Introduction

I will be doing a series from the Book of Daniel. I believe it will be very useful to us at this time of a global health crisis.

Daniel & his friends/colleagues were caught up in a crisis of sorts back in their own day: the loss of their freedom & had to live & flourish under a different atmosphere.

Key Points from Chapter 7

• Things are about to get turbocharged, spiritually. Daniel had a dream and visions which he wrote down and shared with some confidants.
• These were visions filled with symbolism. Please read the whole of chapter 7 to get the full picture. It all sounds “fantastical”, but true.
• In his visions he saw the “ancient of days” on “thrones” and he described him thus: “his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.” [ASV].
• Judgement took place and the 4th beast was slain and its body destroyed and was given to be burned with fire. The remaining beasts had their dominion taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a while.
• He also saw what a manifestation of Jesus receiving dominion, and glory, and an everlasting kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him.

Concluding Thoughts

• An interesting question for today’s Christians: if you were in Daniel’s day, would you have believed him? Is it so easy to believe an account that sounds so fantastical?
• I’ve read quite a few modern commentaries on the meaning of Daniel’s dream, but that’s beyond the simple scope of this series.
• Daniel didn’t immediately know the meaning of the visions and so sought an interpretation from a being he saw in the visions.
• The interpretation was made known to him and he sought a little more clarity, which he also got. His thoughts troubled him.
• Here was Daniel, still essentially in captivity and yet God was showing him what was to come far in the future, over epochs & centuries.

—
O.J