Daniel // Week 5

This week, we dive into Daniel's visions of the future. They may seem, as the kids say, “wack.” While strange to the modern reader, these dreams and visions communicate truths using symbolism that would’ve been common to the Hebrew reader. This style of writing is called “apocalyptic literature.” The genre comes from the Greek word “apocalypse,” which means to “uncover” or “reveal.” 

Essentially, God is uncovering or revealing truths to Daniel (and by extension, to us) through these visions. The visions begin with Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7, one of the most key visions in all of scripture. It opens with an image of beasts with horns emerging from a windy sea. The sea represents chaos in Hebrew thought, with beasts representing unjust & rebellious nations (Babylon, for example), and their horns representing kings. 

The visions of beasts are interrupted In Daniel 7:9, when God takes His throne, which is surrounded by other empty thrones. Some believe that the empty thrones were metaphorically abandoned by humanity when we rebelled against God and forfeited partnership with Him (Genesis 1:28, 3:23).

Then,  Daniel sees one like a “Son of Man” (aka, a human) descend onto the empty throne beside God.  He received worship and His reign and authority overtook that of the beasts (other nations). This is why Jesus so often claimed to be “The Son of Man,” he is claiming to be the Messiah that Daniel saw. (Mark 2:10)

The following visions also foretell the fall of violent kings and kingdoms, pointing us as readers back to the hope of the Son of Man figure in Daniel 7. The one who will liberate God’s people and rule with justice. He will be a king who does not demand and coerce worship like the Babylonian kings, but one who truly deserves it. 

So when will all of these events happen? Well, some believe they already have. The events foretold by Daniel could refer to the fall of Syria, Persia, and/or Rome. These “beastly” empires came to an end and Jesus, who called himself this “Son of Man '' has already come to inaugurate the kingdom of God here on Earth through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. It is also possible that these events are yet to come, and will be completed when Jesus returns again to make all things new, fully. 

Whatever the case, the truth of these visions and the hope of God still stands. Nations will rise and fall. They will be full of violence and pride, just like the beast of Babylon. But as God’s people, we hold onto hope that all of them are temporary and God’s good and just reign will redeem all the brokenness we see. And His reign will never end. 

It might be tempting to skim over these visions. To bypass them as irrelevant or fantastical. But just because it’s not “literal,” doesn’t make it any less true. In fact, it has the ability to draw us, the reader, into the story to evaluate questions such as: what are the beasts of my culture? Where do I get swept into the “waters” of chaos? How do I find hope in the coming Son of Man? 

The biblical authors masterfully reveal the hope that all people have in the midst of chaos and evil through these visions. They point us to the victory we will claim in Jesus when His rule is fully realized. Like Daniel, let us embrace these visions as beacons of hope in the midst of exile, looking to the glorious Son of Man who will overthrow every beast.