The Ancient Of Days Daniel 7:9-14 Introduction

Transcription

1 Introduction I am spliting Daniel 7 into three sections. We have looked at verses 1-8; which describes Daniel s vision of four beasts; the lion with wings (v.4); the bear with ribs (v.5); the winged fourheaded leopard (v.6) and the terrible beast (vv.7-8). We looked at the setting of Daniel s dream, the sequence of Daniel s dream; and the schooling of Daniel s dream. You will remember the dream was a picture of the unfolding of human history; the preservation of human history and the purpose of human history. Now we begin the second part of Daniel chapter 7 (vv.9-14). In this section of the prophecy we see two events; occuring simultaneously; events in heaven and events on the earth. A revelation of the kingdom of God and the kingdom of men. I love modern technology. My children pointed out with cable TV you can watch a program; and record programs even if those programs are on at the exact same time! Some people call it TIVO others call it My DVR. Some Televisions have split screen capability. Imagine for a moment a slit screen. At the top of the screen are images from Heaven. At the bottom of the screen are images from the earth. The first part of the film unfolds on the bottom half of the screen; as you see the kingdoms of men and the civilazations of men come to life. We move from Babylon, to Persia, to Greece, to Rome. Human history fast forwards to the end of human history and the last terrible beast begins devouring nations; and when the last great empire comes out of the sea of humanity; the top of the Screen with a flash of bright light comes to life and images start pouring from the top of the screen. One of the problems that Bible teachers and Bible students face in studying prophecy is the fact that the Old Testament prophets saw the coming of Christ like a great prophetic mountain range. Imagine you are staring at the front range of the Rocky Mountains; and you see tall magestic mountains; they seem so close that you can almost touch them. What you don t see are the hidden valleys that separate the mountains. In the prophecies of the Messiah; sometimes the first coming and the second coming seem to run together. Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah looked into the future and saw the coming of Christ; they saw a vision of a Messiah who would be born; and they saw a vision of this Messiah coming to reign. But what they didn t know; was that those events; like twin majestic mountains separated by a vast valley; would be separate events; separated by thousands of years. An example of this is found in the book of Isaiah. When Jesus began his earthly ministry, he took the scroll of Isaiah and began to read from the end of the scroll; in what we call Isaiah 61:1-2; The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God. 1

2 The prophecy concerns both the first coming and the second coming of Jesus. In his earthly ministry Jesus in fact fulfills the things listed in the prophecy; but Jesus puts the scroll down and does not finish the sentence; he stops just short of the day of vengeance of our God. He closes the book--but of course--the prophecy must be fulfilled the day of vengeance of our God must come--but the prophecy still awaits fulfillment. In Daniel 7 we see a similar prophetic circumstance. Daniel was speaking about future kingdoms (now past to us) and then a far future kingdom (still future to us). When Daniel mentions the beast with ten horns; the far future kingdom that emerges from the Roman Empire; it taks us to a time when an Antichrist will emerge; but there is something else; the coming of Jesus Christ. We also see a vision of what Daniel calls the Ancient of Days. The term is used only here in chapter 7 and then the term is used three times. It is the only passage in the Bible which pictures God in human form. We know that God is a Spirit; but Daniel has a vision of the Father as The Ancient of Days which is a term which literally means; the elderly One or the One who has been around forever. As Daniel sees the Lord; He sees Him in his holiness, eternal nature; purity; majesty; authority; Deity. The Ancient of Days In Heaven (vv.9-10) Daniel 7:9; I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; I want you to imagine just for a moment; the bottom of our screen. The earth is in chaos; the kingdoms of men are in upheaval; economic collapse; food insecurity; disease; war; nations devouring each other like insatiable beasts. The top half of the screen is a magnificent throne room; and an incredible image of the person seated on the throne. Daniel like Isaiah sees the Lord seated on the throne. The prophet has seen the rise and fall of human kingdoms; but now human rule fades into insignificance. I watched till thrones were put in place can also read I beheld till the thrones were set. In Revelation 4 and 5 we have no less than 17 references to the throne in two short chapters. The vision of Daniel first describes His eternity. He is the Ancient of Days; the source of all time; without beginning, without genesis. He is the self-existent being; without beginning and without end. Psalm 29:10; The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, And the Lord sits as King forever. Isaiah 57:15; For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, 2

3 And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Next Daniel describes His garment white as snow ; it is a picture of absolute purity; the Father occupies the seat of authority in absolute purity. Daniel sees God in His majesty. The Lord God is seated on His throne, a throne put in place (v.9). This person is the Sovereign Judge of the Universe. He is about to judge the world. We move from eternity, to purity, to majesty, to authority. His throne is described as a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire. This is not a description of God s mode of transportation. Many Bible commentators suggest the meaning of the wheels carries with it the idea that God is capable of judging anywhere in the Universe. There is no place that can escape His judgment. Daniel 7:10; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened. Fire is a picture of God s judgment. Fire prepares the vessel for the judgment of God. Fire is also a picture of God s presence; consuming; purifying; judging, breaking the subject down to its elemental composition. God s throne is bathed in fire. The writer of Hebrews says our God is a consuming fire (Heb.12:29). Daniel s attention moves from the throne to the throng; the crowd. We see also the magnificent Deity of God. A thousand thousands minstered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. How many is that? It is the largest number the writer had available to him. Children today will say infinity plus one. Who are these beings? Angelic hosts? Saved Saints? They bow and worship the Lord because He is the only one deserving of praise and worship. Daniel saw the books opened (v.10). Judgment is about to take place. You cannot cook these books. You cannot misrepresent its contents. There is an eternal record. Why does God keep books? Is He afraid He will be audited? I don t think so. Fear He might forget something? I don t think so. These books are so the condemned can face their own thoughts, words, deeds. Nothing is neglected, nothing is ignored. Historians and biographers often omit or ignore important bits of information; they may distort the facts. God misses nothing. Every earthly ruler will explain themselves to God. God has a long account to settle with the rulers of this world. Justice will be done. God is about to judge the Beasts (the nations) of the earth. As God judges the nations He will examine their blasphemy, their idolatry, and judge them as guiltly. God will judge the Nations. The nations will be examined on there commitment to justice; defense of life; moral integrity. The nations will be judged on their treatment of God; Jesus; and the saints. Whatever else you believe about this chapter; all commentators are unanimous in their observation and application that God is on High; God reigns in Heaven. His enemies think He is 3

4 not in control; but He is absolutely in control. At the top of the screen; a God in absolute charge; opening the books. At the bottom of the screen; nations devouring and being devoured. Someone once called the Kingdom of God as power in complete subordination to love. The Beast On Earth Daniel 7:11; I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. Daniel s attention is brought back to the bottom of the screen. In a single sentence, Daniel sees the message of the Beast; the slaying of the Beast, and the punishment of the Beast in burning flame. Who is this Beast? The Beast is the Antichrist; he has risen up as part of the fourth and final civilazation; the kingdoms of men are about to close forever. He speaks for a moment (3 and one half years). The fearful blasphemies of the Antichrist will bring the unmixed, undiluted, wrath of God. The book of Revelation and the Apocalypse fills in the details. The beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire. Satan himself joins them a thousand years later. God pronounces them guilty of sins against humanity and God; and proceeds to punish them for rebellion and blasphemy. The reign of terror has run its course; the persecution of God s people has come to an end; the antichrist s cup of iniquity is full. The antichrist and his followers receive their full and final and proper doom. Revelation 20:10; The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Daniel 7:12; As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. It would appear that nations have some kind of existence in the future. The Son of Man in Heaven Daniel 7:13; I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Daniel s attention goes from the top of the screen back to the bottom of the screen. 4

5 Once again we see Daniel s vision of the coming of the Messiah. He looks like the Son of Man. He is human. The Ancient Days assigns all judgment to the Son of Man. Jesus is the head of a restored humanity. The New Testament calls Jesus the Son of Man some 80 times. Son of David speaks of Christ s royalty; Son of God speaks of Christ s Deity. The seed of the woman will crush Satan and destroy Satan s seed; the Antichrist. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ Daniel 7:14; Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. How does Daniel describe the Kingdom of the Messiah? It is unlimited. The kingdoms of men and governments of men are gone. Jesus Christ is given dominion without limitation. Jesus reigns as the undisputed monarch of planet earth. The kingdoms of man are typical; the kingdom of Jesus is unique. It is not a kingdom for its own sake; but rather for the sake of God and the sake of Christ. It is a kingdom filled with Jesus, a glorious kingdom. We have yet to see a kingdom like this one. This kingdom is united---the kingdoms of this world are torn. In July of 2007 there were an estimated 6.6 billion people living on the earth. I think most of them watch Oprah. Can you imagine how difficult it is to keep peace in your heart, in your family, in your church, in your governmental party, in your state and in your nation? Now imagine the whole world being governed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Human government is described as chaotic, torn, broken, unjust, but all that will change with Jesus Christ. Think for a moment; the Kingdom of Jesus is unlimited, unique, united. It is that and more, it is universal, unending, unconquerable. How is the kingdom of Jesus universal? The kingdoms of men are territorial. But the kingdom of Jesus is over all people, all nations, all languages, and all will serve Him. Even the greatest kingdoms in the history of mankind have covered vast territories, vast people groups, but even the greatest did not cover all. When Jesus comes to set up His kingdom; it will stretch from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere; it will encompass both sides of the international date line. All territory north of the equator and south of the equator. There will be no place exempt from the rule of the Messiah. The kingdom will be unending; everlasting. The kingdoms of men are temporary. Every king imagines a kingdom that is passed from father to son. Babylon which was thought invincible and unconquerable fell in a single night. The Persian Empire which stretched to the borders of China and India and Greece and and North Africa; fell. The Greek Empire divided into four regions; and withered away. The Roman Empire collapsed under the weight of its own immoral behavior. There will never be a kingdom like the Kingdom of Jesus. 5

6 The Kingdom of Christ will be unconquerable; nation devouring and succeeding nation; but who will conquor or consume Christ? Who rivals Jesus? Who can threaten God and take the kingdom away from Jesus? There isn t anyone. Daniel gives us a glimpse of an eternal kingdom. When we see what God has in store for those who love Him; it is pretty hard to get discouraged in the present election cycle. Christians rejoice. Christians get excited for a preview of coming attractions is right inside your heart! Jesus placed the kingdom of God right in the middle of your heart. Jesus took the fear out of what will happen in death and judgment; for the books have already been opened for all who embrace the cross of Calvary. Your sin has been judged. You have been found not guilty. You have been credited with the righteousness of Christ. The God of heaven is already seated on the throne of your heart. A new kingdom is coming. A new head of humanity. You won t find Him on the Republican ticket or the Democratic ticket. The beast kingdoms and nations of this earth have written their histories in the blood of innocent children, in the injustices towards fellow human beings; in the wicked enslaving of peoples; in the redistribution of wealth; in the prosecution and persecution of the saints. A Russian youth who had become a conscientious objector to war though reading Tolstoy and the New Testament was brought before a magistrate. With the strength of conviction he told the judge of the life which loves its enemies, which does good to those who despitefully use it, which overcomes evil with good, and which refuses war. Yes said the Judge. I understand. But you must be realistic. These laws you are talking about are the laws of the kingdom of God; and it has not come yet. The young man straightened and said, Sir, I recognize that it has not come for you, nor yet for Russia or the world. But the Kingdom of God has come for me! I cannot go on hating and killing as though it had not come. 6