The Son’s Everlasting Dominion

What this episode covers

• I needed a familiar passage this week. 8 years is more than sufficient to escape long-term memories. • Obsession with eschatology > Abandon it altogether. Some would prefer to remain disengaged. Focus on essentials. “End Times” doctrine not central to the gospel. • Disagreement doesn’t mean unsaved, unwelcome. Differences of opinion abound among solid, reformed Christians. Common Reading Strategies (Unhelpful): 1. Detailed blueprints • Characteristic = Chronological Precision. • Method = Each element finds correspondence with historical event/figure. • Goal = Predicting what the end will look like. 2. Detached from history • Characteristic = Completely irrelevant to modern reader. • Method = Poetic license to depict good vs. evil. • Result = Undermine Scripture’s relevance. 3. Abandon interpretation altogether (ME). • Characteristic = Relevant but too confusing. • Method = Overwhelmed by the various interpretations of elements. • Goal = Keep Calm & Carry On. • Daniel was far from disengaged. He is emotionally affected by his visions. Not given all the answers, but his heart is burdened. Daniel NOT indifferent. Pray & Read Dan. 7 • Daniel = exilic. Daniel 7 transitions from Historical narrative (1–6) to apocalyptic literature (7–12). • Demands new reading strategy. We cannot expect precise chronology. Metaphors and similes teach by analogy (cautious with details). Images communicate imprecisely. Evoke powerful feelings. Scope broadens: • Present darkness > future darkness • Temporary deliverance > Eternal deliverance • How to stand alone (Daniel and Friends) > Why worthwhile to stand alone (All Believers). I. Worldly Chaos (1–8; 15–28) • Why was Daniel anxious and alarmed (vv.15, 28)? No interpretation provided for vv.9-14, so the vision from vv.1-8 is what alarmed him. • The Sea (v.2) • “The Sea” in Biblical and ANE literature symbolizes chaos, evil, and de-creation. Evokes terror. It is a depiction of godlessness and depravity. The waters of the flood de-create the world (Gen.6). Re-creation begins again with Noah’s family. • ANE Creation Narrative “Enuma Elish”: Marduk defeats Tiamat (the Sea) to head pantheon. Tiamat remains opposed forever. Daniel’s context. • The emerging beasts are not what is stirring up the sea, but the four winds of heaven. Implicit > God is sovereign over chaos. Even though the result is chaos in the sea, there remains one constant truth > God is in control! • The Beasts (vv.3–7; 17–18) • V.3–8 The beasts rage against God’s created order. They are perversions of His creation. • Each successive beast grows more grotesque and less human. They become more and more terrifying. • Dan. 2 parallels Dan. 7 • Head of Gold = Babylon = Lion w/ Wings (Jer. 49:19–22). No significant disagreement. Animal > Human = Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation and restoration (Dan 4:28–37). • Torso of Silver = Medo-Persian = Bear • Midriff of Bronze = Greece = Leopard w/ Wings and 4 Heads • Legs of Iron/Clay = Rome = Fourth Beast with iron teeth and 10 horns • The Rock = Christ = Son of Man conquers the kingdoms and receives universal and everlasting dominion. • So, is all of this in the past? • Compos. Lion/Bear/Leopard/10 horns (Rev. 13:1–2). No single nation/king has exhausted the meaning. • Taken generally (4 = earth, rivers of Eden, corners of the earth Gen 2:10-14; 10 = large, unspecified #), impossible to be precise. • Evil kingdoms will succeed one another until the end. • The Little Horn (vv.8, 19–27) • Speaks great things. • A picture of Antiochus Ephiphanes (Dan. 8), whose reign lasted 3.5 years. Partial fulfillment with many other examples throughout history (1 Jn 2:18) and culminating in the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thes. 2:3). • Partial/initial fulfillment (cf. Hosea 1 – Zurababel “one head”). But a greater, fuller fulfillment comes later. • His defeat is certain!

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