Daniel 8:1-4 - It did as it pleased and became great

8:1

The previous vision gave a very broad brush picture of the whole of human history. The following visions are much more specific, referring in particular to Greece in this one. The broad brush approach indicates the overall direction of history, and what is happening in the world. The more specific visions still have useful general lessons, but also demonstrate the veracity of the general visions. The “third year of Belshazzar’s reign” is 550/549 BC and is the year when Cyrus established and took total control of the joint Persian and Mede kingdom. Daniel refers back to the first vision, indicating that this one was related to it in some way.

8:2-4

Susa was to become a very important city in Persia, and is the place where the book of Esther played out. Daniel sees a ram with two horns, the two horns representing strength. Then one of the horns became more powerful. The ram charged up and down in all directions. It conquered all and no one could stand against it. The period of history was one where first Assyria, then Babylon and now Persia and Mede were dominant over the whole region.

Revelation 14:2-5 - They sang a new song

14:2,3

John then heard a sound from heaven. It was like the sound of rushing waters, and a loud peal of thunder, but it was also like harpists playing their harps. So the sound is both powerful and beautiful. “They sang a new song”. There are several Psalms where the Psalmist sings a new song: 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9 and 149:1. Isaiah 42:10 also speaks of singing a new song. Our God is a God of transformation. He transforms people and He transforms situations. “No-one could learn the song except ....” We need to appreciate that the world cannot understand the song of salvation, only those who have their eyes opened by the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that we retreat into hiding, but that we understand why the world often seems so blind and deaf. A person needs to be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.

14:4,5

“These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins”. This is a rather strange comment, for while the Bible does commend forgoing marriage for the sake of the kingdom (Matt 19:12; 1 Cor 7:32-35), it does not forbid marriage and severely criticises those who do (1 Tim 4:1-5). Sexual immorality was rife in the world of the time (so not that much different from today!), it is possibly best to take it as figurative. Or I suppose it could be referring to those who remained virgins before marriage, which would be as unusual as it is today. Whatever the case, the key thing is that “they follow the Lamb wherever He goes”. It is our dedication to the Lamb that matters above all else. They were purchased from among mankind. We belong to Christ, for we were bought at a price (1 Cor 6:20), we are not our own! This runs counter to the way the world thinks, but it is a fact that we need to appreciate. We have been chosen to be dedicated to Christ.

Daniel 7:26-28 - But the court will sit

7:26,27

So at the end of 7:25 things are looking very bad for the “holy people”! But all is not finished. The court will sit, God’s court will sit. At that point the power of the fourth beast will be taken away and destroyed completely and for ever. All sovereignty, power and greatness will then be handed over to the holy people. We need to realise what is being said here, for this is our destiny. In order for this destiny to make sense it requires that we be completely cleansed of our sin and guilt, and completely transformed, so that we truly are a holy people. We need to be a people who are utterly dedicated to the Lord. “His kingdom”, note that this is still the Lord’s kingdom. It is not given to us to do what we like with, but to run the kingdom as His servants. 

7:28

Unsurprisingly Daniel was deeply troubled, and the vision had a profound effect on him. The vision is both terrifying and awesome. The prospect of the four beats, especially the final one, is a terrifying prospect. The prospect of God handing the kingdom to us is an awesome prospect. If we look at the New Testament, both in the gospels and in the teaching of the letters, and of Revelation, we see that these two concepts run through a lot of the New Testament.

Revelation 14:1 - There before me was the Lamb

14:1

We have just had a couple of chapters about the two beasts and the dragon. Now we see the Lamb and the heavenly perspective. We need awareness of both the heavenly realities and the diabolical nature of the dragon. We first met the 144 000 in chapter 7 and a mark had been put on their forehead. Part of the significance of the 144 000 here is that all have been preserved, none has been lost. This is important, In John 6:39 Jesus says “I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day”. This does not mean we will never suffer, and definitely not that we will not die once. Revelation itself has sufficient warnings on that score, but we will be raised to new life on the last day. So we need to appreciate two things: (i) the seriousness of the battle; and (ii) our perfect security in Christ. I do take the 144 000 to be representative of the church as a whole.

Daniel 7:24,25 - He will speak against the Most High

7:24,25

So Daniel is told that ten kingdoms will arise from the fourth beast. This does not necessarily mean there will actually be ten kingdoms. Rather it signifies completeness, so the fourth beast will establish what seems to be total dominance of the world. Then another kingdom will arise, who will get rid of three of the kingdoms. He will blaspheme against the Lord and oppress God’s people. He will also seek to change the “times and laws”. This means he will seek to have total control over nature itself. Of course, he cannot have such control. We see this today with those who say we change gender, which is essentially a lie. This sort of behaviour, of seeking or claiming to have control over nature, will be applied to various aspects of life. The supposed control will always be a sham. “The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time”. This vision does not make easy reading!

Revelation 13:18 - The number of the beast

13:18

666 causes much speculation.  It is a double triangular number, which some consider to be significant (for what it’s worth, I don’t). It can be seen as being 1 short of 777 in each of its digits, where 7 is the perfect number. Then it is said to represent Nero, if the letters of his name represent numbers. However, in Hebrew there are two ways of spelling his name “Nero Caesar”. One comes out at 666, the other at 616, and some of the earliest manuscripts have 616 rather than 666 as the number of the beast. This would seem to tally with 666 (or 616) representing Nero. Even if it does represent Nero, Nero is only a type of the beast, not the full manifestation. Of course, some people love playing around with number systems and many people or organisations have been identified as the beast. In my opinion this is something of a mugs game.

So what are we to make of the call to “calculate the number of the beast”? I would take this as meaning we need to understand the times, to realise what is going on in the world, and where ungodliness lies. Sadly many church leaders have proved utterly incapable of doing this.

Daniel 7:19-23 - Waging war against the holy people

7:19-22

Daniel then wanted to know the “meaning of the fourth beast”. How could the kingdom be theirs with this terrible power arising? It was violent, aggressive and powerful, crushing and devouring its victims. Then there were the ten horns that came before it, and the three of them that were removed. Almost as if to stress the point, Daniel sees the horn “waging war against the holy people and defeating them”. Any easy interpretation of God’s plans is almost certainly wrong. The disciples did not like the idea of Jesus going to the cross, but it was necessary, essential, and brought about our salvation. And, of course, it was followed by the resurrection. We can trust God completely. So the horn continued his onslaught “until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgement in favour of the holy people ''.  Then they possessed the kingdom. So the end result is certain, is completely dependent upon God, but the road there will not be easy.

7:23

Daniel then gets more of an explanation. The fourth kingdom. It will appear, and will be different from the preceding kingdoms. It will violently devour the whole earth. We should be prepared for such a kingdom arising. But it will not last forever, God will destroy this kingdom once and for all at the right time. There are two wrong views of apocalyptic events (there are of course many wrong views!). There is one that sees a painless victory, there is another that just sees an evil kingdom. There will be an unusually evil kingdom, but its defeat is certain.