Daniel 7

Hope in a hostile world

Part 7

This is a difficult passage to understand, and to Daniel's readers it would have been quite terrifying.

The chapter opens with power and evil borne from the sea. Yet it seems like this evil is brought about by God (v2).

One thing is clear from this - there is trouble and carnage ahead. Each beast is a kingdom under which God's people would be ruled, the final being the Romans. God told Daniel that war was to be expected. Things were going to get worse before they get better.

The source of our answers

The point of this is for God's people to stop looking at the world for answers, and to start looking upwards to God. God is on the throne through it all. Verse 9 onwards paints a powerful picture of God on the throne, with His wisdom and justice everlasting.

God's purposes are set. In the book He holds all that has been done and all that will be done. We might not understand God's plan, but know this - justice will be done.

The son of man

Daniel saw the key part of God's eternal plan. A divine human, who will inherit the earth and rule forever. Jesus, who very clearly identified Himself with the phrase used here "the Son of Man".

Daniel wanted us to remember that there is a higher throne. Higher than all power that we come across in this world. Higher than the petty attempts of domain that we grab for ourselves.

The rule of God's people

The beast we read about here can be attributed to many infamous people through history. The Christian life will be faced with so much pain and opposition from people who personify this beast. Yet the persecution is only allowed for a set time from God. The power of evil in the world will be removed in time, and the sovereignty of the world will be handed over to God's people. God's kingdom will be ours to rule. We will have authority over evil and it will no longer be able to harm us. Our persecution will be nothing more than a memory of a sharp scratch.