Daniel 8
Daniel had a vision in the first year of Belshazzar which is preserved for us in the previous chapter. That vision contained four animals coming up out of the sea. Two years later he had a second vision that was closely related to the first and to the four-part statue dream of Nebuchadnezzar from chapter two. It is important to interpret these dreams together in order to get the best understanding of the specific meanings of the images that God used to communicate His message regarding the future centuries that would arise. However, it is even more important to recognize that while the Lord was saying specific things about specific powers among men, this does not preclude that He was also saying something even bigger than that. For example, the legs of iron in chapter 2 and the horrifying horned beast of chapter 7 are apparently both pictures of the
The vision in Daniel is not a four-part story, but a two-part story that helps us to understand the middle stages in the earlier four-part stories. Here the story is about a ram and a goat. The ram charges to the west, north, and south. The ram was clearly in charge of the whole region. There was no greater power, no other ally for a lesser power to turn to who could offer a credible challenge to the ram. Then along came the goat flying in from the west, and he destroyed the ram’s horns of power. Now it was the turn for the goat to be exceedingly great. Yet the day of the goat’s defeat is on the horizon of the vision. There is mention of a little horn that comes from the goat which grew exceedingly great, a horn that seems to attack the covenant community in the place that is called “the glorious land.” This horn is said to grow great “even to the host of heaven.” Here we have the sense of some evil that is beyond the powers of men. In any case, there is specific mention of the disruption of the worship practices of the covenant community, though perhaps only for a limited and defined period of time. It is helpful to consider that God is revealing these events to his prophet hundreds of years before they would take place. Even though we may wonder about the specific meanings of messages such as this, we cannot miss the fact that God is presented here as sovereign over it all.
Daniel wanted to understand this vision, and an angel was instructed to make him understand the vision. Even the angel’s appearance was frightening to the prophet. That messenger spoke of this as something connected to the “time of the end.” This expression is ambiguous. We are not told how to interpret these words, yet we are given a sense that a power far beyond us does understand the whole of it. These events were overwhelming to Daniel. He fell into a deep sleep, but was made to stand up. An explanation is given to him, yet by the end of the chapter we read that Daniel is troubled, and that he does not understand. There are things here that seem to defy explanation. Nonetheless, we are given an extraordinarily clear identification of the ram and its horns as the kings of Media and
The angel goes on to reveal the coming of a “king of bold face” who will bring fearful destruction upon the people of God. This antichrist-like figure refers to a one who ruled prior to the birth of Christ, but also points forward and beyond the world that we see to a battle that is bigger than anything that men alone can accomplish. This evil entity will destroy many and will rise up against the Lord, and will ultimately be defeated by the power of God. Daniel was laid low by what he saw, but was soon up and about the king’s business. Nonetheless, he was deeply troubled, and he admitted readily that he did not understand the vision.
How would the church fare if we were under attack from one of the great powers of history? It is frightening to consider having to face the opposition of a powerful leader who has armies at his command and who is firmly against God, His Word, and His worship. Yet beyond men and armies, there are other powers that are even more disturbing. How can we deal with fallen angels that we cannot see? What is the relationship between powerful men that we can see and those angelic adversaries that we cannot see? We are not told. Like Daniel we do not understand.
It is enough for us to know that the God-Man Jesus Christ has full authority over men and angels. The One who cast out a legion of demons from a man and sent them into a herd of pigs is still in charge of the affairs of all His creatures, seen and unseen. When Peter cut the ear of the servant of the high priest, Jesus remarked that He had access to legions of angels. Clearly He could have avoided arrest if that had been His intention, but He was resolute in moving toward the cross for the accomplishment of our redemption. Here was one who had authority over kings and angels, yet he seemed to be their prisoner. This great Son of God was a willing victim according to the larger purposes of our glorious God. He understood what He was doing. We can trust Him with things that we do not understand. He is full of power and love. It will be our great privilege to be with Him forever. We are invited to know Him who knows things that would only make us sick and confused. We are invited to love Him who knew perfectly well what He was doing, and who loved us to the end.
posted by Pastor Magee @ 6:00 AM
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