Daniel #07: an exposition of Daniel 7:1-28. This message by pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 3, 2013.
Intro:
I used to be a “news junkie.” I watched all the news programs, listened to talk radio, watched the Sunday news shows. Not any more. My blood pressure can’t take it! I just got too frustrated listening to politicians skirt issues. This side attacking that side and no one doing anything about the problems. I look at what’s happening around the world and it’s depressing. “Oh, but wait that’s what makes it so exciting.” “We are living in the last days.” “Don’t you understand? Prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes?” That’s another thing. Prophecy experts disagree about as much as politicians do. Don’t misunderstand me. It’s not that I don’t care. I care very much. In fact I’m praying, “Even so come Lord Jesus!” Yes, I believe we are to watch and pray. We are to discern the times in which we live. I believe the Lord Jesus is coming again, visibly, physically to this earth. I believe that the time of His appearing is at hand. He is at the door. But honestly date setting and fingering the antichrist gives me a headache. Too often we come to great prophetic passages and get so involved in understanding the details we lose sight of the glory of the big picture. In trying to work out the details we miss out on the comfort the passage intended. As a teenage boy he was taken from the comfort of his home, transported to a distant land, forced into the service of a pagan king. He had a front row seat to the great power struggles of his age. As a high ranking official he saw first hand the back room deals brokered by power hungry men. He witnessed how the lust for power consumed otherwise reasonable men and blinded their judgment. At times he must have thought, “God, where are you?” When unrighteous men conquered nation after nation while the temple of God lay in ruins he must have thought, “How long O Lord?”
In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar Daniel was given a vision. A vision that would comfort and yet trouble him. He learned things are not as they seem but also learned more pain and suffering was to come. Yet I’m convinced that peace and comfort come from understanding the message of Daniel’s vision. Our text this morning is found in the seventh chapter of Daniel.
Text: Daniel 7:1-28
Most people love the book of Daniel but seldom move beyond chapter 6.
- They love the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
- They love the handwriting on the wall.
- Daniel and the lion’s den.
But the visions of the second half of the book while interesting, are best left to the experts.
- They are disturbing and confusing.
- Scholars don’t agree on their interpretation.
- They are too hard.
There are some things to keep in mind when dealing with these prophecies:
- We are dealing with apocalyptic works.
- Cartoon pictures/language.
- Tell a story through pictures.
- They are meant to leave you with an impression.
- The story is intended to impact you.
- We are not expected to trace down every detail (to do so would distort the message).
- Understand these visions are not given in a vacuum.
- While they may address issues for the distant future they also meant something to the original recipients.
Daniel and the people of Israel were in captivity. Unable to sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land. They were discouraged and depressed. They wondered if they would ever see their home again. They wondered if they would ever worship again in the temple. It seemed the kingdom of God has ended the kingdom of man has prevailed. God is about to tell them otherwise.
The message of Daniel 7 is…
Thesis: God, through Christ, subdues all kingdoms and reigns supremely over all the earth.
How do we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? How do we keep going in the face of uncertainty, doubt and confusion? We fix our eyes of the Sovereign Lord enthroned in heaven above. Understanding that He raises up nations and disposes of them as He wishes.
There are two things I want to point out in our text.
- The kingdoms of this world come to power and exercise their brutal, beastly force with varying degrees of success but they all eventually fail. (7:1-8, 15-20, 23-26)
- In contrast to the vacillating, chaotic nature of the kingdoms of this world, God’s sovereign rule has, does, and always will prevail. (7:9-14, 21-22, 27-28)
Conclusion:
What do we learn from this vision?
- We must not be naive about the reality, the strength and durability of evil.
- Suffering is a reality in this life.
- We must look beyond the events of history to the One seated on heaven’s throne.
- Our great hope is not found in the power centers of this world.
- Our hope is found in the glory and splendor of our King!
Our God, through Christ, subdues all kingdoms and reigns supremely over all the earth.