Overcoming the Beasts
Daniel 7:1-28
The second half of the book of Daniel is remarkably different from the first half. In the first half, Daniel and his friends encounter life in exile. They live in the Babylonian Empire, faithfully serving God in a culture that frequently encourages hostility toward God. The second half of this book tells the same story, but behind the scenes. Through a series of dreams and visions, Daniel reveals the cosmic conflict that exists between good and evil, while declaring that God is sovereign.
The genre of this second half of Daniel has come to be called Apocalyptic Literature. Paul D. Hanson in “Old Testament Apocalyptic” helps us think about this genre. He explains that these writings foster hope in the lives of those facing crisis through a series of visions or dreams of a prototypical heavenly order revealed through a religious seer. These visions and dreams seek to declare God’s reign in the midst of trial, announcing God’s ultimate victory as sovereign over all things, particularly those things that threaten life and the community of God followers.[1]
With this in mind, let us explore the hope declared in Daniel 7. The message of hope speaks directly to Daniel and his community as he receives the vision. It also speaks directly to those who follow in the legacy of Daniel and the exilic community as those following after the Lord of all things.
The dream of Daniel 7 begins with four winds churning up the great sea. That this dream takes place by the sea is significant. In Ancient Near Eastern mythology, the sea often represented chaos and those things opposed to God’s order.[2] This can be seen in Genesis 1 when God’s spirit hovers over the waters, eventually bringing the order of creation to that which has no order. This can also be seen in other Ancient Near Eastern creation myths such as the Mesopotamian creation story where the god Marduk, who brings order to the world, must defeat the goddess of the sea, Tiamat. Even the Canaanites have a creation story in which the sea must be tamed.[3] The sea symbolizes a threat to ordered existence under the God who creates all things.
From this sea emerges four beasts, who we are told represent four kings. Similar to the interpretations of the dream in Daniel 2, many scholars have opinions regarding what four kings are represented here. Other than the first beast, that which is like a lion with the wings of an eagle, being identified with Babylon, we truly cannot know who is represented by the other three beasts. They are kings, hostile to the work of God, that emerge from the chaos of the sea. They are perversions of God’s creation. This can be seen in their diverse and twisted forms. In their hubris, these kings all seek to have sovereignty over the world, failing to acknowledge the true sovereign, God, the creator of heaven and earth. These kings represent evil powers of this world who seek to destroy earnest followers of God through their pride, idolatry, and blasphemy.
Into this broken reality, this reality filled with kings who threaten God’s order and God’s people comes another scene. A throne room emerges. Sitting on the throne is one called The Ancient of Days. This title points us toward God, whom we know from chapter 6 as the one that endures forever. The eternal one sits upon the throne!
This vision reminds us of The Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple pointed to God’s throne room with The Ark of the Covenant representing God’s throne. That this vision recalls The Temple would give great comfort to those in exile. They felt that with The Temple destroyed God might no longer offer His comforting presence for His people. This vision would ensure that, even though there is no physical Temple, God remains as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Around the throne sit many other thrones, giving the picture of an ancient court room. Then around these thrones thousands upon thousands attend The Ancient of Days. These others in the scene serve The Ancient of Days. Service is another way of understanding worship. When we worship we are in service to God. These thousands upon thousands who populate the throne room worship the King of kings.
God victoriously breaks into the scene previously dominated by the four beasts. God pronounces judgement and reintroduces order into the chaos. God overcomes the powers that threaten the righteous ones. God establishes His authority. God draws people out of exile, inviting them into His promise and His victory!
One more being enters the scene, identified as one like a son of man. Who is this? This term should be understood as a reference to the people of God. God will deliver the faithful in Israel from their enemies.[4] They will rule in an eternal kingdom set up by God at the defeat of those powers that threaten God’s created ideal with chaos.
Daniel may or may not have understood this figure to also represent the individual figure of the coming Messiah. He did understand that this figure represents the ideal, righteous follower(s) of the one true God. No one else, but Jesus, truly lives a righteous life. Certainly, Jesus himself understood his role as the righteous one sent to represent and redeem God’s people and establish the Kingdom of God. He repeatedly referenced himself as the son of God. In this, Jesus took on the role of authority, glory and sovereign power. Therefore, all nations and peoples of every language will come to worship Him. Jesus fulfills the role of the son of man, now reigning at the right hand of God the Father. His kingdom will certainly never end!
Overall, this vision reinforces the truth that God is sovereign, He is in control and has a design for deliverance for those experiencing exile. God will overcome the forces of chaos in the world through judgement from his throne. God will also overcome the forces of chaos through one like a son of man whose dominion is everlasting. This all came true through the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. Through Jesus, God judges the forces of chaos in our world, including our own destructive habits. Through Jesus, God provides deliverance, freeing those who believe from the forces of chaos, both those beasts which rise within ourselves and those beasts in the world systems.
To God be the glory! In His sovereignty, God overcomes the chaos and brings about his kingdom, which will never end!
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, in your love you create and maintain the universe. In that maintenance, you seek to heal that which humanity has broken. We ask that you would enter into our chaos and bring peace. We need you Lord to come in victory, restoring all things to your design. Transform us as you see fit so that we might be your agents of peace amidst this chaos. May your kingdom come in fullness! In Christ’s holy name we pray, Amen!
[1]
Paul D. Hanson, Old Testament Apocalyptic. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1987),
27-28.
[2]
Tremper Longman III, The NIV Application Commentary: Daniel. (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 182.
[3]
Ibid, 181-182.
[4] D.
S. Russell, Daniel. (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1981), 126.
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