pray for us now that I would be clear and that
God would speak to us through His word. Let's pray together.
[Pray]
A man came into the church building on
Wednesday called Stanley. Stanley is 84 years old and he had been in the
war. He started to ask me questions about the building and the stained
glass windows and if any of you have had the experience of asking me
about the history of St James you'll know - I haven't got a clue.
Generally I just make stuff up! … Well Stanley thought he was
inconveniencing me by stopping me for a chat - as the chat wore on I
think it was he that began to regret it. We got to talking about Christ
and the Bible and the here-after and at one point he just said to me:
"I cannot accept the Christian God because I fought in the
war." That was the bottom line. Stanley had seen the earthly
kingdoms of this world raging against one another - battling for
supremacy. And Stanley had seen first hand, friends killed in the chaos
of war. Having seen that - he could not conceive of a loving and powerful
God.
Well how appropriate that we are
studying Daniel chapter 7 this morning. In this chapter we see a
monstrous depiction of the kingdoms of the earth fighting it out in
bloody conquest AND we see a vision of God Most High - pure and good. How
do those two things co-exist and how do they interact? Well Daniel 7 is
all about this contrast.
It's there in verses 17 and 18 - the
heart of the passage, look with me:
`The four great beasts (of your vision) are four kingdoms that
will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive
the kingdom and will possess it forever --yes, for ever and ever.'
On either side of that great BUT in
verse 18 lie two realities that are poles apart. There are monstrous,
fractured, warring, short-lived kingdoms on earth BUT there is a Divine,
unified, eternal, gracious kingdom on high.
Let's explore this contrast a little
more. The four beasts represent four kingdoms of the earth. They are in
v4, v5, v6 and v7. The first kingdom was like a lion with the wings of an
eagle. It was fast and powerful in its conquests. The second is like a
bear which devours people mercilessly. The third is like a leopard with
four wings - it is incredibly swift in the destruction it brings. And the
fourth? Well the fourth doesn't look like anything Daniel had ever seen
before. This beast is described in v7 as "terrifying and frightening
and very powerful." Daniel didn't even call the flesh-eating bear
frightening - but this beast is terrifying. Whatever escapes its iron
teeth it tramples under its feet.
This beast is almost indescribable.
When Daniel sees it in all its horror, it’s like a sledge-hammer to the
stomach. Look at Daniel’s reaction in v15 – he is troubled in spirit and
deeply disturbed by what he sees. At the end of the chapter Daniel
repeats that he is deeply troubled, v28, all the colour drains out of
Daniel when he contemplates the ferocity of the beasts and particularly
the fourth beast.
You see the fourth beast is different
to the others. We see that in v23. (Do you see half-way through v23) “(he
says about the fourth kingdom) It will be different to all the other
kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing
it.”
Here is a world-wide reign of terror.
And, v24, it will be ruled by ten kings symbolised by the ten horns. But
in among those ten will be an eleventh who is the most cruel of all. The
little horn. This little horn has a big mouth – again and again in this
chapter he is described as a boaster. That most foul of all sins – pride,
marks his every move. And he is different from the other kings – he
doesn’t just want earthly power – the little horn is trying to steal
God’s throne. See v25 – “He will speak against the Most High and oppress
His saints and try to change the set times and the laws.” He blasphemes
the Father, oppresses His children and tampers with the Bible’s teaching.
His interest is not so much with kingdoms of the earth. He doesn’t wage
war against just anyone. Verse 21: he wages war explicitly against the
people of God, who are called here, ‘the saints’. The little horn is none
other than Satan himself, and he wants it all – he wants to take God’s throne
and to defeat God’s people.
The lesson is clear: there are real
and powerful demonic forces going on at the heart of these wicked
kingdoms. No wonder Daniel is deeply troubled by this vision. In it, the
veil is lifted from the propaganda machines of these empires and they are
seen in all their beastly ugliness.
[SLIDE – cruel kingdoms on earth]
These rulers are hideous, cruel,
power-grabbing, demonic and passing. Yet what a contrast occurs when
Daniel lifts his gaze in v9.
"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the
Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the
hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
High above the power squabbles between
lions and bears and the tearing of flesh - there is a figure who SITS in
awe-inspiring majesty. What a contrast: the four-winged leopard is flying
throughout the earth trying to shore up his earthly kingdom - but the One
to whom all authority and power belongs is seated on His throne. And
while the kingdoms of the earth pass from one beastly regime to the next
- this figure is called the Ancient of Days. He has seen it all. He has
been from everlasting to everlasting. This One seated on the throne is
the Eternal Father - the King of all kings. While the beasts of the earth
are staining themselves with the blood of their victims - the Ancient of
Days is dressed in brilliant white. Everything about Him speaks of
uncompromising purity and holiness.
[SLIDE - picture of throne. "Everlasting Kingdom on
High"]
But perhaps you're thinking - how can
God sit when such evil is going on all around? What is the Ancient of
Days going to do about the wickedness which rages in His world?
Well - v10:
A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.
Flowing out of the absolute goodness
and purity of the Ancient of Days comes a river of fire. And we see in
v11 that this fire is not just for warmth. It is a fire of judgement used
to destroy the wicked. The fourth beast is thrown into this fire. A God
of such blazing purity cannot abide by evil. The fact that God is so good
and loving means that He must judge the evil of the world. And so from
His holiness flows a river of judgement upon evil.
[SLIDE - arrow from throne:"judgement"]
This whole scene is rife with imagery
of judgement. The throne itself is on fire, its wheels are ablaze. In v10
the throne room is called a court and the books are opened. This is a
scene of final reckoning where God will call evil 'evil' and bring it to
account.
What a relief – as I was talking to
Stanley about Christianity, he confessed to me that the thing that always
attracted him to Christianity was its belief that there is a final
reckoning – there is justice in the Bible. The Hitlers and Stalins and
Maos of this world will face judgement. God will call into account every
deed. The judgement of God proves that God is white like wool – He is
holy and because He’s holy He is serious about evil and injustice. These
things will not have the last say in His world - and that's a wonderful
thing.
Well that’s the contrast. On the earth
we see a chaotic interplay of beastly forces where might is right. In
heaven we see a regal court-room where goodness and purity rule. And the
goodness of heaven brings judgement on the chaos of the earth.
Question: How do you get from the
beasts to the throne? From wickedness and fear to goodness and peace?
What is the path out of the chaos and evil and into the presence of God?
This is THE issue of the whole Bible.
Ever since the first couple, Adam and Eve, were driven from the garden
because of their rejection of God. The question is: how do you get back
into the presence of God?? Once Adam and Eve were driven from the garden,
angels were put in place to guard the way back and those angels were
given fiery swords which blazed back and forth guarding the entrance. For
every human being since then, the way back into the presence of God has
been barred by judgement.
That’s exactly the same message here in
Daniel 7 – The way into the presence of God is barred by judgement. Who
on earth could approach the blazing throne?? You’d have to fight upstream
through a river of judgement that in v11 destroys the most powerful
kingdom on the planet. Who could approach the Ancient of Days?
We must ask that question for
ourselves. What right do we have to approach the Most High God? We might
take comfort from the fact that the Hitlers of this world will face
justice – but what about us?? We’ve all done things and continue to do
things which bar us from the presence of a holy God. How can we approach
Him in His blazing holiness?
Well in verse 13 there is hope. Look
with me:
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one
like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the
Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
Here is One who dares to approach God
the Father. The Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days. Surely He will
be consumed by this blazing purity flowing from God the Father. But no -
He is not swept away in judgement. He comes through it for He is the Son
of Man. You see this figure is not at all like the beasts of the earth.
He’s not beastly at all - He is the Son of Man - the very essence of what
it is to be truly human. And He belongs here in this court room. Do you
see that in the verse? He is "led" into the Father's presence.
The Son of Man is not like the little horn – trying to steal the throne.
He belongs alongside God the Father.
[SLIDE - Son of Man arrow towards throne]
Who is this Son of Man? Well we've
already heard from Andrew - the Son of Man is Jesus' favourite name for
Himself. When Jesus wanted to explain to people who He was, He constantly
reminded them of Daniel 7 - He is the Son of Man. Jesus is THE One who
could get through the river of judgement and approach the Ancient of
Days.
That's why Jesus is forever saying
things like this in Mark's gospel:
[SLIDE - Mark 8]
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the
elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and He must be killed and
after three days rise again.” Mark 8:31
Jesus, the Son of Man, MUST take this
course through judgement - that is His Divine Role. So you see, the cross
was not the untimely death of a great religious hero – the cross was the
place where the Divine Son of Man met the river of judgement flowing from
the Ancient of Days.
At the cross, Jesus bears the
onslaught of His Father’s righteous anger against sin and evil, against
the beastly power-play of nations and against the unbelief and wickedness
in all our own hearts. That is why the Son of Man MUST suffer and MUST be
killed. For to re-enter the presence of God you must go through
judgement. Any of us would be consumed by this river of fire – but Jesus,
the Son of Man, suffers the cross, rises again and has entered the
presence of His Father to rule with Him for ever and ever.
[SLIDE - back to picture]
And that’s where we are in Daniel 7.
The Son of Man has taken that journey through judgement and here He is
joining the Father in the centre of the throne room.
Verse 14 tells us:
"He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all
peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is
an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed."
What honour is given to the Son of
Man! Wouldn’t the little horn have loved v14 said to him?! Isn’t this
what all the beasts of the earth were squabbling over? And yet all the
power-struggles of the world are rendered ultimately futile by this great
transfer of power. The Ancient of Days is handing Everything over to the
Son of Man. The beasts of the earth can rage all they like but this
transaction has been ratified in the court of heaven. All authority,
glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language
- all eternity belongs to Jesus Christ - the Son of Man.
The Son of Man. Crucified, Risen,
Ascended and Coming Again. All peoples will worship Him. He is worthy of
worship. None of us could have done what Jesus did. If we were to
approach the Father like Jesus did, we would be swept away in the river.
But Jesus comes through it. His victory is one to glory in. And the Bible
calls us to worship and glorify Him. We must identify with Him – for He
has won the victory.
And He hasn't just won the victory for
Himself. The wonderful truth about Daniel 7 is that the Son of Man has
won this victory FOR US. Because Jesus has been given the Kingdom - we
can receive it IN Him.
Do you see in v27 - the Most High hands
everything over - but it doesn't say “the kingdom is given to the Son of
Man”. No
“Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under
the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the
Most High.”
Isn’t that great? Because the Son of
Man has won these things – they can be ours. No-one has ever got into
heaven on their own ticket – but we can all get in on Jesus' ticket. The
Kingdom belongs to Jesus – but He gives it to us when we trust in Him.
[SLIDE - saints join to 'Son of Man' arrow]
Have you ever been shown around a
place you had no right to be in? This week I got to see the inside of the
Royal Mail Sorting Office at Mount Pleasant. I was meeting someone who
worked there and as I got to the front gate there were barricades
everywhere and security guards telling me I couldn’t go in. “Ah but I’m
meeting John,” I said, “he works here.” And so John came down and he
signed me in – I wrote John’s name next to my name in a book and they
gave me a pass and through the gates I went. It was great – over three
massive floors I got to see all the sorting machines and huge conveyor
belts overflowing with mail – and people throwing interesting looking
packages into massive bags marked “Finland and Peru and Nigeria, Milton
Keynes.” And I peered into these big bins trying to read some of the
postcards. What right did I have to be there?! None. Glen Scrivener had
no right whatsoever to be in that place. Can you imagine if I'd just
turned up to security and said "I'd like to inspect the mail
please." I'd have been laughed out of the place. But I was with
John. And John belonged there – he’s a manager. John was my ticket in and
I got to poke around as much as I liked not because of any authority I
had – but because he and I are friends.
That’s what we’re talking about here.
The Son of Man has all authority in Heaven and Earth – He died and rose
again – He passed through the rivers of judgement – and He has received
the eternal kingdom of God. All we need to do is to sign in with Him. We need
to come to Him confessing that we actually have no right to God’s
presence, that we would be swept away in judgement by ourselves. But to
simply come to Jesus and allow Him to give us access to what we most want
– the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole
heaven – and even better – the very presence of the Most High God and the
Son of Man.
That is the core message of Daniel 7.
Look with me again at verses 17 and 18:
`The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the
earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will
possess it forever --yes, for ever and ever.'
That is the contrast and it is one you
will never understand unless you see the Son of Man. He is the great mediator.
My whole conversation with Stanley I kept pointing him back to Jesus. He
is the One who came from the Father's side - who met the cruelty of the
earth with the purity of heaven and He offers us a way back. Only in
Jesus do these things make sense.
Daniel 7 gives us plenty of truths to
digest about our future. Are we constantly reminding ourselves of these
truths? We won't be able to endure the monstrous and demonic forces
pitted against us - unless we run to Jesus in our hearts and in our
minds. We have to think these truths through: Jesus is right now in the
throne room of the Ancient of Days. He guarantees our access to the
Father. He will soon come again to usher in His glorious kingdom. There
will be a day - maybe today - when Jesus comes again, riding on the
clouds. And He will establish His righteous rule on earth forever, yes
forever and ever. On that day the kingdoms of the earth and all our
entanglements in them will be seen for what they are. When we see God’s
perspective on the kingdoms of the earth, how can we live for these
kingdoms?? Christians are people of the future – people of hope. And we
stake it all on Jesus. Will you, this week stay very close to Him who
guarantees our future. Will you be united to Him in loving trust, walking
with Him minute by minute in simple adoration and will you always always
always look ahead to the kingdom He will bring in?? Jesus' kingdom is the
only kingdom worth living for.
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