Waterloo Hall - 2001

God’s Management

A Bible Study in Daniel 7-12

To attempt a single study that embraces the difficult chapters of Daniel is an

impossible task – well, impossible if you are going to satisfy most people’s desire for
an explanation of the visions.

I want to look at the hard part of Daniel very briefly; to gain an overview of its main
thrust and purpose, and to whet your appetite for a more detailed study of the themes
suggested.

In our first study we looked at the book as a source of Assessment strategies for
believers, here I believe we have an insight into the ways that God manages history.
I want to come away from my study feeling that these chapters are not a disincentive
to study prophecy, but an encouragement to see God at work in the whole of human
history.

Daniel stood on the threshold of a new stage in human history. The exile represented
the great watershed in the experience of God’s people. After it things would never be
the same again, and the emphasis of Jewish religion would shift towards a scripture
centred understanding of God. That is not to say that they had no scripture before
hand, but that the writings acquired a new significance. This in itself was a
preparation for the next great phase in the history of God’s people.

Daniel’s personal situation meant that he was strategically placed to be given these
remarkable insights into God’s timetable. “A well instructed Jew who had lived the
major part of his life as royal adviser in the court of the Babylonian world empire. …
He lived through the fall of both the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, and in his old
age would have been made ready to receive the visionary revelations …” 1They were
to provide him with a source of great encouragement that would not only serve his
own day but all succeeding generations. That they also provided some challenging
apocalyptic visions to challenge the imaginations of succeeding generations of bible
students is almost a side issue!

I have prepared for you an outline of the chapters:

1
Joyce Baldwin “Daniel” p. 52,53 IVP Press
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CHAPTER 7
Provoked by his study of Jeremiah, Daniel sees a vision of Four Kingdoms and of
God’s Kingdom
The Most High Reigns

CHAPTER 8
Second and Third Kingdoms identified by Gabriel
Medo-Persian Empire
Greek Empire (under Alexander the Great Vv23,24 – Antiochus)

The visions of this part of Daniel have a relationship with Chapter 2, and this is nicely
set out in a table by Joyce Baldwin:2

Chap 2 Chap 7 Chap 8 Interpretation

Gold Lion Babylon 2v38
Silver Bear Ram Medo-Persia 8
v20
Bronze Leopard He-goat Greece 8v21
Iron/clay Indescribable (Rome)
beast
Supernatural Heavenly court God’s Kingdom
stone

CHAPTER 9
Daniel’s Prayer & the Vision of Seventy Weeks

CHAPTERS 10-12
Vision of the Heavenly Messenger and His final revelation (Chs 10-12)

The relationship between the visions and the first six chapters can also be
summarised so:

Vision Setting Relationship to i - vi

Four Kingdoms (7 & 8) Belshazzar y1 Between chaps iv & v

Kingdoms identified Belshazzar y3 Persia Chapter vi
Seventy Weeks (9) Darius y1 Media Later than ch. vi
Final vision (10-12) Cyrus y3 Persia

2
Joyce Baldwin “Daniel” p161
 PAGE 3

What was God up to? What were His long term intentions? How did they fit into the
world power view of history?

These questions are answered through Daniel’s visions. These visions begin in
Babylonia and are stamped with the images of the political forces at work in Daniel’s
time.

He is entrusted with the visions so that others coming later will be able to see the
significance. As with other prophecy, he has a meaning for his own time, for the next
generations, and for a time still to come. It is not always immediately obvious which
part is which – because he is dealing in the overall themes that:

God is in charge
God reveals His purposes to His people
God controls the events of human history
God has an end in view

But before we sketch those themes in a little more detail we must notice certain
peculiarities of the visions of Daniel.

The book belongs to a class of its own in the Old Testament.

This is usually called Apocalyptic. It presents a view of history in highly symbolic

language – some of it very detailed but confusing. One moment it seems to be
begging close identification with world figures, the next pointing into the distant future.

It is also a book that is written in two original languages – Aramaic and Hebrew, and
possibly the writer intended to use that as a literary tool in setting out his word.

Daniel has a lot in common with Ezekiel, Ezra and Zechariah.

Numbers are especially important to Daniel.

He groups his visions in fours, and then adds an extra one. He writes about seventies
and sevens, and then presents us with an enigmatic 69. He captures our imagination
and attention in a quite different way from the other prophets (with the exception of
Zechariah).

Like his NT counterpart, John in Revelation, Daniel lived a long time and his writings
spanned many different empires. All of these were outside of Israel and Judah

His writing appeals especially to minorities and those in a hostile environment. His
view of political systems is pessimistic. Daniel’s teachings were expressly forbidden
by Marxist governments, because they undermine confidence in human
governments.
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Whereas the Prophets wrote against a background of apostasy in the Lord’s people –
Daniel is set in an exile situation and is more concerned with other nations.

His is a view of history that begins with today, explains tomorrow and expects to be
certain of eternity. It demands a larger stage than that of the earlier Prophets and
Law.

“He creates a genuine World view and is more comprehensive in his understanding of
history … of other nations and their part in God’s overarching purpose. On foreign
soil , in a missionary situation the God of gods reveals Himself in ways that are
meaningful to the new culture and background.” (op cit)

Daniel’s visions began with Bible Study

In Chapter 9 we see the link between his vision and his bible study :
2
in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures,
according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the
desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord
God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in
sackcloth and ashes.

So what are his great themes?

• God is in charge
• God reveals His purposes to His people
• God controls the events of human history
• God has an end in view
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God is in charge

It didn’t look like it to Daniel and his friends as we saw in our last study – they were
exiles in the capital of a world class power, away from the familiar and loved
influences of their Jewish homeland. They were subjected to the unreasonable
demands of an absolute dictator. Yet they saw God work on their behalf.

Daniel’s visions declare this clearly:

Chapter 7 9 and 10
9
“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.
10
A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
13
“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. 14 He was given authority, glory and
sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language
worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass
away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

This is the over-arching message as Assyria and Babylon are defeated: God is the
One in charge not men, however great their reputation or however powerful their
empire.
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God reveals his purposes to his people

This was of course the real function of the vision – to show Daniel what God
intended.

He understood from personal experience that God is at work in human history, and in
charge of the rulers themselves.

He had already learned that dreams could be significant – for the individual ruler and
for the nation: now he has his own visions in his old age and they trouble him too.

As we saw above, he learned from his study of Jeremiah. All serious Bible study can
have far reaching consequences. The Scriptures are indeed a source of
understanding of the events that trouble us.

His was an INTERACTIVE study of God’s ways. Often when puzzled by the vision he
is able to ask for help:

Chapter 8
15
While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it,
there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man’s
voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the
vision.”

19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of
wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.

In Chapter 9 he gives many verses to his prayer and as a result:

23
As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come
to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message
and understand the vision:

This was a special privilege:

Chapter 10
7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but
such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone,
gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was
helpless. 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep,
my face to the ground.
10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said,
“Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak
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to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I
stood up trembling.

Such revelation carries with a responsibility : and Daniel discharged this responsibility
by writing it down and sharing it.

God controls the events of human history

The visions of Daniel tell us of the way God brought about the rise and fall of several
nations. Some of these are clearly named:

Babylon Chapter 7 lion

Medo-Persia Chapter 8 bear ram
Greece Chapter 8 leopard he-goat

Rome is not named but is generally understood by the indescribable beast of

Chapter 7.

Most people would agree that apart from those leaders mentioned by name others
include Alexander the Great and Antiochus Epiphanes.

But the message of the visions stretches on beyond the period of post-exilic times to
those of the New Testament and beyond.3

Daniel lays down a PRINCIPLE of history – God is in control of the events.

Surely there will be times when it does not seem so – but in reality it is.

Of course it is in Christ that the prophecy is fulfilled and the principle most powerfully
stated:

Chapter 7
13
“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. 14 He was given authority, glory and
sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language
worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass
away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

But if you look at Chapter 11 you realise that is not just the broad sweep of the
prophetic brush. There is pencilled the most astonishing detail.

3
See the POSTSCRIPT on the last page
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We are familiar with the reference in Our Lord’s teachings to Daniel:

Matthew 24
15
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that
causes desolation’, spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader
understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Chapter 11
31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will
abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that
causes desolation.

But we know because Jesus used the words – that there was another dimension to
the vision – and probably more than one.

God is in control.

God has an end in view

One of the great messages of Daniel’s visions is the word concerning the End Time
and the coming of the Lord.
But this truth is also implicit in the preoccupation Daniel has with numbers.

He is saying that the time is MEASURED – whatever the measurement be, day or
week or time or year. God knows the length of it

We may find it confusing and reflect on the many different interpretations given these
passages – but the fact remains God tells Daniel they are measured off. God sets
limits. He knows when the end time is.

And that End is glorious :

Chapter 7
13
“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. 14 He was given authority, glory and
sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language
worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass
away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Chapter 7
 PAGE 9

27
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. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will
worship and obey him.’

Chapter 12
But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in
the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth
will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting
contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the
heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for
ever and ever

Like all good managers, God has a plan of action. It was laid down in eternity – it
concerns His Son and His people, and he will complete the work that He has started.

© David A. Green July 2001

POSTSCRIPT

Attempts at identifying the detail in Daniel’s visions are always a product of the times
in which the student lives.

• When I was young the Beast was likely to be Catholicism,

• Then with the advent of materialistic socialism it became The Soviet Union,
• With the fall of the Soviet Union the emphasis shifts to Islam.

This is part of the difficulty of Daniel – but it is also its great strength – it will always
be possible to find in the visions a view of the world power that surrounds and
challenges the People of God – as in the Exile, so in the Church. Whatever the
challenge God is in charge – His is the Management of History and of all times.

© David A. Green January 2008