Day 14 of Journey Through Daniel | THE SUFFERING + ENTHRONEMENT OF THE PREEMINENT IMAGE OF GOD

COMMENTARY Today’s reading continues Daniel’s vision of the four beasts. The vision begins with beasts emerging out of chaotic waters, a scene reminiscent of biblical and Near Eastern creation stories where creation begins in the context of a watery, dark, and monstrous chaos (e.g., Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 74:12-17). The vision now moves to a new scene where God, referred to as the “Ancient of Days,” is seated in a courtroom and is surrounded by His holy angels (Daniel 7:9). In this courtroom, another figure appears who is described as “one like a son of man” (Daniel 7:13). This figure ascends on the clouds to God and is given “authority, glory, and sovereign power.” This scene also picks up on creation themes. In Genesis 1:26-28, creation culminated with the installation of humans as God’s royal image-bearers on the earth. Here, a human being (that’s what the Aramaic phrase “son of man” means), is installed as king over the earth. In a sense, this vision depicts a new creation. But who is this son of man? The interpretation of the vision links the figure to the “holy people of the Most High” (Daniel 7:18, 22, 27). Just as the four beasts represent four empires, so the son of man represents the faithful followers that the beasts had crushed. After a period of suffering under a beastly king, they experience a reversal; they are rescued and raised to positions of power like we’ve seen so often throughout the book of Daniel (Daniel 2:48-49, 3:30, 5:29, 6:27-28). However, when we look at the New Testament, it’s clear that Jesus claimed this title as His own (e.g., Mark 13:26; 14:62). Why did He make this connection? Since God’s people continued to be burdened by the political, social, religious, and spiritual powers of this world, Jesus chose to stand in their place as a good king ought to. As the Son of Man, He represented them, not as a literary symbol but as a surrogate who let the beasts of this world, the principalities and powers, unleash their crushing blows on Him. What appeared to be a victory for those powers was actually their undoing. After a period of suffering, Jesus was raised to new life, launching a new creation. When He ascended on the clouds to the Father, He was set on a throne of royal authority as the preeminent image of God (cf. Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:32-36; Ephesians 1:20-22; Colossians 1:15-20). SCRIPTURE DANIEL 7:9–28 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. 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) 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 nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM 15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’ 19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. 23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. 26 “ ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ 28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” QUESTIONS 1. The vision of Daniel 7 anticipates the story of Jesus, but it also looks back to the story of Daniel and the lion’s den in chapter 6. How does the experience of Daniel relate to the experience of the son of man in chapter 7? 2. When Jesus and the early Christian leaders spoke about the “gospel” or “good news,” their message focused on the fact that Jesus had become King and His kingdom had come (e.g., Mark 1:14-15; Acts 5:42). Why is this good news? If this is the gospel message, how should we proclaim it in our world?